The Mystery in Worship
The sermon explores the mystery of God's presence and the significance of worship, highlighting the eternal and unchanging nature of God and the deity and humanity of Christ.
A.W. Tozer explores the profound mystery of worship through the experience of Moses and the burning bush, emphasizing that Moses worshiped not the bush itself but the glory of God present within it. He draws a parallel to Christ, who, unlike the bush, is eternally the Son of God, highlighting the moment of separation on the cross when Jesus bore our sins. Tozer asserts that the divine and human natures of Christ remain united, and when we worship Him, we are directly addressing God. This sermon invites believers to recognize the depth of their worship and the eternal nature of Christ's divinity.
Text
Consider the experience of Moses in the desert as he beheld the fire that burned in the bush without consuming it. Moses had no hesitation in kneeling before the bush and worshiping God. Moses was not worshiping a bush; it was God and His glory dwelling in the bush whom Moses worshiped! This is an imperfect illustration, for when the fire departed from that bush, it was a bush again. But this Man, Christ Jesus, is eternally the Son. In the fullness of this mystery, there has never been any departure, except for that awful moment when Jesus cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).
The Father turned His back for a moment when the Son took on Himself that putrifying mass of sin and guilt, dying on the cross not for His own sin, but for ours.
The deity and the humanity never parted, and to this day, they remain united in that one Man. When we kneel before Him and say, "My Lord and my God, Thy throne, 0 God, is forever and ever," we are talking to God!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Mystery of God's Presence
- A. God's presence is not limited to a physical location
- B. God's presence is eternal and unchanging
- II. The Incarnation of Christ
- A. Christ is fully God and fully man
- B. The deity and humanity of Christ remain united
- III. The Significance of Worship
- A. Worship is not about a physical object, but about God
- B. Worship is a response to God's presence and glory
Key Quotes
“Moses was not worshiping a bush; it was God and His glory dwelling in the bush whom Moses worshiped!” — A.W. Tozer
“When we kneel before Him and say, 'My Lord and my God, Thy throne, 0 God, is forever and ever,' we are talking to God!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should recognize that worship is not about a physical object, but about God, and respond to God's presence and glory in our lives.
- We should acknowledge the eternal and unchanging nature of God and His presence in our lives.
- We should understand the significance of the incarnation of Christ and its implications for our worship and response to God.