Rock Solid Worship-Rocktober week 3

Rock Solid Worship-Guest blog post by Alec Koelling 

1. Worship is a RockSolid Lifestyle

1. Worship Is Surrender

1. Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?* Is anything worth more than your soul?

2. As Christians we are told to surrender our lives to the cause of Jesus Christ we must be willing to give some things up

1. Friends, Relationships

2. In High School I had multiple opportunities to go to parties with friends

3. I went all 4 years without attending one!

4. Why? Because I knew the calling God had on my life was bigger than that! Why ruin my four year testimony for one night? If I would've gone i would've given up everything that God called me to be!

5. My life to my peers was my testimony, and will continue to be for the rest of my life

6. I refuse to wear a mask

2. Worship is Servanthood

1. When you serve it is a form of worship

1. But it all depends on your attitude, your spirit, and your heart. Cause you can sure serve but it not be worship!

2. Serving others is one of our greatest callings in life!

2. Back at our home church I served 4 services a week, not including practice altogether adding up to about 17 hours a week on top of my 40 hour a week job

1. I understand serving being a sacrifice but if I looked at in the wrong way I would've completely missed the big picture and what God was doing in and through my life

2. God was using those moments to prepare me for what was ahead

3. Pictures of camp etc.

3. So let me ask again what does your lifestyle reflect?

1. Are you a sunday, wednesday christian?

2. We must prepare all week for our weekend services!

3. Cause as your worship pastor I cant carry you to a worship experience, I can sure guide you but i cant carry you! You must be able to carry your self!

4. We should be the pacesetters in our community

5. We should be lights so bright so that darkness can never extinguish it!

2. Worship is A RockSolid Weapon

1. Worship places the battle in God’s hands

2. 2 Chronicles 20: 13-17 13 As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children,14 the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph. 15 He said, "Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's.16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!”

1. We have to realize that struggles will come our way!

1. If we don’t have struggles coming our way something is wrong! That means the devil isn't afraid of you anymore!

2. He isn't going to attack something that seems dead

3. We should realize that its in these moments of struggles that we need to come to God in worship

4. We need to recognize that nothing is impossible for God! He has already won the victory

5. Don’t keep fighting a battle thats already been won!

1. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory…

6. My worship recognizes that I need God then it aligns me with Him.

1. So our corporate worship is that much more powerful!

1. Could you imagine if one service we all came in to the house expecting? And waiting for that breakthrough, were not waiting on him, he is waiting on us!

2. We must seek the Lord daily, cause you never know when we need his strength, protection and guidance

2. Worship Reminds Satan of His Weakness

1. 2 Corinthians 10: 4 *We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

1. For instance God has given us prayer, fasting, and worship

1. When you pray don’t you dare pray get me through the day prayers! Surrender yourself and ask God for the impossible!

2. If we aren’t praying big prayers, we are insulting God, keeping him a box

3. Be bold and ask God for the impossible in your life

2. When we worship, our problems don’t go away, but what the Devil threatens to do in our lives through those problems goes away

1. I’m not gonna lie and tell you, that as soon as you throw your hands up in worship, all your problems go away, but when we worship and use it as a weapon Satan has no hold on you!

1. He is reminded he can’t beat you and Jesus has already won!

3. Worship Reminds our Hearts of Real Hope

1. Isaiah 54:17 But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed.You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.

2. Can you worship God in the storm? When you feel like no one is with you? When you think nothing good can come out of situation? Cause you ought to be able to we already know the outcome!

1. When we respond to a situation by worship we cannot be shaken!

3. When we are in our broken places our worship means more to us

1. It means something to you, it does something inside of you, and give you a hope to keep pressing forward!

4. Worship Must Happen Before, During, and After the Battle

1. Not only when we are in the midst of a struggle that we need to use our worship as a weapon, We MUST use it everyday

2. Worship is not the songs that we sing but it is the lives we live! (its a lifestyle)

3. Every moment of every hour, of everyday we have an opportunity, what will you do with it?

4. Are you going to put your trust in God knowing that He has already won the battle for you, the victory is already in your hands OR are you going to choose the defeated side?

1. I’m gonna challenge you to stand up! Be bold and Courageous!!

2. I know that there are times where you feel like we are fighting the battle alone

3. But I promise you in everything you do he is with you!

4. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.12 In those days when you pray, I will listen.13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

1. God would never set you up to fail! He wants you to prosper and succeed in all you do!

3. Worship Causes RockSolid Breakthrough

1. Paul and Silas

1. Acts 16: 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape.24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

2. As the men were traveling and preaching they were beaten and thrown into prison

3. The devil was sure he had them right where he wanted them and they would just stop preaching and teaching

4. What He didn't know is that he made one fatal mistake

1. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

5. He put them in prison TOGETHER and my bible says that where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there I am also!

1. 1 person can put 1,000 angels to flight but 2 can put 10,000 to flight! (how many can our church put to flight if we all get together)

2. Acts 6: 25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! -

6. Not only did the men escape prison but they also saved the Jailer and his family

2. Tools to use Worship as a Breakthrough

1. Trust

2. Service

3. Surrender

4. Perspective

3. Trust

1. Hebrews 6:16-19 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for or souls.

2. Your name is higher, your name is greater, all my hope is in you, your word its UNFAILING, your promise UNSHAKEN, ALL my hope is in you

1. We have a hope in Jesus Christ

2. Because of his unfailing love

3. God is bound by his promise to take you out of your situation, BUT ONLY if you surrender to him and his purpose

4. Perspective

1. Worship doesn’t change your problems but it changes your perspective

2. Your perspective is everything

1. When you worship it changes the way you see your situation, your not defeated, you see whats in the end!

2. You understand the best is yet to come

5. As Christians even after our breakthrough we need to keep praying, keep fasting, keep reading, and keep worshiping

6. Worship is the breeding ground for miracles

Protect this House

It's important to know that as a Christian you have weapons against your enemy. It’s also vitally important to know how to use a weapon when it comes to battle. If you don’t know how to fight certain enemy's than you will probably be beaten.


Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. [11] Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil."
Now the word tells us here to be strong in God's power not our own.

We get attacked by Satan and we think we can take him on by ourself in our own flesh.
Something happens at home.
Problems at school with teachers.
So called friends stab us in the back.
People start spreading rumors about us.

We allow a little sin in and it just takes over and we can't stop it from setting up it's home in our heart.
As a child of God, God doesn't need to be the last resort but rather He needs to be the first!

"[12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm."

WE NEED TRAINING!
In the Karate Kid the student gets so tired of doing the same thing and “Thinking there is no point to all he is doing, and it is worthless.”
You may think that...
Praying.
Reading.
Worshiping.
Other Godly things are getting you nowhere, but keep training, keep preparing in the battle less moments for the battle is on the way, God will help you and fight your battle for you.

Starting (V14) there are 6 things He says we desperately need to put on. To began living in our life, apply to our character."

"[14] Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness."

1. Belt of Truth (Be Honest in everything)
1. How can you be honest with others when your not honest with yourself?
2. You can fake to the entire world but you'll never fake to God or yourself.
3. Remember "loins gird about with truth?"
4. You run you flee from the enemy in truth.
5. Lies, deception, immorality and excuses will land you in enemy territory truth will keep you far from it.
2. Body armor of God's Right Living (Live a right life by Gods standards not your ideas)
1. Living right will cost you something.
2. People will tear you up with opinions, thoughts, ideas, unguarded standards, and everything that is illegal, immoral, or unethical.
3. Culture has a "Well here's what I think so here's what I'm gonna do."
4. No regard for God or the scriptures.
5. There is a right way to do things and it is all explained to us through God's Word, give it a read.
6. Right living will protect you, guard you and never destroy you.

"[15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared."

3. Shoes of Peace and Good News (Know from His word that he will take care of it all)

1. Shoes protect the most valuable outward part of our body, our feet.
2. People love good news.

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

1. Good news brings peace to the hearer so share God's love, share God's vision, share God's plan of salvation, therefore spreading Good News.
2. Trust in you or believe in you through relationship.

"[16] In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil."

4. Shield of Faith (Let faith be in front of you, have trust in the God of heaven that He will resolve this battle)

1. Shield of faith and faith as a shield.
2. You have to hold up the shield, you have to have part in the battle, you have to make an effort!

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him."

1. They would have shields made of a leather coating that they would soak in water before the battle and when the fiery arrows hit the shield they would be quenched.
2. Point-Soak your life in faith and in the Holy Spirit who just like faith is invisible to us then you'll be able to quench every fiery arrow of the enemy.

"[17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

5. Helmet of Salvation (Here it is a helmet, why not cover our heart with salvation why, our head
God wants to control us as a solider on the field of battle.)

1. If His forgiveness covers our human thought process than He controls our heart. 
2. The enemy plays with our mind it is his battlefield, "your not forgiven, your not healed, you'll never make it."
3. God uses a helmet or a covering of salvation to assure us that if He says it then it's done, if He says we are healed we are healed if we are forgiven then we are forgiven.
4. If the devil controls the mind he moves this fleshly body and will lead us to destruction but if God controls it then we operate under His commands and that will lead us to victory.
5. If he kills the mind he kills the body.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."


6. The sword of the Spirit The word( Know it, study it, hide it in us so we can stand in the battle and say "no weapon formed against me will prosper." Jesus teaches us by example while he was in a vulnerable place in the wilderness, he used scripture to counter act an attack on his mind by Satan.)

1. The sword is one of our offensive weapons.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."

1. God's word cuts to the core.

"[18] Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."

Be ready before the fight starts.

Fight for yourself and for others.

Keep training for your reward is in heaven!