Sermon: Intensity
by Chris Cumming
[Disclaimer]
I grew up hearing a phrase that said you cannot tell a game without a
scorecard. Such is the case today and why I sent you a scorecard with
words. Your having studied these words and having them on paper before
you for this sermon will aid your understanding as we go through the
scriptures.
For years, I have been preaching about the personal and collective need
for Fervency, Diligence and Zeal in our
day-to-day lives in the salvation process. I will continue this message
to the day I die. Those three words, Fervency,
Diligence and Zeal have more to do that just our
lives in the salvation process and the elements we find there. They
have to do with our very worship of God. In fact, the more we worship
God, the more we seek relationship with Him. As you are going to see,
the more we worship God, the more He seeks deeper relationship with us.
Those three words are talking about intensity. The purpose of
this sermon is to encourage all of us to bring continual intensity to
our worship of God.
Manifest
intensity.
You have your sheet of words before you. Let us review that list of
words.
Fervent --Intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm. Hot,
burning, glowing
Intense --High or extreme degree. Very great strength, keenness. Strong emotions.
Ardor --Great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion. Intense devotion, eagerness or enthusiasm; zeal.
Effectual --Producing or capable of producing an intended effect.
Hasting --Urgent need of quick action; in a hurry or rush. Swiftness of motion and speed.
Diligent --Constant in effort to accomplishing something.
In Spirit --To infuse [introduce; penetrate; instill] God's Holy Spirit into what you do. This infusion process takes place before the physical action. It takes place in the mind or heart.
Zealous --Full of zeal. Ardently active and devoted [intensely devoted, eager, or enthusiastic]. Diligent.
Waxed Strong --Waxed means increase. So waxed
strong has the meaning of getting stronger and stronger.
2 Samuel 3:1 (example of “waxing”)
Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but
David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul
waxed weaker and weaker.
With this scorecard before you, let us get into the intensity of
God's Word. We will begin with the key verse for our discussion. We will be
spending much of the sermon with this verse.
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth.
We will begin with the Barnes Notes commentary:
God is A spirit - This is the second reason why men should worship him in
spirit and in truth. By this is meant that God is without a body; that
he is not material or composed of parts; that he is invisible, in every place,
pure and holy. This is one of the first truths of religion, and one of the [most
sublime] ever presented to the mind of man. Almost all nations have had some
idea of God as gross or material, but the Bible declares that he is a pure
spirit. As he is such a spirit, he dwells not in temples made with hands Acts
7:48, neither is worshipped with men’s hands as though he needed anything,
seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things, Acts 17:25. A pure, a
holy, a spiritual worship, therefore, is such as he seeks - the offering of the
soul rather than the formal offering of the body - the homage of the heart
rather than that of the lips. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Acts 7:48
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the
prophet,
Acts 17:25
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he
giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Let me read that last sentence of the commentary again: "A pure, a holy, a
spiritual worship, therefore, is such as he seeks - the offering of the soul
rather than the formal offering of the body - the homage of the heart rather
than that of the lips." "The offering of the soul rather than the formal
offering of the body." "The homage of the heart rather than that of the lips."
This is talking about the highest levels of human communication, which we have
discussed several times. Let us review the top two levels of communication;
Levels 4 and 5:
Level 4: Sharing Values &
Feelings
And so we progress to level 4. Now it gets scary. We’re sharing what we feel.
What drives us. Our hopes and our dreams. This is where you start to become
friends. You’re really stepping out of the safe zone now.
Level 5: Sharing Intimacy
& Confession
This is where it gets scary. Now you start sharing the deepest part of who you
are. This is a level most reserve for only God…and often He doesn’t even get it.
This is where we start really being intimate. To share what we’ve done wrong,
as well as the amazing things in our life. This is where we really take a risk.
This is where we open our heart, mind and soul to the other person. There are
no secrets. This is true intimacy.
That’s what Level 5 Communication is like: being completely open and honest,
more than honest. Sharing the deepest, scariest parts of you, knowing the risk
and still deciding to be vulnerable. ~end quote from our document on the
subject.
John 4:24 says we must worship God in spirit and in truth. How
could this not involve our opening our heart, mind and soul to God? God may
bless you with these high levels of communication and intimacy to show you what
He seeks from you in worship. Let us look at more commentaries on John 4:24.
God is a Spirit - This is one of the first, the greatest, the most sublime, and
necessary truths in the compass of nature! There is a God, the cause of all
things - the fountain of all perfection - without parts or dimensions, for he is
Eternal - filling the heavens and the earth - pervading, governing, and
upholding all things: for he is an infinite Spirit! This God can be pleased only
with that which resembles himself: therefore he must hate sin and sinfulness;
and can delight in those only who are made partakers of his own Divine nature.
As all creatures were made by him, so all owe him obedience and reverence; but,
to be acceptable to this infinite Spirit, the worship must be of a spiritual
nature - must spring from the heart, through the influence of the Holy [Spirit]:
and it must be in Truth, not only in sincerity, but performed according to that
Divine revelation which he has given men of himself. A man worships God in
spirit, when, under the influence of the Holy [Spirit],
he brings all his affections, appetites, and desires to the throne of God; and
he worships him in truth, when every purpose and passion of his heart, and when
every act of his religious worship, is guided and regulated by the word of God.
~Adam Clarke
Now, let us look at scriptures linked to our key verse of John 4:24
Linked to John 4:24
For, "a Spirit":
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.
1 Timothy 1:17 [see
Lesson]
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and
glory for ever and ever. Amen.
For, "Must: worship him in spirit and in truth":
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of
his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Psalm 50:13-15
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt
glorify me.
Psalm 50:23
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation
aright will I shew the salvation of God.
Psalm 51:17 [see sermon, "B&C"]
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 66:18
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones.
Matthew 15:8-9
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their
lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men.
2 Corinthians 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity
and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have
had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
Now we will look at more scriptures teaching us to manifest intensity.
"In Spirit"
Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in
spirit.
Commentary:
But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit - not who are humble
in appearance only, or merely in words, having a show of humility, a voluntary
and affected one; but really in their hearts; whose spirits are humble and
contrite; who are so in spiritual things, and are made so by the Spirit of God:
they are such who are truly sensible of sin; of their folly, and want of
spiritual knowledge; of their impotence, and weakness to do anything that is
spiritually good; of their spiritual poverty, and want of righteousness; who see
that salvation is all of grace; and that whatever they have is owing to the
grace of God; that they are deficient in all their duties, and these
insufficient to justify them before God; who submit to the righteousness of
Christ, and give all the glory of salvation to the grace of God. These, as they
are honourable, being clothed with humility, which is itself an ornament of
great price; so they are honoured with more grace from the Lord; they are
beautified with the garments of salvation; they have the honour to have the
spiritual and gracious presence of God, and fellowship with him, who dwells with
such as are of an humble spirit: these are the meek and lowly, that shall
inherit the new earth, and reign as kings with Christ in it; and the poor
in spirit, to whom the kingdom of heaven belongs: and this honour is
durable, they shall always abide in it; the grace they have, which makes them
glorious, springs up unto eternal life; and the glory they shall have is an
eternal weight of glory, a crown of glory that fadeth not away: for so the words
may be rendered, "the humble in spirit shall lay hold on glory" or
"honour"; possess it and enjoy it: or rather "shall retain" it; shall hold it
fast. ~John Gill
Ecclesiastes 7:8
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient
in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Commentary:
And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in
spirit - patience is a fruit of the Spirit of God; and is of great use
in the Christian's life, and especially in bearing afflictions, and tends to
make men more humble, meek, and quiet; and such are highly esteemed of God; on
them he looks, with them he dwells, and to them he gives more grace; when such
who are proud, and elated with themselves, their riches or righteousness, are
abominable to him. ~John Gill
Isaiah 29:24
They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and
they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
Commentary:
Shall come to understanding - to a spiritual understanding of Christ, and
salvation by him; of his Gospel, and the doctrines of it; as well as of
themselves, their state and condition: ~John Gill
Shall learn doctrine - the doctrine of the Messiah; not the law, but the Gospel,
which Christ "received" from his Father, as the word used signifies, and his
disciples received from him, and the church has received from them, and has been
transmitted to us Gentiles, and will be to the Jews in the latter day, who will
learn the true knowledge of it. ~John Gill
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
Commentary:
Blessed are the poor in spirit - Not the poor in purse, or who are
so with respect to things temporal: for though God has chosen and called many,
who are in such a condition of life, yet not all; the kingdom of heaven cannot
be said to belong to them all, or only; but such as are poor in a spiritual
sense. All mankind are spiritually poor; they have nothing to eat that is fit
and proper; nor any clothes to wear, but rags; nor are they able to purchase
either; they have no money to buy with; they are in debt, owe ten thousand
talents, and have nothing to pay; and in such a condition, that they are not
able to help themselves. The greater part of mankind are insensible of this
their condition; but think themselves rich, and increased with goods: there are
some who are sensible of it, who see their poverty and want, freely acknowledge
it, bewail it, and mourn over it; are humbled for it, and are broken under a
sense of it; entertain low and mean thoughts of themselves; seek after the true
riches, both of grace and glory; and frankly acknowledge, that all they have, or
hope to have, is owing to the free grace of God. Now these are the persons
intended in this place; who are not only "poor", but are poor "in spirit";
in their own spirits, in their own sense, apprehension, and judgment: and may
even be called "beggars", as the word may be rendered; for being sensible of
their poverty, they place themselves at the door of mercy, and knock there;
their language is, "God be merciful"; their posture is standing, watching, and
waiting, at wisdom's gates, and at the posts of her door; they are importunate,
will have no denial, yet receive the least favour with thankfulness. Now these
are pronounced "blessed", for this reason. ~John Gill
Luke 1:80 ...John the Baptist example
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and
was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Commentary:
Waxed strong in spirit - That is, in courage,
understanding, and purposes of good, fitting him for his future work. The word “wax”
means to “increase, to grow,” from an old Saxon word. ~Barnes Notes
Luke 2:40 ...Jesus our example
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit,
filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Commentary:
And waxed strong in spirit - or in his soul; for as
he had a true body, he had also a reasonable soul; the faculties of which were
far from being weak, they were exceeding strong, and appeared stronger and
stronger every day; his understanding was clear, his judgment solid, and his
memory strong and retentive, his will, and the desires of it, were to that which
is good, and his affections cleaved unto it. The Persic and Ethiopic versions
read, "was strengthened in", or "by the Holy Spirit"; with the grace and gifts
of it; but the former sense is best. ~John Gill
John 4:23 ...the verse just before our key verse for the day
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the
Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to
worship him.
Commentary:
But the hour cometh, and now is - The old dispensation is about to pass away,
and the new one to commence. “Already” there is so much light that God may be
worshipped acceptably in any place.
The true worshippers - All who truly and sincerely worship God. They who do it
with the heart, and not merely in form.
In spirit - The word “spirit,” here, stands opposed to rites and ceremonies, and
to the pomp of external worship. It refers to the “mind,” the “soul,” the
“heart.” They shall worship God with a sincere “mind;” with the simple offering
of gratitude and prayer; with a desire to glorify him, and without external pomp
and splendor. Spiritual worship is that where the heart is offered to God, and
where we do not depend on external forms for acceptance.
In truth - Not through the medium of shadows and types, not by means of
sacrifices and bloody offerings, but in the manner represented or typified by
all these, (see Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 9:24). In the true way of direct
access to God through Jesus Christ.
For the Father seeketh - Jesus gives two reasons why this kind of worship should
take place. One is that God sought it or desired it. He had appointed the old
mode, but he did it because he sought to lead the mind to himself even by those
forms, and to prepare the people for the purer system of the gospel, and now he
sought or desired that those who worshipped him should worship him in that
manner. He intimated his will by Jesus Christ. ~Barnes Notes
1 Timothy 4:12 [see
Lesson]
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word,
in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Fervent in Spirit
Key Verse:
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving
the Lord;
Notice the commentary:
Fervent - This word is usually applied to water, or to metals so
heated as to bubble, or boil. It hence is used to denote ardor,
intensity, or as we express it, a glow, meaning intense
zeal, Acts 18:25. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse and I will read verse 24:
Acts 18:24-25
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and
mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent
in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of
the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
In Spirit - In your mind or heart. The expression is used to
denote a mind filled with intense ardor in whatever
it is engaged. It is supposed that Christians would first find appropriate
objects for their labor, and then engage in them with intense
ardor and zeal. ~Barnes Notes
2 Corinthians 7:7
And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in
you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent
mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
Commentary:
Your fervent mind toward me - Greek, ‘Your zeal for
me.’ It denotes that they evinced [make evident; prove; show clearly]
great ardor of attachment to him, and an earnest desire to comply
with his wishes. ~Barnes Notes
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.
Commentary:
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much -
The words signify energetic supplication, or such a prayer as is suggested to
the soul and wrought in it by a Divine energy. When God designs to do some
particular work in his Church he pours out on his followers the spirit of grace
and supplication; and this he does sometimes when he is about to do some
especial work for an individual. When such a power of prayer is granted, faith
should be immediately called into exercise, that the blessing may be given: the
spirit of prayer is the proof that the power of God is present to heal. Long
prayers give no particular evidence of Divine inspiration: the following was a
maxim among the ancient Jews, the prayers of the righteous are short. This is
exemplified in almost every instance in the Old Testament. ~Adam Clarke
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for
charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Commentary:
Have fervent charity - Intense love; for love shall
cover a multitude of sins. A loving disposition leads us to pass by the faults
of others, to forgive offenses against ourselves, and to excuse and lessen, as
far as is consistent with truth, the transgressions of men. It does not mean
that our love to others will induce God to pardon our offenses. ~Adam Clarke
Have fervent charity among yourselves - Warm, ardent love toward
each other. On the nature of charity, see the notes at 1 Corinthians13:1. The
word rendered “fervent,” means properly extended; then intent,
earnest, fervent. ~Barnes Notes
Two verses showing how God will manifest fervency soon:
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up.
2 Peter 3:12
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?
Now there is a day to look forward to. And you will be there as you manifest
Intensity!!