1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
As believers, we have a new position since Jesus has finished His work of atonement. We are God’s special people who belong to the Kingdom of Light; we are the temple of God; we are the royal priesthood that worships Him through our praise, worship, and free will offerings.
The Bible teaches us the different ways to honour God:
- love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-38)
- be obedient to what He asked us to do (John 14:15)
- praise and worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24)
- serve Him with our gifts and talents (1 Peter 4:10)
- share the gospel faithfully; His last command should be our first concern (Matthew 28:18-20)
Last but not least, we are called to honour God with our tithes and freewill offerings, out of love and obedience. We are blessed to have received the revelation of who Jesus is and to know what He has accomplished for us through His atoning work. Having chosen to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, our hearts overflow with gratitude. Because of all that Christ has done, we desire to honour Him by offering our very best.
Our giving is an expression of worship—an act that acknowledges His worth, His sacrifice, and His lordship. When we worship God, we seek to respond as He has instructed us in His Word.
We are stewards of God’s resources, which He entrusted us with, and we are to use them in ways that honour Him. We bring our tithe to the Lord so that the work of the ministry can continue and the gospel can be proclaimed. When we worship God, we want our offering to be meaningful.
Our worship begins with the tithe, because that is what God has asked of us, and as He enables us, we can give beyond the tithe as an overflow of gratitude.
Reflection: Is your giving motivated by gratitude or obligation? What attitudes or fears might be hindering you from giving freely and joyfully?
Sermon Series: Worshipping the King of Kings
以感恩的心尊荣祂
哥林多前书 3:16–17 岂不知你们是神的殿，神的灵住在你们里头吗？若有人毁坏神的殿，神必要毁坏那人；因为神的殿是圣的，这殿就是你们。
彼得前书 2:9 唯有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。
作为信徒，因着耶稣已经完成了赎罪的工作，我们拥有了全新的身份与地位。我们是属神的子民，属于光明的国度；我们是神的殿；我们也是君尊的祭司，借着赞美、敬拜以及甘心的奉献来敬拜祂。
圣经教导我们以多种方式来尊荣神：
- 尽心、尽性、尽意爱主你的神（马太福音 22:37–38）
- 顺服祂的命令（约翰福音 14:15）
- 用心灵和诚实敬拜祂（约翰福音 4:23–24）
- 运用神所赐的恩赐与才干来服事祂（彼得前书 4:10）
- 忠心传扬福音；祂最后的吩咐应成为我们首要的使命（马太福音 28:18–20）
最后同样重要的是，我们被呼召以十一奉献和甘心奉献来尊荣神，这一切都是出于爱与顺服。我们有福得着启示，认识耶稣是谁，并明白祂借着赎罪之工为我们所成就的一切。当我们选择接受祂为主和救主时，心中便充满了感恩。因着基督所成就的一切，我们渴望以最好的来尊荣祂。
我们的奉献是敬拜的表达——是一种承认祂的配得、祂的牺牲以及祂主权的行动。当我们敬拜神时，我们渴望按照祂在话语中的教导来回应祂。
我们是神所托付资源的管家，应当以荣耀祂的方式来使用这些资源。我们将当纳的十分之一带到主面前，使事工得以持续，福音得以传扬。当我们敬拜神时，我们也盼望我们的奉献是有意义的。
我们的敬拜从十一奉献开始，因为这是神所要求的；并且在祂的恩典供应下，我们也可以在此之上献上更多，作为感恩的流露。
默想：
你的奉献是出于感恩，还是出于责任？是否有某些态度或惧怕正在拦阻你，使你不能自由且喜乐地奉献？
讲章信息：敬拜万王之王