“Worship with Wonder – Worshiping God in Spirit – Given Wonder”
Message Notes March 23, 2025
Rev. Mike Coppersmith
WORSHIP WITH WONDER Worshiping God in Spirit-Given Wonder
John 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in Spirit and in truth.
“You're God, I'm not!”
GOD IS A GOD OF WONDER
Isaiah 29:13-14 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. 14 Therefore, once more will I astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
Luke 2:47-48 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished.
Mark 9:15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
GOD WANTS US TO BE PEOPLE OF WONDER
Luke 11:33-36 (The Message) No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It is put on a lamp stand, so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. 34 Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. 35 Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. 36 Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.
Mark 9:15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
THE NEED FOR WONDER IN OUR WORSHIP
Matt Redman “You can’t have worship without wonder. Otherwise, it’s something lesser, like appreciation. When it comes to true worship, there has to be that element of wonder. There are many elements about our worship expressions that I think we do really well, but when it comes to wonder, reverence, mystery and awe—I don’t think we excel at that. Perhaps we don’t excel at that because we live in a culture that doesn’t always lend itself to wonder.”
THE BLESSINGS OF WORSHIPING WITH SPIRIT-GIVEN WONDER
1. DRAWS YOU INTO A DEEPER LOVE AND INTIMACY WITH GOD
"I love you, Jesus!"
2. INSPIRES JOY, PRAISE AND GRATITUDE
Psalm 65:8 The whole earth is filled with awe at Your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy!
3. CREATES EXPECTANCY
Exodus 15:22 Who among the gods is like You, Lord? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
4. FACILITATES FREEDOM
Acts 3:8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.
5. CULTIVATES HUMILITY AND SURRENDER
Isaiah 6:8 “Here am I, Send me!”
6. LEADS TO PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
SIX PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO RE-AWAKEN WONDER IN YOUR LIFE AND WORSHIP
1. Pray Every Day for God to Re-Awaken Your Wonder
2. Spend time Daily in Scripture
3. Intentionally Set Aside Time for Personal Worship
4. Anticipate and Focus on God's Presence in Your Life and Worship
5. Commit to Be "Present" in His Presence
6. Recall Not Only Who Jesus Is, But What Jesus Does