For over 1,000 years, 365,000 days, 525,600,000 minutes this building's been here and we've worshipped within it. Imagine what these walls have seen, and these bricks have heard. Every song, every prayer, cry and yearn, generation after generation of brothers and sisters who have gone before us. A multitude of broken worshippers and beloved sinners dedicating themselves to the King Jesus. 1,000 years of endless pursuit. 1,000 years on and still the world cannot refute the good news of our Saviour, no matter how hard they try, it's a truth that will never waver because He is greater, than we could ever conceive. Our ancestors believed and believed and believed that He truly is worthy of it all, so they gave their all, week in and week out making sure their fire never burned out.
And so here we are now, the next age of prodigal sons, attempting to live a life sold out for the One. But in a time of Megachurches and professional worship it's easy to forget who it is we are living for. To lose sight of the Almighty Creator we are singing to, and turn up simply so we can just feel something good. We leave content with the joy rising within us, walking out the door smiling for myself but forgetting about Jesus. But what if we stopped for a second and realised what it is we're actually singing, because then we'd never be able to leave unchanged, never forgetting to give glory to His name. Do we know what it really means to praise God for being forever faithful and the restorer of our souls? Because they are more than just pretty lyrics and worship song 'goals', they are hammering truths, words that when we sing should shake us to our core, bring us to our knees, and dance with joy.
Do you know who it is you are worshipping?
The heavenly ruler who came down to our mess and sacrificed everything
The One who thought of you before time began
The One who for eternity will have scars on His hands because He looked at you and said you are worth dying for
The Alpha and Omega, the Lord of all
Your redeemer, your protector, your healer
Your father, your brother, your best friend
The One who will fight for you until the very end
The King of all kings, the almighty and majestic God whom nobody comes above
The One who even when you knowingly act against Him will still embrace you and say, "You are loved!"
That is the God we are worshipping. The one we sing to, bow down to and lift our hands high for.
So the time has come for us to not hold back anymore! He said that if we did not praise Him then the rocks would cry out. Well they won't need to sing their song because we will sing ours. Their praise will be contained because ours won't be restrained. We need to make an almighty sound. To be undignified, surrendered and send trembles through the ground as we praise Jesus with an unrelenting passion and an unforgiving volume as we hand ourselves over in praise, getting lost in awe and wonder and no longer caring how wild our worship seems. Is this place just gonna become another spire in the city of dreamers? Or is it gonna be the holy ground that's thick with the presence of God and packed out with believers? It's not that we have to, it's that we get to! We get to wake up every morning and say Jesus this is why I love you!
So don't give Him your empty words, don't give Him your quiet mumbles, let's be a people with nothing holding us back, glorifying Him for who He is and be humbled. Brought to our knees and drenched in tears. Because the King of kings, the Lord Almighty is here, Jesus come and take Your heavenly throne. Because there's no place we'd rather be, it's in Your presence we find our eternal home. We are here for You and You alone, for You are worthy.
