Whole-of-life Worship Isaiah 58 verses 1-12 Is that what God requires of us?

2. Whole-of-life Worship Isaiah 58 verses 1-12 Is that what God requires of us? Is that all that God requires of us?

3. Micah 8 v6 “God has shown you what is good and what he requires of you is this: To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” 1 Sam 15 v22 “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen [heed] is better than the fat of rams.” Mark 12 v29-31 Jesus commanded us to love God with all our hearts AND to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. James 1 v27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” 1 John 3 v16-17 “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?” 1 John 4 v20 “If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?”

4. True Fasting/True & False Worship (GNT) The Lord says, “Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins! 2 They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws [decisions] and that they take pleasure in worshiping me.” 3 The people ask, “Why should we fast if the Lord never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?” The Lord says to them, “The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. 4 Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? 5 When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

5. 6“The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. 7 Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor [foreigners]. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives [fellow humans]. 8 “Then my favour will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. 9 When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond. “If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; 10 if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. 11 And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well.

6. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. 12 Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.”

7. Worship must be a whole of life expression • not just at Sunday worship but at work on Monday to Saturday. • not just at work but in our leisure time. • not just our public lives but our private lives behind closed doors.

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10. What are the implications for us today? • Reflect on the way that we view and use our own wealth and possessions and employable skills.Share. • Concern for children living in poverty. • Health care, housing & educational support for the poor. • Employment and economic opportunities for the poor (a higher minimum wage and encouraging payment of the living wage.) • Welcoming refugees while ensuring good integration and addressing security issues. Share what we have. • Increase the size of our country’s refugee quota. • Concern for the poor statistics of Maori and support for the Waitangi Tribunal.

11. The contribution of Rev John Dunmore Lang, first resident Presbyterian minister in New South Wales and passionate advocate for indigenous/aboriginal peoples. His writings may have contributed significantly to Article One of the Treaty, helping to ensure the rights and protection of Maori. • See article on Presbyterian Church homepage • ‘Rev John Dunmore Lang’s gift to the Tiriti o Waitangi’ • by Rev Wayne Te Kaawa at www.presbyterian.org.nz

12. The key to a lifestyle of worship, a life that honours God, is that we do everything in life as though we were doing it for our Lord Jesus, and that we carry on a continual conversation with Jesus as though he is working alongside us, which of course he is. • Worship is • to be the God-centred orientation of my life; • honouring God in everything I do; • putting God first in every aspect of life; • living to please God in every moment of the day.

13. What daily tasks, attitudes or relationships can I consider afresh, and engage with them as if I were doing them directly for Jesus? Which is more pleasing to God right now – my Sunday worship or my Monday to Saturday worship? What will I do about it?