Someplace, deep within us, God has placed a longing to experience life with Him - to draw from Him as the source for our lives - to be possessed by Him - to have fellowship with Him. Someplace within us God has placed a longing for community - for intimacy between each of us - drawing on our relationship with Jesus Christ - to experience a deeper - more joyful - more satisfying fellowship than any type of relationship or experience the world can offer us.

That has been the motivation for our study together. How can we draw deeper in our fellowship with God and with each other?

Its not an accident that John ends his letter by writing about worship and who and what holds the greatest value and authority over our lives. The highest expression of our fellowship is when we come together in worship of God - when we value Him most highly - and mutually express our adoration to Him.

This is what we want to look at this morning - being drawn deeper into fellowship by valuing God above all others.

1 John 5:18-21: We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God - that is Jesus - keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Human history proves John’s point. Just looking around us today - turn on the news - read a newspaper. The proof of what John says is all around us. This world lies in the power of Satan. And somehow human kind suffers from the delusion that somehow we’re evolving into something greater than ourselves.

I recently read a quote attributed Philip Mauro. Philip Mauro was a Christian lawyer who many years ago worked with the United States Supreme Court. Listen to what Philip Mauro wrote way back in 1908.

“Among the strong delusions of these times there is none stronger than that Man’s Day - what we are achieving all by ourselves without God - if God exists at all - among the strong delusions of these times - is that this - is a day of glorious achievement, successive triumphs, and continuous progress and that by the forces operating in it mankind is eventually to be brought to the condition of universal blessedness and contentment.”

John writes - because we know Jesus - we know the truth. We see life stripped of its delusions - man’s focus on himself and his own achievement. This world is in desperate shape - deluded by Satan - unable to see the truth of its own corruption.

Which brings us to verse 21 - and John’s warning and final statement about fellowship: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” Guard yourselves from anything or anyone who occupies a greater value in your hearts than God. “You know the truth. Don’t go off after a lie. Don’t give your attention - your energy - your time - your money - what you live for - what excites you - don’t make that your god.”

John writes, “guard yourselves from idols,” because its easy for us to get off track - to loose focus - to believe the lies of the world around us. Its easy for us to slip into the mindset of the world - man centered - self-sufficient - proud of our accomplishment. Its easy for us to focus on ourselves in worship - and on what pleases us - not on what pleases God.

When we focus on ourselves worship becomes divisive. We see this today in America. The form worship takes is one of the most divisive issues. Imagine - the highest expression of the depth of our fellowship together - the highest expression of the depth of our adoration and value of God - is also the most divisive within Christ’s Church. Quarrels - antagonism - anger - churches coming apart - over this tremendous gift of God - the ability to draw together and adore Him.

When we focus on ourselves worship looses its value in our lives. Our family gatherings - our time with friends - our recreation - our work and career - all these assume greater priority. Worship becomes “going to church” - an intrusion - and addition to our already busy lives.

Focus on anything or anyone else besides God and its easy for us to take for granted the tremendous truths of God which He has revealed to us - the foundational truths on which we rest our faith. Its so easy for us to take for granted our relationship with God - the wonder of Jesus’ love - the nearness of His presence - His peace within our hearts. The joy of being together in His presence.

Idolatry destroys fellowship. Worship of God deepens fellowship.

With John’s warning in mind I’d like to share two truths about who God is that I believe will help us to keep our focus on Him.

First - THE AWESOME MAJESTY - AUTHORITY - AND POWER OF GOD.

In 1 Kings 18:16 ff - we read that the people of Israel had fallen into idolatry and were worshipping the god Baal. Do you remember this scene? A showdown on Mount Carmel between the prophets of Baal and God’s prophet Elijah. 450 prophets of Baal with 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah - verses Elijah. A competition to determine which God the people of Israel should worship.

Elijah says to the people gathered there, “I’m outnumbered. But, its okay. Let’s build two altars and offer sacrifices and see which God answers. You go first. You bring the oxen. You choose which ox you want. I’ll take the other one. Build your altar - cut up the ox - put it on the wood - and then you call on Baal to answer. I’ll do the same thing and call on God to answer.”

You’ll remember that the prophets of Baal built an altar and spent the whole morning dancing around and crying out to Baal to answer. Finally, about noon, Elijah starts to mock them, “Shout louder. He’s a god - maybe he’s busy or gone somewhere. Maybe he’s sleeping and needs to be woken up.”

So Baal’s prophets cried out louder and cut themselves and they’re bleeding all over the place. This goes on all afternoon until evening. Then, the Bible says, “There was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.”

Elijah calls the people of Israel to himself. He takes 12 stones - symbolically one for each tribe of Israel - and builds up the altar of God. Then he makes a trench around the altar - puts wood on the altar - cuts up the ox and lays the pieces on the altar. Then he orders that four pitchers be filled with water and the water poured out on the altar - the ox pieces - the wood - everything. Then he has them do it again - and again. The water is flowing over the altar and filling up the trench - everything is soaking wet. The people must have thought Elijah had completely lost it at this point. He’s nuts.

Finally Elijah prays - no screaming - no dancing - no cutting himself - just prayer. “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that Thou art God in Israel....answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that Thou, O Lord, art God....”

Then God’s fire falls from heaven. The offering is consumed. The wood is consumed. The stones and the dust are consumed. The water is vaporized. And the people fall flat on their faces - crying out, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”

If we could keep this truth - this image - of God’s majesty - His authority and power - in our hearts as we come - our attitude and focus in worship would change.

Second - truth about God - HIS HOLINESS.

In Isaiah 6 (Isaiah 6:1-13) we read that the prophet Isaiah was taken into the temple - before the mercy seat of God. There he sees God sitting on His throne - high and exalted - with the train of His robe - His holiness and authority and glory filling the temple. Hovering around God are Seraphim - brilliant - powerful - six winged - angels. With two wings they covered their faces - with two wings they covered their feet - with two wings they flew. The seraphim sing as a great choir - singing with such power that the very foundations of the temple are shaking.

They sing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

Isaiah cries out, “I’m doomed. I’m a foul-mouthed sinner, a member of a sinful, foul-mouthed race; and I’ve looked upon the King, the Lord of heaven’s armies, the Lord God almighty.”

One of the seraphim flies over to Isaiah with a burning piece of coal - taken from the altar. The seraphim touches Isaiah’s mouth with the coal and says, “Behold this has touched your lips. You are no longer guilty. Your sins are forgiven.” From this point on Isaiah is commissioned by God to serve Him as His prophet among the people.

God’s holiness and God’s grace. Who are we before the holy God that we should presume to come here and worship Him? Who are we, unless God should invite us.

In a moment we will come together to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper - designed by God Himself - a reminder for us of the great fundamental truths of our faith and of who we are before God. There can be no pretense here. No pride. No self. When we come - we come as those that God has invited. We are His.

When we set aside ourselves - and the things we delude ourselves with - and look only at God we can begin to worship Him. Paul writes, in Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Idolatry destroys fellowship. Worship of God deepens fellowship.