In Exodus 34:20 we read that God does not want us to approach Him in worship empty-handed. This past Sunday we established from Scripture (1 Peter 2:5) that to be like Jesus, we must be the place, the minister, and the offering of worship. God tells us through Scripture the attitudes that we are to approach Him with as an offering of worship. A partial list includes:

· Expectation of meeting God

· Joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and praise

· Brokenness and contriteness

· Prayers and intercession

· Offerings

· Teachableness

· Belief

When these attitudes are a part of the offering that we offer to God, then there are blessings that we receive in the midst of our worship. When we approach God with an attitude of:

· Expectation of meeting God, then we can expect the joyful reality of His presence (Matthew 18:20).

· Joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and praise, then we can expect a deeper sense of His glory and an enhanced understanding of who He is (Psalm 100).

· Brokenness and contriteness, then we can expect the assurance of His pardoning mercy (Psalm 51:16-17).

· Prayers and intercession, then we can expect to be heard in Heaven (1 John 5:14-15).

· Offerings, then we can expect that He will meet our needs (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).

· Teachableness, then we can expect that our souls will grow in maturity (1 Peter 2:1-2).

· Belief, then we can expect to see and understand Christ through Scripture (Luke 24:25-27).

There are, obviously, more than just these. And as we noted in the sermon, as soon as we come for the purpose of receiving the blessings, we are no longer worshipping. But notice how these particular attitudes mirror the components of our worship services. As we bring these attitudes, God blesses our offering and provides us with blessings that can be used during and through the worship service and prepares us for future worship.