Worship 2

/07/12 Yesterday I shared with you the first time worship is mentioned in the Bible, Gen.22:5. In the first appearance of worship you find Abe worshipping and God providing a lamb. Abe named the place the Lord sees or provides – Jehovah –Jireh. You can’t miss the connection in the NT. The first appearance of the word ‘worship’ in the New Testament is found in Matthew 2:2 when the wise men travel from the east to worship the “King of the Jews”. The wise men worship the Lamb of God who came to take away the one thing that hinders our worship – sin! The elements of their worship were the same as those found in Abraham. They feared God, the rightful king, more than Herod. They offered precious gifts and they obeyed God. We refer to these men as the wise men and speak of them each year at Christmas. Wise men like Abraham in the Old Testament or like these wise men in the New Testament are men who fear the Lord, offer Him their all, and does what He says. That is true worship. Worship that does not contain these three elements is not worship that God approves of. No matter what kind of music you prefer or how often you sing, worship that pleases God must be centered on God. Wise men will worship the Lord! Are you wise? Can you give demonstrable evidence that you fear the Lord? Could you produce examples of your willingness to give your all? When was the last time that you heard from God and obeyed? If you want to be wise – worship the Lord! Prayer: Father, today I bow before You in awe and adoration. I want to worship you by way of the cross. You sent Your Son to die for my sins so that I may have access to You. I praise Your Holy name. In. Jesus name, amen.

Worship

12/06/12 O, come and let us worship Christ the Lord. This is the time of year when so much is going on and we seem so busy that we can hardly find time to worship. But the reason for the season is to worship Christ the Lord. When you hear the word ‘worship’ what do you think about? Many probably think about music and praise choruses. While music can be an expression of worship, worship must begin in the heart. Since worship is the most important thing we do it would be to our great advantage to find out what worship is and what kind of worship God approves of. The first time the word worship is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 22:5. Abraham is called upon to offer his most precious possession – Isaac, his son, the promised seed. Abraham travels for three days to arrive at the place God had told him to go. Upon arrival Abraham tells his men that he and Isaac will go and worship then return. Just when Abraham is about to offer his son God stops him and says, “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” From this passage we learn that worship involves three elements: 1.) fearing the Lord 22:12, 2.) willing to give our all, even the most precious, 22:12, and 3.) A lifestyle of obedience 22:18. Fearing the Lord means a reverent trust in God and what He says. It means that when we fear the Lord we need not fear anything else. Fearing the Lord brings wisdom, peace, understanding and a host of things that will enhance our lives as we walk with the Lord and He provides us with the means to bless others as well. Fear of the Lord was a way of expressing faith in God. The worship that Abraham expressed is the same kind we must express. Abraham was willing to give his all as part of his worship. It is easy for us to understand that we must give up our Ishmael’s because they are works of the flesh and in the long run will harm us and will not bring much glory to God. But our Isaac’s are a different story. They are blessings from God. They are the good and best things in life. They are blessings that have come from God. They are answered prayers. Our Isaac’s are those things and people that are most dear to us. But even the blessings can and sometime do take the place of God and become an idol. That is why worship will lead to a lifestyle of obedience. Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Genesis 18:19 For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Abraham knew God through obedience. If Abraham had not feared the Lord, he would not have offered his best, and he would never have obeyed. But because Abraham’s first priority was worship those three elements of worship were present. This is really what life is about. It is knowing God and being known by God. The bottom line is that you cannot worship what you don’t know. This may be the major reason why so many can come to church and participate, yet go unchanged and unmoved. Knowing God is meant to thrill the soul and excite the heart. What could be more exhilarating than knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. Prayer: Father, today O bow before you in holy awe and adoration. I offer myself to you. You are my God. In Jesus name, amen.

God with us!

12/04/12 Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. The above verse is tremendous and it’s packed with truth. The reason we don’t have to be fond of money is because God is with us and He will do what money cannot do, satisfy the soul. ‘Fail’ means to relax, to loosen, not to uphold, to let sink. God will not fail you because He will not loosen or relax His hold on you. Our Lord Jesus said, John 10:29-30 (NKJV) 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one. Those who belong to God are safe and secure because the Almighty God holds them in His hand! ‘Abandon’ means to leave or forsake someone in a state of defeat or helplessness. God will never let you down! But I said that this verse is packed with truth. There is more here than the English language reveals. In the original Greek language there are five negatives in this one verse! In English a double negative is a positive: “Do not not go,” means to go. We don’t write this way because it isn’t proper or good English. But it is beautiful Greek! In this language more than one negative is meant to strengthen and emphasize the negative. The Greek literally says, “I will never, never fail you or loosen my hold on you. I will never, never, never leave you helpless or let you down.” It is God Himself who has said this and He has put it on record. When you think of God and who He is this is indeed a most precious promise. He is none other than the Creator, the Almighty, and the One who sent His Son to redeem us to Himself. No wonder Paul could write, Romans 8:31 (NKJV) …If God is for us, who can be against us? When you realize this truth fear will be replaced with peace and joy. So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 (NKJV) Prayer: Father, how awesome You are! There is none like You. May we take this truth to heart and live with a keen awareness that you are with us. In Jesus name, amen.