Tuesday, December 23, 2008

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - WORSHIP

Christmas is a time of joy and giving. Christians all over the world commemorate this occasion because "God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ ..."
In our celebration, we proclaim the Good News with carols on the streets and we expressed the loved of God to the world with our gifts to the needy and the orphans. In the midst of all these activities, let us not forget that the spirit of Christmas is WORSHIP? All those who came to meet Jesus at the manger WORSHIPPED ...


The Wisemen"Where is the one who has been born king of Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Matthew 2:2)"On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh " (Matthew 2:11 - note: worship before gifts)

The Angels"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appreared with angel praising God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men ..." (Luke 2:13)

The Shepherds"The shepherds returned, glorifying God for all the things they had heard and seen ..." (Luke 2:20)

Simeon The Godly Man"... Simeon, who was a righteous and devout ...took Him in his arms and praised God ..." (Luke 2:25-33)

The Prophetess Anna" ... she gave thanks to God ..." (Luke 2:36-38)

As we celebrate this year's Christmas, let us reserve the best gift for our Lord - WORSHIP!
Blessed Christmas!
TPWC

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

ONE THING - After God's Heart

"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple" (Psalm 27:4).

David's primary occupation was to seek God and His beauty. God declared David to be a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Imagine that? Wouldn't you love for God to say that about you? I know I would. David sought God when he was young and when he was old. He sought after Him when he was a young shepherd boy, praying and worshipping him in the fields where there was no human audience. He sought after God when he was a king and military leader when he was busy with responsibility and pressure. David sought after God's heart during times of victory and times of testing. It was the goal and focus of his life. Perhaps we could say that David was on a lifelong treasure hunt to discover the beauty of God - to find out the commands of God's heart and to fully obey them - to study God's emotions and encounter Him in intimacy - to discover the purposes of God's heart and contend in prayer for a breakthrough. David was one who loved to be in God's house. He even raised up 4,000 musicians and 288 singers to worship God in His house (1 Chronicles 23:5, 25:7).

David knew how to tap into the most important thing in life. Let us look at the examples of David through the Book of Psalm :

"O God You are my God. Early will I seek You. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for You ..." Psalm 63:1 (NKJV)

"My soul follows close behind you ..." Psalm 63:8 (NKJV)

"Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You." Psalm 73:25 (NKJV)

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God." Psalm 42:1 (NKJV)


"Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8 (NKJV)

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My Soul longs, yes even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Psalm 84:1-2 (NKJV)

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand ..." Psalm 84:10 (NKJV)

What is the primary ambition in your Christian walk & ministry? Your answer can make the difference between success or failure, strength or powerlessness, hope or defeat. David chose only ONE THING - to behold the beauty of the Lord. David was a Lifestyle Worshipper. What about you?

"I believe strongly that one thing the devil seeks to do is to sneak in and subtly distract our attention from the purity and simplicity of loving God. He doesn't mind if we exalt revival, healing, or anything else, as long as we lose our focus on the simplicity of heart-level lavish devotion to the Son of God." Mike Bickle - Director of International House of Prayer

Be a God chaser
TPWC