Holy Spirit - Present In Worship

While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." - Acts 13:2

A lot can happen when people worship God. Many disciples were gathered together in Acts 2, presumably for worship, when the Holy Spirit came upon them in wind and fire. The church was born, the first sermon was preached, and amazing things began to happen in Jerusalem and beyond. In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit spoke with instructions: Send out Barnabas and Saul.

There seems to be a connection. When people worship God - really worship Him with love in their hearts and truth in their minds - the Holy Spirit is there. That's no coincidence. He inspires our worship, and the more we worship, the more deeply He dwells with us. The God who is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) is mightily and manifestly present when we worship Him. If we want Jesus to be in our midst, all we need to do is to follow His instructions: Gather two or more in His name. Worship brings the throne room of heaven into the company of our fellowship.

But He does more than just show up. He also fills us and give us direction. God may hesitate to instruct people who aren't serious about following Him. But a group of worshipers who have made it clear that He is their desire will hear Him. The volume of His voice grows louder when we worship. At this point of genuine worship in the early church, a mission to a lost world was launched.

The gathering of the Antioch leaders to worship and fast is too infrequently repeated in our age. But if we will spend our lives in worship, He will direct us in how to spend our lives.

An extract from: Worship The King - by Chris Tiegreen
Blessed week!
TPWC

WORSHIP - A REDEFINING PERSPECTIVE ...

WORSHIP

I think of worship as a love affair between the spirit of man and the spirit of His God.
Worship is intimate relationship beyond human comprehension; only lovers worship!
Worship is intercourse of the highest proportions; the absolute and ultimate fusion of man and God; of the creature with his creator.

Worship is the transfiguration of body, soul and spirit to the place where nothing else matters and time ceases to exist.It is the point where the spirit prevails over the flesh and all moulds are broken!
Worship is the complete negligence of self as man connects in total submission to God.

Worship is the very essence of creation; it is the highest expectation of the creator.
Worship is the only thing God cannot do for Himself; hence it is our highest obligation to Him!

Worship is the peak of no return; the point where man in his totality presses through to the immediate presence of the King of kings!

Worship is the recognition of the awesomeness of God; it is the celebration of his beauty and the appreciation of His might.
Worship is the expression of His love and the stimulation of His power at work within us!

Worship is a lifestyle, a mind-set, a mentality, a radical paradigm shift from the realms of the natural into the realms of the divine.

Worship is giving your best to God, holding nothing back, disregarding all protocol and nullifying all man-made doctrines.

Worship is the spot at which God is vulnerable and His sceptre of favour is stretched out to fix all that pertains to the worshiper
Worship is the most potent form of warfare; the point where the might of God is provoked to step in on behalf of the worshiper, thwarting the enemy and putting him to flight!

Worship is the safest place to be; it is the sweetest thing to do. It is the most gratifying of feelings both carnal and divine.

Worship is man caught up in God’s presence all by himself!

Worship- the highest calling, the only eternal ministry- the essence of creation- the heart of the creator!

Note : this post is contributed by Alexander Victor - http://www.myspace.com/officialaltarsound (TPWC Facebook Group's member).

TPWC welcome all readers' contribution if you have an article on Lifestyle Worship.

Have a blessed week

TPWC - Ricky

WHAT IS YOUR WORSHIP LIKE? - PART 3

WORSHIP IS NOT ABOUT US BUT HIM

WORSHIP IS ALL ABOUT GIVING OUR LIVES (AGAIN) TO HIM

Take 3 minutes to view this video and be inspired .... TPWC also invites you to share or comment on your what you think

Have a blessed and victorious Easter Sunday
TPWC - Ricky

WHAT IS YOUR WORSHIP LIKE? - PART 2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1 NIV)

Let us continue Paul's message about being "A Living Sacrifice". What does it mean to lay our lives on God's altar?

Since the days of the Exodus, wherever a tabernacle or temple stood, faithful Jews would bring the best of their flocks and herds to a priest standing at the altar of God. It was an act of devotion , a command: The offering would, at times, serve as
- a symbol of sin and it's ugly consequences;
- as a sacrifice of gratitude, acknowledging that every good gift comes from God; or
- as an act of devotion and worship, a gift from a loving heart.
Regardless of the reason, the origin of the sacrifice was always God - human beings clearly never created a ram or a bull - and sacrifice was always a reminder of the horrible gap between the Creator and the created.

As believers saved by grace, there is, however, an appropriate response. It has nothing to do with merit or guilt, but only with the thankfulness that should naturally flow from a redeemed heart. IT IS OUR SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP!

The response is for us to walk to that tabernacle or temple as the Israelites did in days of old, approach the Priest, and hand Him the sacrifice that we brought out of our gratitute: OURSELVES. We are to envision our High Priest (Jesus) doing His duty by taking the sacrifice, placing it on the altar of God, and accepting it in His Name. But unlike the old sacrifices, this sacrifice LIVES. It lives a dedicated life, an altar life. It now belongs to the Priest. We are in His hands.

Being a living sacrifice is more than a holy obligation; it is a holy passion. Living sacrifices don't live for themselves. They live for ANOTHER. That's their service of WORSHIP!

What is your take? Like to inspire you with this song "WE ARE AN OFFERING" by Chris Christian ... the chorus : All that we have, All that we are, All that we hope to be, We give to you.

Blessings - TPWC