THE HEART OF WORSHIP (PART 10) - HOW DOES THE HEART OF A WORSHIPER LOOK LIKE?

THE HEART OF WORSHIP

I love this song: The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman. The first I heard it and led in worship I cried a lot. It was tears of conviction because some time our worship can become so mechanical and stale. As a passionate worshipper, I have one guiding principle concerning the ministry of praise and worship:

"Worship is in the HEART and not in the art"

Jesus warns of heartless worship:
"These people draw near to Me with their mouth and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." (Matthew 15:8)
John Bevere in his book, Drawing Near, tells us that worship is not a slow song. The first time you find the word "worship" in Scriptures is in Genesis 22. It reads:
"Abraham said to his young men, 'stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship ...' " (Genesis 22:5).
Abraham was not going up yonder with a guitar o sing a slow song. He was going up there to put the most treasured possession in his life to death, simply because God asked him to do it! Worship from the HEART, at time requires our act of faith, sacrifice and obedience.
One such worshipper in the Bible is none other than King David whom the LORD called a man after God's HEART. It's awe-inspiring the learn that most of David's psalm s were written during his exile in the desert places. Can we imagine him being in such an environment writing about the lovely dwelling place of God's temple (Psalm 84) and being able to see the LORD in His sanctuary in His power and majesty (Psalm 63)?
So how does the HEART of a worshipper look like?
1) A Worshipper Has An Obedient HEART:
"Has the LORD great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat rams." (1 Samuel 15:22)
2) He is PASSIONATE  About God's Presence - A God Chaser!
"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of host! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my HEART and flesh cry out for the living God." (Psalm 84:1-2)
3) A Lifestyle Worshipper Chooses To Walk In God's Purposes With A Spirit of Gratitude:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
4) The Word "HALLELUJAH" Is  A Worshipper's Choice Vocabulary:
"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalm 34:1)
5) He Continually Offers Sacrifice of Praise; This Is More Than Enjoying And Singing Praise Songs:
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15)
6) You Will Find That A Worshipper Often Exercises Faith And Puts His Trust In God Through The Storms of Life:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your FAITH produces patience." (James 1:2-3)
7) Like The Three Hebrew Children, A Worshipper Will Not Be Afraid of The Fiery Fire - Even if God Chose Not to Answer!
"Sharach, Meschah, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar; we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18)
8) A Worshipper is Willing to Bow Down to God's Sovereign Ways (Dealings) Even if He Does Not Understand Them:
"For Mt thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,'says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9)
"The Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and fell to the ground and worshipped. And he said:'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all of this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." (Job 1:20-22)
9) A Worshipper Has An Undivided HEART in The Fear (Reverence) of The LORD:
"Teach me Your ways LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided HEART, that I may fear Your name." (Psalm 86:11)
10) A Worshipper is One Who is Vigilant About Keeping His HEART Pure And Free From Idols:
"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure HEART, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol deceitfully." (Psalm 24:3-4)
11) A Worshipper is One Who is Quick to Repent to Keep His HEART Clean:
"Create in me a clean HEART, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11)
(An extract from: The Unguarded Heart by Ricky Sim - http://theunguardedheart.blogspot.com)