THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP (PART 21): THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN (The Unstoppable Worshipers)

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your majesty. But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." (Daniel 3:16-18 NIV)

The life of a worshiper (one who is intimately acquainted with and has a daily relationship with God exhibited through OBEDIENCE) is not without tests, nor is without the pressure that comes with living in a sinful world. The story of the three Hebrew worshipers who lived a life of Faith, Obedience and Sacrifice. The three men were given one more chance by the king to bow to the golden image but they stood firm even if it caused their lives. Here are eight excuses they could have used to bow to the image and save their lives:
1) We will fall down but not actually worship the idol
2) We won’t become idol worshipers, but will worship if this one time, and then ask God for forgiveness.
3) The king has absolute power, and we must obey him. God will understand.
4) The king appointed us – we owe this to him.
5) This is a foreign land, so God will excuse us for following the customs of the land.
6) Our ancestors set up idols in God’s temple! This isn’t half as bad!
7) We’re not hurting anybody
8) If we get ourselves killed and some pagans take our high positions, they won’t help our people in exile.
(Please feel free to add on if you have more thoughts …)

Although all these excuses sound sensible at first, they are dangerous rationalizations. To fall down and worship this image would violate God’s command in Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before me.” It would also erase their testimony for God forever. Never again could they talk about the power of their God above all other gods.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but what made them choose to stay faithful to God no matter what happened? I believe it was because they were CONSISTENT in living a life that were intimately acquainted with and have a daily relationship with their GOD exhibited through OBEDIENCE. That was why they were able to trust God to deliver them and were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. This same exhibition of Faith, Obedience and Sacrifice could be seen throughout the Scriptures on the lives of many other “worshiper-saints” like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, King David, Queen Esther, Prophet Daniels and many more heroes of FAITH.

Hebrews 11 has been called faith’s hall of fame. But do bear in mind that while we do read of many being rescued by our faithful God for their faith; there were also many who were tortured, flogged, stoned, sawed in two, put to death by the sword for their faith (Hebrews 11: 35-40). True worshipers are those who are able to say like the three Hebrew children : “But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, your majesty that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
#Worship #TrueWorshipers #Faith #Sacrifice #Obedience 

THE WORSHIP SERIES (Part 16): The Essence of Worship: DAVID (Bowing Down To God's Ways)

God's way does not always involve His answer to prayers. The reverse is often experienced. What should be our attitude in such circumstances?

In 2 Samuel chapter 12 we have the record of King David's sin in connection with Bathsheba. God sent the prophet Nathan to him with the message that the child would surely die. David had sinned, but he loved his son though the child was the fruit of his sin. He had a father's heart and he pleaded with God for his son's life. But God said, "Because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die" (verse 14 NIV). But David continued to seek the Lord and he sure knew

how to pray. We see in verse 16 that he fasted and all night long he laid prostrate on the ground before God, but the child died! Anyone who has not learnt how to be subjected to God's way would have charged Him with harshness when his request was not granted. Many Christians have controversies with God when His ways conflict with their ways. Other might rebel or loose heart but not David. When the child died, his servants feared to break the news to him. They reasoned among themselves that if David was almost overwhelmed with anxiety when the child fell sick, his grief would be unbearable if he should learnt of his child death.

What actually happened?
 "Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, he put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and WORSHIPED. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food and he ate" (2 Samuel 12:20 NIV). 

What is worship? It Is bowing to the ways of God. It is not a dull kind of submission. It is not lapsing into hopelessness or passivity. It is a positive recognition of the sovereignty of God's ways.

It is often necessary for God to vindicate Himself in relation to us. It means that if we sin He has to justify Himself by making it clear to the angels, to the devil, to the world and to all His children that He has no part in our sin. He has to make it plain to the principalities and powers, to the world and to the church that He cannot be involved in our iniquity. When we are found guilty before Him, His governmental hand comes upon us and we are tried in fires of affliction. How do we react at such a time? Worshipers who know His ways will say: "If my affliction can vindicate Thy holiness, then I say, amen! If You can make known Your righteousness by my suffering, then I acknowledge that You do all things well and I gladly accept Your dealings upon me."

May God deliver us from our controversies with Him. When we meet with disappointments and frustrations we shall choose to worship Him if we see His ways.
(Watchman Nee - Twelve Basket Full - Vol 2)

Comment: I believe it was King David's act of true repentance (Psalm 51) and his acceptance of God's vindication (in bowing to His way - in worship) that we see God's blessing upon David's life. Later Solomon was born through the forgiven union of David & Bathsheba where God chose this unimaginable channel through which the Messiah was born as revealed in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ [Just like Rahab the harlot (Joshua 2); and Ruth the Moab's union with Boaz (Matthew 1:5-6)]. 
God is sovereign! His ways are higher that our ways and Hi thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). We bow in worship to God's Sovereign ways and will in our lives!

THE HEART OF WORSHIP (PART 5)

LYDIA - A WORSHIPER OF GOD

"One of those listening was a women named Lydia.

a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira,

who was a worshiper of God. 

The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message"

(Acts 16:14)

The Bible tells us that Lydia was a businesswoman, a dealer of purple cloth. She must have been successful since, as we see later, her home was large enough to house Paul, his three companions, Lydia's family and servants. The Bible tell us that she was a worshiper of God. She was a Gentile who believed in the True God but she had not yet become a believer in Christ.

Lydia's attendance at the prayer gathering demonstrated her hunger for God and willingness to respond to as much about God as she knew. God responded to her heart quest by providing her with more truth  (John 4;23 - "the kind of worshiper the Father seeks"). When she heard the Gospel message about Jesus Christ, she listened and believed. She is remembered as Paul's first European convert. Actually it wasn't Paul's dynamic preaching that caused Lydia's conversion even though he may have been dynamic. The Bible says that the LORD opened her heart to respond to the message. 
Luke (the author of the book of Acts) described with swift strokes the first two steps in Lydia's life as a disciple:
(1) She was baptized, (2) She brought the rest of the members of her household to Paul and they apparently believed and was baptized as well. We also learned that Lydia's house had become a meeting place. When Paul and Silas were released from a Roman prison, they went to her house where they met with and encouraged believers.
This Woman of the Bible is mentioned in only two short passages, both in the book of Acts, but what is said tells us a lot about her as a True Worshiper:
a) A successful businesswoman but one who is passionate and hungry for God (Acts 16:14) - this is a great example of one who has been blessed and yet passionate for the Kingdom of God
b) A woman whose heart God opened (Acts 16:14) - Listened to God's WORD, responded in faith and obedience in following the WORD in water baptism
c) A generous and willing servant (Acts 16:40) - in good deeds and not afraid of the opposing authority who has prison Paul and Silas when she hosted them after their released
As soon as Lydia believed, she served the LORD. She shared her faith with her family and servants. She opened her home to God's people and continued being of service to the church - Lydia's worship to the LORD was both inward and outward.

THE HEART OF WORSHIP (PART 4)

And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the LORD, 

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

Luke 1: 46-47 (NKJV)

Manificat

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS - A TRUE WORSHIPER

A young woman, really a teenage girl, is perhaps one of the best examples in Scripture regarding the HEART of WORSHIP. Mary learned that God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. In response to this news, Mary exclaimed one of the most beautiful prayers of PRAISE and ADORATION in Scripture. Luke 1:47-55 is known as the "Manificat."Her response to God's call in her life was not one of unwillingness or of giving excuses. While she probably and naturally had fears and concerns, she focused upon the truth that God called her and that He was in control. Her response was TRUE WORSHIP of God with an open and adoring HEART.
Mary's song reveals to us a picture of a WORSHIPING HEART. She declared her WORSHIP of GOD as she glorified the LORD, rejoiced in God, exclaimed who God was, and declared the wonderful works that God had done and continued to do. Look at the declarations she made about God:

God is her Savior (V 47)

God has regard for her (V48)

God is mighty (V49)

God has done great things for her (V49)

God's name is holy (V49)

God has mercy on those who fear Him (V50)

God demonstrates His strength (V51)

God scatters the proud (V51)

God dethrones the mighty (V52)

God exalts the humble (V52)

God satisfies the hungry (V53)

God sends the rich away empty (V53)

God helps His servant (V54)

God remembers to be merciful (V54)

Mary's HEART was open to God and loving toward God; she was committed to serving, worshiping, and obediently following Him.
Take some time to express our WORSHIP to GOD. Examine our HEART. Are we sincere and honest with God? Do we love and adore Him? Are we open to Him and to how He wants to use our lives, our unique personality and gifts? Is obedience to God's work in our lives difficult? Are we willing to follow Him even if none go with us?  
(an extract from: A Seeking Heart - Rediscovering True Worship by Alicia Williamson & Sarah Groves)