ARE YOU A WORSHIPER?

Profile Of A Worshiper

If someone ask a teacher what he does for a living, he will reply, "I am a teacher." He says that because he works or spends most of his time teaching. Similarly, you know you are a worshiper when what you do the most is worship.
Worshipers don't just worship on weekends. They don't need a bulletin, or a "call to worship" or a worship leader to encourage them to go vertical. They can worship in any place and at any time because they are worshipers.
Continual worship is central to the life of a worshiper. A worshiper offers the sacrifice of praise to God continually (Hebrews 13:15)."From the rising of the sun to it's going down the Lord's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3). Endless eulogy, ceaseless celebration and perpetual praise are the earmarks of a worshiper
Worshipers don't wait for perfect circumstances to worship, and they don't let current situations keep them from worshiping.
There is a song in the Bible that says, "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls - yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
Though I have no money in the savings account and my cheque book is overdrawn, though the fridge and cupboard are empty and I just got laid off, yet I will worship and rejoice in my Lord.
The first step in becoming a worshiper is worshiping in spite of bad circumstances. Be blessed with this song:

An extract from: Exploring The Mysteries of Worship by Lamar Boschman

Blessings - TPWC 

OFFERING OUR BODIES IN WORSHIP (PART 2)

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instrument of wickedness,

but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life;

and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness."

(Romans 6:13)

Do not make the mistake of thinking that God is only concerned with our spirits. It's true that Jesus said we are to "worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). But there's a context. We worship the God who indwells mortal flesh. We are His temple. And those who carelessly degrade His temple, either through immorality or irreverence, are being careless about their worship. Praising God with physical mouths and then treating our bodies with little concern for our health or morality is gross contradiction - Chris Tiegreen (Worship The King)


Here is a list of Scriptures (certainly not exhaustive, but enough to get us started) that will help us understand God's perspective on how we can offer our body to Him on a daily basis as a SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP. We will look at what the Bible says about our ears, our eyes, our mouth, and their relationship to our thoughts.


Our Ears
How can we offer our ears as a living sacrifice to God? Consider these words of instruction from Scripture:
- The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. (Proverbs 18:15)
- Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
- Apply our heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. (Proverbs 23:12)
-Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? (Job 12:11)
What do we allow ourselves to listen to? What kind of environment in which faith can be nutured? It is conducive to worship? We spit out foods that offend our sense of taste. What do we do with words that offend our hearing?

Our Eyes
How can we offer our eyes to God as a living sacrifice? Here is what the Bible says:
- We have made a covenant with our eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. (Job 31:1)
- Turn our eyes away from worthless things. (Psalm 119:37)
- We will set before our eyes no vile thing. (Psalm 101:3)
Vile means wicked, peverted, offensive to the senses, disgusting, cheap, degrading. What are we doing with our eyes? What do we allow ourselves to look at?

Our Mouth
How can we offer our mouth as a living sacrifice? Again, let's see what the Bible has to say.
- Keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking lies. (Psalm 34:3)
- We said,"I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." (Psalm 39:1)
-What goes into a man's mouth does not make him "unclean," but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him "unclean." (Matthew 15:11)
- Rid ourselves of ... slander and filthy language from our lips. (Colossians 3:8)
- "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips." (Proverbs 4:23-24)
Jesus taught us that our lips reveal the content of our hearts. "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). What do our lips reveal about the content of our heart? What are we filling our hearts with that overflows from our lips?
David prayed: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight." (Psalm 19:14) - May this be our prayers too.


Our Thoughts
We know that our thoughts are not physical parts of our body. But they are inseparable from our body. Our thoughts both reflect and direct what we do with our eyes, our ears, and our mouth.
- In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. (Psalm 10:2)
- "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, what ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
- Set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)
- Take captive every thoughts to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
One best ways to take every thought captive to Christ is to develop the habit of turning self-talk into God-talk. You know what self-talk is - it is the silent and secret conversations you have with yourself.
Some methods of turning self-talk into God-talk:
- Praying without ceasing
- Listening and singing praises to God
- Reading and meditating on the Word of God

Living sacrifices that offer to God as an act of worship ... "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2)

(an extract from - The Way of a Worshipper by Buddy Owens)

OFFERING OUR BODIES IN WORSHIP (PART 1)

Offer Your Bodies As Living Sacrifices,

Holy And Pleasing To God

This Is Your SPiritual Act Of Worship

Romans 12:1

Why does God want your body? Why does He wants your worship? Apostle Paul tells us, "offer your bodies as living sacrifices." He goes on to tell that this is a "spritual act of worship." We need to think about that statement for a minute. Offering our bodies is a spiritual act - it is a physical demonstration of a spiritual reality. (Of course, the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps trying to crawl off the altar).

But why are we told to offer our bodies to God? How is this a "spiritual act of worship"? Why doesn't Paul just say "Turn your heart to the Lord"? I believe Paul answers that question in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 when he says:
"Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body."
Your body, your flesh and blood and bones, this "piece of earth," as it were, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Your body, my body, the body of every redeemed, blood-bought person, is God's dwelling place. Your body is God's house.
I can just imagine that if you had been looking over God's shoulder as He formed Adam from the dust of the ground and if you could have asked Him, "What are you making?" He would have said, "I am building a temple." It was a temple that He would occupy for thousands of years. Paul, in Colossians 1:26-27 refers to the "mystery that has been hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints ... this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
It is not just Christ with you; it is Christ in you. The mystery hidden for ages is that God created you in his own likeness to be occupied by His Spirit. Your body is the place of His presence. And it is through your body that God reaches out to the world around you.
There are people in your life who will never hear the voice of God until you speak the Word to them. There are people in your life who will never feel the touch of God until you reach out to them with the love and compassion of Christ. There people in your life who will never see the face of God until they see the light and life of Jesus in your eyes.
And that is why the Bible tells us to offer our bodies to God. God wants to fill you afresh everyday with His Spirit so that He can use you to accomplish the purposes of heaven on earth
(an extract from: The Way Of A Worshiper by Buddy Owens)


The Lord Jesus claims the use of your body, your whole being, your complete personality, so that as you give yourself to Him through the eternal Spirit, He may give Himself to you through the eternal Spirit, that all your activity as a human being on earth may be His activity in and through you; that every step you take, every word you speak, everything you do, everything you are, may be an expression of Christ, in you as man - Major W. Ian Thomas (1914)

How do we offer our bodies to God? We'll look at that in our next week's post.
Blessings
TPWC

LAYING OUR LIVES AT THE ALTAR (PART 2)

An ALTAR is a raised structure on which sacrifices to god are made. Did you know that in order to offer our lives as LIVING SACRIFICES we need to have altars? Every sacrifice must be put on the altar to be burned by fire, so the sweet smelling savour can come forth. “For our God is a consuming fire.” Heb. 12:29 The life of a Christian is the life of the altar. God requires of His children that in His presence they have an altar. Why was Abraham able to offer Isaac His promised son at the altar of sacrifice? We learn that prior to this sacrificial worship (Genesis 22), Abraham was already leaving a life of building altars.

1) THE FIRST ALTAR

In Genesis 12:7 God appeared to Abraham and he built an altar. What made him want to worship? God had taken a seventy-five year old man out of his homeland and led him to a new frontier, making extravagant promises to him for his faith and obedience. There was no written revelation at the time, no covenant history, no people of God. Just a man and his faith and a land of promise.
This altar (not for sin offering) was for offering his life to God. It was the kind of altar spoken of in Romans 12:1. What the altar signifies is not doing for God, but being for God. Unlike the sacrifice of the Old Testament, which in one act was finally burnt, the sacrifice of the New Testament is “A LIVING SACRIFICE”. The meaning of the altar is the offering up of the life to God to be ever consumed, yet ever living: to be ever living, yet ever consumed.
God appeared to Abraham and Abraham offered himself to God. Anyone to whom God has manifested Himself cannot do other than live for Him. This is the life of the ALTAR – being a worshipper!

2) THE SECOND ALTAR

Genesis 12:8 – “From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent … there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord”. This is Abraham’s second altar. The pitching of his tent implies that it is not a permanent place. The tent-life also means that what Abraham possessed does not belong to him. At the altar Abraham has offered his all to God. Was he stripped of everything? No! Abraham still possessed cattle and sheep and many other things. Through the altar God deals with our lives; through the tent God deals with our possessions. At any time God may say: “I want this thing.” If we cling to it and say: “This is mine,” then in heart we have forsaken the altar and cannot say to God that our life is being lived for Him. The second altar shows us that Abraham’s life was a life of the altar – not bound by material possessions. That is why when God demand his son Isaac, he was able to response in faith and God restored back Isaac to him.

3) THE THIRD ALTAR
In Genesis 12:10-20 we read that because of the famine (type of economic crisis) Abraham went DOWN to Egypt (a type of the world) and got himself into trouble. Abraham had his failures when he departed from the altar in times of difficulties. In Genesis 13:1-4, he went UP from Egypt and returned to Bethel (the house of God) where he has first built an altar and called on the name of the Lord again. If you are seeking the way of recovery, you will find it at the altar. But what happened to Abraham after his recovery? Genesis 13:18 records Abraham built his third altar at Hebron (means fellowship). After his recovery Abraham entered into the place of continuous fellowship with God. If we are in fellowship with God we will never forsake the altar.


What does it mean to lay our lives on God’s altar? It means that we are not our own; we have no claim on our own lives. We are bought with a precious heavy price. Living sacrifice don’t live for themselves. They live for Another. That’s their service of worship. Be inspired with this song: We Are An Offering - by Chris Christian

Stays blessed! - TPWC

LAYING OUR LIVES AT THE ALTAR (PART 1)

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service & spiritual worship.

Romans 12:1 (Amplified Bible)

The term sacrifice is not to be taken lightly. In the Old Testament time, the offering of animals had to be the best, without blemish and probably cost cost much to the owner. And when the animals were being slaughtered, we could hear their cries. Similarly, in hard times as we offer our lives as a living sacrifice (in worship), there are moments of tears, sorrows and pains. But as the Lord consumes our offerings, we will be transformed. Romans 12:1 tells us that this is our reasonable worship.
The story of the woman who broke the abalaster box (John 12:3, Matthew 26:8-9) was met by the disciples' indignant remarks ... "Why this waste?" Waste means giving more than necessary. To Judas and the disciples the waste of money, time and efforts of worship poured upon the Lord could have been channelled for better use. But if the Lord is worthy, then can it be waste? HE IS WORTHY to be WORSHIPPED, WORTHY to be served, WORTHY for me to be in ministry, HE IS WORTHY! Once we see this revelation, what other say about this does not matter anymore.
The Lord said, "Do not trouble her". So let us not be troubled. The Lord's approval upon Mary's action lays the principles of pouring out to Him: that in our service and worship, we need to pour all that we have - our self, upon Him. It is not first of all a question of whether "the poor" (Matthew 26:9) have been helped but a question of whether the Lord has been satisfied.
What does it mean to lay our lives on God's altar? When Abraham obeyed God it means the life of his promised son - Isaac (we know that God provided him a sacrificial lamb for his obedience). But when God did it; it means the life of His own beloved Son - Jesus! Death on the cross but eternal life for all who accept Him. That's what being a living sacrifice is all about. Unlike the old sacrifices, this sacrifice lives! It lives a dedicated life, an altar life. It now belongs to our High Priest. Living sacrifices don't live for them themselves. They live for Another. That's our reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.
Today, let us lavish upon Him without reservation all our worship.

A LIVING SACRIFICE (PART 3)

I Urge You, Brother, 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

Wisdom begins with basing one's life on reality. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). Why? Because fear of the LORD is based on a true understanding of who we really are and who God really is. But there is a next step. Wisdom doesn't  begin and end with fear; it continues into WORSHIP. When we really understand who God is, the natural response is to offer Him whatever we can get our hands on - and all we have is ourselves.
All of those in the Bible who encountered the living God in His glory fell on their face in WORSHIP. Like Isaiah, they would offer themselves (Isaiah 6:8). If we have not gotten to that point of laying ourselves on the ALTAR before Him - without reservation - we have not yet encountered the living God. His glory prompts SACRIFICE. It is the only wise, intelligent, reasonable response to the magnitude of His goodness.
We often think of WORSHIP as words and songs that come out of our months. It is much more. It is a LIFESTYLE, a SACRIFICIAL way of living that acknowledges every moment of every day that there is ONE far more WORTHY of our allegiance than ourselves. When His interests consistently supercede ours, and we act accordningly, we are WORSHIPPING.
Imagine yourself in the throne room of God. See the ALTAR at His feet. Get on it. Lay yourself our before Him and say to Him: "I am yours. Do with me as You will. I give up my right to govern myself, because You are far more WORTHY to do it, and You will never do me harm. I exist for Your purposes, and for Yours alone." Do this every morning, then live out your day mindful of whose you are. In light of who He is, this is TRUE WORSHIP. And TRUE WORSHIP is the wisest thing we can do.
(an extract from: Walk With God Devotional by Chris Tiegreen)

WORSHIP - IS NOT PART OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE;

IT IS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

- Gerald Vann -

A LIVING SACRIFICE (PART 2)

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

What does it means to lay our lives on GOD'S ALTAR? Imagine a scene from the movies: In some distant tribal culture, one man saves another's life. According to custom, the saved now belongs to the saviour. And why not? If not for the rescuer one would be dead. His life rightfully belongs to the one who preserved it. He might as well spend the rest of his days for the one who actually gave him the rest of his days.

So itis with Jesus and His sheep. We were lost and, for all practical purposes, dead. That's not  our preferred assessment of ourselves, but it's what the Bible says. Without Jesus, we'd be forever lost and lifeless. But He rescued us. And in His culture, we now belong to Him. We are to live out the rest of our days - the days He mercifully gave us - for Him.
That's what being a LIVING SACRIFICE is all about. It means that when Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, we don't have the right to say, "No, not this time." When Jesus tells us to give all we have - our time, our talents, our money, or even our deepest desires - to some aspect of His work, we don't have the authority to decline. We are not our own; we have no claim on our own lives. We were bought with a precious, heavy price. We were saved for the One who saved us.
Just as Jesus laid Himself on GOD'S ALTAR for our sin, we are to lay ourselves on that ALTAR for His righteousness. We don't earn His righteousness, of course. But practically, God puts it into us - He works it into our spirits - to the extent that we lay down our tainted lives in exchange for His resurrected one.
The implications of that relationship are astounding. Radical. Relentless. It was an "everything" purchase for a "forever" promise. LIVING SACRIFICES don't live for themselves. They live for ANOTHER. That's their service of WORSHIP!
(An extract from: Worship the King by Chris Tiegreen)

Precisely Because They Have Been Redeemed At Such A Cost,

Believers Must Be God's Men

-   Leon Morris  -

A LIVING SACRIFICE (PART 1)

I Appeal To You Therefore, Brethren, And Beg of You In View od (All) The Mercies Of God,

To Make A decisive Dedication Of Your Bodies (Presenting All Your Members And Faculties)

As A Living Sacrifice, Holy (Devoted, Consecrated) And Well Pleasing To God,

Which Is Your Reasonable (Rational, Intelligent) Service And Spiritual Worship

Romans 12:1 (Amplified Bible)

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 commandment handed down by God Himself. There were various reasons for the command: The offering would, at times, serve as a symbol of sin and its ugly consequences; as a sacrifice of gratitute, 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 the SACRIFICE was always a reminder of the horrible gap between the CREATOR and the created.

God bridged that gap with His ultimate SACRIFICE, of course - the body of JESUS on an altar made of Roman lumber. The wages of sin were paid in full. There are no more guilt offerings. All that was left for us to do is to place our lives in Him. Never before had such a gift been given, and never since. Those who accept it have no sin to work off, no condemnation to dread. We're left standing with nothing but our GRATITUTE.
There is, however, an appropriate response. It has nothing to do with merit or guilt, but only withthe thankfulness that should naturally flow from a REDEEMED HEART. It is our SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP.
The response id 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 PRIEST 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.
(an extract from: Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

If Jesus Christ Be God And Died For Me,
Then No SACRIFICE Can Be Too Great For Me To Make For Him
- C.T. Studd - 

CHOSEN FOR A REASON

"You Are A Chosen People, A Royal Priesthood.

A Holy Nation, God's Special Possession,

That You May Declare The Praises Of HIm

Who Called You Out Of Darkness Into His Wonderful Light."

1 Peter 2:9

This is a remarkably encouraging passage of Scripture. It tells us of our chosen position, our royal role in this world, and our inheritance as children of the most high God. We read verses like this and are amazed at the high and holy nature of our calling. We realize that mercy has been lavished upon us and we're in a privileged place. We are the ulitamte rags-to riches story.
But the amazing story doesn't end there. God hasn't just saved us and then written "the end." There's more to the plot than that. We are chosen so that we might declare His PRAISES. As 1 Peter 2:9 continues, we have been transferred from a kingdom of darkness to a KINGDOM OF LIGHT. We were blind, but now we see. We were hidden and then revealed.  We were lost in a dark, musky wilderness, then plucked out of it and placed on streets of gold glimmering under the perpetual radiance of the Son. And according to this verse, there's a more ultimate purpose to our salvation than ourselves. We are bestowed with the honour of being chosen with the specific purpose of declaring His PRAISES.
If we've never seen our WORSHIP as the ultimate purpose of our salvation, we're missing the best part of salvation. The place of lavishing WORSHIP is the place of blessing, of richest fellowship, and of true fulfillment. Salvation isn't complete until we PRAISE Him for His mercy - daily, passionately, honestly. We were bought with a price for a reason.
Many believers get caught up in getting the most out of their salvation. Few move on to giving the most out of their salvation. But those who do will realize one of the many paradoxes ofthe kingdom: Giving it all results in getting it all. A HEART poured out in PRAISE results in a HEART filled with PURPOSE. The way of sacrifice leads to great gain. Losing our lives in WORSHIP ends with fulfilling our life in God. And that's exactly the reason for which we were redeemed!

WE ARE SAVED TO WORSHIP GOD.

ALL THAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US IN THE PAST

AND ALL THAT HE IS DOING NOW LEADS TO THIS ONE END

A.W.TOZER

LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE THE LORD (PSALM 150:6)

I Will Extol The LORD At All Times;

His PRAISE Will Always Be On My Lips

Psalm 34:1

What would happen if we decided to let every thought and every breath bless God? Imagine the result if His name were affectionately on our lips as we lay down at night, as we turned over in our sleep, as we awoke in the morning, and as we went about our daily business. Would such a perspective radically change our hearts? Probably. Would it change our world? It's likely. Anytime in the Bible someone gives himself to WORSHIP, God does amazing things through that person. Blessings abound. God's work is done. He is honoured.
What prevents us fom such a persuavive sense of His worth? Are our schedules just too busy Or is it deeper than that? Perhaps it's suspicion that He hasn't been as good to us as Scripture declares that He is. Or maybe it's a subtle resentment that He has not paved our paths with gold and has allowed us to taste the bitter trials of life.
Whatever reasons we can come up with, we should ask ourselves if a WORSHIP-FILLED HEART is worth sacrificing to the gods of busyness, apathy, and disappointment. If we really got a glimpse of God, we would never be disappointed with His will for us. We would understand that underlying everything we go through and every responsibility we're given is the loving hand of a God who is leading us closer to Him. The end result is greater blessing than any earthbound human can possibly imagine.
The angels surrounding God's throne cry out day and night, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY" (Isaiah 6:3). Perhaps we were not created with exactly the same role as those angels were; but then again, perhaps they are pictures of the praise all creatures - including us - owe Him. We at least have a similar purpose: to honour God and ascribe GLORY TO HIM. What prevents us? Nothing should. What would result? EVERYTHING OUR HEARTS truly desires.
(an extract from: Worship The King by Chris Tiegreen)

THE WORTH OF YOUR WORSHIP

"All this I will give you," he said,

"if you will bow down and worship me."

Matthew 4:9

For only one life in history was it ever approriate to worship and to be worshiped simultaneously. Have you ever considered that? Jesus as the in carnate God is worthy of our worship, yet at the same time He demostrated true worship for us in the flesh. The worshiped became the worshiper for a brief moment in time. He's our key to how worship ought to work.
His lesson in human worship begins for us in His temptation. Satan, the enemy of anything and anyone who honors God instead of him, waved his withered hand toward all the kingdoms of the world and promised them to Jesus in exchange for the Son's worship. It was a monumental request for Jesus to flip the switch of our universe so that all worship would flow in the opposite direction from its true course. If the Son had worshiped the rebel, the tide would have turned. God would have given up His place as rightful LORD. In effect, Jesus would have lied about who was worthy of true worship. All the kingdoms of the world weren't worth that.
But that's a temptation we're faced with daily. Our sinful flesh and our number one adversary try to distract us, to distort our motives and our vision, and to get us to tell a monumental lie. A corrupted world, still firmly gripped by the chief rebel, still waves its kingdoms in front of us and tells us we can have them - at least intriguing and provocative pieces of them. A little misplaced ambition here, a little greed and lust there, an dsuddenly we're lying about the worthiness of God. We're worshiping the unworthy. We've tried to flip the switch ourselves because we want the current of the universe to run in the direction of our cravings.
It won't work. Jesus is our model. He knew up front that the kingdoms of the world were pitiful reward for forsaking the true God. That thought has to permeate our thinking so that our response in temptation is always an automatic reflection of verse 10: "worship the LORD your GOD, and serve Him only."
(an extract fromWorship The King - by Chris Tiegreen)

HE WHO WITH HIS WHOLE HEART DRAWS NEAR TO GOD MUST OF NECESSITY BE PROVED BY TEMPTATION AND TRIAL - Albert The Great

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP - PART 2

“The Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP
FROM THE HEART

When Jesus said, “Love God with all your heart and soul” (Luke 10:27) he meant that worship must be genuine and heartfelt. It is not just a matter of saying the right words; you must mean what you say. Heartless praise is not praise at all! It is an insult to God.

When we worship, God looks past our words to our hearts. The Bible says, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions.”
Since worship involves delighting in God, it engages your emotions. God gave you emotions so you could worship him with deep feeling, but those emotions must be genuine, not faked.
God hates hypocrisy. He doesn’t want showmanship or pretense or phoniness in worship. He wants your honest, real love. We can worship God imperfectly, but we cannot worship him insincerely.
Of course, sincerity alone is not enough; you can be sincerely wrong. That’s why both spirit and truth are required. Worship must be both accurate and authentic. God-pleasing worship is deeply emotional and deeply doctrinal. We use both our hearts and our heads.
Today many equate being emotionally moved by music as being moved by the Spirit, but these are not the same. Real worship happens when your spirit responds to God, not to some musical tone. In fact, some sentimental, introspective songs hinder worship because they take the spotlight off God and focus on our feelings. Your biggest distraction in worship is yourself – your interests and your worries over what others think about you.
Christians often differ on the most appropriate or authentic way to express praise to God, but these arguments are usually just personality and background differences. Many forms of praise are mentioned in the Bible, among them confessing, singing, shouting, standing in honor, kneeling, dancing, making a joyful noise, testifying, playing musical instruments, and raising hands.
The best style of worship is the one that most authentically represents your love for God, based on the background and personality God gave you.
(an extract by Rick Warren)

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

but the prayer of the upright pleases Him.

Proverbs 15:8

Several Bible passages tell us that the fear of God is where wisdom begins ( Proverbs 1:7, 2:5, 9:10 ). If we are to be truly wise, we must understand who He is. All of creation was based on His character. His heart is written into the fabric of every part of this universe, even if sin obscures it. Those who find understanding will be those who can recognize the imprint of God in the depths and design of creation. They will be ardent observers of the way He deals with humanity. They will take their cues from Him.
Proverbs 15:8 points out numerous such cues. This verse tells us something profound about our Creator. He desires the ESSENCE OF WORSHIP more than its demostration. In Old Testament times, the sacrifice would have often been an animal or a grain offering. Today, it comes from our finances at one level and our time and talents at others. In any case, it's not the gift that matters most. God already owns everything anyway. What really matters is the HEART of the giver. Why? Because things do not honour God nearly as much as does a devoted, living being.
Why does God hate the sacrifice of the wicked? Because it is superficial. It is an attempt to brush Him off and get on with the self-life. It bears the appearance of devotion, but there is nothing of relationship in it - no love, no honour, no passion. That tells us volumes about the One who made us. He is no distant force, a cosmic "first cause" who observes us from afar. He is deeply, intensely personal.
Have you really considered the implications of that? It means that when you think He's far off, He isn't. It means that those deep longings in your HEART - you know, the ones that leave agonizing, gasping holes went unfulfilled - are longings He wants to satisfy in the right way at the right time. It means that your soul is a place of warm communion, not cold solitude. It means that what you thought was too good to be true - His  unconditional love and His enjoyment of your personality - is real
(an extract fromWalk With God Devotional by Chris Tiegreen)

WORSHIP - IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

"The true worshippers will worship

the Father in spirit and truth;

for the Father is seeking such to worship"

John 4:23 (NKJV)

The greatest pleasure of the Christian life is WORSHIP, though we scarely realize it until we've dive in WHOLEHEARTEDLY. We often approach it at first as an obligation. We're fairly self-focussed, and it's hard to turn our HEARTS toward God. But if we do, IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH (i.e., with zealous inspiration and according to who God really is), we find in expressible delights. Jesus seeks to turn us, like the woman at the well, into WORSHIPPERS with substance rather than WORSHIPPERS of ritual. How do we make that change?
Many of us ask God this question: "What is my responsibility toward You?" While not a bad question, there is a better, more HEARTWARMING question: "What can I offer You to show my devotion?"
Do you see the difference? The first question presupposes a requirement we must meet. It almost assumes that there will be a minimum standard, and after having met it, we will cease our "God-ward" activity and resume our "self-ward" obssession. The second question presupposes a desire to express LOVE and DEVOTION. It assumes that there can never be enough we can offer Him, but whatsoever we can find to offer, we will. There is no "self-focus" in it at all; it is entirely enamoured with God.
Jesus would have us not ask which requirement we are to fulfill, but what more of ourselves we can offer Him. When we look for our required obligation, we do not WORSHIP IN SPIRIT, because the Spirit of God would not inspire us to fulfill quotas of devotion. And we do not WORSHIP IN TRUTH, because we understand God's worth. He is worth all we are, and more!
Blessed is the WORSHIPPER who can truthfully - and with pleasure - say to the LORD: "What can I do for You? You name it, it's Yours. Whatever I can offer You, please let me." This is the kind of WORSHIPPER the Father seeks.
(an extract fromAt His Feet Devotion by Chris Tiegreen)

Be blessed with this song as we step into the New Year 2012 choosing to BE A WORSHIPER who WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - WORSHIP (PART 2)

A TIME OF PRAISE & WORSHIP

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy…. And they fell down and worshiped him.”

Matthew 2:10-11



"The hope and fears of all the years
are met in THEE tonight" - Phillips Brooks

Worship was such an important part of that first Christmas. The wise-men worshiped Jesus in the house where they found him. The prophetess Anna and Simeon worshiped in the temple. The shepherds’ hearts were filled with praise as they hurried to find the child and then shared the good news with others. The place of worship was different for all of them but their HEARTS were overflowing with praise and adoration.
Do we take the time to worship the Lord during this Christmas season? It doesn’t really matter whether we worship in our home, in our church, at a Christmas concert or banquet or maybe it’s, ‘on the run,’ as we dash through the mail and hear the music, “Silent Night”. The only thing that matters is that our HEARTS are lifted in praise and worship to the Lord. Is there a song of praise on our lips at Christmas? How easy it is to see the work, feel the burdens and be aware of the frustrations instead of seeing the glory, the gift and the Savior.
GOD WITH US
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
This is Christmas. This is EMMANUEL: God with us. This is the advent – the coming of the Lord. God invading history. The one who invented it coming into it and submitting himself to all his own rules.

The teaching of the New Testament is that now, at this very moment, there is a Man in heaven appearing in the presence of God for us. He is as certainly a man as was Adam or Moses or Paul; he is a man glorified, but his glorification did not dehumanize him. Today he is a real man, of the race of mankind, bearing our lineaments and dimensions, a visible and audible man, whom any other man would recognize instantly as one of us. But more than this, he is the heir of all things, Lord of all lords, head of the church, firstborn of the new creation. He is the way to God, the life of the believer, the hope of Israel, and the high priest of every true worshiper. He holds the keys of death and hell, and stands as advocate and surety for everyone who believes on him in truth. SALVATION comes not by accepting the finished work, or deciding for Christ; it comes by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, the whole, living, victorious Lord who, as God and man, fought our fight and won it, accepted our debt as his own and paid it, took our sins and died under them, and rose again to set us free. This is the true CHRIST; nothing less will do. (from the pen of A. W. Tozer)
Articles from - Two Thoughts Each Day ( http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog )

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - WORSHIP (PART 1)

For To Us A Child Is Born
To Us A Son Is Given
And The Government Will Be On His Shoulders
And He Will Be Called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace
Isaiah 9:6

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 ..." (John 3:16)
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, do you know 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!

EMMANUEL - God Is With US

Christmas Blessings
TPWC

THE ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIP

"True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is a spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

John 4:23-24

The dictionary defines "Essence" as the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work. So when we speaks of the Essence of Worship, we are speaking of that "True Worship" which God is after.

The Greek word (Strongs G4352) for worship - PROSKUNEO: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

The Hebrew word (Strongs H7812) for worship - SHACHAH:  - to bow down, to prostrate oneself  before God in worship

All of those in the Bible who encountered the living God in His glory fell on their face in worship. Both the Greek and Hebrew word speak about "bowing down" - do we see this often in our weekly worship service? Or more directly do we personally practice bowing down in our personal worship? But if bowing down becomes a form than it becomes a ritual and that's what God hates! (see Proverb15:8). When our worship becomes superficial, it is an attempt to brush Him off and get on with the self-life. It bears the appearance of devotion, but there is nothing of relationship in it - no love, no honor, no passion.  

The Essence of True Worship is an attitude of the HEART that continually acknowledges God and values His character. In order for us to understand the Essence of True Worship, we need to go the Bible and apply the Law of First Mention, a pronciple that states the first time a word or idea is mentioned in Scripture is significant, for it sets a foundation and framework for any other time the word is udsed throughout the Scripture.

We first see the word "worship" in Genesis 22 in the account of Abraham offering up his son Isaac. "And Abrahais m said to his young men stay here with the donkey, I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you" (verse 5 emphasis added). Abraham did not go up to the mountain with a guitar or to sing a slow song. He was going up there to offer his most precious son Isaac! - this is the original context of the Essence of True Worship!  

What is the Essence of True Worship? What does it mean to present yourself as "living sacrifice"(Romans 12:1)? Is there a set time and place for it, or does it encompass all of our lives? Worship defines the relationship between God and His people and touches every aspect of our existence.

Apostle John W. Stevenson in his book "Worshiper By Design - A Unique Look At Why We Were Created" aptly defines that "A WORSHIPER - is one who is INTIMATELY acquainted with, and has a DAILY relationship with GOD exhibited through OBEDIENCE."  The life of a "Lifestyle Worshiper" involves Faith, Obedience and Sacrifice:

Worship Is In The Heart and not in the art

Faith - Without faith it is impossible to please God
Obedience - Doer of the WORD 
Sacrifice - Bowing Down to His ways
Reverence - The Fear of the LORD 
Holiness - Set apart for His GLORY 
Fellowship - Friend of GOD

THE ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIP is more than singing a song, a good feel or nice lyrics led by a worship team in the corporate gathering. We often think of worship as words and songs that come out of our mouths. It is so much more. It is a LIFESTYLE, a sacrificial way of living that acknowledges every moment of every day that there is ONE far more worthy of our allegiance than ourselves. When His interests consisitently supercede ours, and we act accordingly, we are worshiping.

TPWC will attempt to share and expound more on the series of the ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIP in the forth coming posts.

Have a blessed week!
TPWC
Worship is in the HEART and not in the art.

THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP - TRUE WORSHIP ANTICIPATES CHRIST'S RETURN

Jesus taught in several parables how important it is for his servants to be ready for the Master's return. The instruction is made explicit in the admonitions to "abide in Him; that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him" (1 John 2:28). "looking forward to these things," we are to "be deligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (2 Peter 3:14).

Also, the Bible teaches that we should find comfort in the prospect of our LORD's return (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Indeed, our love for Jesus should be so great that His near return is our fondest hope. Paul expressed this outlook when he wrote, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day: and not to me only, but to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).
Jesus taught repeatedly that it is not for us to know when our Master will return (Luke 12:40, 46; 21:34; Matthew 24:44; 25:13). In fact, He said, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew24:36). The reality of Christ's imminent return - and the idea that we must be ready for it at every moment - should affect the way we think, talk, and live. It should also affect the way we worship. Would we want to find us occupied in mere "religion" when He returns? Or in worship that is more concerned with meeting our own needs than with glorifying Him? Or in worship in a place where His WORD is denied? Of course not!
Some of the last words in God's Revelation to John emphasize the imminent return of Christ and the need for His servants to faithfully keep His words. As John himself learned in this passage, when we are tempted to allow our worship to become skewed, the principles of the WORD of God correct us and drive to TRUE WORSHP.
As we near the end of the Book of Revelation, John is faithful to record even his own monetary failures to heed God's WORD. First, when the apostle witnesses the joyous marriage supper of the LAMB, he is overcome. John turns to the angel messenger who has conducted him through heaven, "and [he falls] at his feet to worship him."
But he said to Me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. WORSHIP GOD! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10)
Then a second time, when John had at last seen everything granted to him to see - captured by Jesus' glorious promise to come again quickly - the apostle was overwhelmed. " I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things" (Revelation 22:8). John worshipped the messenger instead of the Author of the message.
John's failure warns us of how easy it is to stray in our worship. In fact John erred twice. If this beloved apostle could deviate in his worship , even while being enlightened by an angelic messenger specially sent by God, so can we. What, then, is the remedy for misdirected worship? The angel's response to John and to his wrong worship is instructive.
"Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. WORSHIP GOD." (Revelation 22:9)
First, the angel corrected John, clearly stating that his activity was wrong. It was outside the boundaries of God's word. Although the apostle was sincere, the messenger from God pointed out that John was in error. It is to John's credit that he did not become offended, as do so many in our own day when unbiblical practices are exposed.
Second, the messenger offered John an important reminder. Although angels are superior to mankind in many ways, both the angel and the apostle were created beings and fellow servants of God. All of us are created to serve God for His glory. To Him alone belong all worship and honor. Even in our churches, often, we pay more attention to the messenger than to the message. Like John, we end up worshiping a fellow created being and servant, rather than the One to whom all our worship is due.

Finally, the angel declares to John the most important lesson of all. When the apostle tried to worship the angel the first time, the angel stated to John that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." This statement means, quite simply, that the Person and message of Jesus is the ESSENCE OF ALL TRUE PROPHECY. TRUE WORSHIP focuses on the One who is TRUTH! The second time John erred, the angel reminded him that God's servants are people who "keep the sayings of this book." It is the words of the Book that keep our focus on its Author and drive us to bow before Him in TRUE WORSHIP, worship that honours Him alone! This same Book - the WORD OF GOD that is "forever ... settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89), declares that the return of Christ is imminent. He is coming again! Since this is so, "what manner of persons ought you to be" (2 Peter 3:11).
When we think of the awesome power of God who at this very moment is working out His great redemptive plan, our response can be only this: We must recognize His majesty. We must be humbled by His grace and mercy, We must be emptied of self and we must fell on our faces before our God in TRUE WORSHIP!

THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP - TRUE WORSHIP PRAISES GOD'S JUDGMENTS (THE TRIBULATION SAINTS)

THE SIGN IN HEAVEN
As the 15th chapter of Revelation opens, John writes that God allowed him to see "another sign in heaven, great and marvelous" (Revlation 15:1). God used signs often throughout history to gain the attention of human beings. For example, God gave the sign of burning bush to Moses when He promised to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage. God also gave a sign to Gideon when He consumed his offering with fire, to validate His promise of deliverance from the Midianites.

In John's case, he saw "seven angels having the seven last plagues." The palgues are contained in bowls, and he recorded that "in them the wrath of God is complete" (Revelation 15:1). This great and marvelous sign of the seven angels, therefore, introduces the final outpouring of God's wrath against the sinful world.
When John writes here about God's wrath, it is significant that he uses a Greek word that connotes an outward expression of inward anger. Usually the word "wrath" suggests a slow, inward, boiling indignation. But in this case, "the wrath of God" describes the outworking of that anger in words or actions. Sin truly makes God angry, and the Bible records this fact repeatedly. "God's anger  was aroused" because of Balaam's stubbornness" (Number 22:22). Moses warned the Israelites to avoid idolatry, for to worship idols is "evil in the sight of the LORD your God, to provoke Him to anger" (Deuteronomy 4:25). The Israelites were to flee idolatry, "lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you, and destroy you from the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 6:15).

It is important to understand that God's anger is expressed against people. When David wondered whether people could sin and get away with it ("Shall they escape by iniquity?"), God inspired him to write the answer: "In anger cast down the peoples, O God" (Psalm 56:7). Jesus affirmed this truth when He taught that anyone who "does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the warth of God abides on him" (John 3:36). Another New Testament passage warns that "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).
Revelation records that God's wrath is coming. The seven plagues about to be loosed in final judgment include loathsome sores (Revelation 16:2), the turning of the seas and then the fresh water into blood (Revelation 16:3-4), heat and fire (Revelation 16:8), darkness and pain (Revelation 16:10), the drying up of the great Euphrates River so that the armies of the world may be gathered for Amrageddon (Revelation 16:12), and the worst earthquake and hail in history (Revelation 16:18). Men will try to hide from God in that day, but He will not cease until His wrath is completely spent on sinful people.
THE SONG IN HEAVEN
After John saw the seven angels holding bowls full of God's complete wrath, he reported,
"And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God." (Revelation 15:2)

John described a similar sea in heaven surrounding the throne of God (Revelation 4:6). In both cases, we might conclude that the crystalline quality of these seas represents purity from sin. if so, this sea of glass will be fitting place for the redeemed people of the Tribulation to stand before God. Little wonder that these Tribulation saints, "having the harps of God," will start to sing "the song of Moses" and "the song of the LAMB" (Revelation 15:2-3). We do not know what the song of the LAMB will be, although clearly it will be a song of praise to Christ for His sacrifice. The song of Moses, however, has a precedent in Scripture. This "servant of God" sang a song at the end of his wilderness journey, just before God took him home. "Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel, the words of this song until they were ended" (Deuteronomy 31:30).
In this song, Moses praises God as faithful and dependable (Deuteronomy 32:1-6), and as a God who provides for His people (7-14) in spite of the fact that they are often unthankful (15-18) and would later prove unfaithful. God would punish His people by displaying His love for the Gentiles, thus moving Israel to jealousy (19-21), and by bringing calamity upon Israel (22-35). Moses' song ends by declaring that God will redeem His own (36-39) and take vengeance on His enemies (41).
Like the song of Mises, the song sung by those redeemed from the Tribulation will praise God for His might and power.
"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the LAMB, saying:'Great and marvelous are Your works, LORD God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O LORD, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.' " (Revelation 15:3-4)
This joyous song acknowledges God's great works, mighty power, justice, authority, and holiness. The saints singing in heaven teach the very  important lesson that prasie from redeemed people does not focus on self. There is no hint that anyone in heaven will complain about God's judgment on sin and sinners (although many on earth today are against at the thought of such judgment). None of the redeemed will complain that God allowed them to experience persecution in the Tribulation (although many today complain about their difficult circumstances and blame God for them).
The song of the saints in heaven will conclude that God is worthy to be feared. that fear is founded on an awesome respect for God's person and power, as well as dread of losing fellowship with the One who loves us. A right view of God compels us to glorify and reflect Him in what we think, say, and do. And this truth leads to a question: If you are uncomfortable or resentful with God for pouring out His just wrath in judgment against sin, how will you have a place in heaven with people who will praise His name because of that very same wrath? Indeed, how can you give God true worship today?
(an extract from TRUE WORSHIP by David Whitcomb and Mark Ward, Sr.)