PASSION TO WORSHIP THE KING (PART 8) - RUTH

A WORSHIPER OF DESTINY

“your people shall be my people, 

and your God, my God” 

Ruth 1:16

The story of Ruth is the story of one woman’s pilgrimage from the land of her birth, to the land of Judah in Bethlehem; the land of the Hebrew God, Yahweh. 

It is staggering to think of all that this young woman left behind in Moab to embark upon a journey to a foreign land and to a foreign people. She left behind her own mother and father (Ruth 2:11), her sister-in-law Orpah (Ruth 1:14-15), her recently buried husband (Ruth 1:5), her recently buried brother-in-law (Ruth 1:5), and her own native land of Moab (Ruth 2:11).
Ruth had developed a strong bond of affection with her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had also suffered the loss of her husband in Moab. Naomi was a Hebrew who had fled with her family to Moab for food in a time of famine in Bethlehem. Now she had heard that God was again visiting His people with food, so her heart’s desire was to return to her own land and her own people. The strong bond of affection between the two women was probably the very thing that God used to bring Ruth into her God-given destiny. Ruth pledges to Naomi, “your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
There are in life what we call “divine hook-ups”. These “divine hook-ups” in the Kingdom of God are friendships that bring about the divine purposes of the Lord in the earth. Ruth’s relationship with Naomi was one of these. 
First of all, Naomi’s influence in Ruth’s life was the catalyst that caused Ruth to pursue God with all her heart. Without Naomi’s influence, Ruth may have never encountered the Lord.
Secondly, Ruth’s labor in the field of Boaz would bring food and provision into Naomi’s house (see Ruth 2:14-18). Without this “divine hook-up” both women may have perished in the land of Moab due to the famine. 
Thirdly, Naomi’s close relationship with Boaz was to bring Ruth in line to become the great grandmother of David, future King of all Israel. The bond between Naomi and Ruth would affect generations yet unborn.
The same will be true in our own life as well. God arranges divine friendships that have His seal upon them, so that His purposes can be fulfilled. 
Ruth embarks upon the journey of her life. Leaving the comforting surroundings of her own home in Moab, she begins the journey to her new homeland in Bethlehem. The events that await her arrival in Bethlehem are nothing short of miraculous. The Lord provides there for her a new home, a new husband and a new baby!
This is a picture of what happens in our own lives as well. God calls us forth out of our own comfort zones to embrace things that are strange and new. It does not necessarily have to come in the form of a geographical move. More often it’s a shift in our hearts that takes place as God brings us to new stages or plateaus in our lives. God brings us out of the old and familiar to experience new beginnings that He has for us (our own prophetic journey). This is how purpose is fulfilled in our lives. As we answer God’s divine directives for us, our lives begin to take on the shape and the nature of our destiny. We truly are called to be “God’s own handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew), that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned before hand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time), that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)” Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified).
God has a predetermined plan for our life. He has things for us to fulfill. Things that will help fulfill the great commission in the earth at this time. It is our faithfulness and our devotion to the Lord that will help us to see these things through. Serving God is not for the faint-hearted, nor is it always easy. But encourage our heart today with the example of Ruth.
She left all that she had behind her to serve a strange God in a strange land. She became a worshiper of Yahweh because of the example of Naomi. God rewarded the faithfulness of her heart with His great love and His provision (Ruth 2:12). Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, and to the God of Naomi, brought her into position to become the great grandmother of David, future King of all Israel.
It’s interesting to note that Ruth’s firstborn son would be named Obed. Obed means, “worshiper”. Ruth had learned from personal experience the joy of being a worshiper of Yahweh, the God of the Hebrew people. Worship God!
(an extract from: Heart of Worship by Kerrie Christensen)

PASSION TO WORSHIP THE KING (PART 7) - SOLOMON

THE WORSHIPFUL KING

Solomon was well trained in the ways of the LORD. His father had seen to that. David, the King of Israel and father to Solomon, outwardly encouraged his son to pursue an intimate knowledge of the LORD:

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father

[have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with,

understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him]

and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind"

1 Chronicles 28:9a (Amplified)

David had instilled into his son's heart a love for God, right from the earliest moments of his life. What a wonderful thing. So it isn't any wonder then, that when God later appeared to Solomon in a dream, he instinctively knew exactly the right thing to answer God in the dream. He didn't ask for riches or honor. He asked instead for wisdom. But God decided to reward him with all three! (2 Chronicles 1:7-12)

Solomon enjoyed a very prosperous and fruitful reign as King of Israel. Solomon demonstrated both a fear and a love for God, and a deep love for the people of God. He fulfilled the prophetic word by Nathan the prophet that he would be the one to build a house for the LORD. He was faithful to do all that the LORD had commanded him to, at least in the early years of his kingship.

Not only was he faithful, he was a TRUE WORSHIPER of the LORD. The picture we find painted of Solomon in 2 Chronicles chapter 5 through 7 is one of a man of deep prayer with a heart literally overflowing in WORSHIP to his God. Before the entire assembly of Israel he unashamedly falls upon his knees, with arms outstretched towards heaven, to WORSHIP God. His heartfelt cry that day is for the people of God, that they would experience the same touch of God upon their life, as he himself was so familiar with.

Solomon held desperation in his heart that day to see the LORD reach down and place His presence right in the very midst of His people. He yearned to see God reach down and meet the needs of the people. He longed for the Kingdom of God to enter into the earth realm, where mankind could feast upon the bountiful supply of his King.

And in the early years of Solomon's reign as king of Israel, he displayed an amazing love for the one who had blessed him beyond human comprehension. Solomon was a devoted WORSHIPER, knowing the bounties of his benevolent God.

And so it is with every WORSHIPER of the King of kings. Within their breasts beats the never-ending song of love for their Savior, singing His PRAISES and proclaiming His greatness to the ends of the earth. 

Solomon declares that there is none like his KING (2 Chronicles 6:14), and our hearts echo his chorus, "Yes. Truly, there is none like our KING." WORSHIP entices God to draw near to us. It beckons to Him to incline His ear to us. It causes Him to respond to the yearnings of our heart.

(an extract from - Heart Of Worship by Kerrie Christensen)

PASSION TO WORSHIP THE KING (PART 6) - DAVID

I Would Rather Be A Doorkeeper

In The House Of My God ...

Psalm 84:10

As we take a page out of King David's intimate journey with God, we wonder why would a king want to be a doorkeeper? As a passionate "God chaser", King David was saying, "No, I've learned something: A doorkeeper at the RIGHT DOOR has more influence in the world than a king on his throne! A doorkeeper in the house of God is a doorkeeper at the gate of Heaven. Now if I can find that opening in Heaven ..."
King David discovered a key that we need to rediscover in our day. He did more than return God's presence to Jerusalem. He did more than display God's glory in an open tent without walls or veil of separation. Somehow he managed to entertain God's presence in his humble tent and keep an open heaven over all Israel for almost 36 years! 

When we open the windows of Heaven through our worship, we also need to post a guard - a doorkeeper - inside the dimension of God (worship) to hold open the windows of Heaven. In David's day, the Levitical worshipers surrounded the Ark of the Covenant with continuous worship and praise. They enjoyed the benefits of a continuous open heaven because somebody stood in the gate and held it open.
A gatekeeper can be anyone who has the responsibility of opening the windows of Heaven to a city, a church or a community. They could be leaders, intercessors, worship leaders, worship musicians, worship singers, and every worshipers. An open heaven refers to the free access of God's presence to man and to the free flow of God's glory to man's dimension.
As a gatekeeper, King David understood the importance of his office. When he penned Psalm 84:10, I feel that he was saying, "I would rather be a doorkeeper at the RIGHT DOOR, because that is the place of real influence." Never underestimate the power of God's presence. If you can be a doorkeeper and open the door of the manifest presence of God to your church and your community, understand that you have been placed in the most influential position in the entire world. Like the Levites of old, we are all called to be a gatekeeper people, the people of His presence. You can literally become a walking doorway to God's presence. People can sense the glory light shinning under the door.
We need people who know how to access His presence and open door for the glory of God to come into our homes, churches, cities, and nations. King David again writes the vision so we can run:

"Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in." (Psalm 24:7 NKJV)Gates don't have heads. It is obvious that we are the gates in this Psalm. If we lift up our heads, what happens? The Hebrew literalization of the phrase is " be opened up you everlasting doors." When we obey this command, the King of glory Himself will come in. What does all this mean? We, as the Church, are literally the gateway for the rest of the world to have an encounter with God. When you stand in the the place of worship, you are literally opening up and swinging wide a spiritual gate, an entrance for the risen Lord. A "modern-day David" named Martin Smith sings a new song based on an ancient theme:

"FLING WIDE YOUR HEAVENLY GATES

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE RISEN LORD!"

If we ever want to move from a visitation of God to a habitation of God, someone has to learn how to open the door to the heavenlies.

(an extract from: God's Favourite House - "If You Build It, He Will Come" - by Tommy Tenney)

WORSHIP THE KING (PART 5) - THE SHULAMITE GIRL

SING TO ME  A SONG OF LOVE

(Read Solomon Chapters 1 & 2)

The Song of Songs is an awesome portrayal of one woman's love for her King, and her King's desire for her. It is also a picture, or a type, of Christ's love for His church, and of the desire of the bride for her King. The Shulamite Girl depicts the Bride of Christ, and the King is a picture of Christ.The Song of Songs is literally translated, "The best of Songs", and it really is the very best songs! Most historians believe that Solomon is the author of this song, hence, it's other title, "Song of Solomon". 
The book is full of devotion and desire that streams between both bride and Beloved.
The Shulamite Girl is unashamedly vocal and passionate with regard to her love for the King. She is truly a worshipper of Him! Her mouth is full of praises for Him, as she eagerly sings all of the wonderful attributes that belong to Him:

- She is aware of the beauty contained just in His name (1:3)
- She is  aware of the fragrance of His love for her (1:3)
- She is increasing aware of His voice beckoning her to come away with Him, because He longs to see her face and hear her voice (1:14)
As the Song depicts, God  desires us to drink deeply of the love that He has for us. God's love for us is absolutely amazing and far beyond the reach of our human reasoning. He longs to look upon our face and to hear our voice speaking to Him. he longs to shelter us from harm and to know sweet companionship with us.
How do we develop this intimate relationship with our King? Relationship takes time to build. Begin to build and fashion a space and a time for Him to draw near to us. Talk to Him as if He were our dearest friend. Read His Word (like love letters). We'll uncover wonderful treasures about Him.
 As we nurture and develop our relationship with Him, over time our understanding of Him will grow deeper. And the exciting thing about a relationship with the LORD is that we never get to the end of who He really is and what He's all about. There's always something new and fresh to learn either from Him or about Him.
The Shulamite Girl knew the King not only as her beloved, but also as her friend: "This is my beloved, this is my friend, daughter of Jerusalem." (Song of Solomon 5:16) We would do well to follow her lead and make our LORD our very best friend. When we behold Him, we cannot but worship Him!
(an extract from - Heart of Worship by Kerrie Christensen)

WORSHIP THE KING (PART 4) - HANNAH

Worship Through Crucible Pain 

Hannah was in distress of soul, 

praying to the LORD and weeping bitterly 

1 Samuel 1:10 

Hannah provides an Old Testament example of someone who manifested complete commitment in her worship. As the first book of Samuel opens, Hannah is carrying a great burden. She is unable to have children. This experience is a painful one for any woman, but it was especially difficult for Jewish women who felt obligated to continue the seed of Abraham. And Hannah faced individual circumstances that aggravated the problem. Her husband Elkanah had another wife, Peninnah, who had children (1 Samuel 1:2) Peninnah was not a nice person to Hannah. The Scripture record that "her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable,  because the Lord has closed her womb ... therefore she wept and did not eat" (1 Samuel 1:6-7).  Yet Elkanah "loved her" (1 Samuel 1:5) and tried to compensate for her barrenness by giving Hannah extra provision. The story of Hannah illustrates to us how God can bring good out to our difficult circumstances by using those circumstances to draw us into greater dependence on Him. Our greater commitment to God, in turn, leads us to more 
TRUE WORSHIP. 1) THE WORSHIPER MAKE A VOW 
The way Hannah dealt with her problem illustrates the fact that she learned humility and commitment. Her "heart grieved" (1 Samuel 1:8) or, as we would say today, her heart was broken. Hannah was not merely a woman who was angry at her circumstances. Literally, the Hebrew word speaks of a heart that trembles out of uncertainty or fear. When Scripture says that Hannah "was in bitterness of soul" (1 Samuel 1:10), it means that she was in pained because of her heavy burdens. What did Hannah do? In the pain of her broken heart she vowed a vow to God. "Then she made a vow and said,'O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life ...' " (1 Samuel 1:11). Hannah willingly committed what she did not yet have to God's service. Put yourself in Hannah's situation. What if God did grant her request, as she fully believed He could? She was agreeing up  front to surrender the very thing she requested and wanted so badly! No selfish person would be willing to make such a vow! Only through an unselfish heart can we, like Hannah, truly display God-honoring humility. If our worship and requests are not rooted in humility, they will be rooted in selfishness. By her unselfish request, Hannah demonstrated her humble submission to God. This demostration was reinforced by her subsequent actions. "And she said, 'Let your maidservant find favour in your sight.' So the woman went her way, and ate, and her face was no longer sad" (1 Samuel 1:18). Her vow was not impulsive, frenzied outburst that left Hannah emotionally drained, wondering what she had promised God in the heat of the moment. Hannah was satisfied to make her commitment and trust God. This point is critical. Although her circumstances had not changed, she was satisfied to let God handle the matter as He saw fit. The next day, with a confident spirit, she and Elkanah "rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:9). Like Hanah, we too can offer God TRUE WORSHIP when we lay everything at His feet and are satisfied to let Him do with it what He wants. 
 2) THE WORSHIPER KEEPS HER VOW
The Scriptures recorded that Elkanah and Hanah worshiped at the tabernacle before returning home from the annual sacrifice. They came into the presence of God, in the manner He prescribed for them, and they bowed in humble commitment. In this case, God granted Hannah's request and personally intervened in her circumstances. Upon return home, "Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her" (1 Samuel 1:9). Hannah conceived and bored a son, and called his name Samuel, saying' Because I have asked him from the Lord.' " (1 Samuel 1:20). As soon as the child was weaned she brought him to the temple in Shiloh and presented him there with these words: "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." So they worshiped the Lord there." (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Let us note two phrases here: "The Lord has granted me ... I lent him to the Lord." The Lord gave her the child and she gave the child back to the Lord. The sum total of her request was for this child and when she had received all she had craved for, she gave ALL back to the Giver! Hannah's offering can be truly written that she "WORSHIPED THE LORD." It is not the person who wants God's grace, but the person who wants God Himself, who can worship Him wholeheartedly! Hannah shows us what was supremely precious to her ... not the answer to prayer, not the grace given but God's way with her in the giving of His gift. God gave Samuel to her and she gave Samuel back to God; and as Samuel passed out of her hands into God's hands, WORSHIP emerged from her heart to God's heart.

WORSHIP THE KING (Part 3) - JOSEPH

Worship Through Turbulent Times

"Joseph sold as a slave.

They bruised his feet with shackles,

his neck was put in irons."

(Psalm 105:17-18)

Have we ever felt like our lives were just one huge, gigantic knot that could never be untangled? Or we're caught in a strangling, spidery web that we just can't seem to extricate ourselves from? Or locked away in the shell of a dark cocoon, hidden from sight and sound? Joseph must have felt all of these things throughout the duration of his turbulent life! Life had been extremely difficult for Joseph for a very, very long time. Sold into slavery by his own brothers as a young man, he must have thought then that things could not get much worse. But this was to be just the beginning of years of turmoil for this young man. He is later imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. The Bible says that Joseph was “laid in chains of iron until his soul entered into the iron” (Psalm 105:18). 
The word of the Lord had tried and tested Joseph with grueling persistence. Just how much injustice could one man endure in one lifetime? Yet Joseph learned the secret of enduring times of trial and testing. Though the road was hard and long, he put his trust in the One who would never fail him (Genesis 49:24). Joseph’s heart could have failed him many times throughout his bleak, dark journey. Only his faith in God would pull him through to ultimate victory. That victory may have seemed a long time coming, but God had something greater in mind than just Joseph’s comfort and well-being. 
Have we ever stopped to think that God had held this plan in His heart for Joseph for a very long time? God’s plan included slavery, imprisonment, injustice and pain, yet the end result would be the saving of nations. Through the hand of Joseph, Egypt would be saved from famine and certain death. The descendants of Abraham would be housed, clothed and fed by a people not their own. God’s determined plan was the saving of His people. God always has a plan where His children are concerned! He is jealous over us and His goodness is towards us. 
So if the going gets tough – breathe a little easier. The King of all heaven has us firmly in the palm of His hand. He is committed to us no matter what wry turns our life seems to take. 
To worship God is to get past our self and past our own pain, to focus on the bigger picture that is inscribed on the canvas of God’s heart. Prophetic vision helps us to see clearly what’s written on God’s canvas. But sometimes that purpose and vision lie hidden from our eyes so that we do not understand the things that are befalling us. Joseph must have felt confusion and bewilderment for all the things that were happening to him. It was not until the very end that Joseph would finally understand what had happened to him. 
How many times have we wished that we could know the end of a matter before the beginning of it? This is what we call hindsight. Hindsight is the ability to understand after something has happened, what we should have done! But hindsight would take the fun out of walking by faith now wouldn't it?! To be able to walk blind through heartache and turmoil, with faith in our hearts and a song on our lips, is the stuff that crowns are made of! (See Revelation 2:10; James 1:12)
No matter what trials or temptations we are facing today, make a quality decision to worship God anyway! Who knows where these storms of life may take us? And who knows what exciting adventures yet lie ahead of us? One thing is for certain though, with Christ as the Captain of our high seas, we can put our trust in Him, and enjoy the journey! 
(an extract from Heart of Worship by Kerrie Christensen)

Worship God!

WORSHIP THE KING (Part 2) - ABRAHAM

ABRAHAM

An Act of Ultimate Worship

Read Genesis 22:1-18

Genesis 22:5

Worship is about giving. It's about surrendering our lives, even losing our lives, so that God's life can be displayed through us.

"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Mr, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.' " - Luke 9:23-24

Abraham knew what it was to take his CROSS daily and follow the Lord ...

For Abraham, following the LORD was to suddenly have a very high price tag - his son, Isaac that he and his wife had waited so agonizingly long for.

Have we ever felt the price tag of our faith was to high? Have there been things - even good and noble things - that we have had to give up for the cause of our FAITH? Some of the pathway of our lives are literally strewn with things that in themselves may have been great, but that simply were not God's best for our lives.

Be it known that the Scriptures tell us quiet clearly that we are not our own, but that we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7:23). 

Abraham's price had suddenly risen to hideous heights. God was asking him to forfeit the life of his son. Is any price too high? In Abraham's estimation, it wasn't. In worshipful OBEDIENCE to the LORD's command, Abraham arose (early) and would have sacrificed his own son, had not the LORD intervened and stopped. Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham reasoned that God could bring his son back to life again even if he were slain.

What incredible FAITH! What trust Abraham must have held in his HEART towards the LORD. He believed that his son would live again, even if he killed. Sometimes the things that the LORD asks of us can seem pretty grim. But there's always payback time! Though the price that Abraham had to pay was really huge, he effectively secured for many generations to come, the promise of blessing from the hand of the LORD. In fact the Bible says that every nation on the face of the earth would be blessed because of Abraham's OBEDIENCE. Abraham was able to worship God even when faced with the prospect of losing a son (Genesis 22:5). Can we worship God even when it hurts to do so?

Can we worship Him when things of significance crumble in our lives? Can we worship when our soul are in turmoil, pain, or deep regret? I think that the answer is "YES". When we know for sure that our heavenly Father loves us then the the answer can be "YES". When we know for sure that He is for us and not against us, then the answer can be a resounding, "YES".

It takes great FAITH to believe that God loves us even in the midst of great pain. But if we hearken to what the LORD says about us in the Scriptures, then we will find over and over and over again that God does assuredly love us and He promised never to leave us. When trials and temptations come - and they do come - we need to stand firm in the knowledge that we are ever loved by someone whose capacity to love us is tremendous!

It is even possible that the LORD may be testing our level of devotion for Him. Does this surprised us?  He tested Abraham. Scripture is clear on that point (Genesis 22:1, 16). So why does God test us to see what's in our HEART? Generally, it's to test our readiness for more responsibility in the Kingdom. It's not to be harsh or hard or cruel with us. Sometimes He just wants us to see what we're made of. God entrusts greater stewardship to those who have been proven trustworthy.

He is constantly fashioning us and shaping us so that we can contain more of His glory. God is preparing for Himself a people whose HEARTS are towards Him and who will bring praise and honour to Him in the earth.

So whatever season of our lives we're in right now, remember Abraham's ultimate ACT of WORSHIP an make a conscientious decision to WORSHIP GOD!

(an extract from: The Heart of Worship - by Kerrie Christensen)

PASSION TO WORSHIP THE KING

For the next few months, TPWC will share a series on the lives of some men and women in Scripture who were worshippers of the King. They may not have been worshippers in the traditional sense, in that they may not have been great singers or musicians or dancers. But one thing they all have in common is their outrageous, all-consuming passion for the King, which permeates every single nook and cranny of their amazing lives. This, to me, is what worship is truly about, and this is the stuff that true worship is made of.

 WHAT IS A WORSHIPPER?

 - A worshipper is someone whose hearts longs for companionship with the King.
 - A worshipper will give everything they have just to be with the King. 
- A worshipper loves to spend time sitting at His feet, learning of Him (Luke 10:38-42). 
- A worshipper is someone who will lose his or her own life for the sake of the King. They live to worship and glorify Him (Matthew 16:24-26). 
- A worshipper releases the fragrance of heaven in every place where their feet tread. When we have been in the presence of the King some of His fragrance lingers upon us and we begin to reflect the glory of our King (2 Corinthians 3:18; Song of Solomon 5:5). 
- A worshipper's depth of devotion is fuelled by their love for the King. Worship is the overflow of all that's in our hearts that we release to Him. God is actively seeking and searching for those whose heart is toward Him. Let's give our whole hearts as we seek to glorify Him (John 4:23-24). 
- A worshipper will experience divine grace and favour as they enter the courts of the King. The sacrifice of our praise and our worship are a sweet-smelling fragrance that warns the heart of the King. 
- As we look with upturned faces towards Him, so He lavishly pours upon us greater grace and and greater glory, until we begin to look just like Him! (2 Corinthians 3:18)"Let the saints be joyful in the glory upon their beds." (Psalm 149:5 - Amplified). 
- As worshippers we are created to be a praise in the earth for Him. Our whole life and destiny is tied to bringing greater glory to the King. we are living testimonies that speak of and for Him. This is our destiny: to be a praise and a glory in the earth for Him (Isaiah 61:1-3; 60:21)
(an extract for Heart Of Worship by Kerrie Christensen - www.riversliving.com) 

ENJOY THE WHOLE HOSANNA WORSHIP ALBUM - WORSHIP THE KING

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 -