THE HEART OF WORSHIP (PART 2)

"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 HEART WARMING 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 choose to BE A WORSHIPER who WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

THE HEART OF WORSHIP

"The Lord said, 
         These people claim to worship me, 
but their words are meaningless, 
and their hearts are somewhere else."

Isaiah 19:13a(GNT) 

A few years back in our church, we realised some of the things we thought were helping us in our worship were actually hindering us. They were throwing us off the scent of what it really means to worship.
We had always set aside lots of time in our meetings for worshipping God through music. But it began to dawn on us that we'd lost something. The fire that used to characterise our worship had somehow grown cold. In some ways, everything looked great. We had some wonderful musicians, and good quality sound system. There were lots of new songs coming through, too. But somehow we'd started to rely on these things a little too much, and they'd become distractions. Where once people would enter in no matter what, we'd now wait to see what the band were like first, how good the sound was, or whether we were "into" the songs chosen.
Mike, the pastor, decided on a pretty drastic course of action: we'd strip everything away for a season, just to see where our hearts were. So the very next Sunday when we turned up at church, there was no sound system to be seen, and no band to lead us. The new approach was simple - we weren't going to lean so hard on those outward things any more. Mike would say, "When you come through the doors of the church on Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God? What are you going to sacifice today?"
If I'm honest, at first I was pretty offended by the whole thing. The worship was my job! But as God softened my heart, I started to see His wisdom all over these actions. At first the meetings were a bit awkward: there were long periods of silence, and there wasn't too much singing going on. But we soon began to learn how to bring heart offerings to God without any of the external trappings we'd grown used to. Stripping everything away, we slowly started to rediscover the heart of worship.
After a while, the worship band and the soundsystem re-appeared, but now it was different. The songs of our hearts had caught up with the songs of our lips
Out of this season, I reflected on where we had come to as a church, and wrote this song:

When the music fades,

All is stripped away,

And I simply come;

Longing just to bring something that's of worth

That will bless your heart.

I'll bring You more than a song,

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear;

You're looking into my heart

In the chorus I tried to sum up where we were at with worship:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,

And it's all about ou,

All aout You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord for the thing I've made it,

When it's all about You,

All about You, Jesus

(written by Matt Redman)

"WORSHIP IS IN THE HEART

AND NOT IN THE ART"

An extract from : The Unquenchable Worshipper by Matt Redman 
Blessing - TPWC

PASSION TO WORSHIP THE KING (PART 10) - THE THREE HEBREW CHILDREN

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

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

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

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

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

PASSION TO WORSHIP THE KING (PART 9) - DANIEL

DANIEL THE WORSHIPER

A Worshiper Is One Who is Intimately Acquainted With 

And Has A Daily Relationship With God Exhibited Through Obedience 

 John W. Stevenson

Daniel was a man who was greatly beloved of God. Daniel had a fervent love for God and had set his heart to worship Him all the days of his life.
We know that Daniel was a man of prayer. Three times a day he would get down on his knees and give thanks to God (Daniel 6:10). This was a practice he observed every day, and evil men would use it against him to seek to destroy his life. But Daniel’s love for God outweighed any fear of what man could do to him, and he continued to openly display his love for his King. Unashamedly opening the windows of his house, he prayed to the God of heaven just as he had done every other day. Even though it meant he was signing his own death warrant, Daniel preferred to worship God and die, than to live and not pray.
What possesses a man to seek God and pray even when it means certain death? I believe the answer to this question lies within the heart of the worshiper. Daniel was a worshiper of God, and he would bow to no one and no thing other than Him! Nothing could prevent him from worshiping the living God. Not fear. Not death by hungry lions. Not anything.

Daniel In The Lions' Den

As a worshiper, Daniel had enjoyed God’s favor all his life, and when king Darius appointed Daniel as one of 3 administrators to oversee the kingdom he so distinguished himself that king Darius thought to give him sole administrative
 authority over all the kingdom. This of course made the others jealous and they sought to discredit him, but Daniel was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Dan 6:4). Finally they devised a scheme to trap Daniel by making it illegal for him to worship God. They convinced king Darius to make it mandatory for all his subjects to worship him for the next 30 days and anyone caught worshiping anyone else must be thrown into a den of hungry lions (Dan 6:6-9).
Daniel of course remained true to his God and since he made no attempt to hide this, he was caught praying and worshiping God and was thrown into the lions' den. From the original language of Dan 6:16-20 it appears that king Darius believed God was obligated to save Daniel because he was intimately acquainted with and has a daily relationship with God exhibited through obedience. 
"So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den.The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” (Daniel 6:16-20 NIV)
In Dan 6:23 the word translated trusted means to trust continually. The fact that the lions immediately devoured Daniel’s accusers in the morning proves they had been hungry all night long. 
"The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:23 NIV))
This faith became one of the great examples in “The Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:33). “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:11 (NIV). Faith is trusting what the eye can’t see. The natural eyes see the prowling lion but faith sees Daniel’s angel. 

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)