Sunday, July 10, 2011

July 11, 2011

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”  Psalm 27:1-3

What is God worth to you?

How would you estimate His value in your life?

How would you express that to Him?

The word "worship" comes from two old English words "worth"  and "ship".  It literally means giving worth to God or expressing His worth.

So, the purpose of worship is to express to God how much you realize He is worth to you. Now when that happens, several other good things begin to happen. As you realize how much He is worth to you you also get a fresh sense of how much you are worth to Him! Also, you begin to understand how valuable others are to Him - and you grasp how much others need Him. As you worship Him your catch a fresh glimpse of His holiness and your unworthiness. That humbles you and causes you to call upon Him more. Calling upon Him fills you with more of His presence and restores your hope - and so it goes! Worship is the life-blood of your Christian commitment!

Think about this:

I wonder what would happen if we applied the same standards of loyalty to our Christian activities that we expect from other areas of our lives? 

If your car starts once every three tries, is it reliable? If the postman skipped delivery every Monday and Thursday, is he trustworthy? If you don’t go to work once or twice a month, are you a reliable employee? If your fridge stops working for a day or two every now and then, do you say, “Oh well, it work most of the time.”? If your water heater provides an icy cold shower every now and then, is it dependable? If you skipped a couple of electricity bill payments do you think Dominion Power would mind? If you fail to worship God one or two Sundays a month, would you expect to be called a faithful Christian? We expect loyalty and reliability from things and other people - isn’t it reasonable then that God just might expect the same from us.

Is God worth one Sunday a month to you?

Is He worth two Sundays a month?

Even if you worship every Sunday, is that enough?

If worship helps you understand and express His worth more effectively, how much worship is enough? How much of God is enough?

Check out Romans 12:1-2 as you prayerfully meditate on these thoughts.






July 10, 2011

"The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.  My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. " Psalm 27

This week we have been hanging out in this great Psalm 27 and considering the essential experience of worship. I have learned some helpful things and I hope you have, too. As you prepare to join your church family for worship, allow me to review some truths with you.

Worship Is A Discipline, Vv. 1-3

If you wait until you feel like worshipping to do it - it probably won't happen. Or if you depend on others like your pastor or your worship-leader to make it happen, that's not good. You are darkness by nature and you are spiritually lost by nature - so if He is to be your Light and your Salvation you will have to take responsibility to live in the Word and walk in His Spirit to overcome the flesh! You must willfully chase God every day and choose to obey Him.

Worship Is A Determination, V. 4

The Psalmist had a single-minded determination to seek God and nothing would divert him or distract him. That is what it takes to worship God. If the enemy can distract you from worshipping you will have a thousand distractions. And if you allow him to divert your attention you will have a hundred throughts flood your mind. Chase God like a hungry dog chases a piece of meat or as a thristy man runs to the cool mountain brook. Remember God has promised those who seek find and those who knock will have the door opened while those who ask will receive.

Worship Is Duration, V. 4

Eternity will be spent worshipping God, so shouldn't you spend your life getting the hang of it? Shouldn't you seek Him all the days that you live? He wants to be worshipped willingly and He wants to be worshipped continually and He wants to be worshipped completely and, of course, He wants to be worshipped personally! And those need to happen 'all the days of your life".

Worship Is Desire, V. 4b

Too often we think this is where worship begins. Actually, it is one of the end results of worship! True worship culitivates a stronger desire for God! You don't await the desire to worship but rather you awaken it! It is awakened by your discipline and your determination and you duration!

And, several other benefits of true worship are these that are listed in this great Psalm:

GOD'S PROTECTION, Vv. 5-6
GOD'S PRESENCE, Vv. 7-8
GOD'S PERSONAL LOVE, V. 10
GOD'S PATH, V. 11
GOD'S POWER, V. 12
GOD'S PEACE, Vv. 13-14

The way of worship is the way to victory and the Psalmist shows you how it can happen. As you worhsipping well? Are you experiencing the benefits of worship? Why? What needs to happen? When will it happen?