Worship Is:

murjahel · Oct 28, 2013

The first four commandments of God, of the ten commandments that are given in the Old Testament, are commanding of proper worship.

Exodus 20:1-11 (KJV)
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The next six commandments have to do with proper respect for others. The first four all are on worship. Jesus came and gave two commandments, like these two sections of the ten commandments.
　

Mark 12:28-34 (KJV)
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Jesus summarized the ten commandments into two. If we do the first, of Jesus two commandments, we will naturally do the first four of the ten commandments of the Old Testament.
If we do the second of the two Jesus gave, will naturally, without being forced, obey the six last commandments of the ten of the Old Testament. If we love others as ourselves, we will not dishonor our fathers and mothers, we will not kill, nor commit adultery, nor steal, nor bear false witness against those we love that way.

Therefore, the two commands given by Jesus embody truth that matures us in Him to a level where commandments are no longer burdens, and lists of things we must try to do, but the love makes us naturally want to do what in the Old Testament had to be commanded.

The first commandment is the one that has given many people trouble. If we do that one, i.e. to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we will repent of any sin that separates us from Him, we will worship Him in spirit and in truth, we will try to share the salvation we have found in our merciful Lord with the others, that because they also are His creation and that the Trinity we love wants them to worship and love Him.

The first four commands are a call of God for the love and worship that He not only desires, but commands.

Exodus 20:3 (KJV)
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

The word before in that verse is the Hebrew word (H6440) paw neem, meaning in the presence. Therefore, any other being of worship, any other idol, object, false god, is not permitted by this commandment. We do not worship idol, we do not worship things, money, possessions, power and authority, self pride. We are commanded, first of all, to enter into a relationship with God wherein all worship and love goes to Him.

The children of Israel, at times, had a golden calf that they danced before an honored with worship.

Later, on hillsides of the area, there were parties and honor given to the goddess Asherah, and worshippers there received a branch to show they had paid their offering to her, and God was angered that they came then to the Temple and tried to then worship Him.

Ezekiel saw a vision showing him a room in the Temple, hidden out of sight and knowledge of the people, but therein were paintings of devils, demons, and false gods, and the priests, (70 of the prominent ones) were going there to worship them, but still in the Temple to honor God later. Ezekiel was told that these priests also had rooms in their homes wherein they did this worship of false gods too.

God is angered if we make something a god. Some may think they can do both, but they cannot. God demands to be the ONLY One that is worshipped, and no other god can be in His presence. Once we accept Jesus, the Lord is in our presence, with us, in us, and therefore, wherever we are, there He is. No other god can be honored by us, and we stay away from false gods, demon gods, etc with a passion. We do not want to honor demons, witches and their gods, satanists and their god, false religions and the many names they give to the same false gods. We become passionate about making our True God, the ONLY One we worship and honor.

Doing a study of WORSHIP is a vital work, one that we all need. The idea of worship has been too long ignored, or almost forgotten in many lives. The churches see the word worship on their hymnals, but the monotone reciting of words they do not even think of their meaning, to the melodious sounds of the organ, do not constitute the worship in spirit and in truth that God wants and demands.

Some can shout for football teams, rejoice with emotion when they win, and almost cry when they lose. Their love for the team creates emotion, makes them create time to see and listen to the game with passion, and has them brag and boast of the greatness of their team to all who will listen. Then those same people will claim that they worship in church, when in actuality, they could not tell you what the word hallelujah even means. They sing Ill go where You want me to go, dear Lord, but never think to even ask where that might be. They never witness to sinners, never pray to the One they claim to love, never search the Word to find out where He wants them to go. And they never have any emotional response to the greatest One in the universe, far greater, far more loving, far more merciful, far more totally perfect than the team they cherish and wear clothes with its name emblazoned upon them.

Worship is vital, it is necessary. God is putting on the hearts of those who serve Him the desire to know more on worship, to enter into more worship in spirit and in truth. The world sings shouts, dances, to the music of their choice, and become fanatical in emotion to its beat and its words. We do not need to imitate the devil imitation of worship, we need to get our hearts pouring out love and honor, humbly extolling our Lord for His mercy and love. We may be on our face before Him, tears of humble admittance of our unworthiness of His mercy, and then joyfully realizing that He is present with us, there to hear our words, and we rejoice in His love. That kind of worship that is true and not hypocritical sham, is what the Lord is commanding in the first 4 commandments of the Old Testament ten, and in the first great commandment given by Jesus.

The Lord has illustrated these truths of the worship He wants, in many places of the Bible. One of these is the many verses where God tells the children of Israel to build a tabernacle wherein they could come and be able to worship Him. It was an illustrated lesson of how we, as sinners, may come, find redemption for our sins, and enter step by step into finally the holy of holies of His manifest presence.

This tabernacle moved from place to place, at the direction of the cloud and fire that represented the Holy Spirit. Yet, wherever it was, wherever the tabernacle came to rest, the children of Israel were to make it the center of their camp. Is worship the center of your life? Does worship get denigrated to a particular hour of one day, or a five minutes of time wherein nothing else can be found to do? Or is Jesus in the center of your life, the key and most important One in your plans for the day? Do you recognize the nearness of the whole Trinity, and honor them, listen to their message to you, study their written Word of testing for all else there is in our lives???

This study is a description of what God has to say about the worship He desires, that He commands, that He deserves. We need to step out of the worship and the honor given to other gods. The football team can still be enjoyed, but our God is a jealous God. If we can give emotional, joyful, unhindered by other things worship to a football team, but cannot open our hearts daily in love to the merciful God in heaven that saved you from your deserved doom in hell fire, there is then a false god in your life.

murjahel · Oct 28, 2013

WORSHIP IS:
THE ONE NEEDFUL THING
　
　
Many are saved, but live on the fringe of Christianity. They have prayer, but it usually only give me or bless me. The real conversation with God, revealing to Him ones faults, repenting, praising and thanking Him for His love and forgiveness, and listening then for Him to speak back, is unknown to them.

The worship, which we are commanded to do, is the highest form of prayer.

Praise and requests can be done by a sinner. They can thank God, ask God, etc. Yet, a sinner cannot worship the Lord.

Worship requires relationship reverence, which cannot be had by a sinner.

It shocks many people to realize that Christ is right beside them, even within them, able to be spoken to, able to be heard. Jesus is too much a Gentleman to interrupt and force them to commune with Him. He wants fellowship via prayer, He wants us to ask for what we desire, He wants to speak back to us His answers, but most of all, He wants WORSHIP.
　

In the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, we find Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His every word.

Luke 10:38-42 (KJV)
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Martha, in doing good things, even necessary things, was missing what was more needful. The communion with the Lord is the most needful thing, and as Jesus pointed out, it is the one needful thing. Are we a Mary or a Martha?

Peter followed afar off.

Luke 22:54 (KJV)
54 Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Just before the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter was following, but not near. I am sure the Lord was heart-broken at this distance between His friends, and Himself. The intimate closeness offered by the Lord in Gethsemane, and on the Mt. of Transfiguration should have been special to Peter. Even though this time, Jesus was going to something not so desirable for Peter to see, he should have been there for encouragement to Jesus. Jesus offers us a place for us to come and have intimate fellowship, communion, and encouragement for our hard times. He wants not only our prayers, but He desires for us to come into full relationship with Him, sit at His feet, commune and share in worship.

Are we followers of Christ Jesus, but lack the intimate closeness, the friendship, the communion we could have?
　

What is worship?

We shall be answering this much
in this series on worship.

It is hard to define in one sentence.

We need multiple definitions and defining tools
to understand worship.

FOOTSTOOL WORSHIP...

A footstool is a piece of furniture that sits in front of an easy chair, whereupon the legs and feet of the person on the chair can be rested.

Another use of it can be for a child to come before the parent, and use it as a seat upon which to sit and get full attention of the parent.

We are told in Psalms to come to a footstool before His throne, and exalt Him, worship Him, for His holiness. That is intimate, personal, private fellowship. It is God illustrating His parental nature, loving us as His little children. It is God illustrating us how He wants us to feel the freedom to come boldly, in a child-like way, and seek family sharing time with Him.

Psalm 99:5 (KJV)
5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

We are to worship at His footstool. We are to exalt our Lord. Yet, today in many families, when a child moves the ottoman (footstool) to his fathers chair, and sits there, converses face to face, as near as the child can come to the father for advice, comfort, fellowship, still, that event is too often so unlike our times of prayer with the Lord.

We have treated God like the Judge, like the game show host with the cash rewards, but have too often forgotten that He is the One we worship, not just go to for confirmation and answers to our needs.

Psalm 132:7 (KJV)
7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.

DAVID, A MAN AFTER GODS OWN HEART...

David is called by God to be a man after Gods own heart. David wanted, and experienced this closeness of worship. He heard from God the thoughts of God, the revelations of God, the feelings of God, because he sat on the footstool of God.

Footstool worship is the intimate, tender conversations, the loving adoration and respect, that God still requests of us.
God speaks back to our worship in a different way than He does to our praise, or our requests. It is an intimate, blessed, joyful heart which God shares to us, while we worship.

Romans 8:15 (KJV)
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Slaves were never allowed to call their master, abba father. This was a term of endearment, similar to us calling our fathers, daddy, or pop. Only sons were allowed to call their fathers to be abba. The name abba Father combines a term of intimate endearment, with a term of respect and honor.

Too many of us are like Martha, doing good, but missing the tender fellowship with the Lord. Should we not all long for a close residence and abidance with the Lord? Yet, some must think that abiding with the Lord is meant only for special saints, or perhaps some are just too busy with the cares of life to do it.

ENOCHS WALK WITH GOD...

Genesis 5:24 (KJV)
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

One of the two witnesses to come back during the tribulation, to finish his ministry, is Enoch. He walked with God in intimate conversation. He was told, even then, being only the seventh generation since Adam, that the Messiah would come with many thousands of His saints, to judge the earths inhabitants.

With that great job to do, coming back to confront this world about Jesus, to stand up to the antichrist, and still, look what Moses tells us about Enoch Enoch walked with God. What will people say about you, after you are dead or raptured? Will it be that you walked with God? What greater compliment could be given?

　
THE TEMPLE

The Temple in the Old Testament was Gods dwelling place on earth. The people of Israel bragged on it, it was their pride. But, in our time, we are the dwelling place of God.

2 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV)
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The temple is the place of worship. God has made each of us capable of being His temple, and to worship Him in spirit and in truth. That place of worship is wherever we are. He is dwelling within us, so as to make this communion of worship very easy.

We have the presence of God within us at all times, if we are saved by Jesus blood. Yet, what kind of fellowship are we having in the Temple of our person? We are there, with God, at every moment. Day, night, awake, asleep, sick, well, working, idle, in whatever condition we are, God is there to be approached, and to sit on His footstool and have fellowship with us. Do we avail ourselves of the personal conversation, worship, and intimate fellowship?

KEEPING ROCKS QUIET

Luke 19:37-40
"...the whole multitude of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, Master, rebuke Thy disciples. And He answered and said unto them, I tell you thatif these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."

Jesus accepted the worship of the disciples, and they could barely contain their joy in seeing Jesus fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah. The Pharisees, and some others, criticized the excitement and the joyous worship of the disciples.
Many today criticize the joy of the worshippers in Christianity.

They would rather we piously sit in pews, and reverently bow our heads while a minister recites a saintly sounding, monotone prayer. Yet, the early church praised in the prison cells, worshipped while tied to poles about to be set afire. They were unrestrained, unhindered by commands of authorities to cease mentioning the name of Jesus.

The early church had more than correct doctrines, it had more than great emphasis on the Word of God and prayer, it had more than spiritual leadership, and it had more than spiritual gifts. The revival church had WORSHIP and PRAISE. The correct doctrines, when written upon the heart, should create a worshipping congregation.

Some congregations pride themselves on correct doctrines, and some feel they are so right, that everyone else is wrong.

Proper doctrine is important. Never underestimate correct doctrine, but it should lead to worship. If doctrines and beliefs of a congregation do not lead to, and result in, worship and praise, the doctrines are not proper, not understood correctly, or simply misconceptions.

Sound doctrine does not have to be "sound asleep." There is too much of the "deep frozen" religion. There are many who know the Word, know the doctrines, know the prophecies, but do not worship the Lord. The scribes and Pharisees of the time of the Lord's first coming, knew the Word, but failed to worship the Messiah when He stood in their presence. Today, we find many such people also.

We shall continue a study of WORSHIP, and find much more about what it is, how it works, and why we must, in these last days, experience it daily.

Stay tuned.

rdclmn72 · Oct 28, 2013

Worship is the totality of what describes the believer.

murjahel · Oct 29, 2013

WORSHIP IS
THE FEAR OF THE LORD

part 1

We can praise the Lord for some good thing that happens, and still not be redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We can pray and ask God for all sorts of things, for the world in the midst of all their sins, do that, when crisis appears. But, we cannot worship the Lord, unless we have come into His throne room, redeemed by the blood, sinless due to His taking away all our guilt and sin. There, we can worship. It is an act that none but the saved of the Lord, the redeemed by the blood, the children of God, can do.

The fear of God is an awesome reverence recognizing not only His greatness, but our lack of anything that would justify us before His holiness. Totally destitute of righteousness of our own, we reverence the holiness and perfection of our God.

We could have a sense of ethics, and strive to obey those rules of living we deem good. Even if we did, and never failed one of them, the Lord still says our righteousness is as filthy rags. God has found that all have sinned, and come short... of His requirements. Therefore, in salvation we come to realize our shortcomings, and His awesome perfection. This is the fear, reverent awe, of the Lord.

We think we know what fear is. We fear criminals hurting us, we fear the other political party getting elected, we fear rabid dogs, we fear a sunburn, we fear being fired, we fear old age and sickness. Those are minor bumps in the road of real fear. Those are panic attacks to a minor degree, and they plague all of us, until we come into worship, which is only entered by a FEAR OF THE LORD. Then we understand fear in a far different way.

Over and over, the Bible tells us to fear the Lord. The word does not mean fear as in to fear a rabid dog, or to fear a fire. Rather, it means to revere and to worship with holy awe of His power and of His nature.

Psalm 31:19 (KJV)
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Goodness is laid up for us, if we fear our God. That sounds like something good, very good.

So, why do we fear to fear?

The Hebrew word used for fear is the Hebrew Strong's number: 3372, and the phonetic pronunciation is yaw-ray'.

It is used in the KJV and translated as:
fear, 188 times;
afraid, 78 times;
terrible, 23 times;
terrible thing, 6 times;
dreadful, 5 times;
reverence, 3 times;
fearful, 2 times;
terrible acts, 1 time,
and miscellaneous translations, 8 times.

The total count is 314 times in the Old Testament.

The word literally means:
to fear; moral to revere; causative to frighten, affright, make afraid, dread, fear, be had in reverence.

If you notice from the meanings, that this word could represent both reverence or dread, and terror.

In dread, one sees the power of the threat, whether a beast or a calamitous event.

The difference from that and reverence fear, is that one is horrible, the other is awesome and wonderful, but the greatness of both is immense.

Gods loving nature, His holy power and justice are formidable and unconquerable. Yet, we have no need to feel terror with God, for we are His children. So, the awesome respect for His Person is fear but in the extreme reverence. We come boldly to Gods throne, we sit comfortably on His footstool, and we greatly esteem His power.

Psalm 34:6-11 (KJV)
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

The Lord "encamps" around those that fear Him, and there is no want to to those who fear and reverence Him. So, respectful worship sounds like wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

It is our duty and obligation to reverence God in holy respect for Him, and for His commandments.

Proverbs 28:14 (KJV)
14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

To live in constant reverence fear of the Lord is the way to have happiness. So many think they can be happy if they have high regard for themselves, or if they have money aplenty, or they have perfect health. Yet, even if we dont have any of those things, if we reverence God, sit at His footstool and worship, we have happiness.

1 Peter 1:17 (KJV)
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

There is a fear implanted in all of mankind. That fear is given by God, and therefore we see even the ungodly fear.

The ungodly of every continent, on every island, worship something. That inner fear of judgment, fear of their own weaknesses, makes them worship someone, something, to try to calm their fear.

Jesus said of a certain people, they worship what they know not. Many do. Their fears build, their panic attacks grow, for the thing or person they fear, has no power to assure them of salvation. We fear God, and He assures us that our sins are forgiven, our home will be with Him, we will be eternally save in His arms, if we fear Him.
　

Since God is a powerful God, and we respect that power, and know that He will someday soon judge our works and motives, we, therefore, are to pass the time in reverent worship of Him.

The passage of I Peter, above, is in the New Testament. It was written in Greek and the word there for fear is the Greek Strong's number, 5401, which is phobos. It comes from the root word, phebomai (to be put in fear).
　

In the KJV, it is translated:
fear, 41 times;
terror, 3 times;
miscellaneous translations, 3 times.

It is used 47 times in the New Testament.

Therefore, its meaning is to be put in fear; alarm or fright; be afraid; exceedingly fearful or in great terror. Yet, this same awe of greatness of the object of fear, is converted to awesome reverence due to the fact of the loving nature of the One to be respected for great power. With this Greek word, we again see that the Person being feared, is of no threat if He loves and cares for us. We reverence Him tremendously.

Do you fear the Lord? For there is goodness,no want, happiness for those who reverence Him at His footstool. It is our whole duty and the way we are supposed to pass our time".

Therefore, God encourages us to always fear Him.

1 Chronicles 16:29-30 (KJV)
29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

The psalmist noticed birds fly into and from the Temple. He realized that some birds had made their nest, their home, within the Temple where Gods presence dwelt. He envied that sparrows and swallows that had that great blessing, i.e. to be dwelling in the same house as God.

Psalm 84:3-4 (KJV)
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

We shall soon dwell in the New Jerusalem, in the same building as God. And even now, God has made us His Temple, and dwells within us. What an honor, what a privilege. No matter where we are, we are still indwelt by God. If we suffer poor health and lay in a hospital bed, or are taken to the surgical room, God is still indwelling us. We do not need to envy birds around the stone Temple of old, we are today blessed in an even greater way. In the Temple of God, inside our own person, we can sit on His footstool, and worship Him.
　

Psalm 100:4-5 (KJV)
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

We can arrive at the footstool with thanksgiving, with praise, and be thankful and bless His name, for we have an awesome God.

John 4:23-24 (KJV)
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
　
　
MORE TO COME　

murjahel · Oct 29, 2013

WORSHIP IS:
THE FEAR OF THE LORD

PART 2

A life of worship to our awesome God
should be desired, sought after, longed for.

Psalm 27:4-6 (KJV)
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Psalm 63:1-2 (KJV)
1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
　

The power of God begins to flow into us, and through us, if we wait upon the Lord, sit at His footstool and worship Him.

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

God looks at us in a new way, when we sit at His footstool and worship. When we listen to His Written Word, and to His Spoken Words, and tremble at their awe-inspiring nature, we have His full attention.

Isaiah 66:2 (KJV)
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
　

John, in the Book of Revelation, quotes Jesus as saying that we are to come in and sit with Him. Jesus has the Spirit of God repeating that message over and over to all that will give ear to hear.

Revelation 3:19-22 (KJV)
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
　

Remember, the Lord gives goodness, His secret place of fellowship, salvation from all troubles, and blesses us with no want, if we worship at His footstool

Psalm 31:19-20 (KJV)
19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 34:6-10 (KJV)
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

FEAR WORSHIP IS AWESOMELY WONDERFUL

When God created Adam and Eve, worship was natural. When they sinned, they feared judgment and hid themselves. They made garments of leaves to try to cover their shame. When Cain killed Abel, he feared, and tried to cover his sin. All sin brings a different kind of fear. Fear for the redeemed, for those saved by the blood of Jesus, brings a different kind of fear, a holy reverence for the redeeming work of the Trinity in our hearts.
　

God is the one who holds our eternal destiny in His hands.

Philippians 2:12 tells us to:
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

Our salvation is a very serious matter and will not happen by accident. We must work it out "with fear and trembling". Our salvation depends on whether our worship is pleasing to God or not. On the Day of Judgment it will be too late to make any corrections.
　

Worship should cause us to reflect on the majesty and graciousness of God and Christ, contrasted to our own unworthiness. God does not have to have our worship, but we must worship Him to please Him. Our singing, praying, studying His word, giving, and communion are designed by God to bring us closer to Him and to cause us to think more like He thinks, thus becoming more like Him.

James 4:8 tells us to:
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
　

Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength. Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character. We become like unto those we admire and worship. When we worship God we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God, but never to His level.

As Philippians 2:5 says:
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ."
How do we take on the mind of Christ?

In Romans 12:2 we read:
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

We renew our mind as we study and meditate on Gods word and worship Him.
　

When we worship God we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love. All of this is preparing us for eternal life in heaven with God and Christ.

As we are told in Colossians 3:2 to:
"Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth."

Worshipping God "in spirit" means with reverence, attentiveness, and having the right purpose of honoring God, while understanding what we are doing.

Hebrews 12:28-29 says:
"Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."

Our worship must glorify God.

1 Corinthians 6:20 says:
"For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods."

In order to worship God in the right spirit, we must take time before worship to make ready our hearts and emotions so we will be in the proper frame of mind.

We read in Psalms 89:7:
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him."

Our worship must show great reverence toward God. He is our creator and He holds our eternal destiny in His hands. We must strive to please Him. We should not have to rush or hurry to worship, arriving late but should always plan to be there early enough so we can be in a worshipful attitude and spirit. Our mind must be ready, attentive, and alert.

murjahel · Oct 29, 2013

WORSHIP IS:
THE FEAR OF THE LORD

PART 3

Concerning the Lords Supper, we are warned in 1 Corinthians 11:27:
"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."

Our worship to God must be done in a worthy manner. It must be done in a manner that brings glory and honor to God and Christ. Continuing to read in verse 29, "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lords body."

We must control our thoughts during periods of worship and not let them wander to other things. We should never be wishing the worship service would hurry up and be over so we can get to the restaurant early and not have to stand in line. In fact we should be of the frame of mind that we are disappointed to see the worship service end.
　

In showing reverence and respect to God, we will not be indifferent, inattentive, and taking lightly that which should be considered serious. Worship to God is holy. Our character in worship must also be holy.

In 1 Peter 1:15-16 we read:
"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct, because it is written, Be holy for I am holy."

Slouching over, sleeping, playing with babies, squirming, unnecessary talking, and passing notes all show disrespect in worshipping God. Worship which is insincere, that is not from the heart, is vain, useless, and unacceptable to God.
Jesus says:

"This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Mark 7:6).

Active participation will tend to get rid of our lack of interest and inattentiveness.

Reverence is not having a long face, folded hands, or a put on look of piety. Worship is a time of joy for us. It is a time of offering thanks, adoration, love, praying, singing praises to God, feeding on His word, and proclaiming Christ to the world in partaking of the Lords Supper.

Jesus says in John 4:24:
"God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

We must worship God in truth. Since His word is truth, we must worship Him according to His word. Here the Lord is telling us that everything we do in worship, we must have God's divine approval. Truth is not arbitrary. Truth for one person is the same as truth for the next. God has not spoken in unclear ways.
　

God has specified in the Bible the acceptable way He is to be worshipped. He is not to be worshipped according to the evil and vain imaginations and devices of men. Whatever that is not commanded in scripture in our worship to God is forbidden if we are to worship God in truth. God is not obligated to accept our worship just because we offer it to Him. We dare not substitute what we want for what God has commanded if we want to please Him and go to Heaven.
　

There are many who think it really doesnt matter what we believe or do in religion, just as long as we are sincere and follow our conscience. But if it doesnt really matter what you believe, then it doesnt matter if you even believe at all. This is absurd. This philosophy exalts our conscience above the word of God. This makes our conscience our only guide and ignores what God says in the Bible. This philosophy originated with man and not with God. This is telling God we are going to worship Him the way we choose and we dont really care what He has to say. Every man then becomes his own authority thereby eliminating the authority of God, the Bible. This attitude must greatly hurt the one who gave His life for us.

Many people want to do what they think best and what seems right to them.

We are warned not to do this in Proverbs 14:12:
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

According to what God says we can loose our soul by doing what seems right in our own eyes. Gods word is no longer our guide, but it has been replaced with creed books, disciplines, manuals, confessions, etc. Men want to do things their way and as it seems right in their own eyes. Please consider the consequences of being deceived by error. What a pity it will be to stand before the Lord on Judgment Day having been fooled into accepting the unlawful religions of the denominational world. What a terrible fate to believe error to be truth only to be lost for all of eternity.
　

The philosophy of doing what seems right in our eyes has vastly altered the way people attempt to worship God. They rationalize that God will accept it. People can rationalize away just about anything they want if they work at it hard and long enough, and because of this people worship God in ignorance.

Just as the apostle Paul told the Athenians in Acts 17:23 (KJV):
"Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship."
　

The average person in religious matters takes many things for granted. He finds religious groups practicing something and he decides what the majority does must be right and acceptable to God. The Bible says the majority of people are going to be eternally lost.

Jesus says in Matthew 7:l3-14:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

So we dont want to depend on the majority to determine what is right for us and follow them. If we do we will also end up being lost in the eternal fires of Hell.
　

Many people never stop to ask, is it scriptural and is this what God wants? They believe that just any kind of worship they give will be acceptable to God. There are a lot of false teachings today that are being passed off as the truth. The main reason for all the religious division that we see in the world today is man will not accept Gods word as final authority. Man is going to do it his own way. The Bible contains our only instructions on how to please God so we can go to heaven.
　

God has always told man how He is to be worshipped. God is the only one who has the right to determine how He is to be worshipped. He will only accept that which is in harmony with His prescribed will. God instructs us how to worship Him acceptably through His word in the Bible. In Ephesians 5:17 we read, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." If we are the least bit concerned about where we will spend eternity, it is wise to know what the will of the Lord is so we can do it and be pleasing to Him. We are accountable for what we believe and practice. Our eternal destiny hangs in the balance of how we treat His truth.
　

In every age God has specified how He is to be worshipped.

He says to us in 2 Peter 1:3:
"As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us."

God in the New Testament has given to us all things we need to know that pertain to life and godliness so we can worship Him acceptably, in spirit and in truth. God has always made it plain and emphatic that the only worship that is acceptable to Him is only that which is in accordance with His will.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:10:
"You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve."

If we worship God in spirit and in truth, we cannot worship anyone or anything else. Anything we worship, other than God, is an idol. According to Webster, an idol is "an image used as an object or instrument of worship."

God forbids us to make and worship idols.

God says in Exodus 20:4-5:
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God."

We see we are not to make any image whether it is a statue or any likeness of anything in heaven or earth to worship them. But this is done today when people worship icons. People bow down and pray to these statues and painted pictures whether they be the supposed likeness of Mary the mother of Jesus or one of the many other dead people who are called saints. This is in direct disobedience to the command of God.
　

In 1 John 5:21 we read:
"My little children, guard yourselves from idols."

When I see people bowing down, burning candles, praying, and worshipping an icon image of a saint, my heart bleeds for them because they are putting their souls in jeopardy of being lost.

We are warned in Colossians 2:18:
"Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worshipping angels."

We can lose our reward in heaven if we worship someone other than God. He is the only one we are to worship because He is a jealous God. God will not allow us to worship anyone else other than Himself.

Revelations 21:8 tells us that:
"idolaters shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

We must only worship God and our worship must be in spirit and in truth if we expect to be with Him in heaven when this life is over.

Look in the Psalms, and see David rejoice and worship the Lord he had come to know. Look at the end of the book of Job, and see that even after all the suffering Job endured, he found great worship in the God Who loved him. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, etc. were all men who found that despite disappointment, despite heartache, despite persecution, they could worship and delight in the presence of God.

Some fear to fear. They run from their fears. They hide and try to escape their fears. When, in reality, there is a perfect peace that passes all understanding, that washes away all the pathetic things the devils have put in our lives to make us fear. We should fear God, and allowing that fear and reverent worship of the adoring Savior, His Father God, and our Comforting Holy Spirit overwhelm every other fear there is.

murjahel · Oct 30, 2013

WORSHIP IS:
Dwelling, waiting

PART 1
　
Psalms 91:1
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

There is a secret place of worship, a place spiritually in which our soul finds itself, as we worship. Actually, God hears our prayers from heaven, He hears our praises from heaven.

Yet, in worship, our soul is seen in heavens throne room, made manifest there, for God to sit upon His throne, and enjoy our worship. The saints in heaven round about the throne, can see our presence there, and they join in our songs, they amen our worship. The angels do also. We are worshipping in the presence of God, Who is upon the throne.

That is why no sinners can worship. They can pray, they can praise, but to enter into the literal throne room with God, one must be washed from their sins, righteous in Gods eyes.

There in the secret place, under the shadow of the Almighty, we worship.

The presence of the Lord is felt in true worship. We are spiritually in the throne room while we worship. Our physical body is still here on earth, whether in a church, in a prison, at home, at work, in the car, etc... but our spirit is transported to heaven.

Worship is often referred to as waiting on the Lord. We wait while enjoying His presence.

Psalms 27:14
"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

Coming into the presence of the Lord, and there to worship Him, is waiting on the Lord. This always occurs in worship.
　

All of us who have a sickness, a problem, a spiritual battle would like to be healed yesterday. We would like to hurry God to do everything we want and need immediately. We have little, if any, patience. All of creation groans, travails in various kinds of pain. We, as Christians, have the first fruits of the Spirit, that is the salvation and redemption of our spirit. The body is still under the effects of the curse. We have faith and hope for the redemption of the body, but it is yet to come, when we get our new bodies that are not dying and aging.

We all would like to pray for those troubles to cease. We can. We all would like to praise that they have ceased. We will. Yet, now, we can wait on the Lord, and enter into worship despite not having seen the victories yet, for worship does not depend on faith being already proven, but faith in waiting, is worship.

FAITH is a special impartation of faith to believe in what God wants done. Waiting on the Lord, in patient waiting for the answers to come, is found in worship.

Hebrews 11:1
"now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Faith is the waiting while yet not seeing. Faith is the praise for what is not yet received. Faith is the assurance in our hearts, that what we hope for, is going to be seen, and we worship while in that waiting time of faith.

Faith is the mark of all Christians. We cannot please God if we do not have faith. (Hebrews 11:6) Yet, the gift of faith is a supernatural impartation of this faith for special, unique situations. There must first be a trial. For without a trial, there is no faith needed.

Therefore if Christians were not to go through any troubles, etc. then no faith would be needed. If all our troubles were answered, we would praise. Yet, God is honored, He is happy, while we yet are in the midst of troubles, to be able to wait upon Him, worship Him for Who He is, thank Him in faith for things we have not yet had given.

We need faith for the time of waiting when we are going through troubles. Until a miracle, healing, or deliverance from the trial arrives, we need a special impartation of WAITING faith.

Waiting faith is the suspension of a demand of hurry.

Patience is present in real waiting faith. If the faith were a demand that it be "now", it would cease to be Biblical faith.
God has told us that He will deliver us from all our troubles.

He has promised to make all things to work together for our good. Yet, sometimes the trial seems to be so long, and the miraculous answer seems to take so long to come. During this waiting time, we need a special impartation of faith. We need to be healed of our hurried-ness and allow God to show us His timing. This is real faith.

Some will pile up hours and hours of asking prayer. Some will find some little event to occasionally praise Him for... But God wants worship, the waiting kind of faith expressed in love and adoration of the Almighty God.
　

Waiting faith is different from saving faith, for saving faith comes before salvation, and this gift of waiting faith can only come after salvation.

It is different from natural faith. Natural faith is like positive thinking. Some nod their heads to belief in a report. This kind of faith is found in the world.

The devil and his angels believe and tremble, yet they insult God and work evil. The gift of waiting faith is to believe God's Word in such a way that honors God and helps one endure the trial until a miracle comes. When one has it, they worship. It is the natural result of waiting faith.

I have often heard complaining faith, impatient faith, grumbling faith, weary of waiting faith, but when I see some who have waiting faith, it inspires me to more faith too.
Real and Biblical waiting faith is healed of hurried-ness. Real faith is patient.

If Daniel had slain the lions with a word, that would have been a miracle, yet he endured the night by a gift of waiting faith. His nature would have demanded a right now, before they eat me, deliverance. But, he had waiting faith without that hurried-ness. He had patient faith that made that night with God one of worship. He was not crying, begging God for deliverance, fearful and angry at God for allowing him to be in the lions den. He was worshipping, in waiting faith.

If the disciples in the storm-tossed boat had waiting faith they could have endured a stormy crossing of the lake. Yet, their lack of waiting faith required a miracle to be done by the Lord. They awoke the Lord with the words dont you care that we perish? That was not waiting faith, nor was it worship. They go together.

The gift of waiting faith does not provide deliverance from the trial, as does miracles, but it provides the courage and enduring patience for the trial. The faith imparts a burst of belief, and enables one to continue, until the miracle comes. While waiting, the worship replaces asking, the praise that cannot come till the answer comes, is waiting.

God wants to meet every need in the body of believers. In every trial, sickness, problem, He wants to give a miracle, healing, or the waiting faith to endure until the answer comes.

Sometimes, God considers this waiting faith to be the gift that is best. For in it, we worship. In it we enter the secret place, and come under the shadow of the Almighty.

Too often the impatience of Christians demands the miracle now and doesn't want a gift of waiting faith. They miss the most blessed times of worship if they do not need to ever wait upon the Lord in faith.

The prayer lines in churches often have the same people in them, service after service. The Lord obviously isn't giving the miracle or healing yet. He is trying to operate patient faith in their lives, for now. This gift can be a great witness too. The world can see us endure our "lion's den", and our bed of affliction, and still be rejoicing in Jesus. When the world sees this type of waiting faith, they marvel.

The lack of this patient faith is evident when Christians go about demanding that the walls of their Jericho's fall on the first day, not the seventh. Many want to strike the lion's dead, not spend the night with them to exercise the gift of faith. Worship is done in the lions dens, it is done marching around the walls, physically. Though our bodies may be still in the midst of the trials, our souls and spirits can be in the throne room of God in worship.

In Hebrews chapter 11, the great list of heros of faith are praised for enduring their trials, and awaiting the fulfillment of the promises God gave them, by the exercising the greatest of the power gifts--the gift of faith. Some of the heros of faith even died while exercising the gift of faith and never in this life saw the miracle or healing.

Hebrews 11:13 (KJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

In the midst of trials, these heroes of faith, were persuaded, embraced the promises, and confessed in worship their faith.

This exercising of patient, unhurried faith is not the popular Christianity. Most would rather see the instant miracle. The desire for the miracle is not wrong. The willingness to patiently endure the trial, and await the miracle is what God wants to see in His saints. The persuasion of the validity of God's promises even though we have not yet seen the fulfillment of the promises is greatly rewarded by God.

Worship is done as we wait upon the Lord.
　

To the great heros of this patient, unhurried, waiting faith, it is recorded in Hebrews 11:16 that -
Hebrews 11:16 (KJV)
16 wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.
　

God is probably ashamed to be called the God of those who complain, moan, and gripe about their trials, storms, lion's dens, that they are supposed to patiently endure. God is not happy when our prayers are demands, impatient complaints against the Lord for delays.

God will demand that we exercise the unhurried faith, even if we try to make it clear that only the healing or miracle will satisfy us. God is greatly displeased when Christians refuse to accept this patient waiting faith, and fail to worship as they wait.

Hebrews 10:38 (KJV)
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.

murjahel · Oct 30, 2013

Worship, to be real, has to be done by real Christians. There cannot be worship from sinners, there cannot be worship from the carnal, the backslidden, the apostates.

True worship is only found in DIVINE FELLOWSHIP.

When the truth is contaminated, there is no longer any real worship.

Contamination of the truth of the Lord has always been a problem in Christianity. We have been given the Word of God to help us maintain a standard by which all doctrines that arise in congregational circles are to be tested. Doctrine after doctrine has been tested by the Word, and many adherents of some false doctrines have claimed to have Scriptural support.

Yet, in order to believe any false doctrine, one must ignore or pervert certain Bible passages.

In these last days, as the Bible has forewarned, there are many "false prophets," and many "doctrines of devils" within the church. John dealt with, not only the false doctrines of his day, but also, the same evil doctrines with which the demonic forces are attempting to again pollute the faith.

Since there are so many false doctrines, so much contamination of the Word of God, there is little real worship.

These false doctrines prevent fellowship with the One Who tried to teach us differently. Without fellowship, we cannot have true worship.

The Christian faith is meant to be a fellowship. Too often the devils have succeeded to make a segment of the church to believe that the faith was simply correct doctrinal dogma, a church membership, a formula of proclamation, or a past experience, but the Word of God definitely maintains and affirms that real Christianity is a fellowship relationship with the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and other believers. The fellowship is a time of worship.

This type of Christianity is unfamiliar and foreign to many within the churches of today due to the success of the false doctrines within our age. In I John, John is attempting to re-instate to the church of his day, this doctrine of redemptive fellowship worship that we must have. All believers are to share a common spiritual life, and this life is only obtained by fellowship with the Father, and this is only achieved by fellowship with the Son. This is why Jesus had to come and die for our sins, that we, through a relationship of Him abiding in us, and us abiding in Him might have a restored fellowship with God the Father. When that fellowship is established, worship is present also.

The word for "fellowship" is the Greek word - "koinonia".

It is found only 20 times in the New Testament. Four of those times, it is found in I John. (1:3 twice, 1:6, 1:7)

This word means:

a close relationship...

not just an association, but a participation in the faith with...

and it is sometimes used to refer to a marital relationship.

This participation is shown to be:

a participation in Christ's suffering (Philippians 3:10)...

a sharing in relief and aid to the saints (II Corinthians 8:4)...

a participation in the Holy Spirit (II Corinthians 13:14)...

a participation in the blood of Christ (I Corinthians 10:16)...

In the gospel of John, we find that the main message and truth that Jesus is trying to convey is that He was sent to illustrate and teach that Christianity is a "sharing" with the Lord, the Father, and other believers. This sharing is translated by Paul and John with the word - koinonia.

CHARACTER OF THE TRINITY
WITH WHOM WE FELLOWSHIP,
TO WHOM WE WORSHIP

In our Koinonia walk with the Lord we must not lose sight of God's purity. To walk in fellowship worship with God, means that we too must be pure. We are taught that in Him there is "no darkness at all. We are to worship while in this koinonia walk, we are not in darkness, but in the light. We are cleansed from all unrighteousness in this fellowship worship.

I John 1:5
"This then is the message that we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

God is light, only light... 

There are several possibilities of the translation of "light".

It could refer to the majesty, splendor, and glory of God.

It could refer to the self-revealing of God.

Or it could refer to the moral perfection of God.

The third is affirmed by the context to be of what John is talking.

Therefore if "light" is moral perfection, then "darkness" is moral evil.

There is no moral evil in God at all... In order to have koinonia fellowship with this morally perfect God, we must conform to His moral perfection. When we are made morally perfect by our coming to God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we come into fellowship worship, that was never possible before.

I John 1:6-7
"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

We must walk in the light, walk in moral perfection, or there will be no communion. We cannot maintain the fellowship with the Lord, if we walk in sin. Fellowship with God is the privilege of this faith. To walk in darkness puts us on separate road, moving in a different direction than God. To try to claim a sinful life, and still claim that we have fellowship with God, makes us liars.

If we choose to walk in the light, we are immediately cleansed from all darkness by the blood of Jesus. God dwells un the light of moral perfection, and for us to approach Him, we must be cleansed from the moral darkness that we have had. The blood of Jesus cleanses us, and keeps on cleansing us as we maintain fellowship worship with the Lord.

There can be no fellowship worship with the Lord, without confession of sins, without forgiveness of sins, and without cleansing of sin.

I John 1:8-10
"If we say, that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."

Denying our past sinfulness, and denying the possibility of us presently failing God by sin, makes us separate from God, by insulting His veracity. There is no fellowship worship then. For He has told us that we are all sinners, and we still have only filthy rags to produce as our righteousness. We constantly need cleansed by His blood, and to have His righteousness clothe us.

The gnostics claimed that by being a member of their group meant that they did not need to be forgiven of sins. Yet, in reality, the closer we are to God, the more aware we are of uncleanness, and unworthiness. The more we recognize our former uncleanness, our former unworthiness without Him, the more we are in fellowship worship.

Today, some so-called saints, claim a perfection or holiness, and actually think that their sins do not count, because of some experience or commitment that they think gave them a superior standing with God. They are not able to worship, for they are not even in true fellowship with Him.

Paul, the great apostle, even stated about himself.

I Timothy 1:15
"...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

If Paul was so aware of his own weaknesses, and his own spiritual frailties, who are these so-called saints who claim a holiness, and moral perfection?

We are instructed by John to "confess our sins." (vs.9).

"Confess" means "to agree with". We must think the same about our sins as God does, and to confess, agree with the sins we find in ourselves, requires a contrite heart.

The word "sins" is made plural, and means all of our sins. Some will confess a minor flaw, perhaps one that they cam blame on our grandfather and his genes. Or perhaps we can blame it on the tough life, and the persecution from others who do not believe we are as perfect as we claim. No! Let's be real. We all have failures, and no matter what our spiritual legacy, we have not reached perfection. We cannot come into fellowship worship until we do admit our sins, confess our failures.

God wants to deal with our sins, and ideally, He would like to "forgive us our sins." God can remove all pollution of our sins, and renew us to a moral perfection found only in a re-cleansing by the blood of Jesus.

The gnostics claimed to have not sinned, even though they had broken many of the commandments. They claimed that none of their sins counted as sins, because they had a knowledge that made them superior to other Christians. John makes it clear that any such claim would be like calling God a "liar." God's whole plan of redemption shows that we are never capable of ourselves to be morally perfect.

If we try to claim a moral perfection, or an impossibility of sinning, we are warned that this dictates that His "word is not in us." If His word is not dwelling in us, then we do not have Him dwelling in us, and we are speaking the word or doctrines of someone else.

In other words, any such one is a false prophet. Do not trust any doctrine espoused by anyone who claims a moral perfection of themselves, any who try to put themselves on a higher standard than other saints. If they have stumbled on the simple truth of the gospel concerning the fallibility of all the saints, and the frequent need of all of us to repent of weaknesses, they do not deserve any consideration as being any more than a false prophet.

murjahel · Oct 30, 2013

TRUE FELLOWSHIP
REQUIRES AN ADVOCATE!
　
I John 2:1-2
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Since we are so likely to fail, we need an advocate. Notice, that John is talking to "little children" and this is a tender address to others of like faith as he. He does not encourage them to simply expect sin, but tells them to "sin not."

There is an Advocate with the Father. The "advocate" is a "comforter, a pleader, an intercessor, a counsel for the defense." Our Advocate does not plead our innocence, but pleads for mercy on our sinfulness due to the penalty that Jesus Christ Himself has paid on calvary's cross. He is our "propitiation", our "atoning sacrifice." Jesus is the remedy for our sins.

FELLOWSHIP AND OBEDIENCE
ARE BOUND ONE TO ANOTHER

The gnostics taught that men could be made free from moral law. John teaches that "if we know Him" we will obey His commandments.

I John 2:3-6
"And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments, He that saith, I know Him and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in Him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked."

Knowledge of the Bible, orthodox dogma, formal acts in worship, all are nothing unless we obey. We cannot separate the fellowship (koinonia) from obedience to the Lord.

Some false prophets demand obedience to themselves, or to their specialized dogma, but allow themselves and some of their disciples to disobey the commands of the Lord.

Obedience is the keeping of the commandments of the Lord, the following of God's Word, and the walking as Jesus walked.

These are difficult standards to achieve... and we will fail. That is why the Lord has provided a Sacrificial Lamb in Christ Jesus, and He is now at the right hand of the Father being an Advocate for us.

The reward for humble repentance (in place of stupid denial) for our sins, is a fellowship (a participation) worship in the faith. This participation is a fellowship worship with God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit.

Those who pretend, even if sincerely believing that they are right, are not in such a fellowship. They have excluded themselves. Sometimes blatant sinners (pretending to be saints) have been accepted by others to be partakers of the same faith. In other ages they were called Pharisees, hypocrites, false prophets, tares, and disorderly.

The Bible warns us that in the last days there will be many such ones in the churches. We had better beware.

II Timothy 3:1-5
"This know that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away."

We are to "turn away" from them, because they have already excluded themselves from the fellowship worship with the Lord. False prophets have instilled in many congregations the heresy that we are to simply love them, ignore their sin, and wait till the Lord deals with them. This has allowed many congregations to become too filled with these non-fellowship, non-worshipping, members.

They become abusers of others... cause others to fail and backslide... and become like untreated cancer to a body. The cancers keep destroying more and more of the body. Cancers need to be surgically removed. In the spiritual body of Christ, we need to "turn away" from such. To tolerate and try to include them in the fellowship will keep the church ineffective and void of true revival.

I Corinthians 6:11
"But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one, no not to eat."

In how many congregations has this been taught in these last days? Paul could teach it... John could teach it... Peter could teach it... but too many in our last days have bought into the part of the gnostic false doctrine that make them think that these kind of sinners can be board members, deacons, pastors, Sunday School teachers, church members, choir members, orchestra members, etc. They cannot truly even worship God in that state, so why should they be church leaders?

It is time to examine our own membership in the fellowship, and make sure we are taking care of our own sins... calling on our Advocate, Jesus Christ. But we must also be aware of the false and perverted sinners within many congregations... and withdrawing from such! Those who cannot be in fellowship worship with the Lord, admitting their unworthiness, and blessing God for the right to still be in worship fellowship, despite their former sins. This fellowship worship requires seeing ourselves in reality, as truly saved only by grace, and now in fellowship simply by His grace, and thereby able to be in fellowship with a Perfect Lord. This is worship.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

WORSHIP IS:
IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH WORSHIP
　
　

John 4:24
"God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him,
must worship Him in spirit and truth."

People understand electricity, and photosynthesis better than they understand worship. What has been called worship is so far from the reality of what it truly is, that most do not even know the need of changing anything in their services of 3 songs performed by several people who tap their feet and smile while they sing, an offering, and a short sermonette that is politically correct. Those to most equate ‘worship’, when in reality, they are far from true worship.

The true vocation of the congregations that truly serve the Lord, includes WORSHIP.

I Peter 2:5,9
"...to offer up spiritual sacrifices... that ye should shew forth the praises of Him."

Praise alone does not equate to worship. For in some praise, there is not the spirit of the person, and there is not ‘truth’ in the words of praise. In worship there is praise, but not all praise is worship.

When our mouths, our hearts, and our lives ‘shew forth the praises of Him’, then there is worship. Then the praises are ‘in truth’, and ‘in spirit’.

Psalms 100:4
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."

It is not the ‘thanksgiving’ and the ‘praise’ that is worship. It is when those are done as we ‘enter into His gates’, and truly, in spirit, come into His very presence, that it is worship.

Praise alone is not worship. Praise is admitting the greatness and wonder of God. Praise is when we praise the Lord ‘with our whole heart’, while ‘upright’. It is done ‘in truth’ and with our whole ‘spirit’ being involved.

Psalms 109:1
"Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation."

What if everyone of the congregation, entered into the local church, with words of praise to God? What if we actually were silly enough to try what God says He wants???!!! What if we obeyed that command to ‘enter His gates with thanksgiving, praise, blessings, thankful??? What if it were more than a ‘show’, what if it were more than obedience to a worship leader, but was sincere, true, the response of our inner spirit that is in awesome reverence of a holy God???

What kind of service do you think we would have?

Some enter the congregations we call churches, with complaints, discouragement, anger, frustration, weariness, and it takes a great song service, a rousing sermon, to get them smile at the end to say ‘amen’. Shameful. Our God deserves more than that. God wants ‘worship’ not just emotionally aroused, now smiling, hypocrites.

The congregation that fails to worship, has failed at its real vocation. God meant for us to learn to worship, then learn to work. Martha was distracted by much serving. Mary chose the "better", and sat at the feet of Jesus. Had Martha also sat at the feet of Jesus, I am sure the meal still would have been prepared, as both could have periodically gone to the kitchen for a time, and then returned and still had time to learn and enjoy the presence of Jesus. The church needs to learn to get its work done, but put true worship ahead of the "nitty-gritty" duties of the church.

Samuel was busy in the temple service, and yet in I Samuel 3:7 it says: "Samuel did not yet know the Lord." It is possible to be busy in church work, and not truly know, or enjoy the Lord Jesus.

The Greek word commonly used for "worship" is "proskuneo," which means "to kiss the hand toward." This suggests an outward action which shows an inward realization of the greatness of another. The idea of "worth-ship" is recognized in real worship. In true worship is the recognition of Who the Lord truly is. True worship is in ‘truth’ and is in ‘spirit’.
On the isle of Patmos, John was shown the future rapture day.

In his vision, he saw the saints singing:
Revelation 4:8-11
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power."

True worship will occur on that rapture day. We can make it happen on earth now, but it must be ‘in spirit, and in truth’.
This worship delights in the sheer glory of God. Worship revels in His Person, His Nature, and His being. Worship recognizes what He has done.

Our actions and behavior should make others rejoice and worship in the Lord. When unbelievers see:

our good works,
our attitudes in crisis,
our love in the midst of hatred,
our patience in the midst of trial,
and our honesty in the midst of dishonesty...

they will glorify God Who has given us the grace to so behave.

They will then be motivated to get to personally, in spirit and in truth, get to know this God we worship.

I Peter 2:12
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

In this way, our behavior is an act of worship. We can glorify God, not only with our mouths, but with our lives, our attitudes, and with our actions. We should therefore be glorifying God most every moment.

I Corinthians 10:31
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Sometimes our actions profane our worship and praise. If we skip worship times in order to picnic, shop, or watch television, the Lord is not impressed with the one time that month you decided to praise and thank Him. Perhaps the television shows were all reruns, so you decided to worship God. Do you think He is really fooled when you praise Him??? but do not have the true spiritual involvement in your praises???

"What a weariness it is..." (Malachi 1:13).

The people in that day were heard by God to express their ‘weariness’ at coming to God’s place of worship. Many feel to gather together to worship the Lord is a weariness, hard, bothersome, and too much trouble. To feel that worship is a trial, an ordeal, a burden, and torture, is a terrible insult to the Lord we claim to praise when we do come.

Is it a weariness to attend? to pray? to be on time? to teach? to read your Bible??? Some complain when they must do these things. God hates insincerity, so if it is such a bother, get to the altar, and tell the Lord the truth until you get restored into a relationship with Him wherein it will not be a bother anymore.

Some in Bible times would offer the Lord a blemished, dying, or sick lamb. They were to offer an unblemished lamb that was healthy and strong. Do you offer the Lord your best? Do you say He is your "all in all" and then give your spare time, your left overs, your "what I don't need for McDonald's money"??? God hates insincerity, and you had better be wise and tell Him the truth. Tell God that you have valued other things more than He, repent and get your priorities right before you leave.

The parable of the two sons, both told to do a job for the father. One said "yes," and did not do it. The other said "no" and repented and did do it. Who pleased the father???

Romans 12:1
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

The Greek word for "your reasonable service" is the Greek word "latreia". This word could also be translated - "your spiritual worship." The original word is capable of both renderings. The RSV translates it this alternate way. The idea is that giving our lives to be a living sacrifice, and living a holy life for the Lord Jesus, is a form of worship.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

part 2 of 'in spirit and in truth...

True worship is spiritual. Though it is expressed in outward expression, or with the actions of our lives, it must come from our inner being. It springs from the depth of our spirit.

John 4:24
"God is a Spirit; and they that worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and truth."

Worship can be expressed in physical ways, words, and actions. It will be centered in the Holy Spirit, and will be from the depth or our being. Any worship that comes simply from the mind, or is hollow, outward show with no inward life, is not true worship. Often in congregations, there are hymns sung, wherein the words are sung - but not felt. These songs are only echoes of a shallow or dead faith. The Lord is not fooled by the harmonious beauty of the song. The heart is seen by God, and He recognizes true worship.

God hates insincere worship. God would rather we shut the doors of the church than to come and worship insincerely. The devil would rather we worship insincerely, than to shut the church congregation out of the building.

Malachi 1:10-14
"...but ye have profaned it (the name of the Lord), in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said, also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought an offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen."

It is dreadful to God, a hurtful and an offensive thing to have beings who owe their all to the Lord and have them insincerely, hesitantly, unwillingly, give praise. Yet, the churches are filled with those who do not really mean their praise, do not want to give any praise, and who say things in their praise that they do not feel.

What has happened to the sincere people who come to church expecting a blessing? or to seek God? or to commune with God? God hates insincere worship.

The song service is a time of worship. Some sing things that they do not mean, as "I'll go where you want me to go", or "keep me near the cross." You are not singing to your neighbor, nor to the preacher, but to God. God hates insincere, misdirected, un-meaning worship.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-6
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. ... a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay."

Two or three times, Jesus came to the temple and cast out the money changers. He was angered at their abuse of the house of God. It was not that they had sold doves and lambs for the sacrifices, it was their cheating, stealing, and deception to the people. Jesus called it a "den of thieves" and told them that His Father's house should be a "house of prayer." It is time we re-teach that lesson. We are the Temple of God, and this temple should be a "house of prayer" and worship. Sinful and insincere should be expelled from our lives.

It is like the fancy wrapped boxes a lady left in her car. Knowing they would likely be stolen, if she left her car unlocked, she had wrapped her garbage in the fancy wrappings.

Many people in congregations have wrapped their shallow faith in beautiful songs, and exuberant praise and worship. The enthusiasm does not fool the Lord. If the inside of a person is the filth of sin, the outward worship, no matter how enthusiastic or harmonious, is rejected by our God.

In the real and true worship there is no set pattern. Yet, it never becomes disorderly or confused. Since the Spirit is in control, the Spirit directs us to worship in manifold ways. Nothing is more disastrous than to try to create an atmosphere of worship. While we may try to create exuberance and rejoicing, the Spirit may be seeking to get us to weep and cry our love for Jesus. When we seek the weeping worship, the Spirit may want to direct us toward praise and shouting.

What we must do in revival is -- to create an atmosphere that allows the Spirit to create -- a worship. When people try to recreate what they saw God do in another service, it will fall flat. Spiritual worship, since it must be Spirit directed, cannot be produced by even the best of worship leaders. It can only be -- prepared for, -- by the worship leaders... and the worshippers. We must prepare our hearts and minds with the knowledge of the "worth-ship" of the Lord, and the thankfulness for His mercy and grace.

The worship and praise in the early church took place in upper rooms of the homes, in fields, in the temple, in the market place, in the prison cells, etc. In other words, they worshipped the Lord wherever they were. Their worship sprung from a relationship with the Lord, and was not directed by a worship leader who told them when to praise, when to clap, and when to raise their hands.

When Charles Wesley was saved, he was flooded with joy. He described his happiness to Peter Bohler, and added: "I suppose I should keep silent about it." Peter Bohler answered: "No, never! If you had a 1000 tongues, go and use them all for Jesus!" Wesley went home and wrote the song - "Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing My Great Redeemer's Praise."

A great evangelist, teacher of the more recent past, A.G. Ward said: "Our Lord is desirous that people should be rejoicing Christians. If Christians were more joyful, they would set sinners' mouths a-watering for the dainties of true religion."

Sometimes our hearts are heavy, our troubles are many, and we feel we must wait until things get better, or perfect, and then we will praise our Lord. Habakkuk questioned God of all the troubles that Israel was facing, and God replied to him:
"The just shall live by faith."

We must learn as Habakkuk to live by faith, to rejoice even when our sight tells us there is nothing to rejoice in when troubles abound.

Habakkuk wrote at the end of his book:
Habakkuk 3:17-18
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall there be fruit in the vines... yet will I rejoice in the Lord."

God created us for fellowship. The stones will cry out with praises if we do not. We must keep the stones silent, and praise our Lord and King.

Certainly, He is worthy of our praises. God will inhabit our praises, and will come and dwell in the midst of those who are praising Him. Will you praise Him? Let's sweep aside every hindrance, and give God the praise He deserves. Let us keep the stones silent, and let us be the ones to praise Him.

Some await someone to lead their worship. It is not wrong to have worship leaders, but our praise must now be confined to these times only. True worship will be directed by the Spirit.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

Part 3
WORSHIP IS:
IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH
　
Worship is unnatural for most, for so few even try to do it. Worship should be natural for God created us for it. The coming of sin into the equation broke that ease that worship should have been. At the new birth, the spirit should have come alive again, should be fit now for worship, and we must make it become again the natural thing for us to do.

While we were spiritually dead, the spirit worshiped things, persons, sports, money, fame, power, and heroes. Those were unsatisfying, and the spirit of mankind will only be satisfied, when it becomes alive and able again to worship in spirit and in truth.

Due to the congregations straying away from real worship, we find that our religious experiences have been watered down.

The miracles have lessened in frequency. There are so few miracles that false prophets easily slip in fake ones, parlor tricks, that imitate the miraculous. The faith is watered down so much that the fake miracles make the congregation get joyful and shout. The Holy Spirit is grieved, but not even missed, for true worship is so foreign to them, that the grief of the Holy Spirit is not felt.

To get worship again to be in spirit and in truth, we must have a humbling time of repentance. Every service should start with that humbling admitting to our weaknesses, our failures, our need for being cleansed again.

The proud, lofty, and unrepentant person cannot worship any better than the proud devil could. Self glorification was the downfall of Lucifer, and is the downfall of many in congregations today. Self-glorification destroys worship.

Worship comes from an inward attitude. 

Mental acquiescence to the omniscience of God, and admitting to our own foolishness will be necessary to allow real worship in spirit and in truth to begin and to continue. .

There must be spiritual recognition of the holiness of God, and acknowledgment of our own depravity and our filthy rag righteousness.

There must be an emotional willingness to express Gods greatness, and to be awe of His superiority.Some cannot worship because they do not have a very high opinion of God.

The idea of God being all powerful, is modified, changed, or amended to being a bit greater than we are, but only One that we can find fault with, can criticize for what we feel He did or did not do, that we disagree with.

Isaiah saw God high and lifted up, and His train filled the Temple. If we see God high and lifted up it is far easier to worship. If God is One we can find any fault in, find reason to blame Him for our state of being, criticize for our troubles and trials.... then worship will not be in spirit and in truth.
　

We will find, in the times of Spirit-directed,
Spirit-filled, in spirit and in truth worship,
that:
　

1. The doctrines of mankind -- that have attempted to direct how the Spirit can work -- will have to be pushed aside. Many doctrines and rituals have been created down through the ages to guide, direct, and suppress our praises into patterns suitable to our form of worship. The Holy Spirit is tired of forms, rituals, and ceremonies. He wants to knock down the bars of those prisons, and lead us into worship that is:

free,
emancipated,
unfettered,
unconstrained,
uninhibited,
and liberal.

2. The restrictions to worship -- that dogmas have defined -- will be forgotten.

3. The locations of worship -- that men have built -- will prove too small and confining. Our praise must continue in many places, and not await a meeting place to be expressed therein.
　

Jesus says in John 4:23-24, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

It doesnt say we can worship God anyway we want, but we "must worship Him in spirit and in truth". The word "must" makes it absolute. There is no other way we can worship God and be acceptable to Him. The word "must", according to Webster, expresses "an obligation, a requirement, a necessity, a certainty, and something that must be done". When "must" is used it means that it is not optional. Here the word "must" is expressing that in spirit and in truth is the only way to acceptably worship God.
God seeks true worshippers, and He identifies them as those who "worship Him in spirit and in truth".

Worshipping God in spirit means that it must be done from the heart.

Worshipping God in truth means that it must be done according as God has specified in the Bible.

Worshipping God in spirit and in truth is a serious matter which must not be taken lightly. If we have any regard for our own souls, we will want to make sure we are worshipping God in spirit and in truth.

　
Since God is the object of our worship, He and He alone has the right to determine how we are to worship Him.

We read in Jeremiah 10:23:
"O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps."

We are not granted the option of directing our own ways in religion. God is the One who we look to for guidance and direction in our lives.

Our very best in worship is due God and is prescribed by Him in the Bible. The worship God has prescribed is the only way we can be pleasing to Him in this life and finally attain everlasting life with Him in eternity. The Christians worship is of the greatest importance.

Worship is a time when we pay deep, sincere, awesome respect, love, and fear to the One who created us.

Acts 17:24-25 says:
"God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives life, breath, and all things."

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

Part 4

Location, circumstances, and crisis cannot hinder worship in spirit and in truth.

When the Lord says that worship is to be done in spirit and in truth, that statement not only tells us what it is, but it tells us what it is not. There are many kinds of worship that is not in spirit and in truth. Yet, these substitute forms of worship often are found amidst the church.
We need to eliminate the imperfect forms of worship, for they anger the Lord, and grieve the Holy Spirit.

Malachi 1:6-8 (KJV)
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised Thy name?
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon Mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted Thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.

Have you ever heard that kind of complaint of people about the altars of the church, of the prayer times, of the worshipful words of songs and of prayers? The Lord calls that kind of worship to be 'contemptible'. That kind of insincere worship is evil.
　

God is disturbed in these last days by the insincere worship of many. Their worship is dead, meaningless, and has form -but no power. They treat the worship services as optional. They take communion as though it were only a midday snack. They treat times of intercession as though they were unimportant. They offer to God their extra time, if any. They will do the Lord's work if it does not interfere with their other plans.

Malachi 3:13-14
"Your words have been stout against Me, saith the Lord. YET YE SAY, What have we spoken so much against Thee? YE HAVE SAID, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?"

Some offend God with their words against Him. Many feel it is worthless to serve God, and often so speak those words. They feel worship is unimportant. They always pick sundays for their reunions, because their job is too important to miss.

They can skip church, but they cannot skip work. they can be late for church, but never be late for work. They can stay up till 4 a.m. on Saturday night, and drowsily nod during the worship service, but they would not stay up that late on a "work night." Does that show God how important we feel He is?
　

Many people will longingly seek to achieve great things for their company, but will look at the church and say, "Ho hum." Our God is not stupid, and He sees... and hears... and knows.
To say those things before and after a worship song, a worshipful acting prayer, makes the so called worship to be rejected by God. It is NOT IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH when accompanied by such words and actions.

With those sins un-repented, it is rejected worship. Worship is when there is nothing in oneself that is sinful that has not been repented.

When worship is insincere, not in spirit and not in truth, there are substitute forms of pretend worship. Some want to create a sublimity to imitate worship. The sunrise or sunset may be beautiful, but a beautiful expression of thanks for that beauty is not worship. The thunderstorm coming over a mountain may be sublime and awe inspiring, but the worship in that beautiful atmosphere is not worship due to the sublime artistry of Gods creation. The stars in all their silvery wonder may create a cathedral-like atmosphere, but that does not make appreciative prayers to become worship.

The awe-inspiring wonder and sublimity does not make our prayers to be worship. Paul and Silas could worship in a dark dungeon of Philippi. Job could worship with boils covering his body. Jeremiah worshiped from the depths of the sewer of a prison. Daniel could worship from a lions den. Worship is done best when the atmosphere is not distracting, when the horror of the location is repugnant and sad, worship can spring forth in spirit and in truth.

We can worship while doing laundry, while washing a car, while doing plumbing repair, while playing basketball, while driving a car. Worship is not dependent on the ease, the beauty, the wonderful atmospheres of life. Worship is an inner choice of humility of self, and an adoration fellowship with God.

Worship is to be in spirit and in truth. We were created for worship. We are not to try to create a God to worship, but we find a God Who created us to worship Him.

Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Worship seeks union with the One worshiped. Worship views the One to be worshiped, and the things around that One need not be beautiful, nor lovely, nor pleasant, nor desirable, for all attention is on the One to be worshiped, not on the atmosphere around. The worship is in spirit and in truth.

The mystery of worship is that God is dwelling in the person who is worshiping. Therefore, this worship in spirit and in truth does not depend on the worshiper having the right diet, nor in having preceded the worship with days of fasting.

The worshiper does not have to have the most modest of clothing, nor the proper amount of ceremonial preparation to the worship. We can be in the belly of a fish, sinking in the waters we had been walking upon, walking into a flaming furnace, sinking on a boat overwhelmed by the waves. We can worship in spirit and in truth, while walking down to face a Goliath, while marching thirteen times around a Jericho, while trapped between the Red Sea and an angry army charging toward us. Worship in spirit and in truth, is a vital kind of prayer. The devil cannot find any circumstance that can stop it, and the power of this worship in spirit and in truth, turns all crisis into victories.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

Part 5

TEARING OURSELVES DOWN,
SO AS TO BUILD UP OUR LORD,
IS WORSHIPING
IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

Bible study is wonderful and needed. Witnessing is our mission, and vital. Prayer is asking, and to have, we need to ask of God. Praise is thanksgiving for all the wonders the Lord does for us. Yet, worship is something different than all of those, and all of those can be done, and worship neglected.
God is a spirit being, having a spirit body that sits upon a throne in heaven, but also omnipresent. That spirit Person requests a worship that is in spirit and in truth. Worship transcends all other service to our God. The Bible study, witnessing, prayer, and praise can all be incorporated into worship, but none of those alone are worship.

To worship God, we must know God. That is quite a challenging feat, for He is spirit, He is truth, and we only can worship Him as we know Him in that way, and honor Him for both. Full knowledge of an infinite person, by finite persons, is impossible. Yet, the Lord asks us to know Him.

Some try to build themselves up to some peak of greatness, some high mountain of faith, or some great level of deserving of blessings. Those are all killers of true worship.

Since God is love, our love must be real for Him, and for our fellow man, or we cannot worship in spirit and in truth.

Since God is humble, our pride will destroy worship if we try to come to Him to prove our worthiness, our greatness of person.

In spirit and in truth, means we recognize the truth of His greatness, and see ourselves in comparison to Him, totally depraved of any right to praise and reward.

For mercy we seek, for undeserved grace we pray, but in reality, we are overwhelmed while in worship of His omniscience, omnipresence, unchangeableness, and unmatched mercy and love.

In awe of those things, in admitting of our own frailties, we can then worship.

No worship is true worship unless accompanied by those things.

Our looking for God in worship is successful then, for He is looking for mankind to worship. If we were not His children, the glory of His might in coming near to us while we worship, would devastate and doom us. God comes closer to us while we worship than at any other time of our service. His presence is overwhelming while we truly worship. If we bore pride, sin, or apathy, in our worship, and He came close to us in that kind of power, we would fall dead. So, only in true worship is that kind of awesome presence given.

God is seeks to manifest Himself. God has sought in the Bible to reveal Himself. God has spoken to our hearts, showed us illustrated lessons of His love, and internally transformed our beings so we could get to know Him.

The Lord was so anxious to restore fellowship, to be able to receive our worship, that He sent Jesus to pay the price for that right. He then sent the Holy Spirit to enable our feeble attempts. He is building a city of translucent gold, and anxiously sitting upon the top if it, waiting for us to come home to heaven in which we will eternally worship Him.

Mankind often forgets the eagerness of God for worship, and they look for shortcuts and other ways to gain the blessings of worship. They try meditation, they try fasting, they try long prayer times, and they try reading the Bible from cover to cover. Those are all great things, but none of them are in themselves worship.

Some try some impressive and famous minister to come. He/she may come, and have the presence of God with them, but just being in their presence is not worship.

Some think it is a worship leader that generates our own worship. The worship leader may worship in front of us, but singing alone alone is not worship from us.

Some try to cheer up drooping and depressed saints with jokes and lively beats to the music. The crowd may perk up and at least tap their toe to the music, and laugh at the jokes, but that is not worship.

Some try sermons to make people feel worthy of Gods blessings. Sins are ignored, repentance is a dirty word, and praise of flock as totally deserving of blessings is the method that they think will inspire worship and its blessings. The humbling nature of true worship often needs to begin with tears and repentance.

The magnification of oneself needs to be shown to be a trick of mirrors when the real God is viewed. The only witness of purity needs to come from the inner witness of the Holy Spirit confirming to us that we are righteous through the blood of Jesus. Pats on the back by mankind, awards and trophies for great works, standing ovations, etc are only man telling man, that they THINK he is good. The real witness of mercy and grace on us, needs to come from the Trinity Who bestows such undeserved grace.

True worship of God is the coming down of the Holy Spirit in cleansing and humbling the pride from mankind, so the spiritual eyes can view more clearly the awesome nature of God. This is worshiping in spirit and in truth.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

WORSHIP IS:
KEEPING THE ROCK SILENT
　
　
Luke 19:37-40
"...the whole multitude of disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, Master, rebuke Thy disciples. And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."
　

Jesus accepted the worship of the disciples, and they could barely contain their joy in seeing Jesus fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah. The Pharisees, and some others, criticized the excitement and the joyous worship of the disciples.
Many today criticize the joy of the worshippers in Christianity. They would rather we piously sit in pews, and reverently bow our heads while a minister recites a saintly sounding, monotone prayer. But the early church praised in the prison cells, worshipped while tied to poles about to be set afire. They were unrestrained, unhindered by commands of authorities to cease mentioning the name of Jesus.

The early church had more than correct doctrines, it had more than great emphasis on the Word of God and prayer, it had more than spiritual leadership, and it had more than spiritual gifts, it spoke more than asking prayers, or thanking praises... it WORSHIPPED.

The revival church had WORSHIP and PRAISE. The correct doctrines, when written upon the heart, should create a worshipping congregation.

Some congregations pride themselves on correct doctrines, and some feel they are so right, that everyone else is wrong. Proper doctrine is important. Never underestimate correct doctrine, but it should lead to worship... If doctrines and beliefs of a congregation do not lead to, and result in, worship and praise... the doctrines are not proper, not understood correctly, or simply misconceptions.

Sound doctrine does not have to be "sound asleep." There is too much of the "deep frozen" religion. There are many who know the Word, know the doctrines, know the prophecies, -- but do not worship the Lord. The scribes and Pharisees of the time of the Lord's first coming, knew the Word... but failed to worship the Messiah when He stood in their presence. Today, we find many such people also.

The true vocation of the congregations includes WORSHIP.

I Peter 2:5,9
"...to offer up spiritual sacrifices... that ye should shew forth the praises of Him..."

Psalms 100:4
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."

Psalms 107:32
"Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders."

Psalms 109:1
"Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation."

The congregation that fails to worship, has failed at its real vocation. God meant for us to learn to worship, then learn to work.

Martha was distracted by much serving. Mary chose the "better", and sat at the feet of Jesus. Had Martha also sat at the feet of Jesus, I am sure the meal still would have been prepared, as both could have periodically gone to the kitchen for a time, and then returned and still had time to learn and enjoy the presence of Jesus. The church needs to learn to get its work done, but put worship ahead of the "nitty-gritty" duties of the church.

Samuel was busy in the temple service, and yet in I Samuel 3:7 it says:
"Samuel did not yet know the Lord..."

It is possible to be busy in church work, and not truly know, or enjoy the Lord Jesus.

As has been said oft before, let me remind you again, the Greek word commonly used for "worship" is "proskuneo," which means "to kiss the hand toward." This suggests an outward action which shows an inward realization of the greatness of another. The idea of "worth-ship" is recognized in real worship. In true worship is the recognition of Who the Lord truly is.

On the isle of Patmos, John was shown the future rapture day. In his vision, he saw the saints singing:

Revelation 4:8-11
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power..."

Worship delights in the sheer glory of God. Worship shouts out to keep rocks silent, for our Lord is so great, that rocks should not need to be the ones who shout out worship. Worship revels in His Person, His Nature, and His being. Worship recognizes what He has done.

Our actions and behavior should make others rejoice and worship in the Lord. When unbelievers see, our good works, our attitudes in the crisis of life, our love in the midst of the hatred we receive from others, our patience in the midst of trial, and our honesty in the midst of dishonesty, then they will glorify God Who has given us the grace to so behave.

If our bad works, our bad attitudes, our lack of love, our impatience, our dishonesty bring shame to the God we claim to worship, they will either stay unworshipful of the God we claim is our, or will curse His name.

Our lives of worshipful, godly living should make this world to never hear stones cry out. Yet, they do... The rocks grind upon one another, and earthquakes are multiplying to record numbers. The stones cry out. In volcanoes the liquid rocks there make sounds emerge, crack rocks above them, and spill out forming mountains of new rock, that has cried out in their own way, the worship the man has not whimpered.

I Peter 2:12
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Our behavior is an act of worship. We can glorify God, not only with our mouths, but with our lives, our attitudes, and with our actions. We should therefore be glorifying God most every moment. Only when the worshipful acts have become so rare that rocks need to shout out, move mountains, tumble boulders down the precipices, do we hear such sounds. The increase in earthquakes in our time, is due to the earth groaning and travailing in the pain of not hearing the worship of God that He deserves.

Romans 8:22 (KJV)
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Therefore, not only our prayer times should be worship and praise, but our very deeds, words amidst this world, need to show forth the greatness of our God, in the transforming work He has done in us, and through us.

I Corinthians 10:31
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Romans 12:1
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Sometimes our actions profane our worship and praise. If we skip gathering together with the believers regularly, and would rather picnic, shop, or watch television most service times, the Lord is not impressed with the one time that month you decided to come to service. Perhaps the television shows were all reruns, so you come to worship and praise God. Do you think He is really fooled when you praise Him???

"What a weariness it is..." (Malachi 1:13). Many feel to gather together to worship the Lord is a weariness... hard, bothersome, and too much trouble... To feel that worship is a trial, an ordeal, a burden, and torture, is a terrible insult to the Lord we claim to praise when we do come.

Is it a weariness to attend? to pray? to be on time? to teach? to read your Bible??? Some complain when they must do these things... God hates insincerity... so if it is such a bother... get to the altar, and tell the Lord the truth until you get restored into a relationship with Him wherein it will not be a bother anymore.

Some in Bible times would offer the Lord a blemished, dying, or sick lamb. They were to offer an unblemished lamb that was healthy and strong. Do you offer the Lord your best? God hates insincerity, and you had better be wise and tell Him the truth. If we do not praise Him enough, if our hypocritical lives shame Him, the earthquakes will be the stones crying out their voices to cover over the shameful words mankind is speaking.

murjahel · Oct 31, 2013

keeping rocks silent ... part 2

True worship is spiritual. Though it is expressed in outward expression, or with the actions of our lives, it must come from our inner being. It springs from the depth of our spirit. God would rather we shut the doors of the church than to come and worship insincerely. The devil would rather we worship insincerely, than to shut the church congregation out of the building.

Malachi 1:10-14
"...but ye have profaned it (the name of the Lord), in that ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. Ye said, also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts; and ye brought an offering; should I accept this of your hand? saith the Lord. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen."

It is a weariness to God, a hurtful and offensive thing to have beings who owe their all to the Lord to insincerely, hesitantly, unwillingly, give praise. Yet, the churches are filled with those who do not really mean their praise, do not want to give any praise, and who say things in their praise that they do not feel. If there are no stones in the building, the pews may have to cry out the praises. If there are no pews in the gymnasium where some worship, the folding chairs on top of the basketball court will have to shout out. For those chairs sit upon the place where church members shouted for a dunking of the basketball, but when the chairs arrived on Sunday morning, now these same saints cannot praise God for salvation in anything louder than a whisper.

What has happened to the sincere people who come to church expecting a blessing? or to seek God? or to commune with God? What happened to the shouts of amen, or the praise of a hallelujah? Where did we read that God loves silent meditation, and does not want any sleeping saint ever awakened with the sound a church praising the Lord. God hates insincere worship, that cannot shout, cry, or let words of praise and joy in God flow out.
Two or three times, Jesus came to the temple and cast out the money changers. He was angered at their abuse of the house of God. It was not that they had sold doves and lambs for the sacrifices, it was their cheating, stealing, and deception to the people. Jesus called it a "den of thieves" and told them that His Father's house should be a "house of prayer."
Gods house is a place to teach others worship, by letting them see the church worship. It is a place to demonstrate worship. We go to the sports arena to witness a basketball game. We do not go there to learn techniques of growing tomatoes. We expect to see a ball game, we expect to see fans shout, we expect one side to walk out at the end cheering a win. Yet, some can go to churches and witness a mumbly song service, a prayer so toned down and generic no one could gather what was said. We hear a sermon that is politically correct, and put even the devils therein to sleep. The altars do need dusted, but never need wiped of tears. The lights can be dimmed, for there is nothing to see in signs and wonders, but one of decades ago might be mentioned by the preacher who himself looks like he only woke up long enough to take the offering. It is time we re-do our services, and let people witness worship and praise in the house of God.
In fact, each of us are a Temple of God, and this temple should be a "house of prayer" and worship. Even if the rest of our church does not praise, and worship, the others there should be wondering how to get us to change churches, because we are waking up the sleeping saints in their church.
The sinful and insincere words and actions should be expelled from our lives, so our life is a witness to the greatness of our God.
In the real and true worship, there is no set pattern. Yet, it never becomes disorderly or confused. Since the Spirit is in control, the Spirit directs us to worship in manifold ways. Nothing is more disastrous than to try to create an atmosphere of worship. While we may try to create exuberance and rejoicing, the Spirit may be seeking to get us to weep and cry our love for Jesus. When we seek the weeping worship, the Spirit may want to direct us toward praise and shouting. Get the saints together, and let the Spirit direct the worship, and there will be weeping saints, shouting saints, saints with mouth opened awe and joy, clapping saints, and maybe even a few jumping saints. The Holy Spirit is dealing with each in His own chosen way.
What we must do in revival is -- to create an atmosphere that allows the Spirit to create -- a worship. When people try to recreate what they saw God do in another service, it will fall flat. Spiritual worship, since it must be Spirit directed, cannot be produced by even the best of worship leaders. It can only be -- prepared for, -- by the worship leaders... and the worshippers. We must prepare our hearts and minds with the knowledge of the "worth-ship" of the Lord, and the thankfulness for His mercy and grace.
The stones will be silent, the pews will not brake out in worship. They will not need to, for the saints in church, in the assembly of fellow worshipers, will fill the space between the walls, with worship and praise. The atmosphere of the church changes, signs and wonders do occur, and lives of people change.
The worship and praise in the early church took place in upper rooms of the homes, in fields, in the temple, in the market place, in the prison cells, etc. In other words, they worshipped the Lord wherever they were. Their worship sprung from a relationship with the Lord, and was not directed by a worship leader who told them when to praise, when to clap, and when to raise their hands. A pastor will keep order, but will not hinder the move of the Spirit. A pastor will see those weeping for sins find a loving and merciful saint to pray with them. The flow of the service will be directed by the Holy Spirit, and sinners there will either flee for the doors, or run to the altars.
When Charles Wesley was saved, he was flooded with joy. He described his happiness to Peter Bohler... and added: "I suppose I should keep silent about it." Peter Bohler answered: "No, never! If you had a 1000 tongues, go and use them all for Jesus!" Wesley went home and wrote the song - "Oh For a Thousand Tongues to Sing My Great Redeemer's Praise."
God created us for fellowship, the stones will cry out with praises if we do not. We must keep the stones silent, and praise our Lord and King. Certainly, He is worthy of our praises. God will inhabit our praises, and will come and dwell in the midst of those who are praising Him. Will you praise Him?
Let's sweep aside every hindrance, and give God the praise He deserves... Let us keep the stones silent, and let us be the ones to praise Him. Some await someone to lead their worship. It is not wrong to have worship leaders, but our praise must now be confined to these times only. True worship in the last day revival will be directed by the Spirit.
The stones need not quake and crack in sounds to fill a world void of true worship. This year should be a year of worship.

Worship Is:

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