Worship

By Skip Heitzig
        

There are a lot of activities that we do now that we won't do in heaven. You will never evangelize anyone in heaven. You will never share the gospel or give out a tract in heaven. You will not pray in heaven; there will be no need for prayer as we know it now. There'll be no need for discipleship in heaven. What's the one activity we do now that we will do in heaven? Worship. We will be doing that forever. In fact, you can sort of look at the present as a time of practice!

The English word "worship" means to ascribe worth to something. We worship God for who He is, because He is worthy. "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8).

We worship God not only based on His character but His conduct, not only his attributes but his activity. "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" (v. 11). He is worthy because he did what no one else could ever do; He created everything. But more than that, He also redeemed us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Look at Revelation 5:9. "You are worthy...for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood." That's what He did.

Worship involves the physical and the emotional, and it involves music and our voices, but fundamentally, it's an acknowledgment of who God is and what He has done. It is an intelligent response to God that involves the mind. Worship is not working ourselves up into some frenzy. Jesus said the Father was looking for those who would worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

God's action prompts my reaction of praise. Jesus said we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Worship should fully engage us as we dwell on the greatness of God.

One final point. There is never a time in a person's life, or any experience, where God can't be worshipped. There is no valley, there is no depth, there is no darkness where God is not worthy of all praise and all glory. Read the stories of Job or David or Paul in prison, and you'll see that sometimes their praise was the sweetest and most genuine in those dark times.

God is worthy to be praised!
Scripture Of The Day: "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:24 (NKJV)

Skip Heitzig is the founder and senior pastor at Calvary of Albuquerque in New Mexico. His teachings are heard across the country and around the world on The Connection. For more information on Skip, visit http://www.connectionradio.org.

The Simplicity of Worship

By Brenda Gittens
        

Anything we truly love, we will surely invest our time, energy, and attention right into it. Let’s be real. There are many different things that we do love, adore, enjoy, and take pleasure in. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying things of and in life and the blessings (natural, physical, material, and spiritual) of and from God – but when we are giving them more time, energy, and attention than we are giving to God, we end up idolizing those things. And it’s not even a difficult or complicated thing for us to do; it’s very easy! Many times we are doing this and nobody had to force us to do it, we do it because we want to. The question in this devotion is not whether we are going to worship or not, but rather who or what will it be?

Worshiping God is plainly and simply expressing with your heart, mind, spirit, soul, and life that you love, adore, honor, and take pleasure in him above, beyond, and more than anything and anyone else, even yourself! You’re saying in submission, surrender, and sacrifice, “Here I am, take my life, I give myself away to you Lord.” We need to worship him because it is our desire, we want to do it, and because HE IS GOD.

Don’t ever make worshiping God a difficult thing, but make and keep it simple. Today he is seeking those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. “But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24, NLT). If you have found yourself giving other things or people more of your attention, time, and energy than you have been giving to God, feel free to pray this prayer below.

PRAYER: Lord God, I humbly bow down and worship you, for you alone are God. Although I have chosen to follow you, I confess that I am often enticed and lured by many things in life and of this world. Help me to remain faithful to you. You alone are worthy of all worship and praise. Amen.

Scripture of the Day: “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” - Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Brenda Gittens is a worship evangelist, singer and writer who ministers in “word song” at churches, prisons and various events throughout Northern California and other states. Her latest CD is entitled, “Real Praise/True Worship”. Brenda is also a devoted wife and mother of one son. For more info, visit: http://www.brendagittensministries.com.…

Dishwashers

By Overseer Christopher J. Harris
This week's topic: The Importance Of Worship

Are dishwashers more effective than hand washing dirty dishes? I have always wondered about this. As a child, being asked (or forced…) to hand wash the dirty dishes, I would dream of the day when I would never hand wash dishes again. It became a personal goal of mine to make sure that whatever house I lived in, there would be a functional dishwasher in that house. (Side note: Some parents reading this are screaming, “My children are my dishwashers!”)

Ultimately, it is a trivial question. The key issue is to arrive at the destination of having clean dishes. There is nothing worse, whether by hand or machine, to go looking to obtain a clean cup or set of silverware or even a plate, and immediately see pre-existing gook or even residue from the lack of thorough cleaning. These experiences always have the potential of taking one’s appetite away. It would be an understatement of how unacceptable these encounters are in restaurants and other public eateries.

The idea of expecting something clean and getting something dirty is not only uncomfortable, it is unsettling. That’s what happens with our lives, being offered to God, without any examination to see whether they are contaminated or not.

1 Peter, written by one who understood the seriousness of heart defects and character flaws, expresses a central truth about our walk with Christ, we must offer ourselves as holy vessels. 1 Peter 1: 14-16 (Message) reads, “Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. (15) As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. (16) God said, ‘I am holy; you be holy.”

Most people see holiness as unattainable and unrealistic. But these few verses help provide a clearer understanding that holiness is not only attainable and realistic, but it is expected and commanded.

These few verses help us see:
1. Holiness is hindered when we are undisciplined – The first thing Peter writes is, “Don’t lazily slip…” The idea here is that without careful attention or being committed in our daily living, we could easily revert back to our pre-Christ modes. This is the opposite of holiness.

2. Holiness is hindered when we are guided solely by our feelings – Our feelings and natural cravings, without boundaries and self-control, dictate to us the opposite of God’s will for our lives. The Holy Spirit serves as a guide and instructor in living that enables us be consistent in our pursuit of holiness.

3. Holiness is attainable when your knowledge is increased – Peter explains that pre-Christ that there was a certain level of ignorance that we all had about being a disciple of Christ, living by faith, and living to please God and not ourselves. As we’ve grown and been fed the Word of God, our understanding has increased. Quite simply, as the old euphemism underscores, “When you know better, you do better.”

4. Holiness is possible by complete obedience – In Verse 15, the word ‘obedience’ screams for our attention and focus. Without obedience, we are considered rogue imposters of God’s kingdom and children. Without a willing obedience to God’s Word and work, we then become rebels to all of God’s instructions and forfeit all of God’s blessings and results. Our hearts then become numb to God’s training. Obedience becomes the starting point.
So, whether you use your hands or a machine, I am sure that you love all of your dishes to be thoroughly clean. God expects the same. He wants all of his children, thoroughly clean.Are dishwashers more effective than hand washing dirty dishes? I have always wondered about this. As a child, being asked (or forced…) to hand wash the dirty dishes, I would dream of the day when I would never hand wash dishes again. It became a personal goal of mine to make sure that whatever house I lived in, there would be a functional dishwasher in that house. (Side note: Some parents reading this are screaming, “My children are my dishwashers!”)

Scripture of the Day: "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." - 1 Peter 1:14-16

Christopher J. Harris, a native of Palatka, FL, is Chief of Staff/Director of Church Operations of the historic mega-church Fellowship Church of Chicago. He is also Overseer of Youth for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. Harris currently resides in Chicago with his wife and children. http://www.ChristopherJHarris.com…

A Short Eulogy

By Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa
        

I haven’t written many eulogies thus far in life, in fact I’ve probably only written two. Nevertheless, what I do know of eulogies is that they are the summary of a person’s life – what they liked, what they did, who they were, how they contributed to the world. Hence, at funerals one often hears things like “He was a great businessman; he worked tirelessly to fulfill his dreams”; or “she was so tremendously talented; thousands were touched by her singing”.

But how often has a person’s life been summed up as “He was a worshipper; he lived a life of worship”?

Worshipping God is synonymous to ministering to Him, and ministering to God is synonymous to serving Him. Therefore, we worship God with our lives when our lives are spent in His service.

Now, it can be a tricky thing for you to say you’ve spent your life serving God if you’re not sure what that truly means; because to serve Him means to be at His disposal (consistently faithful to His directives, and committed to developing intimate relationship with Him). That said, a life of worship is:

A life in which God is placed first (Mark 12:30)
A life that is lived according to the principles of God’s Word (Proverbs 3:5)
A life that is surrendered to God’s divine leadership (Deuteronomy 13:4)
A life that ministers to God by serving His people (Matthew 25:31-46)
A life that brings glory to God (Matthew 5:16)

You see, a worshipper isn’t just the person who sings so melodiously and dances so gracefully on Sunday (for indeed it is much easier to participate in the ‘act’ of worship if it is confined to a Sunday morning experience, than it is to ‘live’ worship if it is stretched into a holistic 24/7 reality). Instead, a worshipper is the person who spends his/her life at God’s disposal, at His feet, in His presence, seeking His will, extending His love to others, representing His truth in the earth, and advancing His Kingdom with what He has given into his/her hands.

At the end of life’s journey, will your life be summed up by your accomplishments? Or by your relationship with God and His people? Whether you’ll live a life of worship will be determined by which of these you value most.

Scripture of the Day: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!” - Psalm 103:1

Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa is a writer and editor who is passionate about the word of God and how it is translated in our everyday lives. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies, and is a member of Rhema Christian Ministries, Toronto, Canada. http://twitter.com/#!/KHayeDonawa…