Truth is Freedom, Knowledge is Power

True Worship

Intro

 

Greetings to one and to all. I pray that all is well with you. It has been quite some time since my last post. I recently explained to a good friend that I only post as the Lord directs me to, so there may be periods of time between posts. There are literally thousands of topics that I could post about, but I don't simply write for the sake of writing. I write as God's servant, reaching out to others in a world overflowing with Godlessness. 

I pray that each person who reads these messages of truth and hope are inspired to live better lives, impact the communities around them for the better, and grow closer to the Lord. Today I want to speak to you regarding worship, what it means, and the significant role it plays in our relationship with God.

Worship

There are key things that every believer/follower needs to know about worship. First I would start with this; We must worship our savior in spirit and truth.

John 4:24  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Surely you are wondering what this means just as I did when I first read this passage. Allow me to explain. In order to worship God in both spirit and truth we must free ourselves from the attachments of carnality and worldliness. Worship has to be done with our entire being. It has can only be accomplished with the whole heart, as anything less would be unacceptable to a holy God.

Worship is not about what type of garment is worn during that time, how loud the "praise" music is playing, the size or location of the place of worship, the people around you, or even the number of church services you attended recently.

True worship is about the condition of one's heart towards the living God.

1st John 4:7 -8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

 
Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

That one verse could sum up the meaning of true worship, however, I will elaborate. Many of us believe that worship is captured in the singing of a song. This is how a lot of Christians were raised and taught in the modern generations. This is not wrong. It is just incomplete. Singing and dancing are certainly valid forms of worship to the Lord. They are alone insufficient. I declare to you today  that worship is a lifestyle. I even dare to say that living a clean life fully submitted to God is an act of worship far more acceptable than song or hymn. This is the highest form of praise.

1st John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

If we are not fully surrendered to the savior in all areas of life, how can we offer Him a worship untainted? True worship is about surrender and sacrifice. Yes the Lord knows all hidden things but He still wants us to come to Him in open acknowledgement of our faults. In this way true forgiveness will follow along with sincere worship.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The Bible tells us that God is seeking true worshipers. He is not looking for people who honor Him only with their lips. He is searching for those who honor Him with their hearts. We all know that words have power, but without action to follow they may as well be meaningless. In other words we cannot trick or fool God.

John 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."

Worship in spirit and truth draws us near to God in a way that can only be accomplished in such a manner. No other kind of worship will allow us to be near the heart of God. If you really want to worship the Lord and please Him, honor him with the way you live your life. Live a life of obedience and servitude to the holy God. Then, when we do sing our songs of praise it will mean that much more! Do you agree? Anyone can attend a worship service at church and sing a few songs, yet live a lifestyle totally absent of God. 

God deserves our highest praise. We are created for Him and by Him. 

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

He is truly a mighty creator too brilliant for words. In all my vocabulary I could never sum up the awesomeness of the living God. The words simply don't exist. God deserves our worship simply because of who He is. 

Psalm 135:5 For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.

 

Also, when we look at the things He has done for us it compels us to worship. God sent his only begotten Son to pay the ultimate penalty for our sins, redeem mankind from the curse of the law (eternal damnation), and restore covenant relationship (between God and man) which was broken when sin entered the world through Adam. 

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

For that alone God is worthy of all praise forever!

Psalm 113

Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore!
 From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD's name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes-with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Friends, I do my best each day to live a lifestyle of worship. I want to live in such a way that honors God every day during my time on this earth. That is the highest form of praise. I am a new creature in Christ. Anyone who is born again is a new creation in Jesus Christ! You have the power to worship in spirit and truth, because sin can no longer hold you in bondage if you are born again. Inevitably we will all fall short of the mark. However, when we do we need to repent and keep moving forward so that we can get back to worshiping our Lord. Don't let sin issues keep you from being able to worship your God, because cleansing and forgiveness have been made available to all through the blood of Christ. As always, Truth is freedom, Knowledge is Power! God Bless!