Love you all, praying for you.
I just love God’s Word. It tells you what people don’t know. Most church people talk about worship. God said we should worship him. But what is worship? Do you know? Have you ever asked someone what worship is? You will probably get as many answers as people you ask. Many think worship is what we do in church. There’s a worship leader who sings songs – and coerces the rest of us to sing along with them, we call them the leader of the praise team. And there are other people with them up on the stage who are well dressed and sing with the leader person – hopefully in tune, sometimes with good harmony or at least great enthusiasm. It also has to have a band to really be worship. It must have a guitar and drums and keyboard. Many think that’s worship. But in years past those things weren’t worship, it would have had to include an organ, and be hymns. Some say you can’t have any instruments at all – in order for it to be worship. But is singing songs worship? If you’re singing are you worshipping? If you’re not, are you not? If you sing better are you worshipping better, or singing louder than the person next to you? Most people don’t know what worship is. We just label certain activities, like singing songs, as worship. So what really is worship? Exodus 33:10 – Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent of meeting, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to his tent. Wait a minute – where was the worship team? and the praise band? Or the organ? At least there were no instruments… Is that what made it worship? God said we are to worship Him in spirit and in truth, not in song and in tune. God said make a joyful noise, not a pleasant melody. But He also said to play skillfully. So what is worship? How do you do it? I believe God’s word teaches that worship is a heart posture of reverence toward God. You could be kneeling, standing, praising, working, bowing down, lifting your hands, or being still in your heart, or obeying what He told you. Romans 12:2 – presenting your body a living sacrifice, God directs your day planner – this is your reasonable act of worship. It is the mental, spiritual, and physical recognition and honor of the God of the Universe, the One who loves you and gave His Son for you – to save you from your sin, and the death and hell that result from it. It’s to show reverence to the One who bought you with his own blood, to cover your sin and qualify you for eternity in Heaven with Him. That God who made the heavens and the earth, who will one day judge the quick and the dead, who will reward those who have done good, and bring justice for those who have done evil; who will separate the sheep from the goats. One will be with him forever, the other cast into outer darkness. He’s a fearful and awesome God. He has no competitor, no peer, He is The One to be feared. Jesus said, don’t fear men, who all they can do is kill you. Fear the one who after He has killed you – has the power to send your soul to eternal damnation… So do you worship God because He’s fearful? He’s even more loving than fearful. His love endures forever! God’s word says His anger lasts a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime. He’s the loving Heavenly Father to all who put their faith in His Son Jesus, who rose from the dead after becoming the one sacrifice for sin – everyone’s sin – who believes in him. Those who don’t believe are condemned already – because they have not believed in God’s only Son – the free gift from God – to save you, and give you eternal life – free from sin, and the wages of it. So how do you worship this God? Several ways, not sure anyone knows them all. Here perhaps, is the question… Is Worship determined by the worshipper, or by the God whom you worship? Some say you’re welcome in our church to worship the way you feel most comfortable. What kind of crazy statement is that? As if we determine what worship is acceptable to God. How would we decide that? What makes worship acceptable to God, is not what is most comfortable to us. Worship: Shachah <shaw-khaw’> to depress, that is prostrate, reflexively in homage to God) bow down, crouch, fall down flat on your face, humbly beseech, do or make obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship – a physical posture of making yourself lower. Of the times worship is mentioned in the Old Testament – often it was “worship and bow down, worship and bow down.” To prostrate oneself before God (flat on your face, body extended). “But we don’t do that in our church, that’s not how we worship, it might make some people uncomfortable.” Hmmm. Gen 22:5 – And Abraham said unto his servants. Wait here with the donkey and I and the boy will go a little further, and worship, and then we’ll come back to you. Isaac didn’t know what was coming, but Abraham did. What kind of worship is that? Not the comfortable kind, the kind God prescribed. “Abraham, take your son, Isaac, and offer him as a sacrifice on the mountain I will show you.” No thanks, God. That’s not how I worship, that’s not my worship style. Will you worship in the way you feel comfortable? Or in the way God prescribes? The way God asks of you… Will you prostrate yourself before Him? What kind of worship has God prescribed? Is that how you worship? Or do you worship the way you want to. Just a few things to consider – if your heart is truly to worship, the One who is worthy. Love you all, dad
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AuthorKelly Kamentz - Jesus follower, husband, father, and friend, helping others surrender time, thoughts, money, and testimony, to fulfill their purpose! Archives
November 2024
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