Friday, July 23, 2010

Foundations of True Worship - A Study

Note: All references are from NKJV unless specified otherwise.

Jesus said in John 4:23-24, “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. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus reveals the truth about Worship in the above verses – Worship is not just the desire of human beings, rather - Worship is the desire of the Heavenly Father, as Father is seeking worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

Q. Now that I have known that the Heavenly Father is seeking for worshipers – then
How do I need to respond to His desire?
A. Please study the material below to answer this question.

My Worship - Usually in worship I seek God for my benefit.
• When I feel heavy or worn out I desire to worship God that He will comfort me & encourage me with His presence.
• When I am under a strain or bondage – worship will bring deliverance for me in the spirit.
• I worship the Lord because the desire is there in me to Honor – glorify the Heavenly Father.
• I worship God to satisfy myself & gratify my desires.

All the above stated reasons are not wrong – but there is something more to it.

Q. Have I ever pondered on this – that through worship I should be fulfilling God’s desires – giving Him what He is seeking?

Q. Have I ever thought - let me satisfy God through my worship rather than getting satisfied in my own self?

Requirement
I desperately need a change of perspective – I need to be a worshiper whom God is seeking & I should not do self-seeking in worship.

When I come to the realization of this point, then my worship will be satisfying God the Father & not just me.

Note: It is not wrong to receive the benefits of worship as I worship the Lord. As the Lord in His great mercy blesses me with much benefits. But it is more important for me to please the Father through my worship & live to possess Him & Him alone.

Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:22, “in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In Christ we are being built to be a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. This in turn means - The Heavenly Father – The Lord Jesus Christ – The Holy Spirit wants to dwell with me & in me. God wants me to be a dwelling place for Him in which He stays and does not need to depart anytime.

Q. What should be my response to this desire of God mentioned in Ephesians 2:22?
Should I say YES or say NO in unbelief.

Q. Is it possible?
YES – through His Grace. All I need to do is BELIEVE.
I have to stop seeking God for visitations & seek Him for habitation.

Dictionary Meanings: Visitation & Habitation.
→Visitation means an official or formal visit, in particular.
→Habitation means the state or process of living in a particular place.

Let me be a worshiper in whom the Heavenly Father dwells (habitation) and gets ministered to.

The Highest form of ministry is to minister to the Lord Himself & this begins in the closet.

The Bible tells us, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1Cor 6:19

My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit –
→Temple - a building devoted to the worship, or regarded as the dwelling place, of God.

Am I ready to devote my body (the temple of the Holy Spirit) for worship & allow God to dwell in me so that He finds rest in me & is seen through me.

The choice is mine – I have to overcome unbelief by His Grace & by believing in His Word – by saying YES to all that He says to me in His Word.

Friends,
God is worthy to be Honored – God is worthy to be Obeyed.
This is Worship.

Let us prepare ourselves as a sanctuary where God loves to dwell & receive the worship in spirit & truth.

Q. Can I be a rest giver to God?
Zech 6:8 tells us, “And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.””

Yes! it is possible – see those who went toward the North Country, gave rest to the Spirit of God. God is looking for rest that is the reason the people of the North Country could give rest to His Spirit.

If I do what God is seeking I will certainly become that person in whom God finds rest.

If God dwells in me – when my life is worship unto Him – He cannot be hidden. (Mark 7:24)

Everyone will see Him & glorify Him.

John 12:32, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

When Jesus is truly lifted up in my life – He will draw all people to Himself. Many will come to the saving knowledge of Christ & become His disciples. Disciples - who will obey every command in the Bible & in turn prepare other brides for Christ. This will ultimately hasten the coming of our dear Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you ready to become the Worshiper that the Heavenly Father is seeking?

Prayer – Lord I believe that you are seeking me to be a worshiper who worships you in spirit & truth. I believe it is possible. Come & possess me. I am ready to forget my worries & cares. I want you to enjoy me. May you find rest in me & kindly dwell in me. In Jesus name – Amen!

May His Church be filled with true worshipers.

Blessings,
Mohit Tarachand
Pastor
GRACE, The Assembly of Truth
Bangalore

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