Worshipping

The Journey of a Lifetime!

How to Rediscover the Presence of God!

2 Samuel 6:12-23

Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it a million times.  “I can worship just as easily at home as I can at church!”  No you can’t!  God created us to worship Him.  To worship means we place value upon the object or person of our worship.  In the believer’s case we place God above everything else.  Our ideas, our preferences, our pride, and even some of our rituals must be laid aside when we desire to be engulfed in the presence of God.  The nation of Israel had gone over twenty years within the presence of God in their midst.  Of course it had led to idolatry, corruption, turmoil, and defeat by the enemy.  The enemy was even allowed to steal the Ark of God and they placed it in the temple of their own God.  My friend, I say it is time to revive true worship.  We have to learn what it means and how it feels to praise God reverently, but rejoicing and celebrating at the same time.  King David did and so can we.  But… we must accept and apply the basic principles of true worship!

 

Awe of His Power and Presence

   David understood what God’s presence does to a home.

   God is an awesome and worthy or all our praise.

   Are there blessings associated with the presence of God? 

 

Abandon Pride and Prejudice

   David could not contain his enthusiasm.

   He basically worried about nothing

   There will always be some… even close ones who will scoff.

   Study worship in Scripture and compare it with ours!

 

Activity designed to Proclaim

   True worship compels sacrifice.

   True worship compels giving.

   True worship compels sharing.

  

Awareness of Worship’s Purpose

   Even in the midst of scorn David knew his purpose

   We are humble before God and let God esteem us as He desires.

   We must be careful how we view those who act as David acted… or else!

Praying

The Journey of a Lifetime!

How to Pray for Absolute Direction!

Judges 6:11-8:35

Seven years is a long time to get absolutely nothing accomplished.  God’s people should never settle for less than the very best God has to offer but we do more often than not.  Many years ago the nation of Israel was in a dilemma.  They had made the choice to turn from God and turn to worldly desires.  They disregarded the statutes and the desire God had for their lives so God sent a nation to rise up against them in order to remind them of who was still in charge.  We have our own “nations” that God has placed before us, keeping us from His glory and being part of great things.  Finances, self-centeredness, stubbornness, and rebelliousness are running rampant through the midst of God’s people.  No wonder we get little accomplished for Him.  But God wants us to turn back to Him.  God wants us to know His will and follow it for His glory.  We have to learn to pray in a way that allows us to know for sure God’s direction.

 

Purge sin from our lives! (25)

   The worship of gods and idols is everywhere.

   Since God is jealous, we must remove every barrier

   Be prepared, there will be opposition from within our own ranks! 

 

Revive true and meaningful worship! (26-32)

   This time and place is designated for God and God alone.

   We are not supposed to feel good when we worship, we are

   supposed to worship!

   Let’s stop defending our way of doing things and start dedicating

   time and effort to Holiness!

 

Act in faith!  (33-40)

   A fleece is not a sign of testing it is a sign of affirmation!

   The difference is in the doing.

   We must take the first step in the general direction; God, then   

   and only then reveals the subsequent steps to take.

 

Yield to the Spirit’s direction!

   Once we hear God we must continually and persistently follow as

   He commands.

   Even when He tells us to do the extreme. 

Giving

The Journey of a Lifetime!

Giving Back What Isn’t Even Ours!

Mal 3:7-18, Luke 16:19-31

I pray you have enjoyed your time with God through fasting this past week.  As we make our next stop it will no doubt be a difficult one for many.    Proper stewardship is perhaps the most abused teaching God’s people regularly and blatantly practice.  Today, let’s put aside our preconceived ideas of giving and listen to God speak through His Word.  Yeah, money is tight and we don’t always seem to have what we desire.  God knows your financial situation.  God also knows your heart and He desires for you to be more like Him.  If God gave the way you give, would you be saved?  There are two categories of giving… one is correct, the other is not.  Let’s learn to give as God directed by deciding which category pleases us, and which pleases God.

Category one:  Wrong giving.

Treasure is in the Wrong Place.

   Convenience giving over commanded giving.

   Stewardship priority:

      The Tithe.  The first 10% belongs to God. (Lk 11:42)

     Offerings.  Gifts above the tithe to support ministry. (2 Cor 9:1-15)

     Alms.  Giving to the poor and needy. (Mt 6:1-4)

   Until we all get it right we may continue to live cursed!

  

Trust is in the Wrong Promise.

   Rather than believe what God says about our gift, we believe what

   man says or how we feel!

   Are you willing to put your money where God’s mouth is?

   God’s investment strategy guarantees a return now, and forever!   

 

Team is with the Wrong People.

   Whose side are you supporting? 

   Anyone who does not regularly and systematically give is 

   supporting the wrong team!

   Those have become so calloused they fail to see the big picture.

 

Category two:  Correct giving.

 

1.    Focused Eternally instead of Earthly.

2.    Focused on Trust instead of Things.

3.    Focused on Service instead of Self.

Fasting

The Journey of a Lifetime!

Fasting for Results

Isaiah 58:1-2

Our first stop along our spiritual journey is fasting.  Many believers have little or no idea or experience with fasting so today we will see if Scripture can teach us all we need to know.  The ancient people of God were struggling with some of the same things we do; knowing God’s will, overcoming sin, and desiring a closer relationship with Him.  Their problem was they thought they were praying, fasting, and living right but became confused when God did not reveal Himself as they thought their piety deserved.  So God used the prophet to teach them how to change things.  As we learn let us commit to fast properly to be able to hear and know what God is trying to say.  Stop one… Fasting for Results. 

 

The Fast Rejected by God! (3-5)

   Fasting while focused on self.  They are not about us!

   Fasting while struggling in relationships.

   Fasting to gain favor from God.

   Fasting to be acknowledged by others.

  

The Fast Received by God!  (6-7)

   A fast to manage sinfulness.

   A fast to mandate ultimate freedom.

   A fast to motivate extreme giving.   

 

The Fast Rewarded by God!  (8-12)

1.    God’s glory is evident and results in evangelism.

2.    God’s will is known and results in unity.

3.    God’s purpose is pursued and results in provisions.

4.    God’s plan is understood and results in restoration.

  

 

New Blog

The purpose of this blog is to post sermons, Bible studies, and general written work for viewers to use.  I believe God is the author of all types of inspiration so if someone out there can use it then by all means have at it.  I pray you do a better job of delivery than I have.  

By the way, if you choose to use any of this work please jot me a note and let me know who you are, what you do and where you are from.  Thanks and be blessed!