Extravagant Grace
Let us marvel at the enormity of our inheritance in Christ and our glorious future. Let us ponder on the extravagant grace that God shows to all who trust in Jesus. Let us wonder and praise and worship the one Who has seated us in heavenly places.. IN CHRIST.
worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:3)
Failure to live the Christian life is due to one's utter inability, but it is all governed by the Father.
Trusting Humility
A godly life rests in God’s sovereign grace and eternal power to perform all He says. It is rooted in obedience to God’s will and is founded on a spirit of trusting humility. It dictates that “me, myself and I” are set apart for the glory, praise and worship of God.
Zephaniah tells us: “He will be silent in His love.” Spirit to spirit communion:- “yet He answered her not a word…” But as we rest in His love – as we sit silently before Him and worship at His feet, He will bring that comfort and peace that only springs from resting in Him.
Worship and Praise
The only possible response to be accepted in the Beloved is to worship and praise. The only practical reaction to being complete in Christ is grateful thanks. We should praise, worship and thank the Lord with every fibre of our being – and to confess that we have not loved Him to the very depth of our being. When Christ is in the centre of a life – appropriating scriptural truths is simple.
Wise and Foolish
Those who love Jesus, behold Him as precious saviour; glorious Lord; gracious God – commanding rapt admiration, profound thanks and eternal praise and worship.
Universally there is religion; depraved and very low in many places, but universally there is the consciousness of standing in relationship to some supreme object of worship, demanding worship; and then men's minds or imaginations get to work to give some kind of expression to that consciousness, of that supreme object of worship, and the imagination produces that something out of a tree, a stone, or in the heavenly bodies; somehow it is expressed, but it is the thing that is there, behind all the forms of expression which is universal.
Paul’s Warning
Paul doesn’t want any believer to be cheated of their rewards by ANY false teaching. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud. Colossians 2:18
Challenge to Faith
It is easy to worship and trust when immersed in the glories of His person and presence. It is more challenging, to remain faithful through the dark cloud of disappointment. It’s more gruelling to believe amidst the storms of confusion and nights of blackness. It’s more discouraging to trust when faith seems to be taxed beyond breaking point.
The resurrection of Christ deserves our most glorious worship and praise – for by His resurrection He also broke the power of death in the life of the believer.
O Worship the King…
O worship the King, all glorious above,O gratefully sing His power and His love,Our Shield and DEFENDER, the Ancient of Days,Pavilioned in splendour, and girded with praise.
Ineffable love!While angels delight to worship Thee above,The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise.
Blessed Saviour, Thou hast promised – Thou wilt all our burdens bear,May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayerRapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Knowing Him
But how few want to know Him. How very few want to know the Lord Jesus. Many follow His teachings thinking them to be good, moral standards to emulate. Many admire the wise words He uttered – especially in the original Greek language. Many seek to interpret His words and calculate the meaning behind His proclamations, but only a very small remnant worship at His feet and honestly want to know Him. There were very few that sat at the feet of the Lord Jesus – gazing upon His beauty at His first coming. And there are still very few whose deepest desire is to know this Perfect Man – this Divine Omnipotence. And yet to know Him should be the deepest desire of every blood-bought child.
Maligned Character
Collectively and individually we’ve lost our religious awe and consciousness of God. Collectively and individually we have left our first love. The sense of His glory, majesty and divine presence has all but evaporated. The awe-inspiring magnificence of His wisdom and power has seeped away. The spirit of worship and reverence of a supernatural Trinity has all but vanished. Amid the cut-throat realms of a satanically-seduced, sin-sick world – “God is ‘dead’” or God has lost the plot.. or God’s doesn’t care – and God’s character is misaligned.
Time and Incentive
There is little time or incentive to be still and know the God of the universe.. and there are fewer who desire to fall in love with the lover of our soul. – and to worship as His feet in grateful thanks and reverential tears.
a misunderstanding of His methods to conform us into His image and likeness – and we ‘worship’ a god of our own perception, instead of the true and living Lord. There has always been a tendency for man to conceive in His heart Who God is: for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Are they badgering us out of the presence of God and leaving us no time to worship?
We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, consequently we get so burdened with persons and with difficulties that we do not worship God, we do not intercede.
So stand calmly beloved, bow down and worship in the gracious presence of The Son of His love, for our human “righteousness!” has been exchanged for His holy righteousness.
“Lord”
When we refer to Him as ‘Lord’ we recognise His glorious heavenly position, and how we need to worship at His feet, for He is Jehovah, the omnipotent God.
Almighty or All-Matey
Whatever happened to the worship of the true and living God Almighty? What has replaced the awe and wonder of the all-powerful, omnipotent Creator? What has been exchanged for the preeminent, omniscient, Lord of heaven and earth? What is this ‘God All-Matey‘ that has crept into the vision of so many today? He is indeed our Saviour and Shepherd; our Friend and Bridegroom, but His loving-kindness has been converted into indulgence. His powerful strength has been metamorphosed in the a soppy weakness.
Slipping Standards
How quickly the awe and wonder of the three Persons of the Trinity.. Who demand the deep reverence of bowed worship and hushed prayer.. where sinners and saints alike tremble in His glorious presence.
Carelessness Conduct
As reverence towards the Almighty diminishes, so to the morals and laxity of those who worship – resulting in a carelessness of conduct and a slipping of standards. The practices of much of Christendom today, would have been regarded as disgraceful – and viewed with stunned shame in years gone by. The growth of sin in the corporate life of nations and the domestic life of individuals, causes one to tremble as one kneels at the feet of a Holy God.
We who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised.
It is the realization of the Person which is going to result, firstly, primarily, and for evermore, not in doing things, not in activities, not in rejoicing in truth, but in worship.
Worship is the first, the continuous and the final factor in the knowledge of God in Christ, and is basic to everything else in our relation to Him.
True worship only springs from a heart discovery of Himself.
Isaiah 48:11 He charged the heavenly hosts in the book of Psalms to: Worship Him all you gods – adore Him, all you his angels Psalm 97:7 – while the writer to the Hebrews quoting this verse, said: And when He brought His supreme Son – His firstborn Son – His preeminent Son into the world, GOD said, ” AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.” Hebrews 1:6 Those who deem God’s Word as inerrant – will indeed have their faith rewarded.
Burnt Offering
But as Burnt Offering, He gave His life as a pure act of voluntary worship.. a life given unreservedly to God.. a sacrifice becoming a sweet savour to the Lord – to glorify the Father which is in heaven. For thirty-three years Christ yielded up His sinless life daily.
Trial and Difficulties
Thanksgiving is not always a sentiment accompanying a life of trial and difficulties. Praise and worship is not the first behaviour displayed in times of desperate need. Grateful thanks are hardly an emotion we adopt when we are in deep pain or trouble.
Watch how the Father will upset those times if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes - I can't do that just now, I am praying; it is my hour with God.
Should not we worship and glorify God for His grace and mercy as we humbly set about our daily duties day by day – sharing the good news with others that we meet… by the way.
Let us praise our gracious God for the BREADTH of God’s Superlative LOVE for God SO loved the world that He GAVE His one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE.Let us worship our Superlative God for the multiplied dimensions of His love.
It can very seriously affect his fellowship, his worship, his testimony, his usefulness, his spiritual enjoyment, the glory of the Lord Jesus as involved in his practical career.
Worship aright in your private relationships, then when God sets you free you will be ready, because in the unseen life which no one saw but God you have become perfectly fit, and when the strain comes you can be relied upon by God.
The contrast is painful in the extreme between the uniform language of the New Testament about Christians as thus called to worship in liberty and joy and nearness to the Father, and that of liturgies ancient and modern; and this because the results of redemption soon became merged and hidden in Jewish forms, and the law was recalled to the place of the Holy Spirit, and man in the flesh intruded wholesale into realms which belong only to those solemnly accredited as God's Church, the Body of Christ. -W.K.
Some people add works of the flesh, works of the Law – self-imposed rules or Church regulations and a variety of ‘add-ons’ to the basic gospel of salvation by grace – thru faith in Christ Jesus , while others insist on actions relating to eating or drinking – places of worship or times and seasons – spiritual fruit or gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Nefarious Plan
Down through the centuries evil’s plan has been to subdue true Christian witness, but it welcomes vain religiosity and pats the toothless jaws of a worldly Church Superficial spirituality in unspiritual believers contributes to his nefarious plans, The fluff of most religious work and worship is ineffective against his grand designs.
Compliance and Demand
Legalism often comes in denomination requirements that demand some compliance. Pray this way, act that way, attend this way, don’t do this or do – do that. Do eat this but don’t drink that – worship on this day – comply with that ceremony. Follow our rules and participate in our programmes – or you cannot be one of us! Comply with our ceremonies and do it our way – in order to please our God….!
Claims to Deity
But there are passages that claim His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence, for He promised to be with us always – and will reign forever as King of kings. He spoke of His equality with the Father – and accepted worship for many people. Oh there were many times He professed to be the eternal, omnipotent God of Israel. And during His time on the earth Jesus told the Pharisees, “Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.” …the exact words that the Lord God applied to Himself when He spoke to Moses at the burning bush, revealing Himself as : “I AM that I AM.”
Claim to be Saviour
He has the power of God to forgive sins – and the power of God over life and death. He knew what men were thinking – and received worship from men and angels alike.
Guard and Guide
Is this not a wonderful comfort to know that God is ever watching over His own. He guards us from danger; He directs the way that we take; He listens to our whispered prayer and He hears our humble worship. The watchful eye of the Father is upon all those that reverence His name.
Wonderful Comfort
Is this not a wonderful comfort to know that God is ever watching His own – guarding us from danger; directing the way that we take; listening to our whispered prayer – hearing our humble worship, for the watchful eye of our God is upon all those that reverence His name.
If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know Him for myself, and how to get alone with Him; I must take time to worship the Being Whose Name I bear.
There is an acknowledgment of God, there is a form of worship of God, there are rites connected with God; yes, there is a recognition in a greater or lesser measure of a kind of devotion to God, worship of God, acknowledgment of God, perhaps desire for God, but all short of a living relationship with God.
As we read through Scripture, we discover one here and we find another there… But in the fulness of time God sent His only Son in the form of man, in Whom would dwell all the godly attributes of Deity bodily – for He is the ultimate Man of faith and virtue, the perfect Man of prayer and praise, the godly Man of wisdom and worship, the loving Man of obedience and humility, the gracious Man so beloved of the Father, Who was chosen to be our Saviour for He is the true Man after God’s own heart.
Centrality of Christ
This truth is awe-inspiring for though Jesus is one complete person, His two natures are without change, without confusion, without division and without separation. The bottom line is that the Lord Jesus is to be the focal point of our love and worship. We may not comprehend this mystery but let us praise God for this precious truth.
If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence in Him.
When our Lord spoke of His body as the Temple, deliberately refraining from the fuller explanation because of the fixed prejudice of His hearers, He introduced the great truth of the transition from one dispensation to another, and the complete change in the nature of temple and worship.
If, according to John 3:16, salvation is a matter of whosoever, the Lord's presence and true worship, according to Matthew 18:20, is wheresoever.
Cain-worship has abounded through the religions of the world, and millions follow.
You see Cain-worship is self-effort and self-worship, and self-effort attempts to appease an angry God,
Christ’s Atonement
The fleshly, carnal, egotistical Self – thinks man can draw close to God, but self-denial through the bloody sacrifice of Christ’s death is the only way, Praise and worship and grateful thanks is all that man can offer to the Lord, but this can only be offered in full and clear intelligence that our sins are put away – and this can only be known by faith, in virtue of Christ’s accomplished atonement.
A Life Process
What an act of devotion and total consecration to sit and to worship and to anoint His feet, as did Mary of Bethany. The gracious Spirit of holiness gently leads the seeking, consecrated soul through the gentle yet agonising process of being conformed into the very image of the Son of Righteousness.. A life process that leads to a bitter-sweet isolation. A life that leads to a total immersion in the heart of the Beloved.
You cannot systematize the Cross of the Lord Jesus, you can only go on your knees and worship, conscious that you see something really far beyond your power to compass.
In his own home-town – the little Jewish town of Nazareth, they believed in God, Neighbours travelled to Jerusalem thrice yearly to worship God as the law instructed,
Christ’s Love
In Revelation chapter 3 we read : indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie— Indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.Revelation 3:9
At our second we will sit on His throne and they will worship Him, before our feet !
An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.John 4:23-24
Alive unto God
It is only at the point of birth from above that our human spirit is made alive unto God. It is only believers that are capable of fellowshipping – or communing with the Lord: for God is spirit and only the spirit of man can interact with the holy Spirit of God, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. John 4:24
Historical Point
But Jesus told the woman at the well: an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, John 4:24 The point in history when man could worship God in spirit and truth – was the cross.
True Sacrifice
Temple worship and sacrifices, which pointed to Christ – were set aside at the cross, and from that pivotal point in history, God would be worshipped in spirit and truth: for God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. Our heavenly Father regards those that worship in spirit and truth as true worshippers.
True Worship
How important therefore to worship the Lord our God in spirit and truth. How important that we worship in the only way that is acceptable to the Father. But how do we worship the Lord in spirit and truth? How can we know that we are worshiping in a manner that is acceptable to the Lord?
New Nature
Our old sin nature walks in the lusts of the flesh and not in spirit and truth. Only our new nature, born of the Spirit can worship the Father in spirit and truth. Our new nature in Christ must grow.
Spiritual Realm
Only our new nature can fellowship with the Lord. Only our new nature is alive. Only the new life can function in the spiritual realm and commune with the Holy Spirit. Only our new life in Christ is spiritually alive and can worship in spirit and truth, for God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.
But when we come to the fourth thing, we move over a bit to another side; and I am sure that this first time of prayer in the case of Paul was a time of deep worship.
What does worship come out from?
What is it that leads us to worship?
What is the true nature and spirit of worship?
We only worship in the measure in which we appreciate the grace of God.... You remember that a favorite way to Paul of opening his letters was with three words: Grace, mercy, and peace, be unto you.
It was the prayer of deep worship for the grace of God, and that must have a place in all true prayer.
Such an offering is not merely to be an external display of reverent homage, or a gesture of pious religiosity but an inner spirit of genuine gratefulness – a heart overflowing with adoration that springs from the man or woman that is deeply in love with the Lord – indeed no act of thanksgiving nor any form of worship that does not spring forth from the inner being that loves the Lord is acceptable to Him.
Man may look on the externals, but God looks on the heart and He knows the inner thoughts of the heart and the hidden attitudes of the mind, which can so often mask insincerity in the worship of a double minded man.
Let us be those that glorify the Father through a sacrifice of praise as day by day we worship Him in spirit and in truth.
but they broke their covenant with God and wandered far away from the Lord. They turned to worship idols and became a proud and arrogant people, considering themselves to be superior to the rest of mankind.
Prayer is warmed by worship, petitions are perfected by praise, promises are claimed through a grateful heart and intercessions are offered in the solemn acknowledgement that we have an audience with the King of kings and Lord of lords.
He knew that many blessings and benefits follow those who continue earnestly to pray in faith, and for those who are vigilant in their worship, praise and thanksgiving.
Nowhere do we find God declaring to His created hosts of angels, “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.' Rather we hear the Lord God decree: 'let all the angels of God worship Him.'
Attempts were made to incorporate Jewish rites into Christian worship; to confuse Israel with the Church and to combine the programme God must carry out through His chosen nation – Israel, with the work He is currently undertaking through the body of Christ – which is the Church.
HOWEVER, as Abraham was also the father of FAITH, Paul identifies ALL believers, both Jew or Gentiles as “The True Circumcision”, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.
Praise God that they been called to worship the Lord in spirit and truth – to worship in the Spirit of God; to glory in Christ Jesus our Lord and put no confidence in the flesh.
In this short psalm of reverent worship, mighty men of the earth are duty-bound to give honour and praise to the great God of the universe, for to Him alone is ascribed glory, for He is the One that sets men up in their place, to carry out His eternal plans, and He is the One that removes men from their thrones, for He is the Almighty God of Glory.
Should we not honour the Lord in thought, word and deed and adore Him in spirit and truth? Should we not worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness, knowing that He alone is worthy of praise?
and Jesus Christ, Whom He had sent - BY FATIH - and it is God's will that having trusted in Christ for salvation that we present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord - which is our spiritual worship.
The former keeps on looking into the sacred text thinking that words alone are able to give eternal life and the latter looks to their own worldly wisdom and unbiblical mindset as they seek eternal life in the broken cisterns of this world, and worship and praise the creation rather that the Creator, Who deserves their honour and praise.
MY peace I give unto you.The amazing love of God, binds us together in worship and praise to our heavenly Father, Whose loves for us is so profound, that He gave His only begotten Son, to become our substitute for sin, while the supernatural love of Jesus is such..
that while we were yet sinners Christ died on our account, so that we might be forgiven of our sin, receive a new life in Him, become united with Christ and abide with Him forever,Faith, enables us to worship in spirit and truth.
There are those that reject the true and living God, preferring to transfer their mindless worship onto other created life-forms, which in their foolish hearts are elevated into the status of a god.
But the Lord our God is One and He alone is worthy to receive true worship and praise and honour and glory, for He is unique in character; singular in integrity; distinct in graciousness; unparalleled in perfection and eternal in power.
The fool has said in His heart there is no God preferring to turn aside to worship the false idols of his own imagination and giving reverence to angelic beings, rulers of the earth and a plethora of equally false entities, but David in this Psalm demonstrates his trust in the Lord, for he has discovered Him to be good and gracious, faithful and forgiving and whether in prayer, praise or petition, David's song testifies that the Lord is God, and his hope is in Him alone - for there is no God like unto our God - nor are there any works that compare with His.
Gentile believers were to become Jewish proselytes, and were to be circumcised, adhere to the Law, participate in the feasts, keep the Sabbath day sacred, and worship the Lord in His holy Temple.
Other like to twist this verse to imply that every human being is automatically a child of God or that all religions worship the same God, making Him Father of all people - but this is a false teaching, for the Bible declares that ONLY those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, receive the right to become children of God - even to them that believe on His Name.
Jeremiah had warned that Israel's idol worship, which had replaced their devotion to the true and living God, demanded the destruction of all they held dear and everything in which they placed their trust.
It was from a world of lost sinners, which had turned away from the true and living God to worship and serve created things rather than the Creator that Abram was called.
They received the special covenant promises of God and were also entrusted with the Law – together with the temple worship – and God’s Word cannot be broken.
They had turned to the hypocritical religious practices of the surrounding pagan nations - integrating false gods and evil worship into the heart of their religion.
They did not give credit, thanks, praise or worship to the Lord God of Israel, Who was their Provider and Defender..
There is nothing we can do to repay God, but surely in the light of its eternal glories and benefits we can offer ourselves to Him – in love and gratitude, by presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, for this is our spiritual worship
Surely, by the mercies of God it should be our joy and delight to present our bodies, day by day in spiritual worship, as a living sacrifice - holy and pleasing to the Lord.
It begins with an exuberant call to worship and praise, but concludes with a severe warning against unbelief. Do not harden your hearts, Israel are warned, like your ancestor did at Meribah - in the day of Massah in the wilderness.
We are not required to worship on a specific day nor are we commanded to keep certain feast days, special festivals or the many ordinances imposed by man – for as believers in the age of grace we are free from the bondage of law.
On the one hand we should not be critical of those who choose to worship and behave in a certain way – but on the other hand we should also be careful that neither our actions nor our abstinences place us back under law!
As he shares the gospel of grace, Paul outlines the importance of not judging the behaviours of our Christian brethren and specifically mentions what we eat and drink, what we wear and how we worship, reminding us that Christ died and rose again, to free us from the bondage of laws and codes rituals and ceremonies.
Employed in continual worship and joyful service of Lord almighty, these holy angels are often engaged as ministers to those that bear the image and likeness of the Lord as well as being employed in the angelic conflict against the powers of darkness, that seek to usurp the authority of God and slander His holy name.
These believers in John’s day were surrounded on every side by objects of pagan worship and religious relics, that were of given equal importance with God or substituted for Him.
We read the following words from a well-loved hymn: the dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne, and worship only Thee, which captures the essence of what comprises an idol in any age, for anything and everything, anyone and everyone that lays equal or greater claim to our affection for Jesus, is our own, personal idol.
It was David who penned this hymn of worship and praise as he trudged through the arid, waterless, Judean wilderness, devoid of friends, hunted by enemies and placed in an enforced exile from his people and homeland.
Paul breaks into an escalating doxology of praise and worship as he cries out from the core of his being: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
Words of worship that flow from a proud, rebellious or unrepentant heart are like an open sewer to the Lord, but worshipful words that flow from a life that is pure in thought and motive, word and deed ascend to the Father, as a sweet perfume.
Let us refrain from the unrighteous anger, that lodges in the heart of fools, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness - and may it be the deep desire of our heart to do all to the honour of His name.
Mary of Bethany is found on three occasions simply sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus, communing with her Saviour, listening to His word - looking to Him, learning of Him, loving to be with Him, and pouring out her worship to Him - and in so doing her spirit was refreshed and her soul revived.
indeed we are told that God has prepared good works for us to do and we are also told that we will be rewarded on our works (or suffer loss) at the Bema seat of Christ - but our work and witness for Him must be balanced with meaningful worship.
Religious men often seek to worship God through symbolic acts; man-made rituals; fleshly works or emotional outbursts..
And so in the fullness of time God sent His only begotten Son to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to son-ship; be returned into fellowship with our Creator - and learn to worship our Father in heaven..
God is Spirit and they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth, There must be no hidden agenda; selfish motive; religious pride or hypocritical heart..
and worship does not require a series of religious rituals nor is it necessary to have an appointed place of worship: God is Spirit and they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Although there will be a global slaughter during this terrible time, a great multitude will be saved, for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God – because they did not worship the beast, nor his image, nor did they receive his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands.
Certain groups proclaim that we all worship the same deity, while others promote a social gospel and embrace polytheism, eastern mysticism, transcendental meditation, centering prayer or 'Chrislam'.
Although these early Jewish believers understood that salvation was by grace alone – through faith in Christ alone, many of them, including some of the apostles, continued to cling to the Jewish Sabbath, Jewish sacrifices, the Temple worship, feasts days and other Jewish observances.
He appealed for scriptural separation from the ungodly, by contrasting the believer with the unbeliever; righteousness with lawlessness; light with darkness; Christ with Belial and the holy temple of God with the blasphemous idol worship of pagans.
But despite the indescribable grief of the sinless Lord Jesus, Who willingly became sin so that all that trust in His name could be saved, the very next words of this beautiful Psalm, that demands our eternal praise and worship proclaims, but You are holy - O You that inhabit the praises of Israel.
We glorify and praise the one and only God of heaven and earth - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Who alone is worthy of our worship, praise and thanksgiving.
The temporary, old covenant was to be replaced with a new, everlasting covenant and the symbols of earthly worship, (the man-made Temple and the old priestly order), were to be exchanged for the kingdom of heaven - where Christ was to reign supreme.
The hour had indeed arrived when true worshippers of God would worship the Father in spirit and truth..
As Jesus spoke to a lost woman at a well in Samaria near the beginning of His earthly ministry, He looked past the shadow of the cross to that glorious day when the Church would be born and true worshippers of the Father would worship Him in spirit and in truth, as guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit and in utter dependence upon HIMSELF.
But as the Son of Man Himself walked this earth in humble dependence upon His Father He could also proclaim that the time now is - when true worshipers would worship the Father in spirit and truth.
Let us choose to imitate the Lord Jesus in how He lived so that we too may worship the Father in spirit and in truth..
Manifold are his mercies, which are new every morning and how pleasing it is to the Father to hear the reverent praise and grateful worship that comes from a heart that truly loves Him.
He saw hosts of ministering angels and the four living creatures that worship the Lord almighty day and night, lifting up their united voices of praise to God, with a never-ending anthem of praise, that will one day be on the lips of every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth - Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
The generations of idol worship and spiritual apostasy that followed, was considered as the time of Israel's spiritual adultery, which likened them to an unfaithful wife.
We are to stir up one another to love and good works and engage in fellowship with other believers, as we worship our God, We are to turn right away from our sinful lust and look to Jesus as we seek to do His perfect will in our lives.
On his arrival at Athens, Paul’s spirit was provoked, within his breast, when he saw that the city had been given over to the worship of idols and false deities.
Jesus could legitimately say to this gentile woman, you worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is of the Jews.
This dear gentile woman had a partial but limited understanding of the truth of God, the worship of God and of God's great plan of Salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and those that take scripture and distort it to fit in their own denominational leanings or partial understanding - and those that limited the truth of God's Word to comply in with their own finite knowledge or philosophical leanings..
Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Let us worship the Lord in spirit and truth.
Let us worship the God who ordained from the beginning His glorious plan of man's Salvation..
One such instruction, which follows a call to worship the Lord in spirit and truth is to: abstain from all sorts of evil.
Our worship should not be to indulge in an emotional experience or for personal pleasure, but should be to the glory of God, where our conscience is quickened by His holy righteousness.
When the man or woman of God seeks to abstain from all appearance of evil, for the right reasons, our times of worship will not only glorify God, but also rejoice our heart.
But the Law and sacrifices given to Moses were copies of heavenly things and foreshadowed God’s better Sacrifice – for the Law was only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the actual form of those realities – for the Law could never perfect the worshipers and provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship God, year after year.
For two years the Israelites had received instructions from the Lord Who established the Law of Moses, defeated their enemies, sustained all their bodily needs and provided them with their Tabernacle, for the worship of God.
This verse in Hebrews quotes Psalm 95, which is a call for God's redeemed to worship Him.
Rather, may we press on to spiritual maturity and worship the Lord our God, all the days of our lives - for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
As Israel fell into apostasy, it is likely that the pot of manna and shepherd's rod became objects of worship, which would have devalued the significance of the Mercy Seat, which covered the broken Law, and all it meant for sinful man.
It is probable these objects diverted the people's attention away from the incredible significance of the gospel of Redemption, and became a focus of worship, causing Israel to fall into idolatry!
To them belong the adoption; the glory; the covenants; the giving of the Law; the worship and the promises - and holy men of Israel penned the Scriptures for our learning.
Though some see her question on the place and purpose of worship as evading the sin-issue at hand, others see her response as a genuine, heart-enquiry of how she might be forgiven of her sins and brought back into sweet fellowship with the God of Israel, for there is salvation in no other name than Jesus - for Salvation has come through the Jews, in the person of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
But the shadow of the cross fell over this conversation as Christ told this woman that a day was soon coming when worship of God would take place: neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
True worship would no longer be limited to Mount Moriah or the Jewish Temple, but an hour was coming (and is now here), when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and the Father is seeking such people to worship Him..
The time was fast approaching when there would be a new and perfect sacrifice, a new living Temple made without hands - a new birth; a new creation, a new dispensation when those that worship God would worship Him in spirit and in truth.
for men would worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
because they exchanged the worship of their Creator God and great Redeemer, for idol-worship.
to turn away from all forms of occultic worship and to abhor anything connected with the pagan practices of the day.
He warned them not to have dealings with anything which might entice them back under the satanic yoke and idol worship from which Christ had set them free..
Our bodies are a temple of God and should never become yoked to an idol or fall into subjugation with idol-worship.
When God is 'blessed' by psalmist or apostle, by prophet, priest or king, it is a call for His creation to bow low before Him in adoration and worship.
When His children are called to 'Bless the Lord', we should kneel in humble reverence before His glorious majesty, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
As the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ we worship our great Creator.
As the God and Father of mercies we worship before His throne of grace, acknowledging that without the spilt blood of Christ alone we would be eternally separated from our God and Saviour.
We are to tell Him all of our needs and lay all of our burdens down at His feet, but we are to do this with a heart of thanksgiving and an attitude of worship.
It was her Son, not Mary, to Whom angels were to bow down and worship with reverence and awe.
Indeed, we note in this meeting, between Mary and Gabriel, that nowhere did this great angelic being offer worship to Mary, as is erroneously taught today.
Worship only God, was the quick rebuke, which the apostle John received when he fell down to worship at the feet of the angel, in the book of Revelation.
The Lord Jesus Himself also cried out in His temptations: you shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only, and throughout the holy Scriptures we discover the severe admonishment to worship no one but the Lord God of Israel - the Creator of heaven and earth.
The unseemly behaviour of these carnal Christian was displayed in their worship services, their 'love' feasts and their unloving attitude towards each other in many areas of life: but love does not behave itself improperly, and the selfish greed and carelessness of the Corinthians church was even present at the Lord's Table and they were charged to act appropriately and even warned about the possibility of God's disciplinary consequences towards them: for love seeketh not its own and is not selfish and self-centered.
Whether it was seeking refuge from His enemies, in deep repentance for His transgressions or to worship and glorify God, the foundation upon which the prayer and praises of David rested, was the righteousness, faithfulness and goodness of God.
gentiles will be commanded to come up to the holy city of Jerusalem to worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Israel and Lord of Hosts.
Any who survive the great tribulation will be required to go up to Jerusalem from year to year, to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.
Rather than being the means towards spiritual maturity and a closer walk with God, man-made procedures and practices, like do not touch and do not taste, together with the worship of angels; obligatory attendance at certain festivals; Sabbath days rules or new moons regulations are legalistic practices that will only place us back in bondage.
We can compromise our faith by allowing unbiblical doctrine, legalistic practices, a works-based salvation, a watered-down gospel, angel-worship and a plethora of extra biblical practices, including Chrislam to influence us OR we can behave like Nehemiah.
Simply reading these inspired words of Holy Writ, which are part of God's eternal love-letter to human-kind, causes us to kneel in humble reverence before the throne of grace as we worship our Father in heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood, so that condemned sinners might be made perfect before His face: and so we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.
Both at the start and the close of His earthly ministry this act of Temple-cleansing was necessary, for priests and people alike were holding too lightly the sacred things of God and crooked commercialism and ungodly trafficking replaced holy conduct and godly worship.
How foolish to allow all we have in Christ to be compromised by those who delight in ascetic practices, worship angels and heavenly beings..
Worship God alone we are instructed – not angels, saints, Mary or any other created being.
May we take heed to Paul's warning and be careful not to allow anyone... to defraud us of our prize, by acting as an umpire and declaring us unworthy - disqualifying us for the prize, insisting on their own self-abasement and the worship of angels.
It is also to Jesus to Whom the indwelling Spirit of God directs our gaze and it is Jesus who demands our worship, praise and thanksgiving – for as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so that all who looked upon the bronze serpent would live, so Jesus was lifted up on the cross, so that all who look to Him would be saved by grace through faith and have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.
Pharisaic adherence to rules and regulations; behaving legalistically in the keeping of feast days and fast days; a mechanical attitude towards worship and religious ordinances and the meaningless repetition of prayers or invocations are futile, and the Lord will not accept such hypocritical behaviour.
The Lord is not interested in empty words, shallow worship, frigid feelings, superficial service or legalistic rituals.
Worship and praise should be on our lips from morning to night, for the Lord our God is with us in every season and situation of life.
the Lord alone is worthy of ALL our combined praises and worship..
in jubilant songs of worship and exultant psalms of prayer and praise.
and as saved saint, we should not be content to simply worship the Lord in the isolation of our own hearts, but should desire to rejoice, in spirit and truth ..
Following the judgements in Eden, the flood and the tower of Babel man continued to rebel against the Lord and delighted to serve and worship the creation rather than the Creator, and so God took the little nation of Israel to be His chosen people..
And to the tiny nation of Israel, God made a covenant - that if they would worship Him, trust Him and serve Him alone - He would bless them abundantly, but if they rebelled against Him and worshipped false god's - they would be punished.
Her yearning was to worship at the feet of the one and only God, Who had proved His faithfulness to her despite her many misfortunes - and so she firmly rejected forever the idols of wood and stone that she had grown with..
We have been permanently indwelt by the Spirit of God - the HOLY Spirit of God - the One Whom angels worship and adore..
Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness and bow down in awe and wonder before our glorious, thrice holy God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit...Who loved us so much that He sent the Lord Jesus to die in our place..
They did not bring up their children to meditate on the Law of the Lord, and rejected the headship of men within their individual families, and in their collective worship.
To them was given the Priesthood; Temple worship; the feasts of the Lord and the promise of a Messiah, Who would come through the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David.
He is infinitely more significant than the angelic host, for He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high and all the angels of God worship Him. Christ Jesus is the eternal Son of God and omnipotent Creator of the universe.
It was through deception and deceit, that Balaam tempted Israel to fall into sin, to worship of Baal, to commit sexual sin with the pagan women and to dishonour the name of the God of Israel.
How important that we hold this world's wealth and wisdom, together with position and power very lightly, for what we treasure in our hearts will become that which we worship.
When we treasure the things of this world, our heart is far from the Lord, but when He becomes the greatest Treasure of our lives, our heart will worship at His feet - in grateful thanksgiving and praise.
Instead of it being a day of divine worship, where body and soul were refreshed, it became a day when even the simplest tasks were sharply condemned.
Those who choose to do so are at perfect liberty to worship on the Sabbath, and those who choose to worship on a Sunday are also at liberty to do so, but neither are legal requirements for Christians in this church age, and we are not to judge those who DO or those who do NOT.
And in these verses, Paul strongly condemns Mysticism and the worship of angels with its emphasis on extra-biblical dreams, visions, feelings, experiences and new revelations as being required for true salvation and spirituality.
He warns against those who engage in false spirituality by adopting an ascetic life-style or developing a passion for a fabricated humbleness and the worship of angels – which sadly robs believers of their heavenly reward.
How we should take to heart the recommendation behind these words of wisdom and in humble submission bow our knee in reverence and awe of our gracious God, as well as raise our hearts and voices in praise and worship as we proclaim the wonders of His name; the splendour of His majesty and the riches of His grace towards us who have been called His children.
The fruit of a holy reverence for our Lord develops our deeper understanding of His beautiful attributes and eternal character and will burst forth into praise and thanksgiving – worship and reverential love from those that fear Him.
Trust in man and the worship of idols has its devastating rewards, but faith in the Lord and His precious promises produces the fruit of righteousness.
There is nothing more obnoxious to the Lord than the worship of graven images and idolatry surrounding false gods.
From the beginning, men started to worship the creation instead of the Creator.
You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.
We are to worship the Lord our God in spirit and in truth, for our heavenly Father seeks worshippers who live by faith, walk in spirit, trust His word and worship only Him.
We are to remember that God will never share His glory with another, and no holy angel nor angelic messenger of the Lord, has ever accepted worship from men, as we are reminded by John, in his Revelation of Jesus Christ - for He is the incarnate God, Who alone is worthy of all worship and praise and honour and glory.
The Lord is glorified in the praise and worship of His people and what joy and rejoicing there was on this momentous day of great gladness in the city of the God..
He describes the worship and witness of a restored and converted Israel, when the earth will be filled with the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea.
This call to worship in the “Old Hundredth”, is a call for every Christian to worship our Saviour in the beauty of holiness, for we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ.
Although the unsaved have the opportunity to worship and serve the Creator, those that choose to reject God's gracious offer of Salvation will be judged on the good works that they carry out in their life - but the shocking truth is that sinful man is incapable of carrying out ANY good deed.
the fear of the Lord comes from a humble heart of worship, which has a reverential respect, a holy fear and a thankful heart for all that our Lord Jesus is, and all that God has done for each of His children - but for the unbeliever a fear of the Lord should stem from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, in the heart of all sinners.
Jesus is the foundation upon which our knowledge is founded and He alone commands our reverential fear, humble worship and eternal devotion - for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge..
It is not only into the corridors of governments that corruption has crept, but false teachers; doctrines of demons and the controlling spirit of Jezebel has slipped into many pulpits and is being taught in most theological colleges, congregations, places of worship and denomination.
In Christ we have become partakers of a heavenly calling and are to be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for He has given us the Holy Spirit of life and truth, and we worship one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in us all.
As believers we are the corporate body of Christ and when two or more members of Christ’s body are united in prayer or praise, thanksgiving or worship – we are in a small way fulfilling Christ’s high priestly prayer: that we may be one, even as He is One with the Father.
of worship and prayer, the holy Temple of God had become a profane place of ungodly merchandise, dishonest trading and gross malpractice of unprecedented proportion.
It was David that first lifted up these words of entreaty to the Father, as he sought to worship the Lord in spirit and truth and to offer his life as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him, for David knew and trusted the Lord His God - David was a man after God's own heart.
Each one was saying, “I am of Paul,” or “I of Apollos,” or “I of Peter” or “I of Christ.” Had this attitude not been quickly corrected by Paul, or had any of these leaders allowed such foolish hero-worship to continue, the Church could have fragmented into many different sects.
The psalmist desires that his prayers are well-pleasing to the Father - and that his humble petitions and heart-felt praise rise up to into heaven as a sacrifice of praise and a sweet-smelling savour to our God, as hands are lifted up in worship, thanksgiving and pleading supplications.
His was a life of faith, a life of prayer, a life of praise, a life of worship.
Christ demonstrated that God's children are to live in the spirit and walk in the spirit - to pray and to praise and to worship in spirit and in truth.
The Lord Jesus demonstrated that we too can be set forth as incense before Him, if we too live, work, worship and pray into the will the will of the Father, through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God - in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
When he finally ceased his mourning, he started to take every thought captive - remembering that the God to whom he is praying is the Creator of the universe, Who established the earth - and so he started to worship God, with the word, Long ago You established the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
When a man takes steps to remember Who his God is and turns his heart to true worship, he starts to remember exactly Who our Father is and what God has promised His children.
The prayer of a frightened man that started with a focus on self and his own mountainous problems, concluded with a prayer of assured faith and worship of his God, the Creator of the worlds – the Maker of heaven and earth – the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, all-wise, loving and righteous God of the whole universe – Who knows each of us by name and cares enough to take the difficulties of life to cause us to turn our focus on Christ and not on ourselves - for when we rest in the promises of God - fear is replaced by faith.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the One Whom we worship and adore, for He has redeemed us by His blood and removed us forever, from God’s eternal condemnation.
The seven-fold glories in this verse are sung in resplendent praise and worship to the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the precious Lamb of God.
It is in praise of Him that this wonderful chorus of praise and worship will resound throughout the universe when the enemy of our soul has been routed and the gracious plans and wise purposes of God (in establishing Christ in His rightful position on the throne of the universe) will be finally accomplished.
He applauded their stand on adultery, idol worship and other important moral issues, but then questioned whether they adhered to their own exemplary teachings or whether they too could be charged with spiritual adultery and moral degradation.
When David penned these words, they were in every respect a song of thankful worship to the Father that pointed to the coming Messiah, Who would be sent from heaven to become our sacrifice for sin.
But however glorious our salvation and privileged our service, our calling first and foremost is to worship at His feet, to delight to do His will, to treasure His Word in our hearts and to remain in the center of His will for the rest of our life.
May our lives be a sweet-smelling savour of thankful worship and reverential praise, so that we may live and move and have our being in the centre of His will - so that we may become true witness to our Father in heaven, and a true reflection of Christ within - so that through us, God will be glorified in the world.
The full council of God; the deity of Christ; sound doctrine; non-negotiable truth; the coming judgement; Christ as the one and only way to God and repentance of sin have been replaced with extra-biblical revelation, religious talk-shows, dreams and visions, ungodly worship, transcendental mediation, a desire for some self-induced emotional experiences and a happy and prosperous life now.
All were descended from Adam and all know the truth - but they all turned from the true and living God to worship idols of wood, images of stone and false god's who usurped the sovereign Lord.
The Word of God also enlightens our understanding of the angelic conflict that has been raging between heaven and hell from the beginning of time and it leads and guides us into right thinking, holy living, patient endurance, godly loving - and true worship.
The psalmist considers the miraculous development of the unborn child, from conception and birth, right on into manhood and old age, and David recognised, that God deserves both praise and worship, for the miracle of his own conception and development.
The day is coming when together with Mary we will all stand around the throne of grace and worship the Lamb that was slain for our sins, but in the meantime, we too can join in her psalm of exultation and sing, my soul exalts the Lord, my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour, for He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-slave
He tore his mantle in anguish of heart, shaved his head, as a sign of mourning and inner turmoil, and fell on the ground in order to worship the Lord, saying: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there.
He reacted to his woes with worship, and to his devastating losses with reverence and humility of heart.
Godly devotional, saintly worship and reverential fear of our heavenly Father is not perfected through multiplied blessing, but is often fine-tuned through the long night of doubt and sorrow, or in the painful times of trial and tribulation - for that is when we are in pain that we hold fast to our heavenly Creator, for there is no one else to turn to, for He has the word of eternal life.
There should be no arguments on what to eat or what to drink, what day to worship or what ordinances to follow, for whether we live or die, eat or speak..
Submissive worship of God, is the essence of prayer, and the self-glorification of those hypocritical Pharisees, was denounced by Jesus, Who taught that prayer, to our unseen heavenly Father, should be carried out privately - in reverential fear of the Lord and with humility of heart.
Knowing that my salvation is secure in His worthy hands, every facet that touches my life is equally under the protection of His mighty power, for He has become the foundational bedrock upon which my confidence rests and He is the ever-flowing fountain of living strength, that infills my heart and overspills into songs of worship and praise to His wonderful name.
True worship does not consist of the actions we undertake; the outward behaviours we exhibit or strict adherence to certain prescribed laws or imposed practices.
True worship emanates from a soul that is right with God and an attitude that is conceived in the inner heart, which reflects His beauty - where the fruit of the Spirit is manifested, and the character of Christ is reflected.
One group will be condemned because they did not believe the witness of nature - for the heavens declare the glory of God, but men worship and serve the creation rather than the Creator. Another group will be condemned because of the inner witness of their God-given conscience.
All those that have been born from above and have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ our Saviour are called by our great Creator God, to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness - to sing joyful praises to Him with our lips and in our hearts.
Their disgusting ways were an abomination to the Lord and His people were never to engage in these despicable things, which included child sacrifices; witchcraft; divination; sorcery; cannibalism and the worship of demons - to name a few.
May we be given discernment, so that we may live and work to God's eternal glory - as we watch for the any day return of our God and Saviour, Who alone is worthy of our praise and worship.
O come let us adore Him forever, is the heart-cry of the Psalmist, who sees continuous and continuing praising of the Lord to be the core cry within the depth of our inner beings, for He alone is worthy of such exultant worship.
The lawless attitude and rebellious actions of this 'son-of-perdition', will not only oppose the true and living God and all He stands for, but exalt himself above every religion, including Christianity and every other form of worship..
How terrible it will be when the Church is removed; the full force of evil is permitted to envelop the earth and the Antichrist, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship is revealed and takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as if he is God.
His pride glistens like a necklace as he opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and even takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
From the beginning the spirit of antichrist has been working towards Satan's goal of opposing God; bringing the world under his total control and receiving men's undivided worship, but the 'man-of-lawlessness', about whom Paul is writing, has yet to be revealed, and this verse gives a graphic description of the ungodly disposition of the coming antichrist, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
Let us rest in the truth of the incomparable, immeasurable, unsurpassing greatness of our omnipotent God and His grace and love towards us, who believe in Christ -He alone is worthy of our everlasting worship, praise and thanksgiving.
The collective worship of believers around the broken bread and communion cup is an expression of communal Christian unity and oneness in the body of Christ.
This little verse is part of a symphony of praise, to the God of heaven and earth, for He is worthy of our adoration and worship - our thanksgiving and praise.
Christ is essential deity and demands absolutely equality with God the Father and God the Holy Ghost, for He was in the beginning with God and through Whom all things were made - and He was loved by the Father before the foundation of the world - and alone demands our worship and praise.
They opposed Paul's teachings, and successfully convinced many Galatian Christians to revert to Judaism, and adopt many Jewish rites, rituals and religious practices, into their Christian worship.
due to the intense intercession and persevering prayer of Moses on their behalf - when by Gods' grace.... only days after their miraculous delivery from Egypt's 400-year long bondage.. they started to worship the golden calf and called it their god!!!
God in His grace also promised to provide Moses with evidence that His word was true and that He was a faithful God, when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.
The Lord God of Israel is vastly superior to the little idols they worship - both graven images they fashioned with their own hands and the heavenly bodies they saw moving across the skies.
How foolish to worship the sun, the moon and other heavenly bodies, when the true Creator has made Himself known to His people.
Some think these were animals that were destined to be sacrificed during the approaching Passover feast, but these humble shepherds, were ordained to be the first people to hear of the good news that Christ is born in Bethlehem, and worship the new-born King.
No surprise that we are exhorted to worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness for even the trees of the forest sing for joy and clap their hands together because the Lord is coming to judge the world in His righteousness and His people in His faithfulness.
When the Lord Jesus taught His disciple to pray He did not give them a magic format to repeat as a vain repetition, but a method of prayer to use, as we approached the throne of grace - a model of prayer that embraces praise, worship, petition, supplications, intercessions, thanksgiving and fellowship with our Father in heaven.
We are to worship Him in spirit and truth and to glorify His name.
We should take the pearls of His speech and the jewels that encrust the glorious messages of salvation and shower them down in blessed teachings and wise counsel over the heads of those that are His kingdom of priests, and royal nation – a people set apart for the Lord to serve Him and to worship Him in time and through eternity - to Him be all glory and might and majesty and dominion and praise and power for ever and ever!
Three times a year the men of Israel would set out for Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts of the Lord and to worship their God at the Holy Temple - which stood majestically at the top of Mount Zion.
Indeed the Lord continued to explain to Solomon: “but if you turn aside and forsake My statutes and My commandments, and go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land - the land that I have given them.
Should not we who are His blood-bought children rejoice to hear such worthy instructions, for praise and worship is often the central ingredient in honouring the LORD - as directed by David; Solomon and other great kings of Israel.
The apostle John was about to receive a preview of the future, which began with a vision of heaven in chapter 4, and moved to the worship of the Lamb of God in chapter 5.
As he looked, John was introduced to four living creatures who worship God day and night and 24 elders, who were clothed in white raiment, with crowns of gold on their heads.
The vison of the throne-room of God; the worship of the Lamb Who was slain and the presentation of a seven-sealed scroll, which no-one but Lamb could break, are all part-and-parcel of the heavenly vision John saw in chapters 4 and 5.
The United Kingdom of Israel divided in two, after the death of Solomon, and only Judah, Benjamin, the priests and Levites, who served in the Temple, and a little remnant from a few other tribes chose to remain in Jerusalem and worship in the Temple until they were enslaved by Babylon.
causing the Lord God Almighty to write of Christ Jesus: Your throne O God is for ever and forever, and let all the angels of God worship Him.
And the writer to the Hebrews reminds us that these mighty angels of God, worship Him day and night and are all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.
The main theme of this first chapter of Hebrews is the elevated status of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who alone is worthy of all honour and worship - for He is greater than Moses, greater than David, greater than Solomon and greater than all the vast host of God's angelic hosts - and His throne is forever and forever and His sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of His kingdom.
The Jew may have returned in their land, built their panelled houses and planted crops, but they were incapable of keeping the Mosaic Law because they had no Temple in which to worship the Lord and no Alter on which to offer sacrifices to Him, as the Law commanded.
So often we see that in times of trials and difficulties the Psalmists lifted up their voices in hymns of thanksgiving and praise - calling on the righteous to be joyful in the Lord, to rejoice in the God of their Salvation and to sing to the Lord with thankful hearts… for praise, worship and thanksgiving from the man or woman who loves the Lord, is beautiful and beneficial.
But even in that terrible seven-year period, which will follow the any-day rapture of the Church into heaven, Isaiah writes of a little remnant, that will bow their knee to the Lord and lift up their voices in joyful praise and worship to God, singing: O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
Never forget that no matter what trials and tribulations we face in this Church Age, let us be part of today’s little flock, who trusts God’s Word, believes His promises, gives glory to His name and lifts up our voices in joyful praise and worship, singing: O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise Your name, for You have accomplished wonders, for You are faithful and true.
This is no self-centred, superficial form of worship but a yearning desire, deep within that is overwhelmed by Who God is and what He has done - for all Who trust in the Son of His love.
When we consider the heavens and our wonderful Creator, our heart is filled with awe and wonder at His mighty power and the vastness of His great wisdom - but when we consider the nails that pierced His hands and feet, the crown that tore His head and the sword that thrust His side all for love of His own and when we consider that Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her; to make her holy; to cleanse her with the washing of water by the word - is it not our glorious privilege to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; bow down before Him with our whole body, soul and spirit and praise our mighty Saviour and King for ever and ever?
Cyrus did not worship the God of Israel, nor did he believe in Him, and yet God used this man to shepherd His people Israel, back to their native land.
And the wonderful doxology at the end is a glorious hymn of worship and praise to the Lord God almighty - For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, amen.
However, instead of repenting and doing the works of God, by caring for widows and orphans and following the righteous Law given by Moses, they continued to abuse the poor; indulge in extravagant lifestyles; worship other gods; engage in immorality and unjust slavery; economic exploitation; legal injustices and self-gratification.
And now, Israel, Moses concluded, what does the Lord your God ask of you? --- except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
And so they were given a definitive call, to fear the Lord, walk in all His ways, to love Him, and worship Him with all their heart and soul.
We are called to encourage those that are struggling; to pray for those that do not know Him and to sow eternal seeds of hope, joy and rejoicing in the hearts of all we meet, so that together we will one day rejoice as we stand and worship our great King of kings and loving Lord of glory.
Reverence and godly fear for the Lord should be the unquestionable delight of all believers, but how sad when God all-mighty degenerates into God all-matey and the respect and honour due to our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ deteriorates into self-indulgent 'worship' or irreligious behaviours.
