Why I Worship

What Is Worship, Why Do We Worship, How to Worship

Are You In Or Out?

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“Father, I see that you are drawing a line in the sand and I want to be standing by your side, holding your hand. So, let your kingdom come; let it live in me. This is my prayer. This is my plea.”

These are words from the opening verse of a song made popular by Phillips, Craig, and Dean a fews years ago called “Let the Worshippers Arise.” We do it at our church in OKC.

Those words are so relevant to where I believe we are as the Body of Christ. I believe there is a line being drawn and those who call themselves Christians are being forced to make a choice. The choice is very simple and very clear. It is the choice between continuing to live in mediocrity or really becoming the Church of God that we are intended to be.

The Apostle, Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:3-5: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

The chorus to the song I referenced at the beginning of this post says “Let the worshippers arise! Let the sons and the daughters sing! I’m surrendering my all. I’m surrendered to the King!”

It’s time we stand and be the church!

Are you in or out?
It really is that clear of a choice.

Your comments welcome…

Increasing Your Capacity

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When God is calling us to increase in our capacity to serve His body, there will be times when we feel as if we are being stretched in every direction.

Here are some great thoughts on stretching by Pastor Jody Andrews in our staff devotional time this morning.

S– Stay Focused. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted from the thing God is preparing you for.

T– Trying never gets the job done. We must determine in our hearts to press on toward the goals set before us.

R– Random accomplishments do not produce sustained success. Success is proven with consistent effort.

E– Easy doesn’t equal “shortcut.” Difficult doesn’t equal “door shut.” Don’t be fooled by your circumstances.

T– Teachable people exceed their teacher. Jesus said “You shall do these things and greater.”

C– Character matters. Your talents may get you on the stage, but only your character will keep you there.

H– How is your serve? We must continually teach ourselves to serve others.

Allow God to STRETCH you today into the man or woman he has created you to be.

Be Blessed!

Adam, Where are you?

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Worship touches every part of the make up of a human being.

It requires us to focus our mind on the concepts of who God is and who he has created and called us to be. It requires us either to bring our bodies into a submissive, humble, and quiet posture before Him or to take an emboldened stance of declaration of His character through the lifting of our hands, the clapping of our hands, or through some type of dance.

Worship also requires us to allow our emotions to respond to God in ways that may sometimes be uncomfortable or even seem out of character of us on an individual basis. Sometimes we worship with a sense of militarism in declaring the character of our God, and sometimes we almost end up in a heap on the floor in tears when we come to the realization of the grace, love, and forgiveness that has been poured out for us.

In any of these situations where worship is taking place, there is one constant… vulnerability.

Vulnerability is the key to true worship. When we come before God in worship; whether in private or in public, we must be willing to lay ourselves bare before God. This is why we refer to certain aspects of worship as “a sacrifice of praise.”

Genesis 3:8-10 brings us what I believe to be some of the saddest words to ever be written:

“When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God. God called to the Man: “Where are you?” He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.””

Gods answer to Adam in verse 11 is so freeing if we will let it get to our spirit; “Who told you you were naked?”

When you come before God in worship, do you come to him hidden and fearing that He will see what you’ve done and feel differently about you, or do you realize that your sin didn’t change His feelings for you?

He knows you… He loves you just the way you are… and he wants to walk with you today…

Where are you?

Feel free to leave a comment.