20 May 2010 AM Post

Wasn't really sure where God wanted me to go this morning. Was thinking that maybe I should do the threads of my life post but not yet, maybe the Holy Spirit and what He means to my life but no, I feel this morning that God is wanting me to speak on worship.

For whatever reason I have been blessed with the gift of worship. As a new Christian just days into my walk with the Lord I could not understand what it was about songs from groups like Newsboys and Casting Crowns (I Can Only Imagine) would just leave me in a heap on the floor sobbing like a baby.

The very first lesson I ever learned about worship was the fact that God inhabits the praises of His people(Psalm 22:3 KJV) That was really all I ever needed. As I have moved forward what has been on my heart concerning worship is motives. Am I pursuing the presence of God just for some feeling of goodness or am I pursuing the presence of God because I want to be like Him?

The answer for me is: it really depends on the day. Some days I want to get into His presence because I have had a crap day. Sometimes I worship to get into His presence before I pray and seek His heart on matters that are important to myself and my family, and then sometimes I just worship because, well I know what He has brought me through and if I did not sing I would combust with the sheer joy of what my Father has done in my life and what he is doing in my life.

Here is my belief, call it a lie and allow the truth to be established but in the presence of God circumstances have to change. Psalm 68:8 states that the earth quaked; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel. The other interesting verse that talks of the presence of God is the throne room of heaven where Rev 4:8 states that: And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is the LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME"

Think about something exciting in your life, maybe it was that football game between Tech and Nebraska, maybe it was your wedding, regardless think of an event that impacted you and that you remember with fondness. Now ask yourself, how long did it take before that memory faded? The four living creates do not cease to declare that God is Holy(religious awe, reverence; to venerate, revere). Why would I not want to spend time in the presence of the this powerful being? There is just something about the Father and I believe that it is Him drawing me closer to Him.

But worship is much more intimate than that to me now. With an understanding that the veil is torn (Mat 27:51) and that I can now enter into a place that was once reserved only for Levites (Num 1:50-53) why should I waste an opportunity here on earth to do something that I will spend the rest of my life doing?

Worship is indeed the key. Rev 14:7 we are admonished to "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." Worship in this scripture was derived from the root word meaning literally to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand the Lexicon continues with the outline of Biblical Usage and defines it as to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence, my favorite is it was used among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

I like 2 Chronicles 5:13-14
in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the LORD saying, "He is indeed is good for His loving kindness is everlasting" then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priest could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God

There is just something about worship. But there is one point of caution. Ecc 5:1-2 sounds a very clear warning Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and your are on the earth; therefore let your words be few

To me the most beautiful thing about worship is the fact that I just need to be me, there are no fancy words that I need to speak. I just acknowledge His presence and in that place circumstances change.