WORSHIP ROSS SMITH

PREFACE TO NOTES ON “WORSHIP”

The path to Worship is littered with forgotten and misplaced intentions, broken promises, faulty premises, all in amongst the coloured crêpe paper of fantasies parading as Worship.

The path is well-signposted but not well-worn, pilgrims have been few and far between since the departure of that generation who pioneered the path in Bible days. Now Father is wanting to re-establish this path, is clearing away the debris that men thought and used as worship and is now looking to populate that track with “people who will worship him in spirit and in truth”.

Upon completion of the short but strenuous walk, the same glorious result awaits the intrepid pilgrim, those who have freely been issued with both visa and passport, admitting them to the destination after which the vista of Father’s provision will provide incentive for many to follow, and to facilitate the plans for “My Church”, a place where multitudes will be exposed to the wonder of our God.

Upon commencement of this journey our appetite will begin to develop until we can only be satiated by “more of Him and less of us”.

Worship is not the goal, it is simply the awakening of our original destiny, when our hearts will again throb in unison with Father’s heart as he holds out the endless opportunity for us to fulfill His Word in the midst of a perverse and degenerate world.

The light will banish the dark, the captive will be released, the sick will be healed, and the worshipper shunned by all who do not know the fear of God.

“WORSHIP” as described in Webster’s Dictionary is “HONOUR WITH EXTRAVAGANT LOVE AND EXTREME SUBMISSION”.

The Greek word is “PROSKUNEO” meaning to fall down before or bow down before.

Worship is not just music, it involves our whole relationship to God: heart, mind, soul and strength.

Real WORSHIP changes everything we do because it changes who we are.

William Temple said, “WORSHIP is the submission of all our nature to God, it is the quickening of conscience by His Holiness, the nourishment of the mind by His Truth, the purifying of imagination by His Beauty, the opening of our heart to His Love, the surrender of will to His Purpose … and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.”

William Barclay said “True Worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man, speaks to and meets with God Who is immortal and invisible.”

We need to be careful what it is that rules our time, energy, thoughts, longings and choices due to their ability to hijack our worship.

Psalm 115:8 They who make idols are like them; so are all who trust in and lean on them.” (more especially they that worship them … comments mine)

David Peterson said, “Worship is essentially an engagement with Him on the terms that He proposes and in the way He alone makes possible”.

“WORSHIP” … IN CHURCH … OR IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!!!

The purpose of the attached notes is so that we may begin to explore more closely the demands of our God Who states in JOHN 4:24 … “God is a Spirit (a spiritual being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). (Amplified)

The term “WORSHIP” has been so narrowed in its use until it has come down to mean simply “an activity in church” and if you ask someone what they understand by worship they will usually refer to the time of praise conducted in a Sunday morning “worship service”.

But when we realize that Paul said to the Roman church that to present our bodies as a living sacrifice is our “spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1) and he takes it out of the realm of an activity of church and makes worship a lifestyle.

The arrangement of much of our church activity is in what we commonly call “the preliminaries” and it is at that time we expect to carry out our worship … But can we be so ignorant as to think that worship could be considered to be a “preliminary”.

As a consequence, we have laid out the following notes in a way that will enable you to insert all the additional truth as you earnestly seek out the Lord with an ambition to worship, for indeed as you begin to study this subject you too will find that we have only really scratched the surface.

We will proceed firstly with some definitions and then attempt to convey some of the magnificence of a lifestyle of a worshipper, the person whom Father is seeking, and whom the church needs.

(Scripture references are taken from the Amplified Bible.)

THE DEFINITION OF WORSHIP

Several words are used in the Greek for “worship” but each have their own particular emphasis which we need to understand.

PROSKUNEO

To make obeisance, do reverence to … it comes from the root as follows: –

PROS = towards

KUNEO = to kiss

It is an ACT of homage or reverence … In almost every case in the New Testament that this word is used, the person worshipping “prostrated” themselves and worshipped. So this is more the ACT of homage involved, rather than the ATTITUDE of spiritual worship.

SEBOMAI

This stresses the feeling of awe or reverence towards God … Basically to “honour religiously.”

LATREUO

To serve … To render religious service or homage

EUSEBEO

To act piously towards …

NOTE FROM EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY

The worship of God is nowhere defined in Scripture … A consideration of the above verbs shows that it is not confined to praise … Broadly it may be defined as the direct acknowledgment of God (how much more direct can you get than spirit to spirit?) … of His nature … His attributes … His ways … His claims … whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving … or by deed done in such acknowledgment.

INTRODUCTION

We have to be able to worship in the midst of trials as well as in the midst of service.

If we were required to identify our position as far as doctrine is concerned, we would probably, after some thought and also some discarding of tags, be reasonably happy to be called “fundamentalists”. By that I mean, we would claim to adhere to the very basic and foundational truths of the Word, with the structure being raised by God, on that foundation, which is to be known as “His Church”.

But one of the very basic requirements that is established, is that we should “WORSHIP HIM”.

But just like so many of the functions of the church, we have adopted or employed the tenets which appear to have the Spirit of God as the essence, but so frequently we cannot provide the proof. For example: –

There are many men who would claim to be inspired to make prophetic pronouncements but are never required to substantiate these utterances either scripturally … or by the results.

There are many men who claim to have a “deliverance ministry”, whatever that means, and yet those who have been the subject of the ministry still exhibit the same problems year in and year out.

There are those churches who claim to be rich in spiritual gifts but only operate basically in areas of vocal gifts where there is no concise proof of authenticity. Even the gift of the Word of Knowledge has been abused and the evidence of the power gifts is very minimal.

Our church programs have been advertised – “Morning Worship Service” or “Evening Gospel Services”, fundamentally correct in concept but totally wrong in reality, for although the terms are right or objectively accurate, the subjective result does not show the evidence.

WORSHIP SERVICES, IN THE TRUE SENSE, WILL NEVER NEED TO BE ADVERTISED

The basic reason we do not worship is because we are unclear about the nature of God, and the purposes of God, both in creation and in redemption.

We are able to praise to a degree for two main reasons: –

we have some appreciation of the value and benefits that have accrued to us through the redemption. We can see that we can be: –

free from sin

free from sickness

free from debt

free from the law

we appreciate His table

(b) when we come together in the house of the Lord we have the environment which is secure and the encouragement which is suitable, and so we are more willing to praise under those conditions. Let the environment become hostile or the circumstances inappropriate and very quickly we can determine the extent of our ability in praise.

When we study ROMANS 5:3 … we find there encouragement to praise in the adverse and inopportune moments, (this is maturity through adversity) but this is pointing us to a place where we will be able to worship. Should we care to reflect on all the men of the Word who were “Achievers” we would find that they were also “Worshippers”.

WORSHIP IS NOT A STATE OF MIND, BUT A CONDITION OF THE HEART

Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honour Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without any thought as to the meaning].

Moses was a good example of worship in humility

David was eloquent with the pen in worship

We need to understand the underlying relationship between the words “worship” and “fellowship”, for the activities and characteristics of both terms are so similar, and in many instances interchangeable.

The whole purpose of our pursuit of fellowship, worship or relationship is ultimately “perfection”, and we have seen this spelled out in Hebrews 7:11.

Hebrews 7:11 Now if perfection, that is, perfect fellowship between God and the worshipper …

In days to come I think we should look at aspects such as: –

Who are called to worship
Who are they called to worship
How are they called to worship
What is worship
What worship is not etc. etc. etc.

However, to do that I think we need to look at the terms so that we understand the difference between “fellowship”, “communion”, “worship” and all the other religious jargon employed to describe who knows what.

FELLOWSHIP OR COMMUNION

The basic meaning of fellowship refers mainly to “a participation in” rather than “an association with”.

1 Corinthians 10:16 – 18 The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord’s Supper] upon which we ask [God’s] blessing, does it not mean [that in drinking it] WE PARTICIPATE IN AND SHARE A FELLOWSHIP (A COMMUNION IN) THE BLOOD OF CHRIST (THE MESSIAH)? The bread which we break does it not mean [that in eating it] WE PARTICIPATE IN AND SHARE A FELLOWSHIP (A COMMUNION) IN THE BODY OF CHRIST? For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are one body because we all partake of one Bread, the One Whom the communion bread represents]. Consider those [physically] people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifice partners of the altar [UNITED IN THEIR WORSHIP OF THE SAME GOD]?

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy and therefore true to His promise and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and PARTICIPATION WITH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD.

The word participation involves commitment, reliability, responsibility and all those other “unacceptable” demands which are an evidence of maturity.

The eloquence of Paul in describing fellowship or communion to obviate any potential for ambiguity reaches new levels when he writes to the Philippians.

Philippians 2:1 So by whatever [appeal to you there is in our MUTUAL DWELLING IN CHRIST by whatever] strengthening and consoling and encouraging [OUR RELATIONSHIP] IN HIM [AFFORDS], by whatever persuasive incentive there is in love, by whatever PARTICIPATION IN THE [HOLY] SPIRIT [WE SHARE] and by whatever DEPTH OF AFFECTION AND COMPASSIONATE SYMPATHY.

The description Paul uses here to horizontal fellowship (MUTUAL DWELLING IN CHRIST) and the intensity of his ambition for us generate such a passionate plea for our cooperation. He also however, has the same ability to prescribe the patent in spiritual terms.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace (favour and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship, (the communion and sharing together and participation) in the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen: so be it.

Notice the fellowship is not “created” by the Holy Spirit, but “participation” in the Holy Spirit. This is required of God, for it says the people He wants to worship must do it “in spirit and in truth”.

John 4:23 – 24 A time will come however, indeed it is already here, when the true, (genuine) worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshippers. God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

Because God is a Spirit and we are first spirit, the awareness of spiritual principles is prerequisite for worship, and appreciation which cannot be formed in the mind, but is forged in the spirit.

Philippians 3:3 For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God, and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

Here again the external is discredited and the fact of worship is held up as the identifying characteristic of true Christians … We saw this fact plainly stated in 1 John 1:3 which states that fellowship is the distinguishing mark of the real Christian.

WORSHIP

As I studied this characteristic I found that much was said and written about Old Testament worship, with its rituals and symbols, its altars and celebrations, the calendar of special days and events, the social acceptance of the performance of acts of worship, but then when the New Testament era is ushered in, there is as we know, a dismissal of many of the ritualistic aspects of worship but few commentators seem to have analyzed worship as is now required, that is, AS SPIRITUAL SERVICE.

The primary work of the Holy Spirit as our indwelling teacher, that Spirit producing sonship of Romans 8:15, is to restore us to that intimate fellowship with God. We know Christ only as the Spirit enables us.

Remember when looking at “Adoption” it said “He sent His spirit into our hearts and we said Abba”. In fact, that is expressing worship, but at that point or in that degree is rather superficial. Because we have been made in His image, we have written within us the capacity to know God and the instinct that we should worship … This we saw in Ecclesiastes 3:11 as a “divinely implanted sense of purpose”.

Romans 12:1 A decisive dedication of your bodies … A living sacrifice … IS YOUR SPIRITUAL WORSHIP

John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth)

ADAM WOULD HAVE WORSHIPPED QUITE NATURALLY, ORIGINALLY!

Worship is pure or carnal depending on whether the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God … For this reason, the gravest question before the church is always God Himself … And the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at any given time may say or do … BUT WHAT HE IN HIS DEEP HEART CONCEIVES GOD TO BE LIKE.

We tend to … by a secret flaw of the soul to move towards our mental image of God … and this is true not only of the individual Christians … but of the company of Christians that composes the church. Without doubt … the worthiest thoughts that the mind can entertain are thoughts of God … and that the weightiest word in any language is its word for GOD.

Thought and speech are God’s gifts to His creatures who are made in His image and likeness … These are intimately associated with Him and impossible apart from Him.

That our ideas of God correspond as nearly as possible to the true being of God is of immense importance to us

Our idea of God may lie buried beneath the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require a vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only as we begin to think in terms eternal and compare what our mental concepts of God are will we actually find what we really believe about God.

A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology … but to practical Christian living as well … IT IS TO WORSHIP, WHAT THE FOUNDATION IS TO THE TEMPLE … where it is inadequate or out of plumb, the whole structure must sooner or later collapse.

Why has it been so important that we learn to think in terms eternal? … The answer is quite simple really … for the man, whose concepts and ideas of God are in right perspective will be relieved of a multitude of temporal problems … for we begin to see that the matters which are earthy cannot concern us for very long … but even in this, if the whole of the burden of life and living were lifted from us, the one single burden of eternity would begin to weigh heavily upon us more than all the rest combined … for the obligation we have to God is weightier than all the problems of life compounded together.

It includes an instant and lifelong duty to love God with every power of the mind and soul … To obey Him perfectly … AND TO WORSHIP HIM ACCEPTABLY.

Perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear … The long career of Israel demonstrates this clearly enough … and the history of the church confirms it.

So necessary to the church is a lofty concept of God … A concept that produces worship … that when that concept in any measure declines, the church with her worship and her moral standards declines along with it. The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its highest opinion of God.

The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian church today is to purify and elevate our concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him … and of her.

In saying this, I realized that God is incomprehensible to the human mind as such … but this is one of the reasons why we are able to worship, for we find that in the contemplation of our God that He exceeds and excels all that we are able to know in realms natural and we are drawn into the divine in such a way that we can worship in spirit.

WORSHIP IS A SERVICE WHICH CAN ONLY BE MADE FROM A HEART WHICH NEEDS TO EXPRESS LOVE

WHO ARE CALLED TO WORSHIP? (TWO GROUPS)

Localized worship may become repetitious and limited … That’s why we “PRESENT OUR BODIES”.

If true worshippers cannot be found then THE STONES ARE ON STANDBY.

Luke 19:36 – 40 And as He rode along, the people kept spreading their garments on the road. As he was approaching the city, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God, extolling Him exultantly and loudly for all the mighty miracles and works of power that they had witnessed, crying, blessed, celebrated with praises be the King Who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven, that is, freedom there from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin; and glory, majesty and splendour in the highest heaven! And some of the Pharisees from the throng said to Jesus, Teacher, reprove your disciples! He replied, I tell you that if these keep silent the very stones would cry out.

WORSHIP WILL INTIMIDATE

Acts 18:13 Declaring, This fellow is advising and inducing and inciting people to worship God in violation of the Law [of Rome and of Moses].

They could not charge him with persuading men not to worship God at all, or to worship other gods but only to worship God in a way contrary to the law. This is in line with the behavior of the church today who determine their own methods and means of worship and ignore the reality of the obligations that Scripture defines, “Spirit and Truth”. For when the true worshippers arise it will throw the church into disarray because it will make people feel uncomfortable. It will convict, but more than that it will also convince.

The following areas may not be anything new as far as the exposure of the truth is concerned, however, I feel sure we need to approach the requirement for “worshippers” so that we can make sure we are both called and qualified to worship.

Luke 4:8 It is written, you shall do homage to and worship the Lord your God; and him only shall you serve.

It is interesting to note that “worship” and “service” are categorized as the same activity. Luke says, you shall do homage to and worship the Lord your God, Him only shall you serve.

Romans 12:1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall reverently fear the Lord your God … AND SERVE HIM … and swear by His name [and presence].

(Deuteronomy 10:20 expresses the same sentiment)

Notice it says, “THE LORD YOUR GOD”. Only those who acknowledge Him as Lord and God have the right to worship. The word “homage” means respect, given or shown BY ACTION.

Matthew 7:16 You will fully recognize them by their fruits.

Satan asked Jesus to do it “just once” for if He did it by an action, Satan then could have held that up for all time as proof of his sovereignty over Jesus.

John 4:19 – 24 The woman said to Him, Sir, I see and understand that You are a Prophet. Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where it is necessary and proper to worship. Jesus said to her, woman, believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither merely in this mountain nor merely in Jerusalem. You Samaritans do not know what you are worshipping. (You worship what you do not comprehend). We do know what we are worshipping, we worship what we have knowledge of and understand; for (after all) salvation comes from (among) the Jews. A time will come however, indeed it is already here when the true, genuine worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshippers. God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

The woman’s statement regarding “worship on this mountain” was basically a “knee-jerk reaction” to her recognition of Jesus as a prophet … She had to do something “religious”. Also “this mountain” was a convenient location for worship … It didn’t matter whether it was proper or not, it was convenient … How familiar does that appear today?

Worship has been a matter of debate for a long time. The Samaritan woman, when she realizes Jesus is a prophet immediately raises the question of worship. The reason worship raises questions is because men want to make more of the methods of worship than the object of worship.

WORSHIP IDENTIFIES ALLEGIANCE

This poor woman, obviously searching desperately for happiness, having gone through five husbands and now domiciled with a de facto, has plainly looked to spiritual things as well, but has been misdirected by religious concepts. She says, “Do we worship here on Mount Gerezim”, or do we have to go to Jerusalem to worship. Jesus pulled no punches nor did He try to curry favour with either Jews or Samaritans.

In John 4:21 He points out that neither the mountain nor Jerusalem is important.

HE SPEAKS OF HORIZONTAL CONCEPTS

In John 4:22 He points up that although there is a ritual problem, the Jews do have some idea of WHO they worship. But then with such clinical precision Jesus identifies the true and proper worshippers. He spells out the fact that the ritualistic era has passed and that a new dimension is ushered in. The old worship is conducted with animal sacrifices … The new sacrifice is in spiritual realms, the result of the perfect sacrifice of Christ.

Now John 4:23 can become a reality … All who draw near to God, accepting His Lordship and its attendant benefits and responsibility … “Can worship Him in spirit and in truth”.

For God is a Spirit and it is those who have been born anew of the Spirit that have become His children and as such they can and must worship the Father and He desires that they do it “in spirit”.

Likewise it is those who accept the revelation of God in Christ as ultimate truth, who can and must worship him in truth. This takes worship outside of mere mental ministry into an everlasting dimension.

The world likes a complacent, reasonable religion and so it is always ready to revere some pale Galilean image of Jesus, some meager anaemic Messiah, to give him a moderate, rational homage. They seek to bend the will of God to serve the ends of man, to alter the gospel and shape of the church to conform to the fashion of time.

WHO ARE THEY CALLED TO WORSHIP?

Let us read from: –

Revelation 19:1 – 10 AFTER THIS I heard what sounded like a mighty shout of a great crowd in heaven, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! Salvation and glory (splendour and majesty) and power (dominion and authority) [belong] to our God! Because His judgments (His condemnation and punishment, His sentences of doom) are true and sound and just and upright. He has judged (convicted, pronounced sentence, and doomed) the great and notorious harlot (idolatress) who corrupted and demoralized and poisoned the earth with her lewdness and adultery (idolatry). And He has avenged (visited on her the penalty for) the blood of His servants at her hand. And again they shouted, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! The smoke of her [burning] shall continue to ascend forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities). Then the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures fell prostrate and worshipped [paying divine honours to] God, Who sits on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who reverence Him, both small and great! After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns! Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honour, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white–for the fine linen (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people). Then [the angel] said to me, Write this down: Blessed (happy, to be envied) are those who are summoned (invited, called) to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me [further], These are the true words (the genuine and exact declarations) of God. Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honours) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].

WHAT WORSHIP IS NOT

Worship is not RITUALISTIC

FUTURISTIC

FLESHLY

A RELIGIOUS EXERCISE

RITUALISTIC

It is possible to learn to sing praise to the Lord, and use it as a ritual added to the church service, and never discover what God intended to teach us in new dimensions of praise which would lead us into worship. The entering in of the era of TRUE AND GENUINE WORSHIP will usher out the era of the centrality of the pulpit … Let me explain this before someone bends the intention of my statement … THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TEACHING AND PREACHING OF THE WORD CAN NEVER BE OUTMODED OR OUTDATED for the Bible says in: –

Psalm 138:2 You have magnified Your word above all Your name

However, for too long the pulpit has held center stage, when men can perform and play to an audience … but God wants to be central and when worship is prevalent, so will the transforming effect of the power of Christ be evident … changing the course of men’s lives in perpetuity … not just for time or in part.

FUTURISTIC

Learning to discover God in things present is a sign of maturity … and maturity is learning to bless people … not pamper them.

It is the mature person who will both worship and serve. If we go back to Romans 12:1 we’ll see that we both have to serve and to worship. We can paraphrase this from John 4:23 where it requires us to worship in spirit and in truth.

FLESHLY

To be worshippers means that the people of the Lord are going to be: –

SO GOD GOVERNED

SO CHRIST CENTERED

SO SPIRIT FILLED … That to meet one of them will be a divine encounter.

Our very lives will become a reproach and a contrast to many people … But will also become a blessing to those who will receive Christ as Lord.

Ephesians 5:8 – 11 For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light]. For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, BUT INSTEAD [LET YOUR LIVES BE SO IN CONTRAST AS TO] EXPOSE AND REPROVE AND CONVICT THEM.

2 Corinthians 1:12 It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favour and merciful kindness by which God, EXERTING HIS HOLY INFLUENCE upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues).

Worship is not something that is done to either make us look good or feel good … Many people are prepared to contribute when they can hold center stage but ask them to be part of a praising people, just one of the multitude, and their enthusiasm wanes and weakens … Others will only praise if it gives them some emotional boost. It is no new phenomena: –

Luke 18:10 -12 Two men went up into the temple [enclosure] to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men–extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers–or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.

WORSHIP IS NOT A RELIGIOUS EXERCISE

We have for most of our lives, viewed worship as an ACT, when in fact it is an ATTITUDE.

Psalm 42:2 My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?

Verse 7 of the same Psalm states “deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me” (NIV).

So often the Bible refers to “reverent and worshipful fear” … which can only be an ATTITUDE … And then it couples it together with WORSHIP … Which also is an ATTITUDE.

Psalm 111:10 THE REVERENT FEAR AND WORSHIP OF THE LORD is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever.

Before we begin to undervalue worship because of my statement that it is an ATTITUDE, and doesn’t require an act, let me clarify the fact that this ATTITUDE will adjust every other action of our lives … It will not just be some mental concept but will become a lifestyle, this vital attitude will control every action and so the actions that we considered previously to be worship will now be as a result of worship, not the essence of worship.

The worship of God, although it is a spiritual experience, it will also be known to us in our minds as a gratifying intercourse between God and His redeemed people … It will be a conscious, personal awareness. Worship comes from the inside of the enraptured heart … not from the cautious reasonings of the theological mind. Worship that is solely cerebral is an aberration … Feelings are a legitimate part of the human personality and should be employed in worship.

1 Corinthians 14:15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.

God calls for worship that involves our whole being … The spirit, the mind or emotions, and the body … But they have to be all laid on the altar of worship.

THERE CAN BE NO FACADES IN WORSHIP

Joel 2:13 REND YOUR HEARTS AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS and return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness; and He revokes His sentence of evil [when His conditions are met].

Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honour Me with their lips but remove their hearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without any thought as to the … meaning],

For too long we have been able to put on a pious face, speak the right language in the right place … but then, when we are not constrained by the environment of God’s people or God’s place, we revert.

I feel constrained to draw our attention to a scriptural example of what constitutes a conflict between what is “fleshly” and what is “spiritual” … firstly, a reference and then an example.

Romans 8:6 – 7 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.

THIS IS WHY WE MUST LEARN TO THINK “ETERNALLY”

PRAISE ORIGINATES IN THE MIND … WORSHIP SPRINGS FROM THE SPIRIT

Many of us have been the recipients of God’s goodness … His grace … His longsuffering and tolerance … His forgiveness and reparation … BUT WE HAVE FAILED MISERABLY IN OUR RECIPROCATION OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS.

Matthew 18:23 – 30 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a human king who wished to settle accounts with his attendants. When he began the accounting, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents [probably about $10,000,000], And because he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and his children and everything that he possessed, and payment to be made. So the attendant fell on his knees, begging him, Have patience with me and I will pay you everything. And his master’s heart was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave him [cancelling] the debt. But that same attendant, as he went out, found one of his fellow attendants who owed him a hundred denarii [about twenty dollars]; and he caught him by the throat and said, Pay what you owe! So his fellow attendant fell down and begged him earnestly, Give me time, and I will pay you all ! But he was unwilling, and he went out and had him put in prison till he should pay the debt.

This is exactly the same sort of behavior that some Christians follow …. A façade of righteousness when under the scrutiny of the Master ….. but when out the door, the masquerade is dropped … The cloak of respectability is discarded and there stands the reality of the true nature.

HUSBANDS DO IT TO WIVES … AND WIVES DO IT TO HUSBANDS

BOSSES DO IT TO EMPLOYEES

FATHERS DO IT TO CHILDREN

CHILDREN DO IT TO PARENTS

We forget that it is … BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM (Matthew 7:20) … not by their face or their pious façade or by their Sunday “fraternity” … BUT BY THEIR FRUITS.

We need to understand that God is not interested in refining us when we get to heaven … HE INTENDS TO DO THAT HERE BEFORE WE LEAVE.

Worship is not piety and probity on Sunday and pressure and politics and petulance and pedantics on Monday … Inconsistencies such as these are counterproductive and such a man is unstable in all his ways.

It amounts to “Don’t do as I do, do as I say”

Jesus in His day referred to a particular group of people … religious in their activity … but remiss in their alignment.

John 4:22 (a) You [Samaritans] do not know what you are worshipping [you worship what you do not comprehend].

WHAT IS WORSHIP

HOW DO WE COMPREHEND GOD

Worship confronts earth with heaven and brings eternity to bear upon time. The low concept of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of hundreds of lesser evils amongst us. The whole new philosophy of Christian life has resulted from our loss of recognition of the Majesty of God, and as a consequence, the dearth of worship.

We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly, that is, to our own spirit, and to meet God singularly and individually in adoring silence. The world is afraid of silence because it gives no answer to the mind. But silence was what the psalmist was encouraging in: –

Psalm 46:10 Let be and be still, AND KNOW (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

The measure of success in the modern church is QUANTITY … not QUALITY … but the gains are generally all external whilst the losses are totally internal so that the quality of the man is coincident with his internal condition.

No wonder the Bible says in PROVERBS 23:7 … “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he”.

The only way to recoup our spiritual losses is to go back to the cause of them and make such corrections as the truth warrants … The decline in our knowledge of the HOLY has brought about our inability to worship. Is it little wonder Jesus said … “You Samaritans do not know what you are worshipping”.

If we would bring back spiritual power into our lives we must begin to think of God more nearly as He is … for only then can we worship him, “for the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10)

I have said before that the most portentous fact about man is not what he at any given time may say or do … but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. Depending upon our heart is whether our worship is pure or idolatrous … there can be no middle ground. We understand that sweet and bitter water cannot issue from the same fountain nor are we able to serve two masters.

We need to be aware so that we do not accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before some inanimate visible object of adoration … and consequently it is only found in uncivilized peoples, but unfortunately, the notion still persists. The essence of idolatry is in the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of God.

Romans 1:21 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honour and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

Worship is a condition of the heart and if our heart is attached to some idolatrous object … then our worship will be out of order.

Romans 1:25 Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, Who is blessed forever! Amen (so be it).

Jeremiah 2:11 – 13 Has a nation [ever] changed its gods, even though they are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory [God] for that which does not profit. Be astonished and appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked and shrivel up with horror, says the Lord [at the behavior of the people]. For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and they have hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which cannot hold water.

We are not to pursue worship as an activity but to pursue the object of our worship … Let me try to clarify this.

Worship as an activity limits it to realms which are earthly, measurable, and even carnal. For to worship in an acceptable manner is to be so absorbed with the enormity of our God in every respect that we take on a new attitude about everything that is measurable.

Job 22:21 Acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall prosper and great] good shall come to you.

By that I mean that all the “things” around us will be of such insignificant proportions that we will be forced by the very awareness of God to forgo whatever we had previously deemed important because we are caught up in the spirit of worship … it becomes a lifestyle. We recall that “Enoch walked with God” whereas in our original state, God came down and “walked with Adam in the garden” (GENESIS 3:8 and 5:22)

Can you imagine John when on the Isle of Patmos, in the grip of the Spirit of the Almighty God which caused him to pen the words in Revelation 1:10

“I WAS IN THE SPIRIT [RAPT IN HIS POWER] on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet,” … to then turn around and worry if his lunch would be on time today or if the washing would dry or what was the state the economy.

When we are “in the spirit … rapt in his power” then we can expect to be released from the shackles of earth consciousness that so limits our ability to attain to spiritual dimensions … that detour us so often from doing what Father wants.

We today … more than ever before, are aware that there are acts of worship which are outside of the directions of Scripture. No longer are we alarmed or surprised by terms such as “satan worship” or even concerned by what it consists of … for TV has exposed the intensity of fervour that many of these people exhibit.

IF WORSHIP DOES NOT CHANGE US THEN IT HAS NOT BEEN WORSHIP

To stand before the Holy One of eternity IS TO CHANGE … Resentments cannot be retained, self-willed cannot be retained.

IF WORSHIP DOES NOT PROPEL US INTO GREATER OBEDIENCE THEN IT HAS NOT BEEN WORSHIP

Just as worship starts in holy expectation … so it ends in holy obedience.

Psalm 140:13 Surely the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).

Nahum 1:5 The mountains tremble and quake before Him and the hills melt away, and the earth is upheaved at His presence–yes, the world and all that dwell in it.

Ezekiel 38:20 So that the fishes of the sea and the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall tremble and shake at My presence; and the mountains shall be thrown down and the steep places shall fall and every wall [natural or artificial] shall fall to the ground.

Jeremiah 5:22 Do you not fear and reverence Me? says the Lord. Do you not tremble before Me? I placed the sand for the boundary of the sea, a perpetual barrier beyond which it cannot pass and by an everlasting ordinance beyond which it cannot go? And though the waves of the sea toss and shake themselves, yet they cannot prevail [against the feeble grains of sand which God has ordained by nature to be sufficient for His purpose]; though [the billows] roar, yet they cannot pass over that [barrier]. [Is not such a God to be reverently feared and worshipped?]

When we come into this relationship and understanding, we are beginning to learn: –

ASTONISHED REVERENCE )

BREATHLESS ADORATION ) Of the attributes of God … And also

AWESOME FASCINATION ) something of the breathless stillness

LOFTY ADMIRATION ) that we know when God is near

Worship in Old Testament times cannot be used as a basis for NEW TESTAMENT worshippers for the people of the Old Testament had their instructions at law of how they were to go about worship … whereas we have our instructions IN THE SPIRITUAL of how to go abo

WORSHIP IS A SERVICE … BUT IS NOT WORK

We cannot have our own way … do our own thing … and worship God effectively … IT IS A CONTRADICTION.

It is possible to have some of the essential elements of worship, that is: –

Admiration

Self abasement

Attachment

Surrender … and still not be among the redeemed.

If the Lord is to be Lord, then worship must have priority in our lives. Service as a substitute for worship is IDOLATRY, for activity becomes the enemy of adoration.

IDOLATRY IS A FORM OF WORSHIP THAT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD

Cain’s worship was unacceptable to God even though on the surface it gave the appearance of being in order. Worship is to be in accordance with the divine principle and this shows up as a mistaken concept in Cain’s case for the following reasons:-

He did not acknowledge the necessity for an atonement for sin … He had to please God with the “goodies” he brought … But he brought no sacrifice and worship requires a sacrifice, and in our case, a living one. By bringing the offering he did, Cain was denying the fact that he was a sinful creature, sentenced to death unless he followed the prescribed function. He insisted on approaching God on the basis of personal worthiness. He offered to God the fruit of the ground which God had cursed, and further, it was the result of his own toil and work. IT WAS IN FACT A CONTRADICTION TO WORSHIP.

Cain thought God was different to what He really is … He didn’t recognize the person and character of the sovereign and holy God. He demonstrated this by deciding what he would do as a matter of worship. How can we or anyone else worship God if we do not know the true character of God?

Cain assumed that he held a relationship with God, that didn’t really exist. He assumed that God saw him as so important that he didn’t need any intermediary … in his case a blood sacrifice … in our case still a blood sacrifice, but a perfect one. Cain could not accept that he could possibly have been alienated from God by sin … And this is one of the frailties of the “once saved always saved” heresy.

His next error, and the same error which exists today … was to assume that his sin was less serious than it really was. Sin has filled the world with pain and distress … it has robbed us of our principal purpose in life … and as a consequence we have failed in our attempts to worship Him.

WORSHIP IS NOT CHEAP … IT IS COSTLY

There is a classic example in Scripture found in:-

Mark 14:3 And while He was in Bethany, [a guest] in the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining [at table], a woman came with an alabaster jar of ointment (perfume) of pure nard, very costly and precious; and she broke the jar and poured [the perfume] over His head.

The ointment was VERY COSTLY … firstly because the herbs used in this particular unguent were imported … it seems they only grew in Northern India. The value was something like a year’s wages for a labourer.

The fact that the ointment was contained in an ALABASTER BOX was further proof of its value, for these particular boxes were sealed to prevent the perfume escaping and so the box HAD TO BE BROKEN. Does not this equate with the simile that we as worshippers must be broken … of all self-will … so that His perfume can be appreciated.

The ointment was frequently used for the treatment of the dead and in all probability this ointment was the only thing that would ensure this lady of a proper funeral.

The box had to be broken and the ointment poured out before the fragrance could permeate the atmosphere of the house … JUST LIKE US!

In John 12:3, this is another occasion where this sort of material was employed as an “act” of worship and it says: –

John 12:3 “And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume”.

When worship is made … it will be from the very best and the richest source … that is, from the very essence of our lives. You can’t worship apart from the presence of the Lord. You can say words of thanksgiving and adoration, raise YOUR hands, but until you know you are in His presence, YOU AREN’T WORSHIPPING

There is nothing more difficult than attempting to worship out of the presence of the Lord … nor so disgusting as watching others worship when you aren’t involved.

EVIDENCE OF WORSHIP

For every given situation, if we could portray on a movie screen what we see in our minds eye for that situation, every one of us would probably project a totally different scene. Some would have a clip that would be very limited and concise … probably suited more to a news program … highlighting the emotive and spectacular and leaving the rest to be drawn by conclusions.

Some would produce a current affairs type program with some graphic details … many searching questions … probably project a bias toward some particular aspect, but still not resolve the matter.

Still others would make an epic film and using all the drama and effects possible, reproduce what they saw in their mind in a manner which would either fully convince us of the authenticity of the situation … or else be so artificial in the presentation of the facts that we would not only dismiss the parody, but also the plot.

Now this is true also of spiritual matters that we try to grasp with our mind, for without either the experience of, or the exposure to, these situations, we develop our misconceptions. In continuing our study into worship, I suppose you will, just like I have, considered what it will be like to have a multitude of worshippers in a fellowship.

Our teaching down through the years has been that worship is an activity carried out in church … generally on a Sunday … and usually in the morning service … by people who are religiously inclined and maybe even with a tinge of fanaticism about them.

As we grew in God we saw that it need not be confined to the morning service … or even necessarily just Sundays … but it contained elements of expression that were measured for their value or benefits by either how much noise they produced or how much energy was expended.

Now none of these ideas accurately identifies worship and because we are now beginning to appreciate both the possibility for us to worship … but also that Father is searching out a people who will be true and genuine worshippers, we also need to be acutely aware of … THE EVIDENCES OF WORSHIP.

Because worship is spiritual … the evidences should then be of the same extraction. But this poses a problem, because our spirits only have, as a means of expression, the body and mind in which we as spirits are incarcerated. Now that incarceration is not, in many instances, an unpleasant cooperation … for none of us show any real desire to disembark from the merry-go-round of life … even though ofttimes the pressures of that life become very oppressive, but we still cling to life tenaciously.

SO IT IS THIS AMALGAM OF THE SPIRITUAL WITH THE NATURAL THAT WILL BE USED TO EVIDENCE WORSHIP

2 Corinthians 4:7 However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

We have already defined that worship is not an action but an attitude, therefore do not allow the principles of “THE EVIDENCE OF WORSHIP” to conflict with the principles of “SPIRITUAL WORSHIP”. There are a number of these areas which we should explore which may not necessarily be in chronological order.

HEALTH Health will be an attendant phenomena of worshippers … Now someone is going to say “Well what about Paul … he had this thorn in the flesh” … I do not believe for a moment that Paul was an unhealthy person, the thorn in his flesh was placed there for a particular purpose and was not because of some particular frailty of his flesh … but as necessary for the success of his ministry.

Firstly, what is the basis for sickness? I know of several: –

Not discerning the Lord’s body (1 Corinthians 11:29 – 30)
Satanic oppression (Luke 13:11)
The blight of sin (Luke 21)
Abuse of the temple of the Holy Spirit
Disobedience (James 5:14 – 15)
Superficiality (Isaiah 58:1 –4)

The children of Israel have now been in Egypt for 430 years in a condition of bondage and slavery, called upon to work in conditions of difficulty and deprivation which would have taxed their physical resources to the ultimate.

Exodus 1:11 – 14 So they set over [the Israelites] taskmasters to afflict and oppress them with [increased] burdens. And [the Israelites] built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more [the Egyptians] oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that [the Egyptians] were vexed and alarmed because of the Israelites. And the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery. They made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar, brick, and all kinds of work in the field. All their service was with harshness and severity.

AND THEY HAD NO UNIONS … AND NO MEDICARE

Now when we come to chapter 12 of Exodus we see the requirements that the Lord sets down for the Israelites for worship on this particular occasion … It is still a ritualistic pattern that has specific requirements.

Now two things are important: –

The Israelites could have done like the modern church frequently does and said … “This is not how we have done before … we have always worshipped this, or that way”, or they could have said … “Is Moses trying out something new today … he is just trying to be the boss or something”.

The result of the Israelites worshipping in the prescribed manner achieved two very remarkable results: –

(a) Their release from captivity of 430 years duration

(b) Psalm 105:37 … He brought Israel forth with silver and gold … And there was not one feeble person among the tribes.

The silver and gold aspect is a side issue because it depended upon their going and asking for it from the Egyptians.

HEALTH IS A HALLMARK OF A WORSHIPPING PEOPLE

Let me confirm this from Scripture: –

Isaiah 58:8 (a) Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily;

But there are conditions that the Word establishes in the previous verses for this to occur: –

Isaiah 58:6 – 7 [Rather] is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house–when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?

Obviously these are not activities that originate from a carnal mind or from a physical base … but originate in the spirit. Let me give you another example: –

To be invited to dinner at someone’s place is an indication of fellowship … for us to come around His table is an indication that we accept His invitation … that we think like He thinks … that we are pleased, even proud to be identified with Him.

There are still conditions to be met: –

1 Corinthians 11:29 – 31 For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ’s] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death. For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].

Notice the similarity of terms which give us clarity here.

The words in verse 29 … “DISCRIMINATING” … “RECOGNIZING” … “APPRECIATION” … and then in verse 31 … “EXAMINE” … “DETECTING” … “RECOGNIZING”.

Both verses relate to how we are in fellowship with the body of Christ: –

Verse 29 is corporate fellowship

Verse 31 is our personal fellowship

Why did He go to such trouble for us? … that we might not only be in fellowship … but like the Israelites we might WORSHIP … and with the same results, liberation from our bondage brought about by sin, and HEALTH AND VITALITY IN THE FLESH.

1 Peter 2:24 He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED.

It has been said that in our society, men and women have adopted a “SPECTATOR ROLE”, we would rather watch than play, to the detriment of our health … and the same condition exists in the church.

I like to think that when Paul wrote to the Ephesians in chapter 4:16 –

Ephesians 4:16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

The “WHOLE BODY” means not only ALL the church … but means “WHOLE” in the sense of completeness in every area including health. The simile of “When each part is working properly” further infers divine health … The church grows to maturity and it will be a mature people who are able to worship in spirit and in truth … AND DO IT WITH HEALTHY BODIES.

EVIDENCE OF WORSHIP

We have seen before that because worship is spiritual, the evidences then should be of the same extraction, but we found that this poses a problem because our spirits only have as a means of expression, the body and mind, in which we as spirits are incarcerated … and so it will be that this amalgam of the spiritual with the natural will be employed in the evidencing of worship. Previously we saw that health was evidence of worship, now I would like to look at authority as evidence of worship.

AUTHORITY AS AN EVIDENCE OF WORSHIP

Matthew 10:1 AND JESUS summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave THEM POWER AND AUTHORITY over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.

I wonder what our concept of power and authority is? To many of us it is to exert influence over somebody else to have them do what we want or cause them to carry out certain functions to our satisfaction.

This power and authority infers that one person has a dominant role and the other person, a subservient role. In the context of Matthew 10:1 … I do not believe this is what is intended. We will also look at it shortly in Daniel 11.

Matthew 10:1 … “To cure all kinds of disease”

The word disease used here in the Greek is NOSOS. The English word derived from this is nosology and it is the medical term for the classification of diseases. Obviously the intention of the Word of God here is “all kinds of and all classifications of”.

There was a program screened on television regarding the effects of the charismatic movement of the church. The interviewer placed considerable emphasis on the aspect of healing and asked a number of those interviewed “is everybody healed when you pray for them?” Of course, the answer was NO, not everyone, and when asked why that was not the case, one well-known Brisbane preacher stated “Well you know, that’s the first question I’m going to ask when I get to heaven”.

I can answer that question here and now. He has not been given the power and authority referred to in Matthew 10, and the reason is also equally obvious … They were disciples to whom He gave the power and authority. Jesus would not have entrusted this power and authority to men that He did know or didn’t know Him.

Not only did Jesus give his disciples power and authority to cure all kinds of diseases, but “all kinds of weakness and infirmity”.

The word here is MALAKIA and it means debility. This raises a fascinating fact. We see firstly that the power and authority given was over unclean spirits to drive them out … Not against, that’s ability, but OVER, THAT MEANS AUTHORITY.

The apostle Paul in his correspondence to the EPHESIANS in chapter 3 says –

Ephesians 3:16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality.

The effects of this development of the inner man is that we are then able to respond to God in the proper manner, which is WORSHIP. The inference here is that some of the believers are weak and impotent in their spirits and therefore their spirits are dominated by their soul (mind).

This has two debilitating results: –

Firstly, the soul dominating the spirit creates a passivity in the area of the spirit which in turn renders us incapable of responding to God.

Secondly, when the soul is dominant over the spirit it is then that unclean spirits, demon OPPRESSION or even POSSESSION can take over the life of an individual.

Notice I said, individual believer, for I would reinforce the fact that a believer can certainly be demon OPPRESSED but not POSSESSED.

You will recall that when we were discussing health as an evidence of worship, I said that in our society men and women have adopted a “spectator role” to the detriment of their health and the same conditions exist in the church.

Passivity is one of the greatest banes of the church today, for believers attend meetings but remain spectators rather than participants. Passivity is a state of inactivity, characterized by deficient vitality and reaction.

Jesus in giving the disciples power and authority over all kinds of weakness and infirmity or debility, points up the fact that the authority invested in worshippers is intended to shake the believers out of their complacency … Stimulate their appetite for things of the spirit, and like Paul said to the Ephesians – see them strengthened and reinforced with His mighty power in the inner man.

It is interesting to note that all rightful authority is derived from Jesus Christ. These 12 disciples were sent out destitute of all outward advantages.

Matthew 10:9 – 10 Take no gold nor silver nor [even] copper money in your purses (belts); And do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food).

It was therefore in TOTAL DEPENDENCY upon the Source that they should have the extraordinary ability to manifest this power and authority.

The power and authority that is committed to the ministers of Christ is directly levelled against the devil and his kingdom.

The power and authority invested in WORSHIPPERS is so extensive that they are authorized to work miracles for the confirmation of their doctrine and to prove that the design of the Gospel is to heal and to save.

The disciples were authorized to cure “all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases”. There is no spiritual disease so malignant, so inveterate, but there is a sufficiency of power in Christ for the cure of it.

aDaniel 11:32 And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].

We have already determined that it is only those who know God who can worship God. But as a direct result of that knowing God, they will “display strength and take action”.

The occasion of a recent tent crusade prompted me to re-evaluate what was happening. I was told that 10,000 people attended the crusade with 500 going forward, many of them for salvation. I was perplexed to say the least, to see the effort and funds expended with what appears to be a very minimal result. I began to ponder how Peter had 3000 respond to his first sermon.

Acts 2:41 Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.

But then I was more impressed at how quickly they became worshippers.

Acts 2:43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).

Now we again have already determined that “reverential fear and worship” are common current attitudes. We have also seen from Matthew 10 that wonders and signs are only performed by those who are invested with the power and authority of God.

I was then challenged, what will I do when this congregation begins to worship as they should and we see 3 or 4 or 5000 souls saved; how will we disciple them so that they are not led off into error? I felt impressed by the Spirit that when men are worshippers, the pastors and leaders of the church will not be presumptuous enough to try and do their own thing, but will look to that worshipping company for their authority, recognizing that this is of God, has to be maintained and perpetuated by God, and therefore they will submit to God’s authority for direction how to handle the influx of souls into the kingdom.

Act 5:13 – 14 And none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them. More and more there were being added to the Lord those who believed [those who acknowledged Jesus as their Saviour and devoted themselves to Him joined and gathered with them], crowds both of men and of women.

If we cared to continue to read on in Acts 5 we will see the same result is in Matthew 10

Acts 5:15 – 16 So that they [even] kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, [in the hope] that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people gathered also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, AND THEY WERE ALL CURED. (Not just some of them … but unfortunately it didn’t include EGO problems … Comments mine)

NOT ONLY IS HEALTH A HALLMARK OF A WORSHIPPING PEOPLE BUT THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF GOD WILL BE RECOGNIZED IN THE WORSHIPPER WHO IS ABLE TO BRING ABOUT THIS HEALTH

Daniel 12:3 And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.

Matthew 13:43 Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing.

A man once wrote “our life and our worship (to me they should be the same thing) should reflect our expectation of dominion and our increasing capacity for responsibility” … but too many want authority and no responsibility.

There is a distinct difference between a congregation who embrace God’s rulership and a congregation who embrace His LORDSHIP. One gathers together in an attempt to conform to his rules, the other gathers together in absolute love and dedication … to conform to His image.

In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe awaiting the emergence of a Spirit led, Spirit intoxicated, Spirit empowered people … that is, a worshipping congregation who will demonstrate the authority of God.

Our century has yet to see the breaking forth of the Apostolic Church of the Spirit. But such a people will not emerge until there is among us a deeper, more profound experience of an Emmanuel of the Spirit, “God with us” … the knowledge that in the power of the Spirit, Jesus has come to guide His people Himself. An experience of His leading that is as definite and as immediate as the cloud by day and the fire by night.

God led the children of Israel out of bondage “as a people”. Everyone saw the cloud and fiery pillar. They were not a gathering of individuals who happened to be going in the same direction, THEY WERE A PEOPLE UNDER THE THEOCRATIC RULE OF GOD.

What constitutes this authority? It is when His will and our will become the same will.

Matthew 8 contains many examples of the richness of the authority of Jesus … It was-

Recognized by the centurion
Responded to by demons
Reported upon by herdsmen
Reacted against by the townspeople.

There are many examples of the authority that is attached to worship in the Word of God. In Luke 4:6, we see the devil offering “power and authority and glory” to Jesus if he would bow down to him.

In Luke 4:8 Jesus replied to him … “Get behind me Satan it is written you shall do homage to, and worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve”.

Again we see the power and authority are related to Worship. In the same chapter: –

Luke 4:32 and 36 And they were all amazed at His teaching, for His word was with authority and ability and weight and power.” And they were all amazed and said to one another, what kind of talk is this? For with authority and power he commands the foul spirits and they come out!

Surely this is a repetition of the prophecy in DANIEL in 11:32 where he said that “the people who know their God will display strength and take action”.

There will be nothing Mickey Mouse in either the attitude or the action of Worshippers.

In a very superficial way this is evident in the church today. Those who do not want any responsibility, those who care little about others, those whose commitment is very shallow, those who would demand their own will and way … there is one characteristic common to all those people, AND THAT IS IT SEEMS THEY ARE ALMOST INCAPABLE OF RESPONDING TO THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT.

The most obvious aspect of authority in worship should be its NATURALNESS. Let me give you an example:-

In Matthew 8 when Jesus took a boat to get to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and during the midst of the night a great storm arose, and the Bible says “so that the boat was being covered up by the waves: but He was sleeping”.

The extent of the storm was significant; it was a violent storm, but in verse 26 it says – “then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, AND THERE WAS A GREAT AND WONDERFUL CALM, A PERFECT PEACEABLENESS.

We all know that even when the wind stops after a storm, it takes the movement of the ocean many hours to settle. The same effect is evidenced in a swimming pool when several people move around in the same direction creating a current in that pool, which takes several minutes to settle. But in this instance, the violence of the storm instantly became subservient to the authority of the word of Jesus. It is this sort of authority which will attend worshippers.

THE WORD UNRESTRAINED

We have looked briefly at the aspect of AUTHORITY that attends a WORSHIPPER … BUT yet there is one great demonstration of Authority … and that is the Unrestrained Authority of the Word of God in the mouth of a Worshipper.

The relationship of a worshipper and the Unrestrained Word is as convoluted as is the Trinity … ONE is so intermarried with the other that they can only exist together.

We understand from our studies that for us to become a worshipper there has to be the sacrifice referred to in ROMANS 12:1 whereby we make that “decisive dedication of our bodies, presenting our members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated and well pleasing to God”.

It is only out of this dedication that we can produce a reasonable and rational and intelligent service … BUT more importantly … SPIRITUAL WORSHIP.

Let us now identify the relationship between that decisive dedication and the Unrestrained Word.

2 Timothy 2:9 For that Gospel I am suffering affliction and even wearing chains like a criminal … BUT THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT CHAINED OR IMPRISONED

The context of this statement would be incomplete unless we were to take note of verses 10 to 15.

2 Timothy 2:10 – 15 Therefore I [am ready to] persevere and stand my ground with patience and endure everything for the sake of the elect [God’s chosen], so that they too may obtain [the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with [the reward of] eternal glory. The saying is sure and worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us. If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself. Remind [the people] of these facts and [solemnly] charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers. Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

Another dilemma which faces the church of Jesus Christ today is the unwillingness of many men and women to open “The Book” … to STUDY for themselves, and find the liberating force of the Unrestrained Word of God.

John 8:32 And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

You see the history of religion is the story of an almost desperate scramble to have a king … a mediator … a priest … a go-between. In this way we do not need to go to God ourselves … such an approach saves us from the need to change.

FOR TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD PERSONALLY IS TO CHANGE PERSONALLY

It is very convenient this way because it gives us the advantage of religious respectability without demanding moral transformation. We want someone else to carry the responsibility … but then we object to their asserting the authority … EVEN THEIR GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY.

Praise may be performed from a distance … worship requires that we be in his presence. Nowhere in the Word can we find an occurrence of a man beholding the glory of the Lord who did not immediately respond in worship.

When we open the book and with sincerity and honesty begin to explore its pages we have embarked upon a journey of confrontation with the power that controls the universe and Who holds the key to change us into His image and His likeness.

Why is it men are so unprepared to read and study the Word of God today? The answer is relatively simple … THERE IS A LACK OF WORSHIPPERS … which in turn produces a dearth of worship, which in turn limits the explosive effects of the “Unrestrained Word of God.”

Hebrews 4:12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

A man immersed in Worship will not fear the consequence of speaking the Word of God which has been imparted to him because of his relationship to God.

Luke 21:12 But previous to all this, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be led away before kings and governors for My name’s sake. This will be a time (an opportunity) for you to bear testimony. Resolve and settle it in your minds not to meditate and prepare beforehand how you are to make your defense and how you will answer. For I [Myself] will give you a mouth and such utterance and wisdom that all of your foes combined will be unable to stand against or refute.

The nation of Australia is now more “unchristian” than it has ever been in history … but we stand on the brink of an era when not only will our nation be unchristian it will be ANTI-CHRISTIAN.

Not only are the plans in place but the resources are in place and the implementation is in effect to take this nation further down that route of satanic domination of Governments with its concomitant result of social disorder, economic disaster, and religious oppression.

The idealism of our present government is aligned with marxism … fabianism … One World Government … and socialism in its rawest form … and every one of these philosophies is committed to the binding of the Word of God.

We ofttimes pray for the freedom of those in communist countries but we seem to be in some spiritual narcosis as regards the diabolic state of our nation … and seemingly immobilized by the paralysis of complacency to effectively bring any change within the body of Christ or our nation.

It has been said that the book of Acts has not yet been completed, and I too subscribe to that belief, not that I anticipate that additional chapters will be included in the canon of Scripture but that indeed the book of Acts will be extended by its demonstration recorded in the lives of men.

Because of that, let me share with you the demonstration of the Unrestrained Word of God evidenced in those who knew their God … and were strong and did exploits.

Acts 4 is a classic example of the Unrestrained Word of God and its effects. … Here we see Peter and John engaged in the EVIDENCE of WORSHIP.

Acts 4:4 Many of those who heard the message believed, adhered to, and trusted in and relied on Jesus as the Christ, AND THE NUMBER GREW AND CAME TO ABOUT 5,000.

Acts 4:6 – 8 Including Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander AND All OTHERS WHO BELONGED TO THE HIGH PRIESTLY RELATIONSHIP (it does not say that they belong to the priesthood, – comments mine) and they set the men (Peter and John) in the midst and repeatedly demanded, BY WHAT SORT OF POWER OR BY WHAT KIND OF AUTHORITY DID SUCH PEOPLE AS YOU DO THIS HEALING?

“THEN PETER … BECAUSE HE WAS FILLED WITH AND CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT”.

We see now what happens in Acts 4:9 – 12 … Peter begins to speak because he was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Now if anyone is filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit obviously they will be WORSHIPPERS … for indeed we then become those persons described in ROMANS 12:2, “which are not conformed to the world but are transformed by the entire renewal of the mind by its new ideals and its new attitude” … And the new attitude of course is that we seek the ATTITUDE of WORSHIP.

Now anyone in this situation … that is … filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit would certainly have an attitude of worship. Let’s see what happens: –

Acts 4:9 – 12 If we are being put on trial [here] today and examined concerning a good deed done to benefit a feeble (helpless) cripple, by what means this man has been restored to health, Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body. This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.

From what we read we see that Peter had no premeditated or prepared notes that he should address this “high Priestly relationship” but he spoke out with a boldness born of the Spirit of God … It was so impressive as such that it is recorded in Acts 4:13 … “Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John they perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools, common men with no advantages … THEY MARVELLED … AND THEY RECOGNIZED THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

An evidence of Worship will be the UNRESTRAINED WORD OF GOD THROUGH THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS.

Now not only should the Word be unrestrained by the attempted imposition of restriction by men … But it should also be unrestrained according to the demands of the day.

Acts 6:2 So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty. But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

Now the evidence that this was a Worshipping Congregation is carried on in Acts 6:5. It says “the suggestion pleased the whole assembly, and they selected Stephen, A MAN FULL OF FAITH, THAT IS A STRONG AND WELCOME BELIEF THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH AND FULL OF AND CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The result of the Apostle’s decision and the assembly’s selection is found in Acts 6:7 … “And the message of God kept on spreading and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem and a large number of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

The Word of God continues to elucidate on EVIDENCE of the UNRESTRAINED WORD.

Acts 6:8 Now Stephen full of grace, divine blessing and favour, and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs and miracles among the people.

Acts 6:10 But they were not able to resist the intelligence and wisdom and the inspiration of the Spirit, with which and by Whom he spoke.

Acts 7 will strike a chord of response in the hearts of those who seek to worship and indeed will confirm the thrust of ROMANS 12:1 for we see the decisive dedication of Stephen’s body for even while they were stoning him, verses 59 – 60 … HE PRAYED FOR THEM.

There are many more references to the UNRESTRAINED WORD of GOD attending a worshipping people but I have one other example which I think is of great importance.

John 1:1 In the beginning before all time … WAS THE WORD (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

See the relationship between Jesus and the Father, confirming that Jesus’ total abandonment was to the Father.

John 10:29 – 30 My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand. I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.

Now we need to see that the Word of God is UNRESTRAINED.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, DOING MORE THAN ENOUGH IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD], knowing and being continually aware that your labour in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD … O DEATH WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY … O DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING … even death could not restrain the Word of God.

EVIDENCE OF WORSHIP IN SIGNS AND WONDERS

In Israel’s days of journeying, God gave the visible cloud by day and fire by night as a witness and an evidence of His glory and constant protection. If God was today to still give the same signals of His abiding presence, I wonder how many churches would have that approving cloud by day and fire by night?

Dare I suggest that this phenomenon would be just that, a phenomenon, not even plural phenomena, for the places upon which His abiding presence could rest would be determined by the places in which his Worshippers reside? The church has for too long been reduced to a monument, an edifice to recall days of past glory, perpetuating memories, instead of promoting the magnificent.

God does not expect us to give up, to give in, to accept the church as it is and condone what is happening. He expects His believing children to measure the church against the standards and the blessings promised in the Word of God. Then with love and reverence and prayer and believing of the Spirit, we will again see the realignment of the church with the pattern of the Word for the church.

When this begins to happen and the Word of God is given its place of priority and the presence of the Holy Spirit begins to glow in the church, it will be amongst a congregation of people who give God rightful place in the church, and this cannot be done without worship.

I get disturbed by men who want to come and bring some namby-pamby message with an introduction, three points and the conclusion, but have nothing to present us with awesomeness and holiness of God … sermons or messages devoid of constructive spiritual substance, but strung together on a tissue of the truth.

Likewise for music and songs which do nothing to exalt the name of Jesus, but only entertain the listener or promote the ego of the artist. The church that Jesus Christ gave his life for will be, and is to be, a church that carries the same identifying characteristics as the One Who owns it. The same majestic and lofty ideals which will so contrast the vain and futile efforts of men, that it will cause the gates of hell to tremble.

IT WILL BE A CHURCH WHO KNOW THEIR GOD, WHO ARE STRONG AND TAKE ACTION AS IN DANIEL 11:32

It will be evidenced like this: –

Because they know their God, they will worship and worship in spirit and in truth;

Because they are strong, they will come into conflict with the complacent, Mickey Mouse, emotional, self-serving, vacillating, compromising, impotent and pharisaical modern-day church;

Because they take action they will evidence the attributes of the Christ Who purchased them with His own blood, by working the works He did and following His departing commission to do the same and better.

It is interesting to read this sad commentary written by the apostle Mark in the closing stages of his Gospel. Let us just reflect for a moment. Jesus has been slain, the emptiness and futility of the situation has taken its toll in a devastating manner over those who were His friends. Jesus intended that the church was to be a vibrant, energetic, pragmatic and effective force in the world, and He had spent much time in training men for this task.

We see in Matthew 10 where Jesus summoned his 12 disciples and “gave them power and authority”. That power and authority was in one respect for the enablement to work signs and wonders.

Now in Mark 16 we see a stark contrast: –

Mark 16:1 AND WHEN the Sabbath was past [that is, after the sun had set], Mary Magdalene, and Mary [the mother] of James, and Salome purchased sweet-smelling spices, so that they might go and anoint [Jesus’ body].

Who was it that demonstrated some practical and constructive devotion to their Lord? Even though they believed He was dead, they had that deep abiding love and commitment which compelled them to take action. And notice how quickly they took action “as soon as the sun had set”, they shot off to the apocotharies to obtain the necessary unguents which would enable them to anoint Jesus’ body.

They did first, what they first knew to do, not waiting for the morrow, but holding their impatience in check, waited until all that was left of the Sabbath day was a rosy glow in the western sky as the sun retired from imposing its reign of restraint upon the Jewish nation for another Sabbath day. But they waited not for tomorrow for the procurement of the spices, it must be done now.

Who were these women? One was Mary Magdalene, the former demoniac. But now let’s look at the contrast: –

Mark 16:10 She went and reported it to those who had been with Him, as they grieved and wept.

What is my point here? It is this, it is not those who frequently have the titles or position that exhibit the real dedication and commitment of Worship. What sort of credibility would Mary Magdalene have had? There has been too much of “don’t do as I do, do as I say” and I see that because this attitude pervades the family today … it has also overtaken the church.

But all is not lost: –

Mark 16:14 Afterwards He appeared to the 11 apostles themselves, as they reclined at table; and He reproved and reproached them for their unbelief, their lack of faith, and their hardness of heart, because they had refused to believe those who had seen Him and looked at Him attentively after He was risen from death.

Then in Mark 16:15 Jesus again reinforces his earlier instruction of Matthew 10, but with renewed emphasis, and increased responsibilities.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, go into all the world and preach AND PUBLISH OPENLY the good news, the Gospel, to every creature of the whole human race.

But let us look at their situation: –

Mark 16:14 “They were together … but reclining at the table”.

What a description of the church today. We have people gathering together in churches as a group of people, but without a trace of evidence of activity “they are reclining at the table”. A table is so frequently an occasion of self-indulgence, a place where we satisfy ourselves and enjoy ourselves, with little or no regard to whatever else is happening roundabout.

The apostles have gotten over the impact and the initial shock of Jesus’ death, and so they decide to have a little pity party. So they all get together in their little huddle, each made themselves comfortable, put up the “don’t disturb sign, (Mark 16:14 … they refuse to believe those who had seen Him), got enough food and drink in to enable them to fill their bellies, and empty their spirits.

How do I know? “Jesus reproved and reproached them for their hardness of heart”.

Let me tell you, in this condition they could not have cast out a demon or healed a toothache. They were devoid of any trace of worship, of any of the power and authority that they had exhibited in Matthew 10, and consequently “signs and wonders” were a thing of the past.

AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF MARK 16, SO IT IS IN THE MODERN CHURCH

If the story had concluded there, we would have had no hope for the future, no basis for the expectancy of the Spirit to produce and reproduce spiritual fruit, and be condemned forever to be of all men most miserable. We would like to think that a visit from Jesus would just spontaneously turn the church around and all things will be bright and beautiful.

If the apostles needed what they got in Mark 16:14, “and He reproved and reproached them”, obviously if we want to achieve God’s ultimate, there will be occasions where we too will need the reproving and reproaching of the Lord. How many can accept the fact however, that the Lord is dealing with them in correction and discipline … Not too many I’m afraid, for I see God’s people one week acknowledging the necessity for accepting His dealings, and a week later back doing it their own way again.

It was only after Jesus’ reproof that the commission was given to the apostles, and what a commission. The sad part is, the church took the part they could handle and left out the rest, for one very obvious reason.

IF WE DON’T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO WORSHIP … THEN WE DON’T HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO GLORIFY GOD THROUGH SIGNS AND WONDERS.

Mark 16:17 “These attesting signs SHALL FOLLOW those who believe”. Too often we want science to make us believe.

First comes the believing, then follows the signs.

First comes worship, then comes the wonders.

There is another interesting point here. The church for so long has majored on healing as a sign most sought after in men’s ministry!

Notice in Mark 16:17-18 it is the last on the list.

Notice in Matthew 10:1 it is the last on the list.

Notice in Mark 16:17, freedom from Satan comes first.

Notice in Matthew 10:1, freedom from Satan comes first.

The principle of the Word is understood to be, that which is first mentioned has the greater importance. The reason we do not see the genuine evidence of the casting out of demons today is twofold: –

Demons do not see in the church the same characteristics they saw in Jesus and His apostles, and therefore, they are not forced to either express or identify themselves. When God is in a man of truth, we will experience much more of the manifestation of evil spirits.
There are so few who can either discern or deal with demonic forces, that Father does not place us in that position of having to handle something that is beyond our spiritual ability.

We know that obedience is the soil of relationship, and so we see in verse 20 “and they went out and preached everywhere”. What was Jesus’ commission? … “go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news”.

In the list of “attesting signs” it is important to note that only two of the signs relate to those to whom were ministered, while three of the signs relate to the minister themselves. i.e. casting out demons and healing the sick are signs which has their effect in others.

Speaking in new languages, picking up serpents and drinking anything deadly, relate to the signs which attend us personally and individually … but not as a performance.

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it.

The message is only “closely accompanied” by the signs, when the messenger is closely accompanied by the Sovereign. A legitimate question is when will this happen? A responsible answer would be … WHEN WE ARE WORSHIPPERS.

2 Chronicles 5:11 – 14 And when the priests had come out of the Holy Place–for all the priests present had sanctified themselves, separating themselves from everything that defiles, without regard to their divisions; And all the Levites who were singers–all of those of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, with their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, having cymbals, harps, and lyres–stood at the east end of the altar, and with them 120 priests blowing trumpets; And when the trumpeters and singers were joined in unison, making one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and other instruments for song and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever, then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud, SO THAT THE PRIESTS COULD NOT STAND TO MINISTER BECAUSE OF THE CLOUD, FOR THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE OF GOD.

EVIDENCE OF WORSHIP … MINISTRIES RELEASED

The church now has for so long lived with limited ministry resources, that we subconsciously accept that the general structure of the church is like this: –

The Pastor
A board of offices
Helps or deacons
Special departments Music

Children’s church

Youth department etc. etc. etc.

But whatever happened to the structure that God designed? It has been superseded and passed over by men … but I cannot find anywhere, where the design or intention has ever changed either in the mind of Christ … or the implementation by Christ.

Ephesians 4:7 Yet grace (God’s unmerited favour) WAS GIVEN TO EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift.

1 Corinthians 12:28 So God has appointed some in the church [FOR HIS OWN USE]: first apostles (special messengers); second prophets (inspired preachers and expounders); third teachers; then wonder-workers; then those with ability to heal the sick; helpers; administrators; [speakers in] different (unknown) tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:27 is also of paramount importance … “Now you collectively are Christ’s body … and individually you are members of it … EACH PART SEVERALLY AND DISTINCT … each with its own place and function”.

The one factor that has inhibited the functioning of “each part severally and distinct” is that we have never qualified as the word prescribes, as follows: –

1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, DUE TO THE POWER OF DIVINE GRACE OPERATING IN THEIR SOULS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT) AND THEY VARY, BUT THE [HOLY] SPIRIT REMAINS THE SAME.

For far too long the church has only wanted these gifts to operate in the Pastor … this will of course be evidenced in worship before it will be evidenced in ministry

But why did God “set some in the church”?

Ephesians 4:11 – 13 And His gifts were [varied; HE HIMSELF APPOINTED AND GAVE MEN TO US] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

It is important to note that the men he “gave to us” were intended only for “His use”.

The list that follows is similar to the list contained in first Corinthians but does not only list the Ascension Gifts but also the Gifts of the Spirit.

What indeed is the purpose? That we might all sit in church and enjoy the apostles “apostleing” and the prophets “propheting” … well who said that is strange, for so long we have let the pastors do the “pastoring” (or in some cases pestering) and the teachers doing the “teaching” … but that was not the way the Lord intended, for that is indeed making men for OUR USE and not for HIS USE.

Ephesians 4:12 – 13 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, THAT [WE MIGHT ARRIVE] (this is one exciting statement … comments mine) at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

So, we see what was God’s intention for our participation. Now the structure or empire of ministry which has been conceived in the womb of men’s avarice has ensured that the Pastor had absolute control and was the focal point and pivot of the church … and all authority was enshrined in the clergy … that is convenient, but irresponsible.

But before we get misled again by a misplaced emphasis on “God hath set some” and begin to categorize and structure the church by concepts of our own mind, let me describe what Scripture determines how the church should be arranged.

Firstly … no one is excluded from worship, so no one is excluded from ministry.

Secondly … the word says in Ephesians 5:1 “be imitators of God”, and Jesus said in John 14:12 “anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do … and he will even do greater things than these because I go to the Father”.

We have already seen in Mark 16 that, “these signs shall follow those who believe” or in the terms we are studying, “those who are worshippers”.

Now in 1 Peter 4:10 “as EACH OF YOU HAS RECEIVED A GIFT, a particular spiritual talent … a gracious divine endowment” … but one could well ask where is it.

Now this takes away excuses that Father is partial in His dispensing of gifts, gifts which are to be used for ministry.

2 Peter 1:4 (a) “By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises” and this is to the end that we might “become partakers of the divine nature”. But if we proceed a little further we find that this is not a “handout” but requires of us not only to accept the gift, but to use it.

2 Peter 1:5 – 8 For this very reason, ADDING your diligence [to the divine promises], EMPLOY every effort in EXERCISING your faith to DEVELOP virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

I love the eloquence found in these few verses, ADDING, EMPLOYING, EXERCISING, DEVELOP … and the verse continues on to encourage both exercise and development so that we will be “fruitful”. The release of ministry that attends Worship still requires that we apply ourselves to the task … and do it with all our might. Ministry is not something that just happens, the gift is from God, but the effort is from us, but the result is WHOLLY HIS.

2 Timothy 1:6 That is why I would REMIND YOU TO STIR UP (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

Who is to stir up? You are!!!

I hear so often from various sources, comments that if considered in the light of Scripture, would make out God to be a liar.

I hear it said “I could never speak”

“I could never study”

“I could never lead a study”

“I could never teach Sunday school”,

but the Bible tells me quite precisely: –

2 Peter 1:3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

Now I like that verse, because my frailty is overturned by His divine power, but what is the purpose or object?

2 Peter 1:3B “through the full and personal knowledge of Him … Who called us BY AND TO His own glory and excellence”.

These two terms define His moral excellence (arete) and the total impact of his person (doxa). This excellence is manifested in saving actions … NOT SOME MERE STATIC QUALITY.

Both 2 Peter 1:3 and 4 teach us that He “has bestowed upon us” … and both teach that “It is in the full personal knowledge of Him”. The promises of 2 Peter 1:4 are then given “through Christ’s own glory and virtue”, which means, we are given the promise of sharing something of this moral excellence in this life … and more than that … also His glory in the hereafter.

So now we have three things working together for us to be what he requires, that is – “WORSHIPPERS” … or “MINISTERS”.

These three things are: –

The promises

The power

The person … all three working together to make us sharers and partakers of the divine nature. We only need to look at Jesus to understand the Father’s concept of maturity which constitutes worship.

CHRIST IS THE SUM TOTAL

Yet to realise that Father has such an expectation of complete maturity in us, could leave us in despair and discouraged if we did not know that He has also provided the Holy Spirit as the UTTERLY ADEQUATE ONE Who will accomplish this maturity in us … IF WE WILL BUT LET HIM.

It is the Holy Spirit’s work to:-

Reveal Christ To us … (Accept … Receive)

Form Christ In us … (Accede … Respond)

Manifest Christ Through us … (Assert … Reciprocate)

Maturity is not just an individual matter … but also a corporate matter … Some get so carried away with their own ministry and overlook the interdependence of the various members in bringing the whole to maturity.

We see in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that we have “a divinely implanted sense of purpose” … and this cannot be satisfied by anything other than God.

So how are ministries released?

Acts 2:16 But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants IN THOSE DAYS I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].

Acts 4:32 Now THE COMPANY OF BELIEVERS WAS OF ONE HEART AND SOUL, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favour and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.

Acts 6:1 – 3 NOW ABOUT this time, when the number of the disciples was greatly increasing, complaint was made by the Hellenists (the Greek-speaking Jews) against the [native] Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked and neglected in the daily ministration (distribution of relief). So the Twelve [apostles] convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the [Holy] Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty.

Acts 6:8 Now Stephen, full of grace (divine blessing and favour) and power (strength and ability) worked great wonders and signs (miracles) among the people.

Acts 8:5 Philip [THE DEACON, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people]; And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to time].

Acts 13:1 – 2 NOW IN the church (assembly) at Antioch there were prophets (inspired interpreters of the will and purposes of God) and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger [Black], Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. WHILE THEY WERE WORSHIPPING the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

The one underlying fear that grips so many is … “I could never be a Pastor or a Prophet etc etc etc”

These ministries are only “other ministries” designed to prepare still “other ministries”. Growth in church numbers depends upon growth in grace … not on programs. Ministry is not concerned with the statistics of people … BUT WITH THE STATUS OF PEOPLE … that is, their status before God.

MINISTRY CAN ONLY ORIGINATE IN LOVE … AND BE EXPERIENCED IN LOVE

WORSHIP … IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS

1 Chronicles 16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS AND IN HOLY ARRAY.

Psalm 29:2 Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; WORSHIP THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS OR IN HOLY ARRAY.

Some time ago we looked at 1 Chronicles 16:27 which said … “Honour and majesty are found in His presence … strength and joy are found in His sanctuary”. We cannot worship outside His presence, but we now need to know how to get there!

I want to recap on some of what was shared at that time for indeed it seems it was preparatory for what we are learning now and there were continuing truths there which we either did not reach or were not ready for.

I repeat some of the statements: –

“I suppose the greatest dilemmas I face today in the line of studies that we pursue, is to be sure that I am not aiming for some impossible goal”.

That thought seems to always linger with me for I have never been exposed to what I see in the word as “True and genuine Worship” … and yet I’m convinced that individually and corporately we Must Achieve Worship.

The process which we have followed down through the years, seems fraught with impossibility and the prospect of an unending demand for the preparation of sermons … the conducting of various midweek meetings … and the unrelenting onslaught of forces of spiritual darkness arrayed almost unchallenged against the church which can almost create despair.

Let me quote again however: –

“For us to be successful in God … there is a convolution of principles which are inextricable, that is, these principles are so interdependent on each other that by removing one, or ignoring one principle, It Repudiates The Rest.

So in retrospect to, all the areas that Father has been showing us … I would like to have said, “Teaching us” … but some only want to be spectators and not students … all those areas taken together form the launchpad to propel us into Worship.

Now in 1 Chronicles 16:27 the terms were used such as “honour and majesty, strength and joy, presence and sanctuary”.

Prior to this study we have looked at Romans 5:3 – 4 where we found that the exigencies of the day were permitted to enable us to demonstrate the degree of maturity we had attained by our evidencing JOY and REJOICING in our troubles and sufferings, our pressure and affliction and hardship, because we are supposed to “KNOW” what they produce, that is, “Maturity of Character” or in other words “Approved faith and tried integrity”.

Now how many passed the test? How many had to re-sit the exam? How many still have not graduated? Well don’t despair, let me quote again –

“Without both the Knowing and the Application there can be no Result”.

Daniel 11:32 (NAS) They that know their God shall display His strength and take action.

Let me quote again: –

“We have determined that our strength did not come from our circumstance, although circumstances are the vehicle. We get our strength from our continual access to the power and presence of God”.

So, I find now that we must return to 1 Chronicles for having been exposed now to some of the principles of Worship we are now able to go on in what the “Chronicler” was saying.

In 1 Chronicles 16:28 – 29 one word is used here three times, that word is “ASCRIBE”. What does it mean? … for if it is used three times in two verses it must have some importance.

“ASCRIBE” or “IMPUTE” are basically the same word meaning “To consider as the cause or source of”.

So if we rewrite 1 Chronicles 16: 27 it would, from the extrapolation of verses, 28 and 29 read like this: –

“Honour and majesty originate in His presence….. strength and joy originate in His sanctuary”.

For then 1 Chronicles 16:28 would read: –

“Attribute to the Lord you families of the people … attribute to the Lord The Cause Or Source of GLORY DUE TO HIS NAME.

Now how is that relevant? When the evidences of worship are manifest through us that is: –

Health

Authority

Signs and wonders

The word unrestrained

Ministries released etc. etc. etc. … there will be a temptation for some men to try to take some of the glory or credit.

So, verses 28 and 29A are placed strategically before verse 29B and C so that we get the correct priorities … recognize the proper values … identify the only source and origin … so that we can then really apply 29C.

The “chronicler” is being very precise in making sure that we are well and truly educated as to the “ORIGIN” of the evidences of worship and the mandatory requirement of giving the recognition for it to the Source.

Herod had learned the principle: –

Acts 12:23 and at once an angel of the Lord smote him (Herod) and cut him down … because he did not give God the glory, that is, the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme ruler, and He Was Eaten By Worms And Died.

1 Chronicles 16:29 “bring an offering and come before Him”

This verse is self-explanatory now in the light of what we have learned from Romans 12:1 … “Make a decisive dedication, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice”.

The words “sacrifice” and “offering” are interchangeable, but we need also to see how New Testament Scripture confirms the necessity for spiritual sacrifice.

Firstly I would like to bring some further clarity on the statement “Bring an Offering and come before Him”.

To bring an offering there is the need of preparation. In Old Testament times it was necessary that they spend the time selecting the best animal or bird, or in the refining of the cereal, or in the preparation of the cakes etc. So by the very nature of the offerings demanded of Old Testament peoples, there was the necessity of preparation.

So in New Testament times, to bring an offering is not an “ad hoc” or spur of the moment activity. I’m sure that this is why so often we fail to reach the goal … BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF PREPARATION.

Exodus 23:15 “None shall appear before me empty-handed”.

WE MUST BRING AN OFFERING THEN COME BEFORE HIM

Now to the pivotal point of 1 Chronicles 16:29 “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness … AND IN HOLY ARRAY.

We know that “Holiness” is “Wholeheartedness” … but how do we identify “the beauty of holiness” that attends worship?

We know that the opposite of holiness is not just sin … it is “COMMONNESS”.

We need to differentiate so we can worship in the “Beauty of Holiness”.

Ezekiel 44:23 The priests shall teach My people the difference between the Holy and the Common or profane … and cause them to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.

What Ezekiel is saying is, that we must not just differentiate between the good and the bad … BUT BETWEEN THE HOLY AND THE COMMON.

In this context, much “religiosity” would be classified as COMMON … and therefore not necessarily HOLY.

Where men want the church service to be adjusted and modified and tempered to suit the likes and dislikes … the wants and don’t wants of a multifaceted congregation, then the service becomes “COMMON”, and consequently unacceptable to God.

WORSHIPPERS ARE MINISTERS UNTO GOD … BEFORE THE PEOPLE

The worship of God comes before the service of men. To have the beauty of holiness is what the psalmist saw when he penned:–

Psalm 138:8 “the Lord will perfect that which concerns me”.

WORSHIP and HOLINESS are so knit together that you cannot separate the two.

I would like to compare 2 Corinthians 7:1 in the Amplified and the King James version.

AMP “Therefore since these great promises are ours beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles the body and spirit, and BRING OUR CONSECRATION TO COMPLETENESS, in the reverential fear of God”.

KJV “Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God”.

Holiness is not “UNIFORMITY” it is “CONFORMITY” … conformity to the likeness of Jesus … conformity produces unity, not uniformity, it means to be different but be one.

Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, of whom He was aware and loved before hand, He also destined from the beginning, for ordaining them TO BE MOULDED INTO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON AND SHARE INWARDLY THE LIKENESS. (That’s conformity)

To Worship, we must do so in Spirit and in Truth, now the Spirit is the Holy Spirit so my Worship requires that my spirit must also be holy … BEAUTIFULLY HOLY.

Now sacrifice and spirit are united to enable Worship … we know this from Romans 12:1 but let’s see further scriptural substantiation.

1 Peter 2:5 Come and as living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house for a Holy … Dedicated … Consecrated priesthood, TO OFFER UP THOSE SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE AND WELL PLEASING TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

Philippians 3:3 For we Christians are the true circumcision who Worship God IN spirit and BY the Spirit of God … and exalt and glory and pride ourselves in Christ Jesus and put no confidence or dependence on what we are in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

Romans 15:16 I act in the priestly service of the Gospel of God in order that the sacrificial offerings of the Gentiles may be acceptable to God … CONSECRATED AND MADE HOLY BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit, a spiritual Being, and those who Worship Him must Worship Him in spirit and in truth.

So what is the beauty of holiness?

The added term in Amplified Bible in 1 Chronicles 16:29 “and in holy array”, begins to give us an indication.

In 2 Chronicles 20:21 (KJV) And when He had consulted with the people he appointed singers unto the Lord and that they should PRAISE THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (AMP) “when he had consulted with the people He appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise him in THEIR HOLY PRIESTLY GARMENTS.

In Exodus 39 we see the requirement for the priestly attire. But now the attire of a Worshipper is no longer in fine garments of woven materials, but of a life woven with the principle of God’s Word which gives us that beauty which is “LOOMED IN HOLINESS”.

It is not in the external observances but in the magnificence of a life which has been sacrificed through a decisive dedication.

Psalm 93:5 Holiness apparent in separation from sin with simple trust and hearty obedience is becoming to Your house O Lord forever.

Psalm 110:3 Your people will OFFER THEMSELVES WILLINGLY, in the day of your power, IN THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS AND IN HOLY ARRAY, out of the womb of the morning.

Romans 1:4 and as to His divine nature according to the Spirit of HOLINESS.

~oOo~

(This study will continue in 1 Chronicles 16 from verse 32 to 34 for there we will see what happens when we achieve worship in the beauty of Holiness)

Ross Smith

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WORSHIP ROSS SMITH

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