Worship in the Spirit

I wanted to write what the Lord has spoken to me regarding worshiping God in the Spirit. I don’t have this figured out in my own life or if I can even explain properly what God has been telling me. But I have learned by writing this and meditating on it and I feel it has help me come closer to the Lord. So this is a disclaimer and I think it varies and is different for everyone.

We know that in the beginning Adam and Eve were in perfect fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden. Genesis Chapter 1-3. When sin came in all humanity was separated from this perfect fellowship with God. From that point till Jesus came God had His people build alters, the Tabernacle, and the Temple to worship Him. In Exodus through Joshua God freed His people from Egypt and as they traveled and camped they lived in shelters. God gave them the plans to build the kind of tabernacle they would assemble, tear down and reassemble as they followed God. There was a court yard, Holy place, and the Most Holy Place where God dwelt. The high priest went in for the sins of all the people once a year with a rope tied around him in the presence of God. The rope was in case the priest died in the presence of God. In 1 Kings chapter’s 5-8,

1 Chronicles 28 thru 2 Chronicles 8, God had King Solomon build a temple where His people could come and worship Him. Solomon’s father, King David was a great man of God and loved the Lord and desired to build the temple. 1 Chronicles chapters 17, 21 & 22 tell this story. An angel led King David to the land where the temple would be built and he built an altar there. But it was God’s plan that Solomon would build the temple, even though he was young. 1 Chronicles 22:6-8, “Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. “My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God,” David told him.  “But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name.”

In 2 Chronicles 5 they brought the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the temple into the Most Holy Place. Verse 7-10, “Then the priests carried the Ark of the LORD’S covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim.  The cherubim spread their wings over the Ark, forming a canopy over the Ark and its carrying poles. Nothing was in the Ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Mount Sinai, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel when they left Egypt.” In verse 13-14, “At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.” In 2 Chronicles 7:15-16 God tells Solomon this; “My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.  For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.”

This is very brief but it reminds me that everything was built according to God’s plans and timing. Including the process and preparation the priest then had to go through to be in the presence of God. The sacrifices people made to be in the presence of God and the attitude of their heart. Because they were approaching a holy, powerful God and He required them to come in His presence with a pure heart, fear, and reverence. How special it is to be in the presence of God and how easily it can be taken for granted. This is an extraordinary gift we have been given from God and is one of most importance in our life but how easily we can be led astray from worshiping our Lord.

When Jesus came and died on the cross for the sins of all humanity and the curtain was torn in the temple that separated us from the Most Holy Place with God. At that moment and till Jesus second coming all who accept Him can receive the Holy Spirit come in the presence of God and have eternal life. Mark 15:37-38, “Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” What Jesus did is hard for the human mind to fully grasp.

To be able to worship God in the Spirit is a beautiful happening or process that can take place in a person because of what God has given or does inside a believer in Jesus Christ. These verses help me understand how this can happen in a person. We have to accept Jesus as our Lord and savior and we are reborn spiritually. John 1:12-13, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”  John 3:3&5-6, “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  When we are reborn spiritually we receive the Holy Spirit and God gives us a new changed heart.” Ezekiel 36:25-27, “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.  And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.  And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.”

Jesus explains to the woman at the well in John 4:1-26 that a time is coming soon when you won’t have to go to a certain place or temple to worship God. I will be inside of you, your body will be a temple of the Holy Spirit and you can worship me anytime anywhere. John 4:23-24, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

You can read God’s word, even the demons know God’s word, come to the temple and raise your hand in worship and serve and help others. But you cannot worship God in Spirit and truth without His Holy Spirit in you and a new heart that he gives you and being cleansed by Jesus. John 15:3, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” Colossians 2:11, “When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision--the cutting away of your sinful nature.” John 17:17, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in us we have a heart that desires to worship God and the freedom to worship God in the spirit when we want.

Compassion Queen Creek

I wanted to write a short thought on my experience at Compassion Queen Creek. I was very blessed and thankful to be able to be part of the event this year. I walked away with a great feeling in my heart. I wanted to share what the Lord spoke to me while I was in some meetings and at the event.

When I was first asked I was a little careful because of others things we are involved in. I signed up with my wife to serve as a life connector which is walking patients to their appointments. Carrie brown asked to meet with us and we were asked to help her lead in this area. I decided to just help how ever I can. Carrie did a great job as a leader with us and every time I walked away from a meeting I had this great feeling in my heart from the Holy Spirit. I thought man what am I getting myself into.

As the event got closer we were asked to go to a Compassion dinner and it had been real busy and I almost didn’t go. Carrie asked if we were going to be there and I felt the Holy Spirit keep telling me to go when I had said “no.” but I went. I was really tired of meetings but I went and just relaxed and listened. I was very blessed at the meeting to see how a group of servant leaders came together in love and unity from the Holy Spirit to go over about what was about to happen in 4 days at the event. The Lord really spoke to me while I sat there and listened at the meeting. On the way home and the days up to the event I just kept thinking that this is something that doesn’t happen every day. I was truly glad I went to the meeting to see this.

I was asked to lead in the patient waiting area. This is where all the files came to be connected to all the patients for their appointments in medical, vision and dental. It was busy, a fast pace but a huge blessing. I was blessed to work with everyone and two great servant leaders named Doug and Michelle helped me with this task. All the life connectors did great and the best thing is we got to be in contact with every patient. Another great opportunity from the Lord to glorify Him and help others.

Gary and Jennelle Esquivel do an unbelievable job letting others do their part and trusting the Lord. I was amazed to see all the servant leaders and their hearts to help others. There was a lot of moving parts and it took a lot of work to make this happed from many people. I think to myself what a great job planning and preparing for the event. But the best thing is way beyond the planning and meetings they trusted the Lord to do His work at the event and through all the people who served. I’m sure not everything worked as planned and was perfect. But they keep their focus on what was the important thing, serving the people and each other with God’s love and compassion. I believe God always wants to do something greater than we can do.

John 13:34-35 ~ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 17:23 ~ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Ephesians 3:20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Awesome stuff

Worship

I wanted to share what the Lord has been showing me on worship. I think this will be hard for me to communicate and it has been brought to my attention how I have fallen way short in this area lately. I think everyone worships the Lord differently and I don’t think this I have this figured out by far.

I was reading a book at the beginning of this year, The Three Battle Grounds by Francis Frangipane on spiritual warfare. There is a chapter on worship in the book that really made me think about my own life. Then for the next month the Lord just kept putting worship in front of me by sermons, devotionals, and daily reading in the word.

I think it is clear from the beginning that God made us to worship and glorify Him. Which is great, but when we are not worshiping Him we end up worshiping many other things that take His place. This was a real problem for people in the bible and still is for us today.

I will use an example of when God sent Moses to free His people from slavery in Egypt. Part of Exodus 6:1-9 And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the LORD.’ You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the LORD. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment.  I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.  I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the LORD!’”  So Moses told the people of Israel what the LORD had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.

The main point in this scripture to me is Moses told the people what God said but their hearts were hardened to God and discouraged by their enslavement to their circumstances. That’s the way we were until God opened our hearts to Him and set us free from our slavery to Satan and the world. Exodus 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. Its clear from this verse that God wanted to free is people so they could worship Him. I like this quote from Os Hillman: ‘Interesting that God didn't say, "to serve Him." Above all else, God desires our worship. A person cannot enter into true worship of God while still in slavery and bondage.’

“One does not have to penetrate deeply into the revelation of John to discover that both God and the devil are seeking worshipers. In the mist of warfare and battles to whom will we bow, God or Satan. You will remember that the Lord’s call to the Israelites was a call to worship and serve Him in the wilderness. But when trials and pressures came they fell quickly into murmuring complaining and rebellion. Their worship was superficial self-serving and conditional- a form without a heart of worship. The same condition of shallow worship can prevail in much of Christianity today. As soon as the pressures of daily living arise or temptations come, how quickly we can rebel against God and resist His dealings. The enemy has easy access to the soul that is not protected by the true worship of the Almighty. For what we bleed when we are wounded by satanic assault or difficult circumstances is the true measure of our worship. You see what comes out of our hearts during times of pressure is in us but hidden during times of ease. If you are a true worshiper your spirit will exude worship to God no matter what battle you are fighting.” ~ Francis Frangipane

A human mind will limit God. The real basis of idolatry, other than ignorance, is that self-willed man refuses to surrender himself to worship God as He commands. Remember, worship is our response to God, and it occurs in many ways every day.

The two things that really speak to me about this is, that worship is not just Sunday mornings during music at church although I really love to listen to music and prepare my heart for a great word from God. I love to worship God this way. But it is the attitude of my heart toward God and my response to Him even in difficult times. God set us free to worship and glorify Him. When we are focused or enslaved to our circumstances we limit God and sometimes our focus and heart is not on worshiping Him. There are so many things in life we can be focused on that keep us from worshiping God. Even the calling or good works we do that God has given us can be an idol for us and enslave us and keep us from worshiping Him in the spirit.

Galatians 4:9 & 5:1 “But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

I like the NIV translation, it says ‘miserable principles.’  Worshiping God in the spirit is a beautiful thing. The enemy is a very crafty  and certainly doesn’t want us to be in this place with God. I think we have to cheat the system and fight for this. If you live by everyone else’s rules or expectations you will be worshiping something else. 1 Corinthians 7:23: “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”  In other words please God and worship Him in the Spirit, don’t become enslaved in trying to please others or miserable principles.