Post by Les Brewer on Jun 27, 2019 21:58:29 GMT
The Heart of Worship
(2) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2
Today Christians that are serving God fervently and whole heartedly are facing opposition for standing on the foundation of the word of God. Many churches are compromising the importance of sound scriptural doctrine for the sake of pop cultural easy believe-ism. Worship has become an entertainment spectacle of hyped up emotional experiences instead of worshiping the Lord in Spirit and Truth. Carnal emotionalism does not equal spiritual experience with the essence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Many sermons today are based in philosophical psychological jargon than biblically based understanding. One young man who I worked with told me that his mother attended such a church and how cool it was; he had attended with her once or twice but there was no convicting power to cause him to think about the significance of eternity. He presented the church expressing how wonderful the band was with all the smoke and flashing lights and how it made him feel like he was at a concert; he spoke nothing of the sermon which was preached; why? The sermon had no power to influence him.
Many mistake the emotional with the anointing; emotions change with the environment but the anointing changes the environment. What am I saying? The anointed word and worship of the Lord transforms; but first it challenges the sinful heart! When I study the bible to apply it to my life the scriptures grip me and stir up in me things which need to be rendered out and things which need to be rendered in. When I am guilty of a certain thing there are scriptures which convict me and tears of repentance well up in my eyes and I cry out for mercy. The word of God is the Anointed of God; “in the beginning the word was with God and word was God”; and brethren the word still is God. When one that is an un-repentant sinner comes to a church and there is no anointing to convict them; this speaks volumes! True worship ushers in the presence of God; true preaching ushers in the transforming power of God. The presence of the Lord does carry with it a jubilancy which is separate and more deeply invasive for the spirit; it is holy and pierces to the depth of our being. It is eternal and invokes the eternal; not the tainted sensuality of the flesh. Too many worship, the worship and not the Creator, Author, and Finisher of Worship!
Today the Church is too often imitators of the world instead of imitators of God. Yes there are times for joyful fellowships when we are more casual and relaxed when we speak of the issues of our lives and of our jobs. When we enjoy the company of our brothers and sisters in some theme which denotes our culture; this is not what I’m talking about. I’m addressing the seriousness of the Sanctuary of God; our gathering ourselves to engage in worshipful fellowship with God through anointed teaching, praise, and preaching. Teaching that makes an impress, Praising that makes an impart, and Peaching that makes an impact!
(1) By David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
(2) I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
(3) In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:1-3
Brethren let us worship God entirely, intelligently, integrally, and intuitively! In other word with our whole being! When it comes to our love for God and our worship which compasses teaching, praise, and preaching we should never be superficial. The substance of eternity may not seem tangible but it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. For the substance of God is never superficial; therefore we should not treat these spiritual keys as negotiable chattel. I leave off with this familiar scripture “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”. James 1:22 Selah
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bp. D. Ray Ritchie
(2) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2
Today Christians that are serving God fervently and whole heartedly are facing opposition for standing on the foundation of the word of God. Many churches are compromising the importance of sound scriptural doctrine for the sake of pop cultural easy believe-ism. Worship has become an entertainment spectacle of hyped up emotional experiences instead of worshiping the Lord in Spirit and Truth. Carnal emotionalism does not equal spiritual experience with the essence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Many sermons today are based in philosophical psychological jargon than biblically based understanding. One young man who I worked with told me that his mother attended such a church and how cool it was; he had attended with her once or twice but there was no convicting power to cause him to think about the significance of eternity. He presented the church expressing how wonderful the band was with all the smoke and flashing lights and how it made him feel like he was at a concert; he spoke nothing of the sermon which was preached; why? The sermon had no power to influence him.
Many mistake the emotional with the anointing; emotions change with the environment but the anointing changes the environment. What am I saying? The anointed word and worship of the Lord transforms; but first it challenges the sinful heart! When I study the bible to apply it to my life the scriptures grip me and stir up in me things which need to be rendered out and things which need to be rendered in. When I am guilty of a certain thing there are scriptures which convict me and tears of repentance well up in my eyes and I cry out for mercy. The word of God is the Anointed of God; “in the beginning the word was with God and word was God”; and brethren the word still is God. When one that is an un-repentant sinner comes to a church and there is no anointing to convict them; this speaks volumes! True worship ushers in the presence of God; true preaching ushers in the transforming power of God. The presence of the Lord does carry with it a jubilancy which is separate and more deeply invasive for the spirit; it is holy and pierces to the depth of our being. It is eternal and invokes the eternal; not the tainted sensuality of the flesh. Too many worship, the worship and not the Creator, Author, and Finisher of Worship!
Today the Church is too often imitators of the world instead of imitators of God. Yes there are times for joyful fellowships when we are more casual and relaxed when we speak of the issues of our lives and of our jobs. When we enjoy the company of our brothers and sisters in some theme which denotes our culture; this is not what I’m talking about. I’m addressing the seriousness of the Sanctuary of God; our gathering ourselves to engage in worshipful fellowship with God through anointed teaching, praise, and preaching. Teaching that makes an impress, Praising that makes an impart, and Peaching that makes an impact!
(1) By David. I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.
(2) I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.
(3) In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:1-3
Brethren let us worship God entirely, intelligently, integrally, and intuitively! In other word with our whole being! When it comes to our love for God and our worship which compasses teaching, praise, and preaching we should never be superficial. The substance of eternity may not seem tangible but it is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. For the substance of God is never superficial; therefore we should not treat these spiritual keys as negotiable chattel. I leave off with this familiar scripture “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”. James 1:22 Selah
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bp. D. Ray Ritchie
