Created for Holiness! (Part 2 of 4)‏

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue to explore the eternally important topic for the Christian Church today… HOLINESS!

 

Created for Holiness! (Part 2 of 4)

Lessons in Worship!

When we move into a set-apart life, the anointing of the Lord begins flowing in our prayers and our worship grows in His power. Most Christians understand prayer. However, today we have confused ideas about worship. What does it mean to actually worship Jesus Christ?

 

In the modern church, it often means standing and singing hymns or worship choruses. In charismatic circles, it can also mean more free-flowing improvisational music with the congregation singing or “speaking in tongues” for indeterminate amounts of time. But is this really Biblical worship?

 

In the Bible the word worship is first used by Abraham in the book of Genesis:

And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” – Genesis 22:5

This is the binding of Isaac. Applying the Law of First Mention to the word worship, let us consider two things: 

 

First ~ The Lord is asking Abraham to kill his son – the son of promise! He earnestly believes he is to worship Abba by sacrificing his son.

 

Second ~ Note the final clause: “I and the lad… will come again to you “ That is a supreme statement of faith. It is right up there with Job’s famous statement:

Though He [God] slay me, yet will I trust in Him – Job 13:15

Abraham is believing that even if he sacrifices his son, somehow the Almighty will make it right – perhaps even by resurrecting Isaac from the dead! Abraham really has faith that they will come back down the mountain together.

 

True Worship requires the complete surrender of something incalculably precious to God – extreme faith!

 

The Hebrew word most often used in the Hebrew Bible is SHAKHAW. It means to prostrate, to fall down flat on one’s face or worship. The most common Greek word in the New Testament is PROSKUNEO. This means to kiss or lick (like a dog licking his master’s hand), to fawn or prostrate oneself in homage. Do you see a trend here?

 

You do not usually see these activities in churches, at least not in America – except of course in the “high churches” such as the Anglicans – and they have serious doctrinal problems! In those “high churches,” the standing, kneeling and sitting is all regimented but is not Holy Spirit-led. In Pentecostal churches, you may see people kneel during a free-flowing worship time or you might see Baptists kneel during a prayer meeting, but that is limited.

 

What have we lost in our worship? Have we lost the sense of Abba Father’s ABSOLUTE and UTTER Holiness?

 

In a subtle form of idolatry, even true Believers in Jesus Christ often make Him in their own image. Since much of the modern Western world is a democracy, we tend to think church should be, too. Jesus is like our president or prime minister. Many churches are even run like democracies – electing pastors! 

 

This is often reflected in a casual attitude among preachers when discussing the Almighty. Some even stand at their pulpits and act as if they are having a casual chitchat with Him. They would not talk to the president like that! Can the folks in the pews be blamed for not having enough respect for Jesus Christ when their pastors often seem so flippant and casual?

 

Jesus Christ is our Sovereign KING – He is the KING of kings and LORD of lords!

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS – Revelation 19:16

Throughout the Bible saints fall flat on their faces in the presence of the Angel of Jesus Christ or in His presence (see Deuteronomy 9:18, Ezekiel 11:13, Matthew 2:11, Luke 5:8, 8:41; John 11:32, Revelation 5:8, 14; 19:4, etc.)!

Let me emphasize that the more I have personally entered into worship of the Almighty in my private time of devotions – the more I really understand true worship of Him! This is both incredibly humbling and is a natural consequence of being a mere creature in the Presence of an All-Holy Father God. Woe is me! 

Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts – Isaiah 6:5

The Kingdom of Heaven is NOT a democracy. If we are in it we are His subjects and if we want victory in our lives and in our society, we need to cultivate our worship – because ONLY out of true worship comes more of the Holy Spirit and more of the vital fruit of humility. Remember the famous verse formulated for the nation of Israel:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land – 2 Chronicles 7:14

Note the first condition – humility! Of course, this Scripture was written to the Jew’s of Old Testament Israel. However, we should take heed of this promise today. We must pray and seek His face. What does that mean exactly? It means if we really, truly seek His face, the power of the Holy Spirit will be so strong that we WILL be flat on our face before Him...

 

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of God’s HOLINESS!…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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