He Is Risen

He is not here; for he has risen…—Matthew 28:6

Only a week had passed since that triumphant Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem, but what a difference in the little procession that set out now!".  No cheering crowds, or waving branches. Just a few silent women setting out in the dawn to perform the last sad rites at the tomb.

The day that changed human history was not a public occasion but a private one. The day when everlasting life broke into earthly time began not with a celebration but with happy tears.

This is still the way Easter breaks into our lives when we least expect it and when all seems lost. That’s when the stone rolls away and the angel speaks and “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).

If it seems too good to be true, this joy that invades our hearts, it seemed so on the first Easter morning too. Mary Magdalene could not believe what her eyes were telling her; she took Jesus to be a gardener at work early among the graves. Preoccupied with her loss, she barely glanced at the figure standing before her on the path. She had a mournful task to fulfill and there in the first light of dawn, Mary stood still when she heard her name called.

That voice, that tone of loving involvement. This was the moment, that Easter broke like the sunrise into her heart. It is how we recognize Him still. The risen Jesus calls us so personally and comes into our lives individually, so like Mary Magdalene, we cry out in glad recognition.

And then we do what the women did on that first Easter Sunday. Dropping their spices and ointments, the burdens of their sad task, they rushed to tell the others. They set the pattern of the Christian faith newborn that Easter morning. They met the living Jesus and they brought the good news to those who were grieving.

That’s always our role, when it’s Easter in our lives; to tell someone else that He is risen. Jesus is alive and well!

The Ant and the Grasshopper

A mother of a 9 year old boy, Mark, received a phone call in the middle of the afternoon. It was the teacher from her son's school. 

"Mrs. Smith, something unusual happened today in your son's third grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I thought you should know about it immediately." 

Mother's seldom want to hear from their child's teacher in the middle of the day. The mother was uneasy and nervous by such a beginning to a phone call. "What now?" the mother wondered. 

The teacher continued, "I have been teaching for many years and nothing like this has happened until now. This morning I was teaching a lesson on creative writing. And as I always do, I tell the story of the ant and the grasshopper. The ant works hard all summer and stores up plenty of food. But the grasshopper plays all summer and does no work. 

Then winter comes. The grasshopper begins to starve because he has no food. So he hops to the ants house and begins to beg. 'Please Mr. Ant, you have much food please let me eat, too.' Now boys and girls your job is to write the ending to the story. 

Your son, Mark, raised his hand. "Teacher, may I draw a picture?" 

"Well, yes, Mark, if you like, you may draw a picture. But first you must write the ending to the story." 

The papers came in. As in all the years past, most of the students said that the ant shared his food through the winter and both the ant and the grasshopper lived. 

As always, a few children said, 'The ant said, "No, Mr. Grasshopper. You should have worked in the summer and not played. Now, I have just enough food for myself." So the ant lived and the grasshopper died. 

But your son ended the story in a way different from any other child, ever. He wrote, "So the ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper; the grasshopper lived through the winter. But the ant died." 

And the picture? 

At the bottom of the page, Mark had drawn three crosses. "Jesus gave up his life so that we might live eternally."

Easter Story Cookies

To be made the evening before Easter

You need:
1 cup whole pecans (or other nuts)
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (important -- don't wait 'til you're half done with the recipe!)

Place nuts in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!   Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight -- just as Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

He Is Risen!   Hallelujah!   Happy Easter!

Do You Believe In Easter?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. 

His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. 

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. 

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" 

Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. 

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?" 

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long." 

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!" 

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter." 

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book. 

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." 

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." 

Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room. 

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you." 

One Day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day." Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, 'Do you believe in Easter?' but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked..." 

Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room,she was carried out on the wings of angels. 

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!" 

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. 

When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, " And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!" 

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

A Veteran's Battle With Persecution

1 Peter 4:12-19 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."

 

(1) Jesus warns of persecution.

John 15:10 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."

 

(2) Jesus emphasizes why you will be persecuted.

John 15:19 “Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

(3) Jesus gives the motive of the persecutors.

John 16:2, 3 “They will put you out of the Synagogues . . . who kills you . . . because they have not known the Father or Me.”

(4) A Veteran of the faith must expect trials.

1 Peter 4:12  “Think it strange concerning the fiery trials which is to try you.”

-Don’t doubt your faith. God still loves you.
-Don’t think you are unusual. You are not the only one suffering.

Our usual reaction is
-Why me?
-Why this?
-Why now?

(5) You identify with Christ when you are suffering.

Verse 13a “You are partakers of Christ’s suffering.”
a. Your sins were identified with Christ thru His death as your substitute.
b. You identify with His sufferings in your present trials of life.
c. Your reaction through your suffering will eventually result in joy.

Your suffering guarantees your present faith and your future fate.

Verse 13b  "... that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. "

(6) Persecution is a sign that the Holy Spirit rests on you.

Verse 14 “If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.”
a. Not happy for pain or suffering.
b. Happy to be identified with Christ.
c. The word “happy” is “blessed,” as in the Beatitudes.

Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

 

Not just future benefits, but present blessings. You may suffer outwardly, but rejoice inwardly.

(7) The cause of persecution is confessing Christ’s name.

Verse 14 again says, “If you be reproached for the name of Christ.”
a. Will silent Christians escape suffering?
b. Will Christians suffer the most who confess the loudest, or the most effective?
c. Opposites led to opposition.

Verse 14b “On their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.”  
d. The “spirit of glory” is our Shekinah, the presence of God.

(8) Our suffering is not the issue-it is our identification with Christ.
a. Not punished the same way as a murderer, thief, or evil doer.
b. Not because you do those evil things.
c. Don’t seek suffering for the sake of suffering. Suffering is not a virtue, Christ is our virtue.
(9) Identify with the name Christian-A “swear” word for the world.
a. Acts 11:26 “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

b. Acts 26:28 “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.”
c. 1 Peter 4:16 “If any man suffer as a Christian.”

-I belong to Christ.
-I proclaim Christ.
-I live for Christ.
-I love Christ.

You should “not be ashamed”-Verse 16 "... let him not be ashamed."
a. Don’t be ashamed of your suffering.
b. Don’t be ashamed of Christ.
c. Don’t be ashamed, be your self-identity.

(10) Persecution separates the dedicated Christians from the casual professing ones.

Verse 17“For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God.”
a. Clean up the house of God.
b. Clean out the house of God.

(11) Our persecution and suffering guarantees their punishment.

Verse 17 “...And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God?”
a. The persecutors will be persecuted even more.
b. Verse 18 declares, “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly or the sinner appear?” Their punishment is guaranteed.
c. Therefore, Christians be humble and grateful.

(12) Verse 19 says that persecution is already here, not some future thing.

“Let them that suffer according to the will of God” is present time or already in the midst of suffering.
Verse 19 also says that we must:

a. Commit our souls unto Him.

b. For He is the faithful Creator.

God Is An Agent Of Change (Part 2)

This is important to understand. There's a saying: If nothing needs changing, you don't need leaders.Leaders look to see what God wants to change, and it's their responsibility to change it. But remember: People find change difficult. It's threatening, it's uncomfortable, and it provokes an internal reaction.

Just think of the Scripture I began with yesterday:

Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

If God wanted to fulfil that literally, just imagine the opposition. People would tell Him: You can't build a road in the wilderness. It's bad for the environment. You can't put a river there. How are You going to get water into the desert? Have You done any environmental impact studies, Lord? Change is difficult, but it's what leaders do.

What if God wanted to fulfil this Scripture in this church? For God to do a new thing there would have to be change. Would you allow your leaders to be agents of change? Are you sure? But your leaders are just like you: They make mistakes. Can you cope with that? You might say, "But if it's really God, everybody will be behind it." No they won't.

-It didn't happen that way for Moses when God told them to go into the Promised Land.

-It didn't happen that way for Jesus.

-It didn't happen that way for the 12 apostles.

-It didn't happen that way for the apostle Paul who constantly had to defend his apostleship and bring correction to the churches.

Change is all about yielding to the Holy Spirit.

A man had a 2-story house. One day, he heard a knocking, opened the door, and found Jesus there, so he invited Him to live in the house and gave Him a room in the top floor. Jesus will only take what you give Him. The man was sleeping and heard a pounding on the door, opened the door a crack and the devil barged in. He had a terrible fight, trying to resist the devil and his temptations, yelling out for help all the time. Eventually, he managed to throw the devil out. In the morning, he said, "Why didn't you help me last night? Couldn't you hear me calling for help?" Jesus: "The problem is, you've got this whole big house to yourself, and I've only got one room." Man: "Ah, I see your point. You can have the whole top floor, and I'll keep the bottom floor." The man was sleeping and heard a pounding on the door, opened the door a crack and the devil barged in again. He had another terrible fight, trying to resist the devil and his temptations, yelling out for help all the time. Eventually, he managed to throw the devil out. In the morning, he said, "Why didn't you help me last night? Couldn't you hear me calling for help?" Jesus: "The problem is, I have the top floor, but you still have the bottom floor to yourself." Man: "Ah, I see what you mean. From now on, the whole house is yours." That night, the man was asleep, and there was a pounding at the door again. This time Jesus went to the door, opened it wide, and stood in the doorway. The devil looked at Him, bowed very low and said, "I'm sorry, but I think I knocked on the wrong door."

That story illustrates our need to be fully yielded to the Lord.

Unyieldedness to the Holy Spirit is the most significant factor in preventing change. It all comes down to attitude.

In the days of Jesus, they didn't generally put fluids like wine into bottles. They put them into skins. They'd kill a goat, cut off the head and feet, skin it, cure it in a way that minimized unpleasant flavours, then sew it back up, except for the neck. Then they'd put wine, water or milk in it. The problem with wineskins is that as they get older they become harder and more brittle. They aren't as flexible as they used to be. If you put new wine into an old skin, the new wine was still fermenting, which means it was releasing gases. The gases would cause the old skin to burst. Because a new skin still had its flexibility, the gases released by the wine didn't cause a problem.

If God is going to do a new thing here in this church, He needs flexible skins that He can pour His new wine into.

What about you? Are you willing to let God do what He wants?

God Is An Agent Of Change (Part 1)

Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

For God to fulfill that promise in Isaiah, He has to bring about change. When God does a new thing, that means that there are changes about to happen. He's an agent of change.

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed..."
God is into transformation; that means change.

-When He gets a hold of a person's life, He changes it.

-When He gets a hold of a church, He changes it.

-He even changed water into wine, but here's the problem. People find it difficult to change.

People seem to be naturally resistant to change, but change happens continuously anyway. Just think of the seasons - spring, summer, autumn, winter. God has built change into our natural existence.

Think of the aging process. No matter how hard you try, or what anti-wrinkling creams you use, you will not look the same, at 60-years-old, as you did at the age of twenty. There's going to be a change.

People change jobs regularly. I remember a time when it was normal for people to stay on the same job for twenty years or more; but not any more.
Change happens all the time.

How do people feel about so much change? All of this change brings uncertainty, fear,and feelings of spinning out of control because so much of the change we experience in life is beyond our control. We can't do anything about it.

Even the early church found it difficult to adapt to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Think about what Jesus said to the disciples in Acts 1:8: " But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This is where Jesus reinforced the mission he had already given His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16.

What was their mission? To go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. This is what Jesus was restating in Acts 1:8 and telling them that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to help them to fulfil that mission. That mission was to Jerusalem, then Judea and Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth. In other words, local, national and international.

So they were filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4, then what did they do? Did they fulfill the mission? No, they sat around in Jerusalem all the way through Acts 2, all the way through Acts 3, all the way through Acts 4, all the way through Acts 5, all the way through Acts 6, all the way through Acts 7. And it wasn't till Acts 8:1 that there was a persecution which scattered the disciples through Judea and Samaria. Finally, they were starting to be obedient to Christ's command, but not by choice.

Sometimes God has to take drastic measures to get His people to obey Him. This time it took persecution, but they still didn't get with the program. Yes, they were preaching the word (Acts 8:4), but they were still only preaching to Jews and Samaritans. What about the Gentiles? Didn't they know that Jesus wanted them to preach to the Gentiles too? Of course they did!
Jesus was very clear about that. He said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." He didn't say, "For God so loved the Jews that He gave His only begotten Son..." He said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." This message was never just for the Jews, but people find it so difficult to cope with change. It wasn't till Acts 10 that they began to rethink their theology to come into alignment with God's theology.

Peter was on the roof praying, when he had a vision. And in the vision, he saw a sheet coming down out of heaven full of all kinds of animals. And then there was a voice saying, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat." And Peter said, "Lord, I can't do that! I'm a good Jew."Now just think about this for a moment. The Lord told Peter to do something and Peter says no. Isn't that a bit strange? His tradition had such a strong hold on him that even when God told him to do something, he said no. God says, "But I've made it clean so don't call it unclean." You'd think that God would have made His point clear, but this still isn't enough for Peter. Immediately, he has the same vision, with the same sheet full of animals, and the same voice telling him to kill and eat. Now, wouldn't you think that Peter would have got the message? Nope. He answers God in the same way: "Sorry Lord, no can do. I'm a good Jew." This message had to come to him three times.
Then suddenly the light comes on. And there are some men waiting to take Peter to Caesarea in the north to speak to Cornelius, a centurion in the Roman army - a Gentile. So Peter goes with the men, and when he gets there, he finds that Cornelius has gathered his friends and family, and they're all waiting for Peter.

Peter preaches his message, and suddenly, the Holy Spirit turns up, and everyone is filled with the Holy Spirit and starts to speak in tongues. Peter looks around and his fellow-Jews who had come with him and says, "Well, I suppose we can't very well refuse to baptise them in water if God has filled them with the Holy Spirit, can we?" So Peter goes back to Jerusalem, but the news has gone on ahead of him, and there are people waiting to take issue with him. He has to explain the whole thing right from the beginning before they finally realise that God has granted salvation to the Gentiles too. That's in Acts 11:18. Why didn't this happen a lot sooner?

People find change so difficult, and the church, down through the ages has been no different.
When the Roman emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the empire, the church went into a downward spiral. That downward spiral was already happening since the time of the apostles, but making the church the official religion brought masses into the churches who brought with them their beliefs and their immorality. The church degenerated into a political force and, except for small pockets of genuine believers, there was spiritual darkness for over a thousand years. Then in 1517 Martin Luther declared the revelation he had received from God that the just should live by faith, not works. Guess what happened to him? He and his followers were persecuted.

Then along came the Anabaptists who believed that there was another step that had to be taken after committing your life to Christ: You had to be baptised in water. Many of them lost their lives; some responded to the Anabaptists by saying, "Fine, if you want to be baptised, we'll baptise you." And they held them underwater till they drowned.The recipients of the previous revelation became the persecutors of the recipients of the next revelation.

Then along came the Pentecostal outpouring in Azusa Street revival. Guess what the Baptists thought of that? The recipients of the previous revelation became the persecutors of the recipients of the next revelation. People were kicked out of their churches because they spoke in tongues.

Then along came the Charismatic movement in the 60s and early 70s. Guess what many of the diehard Pentecostals thought of the Charismatics? The recipients of the previous revelation became the persecutors of the recipients of the next revelation. Many of them didn't like it one bit; you had to do it their way.

The church has always found it difficult to cope with change. I don't know what the next move of God is going to be, but I want to make sure that I have an open heart to what God wants to do. And even more importantly, I want to be open to the changes God wants to bring about now in this church. Here's a question for you to think about: Are you ready for what God wants to do in His church? Or are you a resister?

 

A Godly Household (Part 2)

“Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock…” Matthew 7:24

One of the things that we have learned in experience, studies, and practice is that whether or not a structure like a house will stand is determined largely by the foundation on which it is built. If the foundation or the ground upon which that foundation is laid is weak then, no matter how beautiful or fortified the building may look, it is only a matter of time before the forces of time and nature will cause that building to collapse. 

 So it is with our families. If you want your family to survive the tests of time, the fiery attacks of Satan and the storms of life, you need to make sure your family (house) is built upon a sure foundation-A foundation that you can depend on. Is your family structure built upon the rock of God’s word?

Every June, the National Weather Service begins to encourage the residents of Florida and other states to begin making preparations for hurricane season. They do this to alert us so that we can be ready if a storm should make landfall. Their belief is that the more aware and prepared we are, the better the chances are that we will be able to survive the storm and no lives will be lost. However, before there was a National Weather Service, Jesus Christ gave a warning and an encouragement to his followers about what we need to do to make sure our houses are ready and able to endure the storms of life. 
The key to a sure foundation, Jesus says, is to listen to His words (teachings of Christ/God) and apply them.

Is the presence and power of God’s word visible in your family?  Do you and the members of your household actively engage and interact with the Bible outside of Sunday worship and Bible classes?
Parents, do your children see you studying, meditating and applying God’s word in your life daily? 
Do they hear you talking about the Bible (in a positive way)? Children, do your parents and siblings see that the word of God is an essential part of your life? If we are going to strengthen our marriages, families/households and our own spiritual lives, we’ve got  make sure we are listening to Christ daily and doing what he instructs us to do.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9  “And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead, and you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”.

 I challenge you to read Deuteronomy 6:6-9 over and over, and follow God’s instructions for making God’s word the foundation of your house. Incorporate time in God’s word into the daily or weekly routine and fabric of your family. Study God’s word together and talk about it with your spouse, children, and other family members. Discuss the sermons and Bible class lessons within your household and how they can be applied in your daily lives. When the knowledge and application of the word of God becomes the foundation upon which your family/house is built, although the storms of life will come, just like the wise man Jesus referred to in Matthew 7:24, after the storm is over, your  house will stand.

A Godly Household

“…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Whether you are single with or without children or married with or without children, God is concerned about your family. It is the most important building block to human society and, therefore, should be nurtured and protected. 

In these last days, Satan has launched an all-out attack on the family unit. From attempting to change the definition of marriage to bringing divisions within our family units as a whole, this world is definitely not conducive for a family that fears the Lord. Nevertheless, in spite of what is going on in the world around us, it is still possible to have a godly family in an ungodly world. I challenge each family to take steps to fortify their family  structure against the wiles of the devil.

The first challenge is to evaluate your household for areas where your family may be vulnerable for attack by the enemy. 

When a storm is impending, we are advised to do a walk-thru to make sure our house is secure. Many experts suggest a family meeting to discuss just in case scenarios. Things like where to meet, who to call, etc. The same is true for our families. Begin by evaluating your family’s relationship with God. 

Is God a part of your family? 

Is His word regularly read and taught in your household? 
Does your family worship and pray together at home? 
Is your family exposed to godly music, movies and other Biblically-based media?
Does Jesus live there?

There is a story about a wife speaking to her husband when he got home. She had been busy with the kids and chores and running errands. She said that during the day someone came and knocked on the door, and asked the question: “Does Jesus Live Here”. She said this bothered her very much, and she had been thinking about it all day, and she now wonders herself: “does Jesus live here?” She asked her husband: “well, does He?” If your answer is “no” to any of these questions, then it is time to make some adjustments. The stronger the presence and power of God is in your household, the less power the devil has to enter in and steal, kill and destroy. Because we know that is exactly what Satan wants to do. Make a commitment today to develop a God-centered household by making sure your relationship with the Lord is what it ought to be and infusing the things of God into the daily function and routines of your family.

“Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock…” Matthew 7:24

One of the things that we have learned in experience, studies, and practice is that whether or not a structure like a house will stand is determined largely by the foundation on which it is built. If the foundation or the ground upon which that foundation is laid is weak then, no matter how beautiful or fortified the building may look, it is only a matter of time before the forces of time and nature will cause that building to collapse. So it is with our families. If you want your family to survive the tests of time, the fiery attacks of Satan and the storms of life, you need to make sure your family (house) is built upon a sure foundation-A foundation that you can depend on. 

Is your family structure built upon the rock of God’s word?

God Will Never

Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble."

(1) God will never forsake us because His power will always be greater than the assault of the enemy.

Isaiah 59:19 “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”  

(2) God will never forsake those who seek after Him.

Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

(3) God will never forsake us because of our age.

Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread."

 

(4) God will never forsake us because of our position in Him.

Psalm 94:14 "For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance."

(5) God will never forsake us because of His vow to us.

Hebrews 13:5b "For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

(6) God will never forsake us because He is our constant refuge in the day of our trouble.

Psalm 59:16 "But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble."

7 things to keep in mind (and do) when you feel discouraged and defeated:

-You are not the center of the universe (stop making it all about YOU).

I think we all have the tendency to put ourselves at the center of the universe, and see everything from the viewpoint of how it affects us.  But this can have all kinds of adverse effects, from feeling sorry for ourselves when things aren’t going exactly as planned, to doubting ourselves when we aren’t perfect.

So this morning, instead of worrying so much about myself, think about other people you might help.  Finding little ways to help others gets me out of my self-centered thinking, and then I’m not wallowing in self-pity anymore – I’m starting to think about what others need.  I’m not doubting myself, because the question of whether I’m good enough or not is no longer the central question.  The central question now is about what others need.

Thus, thinking about others instead of oneself helps solve feelings of discouragement and defeat.

-It is your resistance to ‘what is’ that causes your suffering (be present).

This morning my mind was ruminating about every time and place other than the time and place I was in.  When I caught myself doing this, I brought my focus back to the present.

Remember, happiness is allowing yourself to be perfectly OK with ‘what is,’ rather than wishing for and worrying about ‘what is not.’  ‘What is’ is what’s supposed to be, or it would not be.  The rest is just you, arguing with life.  Think about that for a minute.  This means your suffering only ever occurs when you resist how things are in the present.

Although you can’t control everything that happens to you; you can only control the way you respond to what happens.  In your response is your power.  In your power is your presence.  

-You are more than one thing (loosen up and stretch your identity).

We all have this picture in our minds of ourselves – this idea of what kind of person we are.  When this idea gets threatened, we react defensively.  People may question whether we did a good job, and this threatens our idea of being a competent person, so we become angry or hurt.  Someone falsely accuses us of something and this threatens our idea that we’re a good person, and so we get angry and attack the other person.  My identity of myself as someone who’s motivated and productive and has great ideas… this was getting in the way this morning.  When I wasn’t productive, it made me feel defeated because I began subconsciously worrying that I wasn’t who I thought I was.

My solution was to realize that I’m not just one thing.  I’m not always productive – sometimes I am, but sometimes I’m unproductive too.  I’m not always motivated — sometimes I am, but other times I’m feeling lazy.  And obviously I don’t always have great ideas either – because that’s impossible.  The truth is, I can be many things, and remembering this helps me stretch my identity so it isn’t so fragile.  Then it doesn’t matter if someone thinks I didn’t do a good job – because I don’t always do a good job.  I make mistakes.  I am less than perfect.  And that’s perfectly OK.

-Today is still a priceless gift (make the best of it).

I only have so many days left on Earth.  I don’t know how many that is, but I do know it’s a very limited number.  I know that each one of those limited days is a gift, a blessing… a miracle.  And that squandering this miracle is a crime – a horrible lack of appreciation for what I’ve been given.  And so, I reminded myself this morning that this day counts and that I still need to make the best of it.  That doesn’t mean I need to be hyper-productive or work myself into the ground, but that I should do something worthwhile.

Sometimes taking a break to nourish yourself is a worthwhile activity, because doing so allows you to regroup and do other worthwhile things.  But just sitting around in self-pity isn’t helpful.  

-Complaining is only making matters worse (find a solution).

When I get in a funk, I have a tendency to complain out loud to everyone around who’s close enough to hear me.  Obviously, this doesn’t help them, or me.  And as soon as I catch myself doing this, I force myself to shift gears.

The bottom line is that you will never get to where you want to be by complaining about where you are now.  Each step in your life is preparing you for the one that comes after it.  Complaining does not work as a strategy.  We all have limited time and energy.  Any amount of time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve anything worthwhile.  And it won’t make us any happier either.

If you took 10% of the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving your present problem, you’d be surprised by how well and how fast things can work out.  (I forget this sometimes, which is why I’m writing it down again – to remind myself.)

Working as a life coach for the past decade with people who’ve suffered major trauma in their lives but found the courage to turn it around, I know we all have access to far more power, authority, and influence over our lives than we often believe.  When you stop complaining, and refuse to see yourself as a helpless you'll find you are more powerful than you realize, but only if you choose to accept this reality.

-Feeling discouraged and defeated is a sign that it’s time to make a change (make that change).

It could be a change of heart, a change in your perspective, or a change in your habits.  But the point in any case is that the way you are doing things is no longer working.

When we feel discouraged and defeated, typically our first instinct is to look outside of ourselves for someone or something to blame.  In reality, we ought to be looking at how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking, and how we plan to respond.

Your life is your responsibility.  While you can’t always change what’s outside of you, you can certainly change your perception of it.  And the funny thing is, when you change the way you look at things, the things themselves change, which paves the way for positive action.  

-Even the tiniest possible step is progress. (take a tiny step NOW).

It can be hard to get moving when you’re seriously stuck.  This is how I felt a decade ago when I was stuck in a rut after simultaneously losing two loved ones to illness and my breadwinning job.  It was really hard to motivate myself when I didn’t think I had the strength to push forward – when I felt insanely horrible and sorry for myself.  But I took one tiny step every day, and it felt good, and I got stronger.

That’s what I did this morning too – I took the tiniest possible step.  Just turning on my computer, opening up a document, and writing a single sentence.  Such an action is so small as to seem insignificant, and yet so easy as to be possible when I was feeling defeated.  And it showed me the next step was possible, and the next.  And the end result is this blog post you’re reading now.

Yes, I’m still feeling out of it, but not defeated.  I’m feeling stronger, because I took these steps.

I know some of you feel the same way from time to time, maybe more often than you’d like to admit.  That’s OK.  We all do.  We aren’t machines, constantly charged up and ready to fire on all cylinders.  We are human which means we falter, we doubt, and we feel pain sometimes.

And this too shall pass.

(Thanks Marc and Angel for this reminder today!)

A Fresh Touch (Part 4)

(3) The power
in a fresh touch

Matthew 14:14 "Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple and He healed them. "



True biblical Christianity is crying out to be part of the contemporary church in America. Mediocrity has invaded the Christians life and the sad thing is we accept being mediocre as normal. 

We have continually accepted the lowest amount of God’s power needed to maintain what we have all ready received from God.

I need you to believe with me:

-That God’s power will not be forsaken.

-That God’s people will so more than maintain what we have.

-That Open Door will rise to the time set before us by establishing an anointed ministry of God.




We must fall on our face before the all mighty God in humility, repent of our sins, and believe for the healing of our land. 



Praise



Matthew 21:15, 16 "But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?"

And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read,

’Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants 
You have perfected praise’?" NKJV



God’s power is released through a praying, powerful, and cleansed temple. Then people begin to give praise the Lord. Praise is the key that opens the windows of heaven.

-
Praise brings God to our aid.

-Praise releases a victorious friend against our enemies.

-Praise brings us closer to God presence.


-Praise given by your lips delights the heart of God.

Lord, I praise you for a fresh touch today. You're my healer, deliverer, savior, master, and redeemer.
To you is due all the honor and glory.

Church, we can get a fresh touch or we can dry up and die. I want a fresh touch.



A Fresh Touch (Part 3)

Prayer also brings a fresh touch from God.

Matthew 21: 13 And He said to them, "It is written, ’My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ’den of thieves.’" 



There is no way we can ever over emphasize the importance of prayer. We do not have the ability to understand all that life brings our way. We need to pray about everything.



1 Samuel 12:23 "… far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you." NKJV



Jeremiah33:2,3 "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." NKJV



Isaiah 55:6 "Seek the LORD while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near." NKJV



Matthew 7:7-9 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. NKJV


-Refusing to pray means no spiritual help.


-Refusing to pray equals not needing God’s promises.


-Refusing to pray creates weak and feeble Christians.


-Refusing to pray allows you to be tossed by every wind of doctrine.

-Refusing to pray brings selfish attitudes and living.


-Refusing to pray provides no financial blessings.



Prayer brings the fresh touch of God that we need daily in our lives.


A Fresh Touch (Part 2)




Do you long for God’s Spirit to move mightily on your behalf?



Do you want God’s anointing flowing through your life? 



Are you seeking and searching for personal answers? 



The answer is with in your heart and life. 
The answer is the Holy Spirit of God! 
 If you are a true repentant Christian, the Holy Spirit lives with in you! 

How ever, He will only be able to accomplish through us what we are willing to yield to Him. 



-The first step to a fresh touch is to purify the temple.

Matthew 21:12 "Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 
"

The first step to a fresh touch from God will always be to clean out the temple. When we allow sin into our life, we are foreigners to God. Cleansing brings us into a right relationship.



Ephesians 2:19 "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."



Sin makes us “as foreigners” to God. 
 Sin is not comfortable in a spiritual atmosphere
. Sin makes the bible “as a foreign language” were the words could be read but not understood. 
Sin causing apprehension in the mind when God’s love and power in demonstrated through the Holy Spirit

.

Ephesians 2:20-22 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."



We need to cleanse our temple, our mind, will and emotions. God’s anointing faithfully works through a clean heart. The Gifts of the spirit operate efficiently through a forgiven saint who washes the halls of their life often. 

It would be great if we could clean our house one time and never have to cleanse it again. In the spiritual life, we think, I have all ready prayed about my life-once. I have confessed sin-once. I have cleaned my spiritual house-once. Yet remember,
you are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.



We are being molded, constructed, changed and modified into a temple of the living God. All remodeling work requires clean up. 

Yes, we all know the purification begins with John 3:16, but hat is the starting point of a life long remodeling project.



 When we as believers refuse to follow the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, refuse to exercise right choices over sins temptations,
and choose not to enlist the power of the Holy Spirit,
then we are forced into a mundane average Christian experience that grows more mundane with each passing day. 

The path to God’s fresh touch starts with an attitude of continued cleansing of the temple. 



A Fresh Touch (Part 1)

Psalm 51:9-11 “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”

Church history teaches us about 4 cycles in a church.

-The first is called pioneer time. It’s when a new work is planted in a house, tent, or storefront building, and God’s people work together in staking out new territory to grow from. God’s power is present because the people seek God continually for outreach and growth.



-The second cycle is building time. That’s when church buildings are built, missions and ministry starts, and the congregation becomes established. That’s when the church adopts its ministry theme and understands its purpose in existing. Miracles occur often as God sends blessings down to help in all of the arrangements.



-The third cycle is when Divine power is replaced with programs, miracles and wonders replaced with fellowships, and selfish choices replace faithful prayers. Our ways become institutions without room for change and growth is by transfer rather than ministry.



-The fourth cycle is when a church declines in attendance and only a few faithful members are left. This is an area that is dangerous because the devil creates scapegoats to receive the blame for the decline rather than have conviction stir the remaining faithful few into action against the enemy and complacency.



That is why we need a fresh touch and a new anointing. Only through God’s Holy Spirit can a Christian accomplish the amazing works of the Lord. Never will we see the fullness of God through our own efforts and abilities. Things will change only when the power of God is unleashed in our lives and allowed to do what He desires in us.

 God is calling His church to prayer all across the country. Because His spirit lives and dwells in you the urge within you to reach out to God comes through the Holy Spirit

.

1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Is This YOUR Year of Promise?

Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

To possess your promise means :

-To believe it as your destiny.

-To fulfill God's plan for your life.

-To thrive and to soar.

-To experience a supernatural breakthrough.

-To see increase and blessing.

-To dominate things that once hindered you.

-To subdue communities of darkness that have ruled over your territory.

-To enlarge your boundaries beyond their natural capacity.

Read this promise from God again:

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

-First, God says He will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

a. Jesus has held these keys.

Revelation 1:18 "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

b. These keys open the throne room of glory.

Hebrews 4:15, 16 " For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

c. These keys open the passageway of assurance.

1 John 5:14, 15 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

-Secondly, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.

Proverbs 3:3 "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart..."

Proverbs 6:20-22 " My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee."

Proverbs 7:2, 3 " Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart."

-Finally, whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

John 11:44 "And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go."

Luke 13:11-13 "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."

Is 2015 your year of promise? It can be, but I believe there are some things that God expects.


(1) He wants to be the first of everything in your life.

Psalms 127:1 “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

(2) You have to see this year as your year of promise. 

Proverbs 29:18 " Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” 

(3) Your household must be in agreement that this is your year of promise. 

Mark 3:25 "And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 

(4) You must move in faith with anticipation toward this being your year of promise. 

Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it..." 

(5) You must be passionate about receiving your promise in 2015. 

2 Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." 

(6) You must conquer the sin(s) that have kept you from receiving your promise in previous years.

Isaiah 59:1, 2 "Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." 

(7) You must live life in grace and obtain God's favor. 

Proverbs 8:34, 35 "Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD." 

Are you going to pass through 2015 unchanged or are you going to possess the promise God has made to you in the past?

Ephesians 1:10-12 "That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."

  

 

 

The Reason We Worship (Last Part)

Worship should cause us to reflect on the majesty and graciousness of God and Christ, contrasted to our own unworthiness. 

James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

God does not have to have our worship, but we must worship Him to please Him.  Our singing, praying, studying His word, giving, and communion are designed by God to bring us closer to Him and to cause us to think more like He thinks, thus becoming more like Him. 

Our worship not only honors and magnifies God, but it is also for our own edification and strength.  Worship helps us develop a God-like and Christ-like character. We become like unto those we admire and worship.  When we worship God we tend to value what God values and gradually take on the characteristics and qualities of God, but never to His level.  As Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ."  How do we take on the mind of Christ?  In Romans 12:2 we read, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."  We renew our mind as we study and meditate on God’s word and worship Him.

 

When we worship God we develop such traits as forgiveness, tenderness, justice, righteousness, purity, kindness, and love. 

Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

 -Worship helps us to learn how to forgive.

-Worship cultivates a tender, merciful side.

-Worship helps us to desire a just or right spirit.

-Worship develops our true sense of righteousness.

-Worship helps our motives to be pure.

-Worship teaches us that kindness and love represent the true nature of God.

The Reason We Worship (Part 3)

Because God is the object of our worship, He and He alone has the right to determine how we are to worship Him. 

Jeremiah 10:23 "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."

We are not granted the option of directing our own ways in Christianity.  God is the One who we look to for guidance and direction in our lives. Our very best in worship is due God and is prescribed by Him in the Bible.  The worship God has prescribed is the only way we can be pleasing to Him in this life and finally attain everlasting life with Him in eternity.  The Christian’s worship is of the greatest importance. It is not dependent on a fast or slow song, a certain emotion, or even the name on a church sign. It cannot be mediocre, but must be the very best that we can give to Him.

 

Worship is a time when we pay deep, sincere, respect, love, and fear to the one who created us. 

Acts 17:24, 25 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things..."

 God is the one who holds our eternal destiny in His hands. 

Philippians 2:12 tells us to, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."  Our salvation is a very serious matter and will not happen by accident.  We must work it out "with fear and trembling".  Our salvation is verified by whether our worship is pleasing to God or not.  On the Day of Judgment it will be too late to make any corrections.