Hey Jeramy, This really moved me too. A lot to think about here. Virgie and Hoshi ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeremy Gilley" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 5:45 PM Subject: THE HEART OF A WORSHIPPER >I am interested to hear opinions on this... this has hit me personally > and deeply, and now I have to go reflect upon this more... all I can say > to this is wow, it is very long, but well worth your time. > > THE HEART OF A WORSHIPPER > > Many Christians today are talking about a renewed desire - even a new > desire - to worship the Lord in a deeper, more meaningful way. But what > is true worship? > What is the absolute essence, the common denominator, in all of worship? > I believe it is seen in the lives of men like Abraham and Job, who > worshipped > in the midst of the most life-shattering circumstances. > The fundamental essence of worship is this: Regardless of negative > circumstances or complete emotional turmoil, I bow my heart and life > before God Almighty, > acknowledging His supreme lordship. > The bottom line on worship is confessing God's lordship when everything > that surrounds your life screams, "God's unjust! He doesn't love you! He > has forsaken > you!" At such a time, the true worshipper says, "The Lord is God. > Blessed be the name of the Lord." > Perhaps this is what the Psalmist meant when he said, "Deep calls to > deep in the roar of Your waterfalls." (Ps.42:7). In the context of that > verse, the > writer was speaking of deep emotional turbulence in difficult times. > When everything is crashing down on us like a roaring waterfall, we must > resort to > the deep-down faith that we have in God. > When we feel overwhelmed and don't know why God has allowed a situation > to come into our lives, we must reaffirm our basic faith in God. "Though > He slay > me, yet will I trust Him!" (Job 13:15 NKJV). This is the deep within us > - that expression from the depths of our souls that affirms our trust in > God regardless > of the changing circumstances of life. Worship is the deep within us > calling out to the deep in God. > Sometimes this level of worship is best expressed in quietness. "Be > still, and know that I am God." (Ps. 46:10 NKJV). This verse has nothing > to do with > praise, but it certainly applies to worship. There are times when our > worship will not constitute the forming of words or phrases but will > involve the > humble prostration of our souls before God, revering His greatness in > silence and stillness. > Since worship is an expression of love, it frequently functions very > similarly to marital love. Love does not always need to be verbalized in > order to be > expressed or appreciated. Sometimes more is said through eye contact > than could ever be expressed verbally. Worship involves "eye contact" > with God. Worship > is staring at God! > Block quote start > Never Postpone Worship > Block quote end > Block quote start > When facing turbulent circumstances, we have a tendency to complain now > and postpone worship for later. But Jesus said, "Yet a time...has now > come, when > the true worshippers will worship the Father..." (John 4:23). Worship > operates in the present tense. True worshippers are not satisfied with > waiting to > praise God around the throne in heaven. The fact that we may have > worshipped in the past, or that glorious worship awaits us in the > future, is unsatisfactory. > Now is the time to enter true worship. > "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you." (Ps. 89:15). > Worship must be learned. It is not a talent with which one is born, nor > is it a special > gifting for a select few. Worship is the art of expressing oneself to > God, and we must learn that expression and open our hearts as channels > of the Holy > Spirit. > Just as preaching is an art that is learned, our ability to worship is > developed through application and experience. Worship is not learned by > reading books, > or by taking classes, or by going to seminars. Like the art of prayer, > worship is learned by doing it. > We should not be impatient with ourselves if we are not now able to > worship as we would desire. Learning the fullness of worship is a > lengthy process and > does not come easily. The lessons God brings into our lives to teach us > worship can sometimes be as dramatic as those of Abraham, Job, and > David. Responding > positively in worship rather than bemoaning the trying circumstances > will cause us to grow as worshippers. In many churches we have been > taught to work, > and we have been taught to witness - but we have not been taught to > worship. > Block quote end > Block quote start > God Seeks Worshippers > Block quote end > Block quote start > We know from Jesus' own declaration that the Father seeks worshippers > (see John 4:23). God delights in the lifestyle of worshippers; nothing > pleases Him > more than the quality of life displayed by a worshipper. It is our duty; > then, to endeavor to please Him by learning to become increasingly > Christ like > in every way. > We want to be worshippers, but sometimes we do not fully understand all > that this involves. One of the most outstanding instances of worship in > the New > Testament is seen in the story of the sinful woman who anointed the feet > of Jesus. Let us explore this account in Luke 7:36-50 to see more dearly > the qualities > that characterize a worshipper: > Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner' with him, so He > went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who > had lived > a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the > Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she > stood behind Him > at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she > wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. > When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If > this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind > of woman > she is - that she is a sinner'." > Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." > "Tell me, Teacher'," he said. > "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred > denari, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him > back, so he > canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" > Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." > "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. > Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this > woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My > feet, but she wet > My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give Me > a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing > My feet. > You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. > Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved > much. But > he who has been forgiven little loves little." > Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." > The other guests began to say among themselves, "who is this who even > forgives sins?" > Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." > When this woman came into Jesus' presence, she was weeping. This was the > outward manifestation of a heart that was deeply stirred before her > Lord. She was > repentant, overcome, unreserved. This was not a show. This woman's tears > were sincere. > I will confess that, as a man, I find it very difficult to cry. Few are > the times when I come to tears before God. And that concerns me, because > I ask, > "Lord, is my heart too hard before You? I want to be soft and tender in > Your presence!" The times of worship that have been most meaningful to > me are the > times when I've cried before God. Brokenness and tears are truly key > elements in worship. > Block quote end > Block quote start > The True Meaning Of Worship > Block quote end > Block quote start > We see also that this woman kissed Jesus' feet. This is a beautiful > aspect of worship, for the Greek word for worship - proskuneo - means > "to kiss the hand > toward; to do reverence or homage by kissing the hand; to bow one's self > in adoration." The derivation of proskuneo is thought to come from the > Greek word > for "dog." Thus the original meaning was "to kiss, like a dog licking > his master's hand." > When I first discovered this, I was somewhat repulsed by the idea. I > asked God, "Lord, am I like a dog before You? Is that all I mean to > You?" But then > the Lord began to show me some beautiful lessons through studying the > origins of this word. > Although I have always been a dog lover, I had a dog for only a few > years while I was growing up. Among my fondest memories of "Buster" are > the times when > we would come home from church and be greeted by him at the door. From > outside we could hear his tail thumping against the wall and his paws > scratching > at the door. And when we stepped inside, he was all over us! Jumping, > licking, wagging, thumping, twirling - you would have thought he hadn't > seen us for > weeks! As I remembered those royal welcomes, the Lord whispered to my > heart, "How excited are you about being with Me again when you enter the > house of > the Lord?" > Then there's the time when your dog comes over to sit by your chair. But > he isn't satisfied with sitting next to his master; he has to plop his > body right > on top of his master's feet. Dogs desire the closeness of physical > contact with their masters. Let's not be satisfied just with being near > the Lord; let > us come close to His heart in worship and lean upon His breast! > Block quote end > Block quote start > Fear Of Man Or Fear Of God? > Block quote end > Block quote start > worshippers cannot go unnoticed. They will attract attention to > themselves. For this very reason, many have refrained from entering into > the fullness of > worship. They are afraid of what others might think of them. Peer > pressure affects worship. It has held back countless saints from the > blessing of opening > their hearts to the Lord. Some folks might say, "Oh, that's just Sister > Brown doing her thing again." Others might shake their heads and think, > "Straaaange." > But this is part of the cost of being a true worshipper. > Obviously Mary was not following the conventional forms of worship > -weeping, kissing, and wiping His feet with her hair. There is no > mention in the Psalms > of pouring perfume on our Lord's feet. David gave no guidelines > concerning these things. So we must consider how tolerant we are of > unique or "overboard" > expressions of genuine worship. There are no formulas for worship > because worship is a function of the heart, and the heart will find > expression in a variety > of external forms. > David escorted the ark of the covenant to Zion, and while dressed in a > linen ephod and dancing before the Lord with all his might, he was > rebuked by his > wife, Michal - "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, > disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar > fellow > would." (2 Sam. 6:20) Because of her criticism, Michal was barren for > the rest of her life. Likewise, if we become critical of genuine acts of > worship, > we are in danger of spiritual barrenness. > In the church today, nothing is quite so controversial as worship. > Entire churches have been split over matters of worship and the proper > way to conduct > it. But a choice is set before us: we can either choose to please men, > or we can decide to please God.. It rarely seems possible to do both. > Block quote end > Block quote start > God's Loving Response > Block quote end > Block quote start > Mary was willing to endure the disapproval of others for the sake of > hearing her Master's "Well done." The disciples were surely thinking, > "Why doesn't > Jesus do something? This woman is obviously out of order! Why doesn't He > rebuke her? Why is He letting this thing drag on?" And when Jesus > finally did > give her His attention, the disciples heaved a sigh of relief. "It's > about time He took control of this situation!" But rather than rebuking > her Jesus > commended her. > What a beautiful assurance this is that when we worship, He will > respond! He will turn to us! He will speak to us, for He is eager to do > so. The disciples > had much head knowledge about worship; but it took a sinful woman - > someone who was uneducated in the many forms of worship - to reveal the > heart of a > true worshipper to these disciples. > Spiritual maturity does not exempt one from being a worshipper. We will > never grow to the point where we are "above" worshipping the Lord. In > the Book of > Revelation we read of the elders repeatedly falling down in worship > before the throne of God - "... and the twenty-four elders fell down > before the lamb, > having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the > prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying 'Worthy art Thou > to take > the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst > purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and > people and nation."' > (Rev. 5:8-9 NAS) In truth, there should be a greater responsibility > resting upon elders and the spiritually mature to worship the Lord and > to be examples > of worship to others. > Block quote end > Block quote start > The Cleansing Power Of Worship > Block quote end > Block quote start > The last words of Jesus to this woman - "Your sins are forgiven" - > contain a beautiful lesson. The woman worshipped, and then she received > forgiveness and > cleansing. The point here is that it is possible to approach God in > worship, even if there is sin in our lives, and become purified. But too > often we allow > feelings of guilt to rob us of this blessing. > There was a time in my life when I was struggling with a specific, > recurring sin that I had difficulty conquering. And oh, the guilt, when > it was time to > worship! I could not find a release in my spirit because I felt like a > failure before God. I withdrew from God, supposing that He was not > interested in > fellowshipping with a sin-ridden son. For years I allowed guilt and > condemnation to rob me of the blessedness of continual communion with my > Father! > I had to learn that I must never allow sin to deter me from intimate > fellowship with God. God is never shocked by sin in our lives. He never > condemns us > for sinning. And He never holds us at arm's length when we do sin. > Block quote end > Block quote start > Conviction vs. Condemnation > Block quote end > Block quote start > God does convict, but He never condemns. Conviction and condemnation are > poles apart. Conviction leads to repentance. Condemnation leads to > despair > Conviction results in victory over sin. Condemnation results in abject > defeat. Conviction motivates us toward God. Condemnation leaves us > deflated and powerless. > God convicts. We condemn. > Jesus said. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the > world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:17). Jesus' statement > to the > woman caught in adultery, after her accusers slipped away one by one, > was - "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." > (John 8:11). > Guilt and condemnation are among the greatest hindrances in our worship > services. And for too long we have heard the wrong solution. We have > been told "Repent > before the Lord first, receive His cleansing, and then come into > worship. Don't come before God unless you've first been purified." > But God has never said that to us! That is a human solution The Lord > made His solution very real to my heart one day as I was meditating on > this passage > in Luke 7. I was impressed with the fact that not until after this > sinful woman had worshipped the Lord in such a beautiful and extravagant > manner did > Jesus declare her sins to be forgiven. The progression was this: first > she worshipped, and then she was forgiven! > Jesus never says to us, "Wait a minute. There's sin in your life! Don't > try to get close to Me and love Me in that condition!" On the contrary, > He says, > "Come close to Me; lean upon My breast, and let us commune together. > Then His promise comes: "And you will be purified as you worship Me!" > We do not get purified in order to worship - we worship and are > consequently purified. The only time it is inappropriate to worship God > with sin in our > lives is when we have no intention of changing. To worship while > purposefully maintaining a sinful life, without any intentions of > repentance and change, > is hypocrisy. But to worship despite any known sin, when we acknowledge > it and desire to receive God's strength to gain victory over it, is the > first step > toward the solution. > Block quote end > Block quote start > Flee Into His Presence > Block quote end > Block quote start > I am not supporting a new brand of "cheap grace" - God hates our sin! No > sin can survive in God's presence. But this is precisely why, when we > need cleansing, > we must flee into His presence. There we receive healing, cleansing, > holiness, and purity. This was the message of Charles Wesley when he > wrote: > Jesus, Lover of my soul, > Let me to Thy bosom fly > While the nearer waters roll, > While the tempest still is high! > Plenteous grace with Thee is found, > Grace to cover all my sin; > Let the healing streams abound, > Make and keep me pure within. > Too often, in the throes of guilt and condemnation, we have turned and > hidden ourselves from our source of healing and forgiveness. > Condemnation has driven > us away from the very Balm that would heal our souls! > Condemnation will rob us of the blessed purification that will come > through worship. Condemnation is a whirlpool that will siphon our > spiritual vitality > until we are consumed. The more we abstain from worship, the greater the > separation between us and God. It is our blessed privilege as God's > redeemed to > draw near to Him in times of sin and uncleanness and receive of the > cleansing power that flows from His presence. > Block quote end > Block quote start > The River Of Life > Block quote end > Block quote start > In worship, we partake of the very river that flows from the throne of > God. The Psalmist wrote of that river, "There is a river whose streams > make glad > the city of God" (Ps. 46:4). This is an allusion to the water of Siloam > whose several different courses ran underneath and through Jerusalem and > supplied > the city with water. Similarly the Holy Spirit provides us with renewing > waters as we worship from our innermost beings. Through our worship, the > river > of God washes over our souls with cleansing and refreshment. > When Ezekiel was caught up in this divine river, the waters rose from > his ankles to his knees and then to his waist, until he could no longer > walk in the > current. During this experience, Ezekiel was told, "And it shall be that > every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There > will be > a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they > will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. " > (Ezek. 47:9 > NKJV). As the river of God begins to flow during our times of worship, > it brings life, abundance, and healing, washing over broken hearts and > restoring > parched souls. > Block quote end