Worship

[Albert Finch]

Matthew 6:9 - Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name.

HALLOWED MEANS RESPECTED OR REVERED. THIS IS AN EXPRESSION OF PRAISE. PRAISE AND WORSHIP ARE THE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES OF HEAVEN. AND SO IT IS TO BE FOR THE BELIEVER HERE ON EARTH. THE MORE WE LIVE AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, THE MORE HEAVEN'S ACTIVITIES INFECT OUR LIFESTYLES. WORSHIP IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO IS TO BE AFFECTED BY OUR DEVOTION TO THIS CALL.

Psalm 22:3 - But you are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

GOD RESPONDS WITH A LITERAL INVASION OF HEAVEN TO EARTH THROUGH THE WORSHIP OF THE BELIEVER. GOD RESPONDS TO THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE AS MENTIONED IN ISAIAH 42:13 "HE SHALL GO FORTH LIKE A MIGHTY MAN; HE SHALL STIR UP HIS ZEAL LIKE A MAN OF WAR. HE SHALL CRY OUT, YES, SHOUT ALOUD; HE SHALL PREVAIL AGAINST HIS ENEMIES."
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SERVICE WITH PURPOSE AFFIRMS IDENTITY. A GODLY SELF-ESTEEM IS DERIVED FROM DOING "AS HE PLEASES". AND TRUE SERVICE IS AN OVERFLOW OF WORSHIP. WE ALWAYS BECOME LIKE THE ONE WE WORSHIP. HOW COULD HE WANT ANYTHING MORE FOR US THAN THAT?
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TRUE BROKENNESS CAUSES COMPLETE DEPENDENCY ON GOD, MOVING US TO RADICAL OBEDIENCE THAT RELEASES THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD AROUND US.
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Philippians 3:13 - But one thing I do (my one aspiration): forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

As our reactions change, we change. Although we cannot alter the past, we can put our past upon the "altar" as an act of worship. A worshiping heart truly allows God to restore the soul.

The devil doesn't mind our worshiping God if it doesn't require change. True worship, and the freedom it brings, requires the dedication of our entire lives to God. An offer that tries to convince us otherwise is a false one. If we try to keep worship ("in the land" -- in other words with requirements and stipulations) of the devil's domain, we give him legal access to influence and spoil our efforts.