Worship God and know He is present

I like to imagine that out there we are the living and walking street lamps. The switch is our awareness of God’s ever presence in us, and He is our constant ever flowing power current.

In a Bible sharing meeting in response to a sister’s question on how she may overcome the persisting adversities in her workplace, the teacher suggested that she worshipped in those situations. After he left she asked the translator what he meant by worship in those situations. Does it mean singing hymns?

This exchange of conversation made me ponder after the session. What does it mean by worship? The pictures that come to my mind is how the people of faith worshipped God in the Old Testaments. They sacrificed. They sang hymns. They played musical instruments. They recited the words of God. They praised and exalted God with their voices. They lifted up their hands. They focused on God. They proclaimed His love, holiness, greatness, and goodness. They stood up, knelt down, and prostrated themselves on the ground.

What is the purpose of worship? Someone said, worship is the currency of exchange in heaven. I do not think we can use a monetary term to illustrate it, otherwise it becomes meaningless as it is no longer an action of faith in response to the grace (free gifts) of God. God is pleased with faith in action. Worship is a faith in action. It also serves as a spiritual weapon, as demonstrated in the Old Testament, by the famous seasoned warrior poet-king David, and king Jehoshaphat. In the New Testament a phenomenal demonstration by the power of God in response to worship was recorded in Acts 16:16-40. When Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, a great earthquake shook the foundation of the prison and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Back to the dilemma of the sister. She worked in a crowded environment with long lines of people queuing up for their turns. How to worship literally?

I believe worship’s importance relates to God’s presence. He builds His throne in our praises. God enthrones Himself on, and lives in, our praise (Psalm 22:3) Psalm 149:6 “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,” Praises are a significant part of worship. As we praise God the Spirit of the Lord works in us and gives joy to our heart and countenance. Joy lifts us up. The higher we exalt our God in our heart the higher we are lifted up from the mire.

Yes, we can worship in our heart. We can pray in tongues under our breath. We can switch the focus of our inner eyes to see God and His goodness. Isaiah saw God in the midst of a deep loss of security and certainty of future. It was darkness all round. Yet he went and worshipped God. Then he saw God, heard from God, and was refreshed, and commissioned by God. Paul reminded the believers that our body is the temple of God. Jesus said that we can worship God in spirit and in truth (anywhere). (John 4:23-24)

Our change of focus gives us the awareness of God’s presence in us. Yes, it can be likened to a dark room switching on a lamp. It can mean we turn on our light inside. I like to imagine that out there we are the living and walking street lamps. The switch is our awareness of God’s ever presence in us, and He is our constant ever flowing power current. As we worship God, we become aware of God’s presence and the light is lit up. No darkness can stand the presence of light, what more the brilliant glorious presence of God residing in us?

Light attracts. Darkness attacks. God is light. Be light, just as He is. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17) We shall know when the light is on. So will all around us.

David is well versed in this lifestyle. In Psalm 68:1 he declared, “Let God arise, Let His enemies be scattered; Let those also who hate Him flee before Him.” “3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.” Before he won the battle he anticipated and saw the victory in his worship and rejoicing. God described David, a worshipful man, as a man after His own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Isaiah 58 God wants true worship

Prophet Isaiah was given this message about fasting. Again this is not just for the people at that time, 2700 years ago. God is not talking about mere fasting either. Fasting was a way of life then when people followed a pattern and fixed rituals on the superficial form of fasting for festivals according to their tradition. many are still doing this today in many different religions.

Today, practicing Christians too follow a pattern of religious rituals and observances. But God talks of a different subject, worship. It means fasting and other similar rituals are parts of worship. Fasting is not a show of piety to God or to men. Because just as Jesus says, God sees the heart. God wants a true heart to worship Him in spirit and truth. (Matthew 6:14-19; John 4:23-24)

A heart that is true to God loves God and loves God's people. Jesus speaks of the same priority: Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength. Love our neighbors as ourselves. (Luke 10:27-37)

Jesus takes one step beyond that and commands this, "Love even your enemies." "You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:27-36)

The question is no longer who my neighbor is. God is not a parochial deity. He is the God. The only God. He loves all creatures created by Him. God went to the extent of giving His own Son Jesus to us. He gave the believers of Jesus the Holy Spirit.

A Spirit filled life witnesses God and gives glory to Him.

We are created to worship and give glory to Him. Worship is a lifestyle. Fasting is part of worship, springing from our hearts to love and worship God, to give us a spiritual clarity to see and hear God, to walk in the presence of God and share His goodness with others.

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Isaiah 58 New Living Translation (NLT)

True and False Worship

58 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
    Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel[a] of their sins!
2     Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
    and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
    that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
    pretending they want to be near me.
3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
    and you don’t even notice it!’

“I will tell you why!” I respond.
    “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
    you keep oppressing your workers.
4 What good is fasting
    when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
    will never get you anywhere with me.
5 You humble yourselves
    by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
    like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
    and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
    Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
    and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
    Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
    Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
    and a restorer of homes.

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.
    Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
    and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
    and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14 Then the Lord will be your delight.
    I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Footnotes:

1. 58:1 Hebrew Jacob. See note on 14:1.

Jesus has proclaimed this change of spiritual focus starting from His coming to this earth 2000 years ago, filled with the Holy Spirit, walked by the Spirit, led by the Spirit as the Son of God, living a life of worship in spirit and in truth.

Luke 4:18-19, 21 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
    that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19     and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.[a]”

21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

End Times church countdown: worship in spirit and in truth

The little house church learns to listen to the Holy Spirit. They have no formula or program. They believe that the end times church must repent and turn back to follow the old way – the way of the First Church, as in the Acts of the Apostles. They meet every Lord’s Day at a certain time and spend the bulk of the day together, listening to the Lord, worship, singing praises (Scripture songs), praying in the Spirit, singing spiritual songs, reading the Bible, proclaiming the verses, listening to prophets and teachers of the word of God.
The church was formed nearly seven months ago. On the first Lord’s Day, they were led to read the Acts of the Apostles (Acts of the Holy Spirit) and almost all who participated that first Lord’s day were filled with the love of God during worship.
They had no musical instrument or music director. They used a tiny MP3 player and listened to Scripture songs, learning to sing along. They had no preacher. Each brethren reads his/her Bible at home and some come for weekday morning 5am Bible reading. On the Lord’s day one brethren will speak the words of God and teach as led by the Holy Spirit.
The singing had been enriched lately by the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to some members. Today the singing was harmonious as broke through the usual level of spiritual realm. They were led by the Lord to heavenly realm. The rivers of living water that flew out of each belly (John 7:38-39) merged into a mighty river! It was like heavenly angels joined in and blended together with the little group of brethren (age 7-80+) and praising the Almighty God.
The worship continued as the Spirit of the Lord continued to flow within the believers. They were joined to the Lord and became one spirit with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Even the brethren who was speaking that morning did not bother with how little time he would have left when the worship took longer time. Time was not on anyone’s mind.
In fact, time stood still. The singing went on in the Spirit. Someone prayed in understanding from time to time as led by the Spirit.
When the speaker finally took over and spoke. The word turned to a clear focus on Christ Jesus who was the Word Himself. it was wonderful.
The truth flowed as during worship. Words came direct from the Bible. They linked and bonded across the pages from various chapters, Old and New Testaments. Some were Scripture songs that could be sung. So they all sang those verses during the sermon (which was aptly called “The Word of God”).
The watchman had longed for such a day for quite sometime. It came.
________________Suggested Bible reading:
John1; Hebrews 1-2; Genesis 1:1-3; Isaiah 11 (2,9); 2 Timothy 3; Hebrews 4; 1 Corinthians 2; John 14, 17; Proverbs 4; Psalm 119 (1-2, 9-11)