Encountering God through Worship..Craig Denison Ministries

 

Encountering God through Worship

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Having consistent and transformational encounters with God while on earth is meant to be foundational to the Christian life. Our God has not left us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we’ve been filled with the very Spirit of God who longs to reveal to us daily the nearness and love of our heavenly Father. We are never alone. There is nowhere we can flee from the presence of our God. May this week be filled with transformational encounters with the living God as we learn what it is to seek the face of the one who has formed us, knows us, and loves us unconditionally.

Scripture:“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 29:2

Devotional:

Jesus taught us in John 4:23, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.”Your heavenly Father is seeking your worship. He longs for it. He so values your love and adoration that he would send his Son to die that the path to encountering him would be made available.

You were first and foremost created to worship. You were created to receive the love of your Creator and in response give him your heart. You will never feel as whole as when your heart is connected to your Father’s and you are giving and receiving love in worship. Colossians 3:14-17 says,

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Christian life is to be marked by heartfelt, genuine worship: worship filled with God’s presence and nearness and that responds to a true encounter with the heart of God. If that type of worship is new to you, that’s okay! If the idea of encountering God in worship is new to you, there is joy and grace at the place of new beginnings. Don’t allow your past to dictate the possibilities of your future. Don’t allow past experiences where worship might not have been filled with encountering Jesus make you believe that future times of worship won’t be marked by intimacy and God’s presence.

There is a new season of worship on the rise. Psalm 29:2 says, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” It’s time for the people of God to worship in the “splendor of holiness.” It’s time for us to receive in faith our new position as children seated in the heavenly places with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). It’s time for us to seek encounters with our God that are unveiled and filled with God’s presence (2 Corinthians 3:18). It’s time to worship in both spirit and truth, with our hearts and our minds fully engaged and responsive.

Isaiah 12:5 says, “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.” May the world around you change as the result of your worship. May your declaration of God’s goodness lead others into restored relationship with the Father. May your life be marked by intimacy and encounter with the living, active God of love who is nearer to you than you have ever imagined.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the goodness of worshipping God in spirit and truth. Allow Scripture to fill you with a longing to encounter God through worship.

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” John 4:23

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 29:2

2. Ask the Lord to reveal to you his heart for intimacy in worship. Take time to seek out the desires of God that you might live to satisfy his longings for your worship.

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” Lamentations 3:25

3. Take some time and worship. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you praise from your heart. Engage your heart and mind with the lyrics of your favorite worship song. Worship and receive God’s presence.

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:28

Romans 12:1 says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We are created to worship through our lives. Every word, thought, action, and emotion can be done as worship if we will seek to commune with God in everything. God never leaves us; he never forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6). If we will keep our hearts open, we can live in the presence of our Creator, filled with the knowledge of his love and nearness in all we do. May we as God’s people pursue with greater fervor what it is to truly worship.

Extended Reading: Psalm 33

The Bookcase Method: Overcoming the Overwhelming..EVIE POLSLEY

 The Bookcase Method: Overcoming the Overwhelming

EVIE POLSLEY 

“Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.’” Mark 12:42-44 (NLT) 

We loved our house, but it was time to move.

My heart burst with excitement when I thought about how our new house would allow more opportunities to open our home to others and share God’s love through hospitality.

But at the height of my daydreams about what was to come, the reality of what was now brought everything crashing down.

What had been my sanctuary from the many stresses of life became an anxiety-ridden, overwhelming pressure point as the enormity of packing a whole house took control. Where should I even begin? The kitchen? Kids’ bedrooms? What do we need access to right away?

My head was spinning with questions when I looked up and noticed our bookcase. Why not start there? So, one by one, I took the books off the shelves and added them to a box until all had been packed away. I felt a sense of relief. It wasn’t much, but it encouraged me. I could do this!

I think we sometimes approach the Bible like I approached packing my house. It’s a huge book filled with history, prophecies, lessons, wisdom and so much more. All are vital truths with eternal significance. We think we need to take everything in at once, which can cause us to avoid even opening our Bibles because we are so overwhelmed by the idea of all that’s inside.

Don’t get me wrong — I absolutely love my Bible. It is my lifeline. But when I think of the weightiness of its contents and the vast amount of information, it can cause me to sigh and think, Can I do this? Where do I even begin?

What I have come to realize in those seasons of feeling overwhelmed is that I need to pray and ask God where to put my focus. There are times when taking on the full Bible is an amazing adventure, and I’m here for it! But there are also times when I feel God saying, Slow down. Really focus on this specific portion of My Word in the context of My story. And just enjoy being with Me. And I’m here for those times too.

During my current season of feeling overwhelmed, I am reading through the book of Mark. I have been able to focus on that specific text, allowing a story I’ve read many times to bring new comfort and understanding.

“Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.’” (Mark 12:42-44)

Though this passage talks about money, I think the truth goes beyond finances. Some days, we have a surplus of ourselves to give. We are filled with energy, invigorated to study and full of purpose. Other days, we are beaten by the stresses of life, weighed down by exhaustion, and we struggle to find even a small portion of ourselves to give. And just as He saw the widow’s offering, God sees ours too.

Whether we’re ready to unpack large amounts of God’s Truth or need to focus on the bookcase method — one thing at a time — God is ready to commune with us right where we need Him. In His Word, we find renewed strength. And no matter the size of what we can bring, He is all-in. He is holding us through every challenge and every joy we face.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for seeing me and loving me right where I am. Thank You for understanding the times when I am overwhelmed and for drawing near to guide and direct me. Thank You for Your Word, which brings truth, wisdom, comfort and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Satan's Strategy..Dr. Charles Stanley

 Satan's Strategy

Dr. Charles Stanley

Luke 22:31-62

All of us make tracks through the valley of failure. The question is, How are you going to respond? Plenty of people give up and exchange a vibrant kingdom-serving life for a defeated existence. But failure need not be an end. It's a chance for a new beginning living in Christ's strength.

Peter had a life-altering failure. Jesus warned that Satan had asked permission to "sift" the disciple like wheat (Luke 22:31)—vigorous shaking is required to separate wheat kernels from debris. The Enemy wanted to shake Peter's faith hard in hopes that he'd fall away from Jesus like chaff.

Peter fervently believed the promise he'd made to Jesus: "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not" (Mark 14:29). But Satan knows a few things about the power of fear. What's more, he realized that the disciple would be wounded by his own disloyalty. A man with tattered pride can't help but question his usefulness.

When Satan sifts believers, his goal is to damage our faith so much that we're useless to God. He wants us shelved far from the action of the Lord's kingdom. Therefore, he goes for our strengths—the areas where we believe ourselves to be invincible, or at least very well protected. And when the Devil succeeds, we are disappointed and demoralized. But we don't have to stay that way.

If we are willing, God can use failure to do spiritual housecleaning. Peter laid down his pride and instead put on the Holy Spirit's courage. Thereafter, he risked humiliation, persecution, and death to proclaim the gospel. Failure was the catalyst that brought forth greater faith and true servanthood.

How is Jesus “the Word”?..R. C. Sproul

 How is Jesus “the Word”?

By R. C. Sproul

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: In the beginning was the Word [logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. – John 1:1

In Greek philosophy, the logos remains an impersonal force, a lifeless and abstract philosophical concept that is a necessary postulate for the cause of order and purpose in the universe. In Hebrew thought, the Logos is personal. He indeed has the power of unity, coherence, and purpose, but the distinctive point is that the biblical Logos is a He, not an it.

All attempts to translate the word Logos have suffered from some degree of inadequacy. No English word is able to capture the fullness of John's Logos when he declared that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Attempts have been made by philosophers to translate Logos as logic, act, or deed—all of which are inadequate definitions.

God's Logos does include action. The Logos is the eternal Word in action. But it is no irrational action or sheer expression of feeling. It is the divine Actor, acting in creation and redemption in a coherent way, who is announced in John's Gospel.

That the Word became flesh and dwelt among us is the startling conclusion of John's prologue. The cosmic Christ enters our humanity. It is the supreme moment of visitation of the eternal with the temporal, the infinite with the finite, the unconditioned with the conditioned.

Reflect on this truth: God became flesh to accomplish your redemption. Have you accepted His gift of salvation?

For Further Study

John 1:1-2: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:15: "John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, `He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'"

A Prayer for Loved Ones Who Are Far from God..Debbie McDaniel

 A Prayer for Loved Ones Who Are Far from God

By Debbie McDaniel

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

God’s hope for us this season is this: He is able. Keep on praying my friends, for all those you love whose hearts seem far away. Don’t ever give up.

There may be friends and family we love who have pushed away any need of Him, they’ve chosen another path. And maybe others we hold dear, have bought into the lie; that other things in this world can satisfy. Broken relationships, hurt, or harsh words may lead many to stay distant. And at times, there seems to be such a deep rift, it feels almost impossible that they’d ever be drawn towards the love of Christ.

Yet no matter what the reason, or how far gone our friend or loved one seems to have traveled, it doesn’t change this assuring fact. God’s love reaches. It’s never too short to save, and He’s never too weary of extending more grace. His power is limitless. His forgiveness is endless.

The very reason Christ came was to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to reach. It’s what He does best. And the arm of the Lord is mighty and strong.

Let's pray:

Dear God,
We’re thankful that you know our hearts, you hear our prayers, and you care about all that concerns us. Thank you that you understand these burdens we carry and how we want, more than anything, to see our loved ones come to you. Help us to remember that you love them more than we ever could. And that you desire to extend your great love and forgiveness to the deepest part of their soul. We are forever grateful for your healing power, for your gift of mercy, and your message of hope.

Father, we ask that you would stop every plan of the enemy over those we love as we bring them before you right now. We pray that you demolish his schemes and that your plans for good, for a future and hope, would prevail. Please open up blind eyes that they might see your truth. We believe in you to rescue those walking in darkness, and to heal the deep wounds of all who have been hurt. We pray for the miraculous intervention of your Spirit to draw them to yourself, to work strongly on behalf of our loved ones who are lost and wandering.

Lord, forgive our unbelief. Please forgive the times we’ve doubted that you could ever change a distant heart. Forgive our hard-heartedness, our weariness, or forgetfulness to pray continually. And thank you God, that you never give up on us. Remind us again of how you’ve changed our own hearts; how your miracle of life and hope has sprung up deep within our souls.

We love you Lord; we need you today and every day. We thank you that you hear our prayers and believe that you are at work even now. Powerfully. Faithfully. And miraculously. Doing what only You can do. Thank you again for the most wonderful gift of our Savior, God with us. Thank you for your great goodness and love.
 In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Standing Firm..Emma Danzey

 Standing Firm

By Emma Danzey

1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Be on Your Guard
The Scriptures make it clear that believers in Christ are to be on our guard because the enemy is against God, so He too will attack the Father’s children. We are part of a spiritual battle that many days we wake up forgetting is going on. When our lives are consumed with the temporary, we forget the eternal.

When you stop and think about how you need to specifically be on your guard right now, what comes to mind? In what ways is the enemy attacking you, your family, your friendships, your workplace, and your church? Just as God is active, the Devil is active too. He is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for people to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Being on our guard works best when we are not reliant on our own strength but on the help of the Holy Spirit and the armor of God. We are not left in the battle unguarded and vulnerable, we are equipped and empowered with the victory of Jesus and hopeful that this temporary suffering is for His glory.

Stand Firm in the Faith
Here is the call to stand firm. When we think of the word firm, what do you picture? I think of a rock, a strong muscle, or a wall. I imagine something immovable and steady, something that will not shake or even give the idea that it would fall. We have a firm foundation in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

There is nothing that I can create to build my life on that will be more firm than choosing to trust in Jesus. When Christ is the King over our lives, when we have placed our faith in Him, we too are now stable and immovable in Him. He is the reason that we can have confidence and a place of refuge in the difficulties in life. He gives us peace and bravery. When a hurricane comes, it matters more what the homes are built out of to withstand the storm. Although all will be hit by the storm, not all will crumble. Because of Jesus, even though we are in the storm of sin in this world, we will not crumble.

2 Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.’” We can rest assured that God knows that we are His. He can help us, and He can remind us that He is our firm foundation in this life. We can place our full trust in Him, more so than when we sit in a chair and it holds us up or ride in a plane and hope it lands. We have the promise that He is always with us, and He will keep us safe in His arms.

Be Courageous; Be Strong
It is easy to live in fear when trials occur around us. We can fall into the pit of anxiety and worry. However, Christ has called us to be courageous and strong. Just like Joshua in the Old Testament was chosen and invited to be strong and courageous, we too have been chosen and called by God to do the same in our generation. Although Joshua battled real people, we have a great spiritual battle going on around us. The calling for both is still the same, and the promise that the Lord is always with His people remains as well.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How do you sense the enemy trying to work in your life? In what ways is your faith being tested? How can you remember to stand firm on Christ and not in your own abilities in the midst of trials? How is God equipping and enabling you to be courageous and strong through His Spirit today?

Further Reading:

• Joshua 1:9
• Ephesians 6:10-20
• 1 Peter 5:8