What is Worship?.. Craig Denison Ministries

 

What is Worship?

Craig Denison Ministries

What is Worship?

Weekly Overview:

This week we’ll spend time breaking down the individual components of First15 by sharing God's desire for each of them. The majority of First15 is dedicated to encountering God and learning about his character, but every now and then we will cover some teaching and tools that will help in pursuing God to greater depths. This week we will get back to the basics and learn some spiritual disciplines that will help us encounter him in deeper, more transformative ways.

Scripture:“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.” Psalm 59:16

Devotional:

What is worship through song? When we go to church or gather with other believers, why do we sing? Clearly not everyone finds singing or music to be their greatest passion, so why do we do it?

Worship is first and foremost about the longing of God for unfettered relationship with his people. In authentic worship we can touch the heart of our Creator—satisfying the desires of he who payed the highest price simply to have us. Scripture is clear that God loves when we sing to him and about him. Ephesians 5:18-19 tells us to “be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” John 4:23 states, “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.”

God loves worship. He longs for it. Think of that! You have an opportunity every day, through worship, to satisfy the heart of the one who paints sunsets, breathes life into dust and forms mountains, galaxies, animals, angels and humankind with just the power of his voice. You bring your Creator immense joy and satisfaction when you worship through singing.

You see, God is after your heart. He’s after direct connection from his Spirit to yours. Music has this profound ability to reach past our limited understanding and help our heart connect with he who is limitless and eternal. It serves as an avenue for this cyclical, reciprocal act of love and devotion between the Creator and the created. In worship we discover the reality of God on a level different than reading Scripture or spending time in prayer or community. In worship we can sing to God songs of adoration, thanksgiving, high praise, and unadulterated love in response to his character, nearness, and devotion. Simply put, in worship we give and receive that which is most important—love.

Whether you normally engage in personal worship right now or not, know that you were created to worship. You were made to connect directly with the heart of God. As you engage in the act of worship you will discover the nearness of a God so filled with steadfast love and devotion for you that everything changes. As you consistently touch the heart of the Father your life will be transformed by his limitless grace and passionate pursuit. Engaging in worship will result in an overflowing, unquenchable joy, as there is no greater experience than that of a perfect God meeting with an imperfect person.

Take time in guided prayer to reflect on the importance of worship and connect directly with the heart of your heavenly Father. May your time be marked by a greater revelation of his nearness and love.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Allow Scripture to fill you with a longing to connect directly with your Creator through worship.

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:1-4

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Psalm 95:1-6

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

2. Ask God to show you how much he loves your worship—to give you a revelation of his great love for you. May his desire for worship be the foundation of your devotion.

“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

“That you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’” Revelation 4:8

3. Spend some time resting in the presence of God. Ask him to reveal his love to you in a fresh way and worship him in response.

“But for me it is good to be near God.” Psalm 73:28

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

If you feel the weight of the world resting on your shoulders at any point today, take a few minutes to engage in worship. A small time of worship has the power to reprioritize our lives and make the stresses and burdens of life diminish in light of God’s eternal love. May your day today be marked by the peace and joy of one who knows the love and nearness of the Father.

Extended Reading: John 4

What Happens When We’ve Been With Jesus..KAREN EHMAN

 What Happens When We’ve Been With Jesus

KAREN EHMAN

“When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (CSB)

When our oldest son, Mitchell, was a tiny tot, we purchased a plastic toy lawn mower for him at a local yard sale. Using that lawn mower became one of his favorite pastimes. But he didn’t want to propel it just anywhere — he wanted to follow along right behind his dad as he mowed the lawn.

Of course, this wasn’t safe; the lawn mower blade might throw a rock or worse. So my husband disengaged the blade and pushed his lawn mower around our backyard just so my son could follow behind and imitate him.

Often in my spiritual life, I've thought it a worthy goal to try to be more like Jesus in this way: to imitate His behavior, to try to behave like He does. But the older I get, the more I have discovered it isn’t enough just to try to be like Jesus. First, we should want to be with Jesus. Godliness can’t just be imitated; it needs to be developed. And the best way to develop it is not by doing good deeds but by growing in our relationship with the Lord.

Acts 4:13 gives us a glimpse of this truth: “When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

A certain phrase pops out at me: They had been with Jesus.

How this verse both challenges and inspires us! Do others recognize from our behavior that we have been with Jesus? Might they be amazed at qualities we possess because of Him, even though we aren’t anybody special? In our walk with the King, are we focusing on copying His behavior in a perfunctory way or on being in His presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict, change and embolden us, helping us trust God more and live out our faith?

My son Mitch did love mimicking his dad, but mostly he just constantly wanted to be where his father was, whether spending time outside in the yard, working on something in the garage or putting his feet up inside the house after finishing his chores. Similarly, we should stick close by the Lord's side, loving the time spent in His presence.

Spending deliberate time with Jesus in prayer and Bible study — however that works into our schedule and season — shows a seriousness about our faith and can strengthen our trust in Him. May the words of James 4:8a be our continual ambition: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (NLT).

Looking and sounding like Jesus will be the natural result from spending time with Him so often. Let’s focus on that.

Gracious Father, I long to put unhurried time with You at the top of my priority list. Help me to carve out space in my schedule to deepen my walk with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Setting Goals for Fruitful Living.. Dr. Charles Stanley

 Setting Goals for Fruitful Living

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Samuel 7:18-22

In the 70s, I experienced a turning point in my walk with Christ. It started with 2 Samuel 7, which inspired me to follow in King David’s footsteps. He spent time alone with God, offering praise and thanksgiving. He would also listen as the Lord revealed truth and offered insight about the future. Because of what he learned, David was able to set goals and stay aligned with them.

Desiring that kind of solitude, I spent several days alone in a camper at Georgia’s Stone Mountain. Most of the time, I was silent, listening intently for God’s voice. I asked Him to speak to me regarding my future, and He answered. Using a journal, I recorded the goals He inspired. The things He communicated so impacted my choices and so greatly blessed me that I continued the discipline every couple of months.

Let’s discuss how to establish aims in this manner. First, come before the throne of Almighty God with a repentant heart, praise, and thanksgiving. Then, ask Him for direction in areas such as spiritual life, career, and family. In silence, wait patiently and attentively—as you read and meditate upon God’s Word, He will speak. Most often, His guidance is experienced as a prodding or conviction in the heart. When that happens, be sure to write down what you’re “hearing” so you can review it later.

In order to stay on the path God intends for our lives, we should plan times to stop, ask, and listen for guidance. The world throws confusing messages at us all day long, and we need to check our course frequently. These conversations with the Lord are vital for a thriving life of godly impact.

Set Your Face Like a Flint ..Anne Peterson

 Set Your Face Like a Flint (Isaiah 50:7)

By: Anne Peterson

Today's Bible Verse: Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. - Isaiah 50:7

Growing up in my dysfunctional home, I remember being shamed. And when you’re a child, you tend to absorb and internalize that shame. Instead of being able to process your emotions, you start seeing yourself as less than because of how you feel.

When I became a Christ Follower, I began to unlearn that shame. I learned God not only took away my sins on the cross, but God began a work in me which he will continue (Philippians 1:6). God isn’t finished with me yet.

One Christmas my Bible teacher, Lois Peterson, chose a Bible verse she picked especially for us. Mine was Isaiah 50:7, which talks about setting my face like a flint. It says I will not be disgraced because the Lord helps me. Setting my face like a flint means to follow in Christ’s footsteps, separate from worldly influences. It also means to be disciplined, being loyal to God and His truth above all else. We’re not oblivious to all that is going on around us, but we make a choice.

This is not possible without God’s strength and the power of the Holy Spirit. God empowers us for the things he wants us to do. To be a responsible person means I will respond to God’s ability.

Jesus faced the ultimate test when he went to the cross. When Jesus went to the Garden to pray, he took a few of his disciples with him. And then he went on further so he could be alone with God.

When Isaiah prophesied about Jesus on the cross, Isaiah said the Lord had opened his ears, Jesus had not been rebellious. Isaiah said Jesus did not turn away from what was coming. God’s plan was the reason that Jesus bore the shame. They beat Jesus, pulled out his beard, mocked him and spat on him. But God is the one who helped Jesus so that he was not disgraced. And Jesus set his face like a flint.

There have been times in my life when I set my face like a flint. In those moments, the only thing I knew for sure was that I had to follow God’s leading. I knew God would be there for me, just like he was all the other difficult times.

Satan is the only one who wants us to be shamed. He wants us to be disgraced, which means to fall from favor. When you think about it, Satan was the one who fell from God’s favor and he wants to pull us down with him. But those of us who know God personally can be assured we will never fall from his favor.

If Jesus is your Savior, no matter what you are facing in your life, you can set your face like a flint, being confident that God will help you and you will not be disgraced. And with God to help you, you don’t need anything else.

A Prayer for New Rhythms.. Ashley Moore

 A Prayer for New Rhythms 

By Ashley Moore

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:19, NLT 

Every year I pray and choose a word that will set the tone of the new year. Some words I’ve chosen are words such as kind, patient, and this past year I chose the word proclaim. It is such a joy to see how God uses words and this simple yearly rhythm to grow me and direct my steps. This rhythm has become a practice to keep following Christ and becoming more like Him at the forefront of my mind all year long. I love the new year because it brings about an opportunity to pick a new word and experience Christ’s leading in a new and fresh way. Do you choose a word at the beginning of a new year? If not, can I challenge you to pray and consider doing so? 

The prophet Isaiah's proclamations illuminated the works of God among the Israelites. They hadn't experienced God in this way before; this was new territory. These were people accustomed to the priesthood and the Levitical Law. There was a clear, right, and proper order to worship God, receive forgiveness of sins, and live as His people. 

The new thing Isaiah spoke of? He was going to provide a perfect and final sacrifice for His people’s sins. When it seemed as if there was no fix for Israel’s proclivity to wander away from God and no end to His anger and wrath, God used Isaiah to tell them God was making a way. And it would be something so wonderful; it would be like a flowing river where there used to only be a desert wasteland (Isaiah 43:19). 

Our God is a wonderful God who goes to great lengths to woo and awe His people into giving Him praise. Think about the wings of a butterfly, or the ability of your favorite musical artist’s pitch to give you goosebumps, or what about the intricacies and nuances of snowflakes under a microscope–no two containing the same pattern. 

God loves to do new things. And maybe this year, He is prompting you to consider some new rhythms. Maybe you feel the need to create a new schedule, take a new job, or make some new friends. Maybe you need to make some new memories or read new books so you can create new, healthier habits. Perhaps it is time to read a new part of the Bible you’ve never read or study a new translation. Maybe like me, you need a new word to live your life next year through a new perspective!

Whatever the case, let’s praise God for the ways He surprises us by accomplishing His purposes in new ways we wouldn’t have previously considered. And in an effort to follow our Good Shepherd and reflect His image to the world, let’s also consider and pray about new rhythms for a new year. Maybe your word for 2023 can be new!?

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord,
Thank you that you are El Oseh Feleh (êl ‘ō·śêh p̄e·le), the God who works wonders (Psalm 77:14)! We can’t possibly box you in with our limited understanding. Thank you for a new year and the opportunity to allow you to do a new thing in our lives. I pray, Lord, that you would show us new rhythms for living. Show us creative ways you want to use us as witnesses for your glory. Would you forgive us when we become rigid and stuck in our ways? Forgive us when we refuse to see how you do things beyond our imaginations and understanding (Ephesians 3:20). Lord, your Son's life bears witness to this phenomenon! Help us see, Lord. Give us an insatiable desire to learn more about who you are and how you want us to live from your Word in this new year. Would you bring each of us a special word or phrase that we can focus on this year that will help us to become more like you? Thank you that you are a creative and awesome God. Lord, do a new thing! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Every Remembrance..Annie Yorty

 Every Remembrance

By Annie Yorty

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." - (Philippians 1:3-6 NLT)

At an age when kids usually assume everyone is ancient, I perceived my fourth-grade teacher to be very young. Her fresh face, devoid of even a hint of makeup, welcomed students with a gentle smile. Her long, walnut-colored hair never escaped the security of a white net head covering that signified her devotion to God. I don’t recall Miss Neff ever talking explicitly about God in our classroom. Unfortunately, that was, and still is, a no-no in public schools. Yet the difference I saw in her drew my heart to Him. 

Miss Neff captured young imaginations with God-given creativity as she taught every subject. For part of the year, she transformed our room into a native American village for a unit study. Without pressure, she encouraged each student to participate and do their best.

At Christmas, she bought a book with her own funds for every child. On that last school day before Christmas, I admired the beautiful gift wrapping for a moment. Then I tore through the tape and paper to find Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I opened the book to a Christmas card depicting children kneeling to worship baby Jesus lying in a manger. Inside, the inscription “with love” spoke to my starving heart. I still treasure that book and card to this day.

Ray Boltz wrote a song that reminds me of Miss Neff. Named “Thank You,” the song describes a dream of heaven where the main character comes face-to-face with people who thanked him for the godly influence he demonstrated in their lives.

Miss Neff often comes to my mind as a person who significantly impacted my life. What about you? Can you think of someone who intersected your world and changed you for the better? God has orchestrated a long string of people, all acting as His agents, to woo you into His kingdom. To teach you His ways. To provide a word of encouragement, that spurs you to persevere. To remind you that you have a Father in heaven who loves you. How should we respond to God’s kindness to us expressed through His servants? 

Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Philippians 1:3 NLT).

In my adult years, I searched for Miss Neff through the power of Google. I would like to express my appreciation directly to her for her positive influence on my life. So far, I’ve been unsuccessful at finding her. She’s probably been married since then and no longer uses her maiden name. I hope the Lord has shown her through someone else how esteemed she is.

I’m sure we can all think of those special people who have said or done something to draw us to God. Can you also think of a time when you acted as God’s instrument of grace, mercy, and love? Are you a person who might receive gratitude in heaven from someone whose life changed because of your words or deeds? I don’t ask this question to encourage you to seek the thanks or approval of people. Here on earth, and later when we’re in heaven, all glory belongs to God.

"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16 NLT)

God created us for the good purpose of representing Him to people in our world. He can use every word, every smile, and every kindness to build the kingdom of heaven on earth. God chooses to spread the good news of Jesus through you and me. We often will not know until heaven how He capitalized on everyday generosity, gentleness, goodness, and grace for greater purposes.

What if we woke up every morning remembering that God wants to use our everyday actions for significance? I encourage you to pause and consider those God placed in your life to draw you closer to Him. If possible, reach out to express your appreciation. Like Paul, pray for God to bless them. As you give thanks, commit to becoming an instrument of God that can change the life of the next person you meet. Meanwhile, if you happen to know Miss Neff, please tell her I said, “Thank you!”

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How can you appreciate someone God has motivated to demonstrate kindness to you? How will you allow God to use you to bless and encourage others?

Further Reading:
1 Corinthians 3:5-9