First Fruits

Worship WORSHIP – Homage rendered to God which is sinful to render to any created being (idolatry). Easton’s Bible Dictionary Worship is a privilege. Worship is a gift. Worship is public. Worship is private. Worship is silent. Worship is song. Worship is facing upwards toward God. Worship is bowing low before Him. Worship is personal—no matter how or where you worship—it is between you and God. “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 (NLT) Known as Elohim—Yahweh—Adonai—El Shaddai—I Am—Alpha & Omega—God: do you ever stop to think about the incredible privilege we have through Jesus Christ to worship and pray directly to our Master and Creator? And that the great I AM cares for us in a way we can’t begin to comprehend? If you are feeling insignificant, think on that! A privileged few get to have conversations with great international leaders, CEO’s of mega corporations, the most acclaimed movie stars and super athletes, etc. But we have a direct line to commune with the One True God, through whom anything is possible. Now that is significance. I am privileged and blessed to belong to one of the great churches of the 21st century, Prestonwood Church in Plano, Texas. Though this church has over 35,000 members, I say I “belong” to it because my husband and I have invested our lives here. Our closest friends are those we have known through Bible Fellowship for over 30 years. We have a ministry staff who has held our hand in dark days and inspired us to grow in greater knowledge of The Lord. The church goal is simple—to reach souls for Christ until He comes again. Corporate worship happens not only when thousands gather together to make a “joyful noise,” but when even two or three gather together in Jesus’ name, joining their hearts in praise to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. For some, worship occurs during a prelude before the service begins. For others, it happens in the midst of praise music. Still others worship deeply during the sermon as they apply what God is saying to them through the minister. It is amazing to me that God gets us together in one big room and, in the span of an hour, uses the same conduits of music and sermons to connect with each of us individually, effecting different outcomes as each person applies His message to their life! How great is that? In John 4:23–24 (NLT), Jesus explained to a Samaritan woman the essence of worship: “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” No matter where or when we worship, God is honored when we not only set aside the time to commune with Him, but when we prepare for that time of worship by inviting the Holy Spirit to indwell our beings before we begin. Let’s not miss what God has to say to us. Speech “Thus says the LORD, ‘Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23–24 (NASB) I, the LORD, have given you everything you have, and have allowed you to be all that you are. Any wisdom, power, might or riches you possess are from me. Rather than falling into the temptation of pride and boasting about what you have or what you have done, let your boasting be about one thing only: that you know and understand me. Boast all day long that I am your LORD, full of lovingkindness, exercising both justice and righteousness on the earth. I delight in you who treasure your relationship with me enough to tell others that all you are and all you have are because of me.