The life of a true worshipper
Good morning brethren, I like to write on “the life of a true worshipper” John 4:24 tells us “God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.” What is true worship? Worship is when a believers gives their deepest affection and highest praise to God, when we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we put God above everything else and put Him first in our hearts. Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2 reveals the mercies of God to be a motivation to worship God, this includes God’s love, grace, the Holy Spirit, everlasting peace, eternal joy, saving faith, comfort, strength, wisdom, hope, patience, kindness, honour, glory, righteousness, security, eternal life, forgiveness, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, freedom, intercession etc. True worship is God-cantered worship and it is also only reserved for God. Only He is worthy of true worship and no other (Revelation 19:10). Moses in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says “The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” But Jesus in Matthew 15:8-9 says ““These people honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” From this two scripture worship is, first about the heart. Unfortunately this was absent in the Pharisees ways of worship because they did not truly love God from their heart. Hence Jesus called them “whitewashed tombs”. True worship that pleases the Lord starts from the heart.
The highest form of praise and worship is obedience to God and His Word. Worship is to glorify and exalt God, to show our loyalty and admiration to our Father. Few characteristics that should be seen in the life of a true worshipper of God includes:- A true worshipper of God should have a thankful heart and attitude, as thanksgiving is a gate into the presence of God and when we give Him thanks and praise, He comes and dwells with us. Paul says in Ephesians 5:19-20 to “make melody in our hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things.” When we love God and have a thankful heart we are able to rise above the circumstances we find ourselves in. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Worshipper should have repentant heart that seek God’s forgiveness and know that it is only by God’s grace that we can enter into His presence. Worshipper has a humble heart, they recognises that without Christ we can do nothing and that God detests pride and if we ever get to a place where we think we are better than others we are in serious trouble (Luke 18:9-14). Must cultivate an obedient heart, 1 Samuel 15:22 says “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams.” God considers obedience far more important than any external expression of worship. A worshipper loves God’s word and he is a person of faith because he has built an intimate relationship with God and have the confidence to believe that God will perform what He has promised.
Lastly a true worshipper has interest for God’s presence because in God is our life, health, peace, prosperity, hope, joy. In conclusion as believers, we are to desire God’s presence in our lives and not allow anything to take His place, or to distract us from knowing Him. Service is for 10.30am and workers meeting is for 10am.
God’s blessings - Mike