December 2005

WORSHIP  

Calvary greetings to you in the Lord Jesus. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through Jesus Christ our Lord; Amen.

Today, we will look at the central issue in the tribulation.

You don’t have to do a lot of research to see that God and satan both seek worshipers.

In the whole story, until the end, this remains the same.

{Rev.14:7, Rev.7:11-14,Rev.13:4,Rev.!4:11}

Again and again, a line is drawn between those that worship the beast and those who worship God.

Before the end, the outcome of every man’s life shall be weighed upon

a” scale of worship"

In the midst of warfare and battles, to whom will we bow, God or satan?

Remember, that the Lord’s call to the Israelites was a call to worship and service before Him in the wilderness {Ex.7:16}

Indeed, when Moses first spoke of God’s loving concern, we read that the Hebrews "bowed down and worshiped"[Ex.4:31] But when trials or pressures came, they fell quickly into murmuring, complaining and rebellion. Their worship was superficial, a form of worship without heart worship.

This same condition of shallow worship prevails in much of Christianity today. If a message is given that speaks of God’s great care for His people, with eagerness we bow low and worship. But as soon as the pressures of daily life, or temptations, come, how quickly we rebel against God and resist His dealings.

"The enemy has easy access to the soul that is not protected in it’s worship of God"

The Lord knows that the heart that will worship Him in the wilderness of affliction will continue to worship Him in the promised land of plenty.

Without the worship of God, there can be no victory in warfare. For what we bleed when we are wounded by satanic assault or difficult circumstances is the true measure of our worship. "You see, what comes out of us during times of pressure was in us, but this is hidden during times of ease"

If you are a true worshiper of God, your spirit will exude worship to God no matter what battle you are fighting.

"Worship is a wall around the soul"

All of us receive a portion of both good and evil in this world. Abuses and afflictions hammer us on one side, encouragement and praise hammer us on another. Our reaction to each event, whether that event was positive or negative, is poured into the marrow of our individuality, where it is blended into the nature of our character. What we call "memory" is actually our spirit gazing at the substance of our soul.  With few exceptions, those events which we remember the most have shaped us the most.

God, who is the essence of life, must reach into our experiences and redeem us from our negative reactions. The channel through which the Lord extends Himself, even into our past, is our love and worship of Him.

" And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those

who love Him" [Rom.8:28]

Conclusion

We were created for God’s pleasure. We were not created to live for ourselves but for Him. And while the Lord desires that we enjoy His gifts and His people, He would have us know we were created first for His pleasure. In these closing moments of this age, the Lord would have a people whose purpose for living is to please God with their lives. Even when God allows them to pass through pains or be crushed, they only exude worship like the petals of a flower. In them, God finds His own reward in creating man. They are His worshipers.

Amen.

Pastor Chris