A personal journey of worship

Shalom dear reader,

I would like to begin by introducing myself.  My name is Charmaine and I am a co-laborer in Messiah with Jews for Jesus and a large part of my ministry is as a worship leader, singer, musician and speaker.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to examine the scriptures and see what the Word of God teaches us about personal and corporate worship.

Lets begin with a personal journey of worship.

  

A PERSONAL JOURNEY OF WORSHIP

Before we can consider true corporate worship, we first need to develop a deep and intimate personal relationship with the Lord and out of that relationship we will learn what it means to worship him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).

23.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

24.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.

True worship is so much more than singing songs during a meeting.  It is a lifestyle!  It is only when we have learnt to worship God in spirit and truth in our individual daily lives and activities that we will then truly experience spirit-filled corporate worship.

In Genesis 22:5 we have the first recorded biblical use of the word worship (shâchâh - Strong’s Concordance Ref #7812) and this passage lays a foundation for personal worship. 

 Over the next few weeks, we will examine Genesis 22:1 – 19 and as we do so we will come across a number of principles that express the requirements of a worship lifestyle.

 

Lets begin with Genesis 22:1

Some time later God tested Abraham.  He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

TESTING

In verse 1 God calls Abraham and tempts KJV (tests) him.  Tempt  (Strong’s Ref #5254) means to test, prove, adventure, assay, temp, try. 

We can be certain of one thing and that is, we will be tested in our walk with God.  Testing forms part of developing our character.  How we react to tests and trials will expose our character.  Acts 14:22 “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God…”

  

REACTION AND RESPONSE

Notice Abraham’s response.  He answers God by saying “Behold, here I am.”  The Hebrew word used here for “here I am” is hineni and means “Here I am, you have my full attention.”

When God speaks, what is your reaction and response?  Do you respond as Abraham did in full submission?  James 1:2 – 4 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 give some insight on how we are to deal with trials.

Walking with God requires total submission and obedience. 

 

  1 Samuel 15:22  To obey is better than sacrifice…

We are all in the process of trials of some sort.  Some of us may be entering a new trial, some may be in the thick of a trial and some may be coming out of a trial.

I would like to encourage you to allow the Lord to work in you through the trial.  Allow him to conform you to the image of his Son Jesus and in the process learn to worship the Lord in the trial.

Worshiping God is not dependant on our circumstances or feelings.  We worship him because he is God and is worthy of our praise and adoration.

May the Lord bless you, guide you and keep you during the week.

Blessings,

Charmaine

Clim Jews for Jesus