What does your worship cost you?

I read a book by Darlene Zschech (Hillsong Music) on the true value of worship. Buddy and I have been in many churches and it has always saddened me when we go into a church where the choir is singing with absolutely no emotion in the words they are singing. Contemporary and traditional alike. I turned on the tv one Sunday morning and some local church was on and the choir that was singing did not have one member with a smile on their face. I asked Olivia, my youngest, if she thought these people were joyful or were happy to be singing about Jesus. Of course she replied, "no, they look sad Mommy." And here they were on TV singing about God. How can a world full of sin, look upon sad, unemotional faces and determine that we love and serve a mighty God.

My passion is to share with churches what it means to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Psalm 34:1-3 says “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.  2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together." The Word tells us to come together and praise him and bless His name together. It is the sound of one voice, the song of the heart not the mouth, a sound that is more spiritual than musical, a sound of grateful hearts… the sound of the church at worship.

Darlene states that the act of worship is “giving due worth to God.” She explains that the root word of worship is “worth ship.” "It is the created catching a glimpse of the Creator and then responding to His awesomeness." Rick Warren, in his book the Purpose Driven Life says, "the most common mistake with Christians is that they come to worship with the attitude of seeking after an experience, or an event instead of seeking to honor and glorify God." Amos 5:21-24 says "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.  23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." You see its not about style of worship, whether contemporary worship songs or the hymns of the faith, its about the attitude of our hearts. Its about remembering the cross and what He did for us by giving us the gift of salvation and sacrificing ourselves to worship in Spirit and in Truth, to put on the garment of praise. Romans 12:1 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” In view of God’s mercy. Have you looked around at the world lately? Have you seen the deprivation of sin and what it does to people? How wondrous is the mercy God gave us to redeem us to have freedom from sin and the consequences of sin. This world looks at us as a people full of do’s and don’ts, but God has delivered us from tremendous heartache. Have you ever met someone who has lived in sin all of their lives and known them to be truly joyful?

In view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices. To offer all of our being to worship Him, to have a relationship with him, to serve him. If you want an experience, seek the relationship with Him through His Word and through prayer, and the more you learn and develop that relationship, the more you will respond to Him in true heart worship. I Sam. 24 tells of David when Araunah offered to give him the offering to give to God, David says, Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.”

I have to admit I have caught myself before looking at those who seem to be a bit extreme and thought it was strange, but first of all, I don't know what that person has been delivered from. I know when God healed me of cancer, my song and my worship went to a whole other level because I was so thankful, so blessed, delivered. But part of the problem is that many of us are so consumed about what others think of us instead of what God thinks of us that we are not willing to give the sacrifice of praise. I remember one particular Sunday, God clearly spoke to me to bow down before Him in worship. We were singing a song in the choir speaking the many wonderful names of God and who He is. But I disobeyed. I said to myself, people will look at me like they think I am trying to draw attention to myself, especially being on the front row of the choir. I immediately regretted not obeying when my pastor got up and reprimanded the church (but God was speaking directly to me) when he said “ let me teach you something church, you either bow down on your face before the presence of God or you stand to your feet and worship Him, you don't just sit there." It wasn’t about the act of bowing down, it was about the sacrifice of obedience. It was about the sacrifice of worship. I don’t always come into church ready to worship. As we have always said, it seems Satan really gets in your way on Sunday morning. But it seems when I close my eyes and remember the cost of the cross and the cost of my redemption, I find myself responding to Him in worship every time.

I ask you, what does your worship cost you? When you sing a great song like "How great thou art," do you sing it in true worship with your heart to our God? What about “Great is thy faithfulness” and so on. Do you worship Him with your life?

Mark 1:21-34 - Jesus Casts out an Evil Spirit

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

We get a glimpse of Jesus teaching here in Capernaum. I posted a picture of Buddy and I standing really on top of that very temple where Jesus taught in Capernaum. This was one of my favorite places we visited because it was mostly still original. A temple is built over the synagogue but the rest of the town was still like it was 2000+ years ago. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to be able to see these places where Jesus walked and talked and healed and cast out evil spirits. It has done so much for my Bible Study.

I love reading Mark's version of Jesus' story because he is dramatic. He speaks of the people being amazed at the authority Jesus spoke with. The people of Galilee could see the difference, perhaps because they were simple people, fishermen, common everyday people. When you go to Galilee, there is such a difference than Jerusalem. Its like going to farm country opposed to a big city like Atlanta. Its quiet, peaceful, serene as opposed to bustling, hectic and busy, no wonder Jesus loved it there and spent a lot of time there.

But can you imagine being there when the evil spirit spoke up and even called Jesus out by the "Holy One of God." How could you not believe in Christ when even the demons are calling him who He is.

He goes on and heals many people in the region and casts out more demons in the next few verses but at the end of verse 34 it says, "and Jesus healed many with various diseases. He also drove out many demons but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." I love this verse because so many times people can get fearful of what Satan and his demons will do to us, looking around every corner for a demon of this and that, but this verse tells me I don't have to fear satan because Jesus has authority over demons and they can do nothing to us without permission from God if we are under God's authority. Everything that happens in this life is filtered through the hands of God for His good purpose in us, if we are His children. I take comfort in the fact that yes, "sometimes bad things happen to good people" but to know God has control over it in my life brings great comfort to me and I look for what He is trying to teach me through it. Yes, satan is always looking for a way to trip us up and he can tempt us and oppress us, but he cannot touch us when we are God's Children. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." I John 4:4

Attempting normal again

I keep trying desperately to get back to normal and I know it will come soon, but I am still in the middle of getting my internet provider to do what they are supposed to do to get me online, I have stacks of papers I need to go through. Trying to get back to my exercise routine. However, I have just unpacked my books after 11 months and I found some great resources for my blog.

Mark 1:14-20
Jesus Announces the Good News

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

I just unpacked my Phillip Yancey book called "Meet the Bible" He notes that Mark is written like a newspaper with headlines and giving you just the facts. He also notes several things about Jesus' ministry as opposed to John's. John was a typical prophet with the message of judgement, dressing weird and eating strange insects which clarified him as a prophet, but what is interesting is that Jesus was totally different, clarifying him not just another prophet. Jesus ate with people, talked to people, healed the sick, raised the dead, and as stated in verse 14, brought the good news of God to them.

One of my favorite characteristics of Jesus is that he ate with sinners. I, ashamed to say, don't usually want to hang out with people different than me with different view points than me, I like to be with people who agree with me, laugh at my unfunny jokes, and believe like me. I especially don't like confrontation so its a natural response from me to want to avoid people who are opposed to Christ or my Christian walk. But Jesus loved sinners, ate with normal everyday people. He called normal everyday fisherman to be his disciples. But unlike the religious leaders of the time, the fishermen "left their father in the boat," "Jumped ship" so to speak, to follow Jesus. May I always strive to "jump any religious ship" to follow and know relationship with Jesus Christ.

Blogs could be sporadic for a week or two.

Just to let you all know. I am moving houses right now and this week and next week are just overwhelming with all I have to do. Somehow, its going to get done, I keep telling Buddy and myself, its going to get done. I feel like the little engine that could. I think I can, I think I can.