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BACKGROUND
PRAISE
Worship
Worshipper
WORSHIP
Prayer
PRAYER
Fast
FASTING
Tithe
TITHES
Gift
GIFT
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| PRAISE AND WORSHIP |
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 I am really into praise and worship! That has not always been the case, as I described earlier. Won’t bore you with the details again! But I have been through all the stages and still seek even more! As my love and appreciation for my God grows, so I desire to worship Him more and more! This is a very unnatural reaction for the natural David, I can assure you! It just has to be God working in me!
Now I am probably not going to win friends and influence people with the following. We all like to think we are worshipping our Lord as He desires. In reality though, it is rather more likely that we are worshipping Him to the extent we are prepared to let go of our reserve. The two are normally quite different! For we very easily fit into a ‘worship culture’, hugely influenced by those we are worshipping with. Try going into a church where the worship is significantly more, or less, exuberant than we are used to and you will soon know what I mean! I am most fortunate to be in a church where worship is highly esteemed. A right rowdy, enthusiastic bunch we are! “But David, I am not comfortable in that sort of environment”, I hear you say. Surely it is not the ‘I’ that is important but rather the ‘He’! Mark 12:30, the most important commandment of Jesus, gives us the clue as to the desire of the Father in this matter.
Mark 12:30
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 Now that is very straightforward to me, praise and worship being the outward expression of our inner love. No ifs, no buts, no maybes! One word in every 6 of this verse is that most uncompromising, concise, yet big word, ‘all’.
When I joined a Pentecostal church I discovered that there is a 3 step (surprise, surprise, surprise!) pattern that God has revealed for praise and worship, that pleases Him. It is based on the 3 parts of the Tabernacle of Moses. The exciting thing about this pattern is that it shows us where we are heading, as well as how to get there! Let’s take a look.
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| 1. THE OUTER COURT – GIVING THANKS TO JESUS: |
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 The Outer Court had, as its focus, the Brazen Alter, on which animal sacrifices were offered, specifically for the sins of the people. This is of course a picture of what Jesus was to do for us on the cross, 1,500 odd years later. He was sacrificed for all our sins. Therefore the emphasis in this first part of our praise and worship is on Jesus, giving Him thanks for all He has done for us. This is typical of many of the great hymns and songs of the Traditional and Evangelical churches.
But our praise and worship is not to stop there. For the Lord has revealed more. That is why, even in these churches, more modern songs, often identified as ‘choruses,’ have being introduced. For there are less and less churches where the traditional 3 or 4 hymns of my youth, admittedly many years ago, (in pre-historic times according to my family!), separated by prayers and a sermon, are still in vogue. Generally such churches are populated by older folk, and are likely to finally die as their shrinking congregations dwindle away to zero. Please, but please, neither God nor myself, is being critical of these, mostly God honouring people. But it is simply reality. And there is so much more available to us.
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| 2. THE HOLY PLACE – PRAISING GOD BY THE SPIRIT: |
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 More controversy. To those who don’t participate - it’s all just emotion and no substance. Those who do participate in Pentecost, believe they place equal emphasis on both praise and worship. So I might as well be in trouble with everyone! Show no favouritism that way!
For my observation of many Pentecostal and Charismatic churches is that most are more comfortable in, and have a greater understanding of, praise rather than worship. For praise is typical of the added dimension of the Holy Spirit, (Jesus plus the Holy Spirit) which go to make up the realm of Pentecost. Pentecostal praise is typified by enthusiasm, noise, clapping, dancing, etc. Hence the name ‘happy clappies’. Although used in a derogatory way by many of those who won’t participate, in reality it is a positive nickname. It’s an accurate description of the praise and worship of Pentecost.
This worship type represents a huge advance on the older, traditional form of worship and has literally been responsible for keeping the church alive in many places during the 20th century. But there is still more.
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| 3. THE HOLY OF HOLIES – WORSHIPPING GOD THE FATHER: |
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 This is the ultimate. To enter the very throne room of God, to be in His presence. How can we worship in the very presence of The Father? Only by being perfect, which none of us yet are. But we are on the way, aren’t we? Aren’t we? I hope so, for that is what our walk is all about. As Paul says in Philippians 3:12-21.
Philippians 3:12-21
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| <i>NEXT WEEK</i> PRAISE AND WORSHIP 2 |
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 While we now understand the pattern of praise and worship as set out in 'type' in Moses Tabernacle, we still have to apply the principles it reveals to our life.
We'll have a look then at this challenging yet wonderful progression.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Praise and worship then, is the first area in which we give something of ourselves back to God, as an expression of gratitude for all He has given us.
Sometimes we may not feel much like it, but as our God is always good to us, we need to acknowledge Him through praise and worship continually.
THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE JUDEAN WILDERNESS
This land is at the northern edge of the Israelite wandering. Clearly, the people of Israel could not have survived without God’s provision. They had to learn to depend on him. The small shrubs that grow here were called broom trees and frequently enter the biblical story (Gen. 21:15-16; 1 Kings 19:3—5). The burning bush may have been one of these trees (Ex. 3).
Source: http://www.followtherabbi.com
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
631. True worship is reflected in positive actions.
David Tait
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