Worship month
Don’t let a season pas by without reaping something good out of this season.

Let me begin today with the first family on earth, the family of Adam and Eve. After God exiled them from the Garden of Eden, they had two sons, Cain and his younger brother, Abel. Out of so many things that can be written about Cain and Abel, stories about their childhood, their teenage and many other stories, The Bible chose instead, to tell of their sacrifice to God. Story of the offerings they present before God.

There is an important lesson here for all of us to learn and understand. Since the beginning, as we read in Genesis, far before “Torah” (The Law of Moses), worship was already there. Whenever a man came to God, a sacrifice was offered.

Since the beginning, God has shown us not all offerings would be accepted. We know that Abel offered the firstborn of his flock, while Cain offered some of the fruits of the soil. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted by God, while Cain’s sacrifice was rejected or ignored by God.

That’s why we learn this theme of worship. It’s because we want to learn to live right, especially in our worship (sacrifice) to God. We’ve learned what God wants out of our worship.

John 4:22-24 (NLT) 22You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Worship is about knowing

It is about having a relationship with our Creator. Because we can worship simply out of our ritual (habit), without knowing Him.

A mother once commented on her son. She told the story proudly, saying: “My boy worships Ronaldo,” - Ronaldo, the soccer player.- “He knows everything about him. He keeps all his collectibles. He follows all news of Ronaldo. He can tell you stories down to the smallest details, every movement down to every goal he scored, every match and even his personal affairs.” But when she was asked, “Have your son met Ronaldo?” She said, “Not yet.” And obviously Ronaldo doesn’t know who the boy is.

So we can worship (someone) without even knowing the person. Jesus said, “You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know.”

The scribes and the Pharisees were called “the experts” because they memorized the Torah (Law of Moses). They have great experience and knowledge about God. Don’t even try to debate them. Because for sure they are better (in knowledge) but they don't know God personally.

Meanwhile, the disciples that Jesus chose didn’t have the knowledge of the Law as good as the scribes. The disciples would certainly lose in a debate against the scribes. Proven by several occasions where they were caught doing things that were not permissible according to the scribes.

Jesus says in John 5:39-40 (NLT) 39“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

What sets the disciples apart, even though they weren’t as knowledgable as the scribes in how well they knew Jesus and they lived together with Him.

The scribes and the Pharisees always had this approach: it is either “right” or “wrong”. They liked to look for the wrongs in everyone and acted as if they are God, judged people based on their wrongdoings and had the “holier-than-thou” approach to everything.

Apostle Paul says in 1 Cor 13:2 (NLT) 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

Jesus’ approach is different than the Scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus emphasised the relationship is more important than proving we are right while others are wrong. Jesus’ approach is through relationship. Because you can do everything right, perform your religious duties, and even feel proud about it but you can be wrong, because you don’t know God personally. You don’t know who your Creator is, you are not close with Him.

There is a story that Jesus told in

Mark 10:17-22 (NLT) 17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

The man called Jesus a good teacher, although he didn’t know Jesus. He felt he had lived right because he had kept most parts of the commandments. But he didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. And ironically, when he was invited to follow Jesus, he declined, because he had great wealth.

John 4:23(NLT) 23But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

If there are “true worshippers” then there are also “false worshippers”.

Do not assume that all this time we have worshiped properly, when in fact we’ve been wrong.

John 4:24(NLT) 24For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Here Jesus is telling us, - basically giving us a cheat sheet- what His Father approves, that if we want to worship our Father we must worship him in the spirit, from the heart and in truth. That’s what we have to do, according to what our Father wants. Not what we want. Jesus told us, that is the way if we want to please our Father in heaven.

Several times my wife’s friends asked her about me when they want to get me a birthday present. They want to check with my wife, the person who knows me best. They want to find out what I like because they want to five me gifts that I’ll enjoy. I respect this attitude. Because they want to make sure that I’ll like what I get.

Your gift says a lot about you!

God is good. He doesn’t want us to live in vain. He wants us to worship Him the right way. It does not mean that God is begging us to worship Him. Absolutely not. Remember, God does not lack anything. He also does not lack worshippers.

So if God commands us or gives us rules, it is for our own good, not for the good of God, not for God’s benefit.

It’s just like when I give my children rules. I make those rules not for my benefit but for their own good and to prepare them for their future.

Today we are being reminded that the purpose of worship is to be in a relationship with the One whom we worship. Not just mere lip service. Or like the delivery man - who only comes to front yard but never enter the house, much less getting acquainted with the owner. They may know the owner’s name but they don’t know him/her personally at all.

God wants us to know Him and have a relationship with Him.

Worship is a means toward a well maintained relationship with God.

Worship allows our access to God to remain open. Worship ensures that the connection is good, the connection between us and God is good. Just like the internet, if it’s disconnected we can’t download or upload anything.

Worship ensures we have a strong connection, a good connection.

Imagine if our internet only has connection once a week for 1-2 hours. What happen then? You’ll be frustrated, right? Likewise, if we don't want a frustrating life, the we should make worship a lifestyle, not just once a week or during services.

Without a relationships with God humanity often fails to detect Go’s love and help.

Let me give you an example. In the time of Prophet Elisha, the city where he lived was once surrounded by King of Aram’s army. The had a mission to take Elisha’s life. For he had revealed King of Aram’s war tactics to the King of Israel. We can read this story in

2 Kings 6:15-17 (NLT) When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. 16“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

Because he (the servant) doesn't have relationship with God, Elisha’s servant couldn’t see. God’s help at that moment. All he could see was the size of King of Aram’s army surrounding and ready to invade them. But Elisha had a relationship with God and knew who his God was. Elisha saw what his servant saw but he also saw God’s help that’s very large in number and this was what causes them, - the servant and Elisha- to respond differently in the face of King’s siege army. While his servant panicked, Elisha remained calm.

Crisis reveals so many things about our lives.

Crisis actually reveals whom we truly worship

Among other things, crisis actually reveals whom we truly worship. If we truly worship God, we would know that God is always with us during crisis. Whether there is a crisis or not, God is always with us.

If God is always with us, why do we need to be fearful? Even though money and income may decrease or disappear, God will not disappear in crisis. He is God Immanuel who is with us in all situations. We might lose our income but God is greater than money. He is present and is able to bless in a miraculous way, even in ways we can’t imagine.

Until today, there are many people that have testified. It is in this very season of COVID 19 they received God’s extraordinary blessing in ways they have never imagined possible.

Crisis prove who our true friends are

Crisis is the perfect time to prove who our true friends are. In good times, everyone wants to be our friend. But during a crisis, who are our true friends?

Crisis to find out who we can count on in our lives. All these will be revealed in a crisis. Those who seem spiritual, always come to church and serve in ministries, sing the loudest, pray the longest, but when crisis hits, change can happen. They can turn into people who quickly complain, easily give up, have no initiative, like to blame others, are selfish, put themselves before others, and so on.

If you want to find accountable leaders, that is the time. If you. Want to find reliable employees, now is the time. If you want to find a life-partner who can withstand difficult times, someone who does not give up in a crisis, now is the time.

Perhaps there are people who need to hear this.

Crisis reveals is our weakness

One of the things that crisis reveals is our weakness. The areas where we have holes that need patching immediately. I remember how the tire patcher dips the inner tire into water to find the hole that needs to be patched up. If he sees air bubbles coming out, that is where the hole lies.

Crisis can be a turning point

Crisis, be it in work, in marriage, in family, in finance can actually be a turning point, if we are aware and dare to admit that we have weakness in those areas. But if we deny it or are in denial, the hole will only get bigger.

Worship connects us to the source of life

Which is God Himself.

“When you acknowledge the source, the worship starts.” - Myles Munroe

In our worship, we are reminded of who we are - or better yet, we are reminded to whom we belong. We are loved, we are accepted. We are saved and adopted as His children. God Elohim is our Father. Without Him, we cannot do anything.

But in Him, Philippians 4:13 says:

Philippians 4:13 (NLT) 13For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

“All”means anything, in all seasons, we are able to bear anything as long as we are in Christ, not outside of Christ. Because He is the One who gives us strength.

The word “Strength” here is very interesting to learn and I have been saying this for the past three weeks to the DATE members through the video I shared every Saturday.

The danger of worship

Let's learn the danger of worship and what we must not do.

WORTHY (WORTH) + SCIPE (SHIP)

“Worship” comes form the word “worthy” and”-scipe”. “Worth” means value, price or importance. Whereas “-scipe” or “-ship” means condition or position.

So worship shows what or who with highest position, and matters the most in our lives.

Why do we have to worship God? We are supposed to worship because He is the source of everything who occupies the highest position, the most important in our lives. The source is far more worthy than the products, than men’s creation.

Do not worship the creation, but worship the creator.

The worth of a a creation depends on the identity of the creator. So do not worship the creation, but worship the creator.

Hence, the first out of the Ten Commandments is Exodus 20:3 (NLT) 3“You must not have any other god but me.

When we position the creation higher than God the creator, then the creation becomes another god, then it becomes an idol in someone’s life.

Worship the Giver, not the gift

Place the Creator higher than creations. Place the Creator higher than talents. Do not worship talents. Do not positions your talents higher than God.

There are people who worship their own beauty. They are aware that God has blessed them in beauty more than others but they place their beauty above God, who gave them the beauty.

There are people who worship their own body. They spend so much time hours in the gym daily, to the point of having no more time to worship God.

There are people who worship their shoes. Their shoes collection is fat more precious than their relationship with God.

There are people who are worship their handbags, their watches and other belongings.

There are also those whose roles are worship leaders but instead of worshipping God, they worship their gift or singing. What they worship is their own voice. Such can be seen during their worship on stage, when they’re supposed to lead the church into God’s presence deep inside they are consumed by their own voice, focused on their own appearance.

Do not worship the gift, worship the Giver.

Do not worship business or careers or family or money or knowledge or even ministry.

Let us not only worship God only when we are in difficulties, or when we are jobless, or when our business is not going well, but when we become prosperous, our career advances and business Strats to take off we then forget about God. We have no more time to worship God.

This means we place the creation higher than the Creator. This is why we become self-conceited, prideful and arrogant.

The devil did likewise. He was God’s angel but then lost sight of who he was. He wants to position himself to be like God.

Even pastors are also prone to this temptation. They can be arrogant, even super arrogant if they place their knowledge, their ministry, their wisdom or their anointing above God Himself.

True Worship should make us humble

Because in true worship, we realize that we’re just creations. We are nothing without our Creator.

John 15:5-6 (NLT) 5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

Once again, true worship will makes us humble because we know who we are. Realize that we are made by God our Creator and everything comes from Him.

That's why I cherish what Apostle said in

Romans 12:1 (NLT) 1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

So we need to remind ourselves repeatedly, especially in our worship to God.

Say, “God, all of my being, all that I have - possessions, positions, titles- all comes from You, my ministries too. All of these are Yours. Thank you for You have entrusted them to me in order to glorify Your name.” That is what we should say to God.

I believed now you are all being equipped and are ready to be true worshippers, to worship Him, worship Abba Father inspirit in truth. Amen.

PriscillaRVRnotes is my notes collections of the people that I learn from. Since 2013, I intentionally take a note as details as I can. The goal is to learn (unconsciously) how to be a better writer and to re-read what I have learned. Now it’s the time to share with others.