THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS

Acts 16:25, 26 (NIV)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.

Why me Lord? Where are you now? What's going to happen to me? This isn't fair!

Notice none of these phrases are in the Word? Never does is say that Paul or Silas sat there, drowning in their own pity, despising God, wondering if following Him is worth all this, waiting for the pain to stop. Nope, you won't find those thoughts or words anywhere. What you do find is that after they were stripped, beaten, and then dragged down to the cell and chained, Paul and Silas continued doing what they started before they were accused. Verse 16 says that they were on their way to prayer and continued to preach the word for several days before they cast the demon out that started all this.

True worship is not something we do only when we feel all warm inside because of all the good things He has done for us. Neither is it something that we do when we feel tempted and want deliverance. Nor is it done when we feel a little persecuted or under pressure because we want to push our flesh into acknowledging the great I AM. Worship is done at all these times, but TRUE WORSHIP comes out when you are hurting so badly that you can't move. You're so repulsed by the place you're at that you can't stand to breath. When it comes as easily as your next breath, you've entered into a new realm of being that others recognize you as a worshipper.

The Message translation says that they were singing ROBUSTly. The Amplified translation says they were singing hymns of PRAISE. When I sing robustly or simply sing hymns of praise, I don't do it quietly. If my heart is so full that I'm singing in this fashion, I'm at the top of my lungs. Forceful and loud. Confident and desirous that He hear me. I can imagine no less from this passage regarding Paul and Silas.

What a position to aspire to! To be so full of the Word of God...to be so immersed in His presence daily...to know beyond a shadow of doubt about Whose you are that you leave your own shell and step into that place where you and the Lord Jesus and the Father God all commune as one.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not speaking of some "mystical" or "transcendental" experience. I'm talking about a relationship so close that I know when I hurt, He hurts. One that I know that if this experience means my death, that only means I'll physically be in His presence. One where my thoughts are not centered around me, but on His greatness. We touch on that relationship at times. The key is to get to that place and stay there.

Then take a look at what happens when you enter that place. The power of God comes on the scene. Verse 26 says that the prison shook with a violent, great, and huge earthquake. One so powerful that the chains fell off all the prisoners! Wouldn't you think that if an earthquake came along (even a small one), that the walls would have fallen on the prisoners? And of course their legs and hands would still have been bound.

So this was no ordinary earthquake. It was the power and presence of the Almighty coming to rescue those that were putting Him first.

Matthew 6:32, 33 says: "but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. " (Msg translation)

Jeremiah 29:13 (my new favorite verse) says: "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you..."

Can you imagine a better time for this to take place? AS they sought the King, He found them. And He not only found them, He took care of the situation in a way that there was NO doubt that He was the One and True God. Isn't it amazing how He does that time and time again?

But while we may never be in a physical place such as a dungeon, firey furnace, lion's den, etc., we do have our own places of hard times. The thing to come away with from these accounts is that if God is so powerful to move on these extreme times, think of how easily He can move in times I need him. It's all on me to get to the place of worship and obedience that allows Him to act.

My Life Work ~ Worship

2 Chronicles 29:10
"I have decided to make a covenant with the God of Israel and turn history around so that God will no longer be angry with us. Children, don't drag your feet in this! God has chosen you to take your place before him to serve in conducting and leading worship—this is your life work; make sure you do it and do it well."

Prior to this time with Hezekiah, the Isrealites had established a lifestyle of regularly worshipping the Great I Am. But as with any of us, they allowed life to creep in and take ascendency over obedience to God and over their own desire to worship. Within time, dust had settled in, covering the beautiful floor of the temple. Cobwebs filled the corners of the sanctuary instead of the Glory Cloud. The doors had stopped being opened and that musty smell crept in (you know, the one you smell in the back of your grandma's closet when you played hide-and-seek as a child) overpowering the faint smell of incense that was used to send the prayers of the people to the heavens. What was once the love of the people for the one that delivered and provided had now become that distant relative long lost and forgotten by the works done to create a life.

But Hezekiah came in with a fresh breath and zeal for God. He was determined to find that relationship again. To restore the faithfulness and obedience of the children with the Father. I love that the Message translation indicates that they have a life's work of worship. Because worship is not just a matter of coming into the presence of God and singing a few hymns, saying a few prayers of thanksgiving and adoration, or lifting your hands in surrender to his awesomeness. These are all right and proper, but they are only a small part of the act of worship. They should be an expression of the things you do daily in adoration and realization of WHO He is. Worship is a part of every breath you take. Underlying in every thought and plan you make in your normal and daily life. It's only by making it as central to your life as I've indicated that you will create this lifestyle of worship...but it's what my heart longs for and pushes me to attain.

Worship ~ Reflected In My Wife

I once heard a minister say that the glory of the husband can be found in the face of his wife. In other words, if he is doing everything he should be doing as a man of God Almighty, then his wife's face will come to life when she looks at him, talks about him, or thinks about him, regardless of who is around her or even if she is alone at the time. You'll see the devotion he has for her in the sparkle of her eyes; the tenderness he shows her in her smile.

There's actually a television commercial that comes to mind that directly demonstrates this thought. A young man is walking down the street and his cell phone rings. His face is basically emotionless until he hears the voice of the person calling ~ and then he breaks out into an infectious smile. You could only imagine that the person he is speaking to has his heart.

I think of the words of that minister when I contemplate what kind of husband I've become. I know when I'm on target when I look into Tracye's eyes and see my love for her returned to me with the softness of her gaze. Likewise, I know that there are problems in Eden when I look at her and see that something I've done or said has brought hurt or if I really listen to what she says in passing conversation and comments. Like when she gets frustrated with herself and rushes because she doesn't want me to lose my patience...wow. Don't get me wrong, I know there are changes in my life as a result of my repentance and obedience in the last year. I know that some of those changes are in the form of patience. I also know that I must have caused some deep hurt for it to still affect Tracye the way it does and that it will take some time for that to heal.

Patience.

A fruit of the Spirit.

Evidence that I'm living and walking in the Spirit according to Galatians 5:25. The Amplified translates this passage by saying it demonstrates that we are controlled by the Spirit. The Message goes on to say "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its (all the fruit of the Spirit) implications in every detail of our lives." By doing just that, working out its implications in every detail of my life, I become more and more a true reflection of the Christ within me. And as I become a mirror image of Christ, my worship for Him becomes more upfront and real.