Today is the first day of our new worship study. I am truly excited about the opportunity that we have in participating in this new worship study together. I have been praying for this time together for over six months -- that God may grow us as worshipers as well as Worship Leaders through this eight-week study. My prayer is that as we come together each Sunday, we will continue to give God authentic worship through "praise, adoration, celebration, and thanksgiving to God in response to who He is and what He has done in our lives."
God desires for us to be doers and not merely hearers. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
God wants us to have a consistent lifestyle of worship--not just a worship "experience" every Sunday.
(John 4:23)
This study has a three-fold purpose:
1. To help you gain a clear revelation of God and His desire for worship to be the focal point and passion of our lives (Romans 12:1).
2. To give you a solid understanding of the biblical foundation that leads us to become true worshipers (John 4:23-24).
3. To encourage you to enter into increased freedom in your worship expression as you respond to God's revelation.(p. 6, workbook)
I encourage you to make the most of this study. If you get behind, catch up; make it a priority in your life for the next eight weeks. Read and meditate on each Scripture. Pray for revelation and breakthrough --for yourself and each person in our choir and media ministry who is doing this study. "As you increase in understanding of who God really is and what He has done in your life, consistent and fervent worship will be your natural response. And as you worship, God will inhabit your praise and impact your circumstances" (p. 5, workbook).
ABOUT THIS BLOG:
I welcome your thoughts. Please feel free to share what God is revealing to you about Himself through this study. You may comment each day, weekly or even just once in awhile. Each day I will share the day's highlights and then my thoughts. I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and share freely about what the Lord is teaching you about worship.
NOW LET'S BEGIN: WEEK ONE -- "THE HEART OF WORSHIP"
"God created and equipped us for a lasting relationship with Him." From the first book of the Bible to the last, God makes it clear that He desires a relationship with us. He truly wants us to know who He is and what He has done for us. He loves us so much and wants a lasting personal relationship with each of us and all He desires for us to do is respond and as we do, "we can experience God each and every day as He works through us to accomplish His will" (p. 13 workbook).
Worship is the Key to Experiencing God!
Author Mike Harland is eternally correct when he says "I believe with all my heart that the key to breakthrough, the key to experiencing God in our own lives and having a personal relationship with Him, is found in developing a lifestyle of worship" (p.14). Wow! From creation, God has been about relationship--revealing Himself to us through His character and essence.
For this study, here is our working definition of worship:
"Worship is our response to God's revelation of who He is and what He has done."
Meditate on this -- Memorize this!
Harland simply states that "we are called to respond to all that God has revealed about Himself and to His never-ending desire to enter a deeper relationship with each of us.
How does He reveal Himself to us?
Through creation, His Word and the Holy Spirit!
Our response to today's study? ----
He wants us to really focus on who He is and what He has done as we are worshiping--to help change our perspective.
Do these thoughts cause you to want to worship? They do for me!....Take time today, throughout the day, and praise God for all the ways that He reveals Himself to you.
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I'm looking forward to studying the scriptures and reading through this study with you. My prayer is that God will truly reveal Himself in ways that will change your life forever and bring you to new heights as you worship Him.
See you tomorrow!
Blessings,
Ken
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30
I loved reading Psalm 22:3 once again and really meditating on the words. Here is my understanding of this scripture from the study, "Lord, you are holy, you are sacred, pure, sinless and you deserve deep respect and awe! You live in and are enthroned in a holy place created from our worship expression, a place where we can encounter and experience You!" - WOW!!! Does that make you think differently about what worship is all about?
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