3 STEPS INTO HIS PRESENCE
‘But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.’ John 4:23 (NKJV)
Worshiping God and believing Him is the same. God searches the Earth for people who will worship Him in spirit. Worshiping in spirit is worshiping with heart and soul. There is a place in us only God can fill. We are created for Him and designed by Him to dwell in us. When we worship Him, we are filled with Him, His Spirit. In spirit we are connecting our spirit with the Spirit of God.
We are also called to worship in truth. This means there is also false (not true) worship. Fake worship is religious actions with no heart. To worship in truth is to worship with all you are.
Psalm 103:1 says ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!’
There are 3 levels to worship, and like steps, each takes us closer to Him:
- Thanksgiving
A complaining attitude is a magnet, drawing you towards darkness. When you thank God you will include Him and draw near to Him. He will draw near to you. Thanksgiving is the password to God’s operating system. When you thank Him you see the world through His eyes. When you thank a person you brighten their day.
Luke 17:19 – Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned, to thank the Healer. Jesus told him his faith has made him whole. Maybe the others were healed, but this one was made whole!
The apostle Paul starts all his letters to the churches by first giving thanks to God and the people he's writing to. It's always the doorway in.
2. Praise
Praise God for what He has done. Praise takes us to the next level of greater awareness of God and lesser awareness of our circumstances.
Praise is a weapon. Stop complaining and start praising. There are 150 psalms full of praise to God.
2 Chronicles 20:1-30 – Jehoshaphat the king of Judah was terrified. He and his people were surrounded, and seriously outnumbered by their enemies almost one hundred to one. The people of Judah and Jerusalem cried out to God. God told them by the prophet to go out against their enemies with their singers in front praising God. Jehoshaphat sent praise at the front and the enemy became so confused they fought and killed each other! The power of praise!
3. Worship
This is the highest level of communion with God. It has nothing to do with us. It has everything to with Him and Him alone. This is what we were created for, to bring Him worship!
We worship God for who He is. Worshiping God is the greatest opportunity we will ever have in our life. Jesus has made a pathway for us to enter the deepest place of God’s heart through worship. In spite of our circumstances, problems or emotions, we choose to worship. Decide to be a worshiper. This is what the Father is seeking.
See you in church!
