Blog: When We Worship

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

1 Peter 1:8-9 CSB

Faith is not a tool to get what we want from God, and much damage and has been done to and through believers who have bought into the false teaching that says faith will make us prosperous, healthy, and problem free. Many a sincere believer has desperately prayed for physical healing, and having not received it, felt guilty because they’ve been told that, “if they just had enough faith God would give them what they asked.” That is not so. Consider Job, a man of great faith. God allowed him to endure tremendous suffering and it was not because God was displeased with him. No, quite the opposite! God took great pleasure in Job, and though he suffered for a time, God gave him double for his trouble in the end.

The goal of faith is the salvation of our souls. That is why Jesus died and rose in victory over sin and death. He did not die so that we could be prosperous and have everything go our way. He died and now lives so that we would no longer be slaves to sin and selfishness, but sons and daughters eternally set free to serve and love Him who first loved us. Faith is believing God when we don’t see Him. Faith believes what God says even when circumstances say otherwise. Faith asks of God, and leaves the outcome in His loving hands. Faith loves, serves, endures, rejoices, and hopes in God who is most definitely a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. May we walk by faith and not by sight, enduring, and pressing on toward the goal of the upward call of salvation in Christ Jesus!

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, I will walk by faith knowing that Your goal for me is the salvation that is mine through Christ Jesus! I lay all my cares and worries down at Your feet, and joyfully place my life into Your loving hands.

“Iniquities overwhelm me; only you can atone for our rebellions. How happy is the one you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple.”

– Psalms 65:3-4 CSB

Everyone of us is guilty of sin and we fall short of the standard of a holy and righteous God. One sure indication the Lord is present is an acute awareness of our sin. Just as Isaiah confessed in God’s presence, “Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am man of unclean lips…” (Is. 6:5), so too the psalmist is overwhelmed by the reality of his own sin and comes to the rightful conclusion that “only You God can make things right.” The Lord would not have us remain under the weight of guilt and shame, bemoaning our past mistakes, or shackled by the lifeless chains of legalism and religion which say we need to work our way into God’s favor. He wants to draw us near on His terms, and to find our freedom in His Son, Jesus, who has already made things right, and is the only One that satisfies the Father.

He would have us know our desperate need for Him and to receive His Son who took all of our shame upon Himself. He would have you know that His favor is upon those who are found in Jesus and in whom Jesus lives. Let your service and devotion be a matter of freedom, let it be a matter of love, let it be out of joy and gratitude for the forgiveness that God has already made available to you through the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross when He gave His life as payment for sin once and for all. Rejoice in the God of your salvation, in His goodness, and be glad!

Let’s pray…

Lord Jesus, thank you for taking my shame away and welcoming me, a sinner, into your Kingdom and loving favor! I will be content with being found in You, and ask that You live and have your way inside of me. In Your precious name, amen.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31

There comes a point in every person’s life where they come to the end of their rope. It is there where we find God’s divine power and strength become available to us. Our Heavenly Father, knowing us as His children, allows us to come to the end of ourselves, our own efforts, our plans that we might learn not to depend on ourselves, but on Him. If we are exhausted, it is time to let go of the rope, take God by the hand, and draw from the Well of Living Water that never runs dry. God never asks us to do things that we can do apart from Him, and He never gives us things to do without the power to accomplish them.

Our primary effort as believers is to get to the One who never faints and never fails, to be found at the feet of Jesus in prayer, in His Word, and in fellowship with other believers. There is a continual source of strength and renewal in Jesus Christ that God pours into those who are being poured out for His purpose and glory. If we will only let go of the rope and wait on Him. He will lift us up on His shoulders and give us a heavenly perspective, and provide everything we need for life and godliness. In our weakness He will show Himself strong, and we shall run and not grow weary, walk and not faint.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, thank You for the energy of Your Spirit and continual renewal I find at your feet. Help me not to depend on my own strength, but simply to wait on You. Amen.

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Colossians 1:19-20

In the beginning sin enter the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and the whole human race being in Adam at the time are guilty of sin too. From that day onward, all creation began experiencing the outworking of sin. That is death. Yet, God is greater, the power of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross is greater than the power of sin and death. In Christ, we have redemption, we have forgiveness, we have relationship, and we have been reconciled to a Holy God. There is nothing we have done or will ever do to earn God’s favor or acceptance. It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, that we are accepted.

There has always been a temptation to add to this simple Gospel message – Christ crucified and risen in victory. Let it not be said of us! May we be careful not to add addendums like legalism, politics, nationalism, and prosperity to God’s finished work on the Cross. The only Message God has for people, the thing He wishes to reveal in and through His Church, is not a thing at all…but a Person, the Man Jesus Christ. May we take great care to joyfully share the simple unadulterated Good News about Jesus, the One who reconciled us, and by His blood on the Cross made peace between God and man.

Let’s pray…

Lord Jesus, use me to preach the Good News, and nothing else. There is no other message worth sharing, no other news like the Good News about You! Amen.

“A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.”

Psalms 33:17-20

No matter how much we prepare, how developed our skills, how much knowledge we gain, or strength we have there is a limit to what each of us can handle. Even a world champion weight lifter can only lift so much weight, and if you add one ounce more it will break him like any other man.

That is why the psalmist says it is pointless for us to put our hope in those sorts of things. If we put our hope in man, in ourselves, in society, or in anything other than God Himself we will eventually be disappointed and disillusioned.

Oh that God would disillusion us, and the sooner the better, from believing we can win or succeed, or add something to God by any strength or means of our own! If God is great, and I am great, then someone is not necessary. It is only the shed blood of Jesus Christ that covers sin. There is only One name under Heaven by which men are saved. May our hope and our confidence rest squarely and exclusively in the man Jesus Christ! May our confidence not rest in earthly resource, but in God’s great mercy.

Let’s pray…

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching me to depend on You, and not myself. I place my hope in You, the Hope of the Nations, my Deliverer, and the Deliverer all those who trust in Your name! Amen.

“Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.”

Proverbs 1:23

Repentance (Turning to the Lord) is such a sweet gift! It is to be a lifestyle, a way of life, not a one time exchange. We will never get to a point spiritually that we don’t need to turn to Him or need to be corrected. If we are His children, you can be sure He will correct us. It’s proof that we are indeed His.

Repentance is not something we only do when we have really messed up. It is the birthright of every believer, and a blessing to us to be able to turn to God for His direction and correction so that we can walk uprightly. With God’s correction also comes His Spirit and the power to walk in His ways…“Surely, I will pour out my Spirit on you.”

The longer we “turn” at His rebukes, the more we come to know Him, and the less He has to say to get our attention. Like a well trained child who has watched Daddy work on a project many times, learned which tool He needs, and already has it waiting when Daddy ask for it…Our Heavenly Father when He turns to us will see us there with His tools in hand, waiting for His direction. May repentance be a gift we open daily and often!

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of repentance! I turn from my ways, and ask that You teach me, and lead me in the Way everlasting. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’S counsel—that will stand.”

– Proverbs 19:21

“Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

– Proverbs 19:27

I woke up this morning with all kinds of plans, and ready to hit the ground running, but instead set myself to start the day out right by getting to the feet of Jesus first. What did I find? The sweet counsel of the Lord!

There is nothing I can contribute or do to further God’s kingdom, nor is there any work out from my own resource and ability that I can give that is of any eternal worth. This truth is an affront to my flesh and my many plans…even the good ones! Thank God for His correction and direction.

The only thing that God can use is a life laid down, so that the life of Jesus Christ can rise up. His counsel, that which stands forever, is Jesus. His Word fulfilled is Jesus, His promises to us are wrapped up in Jesus. Our salvation is only in Jesus. Our perfection and approval from the Father comes ONLY through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Let’s come to God on His terms, let’s come to Him empty, let’s come daily and often to receive His life and His plan, because He most certainly has a marvelous purpose and plan for each one of us! That plan is wrapped up completely in His Son – Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray…

Lord, may You get more and more Jesus out of Your children today! Fill me afresh with Your life, Your joy, and Your Spirit. I lay down my life and plans, and invite You to accomplish Your will and Your ways in and through me. Be magnified and glorified! In Jesus’ sweet name I ask, amen.

Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. – Proverbs 19:2

In walking with the Lord there is a tendency for us it is to get out ahead of God. We tend to jump out in excitement, or get impatient and just do things for God rather than with Him. A good salesman knows this, and will take full advantage of this human tendency. They get you excited about whatever the product may be, and before you know it you have your credit card out and product in hand and you haven’t even given it a second thought yet!

We don’t need to be in such a hurry all the time. The place we need to hurry to and run to is the feet of Jesus. The Word teaches us to get counsel before making plans, to walk before the Lord, and to prayerfully consider our steps and our words. The psalmist says it this way, “Teach me Your Way, oh Lord; I will walk in Your Truth.” Before you get ready to press send on that text message, wait a minute and give the Lord space to speak. Perhaps some things are better left unsaid. Before you step out to serve the Lord, ask Him how He would have you do what it is He has put on your heart to do. Get counsel from someone you know has a deep abiding relationship with the Lord, and who will pray and seek the Lord’s counsel with you. You will be blessed as You do!

Let’s pray…

Lord, I want to walk with You and not get ahead of You. I will take full advantage of the counsel you give me in Your Word, in my local fellowship, and at Your feet in prayer. Lead Lord, and I will follow! In Jesus name, amen.