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| Worship 1 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
In the Garden of Eden, man's relationship with G-d was pure and
unhindered. Adam and Eve recognized G-d as their creator, L-rd,
provider and honored G-d as such. They were submissive to
G-d's will and they were ready to obey G-d's Word. Everything
Adam and Eve did was an act of worship.
With sin came spiritual death, separation from G-d, lack of
sensitivity to G-d's voice, no submission to G-d's will and no heart
to obey. Man became preoccupied with his own desires, his own
will, his own self - centered choices. Everything he did was
touched with selfishness. Every place he went was infected with
sin and it's deadly results.
G-d took the initiative in showing man how to return to Him and
worship Him. G-d made garments for Adam and Eve. He took a
lamb and made a sin sacrifice for Adam and Eve. Hebrews 9:22
teaches without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Animal
sacrifice may seem cruel but that is because we do not appreciate
the seriousness of sin. The animal substitute is a reminder of our
own guilt and pictures the coming substitution of Yeshua. Adam
and Eve understood that those innocent animals died in their
place. G-d wants us to understand the reality that sin is costly. If
we are to worship G-d, we must deal with our sin. The sacrifice of
animals could not take their sin away, but it could cover it.
The story of Cain and Abel shows us that not all worship is
acceptable to G-d. G-d did not accept Cain's offering. Some
people believe that at this point in time G-d already mandated
animal sacrifice, so whether it was the wrong offering, or it was an
acceptable offering given with a wrong attitude or it was the wrong
offering combined with a wrong attitude we learn we cannot
worship G-d however we please. Abel prioritized his relationship
with G-d by giving first to the L-rd instead of to himself. His heart
was right with G-d.
The story of Noah teaches obedience to G-d. Partial obedience
isn't really obedience at all. If I obey G-d only part of the time, it's
probably because I obey my own desires and don't object to
obeying G-d so long as it doesn't get in the way of what I want to
do. There can be no worship without obedience. When Abraham
laid Isaac on the altar, he intended to sacrifice all that G-d had
promised him. Abraham laid his own dreams on the altar with his
only son. There can be no true worship without obedience, no
matter how costly the obedience is. In fact, the more costly the
obedience the more an act of worship it becomes. Obedience is
the measure of our reverence for G-d. Genesis 22:5 is the first
verse in the Bible where the word worship appears. True worship
is costly.
Worship is also a response of a grateful heart. Romans 12:1 tells
us that to present ourselves to G-d is our spiritual service of
worship. Worship is a logical response when we understand all
that G-d has done for us.
In Genesis 26:25 we see an altar built as a place of worship
because of the revelation that had been given and it was a place
to seek G-d. The altar is a place of death, it is the OT equivalent
of the cross. Exodus 20:24-25 gives us specific instructions about
altars.
Worship is more than an emotion, more than an experience, more
than a service, it is connecting with our Creator. Worship is a
lifestyle of walking in relationship with G-d and enjoying His
fellowship.
So worship requires dealing with your sin, worshiping G-d His
way with the right methods and motives, it requires obedience and
a grateful heart.
An altar is a place of sacrifice and giving, a place where one
acknowledges their relationship to G-d and their accountability
before G-d. Calling on the L-rd is the mark of those who follow
G-d wherever He leads. It's calling out to Him out of our sense of
dependence and trusting Him to act on our behalf. G-d wants to
meet with us. He comes to us, calls us, and desires for us to call
on Him in faith.He wants us to walk with Him, He wants
everyplace we walk to be a meeting place with Him, and a place
of true worship. He wants us to worship Him with a willing,
surrendered heart.
In the book of Exodus chapters 25-40 G-d gives the Israelites all
the details of the Tabernacle and priesthood. G-d does not dwell
in a place according to man's ideas and standards. So He gave
them a pattern to follow. The Tabernacle was a sanctuary which
means a set apart place. Worship always involves submission,
surrender and service to the One you worship. To what are you
submitting and surrendering your time and money to? Is it the
latest fashions, the hottest music cd's, friends, homework or
sleep? If so you may be serving idols.
When Solomon finished building the Temple in Jerusalem and all
the people and priest completed what was necessary to stand
before the L-rd the house of the L-rd was filled with a cloud called
the Shekinah Glory. The priest could not stand because of the
awesome presence of the L-rd (II Chr. 5:13-14, Ex. 40:33-35. This
would be a place of prayer, a place of communion with G-d, of
fellowship with the L-rd of heaven and earth, as well as a place to
find forgiveness of sins.
By the time Jesus came to the Temple as a grown man, the
meeting place for the worship of G-d was turned into a market
place. He confronted the merchants selling in the Temple. Jesus
was AG-d in the flesh who came to Tabernacle with us. Forty
years before Jesus' death the Temple was destroyed.
I Cor. 6:19 says, "Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who
is in you, whom you have from G-d." We are to live different now
that we have invited Jesus into our hearts as our Savior and L-rd.
We are to live forgiven and cleansed, made right with G-d through
the death and resurrection of Jesus. The place where G-d
delights to meet us is marked by an open, honest, contrite heart.
He delights in simple meeting places where He can be heard and
understood followed and worshiped.
II Cor. 6:14-18, 7:1 tells us not to be unequally yoked with
unbelievers, to be separated spiritually like light from darkness
and to be as Jesus was. G-d has nothing in common with idols,
and neither should we. Our hearts are reserved for the one and
only true and living G-d. G-d has promised to dwell in us and walk
among us, to guide us in holy living. We are G-d's family and
ought to act like it. He calls us to come out from the midst of the
world and away from anything sinful. He wants us to be set apart
to Him and His purposes and designs. He wants us to live
lifestyles of worship walking in the respect and fear of the L-rd,
obeying Him promptly and fully, surrendering to Him, and
experiencing the fullness of His Spirit in our lives.
unhindered. Adam and Eve recognized G-d as their creator, L-rd,
provider and honored G-d as such. They were submissive to
G-d's will and they were ready to obey G-d's Word. Everything
Adam and Eve did was an act of worship.
With sin came spiritual death, separation from G-d, lack of
sensitivity to G-d's voice, no submission to G-d's will and no heart
to obey. Man became preoccupied with his own desires, his own
will, his own self - centered choices. Everything he did was
touched with selfishness. Every place he went was infected with
sin and it's deadly results.
G-d took the initiative in showing man how to return to Him and
worship Him. G-d made garments for Adam and Eve. He took a
lamb and made a sin sacrifice for Adam and Eve. Hebrews 9:22
teaches without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Animal
sacrifice may seem cruel but that is because we do not appreciate
the seriousness of sin. The animal substitute is a reminder of our
own guilt and pictures the coming substitution of Yeshua. Adam
and Eve understood that those innocent animals died in their
place. G-d wants us to understand the reality that sin is costly. If
we are to worship G-d, we must deal with our sin. The sacrifice of
animals could not take their sin away, but it could cover it.
The story of Cain and Abel shows us that not all worship is
acceptable to G-d. G-d did not accept Cain's offering. Some
people believe that at this point in time G-d already mandated
animal sacrifice, so whether it was the wrong offering, or it was an
acceptable offering given with a wrong attitude or it was the wrong
offering combined with a wrong attitude we learn we cannot
worship G-d however we please. Abel prioritized his relationship
with G-d by giving first to the L-rd instead of to himself. His heart
was right with G-d.
The story of Noah teaches obedience to G-d. Partial obedience
isn't really obedience at all. If I obey G-d only part of the time, it's
probably because I obey my own desires and don't object to
obeying G-d so long as it doesn't get in the way of what I want to
do. There can be no worship without obedience. When Abraham
laid Isaac on the altar, he intended to sacrifice all that G-d had
promised him. Abraham laid his own dreams on the altar with his
only son. There can be no true worship without obedience, no
matter how costly the obedience is. In fact, the more costly the
obedience the more an act of worship it becomes. Obedience is
the measure of our reverence for G-d. Genesis 22:5 is the first
verse in the Bible where the word worship appears. True worship
is costly.
Worship is also a response of a grateful heart. Romans 12:1 tells
us that to present ourselves to G-d is our spiritual service of
worship. Worship is a logical response when we understand all
that G-d has done for us.
In Genesis 26:25 we see an altar built as a place of worship
because of the revelation that had been given and it was a place
to seek G-d. The altar is a place of death, it is the OT equivalent
of the cross. Exodus 20:24-25 gives us specific instructions about
altars.
Worship is more than an emotion, more than an experience, more
than a service, it is connecting with our Creator. Worship is a
lifestyle of walking in relationship with G-d and enjoying His
fellowship.
So worship requires dealing with your sin, worshiping G-d His
way with the right methods and motives, it requires obedience and
a grateful heart.
An altar is a place of sacrifice and giving, a place where one
acknowledges their relationship to G-d and their accountability
before G-d. Calling on the L-rd is the mark of those who follow
G-d wherever He leads. It's calling out to Him out of our sense of
dependence and trusting Him to act on our behalf. G-d wants to
meet with us. He comes to us, calls us, and desires for us to call
on Him in faith.He wants us to walk with Him, He wants
everyplace we walk to be a meeting place with Him, and a place
of true worship. He wants us to worship Him with a willing,
surrendered heart.
In the book of Exodus chapters 25-40 G-d gives the Israelites all
the details of the Tabernacle and priesthood. G-d does not dwell
in a place according to man's ideas and standards. So He gave
them a pattern to follow. The Tabernacle was a sanctuary which
means a set apart place. Worship always involves submission,
surrender and service to the One you worship. To what are you
submitting and surrendering your time and money to? Is it the
latest fashions, the hottest music cd's, friends, homework or
sleep? If so you may be serving idols.
When Solomon finished building the Temple in Jerusalem and all
the people and priest completed what was necessary to stand
before the L-rd the house of the L-rd was filled with a cloud called
the Shekinah Glory. The priest could not stand because of the
awesome presence of the L-rd (II Chr. 5:13-14, Ex. 40:33-35. This
would be a place of prayer, a place of communion with G-d, of
fellowship with the L-rd of heaven and earth, as well as a place to
find forgiveness of sins.
By the time Jesus came to the Temple as a grown man, the
meeting place for the worship of G-d was turned into a market
place. He confronted the merchants selling in the Temple. Jesus
was AG-d in the flesh who came to Tabernacle with us. Forty
years before Jesus' death the Temple was destroyed.
I Cor. 6:19 says, "Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who
is in you, whom you have from G-d." We are to live different now
that we have invited Jesus into our hearts as our Savior and L-rd.
We are to live forgiven and cleansed, made right with G-d through
the death and resurrection of Jesus. The place where G-d
delights to meet us is marked by an open, honest, contrite heart.
He delights in simple meeting places where He can be heard and
understood followed and worshiped.
II Cor. 6:14-18, 7:1 tells us not to be unequally yoked with
unbelievers, to be separated spiritually like light from darkness
and to be as Jesus was. G-d has nothing in common with idols,
and neither should we. Our hearts are reserved for the one and
only true and living G-d. G-d has promised to dwell in us and walk
among us, to guide us in holy living. We are G-d's family and
ought to act like it. He calls us to come out from the midst of the
world and away from anything sinful. He wants us to be set apart
to Him and His purposes and designs. He wants us to live
lifestyles of worship walking in the respect and fear of the L-rd,
obeying Him promptly and fully, surrendering to Him, and
experiencing the fullness of His Spirit in our lives.
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007/2008 |