Week 4

Time for a check-up. Have you been praying about, and listening to the Lord for His input as to you life as you serve Him, worshiping Him alone in and through your days? Has He revealed any idols in your life? Are there things you have always done in a particular way that God is asking you to change?

I am led to ask you these questions, as the result of what I hear God doing in some of your lives, but more compelling to me personally is what He's up to in mine. They always say, no one learns more than the teacher, and I would like to add, no one goes through more than the teacher as well. Good, hard, dramatically demonstrating the power of God, I am thankful to be called to teach, but more thankful of the transformation wrought in my life because of His calling and leading. God is calling us all and it is refreshing, challenging and most importantly life transforming as we obey His call, as our response in worship.

As we explored personal worship this week, we discussed what it is and the dangers of placing our personal God worship expectations on others. Remembering that personal worship is what God requires uniquely from ;you and me not as a static form of 'tasks' or things to do that demonstrate my/our worship of Him, but the relationship between God and us, dynamic, and ongoing is key. I believe this emphasis was clearly made through your input as to what is personal worship:

What is Personal Worship?


1. praying/talking to God.
2. listening/singing to God.
3. a place set aside to meet with God.
4. offer our bodies/ selves to God. (Romans 12:1) mentally and physically
5. Doing what God asks.
6. Serving our Lord. (Psalms 2, Deuteronomy 10:12-11:1)

I am convinced (because the Bible says so Hebrews 13:8) that Christ never changes, but also am convinced that Christ changes us. The Bible also says that "To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).

In the light of ways of personal worship discussed in class, we also must come to terms with our ways of personal worship of God, looking back on our personal journey seeing that our worship, styles and methodology, has changed through out our maturing or developing relationship with Christ. Our acts of worship change over time, and should continue to do so as a result of the deepening relationship between God and us as individuals.

There are 'dangers' in holding on to 'sacred cows' even in our worship practices. There are dangers is believing that our expectations and processes of worship are the only 'correct' ways to engage God. As we discussed the dangers abound:

Dangers of Expectations in Personal Worship

1. Our practice of worship in the presence of non-believers might do more harm than good. -We must be careful as we interact with God that we are not doing so as a demonstration of holiness in a prideful sense, but with gentleness being as Paul said, "being all things to all men".
2. Our expectations should be God's, drawing near to Him to facilitate true worship.
3. We must avoid legalisms-God wants worship to be fresh and real, not acts of repetitiveness and empty of a responsive heart of true worship.
4. We can become judgmental. -Remembering that personal worship is my response to God irrelevant of what He requires from another fellow believer.
5. We should be asking and allowing God and the Holy Spirit to lead us in new, fresh and vibrant ways of worshiping Him in spirit and truth.

My life is personally challenged each week as we meet together. I heartily believe that the Holy Spirit and the presence of our Lord meet with us each week, and carries us into the next. How about you? Are you eager to return and engage with your fellow disciples? Do you continue through the week as well in the same spirit?

Worship of our Lord begins individually inside each of us through a dynamic, diligent and faithful walk with our savior. Proverbs 3:1-6 says:

[3:1] My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
[2] for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

[3] Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
[4] So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
[6] In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
(Proverbs 3:1-6 ESV)

As we press ahead to examine corporate worship this next week, I believe that God makes it clear that sacrifice is made beautiful when we apply it to the 'together' aspect of glorifying and honoring God. Being in submission to God, as a body of believers is the only way to ensure His complete working, bringing glory, His glory lavished upon our world this and each day. May our lives impart such glory and honor due to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and through eternity!