Gratitude, Praise and Worship defined Pt.3

Messages for November 2018: Our Month of Gratitude and Praise

Message for Sunday 18^th November, 2018

Theme: understanding the Mystery of thanksgiving, Praise and Worship

Topic: Gratitude, Praise and Worship defined Pt.3

Introduction: Last week, we continued on this series looking at Praise. We already established that the means of access to God in the Kingdom are thanksgiving and praise. We also pointed out that with thanksgiving we acknowledge the goodness of God. With praise we acknowledge the greatness of God and with worship, we acknowledge the holiness of God.

Today, we shall continue our discourse looking at what worship really means and how we can truly worship God to His satisfaction.

Worship: This is the means by which we acknowledge the holiness of God. When we worship God from His perspective, we really come into oneness with Him. It is in the place of worship that we can see God face to face.

Worshipping God as shown us in the word of God has to do with our attitude towards Him in every area of our lives. This is demonstrated in the following ways when we gather before Him:

1.     Bowing down with our faces to the ground. 2Chron.7:3

2.     Kneeling before Him.  Ps.95:6

3.     Lifting up of our hands before Him Ps.141:2

4.     Spreading out our hands before God. Ezra 9:5

5.     Different aspects of the service of God in Church or any fellowship where we gather in the name of the Lord. Please understand that there can be no true worship without service in God’s Kingdom. See Mt.6:10; 33. More would be said about this below.

Worship as a life style

Worship in the strictest sense of the word transcends what we do when we gather before God in Church. Since worship acknowledges the holiness of God, it therefore behooves the worshipper to reflect His holiness for others to be encouraged to draw near to him. Unfortunately, bible experience has shown that the Holiness of God scares people from Him because of their sins. The sin in man’s flesh makes it impossible for man to embrace the glory of God. This is why the children of Israel sent Moses to tell God to not appear to them directly but that He should send Moses to them and they would send Moses back to him. Then God promised to send them another prophet like Moses which He did in Christ Jesus who is referred to as another prophet like Moses. He became an intercessor not only for the Israelites but the entire human race when He took our place on the Cross and brought us eternal redemption. Exod.34:29-35; Deu.18:15; Acts 3:22; 7: 37; Mrk.9:1-8; Heb.3:1-6; 4:14-16 and 9:12-15.

In worship, as we acknowledge the Holiness of God, the following things happen:

1.     God can reveal Himself to us. Exod.33:12-23 and 34:5-13; Acts 16:25-31.

2.     We learn the ways of God and therefore the culture of His kingdom. The culture of God’s Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rm.14:11; Eph.5:8-12

3.     We escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2Pet.1:3-4 and Rm 8:13

4.     We receive divine impartation with divine nature thus we are able to live in the newness of life. The love walk which is the only New Testament commandment becomes our lifestyle. 2Pet.1:3-4 and Heb.4:16.

5.     We are empowered to walk in the spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Rm.8:5-8 and verse 13; Gal.2:20-21.

Bearing the fruit of the spirit:

Following from above, we can begin to bear the fruit of the spirit which is the evidence that we actually know God [1Jn.4:7-83]. Please understand that the reason for our salvation is so that we can bear fruit to God. God desires that we bear much fruit indeed. In the place of worship we are empowered to do this. See Rm.7:4; Jn.15:8

The fruit of the spirit is love. Love is broken down in Galatians 5:21-22 into nine qualities which is referred to as the fruit of the spirit. The word is singular fruit; thus it is referring to one thing that can present in nine personalities listed in the same scripture as follows: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE…

We shall draw the curtains here today and we continue next week to conclude this part by God’s grace. Meanwhile, someone reading this blog is desirous of truly experiencing God. Well I have good news for you; you can begin at once by saying the following prayer out loud in faith and you will become a member of God’s family and be able to truly worship Him:

Heavenly Father,

Have mercy on me a sinner. Today, I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised Him from the dead for my Justification. I therefore declare that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord and from today, I renounce the fatherhood of Satan and embrace Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for this father in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Congratulations! For more information and resources that would help you grow in this new life, please visit our website at www.kingdomheirsministries.org and our blogs at www.flourishinggirl.blogspot.com and follow us on twitter at alero_nanna and on face book on www.facebook.com/flourishinggirl www.facebook.com/khmii2015; www.facebook.com/thewellbeingcenter. Or www.facebook.com/kingdomjointheirsfamily email:  jointheirsfamily@gmail.com.