The Power of Worship预览

REDEEMED TO BE A WORSHIPPER

INTRODUCTION 

One of the privileges that a Christian has is a chance to live in an intimate relationship with God. Before we were redeemed by Christ, we are in the opposite position with God. However, because of His grace, we are saved and reconciled with Him. Not only that, but God’s redemption also brings us to enter the holiest place, which is the presence of God. The holiest place is the place where we could have a personal, face-to-face relationship with God, which is called fellowship. 

Redemption in Christ returns our condition to God’s purpose when He created the first man (Adam). This purpose is to live in a fellowship with our Creator. We could enjoy fellowship with God in our worship time. Today, if we have received Christ as our Lord and Savior, we could live in a fellowship with Him. The meaning of ‘fellowship’ is a personal bond with other people. In other words, God is building a bond with us as His beloveds. Therefore, WORSHIP only happens if we KNOW God. The quality of our worship will increase if our knowledge about Him increases. 

As Lord Jesus explained in His conversation with the Samaritan woman, man could once again enjoy an intimate relationship with God through prayer, praise, and worship (John 4:21-24) after His death and resurrection. There is no more hindrance for man to enjoy the presence of God, as long as he believes in Jesus Christ. Now, what are the impacts of a life that worships God that could be experienced by us?

DISCUSSION

1. Worship changes us 

Worship is a spiritual activity that can make an impact in someone’s life. As long as we live in worship, our spirit would be renewed to the image of His Spirit. This is possible because a fellowship will produce something, for example in a family relationship between a man and a woman who are tied in a marriage, their fellowship will produce children. The same thing happens in our lives. When the spirit of man that has been renewed by the blood of Jesus has an intimate relationship with Holy Spirit in worship, the fellowship should produce divine characters. Someone who lives as God’s worshiper will produce the right characters, just like the characters that are found in God. 

True worship is not just about song and the length of prayer – even though they are also important. Worship should produce a quality life just like the life of Jesus. The more we are intimate with the Lord, the more our lives would become like Him. Our fellowship with God will produce similarities with the One whom we worship. 

2. Worship restores family and community 

Our worship to God is not for our own satisfaction. There is a greater responsibility that God has given to us, which is to be the agent of transformation for our family, community, and nation. When heaven is present in our lives, this heaven should also be seen by many people so that just like us, they have the opportunity to come and enjoy Heaven and the fellowship with God.

We need to understand that God’s presence produces transformation and restoration. Jesus gave the same example. He always maintains intimacy with God. He even spent most of His time dwelling in the presence of God. Other than that, He also did something. God’s presence moves someone to become a blessing. Jesus went around to introduce the presence of God that can heal, set free, and even resurrect the dead. As a result, those who have not known God could experience changes and know God through the power of God’s presence.

A family leader who worships God will bring a heavenly atmosphere to his house. A wife who lives in worship will do her part to be a peacemaker. Even a child who has the quality as a true worshiper will bring joy. This is the quality of worship. Changes will happen: from those who are blind and do not know God become those who know and experience the fullness of God. 

3. Worship raises spiritual revival

Spiritual revival does not only happen because of the fire of evangelism (even though it is its main component). Prayer, praise, and worship are also the seeds of spiritual revival in the nations. The thirst to seek God and the spirit of spiritual warfare will make the chains of the evil one to be destroyed. Therefore, we need to realize that worship also has an important role in spiritual revival. God does not only want to be worshiped, He prefers to have these worshipers seek Him sincerely. There are many stories about spiritual revivals all over the world that were begun by the thirst to seek God’s presence. Seeking God’s face through prayer fortress is the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s movement to visit His people. Therefore, regardless of place, we have to realize that our worship today is a good seed for a movement, 

CLOSING

God’s main purpose to redeem us is to return us to a fellowship with Him. Worship is a place where we could feel closeness and intimacy with Him. There are many blessings that we are going to receive when we are close to God, however, this is not the reason. The Lord seeks worshipers who long to have a fellowship with Him and to enjoy this eternal love bond. He does not seek those who pursue Him just to get something out of Him. Eventually, our activity in eternity (heaven) is worship and worship is not a boring activity. Worship is the most beautiful thing planned by God for man. Live in worship because this is the most beautiful place in our lives.