It is all about….

Things sure have changed a lot over the years. Technology has reached an all-time high in our lives, in the present. We have been blessed, and cursed with things, which no one even considered, being possible back three, or four hundred years ago. 

I wonder how many of the readers, even know anything, about your ancestors. I must admit that I don’t know anything about mine, past my grand-parents. I am confident, that in less, than seventy-five years, that my name will no longer be mentioned. 

People have changed, and lifestyles have changed. Occupations have changed; even the way that we build has changed. Almost everything that we can think of has changed, except one thing. Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

I really need to ask a question. If Jesus doesn’t change, and Father doesn’t change, (Malachi 3:6) then why did our worship change?   What are you talking about James? 

 

Praise………Simple praising the Lord like He is worthy!!   King David knew a thing or two, about praising the Lord. The one-hundredth chapter, of the book of Psalms, is probably one of the greatest guides to show us, how to praise on the earth. The book of Revelation tells us how praise goes in Heaven.

Psalms 100:1-2  A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Ok ….Let’s get real.        Does any of this sound like your experience of praise?     When does it start?      Do you start like most of us do, when we are directed, by whoever starts the service?     If that is true, then why the late start?      Your praise should start the moment that you wake up!!    Your praise should start every morning when you wake up, not just Sunday morning. 

We as Christians are in a mess of a situation, if we don’t realize, that our only hope is formed, on a relationship with God!! We have a creator, and we have a Savior, and we have a guiding teacher, which desperately wants to have fellowship with us.

I really don’t understand how God can Love us like He does, but any noise of praise for Him works. A joyful noise doesn’t have to be; in fact I don’t think that David meant it as singing. A joyful noise could include any noise that you want to make in honor of God.

The second part of this formula proves the fact, that it’s all about the relationship. It is impossible to serve the Lord, with gladness, just on Sunday’s. If the only time you think that you’re serving the Lord is on a Sunday, then you are doing nothing but faking a Pharisaical move!!  You are just looking good to yourself, and those that are looking at you. Father is not being impressed by your theatrical abilities!! 

I know in my life, I have plenty opportunities that just come to me, in my daily life, to be in service to Jesus. Every opportunity that comes my way requires two things; action and sacrifice. I know when I do the right thing, and I also know when I missed an opportunity to help. The reason I know these things is because of my relationship.          It is all about the relationship!!

The next phase of praise is as personal, as our relationship with Jesus is. We are always in the presence of Jesus, but David say’s come before His presence. I believe that means that we run up in His face, declaring our love for Him! Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.        Jesus is our throne!!

Do you ever come in the presence of our Savior, braking out in song?    I simply love the way, which Father worked, in the Old Testament. The way that He commanded the tabernacle to be made immaculately!! It had to be the most beautiful thing on the earth.      Full of life!!    Do you realize there is no death in God?  Everything that He created has life.   Want proof?  

  Luke 19:40  And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

 

That is an excellent way to enter in to the next phase of praise. Psalms 100:3  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. This is really powerful, because it should hit the alter, of our heart, with a quickness!! We have to know that the Lord is God over our lives, and God over our surroundings. We must know that we are in the hands of Father, and everything is under His control.

Check this out, because it is very cool. Once we understand the security of this phase. Our focus is only on Father, and not the corrupt world crumbling, under our feet. We are now ready to enter into His gates!! Psalms 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Hallelujah!!   We have passed the point of testing, and found worthy to enter inside the gates. We should be thanking the Lord for everything that He allows to enter into our lives. Some of it was necessary to get us to the point of praise.  We must remember that everything that we have gone through has made us who we are today. 

Here is the last verse in the Psalm. I don’t need to comment on this. However I will say this; Ain’t God good!! Psalms 100:5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Do you understand why, we don’t wait until we get, inside the church to worship?  Father is not impressed with our acting abilities.   It is ALL about our relationship with Jesus!!

          ….Much Love