Worshiping God

This morning I was hit hard by the questions in my MasterWork study that surround worshiping God. Where I am in full agreement with and look forward to what worshiping God will look like when I arrive in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem, I have been challenged with how I am worshiping Him now in this world.

The book of Revelation clearly points to what life will be like when we arrive and spend eternity in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. It will be majestic and there will be singing and rejoicing and feasts and fellowship and all sorts of engagement as we worship the LORD and He dwells with us.

Where I was hit hard this morning was not in learning something new in the study or text from Revelation. I was struck by the simple question of how can I do that even now.

This was a gut punch to me. Not that I do not worship the LORD and spend time with Him, but what about the rest of the time in this world. Am I rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all things. I am not so sure that I am.

I admit to getting caught up in the ways of the world and focusing on those things that are impacting me now, or at least that is what I am telling myself. I have my attention on work, finances, preparing for retirement, stability, and a whole litany of things that are of this world. Where they are things of concern in this world, I have to remember that the LORD will provide for all of them and that I should not worry about tomorrow as tomorrow will take care of itself.

“³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

“³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

My focus should not be on tomorrow, but on today and the filling of it with worship of the LORD. I am to be seeking His face each day all day. I am to be rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all thing. I have to bring my expectation of worship in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem into this world and my all time here.

“¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

So, yes, we will be in constant worship of the LORD when we are in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. In all that we do we will worship and celebrate the LORD and His life giving and sustaining grace and glory. I have to bring that into today and not just reserve it for later. I am to do as Paul indicates in 1 Thessalonians, rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things. My relationship with the LORD is now and not just reserved for the eternal kingdom.

What is your view of worshiping God? Are you reserving the continual worship for the eternal kingdom? What if you were to follow the direction of Paul and even now rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things?

Intercede for Others

There are times when we there is a need for intercession. I am not always able to speak for myself in situations. An example is in the court of law, I am not a lawyer and would need someone to intercede with the court on my behalf.

With the LORD the same is needed in some situations. There are those that may not know that they are in need of help from the LORD. As such, Christians have a responsibility to help them out through intercession. Abraham understood this as the LORD was going to bring destruction to Sodom. The city was corrupt in many ways and God was going to deal with it with total destruction. Abraham began speaking with the LORD on their behalf.

“²²So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³Then Abraham drew near and said, ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?’” – Genesis 18:22-24 (ESV)

Now, Abraham was being a bit selfish in his request as Lot, his grandson, was in the city of Sodom. But, even with that fact, Abraham started big asking for the LORD to spare the city if 50 were found to be righteous. And, the LORD agreed. And so Abraham kept with the negotiating and took things down to 10 righteous to save the city from destruction and the LORD agreed to the terms.

Now, the LORD knew that there were not 10 righteous in the city, yet He was willing to negotiate with Abraham because He knew his heart. Abraham knew Lot was there and I believe that although Lot was of the family of Abraham, there was no guarantee that the LORD found him righteous and Abraham was taking a flier to get some relief for them. Lot did not know what was coming and Abraham was interceding on his behalf.

There is another thing that I see here. The LORD listens to our requests and does as we ask, when it comes from our heart. In the complete passage, Genesis 18:22-33, God does not deny the request of Abraham. He listens to his heart and allows for the negotiation to take place. Here we find the dynamic of asking and you shall receive. Abraham asked and the LORD granted. It was the prayer of Abraham in intercession for the people of Sodom and the LORD listened.

I have to remember that my prayer is not just for me. I will need to intercede for others to gain, even when they are not even knowing or aware of their need. I am to come to the LORD with my open heart for others and ask the LORD for reprieve in specific ways.

When you pray, what are your prayers? Are you praying for your own wants and needs? What if you were to take the approach of intercession for others from your heart, knowing that God is listening and will grant your request?

Pray as the Righteous

I had a realization this morning that I should have had for some time, and likely did, it is that this morning it just seemed to hit me in a strong way. I have to pray as though I am righteous.

I know that I do not know of my righteousness. I only know that I am doing the work that God has for me and am actively taking righteous actions that are from my heart and for the LORD. So all that I am may not be righteous, yet I have to pray to the LORD with all of me as if I am righteous. All of my actions and work are for the LORD and are to be of righteous intent. I will learn of my righteousness when my time in this world is done. But while I am here, I am to function as though I am righteous in the LORD.

You see, it is my righteous actions that impact the world from the LORD. And yes, my impact is from the LORD, not from myself or my actions on my own. I have to be in the LORD as though I am righteous in Him.

“¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” – James 5:16 (ESV)

We do not know if it is our work for and in the LORD that “does the trick”. It may be that our work is the starter of the work. I may have been only here to plant the seed and it is the work of another that waters and still another that harvests. I do not know if it is my prayer that has the “great power” or if it is the prayer of another. As I do not know, I have to take action as though it is to ensure that the work of the LORD is manifest. I have to pray as if I am the only one, and illicit others to pray as well since I do not know if it is my prayer that has the “power” from the LORD.

As a human it is common to think that “if you want something done right, do it yourself”. This is a great approach to our prayer, with one exception. I have to ensure that others are praying as well as I do not know which is right. It may be that I am the righteous one and my prayer “has great power” or it could be another. This is an area where the more prayer we have, the greater the power of the LORD will be. Not that the sheer number of people praying is the thing, it is the idea that when there are more taking action there will be someone righteous bringing the prayer, not to mention as Jesus said,

“¹⁹Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” – Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV)

I may be righteous and when I pray I have great power, yet, I do not know that to be true as only the LORD can declare righteous. But as Jesus said, where there are multiple followers together, He will be with them and as they pray, He will hear their prayer and great power will come. I have to pray as though I am the one, but bring as many together as I can in the name of Jesus and His Will will be done.

What is your approach to prayer? Are you avoiding as you don’t know if it is working? What if you prayed as though it is you that is righteous, but since you don’t know, bring others in to magnify your prayer?