Thursday May 7, 2009 RIGHT WORSHIP OR RITUAL?
I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals. They've become a burden to me, and I'm tired of putting up with them. So when you stretch out your hands in prayer, I will turn my eyes away from you. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood. "Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Arrest oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows." Isaiah 1:14-17 God is sincerely tired of the mortuaries we call church. It is foolishness to sit in a room full of people, singing music, and hearing a man speak about God, but not being changed and then call it worship. Isaiah 29:13-14 says, " The Lord says, 'These people worship me with their mouths and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is based on rules made by humans. That is why I am going to do something completely amazing for these people once again. The wisdom of their wise people will disappear. The intelligence of their intelligent people will be hidden. '" When the Holy Spirit begins to control our worship, even those of us who are simple minded are anointed with wisdom and understanding that is not gleaned from a teacher's instructions, but from God Himself. Recently someone wrote me and told me that the devotionals were "timely" for everything that was happening in their life. Every time someone says that I just stand in awe that God can use an uneducated person like me to encourage intelligent people. I cannot take the credit for what God has done, is doing, and will do in my life. All the glory goes to Him. He is the one who changed me and takes my failures and uses them for His Kingdom. Based on my understanding of what God has taught me, true worship comes from the heart of a person who seeks justice, helps the oppressed, defends the orphan, and fights for the rights of widows - people who love Him love His children. In other words, true worship is not just something we do in church, but extends from those who are being made into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to set the captives free. True worship of God begins in our heart. As far back as Isaiah's day God was tired of empty worship. Yet, He had a plan. He would send the creative part of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, into the world and through Him they would recognize the heart of God. Oh, a few people have gotten the message down through the ages, but not nearly enough. The prophets predicted that in this day and age God would pour out His Spirit in overwhelming supply. It is happening. We are about to see miracles in abundance. Why? Everything that happens is to honor His Holy name and to get His bride ready. If that don't make you want to worship, I honestly don't know what will. Let's worship Him folks by loving the unlovable and others who need to know Him this Christmas and all through the year. Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for allowing me to be born in this particular span of time. I thank You for allowing me the joy of being a small part of what You are doing in Your church. Help us know You more! ******************************************* O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
