RIGHT FOCUS, RIGHT THINKING, RIGHT RESULTS For A True Worshipper. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.

Transcription

1 RIGHT FOCUS, RIGHT THINKING, RIGHT RESULTS Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.

2 What is a True Worshipper? Worshipper - (Hebrew) the word is sahah to bow down or to prostrate oneself out of respect. At times, asab means to serve - also translated to worship. There are several NT. words. One is latreuo which is used twenty one times in the NT. The Greeks used this verb to translate asab which is to worship and to serve. Thus latreuo is a Christian s worshipful serving of God in his heart and by his life. (Phil. 3:3; Rom. 1:9).

3 Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Peter 2: 5,9 The book of Isaiah explains God s appointment of worship to Zion the church. The word appointment means to set in place. God ordained the church to be a place of prayer, worship, healing, and witnessing.

4 TOOLS Right Focus, Right Thinking, Right Results Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Peter 2: 5,9 He empowered the church with tools to fix people lives so that they would become witnesses for him. He knew that the people who came to him were broken, troubled, confused and heavy hearted.

5 Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Peter 2: 5,9 He gave the church tools to fix their life. The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Beauty for ashes. Oil of joy for mourning. God wanted trees that would glorify Him.

6 Jesus makes this very plain. (John 15: 8-17) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father has love me, so have I love you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my command, you will remain in my love, just as I obeyed my Father s commands and remain in his love. I told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

7 My command is to love each another as I have loved you. Greater love have no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you obey my command. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master business. Instead, I have called you friends for every thing that I learn from my Father I have made known unto you. You did not choose me but I chose you and appoint (set things in order) you to go and bear fruit (fruit that will last). Then the Father will give you whatsoever you ask in my name. This is my command: love each other.

8 Because of his love he called us from backgrounds of grief, sorrow, brokenness, confusion, and trouble. According to the Book of Isaiah, God sent his Son to proclaim liberty to all who were held in captivity by opening their prisons that held them bound by fears, and intimidation in their minds. But God has set you free to become his witness. And ye shall be my witness. (a witness is a person who saw something happen, or tried something that works and testifies about it).

9 CLOTH However, to keep us from returning to old habits he gave us cloth to put on. To keep us from depression, sorrow, loneness, selfpity and heaviness he gave us the garment of praise. The joy of the Lord is our strength. When a person is full of joy their heart is overwhelmed. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks telling others of the goodness that is inside.

10 SINGING Psalm 126 :1-3: When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

11 SINGING This book of has some very interesting things concerning the church. In the fifty fourth chapter, the condition of the church was barren; she was not bring forth any children. God told her to sing; and her singing would enlarge her boundaries and strengthen those among her.

12 Then Christ would come preaching good tidings and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and he set Zion in place to bring order in their lives, by making Zion a worshipping community.

13 Right Focus, Right Thinking, Right Results There is power in singing every time there has been a restoration of God pouring out his spirit upon all flesh,every nation, kindred and tongue. There has been a wave of spiritual singing in the midst of God s people. (Hebrews 2:11-12) Jesus has joined his people in singing praises to his Father.

14 Right Focus, Right Thinking, Right Results Wherever and whenever you find people released from their captivity there will be a new release in worshipping in song. One of the chief characteristics of any movement down through history has been singing, of new songs. When you are free you will sing. Every new movement came with songs.

15 Right Focus, Right Thinking, Right Results The Protestant movement created songs and hymns. The Holiness movement produced a lot of joyous songs. The Pentecostal came shouting, and dancing, musical instrument, and extreme joy. The Charismatic wanted their songs to be bible based. During this time they all believed that the tabernacle of David was being restored. This is the season for praise and singing where God will manifest his presence in the midst of his people.

16 THE DIVINE DOVE In the Song of Solomon s 2:14 It speaks of the voice of the Divine Dove. The Holy Spirit is coming forth through Spiritual singing. The bridegroom actually calls the bride MY DOVE because through her the voice of the dove is heard. He is lovingly beckons her to a ministry of singing; Let me hear your voice, for sweet is thy voice.

17 The church had power in their singing because it was coming from their deliverance. As they sang in word and spirit, they would raise a spiritual sound unto the Lord as the sound of many waters. This spiritual singing ministers life to the body exalted and exalted the Lord. Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk, in the light of your present Lord. They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation they exult in your righteousness. You are their glorious strength. Our power is based on your favor. Ps. 89:15-17 (NLT)

18 This the season for praise and singing where God will manifest his presence in the midst of his people. James tells us to be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

19 The purpose of praise and worship is to help us to become God centered instead of self centered. Praise, and worship helps us develop our love relationship with God. What we sow in praise, we reap in blessings. Notice how this unfolds, he gave us beauty for ashes; Ashes was a sign of grief, and mourning. When mourning cease and joy comes the ashes are taken away from the head and in the true spirit of rejoicing a beautiful bonnet or a diadem is placed on the head. The mourner jumps and spin in praise and singing for the day of their mourning has passed.

20 He gives the oil of joy which is the Holy Spirit who become our teacher showing the way into God presence. Praise is the God ordained way into his presence. As we wear this garment of praising God for who he is, praise will lift our spirits up over heaviness, depression, oppression and free us. We are told not to get drunk with wine, wherein excess; but be filled with the spirit; speaking to yourself in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

21 Colossians 3:16 tells us that three basic things happens when we sing: 1. There is Edification of Ourselves - his word through songs are remembered. 2. There is Edification of Others - it opens up our understanding of God s word to others. 1Peter 2:9, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 3. There is Exaltation of God through Praise and Worship - this lifts Jesus high and he said he would draw all men unto him. Let us be obedient and receive the rewards for a True Worshipper!

22 RIGHT FOCUS, RIGHT THINKING, RIGHT RESULTS Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.