But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-25 (NLT)
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26-27
In the beginning in the Garden of Eden there was simply a relationship between God and man.
God wants fellowship with us!
God is much more concerned about our relationship with Him than our works, activities and traditions. God wants a relationship, everything He established for man was built on this desire for fellowship.
As a result of a Fall of Man – this original design was broken.
Jesus came to restore that design; God is calling us to live in that place of sweet fellowship with Him through knowing Jesus Christ.
This is why we worship Jesus – that’s why we praise Him!
He’s the way, truth and life!
“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk. Isaiah 55:1 (NLT)
- We drink new wine, His Holy Spirit!
- We are nourished by the milk of God’s Word – 1 Peter 2:2
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
God’s Use of Principles
Psalms 19 and 119 also clearly reveal the necessity of understanding and obeying God’s principles of creation. This is true because only the manufacturer of a product knows what factors are necessary to obtain the maximum operation of the product. In essence, you can’t use a product according to your own ideas and expect it to fulfill what the manufacturer promised it could and would do. If you want a product to work, doing all that the manufacturer said it would do, you have to obey the principles (laws, commandments, instructions, etc.) of the one who designed and made the product. God’s requirements of us are always based on His principles, He knows we can’t fulfill our purpose and enjoy fullness in life unless we operate within the parameters (principles) He has set before us. The effects of His laws cannot be avoided, they are inherent to the law. Therefore, our relationship with God is based on how we respond to the principles He has established throughout creation. He is not capricious in His responses, but rather faithful and just to us.
God established the principle of coming into His Presence with a worshipful, thankful heart full of praise!
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
Did you know that God has a songbook? Yes, He has. It’s called “The Book of Psalms” and most of the Psalms were written by one amazing, well-known songwriter who still really owns the copyright even to the most of the modern praise and worship songs.
King David – He was a man after God’s own heart! He was an exceptional man and there is so much we can learn from his life.
King David Worships in the time of trouble
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was [a]grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Sam. 30: 1-6 NKJV
King David had lost everything Wives, Kids and Possessions. Also his men had lost everything. And they saw this as Davids fault, men were blaming him and getting ready to stone him. David could have found many excuses to defend him and try to reason with his men. He had been treated very unfairly by King Saul. David did not not withdraw. He didn’t let his flesh prevail and go on a revenge in anger, He didn’t try to reason himself out of the situation with excuses.
Instead King David turned his heart and soul toward ‘the Lord his God.’ David called God his God.
One Bible commentary notes it well:
“it would appear as if David was the very first of all the ancient singers to grapple that thought that he stood in a personal, individual relation to God, and God to him.” (MacLaren´s Exposition)
What did David do? How did he encourage and strengthen himself in the Lord his God?
*Maybe with this song:
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me To eat[a] up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Psalm 27:1-2
He didnt have anything else left
But there was one thing the Amalekites had not been able to steal.
David had relationship to almighty God, he called him ’my God’ in his darkest hour!
And when he had His God, He had everything he needed.
*Maybe King David had to command his soul to focus on His God and not the circumstances:
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5 NIV
*Or maybe he began to praise him and testify about past victories:
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me,And let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant,And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,And saved him out of all his troubles. Psalms 34:1-6
* King David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord His God. He would make effort to go into his God’s presence.
He received the joy “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Neh. 8:10
He found joy as he praised and worshipped God, he reminded himself of His goodness and faithfulness, he received strength to get up and go.
He received wisdom from the Lord what to do and then he did it!
He went after the Amalekites and brought back everything that they had taken.
So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. 1 Sam30: 18-19 NKJV
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Praise and Worship brings us to the place of TOTAL VICTORY!
Remember Joshua when he was leading the nation of Israel to conquer Jericho ( Joshua 6). Walls fell down flat because of the supernatural impact of their victorious shout of praise. Breakthrough victory is the start to possess our Promised Land here on Earth. Praise Him and you will see giants fall! Praise Him and you will win in all battles and challenges you’re facing right now.
So the Lord was with Joshua, and his reputation spread throughout the land. Joshua 6:27 NLT
Apostle Paul and his companion Silas are some of the best examples of New Testament, they were believers who understood the power of praise and worship. Both of them truly had a heart of a worshipper. This powerful story is found in Acts 16.
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26
You’re living in a nation where we have freedom to worship Jesus and to preach His name. And we declare that it will stay that way! Remember they were in prison because of their boldness and faith. You might be in the prison because of your own choices or because of something someone else did. You are not in an actual prison like Paul and Silas but it could be another type of prison – prison of broken realtionships, prison of hatred, prison of doubt and unbelief, prison of fear and sickness or a prison of debt. But just like Paul and Silas, when you lift up a song of praise and worship at your midnight hour – you will see how God is adding His super to your natural – and His supernatural power will miraculously deliver you from the bondage you’re in right now.
The principle of the power of praise and worship still works – God is faithful to His Word!