From Sam's message last Sunday.The second thing Sam brought out in his message about the Woman at the Well from John 4 was that an encounter with Jesus will cause you to worship with no excuses.
The woman was more concerned with "where" we are supposed to worship but Jesus told her that God was more concerned with "how" we worship.
For our worship to be acceptable it must be done in spirit and in truth. Too often we concern ourselves with style and we put substance aside. Jesus would say to us, I believe, that its not about hymns or choruses, traditional or contemporary, blue grass or country or rock. Its about worshipping in spirit and in truth and in fact it is those kinds of worshippers that God is actually looking for.
I hope that when God hears us on Sunday mornings at Faith that he finds many such worshippers. Believers who are simply excited and thankful and can't wait to worship the Lord with all our hearts. There is something beautiful to God that he dwells or inhabits the praises of His people. When we worship in spirit and in truth God himself draws near to hear us.
4 comments:
I really like this blog today Pastor. As I read it, I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me. Just this past Sunday I didn't get up early to sing with the choir because...What was my excuse last week?..Oh yeah, I was out late saturday night and therefore, just couldn't wake up early. Let's see, other Sundays it might be this reason or that reason. And yes, I am way guilty of preferring hymns and choruses over more contemporary stuff...your right in saying God is looking for worshippers in spirit and in truth. Not worshippers who feel like it this sunday or if we sing the right songs or whatever the case may be. I want to be a true worshipper in spirit and in truth and I want God to inhabit my praise to Him. I want Him to draw near to me.
I really enjoyed Sam's teaching on Sunday. He brought out a lot of interesting points about the woman at the well story. It is always the position of our hearts that God looks at, whether it is during praise, prayer, or our everyday walk. As Jesus said; "What comes out of your mouth is actually coming from your heart, and that is what makes a person unclean" (Matthew 15:18 CJB). I am glad that the Lord looks at our heart, because with a voice like a dying calf in a hail storm, it is important that He hears my heart, not my voice. Bless U, Susan
Susan, you are so funny. You do not sing like a dying calf in a hailstorm. You sing beautifully as a matter of fact. You know when I sing I feel as though I can barely carry a tune in a bucket and all that kind of thing, but something inside me draws me to worship and praise the Lord. I have to be a part of it or I feel as though I've missed out.
In response to Susan's saying she's glad the Lord looks at the heart...
You ever need to just put on some good gospel or spiritual music, pump up the volume and just have CHURCH! Since Sam preached last sunday I have been thinking of that song Woman At The Well. I went to play it and found out my cd with that song is in Amin's car. The cd I did have had this song Lord Search My Heart by the queen of gospel music Mahalia Jackson. I thought of Susan's response to today's blog when I heard it. I wanted to share the lyrics.
Yes, while I'm down here Lord search my heart. (3x's)
Chorus: You know Lord whether I'm right, you know Lord whether I'm wrong. You know Lord whether I'm right or wrong.
While I'm done here praying Lord search my heart (3x's)
Chorus
While I'm testifying Lord please search my heart. (3x's)
Chorus
yeah while I'm singing I'm holy Lord search my heart. (3x's)
chorus
Yeah while I'm singing your praises Lord please search my heart (3x's)
chorus
While I tell a sinner man to pray Lord search my heart
chorus
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