EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP (part1)

March 24, 2007 – March 31, 2007

(The start of a wonderful journey)

CHAPTER ONE        EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP

Luke 7:37-38English Standard Version (ESV)³⁷ And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, ³⁸ and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

·         Imagine the depth of this woman’s tears being enough to clean the dusty feet of Jesus.

·         The cause of Christ pumping away in our veins should cause extraordinary praise to the Father.

Extravagant

adjective

1. wasteful, excessive, lavish, prodigal, profligate, spendthrift, imprudent, improvident his extravagant lifestyle
wasteful sparing, careful, moderate, sensible, prudent, economical, frugal, thrifty, miserly, tight-fisted (informal)

2. overpriced, expensive, costly Her aunt gave her an uncharacteristically extravagant gift.

3. exorbitant, excessive, steep (informal), unreasonable, inordinate, extortionate hotels charging extravagant prices
exorbitant reasonable, moderate, economical

4. excessive, exaggerated, outrageous, wild, fantastic, absurd, foolish, over the top (slang), unreasonable, preposterous, fanciful, unrestrained, inordinate, outré, immoderate, O.T.T. (slang) He was extravagant in his admiration of Lillie.
excessive conservative, reasonable, moderate, sensible, realistic, restrained, sober, down-to-earth, prudent

5. showy, elaborate, flamboyant, impressive, fancy, flashy, ornate, pretentious, grandiose, gaudy, garish, ostentatious, gee-whizz (slang) The couple wed in extravagant style in 1995.
showy conservative, moderate, restrained, sober

·         The Holy Spirit is calling us to excessive worship. we’re to be overgenerous in our praises to God.

·         EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP  means to be elaborate in our offering of admiration to Him; our worship is to be over and above reasonable limits previously established,

Luke 7:42-50English Standard Version (ESV)⁴² When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ Then those who were at table with him began to say among^[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

When we stand before the Lord to worship Him, we are to worship Him in truth.

1.    How big are the debts Jesus canceled for me?

2.    How generous was He towards me when considering the pan of my sins inflicted upon Him?

3.    How much thanks to I owe Him for canceling the consequences of my past?

4.    am I generous with my worship?

5.    do I exceed reasonable limits when praising Him?

6.    Or am I merely doing what is required, merely fulfilling the basic level of commitment?

7.    Am I simply trying to earn my right of passage?

a.    If our worship is spiritual and truthful, we will search our souls and appraise the value we place on His love for us

8.    What can we ring to the altar that represents extravagance?

Extravagant (oxford English dictionary Thesaurus) – “wasteful”

One of the most beautiful accounts of extravagant worship in the Bible is this story of how the gift of perfume form the sinful woman was considered “wasteful” by those around her. But as she poured her costly perfume form the alabaster jar, she must have wished she has even more to give Him. As she poured her tears in offering, He washed away her brokenness. As she loved extravagantly, He forgave extravagantly. Her action of elaborate love toward her Lord is a powerful example of true, heartfelt worship. Her act of worship has nothing to do with music or song, but it had to do with being extravagant in devotion to Her Saviour.

What is worship and what are we doing when we worship?

TRUE WORSHIP, the kind of worship that God seek is described in

John 4:23-24English Standard Version (ESV)²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

TRUE WORSHIP – to be when one’s spirit adores and connects with the Spirit of God, when the very core of one’s being is found loving Him, lost in Him.

-       Is not about the songs we sing, being sung, it is not about the size of the band, it is not about the size of the choir. Although music is a wonderful expression of worship, it is not the root in itself the essence of it.

-       The core of worship is when one’s heart and soul and all that is within adores and connects with the Spirit of God.

I. CREATED TO WORSHIP

Isaiah 43:7⁷ everyone who is called by my name,     whom I created for my glory,     whom I formed and made.”

Isaiah 43:10-11¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,     “and my servant whom I have chosen,  that you may know and believe me     and understand that I am he.  Before me no god was formed,     nor shall there be any after me. ¹¹ I, I am the LORD,     and besides me there is no savior.

1 Chronicles 16:28-29 ²⁸ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! ²⁹ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;     bring an offering and come before him!  Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;^[a]

Our worship pleases the Lord

-       Real strength when believers bring a corporate offering to praise God in the church

-       The sense of storming heaven with our praise when we unify in faith

-       The body of Christ can just be together in His magnificent presence.

Hebrews 10:24-25²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

But

-       We must each worship our King in that secret place, that intimate time, one-on-one, as a lover of Christ

-       There should be times of worship that only you and the Lord will ever  know about

-       Even if you are part of a worship team, your most glorious moments of worship should be off the platform when are alone with God

-       Heartfelt intimacy is private and your most precious time with your Best friend is not in public moment.

-       Moments alone with God should be revered.

Luke 10:40-42E⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary.^[a] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus cares- and He cares that we lean the only service to Him that is needed.

Mary – choose to be in the presence of God.

-       Chose to sit at His feet

-       Spend time in the Word of God

-       Chose what is most necessary.

There is no substitute for time spent alone with God, no substitute for a relationship with Christ. Singing lovely songs about the Lord is fantastic, but it is not enough!

To worship is to SPEAK TO THE LORD with words full of adoration. To worship God is to BOW DOWN TO HIM, TO REVERE HIM and to HOLD IN AWE OF HIS BEAUTY.

worship [ˈwɜːʃɪp]

vb -ships, -shipping, -shipped US, -ships -shiping, -shiped

1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) (tr) to show profound religious devotion and respect to; adore or venerate (God or any person or thing considered divine)

2. (tr) to be devoted to and full of admiration for

3. (intr) to have or express feelings of profound adoration

4. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) (intr) to attend services for worship

5. (tr) Obsolete to honour

-       An active expression of our love toward God

-       Vibrant and visible by our deed and not only by the words we speak

-       Involves the giving of ourselves totally to the Lord

-       Neither a ritualistic activity nor a musical emotion

-       Embodies and reflects the selfless generosity of Christ

-       Movement of our hearts, our thoughts and our wills toward God’s heart, thoughts and will.

1 Peter 2:9 ⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

    a) Worship is a Lifestyle

     there are multiple worship methods, plans, and styles that vary among cultures and      geographic boundaries. The Lord enjoys the diversity of sincere worship when expressed             through His Spirit and in Truth. Worship should be a way of life, with many facets of expression

     Music and songs are ways we can praise God’s Name, but the Word says we cam

1.    Worship God with feasting

Psalm 22:29 ²⁹ All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;     before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,     even the one who could not keep himself alive.

2.    Worship the Lord with joyful songs

Psalm 100:2English Standard Version (ESV)
 ² Serve the LORD with gladness!     Come into his presence with singing!

3.    Worship God with sacrifices and offerings

Isaiah 19:21English Standard Version (ESV)²¹ And the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them.

4.    Worship God by walking and jumping

Acts 3:8-9English Standard Version (ESV)⁸ And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

But regardless of worship, you must be in sprit (from our rational consciousness) and truth (consistent with the rest of our lives)

John 4:24²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

·         We don’t have to be great singers or musicians to worship God. Our worship can be filled with radical demonstrations of praise  and other times can be very quiet and personal. Neither is better than the other. But we do need to be in personal relationship with our great God and live with the truth of His greatness reflecting through all we are becoming and all we do.

·         Extravagant worship is not achieved by taking shortcuts

2 Chronicles 5:12-14¹² and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; ¹³ and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,   “For he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever,”  the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, ¹⁴ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

To practice extravagant worship, we need to get good at saying ‘I LAY DOWN MY LIFE”.

Come to Jesus with a grateful heart and in everything you do, live a lifestyle with extravagant worship.

b) Sacrificial Worship Pleases God

Genesis 8:20-22God's Covenant with Noah ²⁰ Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. ²¹ And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse^[a] the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. ²² While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

·         God gave us a covenant promise that He will not destroy all living creatures again, because of one man who offered extravagant, overgenerous worship in obedience to God’s command. Noah lived through extreme circumstances but be still praised God in the midst of it. That’s extravagant worship.

Genesis 22:2, 11-12² He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” ¹² He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

·         Abraham was prepared to give it all. He was overgenerous, excessive in his act of worship. he was prepared to give to the Lord the thing that he loved most, he passed the big test.

Acts 16:23-35English Standard Version (ESV)²³ And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. ²⁴ Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Converted ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and 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 bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”²⁹ And the jailer^[a] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹ And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.³³ And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
 ³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”

·         Extravagant worship grabs God’ attention.

Stories demonstrate that  a lifestyle of worship is to live an extravagant love for God. Throughout the stories in the Bible, whenever someone demonstrated extravagant worship, God reacted with extravagant blessings. Its cause and effect. Extravagant worship brings extravagant results

What makes worship extravagant?

It must cost us something. Worship is an act of obedience, faith, even when circumstances offer opportunities to fear. Worship, love and obedience are tied together.

John 14:21m 23-24²¹ Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”²³ Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴ Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

As you seek first the Kingdom of God and obey the Spirit of God, He calls you on to greater and deeper knowledge of Himself. The first commandment is to LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, and WITH ALL YOUR MIND.

Sincerity, integrity, honesty obedience and truth are the key words to an extravagant worship experience.

As worshipers, true lovers of Jesus,  we need to be sincere in our worship and to obey and love God with an undivided heart.

Psalm 86:11New International Version (NIV) ¹¹ Teach me your way, LORD,     that I may rely on your faithfulness;  give me an undivided heart,     that I may fear your name.

Psalmist – understood that he was imperfect

-       Yearning to please a perfect God

-       Asked for help because his heart had a tendency to stray as does ours

--Ask God to give you a heart that is true and pleasing to Him. Inviting God to give you an undivided heart will open the blessings of heaven to pour out upon your world.--

II. WORSHIP THE AUTHOR OF LOVE

·         To be a worshipper is to fall in love with God, the author of love, accept the love He has for you. He adores you. God gave you His word as a living love letter that contains everything you will ever need to get through this life and beyond.

·         We cans how the Lord ho much we love Hi m by loving others

·         By living out our part of the Great Commission and bringing the Author of love Himself to our love- starved planet.

·         Love others like He loves

-       To understand the power of God’s love and the power of loving others, go to the Author of Love Himself and His letter of love be imprinted on your life.

Psalm 145:6-9⁶ They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,     and I will declare your greatness. ⁷ They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness     and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. ⁸ The LORD is gracious and merciful,     slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. ⁹ The LORD is good to all,     and his mercy is over all that he has made.

-       one of the biggest challenges in life, of the mind and souls, is to accept the love of God simply to accept God’s love for you as a gift. It is the greatest absolute in your life

John 3:16For God So Loved the World    ¹⁶ “For God so loved the world,^[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Many people try to earn love. They try to earn love of God by working for Him. They find it hard to worship Him because they know they don’t deserve His attention. They beat themselves up trying to subconsciously please Him and earn His grace and favor, without ever truly knowing Him. Nothing you do could make Him love  you more.

Ephesians 1:4-8⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us^[a] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

1 John 4:7-13God Is Love ⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was made manifest among us that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. ¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

-       Believers love others because God loves us

-       Loving others is an act of worship toward the Author of Love

-       People will not understand or grasp how great God is until His disciples show genuine love toward them.

·         Until You know through personal experience who God is, you will never truly know who you are

·         Until you know the depth of His love for you, you will never truly experience knowing God beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are loved.

·         Until you know that you are loved, you can never obey the 2^nd commandment, which is to love others as you love yourself.

-       The Bible continually exhorts us to love one another

--Truthful worshiper love God extravagantly and love people with the extravagant love of God.—

III. KNOW YOUR WORTH

Many people, including myself, have battled with insecurity, inadequacy, and intimidation- all the “in” words. But Jesus said

Matthew 10:28-32²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.^[a] 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?^[b] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.³² So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,

It is difficult to carry the weight of inferiority into out time of worship. worship is a time to focus on who God is, it is a time to enjoy the awesome authority and anointing that He puts in His people who come into His presence with praise.

Sometimes the enemy works very hard to keep us from worshiping freely. But sometimes, we simply lack discipline in our thought life.

If we read the Word and keep God’s truth in our heart, we will focus our attention on His greatness and on the value that He places on us, “Don’t be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Knowing our value enriches our worship of God, and  not because of what we do but because of WHO HE IS. God sees all our inadequacies through the BLOOD OF CHRIST. Because of Jesus, our Heavenly Father sees us just as He sees His Son- beautiful, and perfect. Because of Jesus, we can

 

Hebrews 4:16¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 

That should give us enough courage to stand up straight and understand our value, not because of who we are or anything we have ever done, we are valuable because JESUS LOVES US.

Who you are in Christ matters more than what you do. God accepts and loves you just as you are, to demonstrate His glory to the entire world.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ²⁶ For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,^[a] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so that no human being^[b] might boast in the presence of God. ³⁰ And because of him^[c] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, ³¹ so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Our future should never rely on anyone’s opinion or your ability. We are a testimony of God’s grace. God uses people who say “Well, Lord, this is all I have to offer You, so if I’m going to be used in the Kingdom, you will have to work through me.”

the very least you can do is to give Him our lives and let Him show us the great things. He can do through our yielded hearts and hands.

We were created to worship Him in all we do.

Hebrews 10:19-23The Full Assurance of Faith ¹⁹ Therefore, brothers,^[a] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

We have an invitation to enter into the most Holy Place, where our Heavenly Father sits.

Through worship, we put Christ as the chief cornerstone of our lives, and the power we have access to in His presence is real. He longs for us to draw CLSOER TO HIM.

He has cleansed our hearts and made them pure so that we can stand in His presence. So we continue to praise our mighty Lord- to sing, clap, dance , celebrate, get soaked in His presence and overwhelmed by His grace.

Psalm 100:1-5His Steadfast Love Endures Forever    A Psalm for giving thanks. ¹ Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!   ² Serve the LORD with gladness!     Come into his presence with singing! ³ Know that the LORD, he is God!     It is he who made us, and we are his;^[a]     we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. ⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,     and his courts with praise!     Give thanks to him; bless his name!  ⁵ For the LORD is good;     his steadfast love endures forever,     and his faithfulness to all generations.

IV. DEVOTE YOURSELF TO PRAYER AND MEDITATION

Extravagant worshippers know the power of seeking God through prayer and meditation.

1 Corinthians 7:5

⁵ Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Joshua 1:8⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
 

As worshippers:

-       We seek the face of the Almighty King

-       Seek His face more than we seek any gifts or accolades

People may sometimes accuse as being too expressive, but there is fire in our inmost being that we can’t contain: God’s love and forgiveness and the power of the cross should cause us to dance into our future, regardless of what people think BECAUSE WE ARE INLOVE!

Psalm 103:1Bless the LORD, O My Soul    Of David. ¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul,     and all that is within me,     bless his holy name!

When we are extravagantly worshiping God, we may have onlookers who don’t respond the way we’d hoped for. Someone may watch us as we lay down our lives to worship our God. The testimony of our adoration may be viewed of something of great value that will cause others to join in, but it may also make someone despise us from the freedom and the joy that we are living in.

But WORSHIP IS UNTO THE LORD AND NOT UNTO MEN. Worship is an act of seeking God’s face and enjoying His magnificent presence.

1 Chronicles 16:7-36⁷ Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers.
David's Song of Thanks ⁸ Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;     make known his deeds among the peoples! ⁹ Sing to him, sing praises to him;     tell of all his wondrous works! ¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;     let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! ¹¹ Seek the LORD and his strength;     seek his presence continually! ¹² Remember the wondrous works that he has done,     his miracles and the judgments he uttered, ¹³ O offspring of Israel his servant,     children of Jacob, his chosen ones! ¹⁴ He is the LORD our God;     his judgments are in all the earth. ¹⁵ Remember his covenant forever,     the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, ¹⁶ the covenant that he made with Abraham,     his sworn promise to Isaac, ¹⁷ which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,     to Israel as an everlasting covenant, ¹⁸ saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,     as your portion for an inheritance.” ¹⁹ When you were few in number,     of little account, and sojourners in it, ²⁰ wandering from nation to nation,     from one kingdom to another people, ²¹ he allowed no one to oppress them;     he rebuked kings on their account, ²² saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,     do my prophets no harm!”
 ²³ Sing to the LORD, all the earth!     Tell of his salvation from day to day. ²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,     his marvelous works among all the peoples! ²⁵ For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,     and he is to be feared above all gods. ²⁶ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,     but the LORD made the heavens. ²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him;     strength and joy are in his place. ²⁸ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! ²⁹ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;     bring an offering and come before him!  Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;^{[a]   30} tremble before him, all the earth;     yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. ³¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,     and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” ³² Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;     let the field exult, and everything in it! ³³ Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy     before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. ³⁴ Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;     for his steadfast love endures forever! ³⁵ Say also:
   “Save us, O God of our salvation,     and gather and deliver us from among the nations,  that we may give thanks to your holy name     and glory in your praise. ³⁶ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,     from everlasting to everlasting!”   Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the LORD.

(David narrates the depth and magnitude of high praise and truthful worship)

·         Diligently seek the Lord and to love Him with all your heart

·         Learn to seek God’s face without worrying about saving yours

·         Know how to get on your knees

Psalm 84:2

² My soul longs, yes, faints
   for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
   to the living God.
   for the courts of the LORD;  my heart and flesh sing for joy     to the living God.    for the courts of the LORD;  my heart and flesh sing for joy     to the living God.

-       is that how your heart beats for Him?

-       Your worship offering will bless His heart as He hears you crying out for more of HIM,

-       Worship Him with a heart that longs to be with Him. As you bring a hungry hearts to know Him more and express through music and song you desire to love Him more, the possibilities are limitless.

a. what can I bring to the altar?

One thing that can stop us from being a truthful worshiper is feeling like we have nothing to offer to God. The Bible says “bring an offering..’ and feeling empty handed with nothing to contribute to the relationship with God can stop us from plunging  boldly to worship/

Btu when Christ came into the world, He showed us that God only wants something that we have to give to Him. The only thing that God wants from you is your HEART. God says “I DON’T NEED YOUR TALENT, I DON’T NEED YOURE GIFT, I DON’T WANT ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU CAN DO, I JUST WANT YOU.. I WANT YOUR HEART.”

You are not empty handed with nothing to bring to the table. God doesn’t want what you are going to be or what you would like to be. He wants all that you are today.

you can offer yourself to Him in worship, you can let that explosion of faith force you to praise His Name and offer your attention to bless Hi,

do you think giving your eat will bless God? Yes, you will bless God, because He looks past all the stuff of your life and looks straight to your heart.

When we exalt the Lord, God is increased and the “me” in our life is decreased.

-       We need more of God and less of me

-       We need more of His wisdom and less of any great ideas

-       We need more of His presence and less of my talent.

When we worship God, He is exalted, and our problems shrivel in His presence.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things on earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

when He is exalted, everything about us – the good, the bad, and the ugly- is decreased as we focus on Him.