Tag: Sincere Worship

Legitimacy Of Your Worship As Recognized By God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2020-07-02
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Isaiah 29:13-14
TRANSLATION: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

BIBLE TEXT: 13 The Lord says, “These people come to honor me with words, but I am not really important to them. The worship they give me is nothing but human rules they have memorized. 14 So I will continue to amaze them by doing powerful and amazing things. Their wise men will lose their wisdom. Even the most intelligent among them will not be able to understand.”

OBSERVATION: We hear it all too often from pastors that we, the members, appear to be bumps on a log as we sit before them preaching their hearts out, as filled with the awesome power of the Almighty God. Too often we are also guilty of taking our worship time way too lightly, whether it’s our daily worship experience with our Maker, or whether it’s through our deliberate efforts to attend corporate worship times. So as I read this Scripture, God forced me to ponder how sincere I am in my relationship with Him. I may fool my pastor, and I may think I could look good in the eyes of God, but no word, deed or thought escapes the One true God. Let’s get honest before Him today.

APPLICATION: I have really been enjoying the prophecies according to Isaiah! Being a part of God’s Word for all generations, I know that Isaiah’s prophecy and eye-opening declaration to us, comes directly from God, so it is of utmost importance that we pay close attention to what Isaiah is challenging us with today also. God saw that much of what Isaiah was dealing with in his day, revolved around a broken system – one where leaders were misguided because of following their own desires, wants and popularity. However, I was stopped in my track, because I realized that the God that you and I serve today, is still the one same God. I don’t know about you my friend, but I am convinced that our churches today are still polluted with folk just like Isaiah faced in his day. I believe that these words from the Almighty God, are just as applicable and meant for us today. We show up for church, but are we ready to acknowledge God and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth? I believe that means that we are prepared to worship God as if we are the only one in the sanctuary. I also believe that our daily worship times would enrich our spirit of worship when we gather for corporate worship. Do you feel like your heart and soul is better prepared to look full into His wonderful face and acknowledge Him as Lord, because of your daily experiences together with the Lord? I was also amazed by the consequences that God said He would pour out on His people, especially the smartest and most elegant leaders. I don’t know that there has been a time ever before in history when church leaders were brought to their knees begging for wisdom and understanding on how to move forward with the ministry that God has set before them. I’m not saying that God has dumbfounded our church leaders, but we are not God, and He has not enlightened us as to why we are going through the tough times that are currently before us. What I could see from this Scripture though, is that God used Isaiah to warn His people that unless we change our self serving attitudes, and instead recognize the awesome power of the One True God, and in doing so – follow through in sincere dedication to Him and in deliberate worship to Him, THEN consequences will follow until we humble ourselves, turn from our wicked ways, pray, and acknowledge Him as Lord, and worship only Him. This was important enough that God directed us towards this in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Dear ones, there are many more warnings given in the Word of God to those who are called by His name; the greatest is that one day soon, Jesus will return to earth to take His bride home to glory! Part of our reckoning to our Master on that Day, will no doubt be accounting for our sincerity to the King while here on earth. What will that look like for you? Are you prepared to respond to the all-knowing God of this universe, even today? We don’t know the day of His return, so let me encourage you to seriously consider the Scriptures today and my challenging questions above, so that You could be prepared if Jesus came today.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, I am anxious for your return, because I look forward to the joys of Heaven and being at peace at the feet of my Master. I believe there are many of my readers who would echo that same desire today, because you’re the reason we live and look forward to being with some sweet day. But You have given us much to think about today. Please Lord, awaken our minds so that we might be drawn to You in all sincerity, and that we may live in accordance with all the ways You have taught us. Help us Lord to get over ourselves, and as we look fully into Your wonderful face, may we be reminded of the One we represent, and may we never disappoint You in the level of our commitment to be just like You to a lost and dying world. People still need the Lord. Oh that they may see You just as You are, when they come into contact with Your representatives – Your children – Your saints – my fellow Christians and myself. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Genuine Worship

On By Ed AlgreenIn Worship1 Comment

The Holy Bible (New Century Version – Isaiah 29:13-14): 13 The Lord says: “These people worship me with their mouths, and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is based on nothing but human rules. 14 So I will continue to amaze these people by doing more and more miracles. Their wise men will lose their wisdom; their wise men will not be able to understand.”

Thoughts: I believe that it is worthy of note when a scripture is referenced in several areas of the Bible, so not only did God get my attention as I read this passage of scripture, I noticed where vs 13 was referenced and reemphasized by Jesus himself in Matthew 15:8-9 and Mark 7:6-7. Then in vs 14, the words of Isaiah was also referenced in 1 Corinthians 1:19. Friends, this may be controversial to many who may read this devotional today, but I believe that this scripture is still something that should awaken people today. For I believe that way too many people attend church services today so they can satisfy the ‘something’ that is missing in their lives; or perhaps the traditions from their upbringing; or perhaps the pressure from friends and/or family members who might influence or invite them. However, although we might receive encouragement from time spent with other believers in corporate worship, I believe that our most sincere worship comes from those times that we are awaken by something in God’s Word; or perhaps an answer to a personal prayer that you have been burdened about; or perhaps the glory of God shown to you through His marvelous handiwork, healing or call to salvation for a hardened sinner friend that you have been earnestly praying for. For it is times such as these that you realize that there is a personal connection you have with the God of this universe, the Savior of this world, the Jesus who loved us enough to die on a cruel cross just so that we might live eternally with Him. These things create an atmosphere of personal worship in our lives that cannot be explained, and was not urged on by anyone or anything other than your personal relationship with God. Friends, let me encourage you to connect with God before you get dressed for church and worship Him personally there in your home. Then take that spirit of worship with you and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through you as you continue to worship God through corporate worship. Let’s learn to concentrate on God, not the pretty dress or suit ahead of us, or the fallacies of the preacher as he does his best to share the Word with you. Let’s look for God in our worship services, and let’s plan to worship Him personally, even if no one else is led to expressions of worship. Our worship depends on our relationship with the King of all kings, not the atmosphere or the music or even the preaching, for if it did, we would worship for the wrong reasons. Speak with God about your attitude of worship today and seek to know if you are where He wants you to be in your worship time with Him. I believe that there is no greater joy than to know that you have worshiped God in various circumstances of your life and in every walk of your life!

Prayer: Lord, the reasons why we worship You are endless, for You are beyond description in all that You have created for us to enjoy, and for all that You spare us from each and every day, and for all that You bless us with personally. You have given us Your precious Holy Spirit to guide us, protect us and lead us unto all Truth. Yes we ache, and we have our humanly/earthly issues, but these are so minor compared to the love and peace that we enjoy from knowing You and experiencing You personally. Please Lord, help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, and not the many interruptions and interference that Satan sends our way to distract us in our relationship with You. It’s You that I live for, and You that I worship dear Lord. May my praise offering be acceptable to You oh King. Please forgive me where I fail at doing this wholeheartedly at times, I ask that You touch my life and return my attention to You whenever this occurs. Please touch the hearts of those You encourage to read this devotional today. May they find peace in their worship of You, or be reminded of its importance today, is my humble and respectful prayer that I ask in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com so that we can pray with you and give you help and or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Any words underlined above will indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to blogger.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, Sebring, FL! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!