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This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 15:8-9
The Heart of Worship. Or shall we say, the Heart at, Worship. Let us now walk the path or road that leads to that very Heart.
A road or path that in many ways is far much older than that of the Roman Road, and has it's roots deep in the Old Testament. A road that parallels that of the Roman Road; and if one looks at the full map, or grasps the "full picture" or the "Full Gospel" of the word, they actually become one and the same. For scripture tells us:
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. - Psalms 102:27 and…
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. - Hebrews 13:8
For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. - Malachi 3:6
Man can change…and yes, Seasons Change, but God never will. He is, and will always remain the same. Just as His Word never will change, and will always remain the word of perfect truth.
Nelson's Bible Dictionary defines "Worship" as follows:
Reverent devotion and allegiance pledged to God; the rituals or ceremonies by which this reverence is expressed. The English word worship comes from the Old English word worthship, a word which denotes the worthiness of the one receiving the special honor or devotion.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
He truly is worthy.
Within the borders of this page and the following pages, we will explore the seven aspects of worship... prayer, praise, trust, reverence, obedience, service and love... and the last shall be first, for the greatest is love….
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. - Matthew 22:37
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. - Mark 12:30
And now on praise… for He alone is worthy. Of our worthship, our praise. God the Father, and Our Lord Jesus Christ.
And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; - I Chronicles 24:30
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. - Psalms 150:1-6
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 15:9
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. - Hebrews 13:15
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. - I Timothy 2:8
For prayer and praise go hand in hand… each a part of the whole. And the lifting of holy hands and the lifting up of our Lord. Are not praise and prayer one and the same? Praise; a communication between you and the Father? Our Lord? And now more on prayer:
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. - I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; - Romans 12:12
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. - Philippians 4:6
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. - James 5:13-16
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 15:9
And yes the greatest scripture on prayer…
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:9-15
And now on trust:
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. - Psalms 18:2
A Psalm of David. 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, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. - Psalms 27:1-3
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. - Psalms 18:30
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 15:9
Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. - Psalms 40:4
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. - Proverbs 30:5
But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. - Hebrews 11:6
And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. - Matthew 12:21
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. - Romans 15:10-12
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; - 1 Timothy 6:17
And on reverence:
Webster's Dictionary defines reverence as:
rev[er[ence 7rev! r!ns, rev r!ns8
n.
5OFr < L reverentia < reverens: see REVERENT6
1 a feeling or attitude of deep respect, love, and awe, as for something sacred; veneration
2 a manifestation of this; specif., a bow, curtsy, or similar gesture of respect; obeisance
3 the state of being revered
4 [R-] a title used in speaking to or of a member of the clergy: preceded by Your or by His or Her
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. - Psalms 4:2-3
Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. - Psalms 33:3-8
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: - Hebrews 12:28
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. - Psalms 95:6
As the song "Heart of Worship" goes, it's all about you Jesus. I'm sorry Lord for the thing that I have made it. "It's all about you". And yes, dear reader, nothing about us.
And now on obedience, and hear again as that great old song goes: "Trust and Obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey.
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? - Galatians 3:1
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; - Hebrews 5:8-9
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
- II Thessalonians 1:8-10
Obedience: A sign of true worship.
And now on service:
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; - Romans 1:9
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. - Romans 14:17-18
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
- Colossians 3:23-24
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. - John 12:26
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. - Luke 9:23
Our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is worthy, worthy of our worship and our praise. Worthy of worthship. And service.
My Lord, I remain your Servant.
Rev. Jeffrey Jackson
"the Phoenix"
Just as true revival with the word, revival begins within the heart, as does true worship. It begins there. More on the "Heart of Worship" will be posted to this page as time allows.
Shalom
"There is a wind blowing across the land, and a revival is upon the wind" - the Phoenix
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Dec 6, 2006 - When God had me prophesy and pen those words some 20 months ago… "Was that an Understatement".
"There is a wind blowing throughout the land… and a revival is upon the wind". - "the Phoenix".
"Revival". Of a Holy Nation. Revival. Vital "ReBreath". The order of the day.
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