Reasonable Service

Many of our praise and worship services have been reduced to mere 'social gatherings'. Several people now visit various 'Houses of God' and yet never get to access the very 'Presence of God'. Unfortunately, in several other settings, praise and worship have been reduced to ordinary prologues to other sessions within gatherings or sheer stopgaps in the event of some delays and challenges It is about time we worshipped God in Spirit and in Truth by doing the right things in order to attract His pleasure and blessings rather than His wrath and curses, which we so often do when we dishonour Him. How many times have we not deliberately or mechanically offered abominable sacrifices to God? We sometimes inadvertently burn strange incense before God and feel our sacrifices must be acceptable simply on account of their quantum or quality, but if God could Himself, acknowledge that the praise songs of His people were harmonious, and that their sacrifices were fat, and their services solemn and yet reject them all, then what we render to God must certainly transcend our nominal readings on our man-made, self- gratifying gauges and emotional feelings. We must guard against neglecting our call to do the right things as regards the praise and worship we offer to God, for the consequences thereof could be dire. The Bible urges us to show forth, express or demonstrate the excellencies of The One who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light and we must be prepared to lend our all in all to such demonstrations (in our bodies, soul and spirit) as in the case of David who in Psalm 103 tasked all that was within him to bless the Lord God Almighty. Our praises must be readily available to God. In Psalms 65:1 the Psalmist declares that praise awaits God in Zion (which is the gathering of the saints). In our congregations, we need to prepare our praise to await God Almighty. When children of God gather in His presence, their praises should not be prepared for any other human being, object, virgin, saint, person (living or dead, priest, pastor, bishop or pope) aside God. The practice in some churches where songs of praises are showered on to martyrs, deceased persons, virgins and all manner of demons should cease in view of the fact that the Bible says that our praise must await only God in Zion, where the children of God gather. Protestants, the Charismatic and Pentecostals also cannot continue to fall victim to the unacceptable practice of offering God- deserving praise to others aside God. Frankly, many people often indulge in certain things just to milk their own selfish antagonistic ambitions rather than making God the focus when they gather to worship. How many times have we not replaced songs which God might have Himself inspired and prompted us to minister with those that we felt were popular even though not necessarily God-inspired? Have many not often made the tune and manner of songs more important than the matter of them? I am by no means belittling the importance of skill and excellence in music. Brethren, if we should concentrate on just the music and neglect the real essence of our worship to God, then we would have missed the mark. Instrumentalists especially need to understand that, in spite of the fact that their place in worship is vital, God's house is not an opera house full of ordinary audiences. Church is not a place where people gather to amuse themselves and display their prowess in musical talents. Church should see a gathering of participating worshippers who truly understand what worship is all about. Church folk need to understand the 'SOS' of worship. In praise and worship, God should be Our Subject, Our Object and Our Source. We are called to worship and not just to do what worshippers do. If I fixed a broken down vehicle and got it to move, I might have done what mechanics do but that would not necessarily make me a mechanic. In like manner, if I delivered a speech on behalf of a president, I might have done what that president would have usually done but that would not make me a president. With this understanding, may I suggest to you that the true worshipper is not necessarily the one who does what worshippers do but the one who worships in spirit and in truth, prompted by faith and who is yielded to the Holy Spirit to do the right thing. The true worshipper's experience with God cannot be taken lightly. As we approach God's ‘dangerous’ holiness, it is imperative that we heed to God's demand for sanctification, given to Moses for His children in Exodus 19:10. It is also essential that we observe Jacob's call unto his household (as recorded in Genesis 35:2) to put away all the strange gods amongst them and act accordingly, if we really want to enjoy a true worship experience. Again, as we approach God in worship, there is the need for us to be obedient to His commands and to ensure that we do not offer 'strange fire' before Him in disobedience as Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron did (Leviticus 10:1). If we disobey God, we could suffer the same consequence of naughtiness (death) as seen in Numbers 3:4. Furthermore, it is important to note that we cannot approach God's Holy Presence irresponsibly. That would be tantamount to committing 'spiritual suicide'. In Exodus 30:18-21, God instructed Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet at the laver before entering the tabernacle in order that they do not die. Brethren, if we attempt to defile the presence of God, the penalty could be dreadful. David asks in Psalm 35:3: ‘Who it is that, will ascend into the hill of the Lord or stand in the Holy place and then intimates that it is the one who has clean hands, a pure heart and who has not lifted up his soul (feelings, intellect and will) unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully. In Psalm 15, David further mentions that the one who qualifies to stand in the presence of the Lord is the one who walks uprightly and in righteousness and who speaks the truth in his heart. He says it is the one who does not slander with his tongue nor take up a reproach against his neighbor. Amongst other qualities, David mentions that the one fit to stand in God's presence is he who does no evil to his friend and despises troublemakers: the one who honors those who fear Jehovah and who does not take reward against the innocent. Such should be the nature of a true worshiper. I trust that these love notes from God concerning a subject that brings Him pleasure, though not exhaustive, will refresh and possibly add a little more to your understanding of what praise and worship is due the Lord God Almighty. Let us all strive to do His will on earth as is done in heaven as regards rendering unto Him our reasonable service and worship. God richly bless you.