Still on the thoughts of worship. So many opinions, thoughts and even discussions, that as I think of the weekend I just had at our church, it makes me more certain of the reasons I worship HIM!.
We worship for one purpose: that we might know our God. The whole point of worship is that the people of God can draw nearer to Him, and know Him for themselves. A worship service has no other purpose or aim other than Him. It is not directed at the people, but at God, for the sake of the people. And in that discovery, WE are CHANGED.
In worship, the distinction between Heaven and the Earth will fade away, as the people of God begin to operate and flow in true Kingdom authority. The worlds way of operation becomes irrelevant, we move into the spiritual, lives get transformed, people get delivered.
True worship is a journey. It is a journey from the mundane, the natural, and the boring and the impossible into the true reality of the presence of God, from where the people of God enter into the radical and miraculous of God's kingdom. The more we focus upon Him, the more our minds are filled with His truth and revelation. Jesus becomes the true authority over ALL our lives.
On this journey a transformation comes as we spend time in God's presence listening, heeding his words . Judson Cornwall wrote, "To become conformed to the image of the object worshiped
must be the end desire of the worshiper." As we spend time gazing into His image our character becomes conformed to his character. The more time spent in His presence the more we are transformed into his image.
Though worship is for God and an end to itself, transformation is a vital benefit of worship.
"Worship is humble and glad; worship forgets itself in remembering God; worship celebrates the truth as God's truth. True worship is open to God, adoring God, waiting for God, trusting God even in the dark." (N.T. Wright)
