Marshall Mabry – Undignified Worshiper of Jesus Christ – Page 22 – Some worship thoughts for followers of Jesus Christ!

Fear and Worship

On January 6, 2011

Hypocrisy consists in an attempt to “imitate” the people of God, or to assume the “appearance” of religion, in whatever form it may be manifested. (Albert Barnes, “Notes on the Bible”)

We can not worship God without fear. Jesus commanded us not to fear man, but to fear God who can throw our eternal souls into hell. There is no magic formula to the definition or meaning of “worship.” It is certainly not limited to the praises we sing. Worship is simply – “obedience to God’s commandments.” Jesus said “if you love me you will obey my commands.” We all know the opposite of obedience is “sin.” Either you live a life of worship or you live a life of sin. Worship is our way of giving back to God out of a thankful heart for all He has done. A life of worship manifests out of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

We can not worship God and be disobedient. Our lives were created by Him for His pleasure. We can not worship Him in truth and spirit — if we have idols. Nothing should take our attention from pleasing our Holy Father.

If we are giving back to the Lord, our sacrifice must cost us something. I once heard it said that in order “to find divinity you must lose your dignity.” Worship must never get comfortable. If raising your hands causes you to feel undignified, raise your hands! Not out of fear for your soul, but in submission to your belief in His worthiness to be praised and honored. Furthermore, it signifies that your dignity in the sight of man means nothing compared to your humbleness in the sight of God. Be careful in your worship, raised holy hands are clean hands, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. You must not worship or pray in public in a manner contrary to how you would worship or pray in private. Your worship must have integrity to be in “truth and spirit.”

Fasting is a way for man to deny the desires of his flesh, for the strengthening of his spirit. Undignified worship is a way for man to deny his own pride, to free his spirit to worship. Reckless abandonment may be the ultimate intimacy in worship for the prideful and arrogant.

It is a worship leader’s goal to know God’s heart. Comfort is not an option in the pursuit of this quest. To know God, we must forfeit all that we have gained and loved in order to devoutly follow after Him. We must learn that life is about giving and not receiving. The more we try to hold on to things in this world, the more we keep ourselves from getting closer to heaven and our King Jesus. A broken and contrite spirit is what God can use and honor. In the heart of an undignified worshipper with a passion to praise our Holy God is where He lives and He is blessed.

Worship requires a true humbled attitude in awesome reverence towards His holiness and blinding glory. We can not come into His sanctuary without reverent fear. It is a journey each of us must make alone. There in is His awesome presence; we will have no complaints, no excuses, and no plea. We will have no words at all. We will have a speechless heart of praise. We will be amazed and awed. But, we will be still and know that He is God!

The evolution of worship can be pictured like this: I tried to describe this process in terms of our attitude, our outward body posture, our inward feelings, and our spiritual position in relation to His holy sanctuary in our hearts. If you notice, this progression should resemble the pattern of a life of worship.

Praise (standing and singing, hands lifted, gladness and joy, outer/inner courts),
Prayer (on our knees, humbleness and humility, The Holy Place, offerings, supplication),
Stillness (prostrate, facedown, awed and amazed, Holy of Holies)

The Meaning of Discipleship

By Marshall Mabry

On January 5, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Manipulation is seen in many forms in the church in the guise of programs design to reach the lost. In so much that Christ is taken out in case of offending anyone. This is plainly an act of denying Christ in front of Man. God will give the increase. The pursuit of Holiness is not filled with programs that manipulate believers. It is filled with Truth, conviction, awe and amazement. There is no light other than Truth. We must be ready to give the answer for our joy.

Matthew 10: 32 -39 – “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35“For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; and A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” – Jesus Christ

To Love Mercy

By Marshall Mabry

On January 4, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Mercy is a quality that many of us say we lack. However, it must be one of our main qualities as a coheir with Christ. In Micah 6:8 Our Lord says “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” What does He mean “to love mercy?” Mercy walks hand-in-hand with love. Is it mercy that triggers our compassion? Is it mercy that moves us to action? The fact that you are breathing and reading this message is because of God’s great mercy. (Titus 3:5) I don’t believe our Heavenly Father cares about our status in Man’s eyes. I don’t believe He hears or sees us when we are disobedient. Sin can not present itself in any form to our Holy God. But, when we take on the righteousness of Christ, when we walk in the power of His precious blood, when we truly understand that we are saved by His amazing grace – we become more like Him and His virtue to be merciful.

Pray for One Another

By Marshall Mabry

On January 4, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Praying for one another is a vital ingrediant to our Lord’s Great Commandment. In the book of Job, God tells us that this is essential to our restoration in Him. You could be struggling with you health, finances, courage, or faith. Fervently praying for someone else who is struggling (maybe with the same obstacles) is obeying Christ’s commandment. That’s worship!

God tells us in Job’s story that this led to restoration and forgiveness.

Job 42:7-10
After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

Jesus said “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” Praying for one another is vital to our spiritual journey to grow and get closer to one another and Christ.

We are Bond Servants to Christ

By Marshall Mabry

On January 3, 2011

In Praise and Worship

Pastor Dick Lintelman says “When your not at church you are missed.” We are all part of the Body of Christ. When someone is missing — the body suffers. Like it or not when you gave your life to Jesus you became a bond-servant, a slave, you no longer have the right to control your life. Something as simple as buying a pack of gum needs to be weighed against what Christ calls from you. All of us will need to decide between living a life of comfort or a life of sacrafice. Each of us walk our own narrow path to the Father with Christ as our guide – our Way. No one else can walk it for us. Some are called to suffer within the joy of service in Africa, some to follow our Lord right where they live. Needless to say, our calling takes us away from lives as we use to know it.

Our ministry is only as strong as our obediance to God. When our lives are in disarray and our families disfunctional, how can we be used by the Lord? Jesus said “Let the dead bury the dead…” Not everyone is called to suffer the life of a lonely Prophet or will everyone be called to be martyred for the cause of Christ. But we must be willing to follow any path as the Holy Spirit leads us. There is time and a season to everything. Following our Lord, to know God is Eternal Life! There is no ending season.

You are Valuable!

By Marshall Mabry

On January 3, 2011

In Praise and Worship

You are valuable. You are special. You are important. Never underestimate your contribution to the Kingdom. Many years ago, an un-named usher persisted on getting some seats for a couple of teen-age boys as they attended a packed revival. The boys thought about leaving. But the usher found them some seats. That night both boys gave their life to Christ. One of them was Billy Graham. That un-named usher was important. He was signifiacnt. His contirbution to the Kingdom has impacted “God known” millions. You may never know the true impact your life has on the Kingdom of God this side of Christ’s glory, but one day you will receive a Christ-given crown adorned with the representation of your Kingdom work. May it be filled! Hallelujah! Praise to our King!

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” Galatians 5:16-17 (New International Version)

Trust and Be Thankful!

By Marshall Mabry

On January 3, 2011

In Praise and Worship

“If we have faith, then we must trust in God’s provision. Our ways, our strength, our wisdom, His Word teaches are foolish and backwards (Job 11). The things that He has done! The things that He is doing! The things that He is going to do! — In and through our lives can be nothing short of “amazing!” His Ways can not be manufactured, manipulated, seen or predicted. No assessment, no test, no measurement conjured by man will ever forecast His Will. Still, He is our merciful God. He is slow to anger and He is abounding in love. His Word says He will receive the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). May we always offer up our lives as this type of sacrifice!”

We are responsible for leading God’s people in worship. What a mighty task! No leader can lead someone to a place he has not been and does not know the way! God is not impressed by our voices or musical talents. His Word says “Be Still! And know I Am God!” Where is music in that commandment? The sacrifice of praise that He hears is in brokeness. The heart He receives is a heart filled with a sense of guilt and the desire for atonement; remorseful, penitent – the contrite heart. Even though we will never be able to fully describe it — we must recognize our desperate need for Him, how great He really is to us. “Better than a Hallelujah” – sometimes? How ‘bout “all the time”?

Passion

By Marshall Mabry

On December 31, 2010

In Praise and Worship

We must always remember — though Jesus healed our physical, temporal sicknesses; He was more concerned about our eternal souls.

We put so much effort in maintaining and pampering our lives which are meant to die to this world. We may have lives of wealth and comfort while on this side of heaven, but that very same comfort places our eternal souls in jeopardy. God’s Word tells us that our lives in this world are like vapor; here today, gone tomorrow. But our souls are eternal! Jesus owned nothing. He had no home. He had no personal property other than the clothes on His back. The only thing He had to give was His life. It is what He has called all of us to do. Some might call this “reckless abandonment.” I call it passion.

Lukewarm Faith

By Marshall Mabry

On December 30, 2010

In Praise and Worship

How can I proclaim Your glory and testify to Your faithfulness when I live a life of lukewarm faith? It is required for us to be on fire for God. We are to give testimony to the truth. Only He is glorious, faithful, and worthy of all praise. We are to endure hardships to strengthen us, increase our endurance and refine our faith. His gold is a faith, tested by trials. This purchased faith becomes our required compensation to be with Him eternally. It is a gold that we must buy. It is not given. It is not free. It comes at a price.

Your Word say’s to be either hot or cold. You are not pleased with lukewarm faith.

Revelation 3:14-22

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The enemy is always trying to distract us from worshipping God. His attacks are always where it hurts us the most. He deceives us into believing in ourselves, feeding our pride and diminishing our dependence upon God’s grace. Jesus said to remain in Him and we would bear much fruit. Without God’s grace we are wrecked in selfish pursuits that do not bring glory to God. These pitiful efforts will burn up having no value. They will leave us wretched, poor, blind and naked.

Our faith, our refined gold, is a life-long journey of learning how to deny ourselves to be obedient to His will. Along the way we recognize His infinite worth and realize our insignificance without Him. It believes in Him in all things, through all things, and around all things. All things are possible with Him. He is in control. Everything that was or is or will be is because of Him. A steadfast pursuit of knowing Him is the fuel needed for a faith on fire.

Even at the point of death we must come to the decision of letting go of our will and allowing His to take dominion. Faith tells us He is in control. God is love. In knowing Him, our earthly journey ends in love. Faith gives us the assurance of heaven and being with Jesus. We can only imagine heaven.

21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Commitment and Covenants

By Marshall Mabry

On December 29, 2010

In Praise and Worship

They may appear as words with different meanings, but for the believer in Christ they are synonymous. Commitment according to the American Heritage Dictionary “is an agreement or promise to do something.” Covenant according to Dictionary.com “is an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.” The Bible tells us that “covenant” is the agreement between God and His people, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:33-37:
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Christ called to the twelve and they followed. They left everything for the sake of the call. It was a commitment for which all gave their lives. They never signed a paper or took an oath declaring their commitment. There was an unspoken agreement that was deeper and more binding.

Most churches require a “signed” covenant binding members to honor their commitment to the church. But, it must go deeper than a verbal or written agreement. Believers must be aware that every promise they make impacts eternity. Broken promises are from the Evil One and will bring God’s judgment. We are accountable to Him for every broken promise, every careless word. Honoring our word is the visible outward appearance of our integrity. Agreements should not be made if they cannot be honored. Many times our hearts make promises that our minds and bodies can not fill. We must be wise enough to know the boundaries God has placed on our lives.

“Let your no be no.” We have to learn to say ‘no’ even when our hearts want to say ‘yes.’ Our children are good examples. As loving parents, we want to give them the very best of everything but there are occasions when ‘no’ is what is best.

Before you become too involved in anything, especially serving in a ministry, make sure you look at your existing commitments and time restraints. Your spouse and family’s welfare should always take precedence in your decision making. They are gifts from God and need to be invested and returned to Him with greater value. When Jesus calls you to serve — there will be a great awareness of His peace and joy that can not be explained. Miracles will happen. He will make a way that you can not deny or abandon.

He is faithful to give us everything we need. Most importantly, He will give us the passion we need to accomplish His will for our lives.