Spontaneous life of worship!

Structured?
Timed?
Planned Out?
Chorographed?

Is this how we worship?

This is how I used to...

To much of what we call 'worship' is not 'worship'.
We mix 'praising the LORD' and 'worship' like they are the same terms.

I used to say things like, "we are going to worship now", or "lets go
to a worship service". But is that worship - is that what GOD wants?

In the past, the Jews would set up places where it was appropriate to worship GOD.
These were holy places or sacred places. Meaning 'set apart' where we get the word sanctuary.

But the most perfect form of worship is with sacrifice. Worship really having the idea where, one 'gives up himself/herself' to serve Someone greater. When the humble
attitude with sacrifice was connected, true worship could happen.

The first time 'worship' is used in scripture is when Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham used the term worship (first time in the Bible) by saying this:

He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you." Genesis 22:5

The worship that occured, was a servant giving up himself to serve the Greater. In this case there is of course no one greater than GOD HIMSELF. But the sacrifice that was made was not Isaac, but the ram caught in the thicket. This is symbolic that the best worship is the one with sacrifice and there is no greater sacrifice then JESUS (GOD giving HIMSELF up).

The woman at the well tells JESUS:

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

Its not the place - its the attitude and the sacrifice that only counts!

Worship is not a time or place, Its love and sacrifice!
The best sacrifice is JESUS and knowing what HE accomplished, the very GIFT
of GOD, for us! The only attitude is gratitude and humility (not me, only HIM).

So you have the very best in JESUS being your ram caught in the thicket for you.
When you pray, or need GOD to help you, then the best worship is JESUS sacrifice.

Lastly, worship is also bathed or covered with praise and thanksgiving. The very best way to do this is to worship the LORD with thanksgiving and praise - spontaneously. (its not all thought through, you do it on the spot as your
heart gives way to freedom and thanksgiving).

Here is the scripture: Matthew 14:33
Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

You see the disciples, although many of them were hardend sea men, were caught in a huge storm and they were terrified. You can read the entire story in Matthew 14.

When JESUS calms their storm, and protects them and gives HIS peace they respond the only right way - worship. How did they do it? They humbly loved and 'thanked HIM' for what HE just did. It was 100% spontaneous! Not a set time or place - it never is. That isn't what GOD is looking for, its not true worship which is only in the SPIRIT and in the TRUTH.

You can't worship in your own flesh or your own self centered ego. You must be in the SPIRIT - with your mind on GOD. Loving HIM. Second the TRUTH is also JESUS. TRUTH is a PERSON (I AM the WAY, I AM the TRUTH, I AM the LIFE) those are a person and not character traits. Your worship must focus on the TRUTH, HIS sacrifice - what HE has done.

John 4:23 tells us this is the type of worshiper GOD seeks!

Also Matthew 28:8-10 has the women worship JESUS spontaneously when they see HIM who has risen from the dead!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Here we have gratitude and sacrifice.
Gratitude (view of GOD's mercy)
Sacrifice (offer your bodies as living sacrificies)

which is really pleasing to GOD - this is how you worship!

So, recognizing what JESUS has done and that HIS sacrifice is the one that opens the way for us to worship GOD. Then with gratitude, we give up ourselves or do not let our bodies dictate what they want, instead give up our rights/ways and say whatever you want LORD.

That overflow of love, seeing JESUS and seeing what HE has done for you, the miracles, the changes - makes us want to praise HIM and that is the worship GOD is looknig for.

Just as love flows, you worship.

-eric


Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24