LEARNING DAILY

 

Psalm 22:3, But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

 

I hear such great preaching during the weekend! If it is okay, I would like to share from what I hear with you. I often hear something said during the message that I write down; it may or may not be related to the message. It might be something the preacher has said before the message even begins, like today’s blog. Those of you that hear the weekend message make sure I am relating it correctly.

 

Dr. Ed Newton, lead pastor at CBC in San Antonio, mentioned that “worship is our weapon”. He mentioned this in regard to those leading the music worship and to share that the worship team was going to begin recording music for anyone who wanted to have it to listen to.   

 

I have my thoughts about what he meant; I thought I would do some research to see how worship can be used as our weapon and against who. My first thought is that worship does not stop when the music is over. I get very frustrated when someone indicates that worship is over when the preaching begins. NO! God is worshipped when His Word is opened and delivered so it can be understood and applied by those who are hearing it. Music that brings us into the presence of God prepares us to hear what God wants to say to us as His word is spoken. I know that there are many ideas of what music and the actions of those leading the worship bear on what leads us into the presence of God. I believe the same can be said for the one breaking the Word of God for us to understand.

 

With that said, let me explain how “worship is our weapon”. All of us have days where everything seems to be going against us. Being a Christian does not mean we have no problems, that life cannot be difficult, or there are no temptations. What do you do? Do you allow whatever the situation to dominate your perspective and cause you to focus/worry on the problem? If you do, does it help or cause whatever it is to have a stronger grip on you? When we focus our attention on worship, we center our focus on God who sits on the throne of heaven and controls all things! He is not caught off guard by what is happening in our lives nor unable to see us through it! Worship tells me that I am not alone and that it is actually God who is fighting for me; that He is greater than all things man or the world or our enemy, Satan, can do to try to harm me.

 

Worship reminds me, “heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). I can depend on what I have read/studied and put in my heart. James 1:21 tells me the Word of God will save me and help me to put away the sinfulness of my old self as I receive His Word and try to live each moment by it. Isaiah 55;11 tells me that God’s Word, His promises will not return to Him void but will accomplish in me what He pleases – it is spiritual life to whoever receives it.

 

Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praise of his people. Why is that important to know? That means when we worship, we invite God into our lives and our circumstances. When we do, He is there. Why is that important? When God is there, Satan has no choice but to leave!

 

Heaven is a place of worship. You and I are being watched as we go through the circumstances of life. I wonder if when we worship, heaven is shown to others (use your sanctified mind) by how we respond to unpleasant happenings in our life. Won’t we be a better witness to others through our worship? Whether we sing (as bad a sound as I make) or speak words of praise or Scripture we focus on allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to use our worship for His glory. What a difference it makes as we go through each day!