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Posts By : David Moon

Be Holy, for He is Holy…1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV
September 9, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written,”You shall be holy, for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 ESV
      Let me be clear from the beginning; we are holy only because the Holy Spirit  Himself dwells in us as Christians.  There are no works by which we are made holy other than the work of the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ.  Holiness is necessary, for without it no one will see God.  
Strive for peace with everyone, and for holiness without which no one will see the Lord.  Hebrews 12:14 ESV  Why does the word teach us to strive for holiness if it is impossible to obtain it by ourselves?  It is because it bears witness of He who lives in you….Jesus Christ.  Jesus / the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out other wise we are just white washed tombs. Jesus said it best, “Woe to you,scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside are full of greed and self-indulgence .  You blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Matthew 23: 25-26 ESV    Being a Christian is only possible because of the inside job  the Holy Spirit did in your life.   So let us reflect upon this call and how it is possible to live holy in the world.
    First, you must realize who you are in Christ and the fact that you are the only holy light some people may ever see.  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 ESV 
     The believer is to live their lives out loud… so all the world can see the holy evidence of Christ in you.  “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to you Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16 ESV  
    Secondly: Recognize and worship the Holiness of God in the present as we will one day in our heavenly home.  As the four living creatures in Revelation 4, we need to recognize him day and night as “Holy, holy,holy, is the Lord God almighty.”   We need not and should not wait for the day when we enter into his kingdom to worship his holiness.  When worshiping His holiness, it will cause us to view God in the light of his holiness thus growing in us the desire to be more like Him. As redeemed, forgiven of all our sins, let us worship him in his holiness and not give ourselves to the former life from which we were saved.  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV 
      Thirdly: Do everything you can to emulate Jesus.  Study how Jesus walked when He became flesh and lived among us.   Live as He lived… in obedience to His purpose….all the way to the cross.  In three of the gospels Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23 Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”    
Christian, we must realize that we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus, and we are not our own. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV  When you glorify God in your body, you will be an example of holiness- not your own but His.
      I know that many will say there is no way a person can live holy in today’s world and you would be correct if you were trying to do so in your own strength.  However, you must remember two things:  For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4 ESV…  and…. I can do all things through him who strengthens me  Philippians 4:13 ESV. Live on purpose for God,  You shall be holy, for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16                                     
Because of his Grace ~ Pastor David
Make a Joyful Noise, Daily…Psalm 100:1-5 ESV
August 26, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!  Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing!  Know that the Lord, he is God!  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!  For the Lord is good; his stedfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalms 100:1-5 ESV
      The first part of Psalms 100 describe how the Christian should live everyday.  We should be joyful, serving gladly, enjoying his presence, and knowing God is Lord of our lives.  We should alway remember that we were wonderfully made. (Psalms 139: 13-16)   God’s signature is on your heart, and you are protected as sheep by the Shepard.   We should look at everyday as the opportunity to come into gates of a new day being thankful and praising him in his presence.   To do this we must remember  three important facts.
     1. First, we must acknowledge the Lord is good.  In a day of whys and skepticism we must not falter in knowing the truth … God is good all the time!  This comes by believing in this truth  by faith.  It is not based on what we feel or the doubts that at time rear its ugly head but rather the truth of His word.  Some in this world have become angry at God and the church and have walked away or will do everything possible to eradicate God from life.  God alone has the words of life and when things become difficult and you may be tempted to walk away, remember the conversation of Peter and Jesus after Jesus had finished a difficult teaching resulting in many of his disciples walking away.   After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.  So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”  Simon Peter answered him,”Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”  John 6: 66-69 ESV  So by faith the Christian will believe no matter what, “God is Good!   As a Christian I may be called a fool for believing this, and a fool I may be; but let me ask you a question. Whose fool might you be?
     2. Secondly, that His steadfast love endures forever .    Hebrews 13:8 ESV states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  Think about that for a moment… this means the Love of God is as true today as it was the day it was manifested on Calvary.   For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  
John 3:16-17 ESV   This also means the message in Romans is as true today as when it was written.  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  Romans 10: 9-10 ESV  … For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved  Romans 10:13 ESV   
    Understand…. this is huge because this means something so very important….. that we are called the children of God.  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1 ESV
   
 3. Thirdly, his faithfulness to all generations.  Faithfulness is a word today that has been misused and abused.  Someone to whom you gave yourself committing to a lifetime of faithfulness has walked away.   A loyal friend that had been faithful to listen in confidence just told the whole world your deepest hurts.   The employer to whom you have been faithful to has let you go for no apparent reason.
     Faithfulness for some seems like only a pipe dream. God, however, is truly faithful in every area of our lives.  God made a promise in the Bible… his word.   Jesus spoke these words to us just before he ascended into heaven…“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28: 20 ESV   In Hebrews 13:5 we are reminded how we should live and think when trusting in the Lord.  Keep you life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said,” I will never leave you nor forsake you.”   Jesus said, ” The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have abundantly.” John 10:10 ESV 
     Take note that Jesus said he came to give abundant life not an abundance of things.
       Let us live out loud what we say we believe.  Let us make a joyful noise and serve him with gladness singing in his presence.  Acknowledge that he is our protector and Lord.  Be thankful for his love and never ending faithfulness.  Amen
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David
Pleasing God … Hebrews 11:6 ESV
August 19, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
       And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 ESV
      Years ago I heard a story about a farming community that was desperate for rain. The community in their desperation called for a city wide prayer meeting to pray and as God to send the much needed rain. It was agreed this prayer meeting would take place the coming Saturday at twelve noon in the town square. That Saturday people began gathering in the square, and before long the square was filled to capacity. The prayer meeting was about to start, and there was not a cloud to be seen in any direction. About that time a little girl showed up with an umbrella in her hand to which a farmer chuckled and said, “Why did you bring that umbrella?” To which the little girl replied, “I thought we were going to pray for rain.” Oh the faith of a little child.
      Let me share another story with you. One summer during my college years I served as a summer missionary in Tennessee. A pastor’s wife shared with me about her little boy that had been very sick. The doctors were confused as to the cause of the little guy’s high fever with no success in bringing it down. She told me how frightened she was because if the condition didn’t change, it would become life threatening. She said one night she took the little guy in her arms and was rocking him and with a cool wash cloth was desperately trying to bring the fever down. Then this small child looked at his mother and said, “Mommy, if you ask Jesus, he will heal me.” The mother said with emotion, “I just looked into the eyes of my small boy and prayed Jesus please heal my little boy.” She then, with excitement, told me how at that very moment she could literally feel her son cooling. She said it was so amazing …she had not experienced anything like it in her life… Oh the faith of a little child.
      There is much to be said about a child like faith. Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom”. Matthew 18:3-4 ESV
       So what is a child like faith? Is it a name it and claim it mentality? I don’t think so. Is it having a carefree attitude not worrying about a thing? No, I do not believe it to be this either. I believe child like faith is the faith that pleases God. Faith that will go beyond reason to simply trust in the words of Jesus. It is faith that trusts in God even when He may not make sense.
      It is not based on logic, reasoning or understanding…it simply believes that He exists. Child like faith is action, not just talk. It is bringing an umbrella to a prayer meeting when praying for rain.  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18 ESV. The question was asked of Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent,” John 6:28-29 ESV.   Action always speaks louder than words… What you believe will determine how you live. When a person says, “I’m a christian” people will look for the evidence proving the truth of this statement in their life. One evidence of this truth in a person’s life is the strong desire to live for God and to be near Him. Submit yourself therefore unto God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:7-8 ESV. The end result for this type of life is reward. Not that we live for reward, but it is promised to those who seek him. What is the reward? I believe the greatest reward is the privilege to be called a child of God. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1 ESV. So let us live like little children…pleasing God with a child like faith…drawing near to him…believing and living purposely so…knowing the greatest reward is that we can call him Father.
 Becase of His Grace ~ Pastor David
Kingdom Value…Matthew 6:33 ESV
August 12, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33 ESV
      Two words came to my mind that have significant repercussion in the Christian life.  The words…” kingdom and value.”  Shouldn’t everything have kingdom value in the life of the Christian?  Having kingdom value ultimately will, according to scripture,  bring God glory.  So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10: 31 ESV  
The Holy Spirit quickens / convicts the Christian by teaching truths that may or may not have been known, but need to be practiced as a part of daily Christian living. This world we live in is built on self gratification, and the question arises, is it even possible to have a kingdom value focus?  “For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the pride of life – is not from the Father but is from the world”. 1 John 2:16 ESV   The world is so alluring with all it offers, yet as Christians we must remember this world is passing away.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17. ESV
Jesus knew the temptation of gaining this world; it was offered to Him. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4: 8-10. ESV
You must never forget everything in life has a cost.  You pay with your time, talents, youth, health, relationships,  money, and on could go this list.  You may say, “salvation is free,” but it was not to Jesus; He paid the price for the salvation of our lives with His life.   Because Jesus didn’t accept the offer of the kingdoms of this world, He was able to pay salvations price at Calvary.  Christian, you must remember the world and all it offers is not  important. It offers no eternal value. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?  Matt 16:25-26 ESV   Please do not misunderstand; these words are not written to make us feel guilty concerning the blessings of life nor to judge someones lifestyle.  These words are to help us reflect on what is important in life while it is the day.  What is important ……… just ask this question; what was important to Jesus?  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost Luke 19:10 ESV  It is no understatement to say His life had kingdom value.
 By His Grace ~ Pastor David
Suffering As a Christian… 1 Peter 4:16 ESV
August 6, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 1 Peter 4:16
           What does it mean to suffer for Christ and glorify God in the suffering?  Does it involve the affliction of physical pain?  Would emotional ridicule or scoffing constitute suffering?  Perhaps these and other means of discomfort could be accredited to suffering but nothing could compare to the sufferings of Christ.  If we experience suffering, it should not surprise us. Jesus said theses words. “If the world hates you, know it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you’re not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: Servant is not greater than his master.  If they persecuted me, the will also persecute you.”  John 15:18-20 ESV   Isn’t it interesting that the person who wrote the words of 1 Peter 4:16 is the same person that denied Jesus three times on the night before His crucifixion.  Peter, a forgiven man, according to tradition, was crucified in Rome upside down, for he did not consider himself worthy to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.  Peter, a changed man, was not ashamed to bear the name of Christ and tells all that may suffer for Christ not to be ashamed.  In fact, he goes on to say, “Let him glorify God in that name.”  Glorify God in suffering?  How?  We have examples in the New Testament showing how to glorified God in suffering.   Peter and the other apostles were beaten and rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  And when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and d let them go.  Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Acts 5 40-41 ESV Paul and Silas are two more examples.
The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.  Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.  Acts 16: 22-25 ESV These are not exactly the response you might expect from those suffering, yet it brings glory to God.  Satan wants to destroy the joy in the Christian life, but his efforts are frustrated when Christians rejoice, pray, and sing to God praises in times of suffering.  The intention is to remove the focus from the suffering to the sweet blessing of serving the faithful God, Creator.  So when you face difficulty  in your Christian walk, focus upon God who is faithful and bring Him glory with prayer, rejoicing, and singing.
By His Grace~Pastor David
Heaven Focused…Colossians 3:2
July 15, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
Set your mind on things above, not on the things on the earth.  Colossians 3:2 ESV
      I have heard it said,” Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good.”  In fact, I remember stating this when I was younger.   Today, I do not believe this to be a true statement.  I do not believe a person can be too heavenly minded when it comes to a life in Christ.   The verse we are studying today tells us to set our mind on things above…..to focus our attention upon things above.  Why should this be our focus? Because verse one states, “Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”  When seeking  those things which are above,  it will requires focus because it should involve your whole mind.  Continuing to read through chapter 3: 5-10, it teaches us  how we should and should not live.  “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (verses 5-10 ESV)   Living the lifestyle as described in these verses will not reveal Christ to you;  in fact, worldly thinking / living will fill your mind with reasons why certain biblical teachings are not applicable.  That is why we must set/fix our mind on things above.  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. bearing with one another, if one has complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of  Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in our hearts to God.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. There is so much today that will steal away our focus or busies our mind robbing you of mental peace.  There really is no great secret in having a mind of peace.  When you worry, it brings great stress to your body. When you rest, it renews your mind.   Let your mind rest upon Jesus and all that He has done for you.   There are other gods in which people put their trust, but there is only one God that was, is, and always will be.  Hebrews 13:8  teaches, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (ESV)  When your world may come crashing down, look to heaven; for all that is important is seated there.
By His Grace ~ Pastor David
Christian Liberty/Freedom…Galatians 5:13 ESV
July 8, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 ESV
     I once heard someone say, “Freedom is not freedom to do what you want but the freedom to do what is right.”  Of course the next question becomes who determines what is right?  As christians we believe this question and standard is answered by the Bible.  Please understand that the freedom I am speaking of here is not the freedom that we adhere to as a nation but freedom in Christ.  Individuals may have what they call freedom in this world but be in bondage to sin and death.  All freedom is authored by God both physical and spiritual.  But in reality there is no physical freedom without spiritual freedom.  Sin will always places people in bondage and take away freedom …. spiritual and physical.
      Paul says in Galatians, For you were called to freedom.  But  who is doing the calling…answer Jesus.  Come unto to me, all who labor and are heaven laden, and I will give your rest. Matthew 11: 28 ESV  You see there is a standard by which God will judge the world and that standard is his law.  But because of sin, it is impossible to keep this law; and  ultimately, we are all sentenced to punishment.  In fact, we could and would absolutely wear ourselves out trying to keep this law.  Christ did for us what the law could not accomplish in our lives…. make us free from the law of sin and death.   There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.  By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 ESV  
      
     A person might reason if the requirements of the law are fulfilled in Christ, then I am free to do whatever I want.  I personally believe that the person who is genuinely freed from the consequence of their sin and love God, will not want to live in this reasoning.   Paul addresses this logic by saying, Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.   In Romans 6:1 he says, What shall we say then?  “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!   
      
       Paul tells us  we should live….as servants.  But through love serve one another.   What is the purpose of this service?  Paul say in 1 Corinthians 9:19 “I have made myself a servant  to all, that I might win more of them.”  Paul is referring to the gospel of Jesus which is the good news to anyone who will hear it.  We are to live this way in order to bring glory to God.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace; whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength God supplies-in order that  in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
        May we live in the freedom in which we have been called, never just for ourselves but with a servant’s heart, to bring much glory to God!
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David
Faithful to Pray and Worship…Daniel 6:10 ESV
July 1, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
 

     When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.  He got down on his knees three times  a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel 6:10 ESV
     Daniel was a man that honored God and pleased God with faithful dedication to love and serve him.   Daniel lived in a very difficult time as Babylon had sieged Jerusalem and took him captive.  He was chosen to serve in the palace of a king that did not honor God.   Men from the palace were assigned to train and teach  Daniel the literature and language of the Chaldeans to prepare him for this service.  This education was to take three years.  During this period daily food that the king would eat would be provided for Daniel but, Daniel did not want to defile himself with the kings food.  But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.  There fore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. Daniel 1:8 ESV   I make this point to give you a glimpse of Daniel and his relationship with God desiring not to dishonor God even in the food that he ate.  Even in a very difficult time, Daniel honored God.   Now let’s fast forward to another king .… The king was Darius.  Darius was impressed with Daniel and was going to set him over the whole kingdom.  Others were not so excited about this and made it a point to find something in which they could accuse Daniel.  When they could not find anything, they decided to convince the king to make a law that said you had to worship him and no other gods for thirty days.  They did this because they knew that Daniel was faithful to pray to God daily.   After years of being in captivity and in the courts of those who did not honor God, Daniel had remained faithful to God.  The men that approached the king with the idea of worshipping him for thirty days and no other god, convinced him it was a good idea.  The consequence for worshipping any other god….death in a den of lions.   But this didn’t deter Daniel for When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem.  He got down on his knees three times  a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Daniel 6:10 ESV     Even with consequence of death Daniel worshipped and prayed to God for God was who he lived for.  What can we learn from Daniel?
        The decision of the land does not affect our prayer and worship of God. “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had a windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem,”  Daniel lived in plain sight for God as he did everyday before this document was signed.  He did not go into hiding or close his windows but left them open.  He did this not to bring attention to himself but to continue to honor God.
        He bowed down to God and not man, “He got down on his knees three times  a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God,”   God is God and he alone is worthy of our prayers and worship and deserves no less even in difficult times.
        He did not change his daily practice of prayer,  “He got down on his knees three times  a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God,”   as he had done previously.   Nothing had changed for Daniel, He continued in his daily practice just as before.  The laws of man did not regulate his lifestyle or belief in God.  If anything did change I believe it would have been the intensiveness of his prayers.
The concluding point ….press on remain, faithful, and know God has not moved…He is still on His throne.
Because of His Grace~ Pastor David
Come! Worship! Bow Down!…Psalm 95:6
June 24, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!  Psalms 95:6 ESV
  
     Christian, we have an invitation to come, worship and to bow down / kneel before the Lord.   How will you respond to this invitation?   Let us reflect upon each of the steps in this passage of scripture to help answer this question.
     First, we come into His presences, and we do so with attitude of gratitude. ( Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving. Vs 2 ESV)  As christians, is it even possibly to thank God, the Father, enough for the many blessings he has given to each one of us?  We come recognizing God’s greatness (vs 3) and acknowledge the reality that by His hands everything was created and is in His control.
       Secondly, we worship Him.  I assure you that when you come seeking the presence of the Lord in your life, you will worship Him.  Worship is something the Christian does and fueled by love for God the Father.  The depth of your love for God will be manifested in the intenseness of your worship…not just outwardly but inwardly.  Worship is manifested in many ways but true worship always begins in the heart of the person that is in awe of God.  Personally, I believe worship happens in a very personal way between the christian and God.  If the only time you ever feel you are worshiping is with other christians, you are  missing the joy of the personal and intimate relationship you are intended to have with Christ.  Worship is something we should do every day.
      Thirdly, we bow down or  kneel before Him.  The Bible teaches that we will all stand before the judgement seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord,, every Knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” Romans 14: 10b-11 ESV   This I know for myself, I do not want the first time that I bow down before the Lord to be after I die.  Bowing down in your heart and physically is recognizing God as Lord and King over your life.  When the bride makes her appearance, it is tradition for all in attendance to stand in her honor as she walks down the aisle. When Christ appears, we will stand but then we will kneel…bow before Him as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  May it be that you are kneeling before Him as your Lord and King everyday.
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David
Worship in difficult times…Job 1:20-22 ESV
June 14, 2015 no comments in Ministry Blog by
  Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.  And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.  The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.  Job 1: 20-22 ESV
 
     Have you ever had one of those days when everything seems to go wrong?   One such man  named Job did, only his bad day was a bad day on steroids. In one day he lost everything that took a lifetime to build.   7000 sheep… gone, 3000 camels…gone, 500 yoke of oxen…gone, 500 female donkeys….gone.  All his many servants except the ones delivering the message of his loss…gone. Then the blow of all blows, he was told his seven sons and three daughters died in a furious storm causing a house to caved in on them.  I don’t know if my first reaction to such a day would be to worship, but that was exactly what Job did.   These events all  happen in the first chapter of Job, and one might think;  how much worse could things get?  Then chapter two happens, Job looses his health and his wife encourages him to curse God and die. In the chapters following this Job had three friends who came out to comfort him, but after a while begin to tell him he needs to repent.  His friends logic: surly he had sinned in some way to cause all these tragities to come to him.  I have read this account of Job’s life many times over the years, and I am alway impressed with his reaction to his tragities.  He fell to the ground and worshipped.   Worship is easier when everything is going good but the times in life when things heat up many scream like a tea kettle.  How is it that Job reacted in such a manner as worship?  Many would understand if he reacted in other ways….but to worship in a time such as this, How would this even be possible?  Let’s look how Job lived before the disasters came into his life.
     First, we see that Job was blameless. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil . Job 1:1 ESV  Jobs life was a testimony to many. The fact that he was blameless and upright is no small thing in life.  He feared God which proved he was a very wise man.   (Proverbs 1:7… 9:10… 15:33)  Job  would not entertain or see how close he could get to sin/evil but rather turned away.
      Second, we see Job living intentionally for God. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.  And when the days of feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offering according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.”  Thus Job did continually.  Job  1:4-5 ESV
      Thirdly,  We see God knew him as one who honored Him.  And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns from evil?” Job 1:8 ESV  
        
         Worship, for Job, was a practice he did everyday.   When a person is under pressure, it is said that what is really inside will manifest itself; in the case of Job, worship from his lips and in his actions.  I must be honest I am not sure how I would react to such calamity in life.  I would like to think I would respond with worship as Job did, but no one really knows until difficult times happen.   But this I do believe. If you live the Christian life casually and not intentionally, you will not be as prepared.  Job’s worship of God did not depend upon everything going good but rather in the fact that God is on his throne and still in control.
   In the world today may we live worshipping God.  May it be intentional  in good times and in the times we may wish had never came our way.
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David.