MARCH WORSHIP CONFERENCE 3/11/98
MARCH WORSHIP CONFERENCE 3/11/98
GOOD MORNING! ITS GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF YOU HERE
FOR OUR FIRST WORSHIP CONFERENCE. I WOULD LIKE TO
BEGIN BY SHARING WITH YOU SOME THINGS THAT I WANT TO
ACCOMPLISH THIS MORNING.
1. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE
BASIC DYNAMICS OF A TRUE WORSHIPPER BY LOOKING AT SOME
O.T. TYPES AND SHADOWS. NOW IF WE BASE OUR WORSHIP
EXPERIENCE ON O.T. PATTERNS THEN CONTEMPORARY BIBLICAL
WORSHIP IS NOT FOR ANY ONE PARTICULAR DENOMINATION,
PREFERENCE OF STYLE. SO I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME
BIBLICAL PATTERNS IN WORSHIP.
2. THE SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS MORNING IS
TO GO THROUGH A WORKSHEET DEFINING BIBLICAL PRAISE AND
WORSHIP.
3. THE THIRD THING I WANT TO DO IS TO PASS OUT SOME
MATERIAL INCLUDING A BOOKLET I WROTE FOR WORSHIP
LEADERS. WE ONLY HAVE ENOUGH BOOKS FOR ONE CHURCH
LEADER, IE. PASTOR, WORSHIP LEADER OR REP.
4. THE FOURTH THING I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ARE
SOME PRACTICAL DYNAMICS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A WORSHIP
SERVICE INCLUDING HOW WE MAKE OUR TRANSPARENCIES, SHEET
MUSIC AND THE SYSTEM WE USE TO FILE AND CATEGORIZE
SONGS AND ETC.
Psalms 149:1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a
new song, and his praise in the
congregation of saints. (KJV)
Psalms 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him:
let the children of Zion be joyful in
their King. (KJV)
Psalms 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let
them sing praises unto him with the
timbrel and harp. (KJV)
Psalms 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his
people: he will beautify the meek with
salvation. (KJV)
Psalms 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let
them sing aloud upon their beds. (KJV)
Psalms 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their
mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
THE THEME I GOT FOR THIS WORSHIP CONFERENCE IS WORSHIP
THAT BRINGS THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THE POWER OF GOD AND
THE SOVERIGNTY OF GOD INTO OUR CHURCHES AND INTO OUR
LIVES. I HAVE ALWAYS EMBRACED A GOAL FOR WORSHIP WHICH
IS FOUND IN 1KINGS 8:1-8........
1 King 8:1 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel,
and all the heads of the tribes, the chief
of the fathers of the children of Israel,
unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they
might bring up the ark of the covenant of
the LORD out of the city of David, which is
Zion. (KJV)
1 King 8:2 And all the men of Israel assembled
themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in
the month Ethanim, which is the seventh
month. (KJV)
1 King 8:3 And all the elders of Israel came, and the
priests took up the ark. (KJV)
1 King 8:4 And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and
the tabernacle of the congregation, and all
the holy vessels that were in the
tabernacle, even those did the priests and
the Levites bring up. (KJV)
1 King 8:5 And king Solomon, and all the congregation
of Israel, that were assembled unto him,
were with him before the ark, sacrificing
sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor
numbered for multitude. (KJV)
1 King 8:6 And the priests brought in the ark of the
covenant of the LORD unto his place, into
the oracle of the house, to the most holy
place, even under the wings of the
cherubims. (KJV)
1 King 8:7 For the cherubims spread forth their two
wings over the place of the ark, and the
cherubims covered the ark and the staves
thereof above. (KJV)
1 King 8:8 And they drew out the staves, that the ends
of the staves were seen out in the holy
place before the oracle, and they were not
seen without: and there they are unto this
day. (KJV)
1 King 8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two
tables of stone, which Moses put there at
Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with
the children of Israel, when they came out
of the land of Egypt. (KJV)
1 King 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were
come out of the holy place, that the cloud
filled the house of the LORD, (KJV)
1 King 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to
minister because of the cloud: for the
glory of the LORD had filled the house of
the LORD. (KJV)
I HAVE NOT ARRIVED AT MY GOAL OF USHERING IN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD TO THE DEGREE THAT EVERYBODY FALLS DOWN
OR IS SLAIN IN THE SPIRIT BUT IT IS A GOAL I ONE DAY
HOPE TO EXPERIENCE. I HAVE BEEN IN WORSHIP SERVICES
WHERE PEOPLE GET SAVED, HEALED AND DELIVERED RIGHT
DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICE APART FROM ANY HUMAN INTER-
VENTION AND I BELIEVE GOD WANTS THAT TO HAPPEN MORE AND
MORE. THE WAY THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS WHEN OUR
PRAISE AND WORSHIP IS PERFECTED.
Matt 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these
say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye
never read, Out of the mouth of babes and
sucklings thou hast perfected praise? (KJV)
PERFECTED: Strong's # 2675 katartizo (kat-ar-tid'-zo);
from 2596 and a derivative of 739; to
complete thoroughly, i.e. repair
(literally or figuratively) or adjust:
KJV-- fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect
(-ly join together), prepare, restore.
(DIC) TO MAKE SMALL, LITTLE OR MINOR
ADJUSTMENTS. THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU
TO ACCOMPLISH DURING THIS WORSHIP
CONFERENCE. IF YOU CAN LEARN ONE NEW
THING THAT WILL HELP YOU BRING MORE OF
THE PRESENCE OF GOD INTO YOUR WORSHIP
THEN THIS WORSHIP CONFERENCE WILL BE A
SUCCESS.
Ezek 44:1 Then he brought me back the way of the gate
of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward
the east; and it was shut. (KJV)
Ezek 44:2 Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall
be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man
shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the
God of Israel, hath entered in by it,
therefore it shall be shut. (KJV)
Ezek 44:3 It is for the prince; the prince, he shall
sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he
shall enter by the way of the porch of that
gate, and shall go out by the way of the
same. (KJV)
Ezek 44:4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate
before the house: and I looked, and, behold,
the glory of the LORD filled the house of the
LORD: and I fell upon my face. (KJV)
Ezek 44:5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark
well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear
with thine ears all that I say unto thee
concerning all the ordinances of the house of
the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark
well the entering in of the house, with every
going forth of the sanctuary. (KJV)
Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I
may dwell among them. (KJV)
Exodus 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after
the pattern of the tabernacle, and the
pattern of all the instruments thereof,
even so shall ye make it. (KJV)
THERE IS A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE THAT I ESTABLISH IN
EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE. IF I WANT TO EXPERIENCE A
BIBLICAL RESULT THEN I MUST FOLLOW BIBLICAL PATTERN.
THE LORD TOLD MOSES TO MAKE THE TABERNACLE AND ALL ITS
FURNISHING ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN GIVEN HIM ON THE
MOUNTIAN. SO IF WE WANT TO ENTER INTO A WORSHIPFUL
EXPERIENCE THEN WE MUST FOLLOW BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR
WORSHIP.
IN EZEK.44: THE INSTRUCTION THAT WAS GIVEN WAS "TO
MARK WELL EVERY ENTERING INTO THE SACTUARY." INDICAT-
ING THAT WE CANNOT JUST APPROACH GOD IN ANY WAY, ANY
STYLE OR ANY PREFERENCE THAT WE WANT TO. IN ONE OF THE
HANDOUTS IS AN ARTICLE BY GEOFF BULLOCK CALLED, "BEYOND
SELF-CENTERED WORSHIP." HIS OPENING COMMENT SAYS,
"TURE WORSHIP IS MORE THAN SINGING SONGS WE LIKE, OUR
WORSHIP MUST BE BASED NOT ON WHAT WE LIKE BUT IT MUST
BE BASED ON WHO WE LOVE.
Eccles 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house
of God, and be more ready to hear, than to
give the sacrifice of fools: for they
consider not that they do evil. (KJV)
Eccles 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not
thine heart be hasty to utter any thing
before God: for God is in heaven, and thou
upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL BEGINS WITH A PICTURE OF GOD AND
HIS GLORY LEAVING THE TEMPLE BECAUSE OF THE SIN AND
ABOMINATIONS OF ISRAEL AND THEN IT CONCLUDES WITH A
PICTURE OF GOD RE-ENTERING HIS TEMPLE. IF GOD IS
TRUELY IN THE MIDST WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED
TOGETHER IN HIS NAME THEN WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL HOW WE
APPROACH HIM. WE SHOULD MARK WELL EVERY ORDINANCE AND
LAW CONCERNING ENTERING INTO HIS PRESENCE. WE MUST
FOLLOW DIVINE PROTOCOL WHEN COMING INTO THE PRESENCE OF
THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS. IF WE ARE
GOING TO EXPERIENCE REVIVAL IN OUR CHURCHES THEN WE
MUST ESTABLISH A SENSE OF REVERENCE FOR GOD AND WE MUST
DO WHAT PLEASES HIM AND NOT US.
John 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and
ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where
men ought to worship. (KJV)
John 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the
hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this
mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the
Father. (KJV)
John 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we
worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (KJV)
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh
such to worship him. (KJV)
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
IN ORDER TO PLEASE AND HONOR GOD IN OUR PRAISE AND
WORSHIP WE MUST DISCOVER EXACTLY WHAT GOD LIKES. NOW
THERE IS AN O.T. TYPE OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN THE
BURING OF INCENSE ON THE GOLDEN CENSER THAT WAS
POSITIONED BEFORE THE VIEL IN THE TEMPLE. THE VIEL IS
WHAT SEPARATED THE HOLY PLACE FROM THE HOLY OF HOLIES.
SO BEFORE A PRIEST COULD ENTER INTO GOD'S PRESENCE HE
HAD TO OFFER INCENSE. NOW IF HE FAILED TO DO THAT IN
THE O.T. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK DEAD BY THE GLORY OF
GOD AND IN THE N.T. WE JUST HAVE DEAD CHURCHES AND DEAD
WORSHIP SERVICES. YOU SEE IF YOU WANT A DIVINE RESULT,
EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, THEN WE MUST FOLLOW
DIVINE PATTERN. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE LIKE OR WHAT
OUR STYLE, TRADITION OR PREFERENCE IS. WE MUST DETER-
MINE IN OUT HEARTS TO OFFER TO GOD THAT WHICH HE DELIGHTS
AND TAKES PLEASURE IN. SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK
AT THE INGREDIENTS OF THE INCENSE, PASS THEM THROUGH
THE HERMINUTICAL FILTER OF CALVARY AND DERIVE SOME
PRACTICAL INGREDIENTS IN BILICAL PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the
going down of the same my name shall be great
among the Gentiles; and in every place incense
shall be offered unto my name, and a pure
offering: for my name shall be great among the
heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. (KJV)
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar,
having a golden censer; and there was given
unto him much incense, that he should offer it
with the prayers of all saints upon the golden
altar which was before the throne. (KJV)
Rev 8:4 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and
there were stings in their tails: and their
power was to hurt men five months. (KJV)
Ps 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as
incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the
evening sacrifice. (KJV)
Phil 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God. (KJV)
WE CAN CONCLUDE FROM THESE SCRIPTURES THAT INCENSE
IS A TYPE OF THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE THAT EVERY
BELIEVER IS COMMANDED TO GIVE TO GOD. INCENSE IN THE
O.T. WAS VERY COSTLY AND EXPENSIVE. TRUE BIBLICAL
WORSHIP HAS A PRICE TAG ON IT AND UNLESS IT COST US
SOMETHING IT ISN'T A SACRIFICE. WHEN DAVID SINNED
AGAINST THE LORD IN THE NUMBERING OF THE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL TO STOP THE PLAGUE OF THE LORD HE MADE AN
OFFERING THAT COST HIM SOMETHING.
2 Sam 24:22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord
the king take and offer up what seemeth
good unto him: behold, here be oxen for
burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments
and other instruments of the oxen for wood.
2 Sam 24:23 All these things did Araunah, as a king,
give unto the king. And Araunah said unto
the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
2 Sam 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I
will surely buy it of thee at a price:
neither will I offer burnt offerings unto
the LORD my God of that which doth cost me
nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor
and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
2 Sam 24:25 And David built there an altar unto the
LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace
offerings. So the LORD was intreated for
the land, and the plague was stayed from
Israel. (KJV)
GOD WAS PLEASED WITH THE SACRIFICE THAT KING DAVID
MADE. YOU SEE, A SACRIFICE ISN'T A SACRIFICE UNLESS IT
COSTS YOU SOMETHING. NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A SACRIFICE IF
YOU CAN'T AFFORD SOMETHING. YOU ONLY HAVE A SACRIFICE
WHEN YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY SOMETHING OR DO SOMETHING
BUT YOU CHOOSES TO GO WITHOUT IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD.
THE COST OF THE INCENSE IS CENTRAL AND FOUNDATIONAL IN
ITS TYPOLOGY. NOW LETS LOOK AT THE FOUR INGREDIENTS
OF INCENSE IN THE O.T.
Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto
thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and
galbanum; these sweet spices with pure
frankincense: of each shall there be a
like weight: (KJV)
Exodus 30:35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a
confection after the art of the
apothecary, tempered together, pure and
holy: (KJV)
Exodus 30:36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small,
and put of it before the testimony in the
tabernacle of the congregation, where I
will meet with thee: it shall be unto you
most holy. (KJV)
Exodus 30:37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt
make, ye shall not make to yourselves
according to the composition thereof: it
shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.
Exodus 30:38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to
smell thereto, shall even be cut off from
his people. (KJV)
FIRST OF ALL WE SEE THAT GOD IS VERY PARTICULAR
ABOUT HOW THE INCENSE IS TO BE MADE AND WHO IT IS
FOR. THERE WERE FOUR INGREDIENTS IS THE COMPOSITION OF
THE INCENSE: STACTE, PURE FRANKINCENSE, ONYCHA AND
GALBANUM.
THE FIRST INGREDIENT WAS STACTE. STACTE WAS TAKEN
FROM THE BARK OF A TREE OR THE OUTERMOST PART OF THE
ORGANISM. SO I HAVE LIKENED STACTE UNTO OUR BODY.
PAUL TELLS US IN ROM.12:1 TO PRESENT OUR BODY AS A
LIVING SACRIFICE. WE CANNOT HAVE BIBLICAL PRAISE AND
WORSHIP WITHOUT THE USE OF OUR BODIES AND OUR PHYSICAL
ORGANS. NOW REMEMBER, IF WE WANT A DIVINE RESULT THEN
WE MUST FOLLOW DIVINE PATTERN. WHAT CAN WE PHYSICALLY
DO THAT WILL BRING HONOR AND PLEASURE TO GOD. THE
PSALMS ARE FULL OF BODILY EXPRESSIONS OF PRAISE AND
WORSHIP:
1. PSA:68:4 SING unto god, sing praises to his name.
2. PSA.47:1 O CLAP your hands all ye people
3. PSA.47:1 SHOUT unto God with the voice of triumph
4. PSA.149:3 Let them praise Him in the DANCE.
5. PSA.134:1-2 Behold, bless the Lord all ye
servants of the Lord which STAND by night in the
house of the Lord. Lift up your HANDS in the
sancturay and bles the Lord
6. PSA.95:6 Let us worship and BOW DOWN, let us
KNEEL before the Lord our maker.
HERE IN THE PSALMS AND IN OTHER PASSAGES OF
SCRIPTURE IN BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT WE SEE 8
BIBLICAL EXPRESSIONS OF PHYSICAL PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
WE CAN SING, SHOUT, CLAP, DANCE, LIFT OUR HANDS, BOW
AND KNEEL BEFORE THE LORD. WE SHOULD THEREFORE
INCORPORATE THESE PHYSICAL EXPRESSIONS OF PRAISE AND
WORSHIP IN OUR CHURCHES IF WE WANT TO EXPERIENCE
REVIVAL AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD. I MUST DRIVE HOME
THIS POINT: THESE ARE NOT PENTECOSTAL EXPRESSIONS OF
PRAISE AND WORSHIP, THEY ARE BIBLICAL AND THEREFORE FOR
EVERYONE.
NOW I NOTICE SOMETHING IN EX.30:36 THAT IS IMPORT-
ANT. EACH OF THESE FOUR INGREDIENTS WERE TEMPERED AND
BEATEN TOGETHER. THIS POINTS US TO THE IDEA OF BROKEN-
ESS. BROKENESS IN THE SCRIPTURE IS SYMBOLIC OF THE
REMOVAL OF ALL THAT IS FLESHLY AND NATURAL IN MAN. WE
ARE BROKEN BEFORE HIM. WE ARE MEEK AND HUMBLE WHEN WE
COME INTO HIS PRESENCE BECAUSE GOD STIFF-ARMS OR
RESISTS THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. WHAT
HAS HAAPENED TO PRIDE, SELFISHNESS, OR DOING THINGS OUR
OWN WAY OR THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT? ALL OF OUR
STRENGTHS, ABILITIES AND PREFERENCES MUST BE BROUGHT TO
THE PLACE OF BROKENESS AND DEATH BEFORE GOD WILL TAKE
PLEASURE IN OUR OFFERING.
Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a
broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt
not despise. (KJV)
2. THE SECOND INGREDIENT IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE
INCENSE WAS PUR FRANKINCENSE. THIS WAS THE BASE OF THE
INCENSE TO WHICH ALL THE OTHER SPICES WERE BEATEN
TOGETHER AND ADDED. PURE FRANKINCENSE IS A TYPE OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
INITIATING ALL OF THE EXPRESSIONS OF PRAISE AND
WORSHIP. EACH BELIEVER SIMPLY NEEDS TO BECOME A YIELD-
ED VESSEL TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN ROM.12:1 THE WORD
PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, LIT. MEANS
TO YIELD. TRUE PRAISE AND WORSHIP WILL SPRING FROM THE
HEART OR THE SPIRIT OF MAN WHERE THE HOLY SPIRIT
RESIDES AND FIND EXPRESSION THROUGH OUR SOUL AND BODY
IF WE ARE WILLING AND DON'T RESIST THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this
people draw near me with their mouth, and
with their lips do honour me, but have
removed their heart far from me, and their
fear toward me is taught by the precept of
men: (KJV)
Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God
in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and have no confidence in the flesh. (KJV)
3. THE THIRD INGREDIENT FOUND IN THE INCENSE WAS
ONYCHA. ONCHYA WAS DERIVED FROM MOLLUSK SHELL AND WHEN
BURNT BY ITSELF IT HAD A VERY DISTASTEFUL AND BAD ODOR.
THIS I HAVE LIKENED UNTO MAN'S SOUL, BECAUSE BY
HIMSELF, ALL OF MAN'S GOODNESS IS AS FILTHY RAGS IN
GOD'S EYES. THE SOUL INCLUDES OUR EMOTIONS WHICH NEED
TO COME UNDER THE SCRUTINIZATION AND SANTIFYING
INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BEFORE IT CAN EVER BE USED
IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
JOHN MCAUTHUR SAYS IN HIS BOOK, THE ULTIMATE
PRIORITY: WORSHIP IS NOT AN EMOTIONAL EXERCISE WITH
GOD-WORDS THAT INDUCE CERTIAN FEELINGS. WORSHIP IS A
RESPONSE BUILT ON TRUTH, WE MUST WORSHIP OUT OF AN
UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD OF GOD. JOHN PIPER EXPRESSES
THE BALANCE BETWEEN EMOTION AND TRUTH IN HIS BOOK,
DESIRING GOD. HE SAYS: TRUTH WITHOUT EMOTION PRODUCES
DEAD ORTHODOXY LIKE A CHURCH FULL OF ARTIFICAL ADMIRERS
WHO WRITE GENERIC ANIVERSARY CARDS FOR A LIVING. ON
THE OTHER HAND, EMOTION WITHOUT TRUTH PRODUCES EMPTY
FRENZY AND CULTIVATES SHALLOW PEOPLE WHO REFUSE THE
DISCIPLINE OF RIGOROUS THROUGHT. BUT TRUE WORSHIP
COMES FORM PEOPLE WHO ARE DEEPLY EMOTIONAL AND WHO LOVE
DEEP AND SOUND DOCTRINE. STRONG AFFECTIONS FOR GOD
ROOTED IN TRUTH ARE THE BONE AN MARROW OF BIBLICAL
WORSHIP."
NOW IN MAN'S SOUL IS HIS PERSONAL EGO WHICH MUST BE
DEALT WITH BY THE LORD. PRAISE AND WORSHIP IS GOING TO
REQUIRE A DECENTRALIZATION OF SELF SO THAT MAN BECOMES
MORE CONSCIOUS OF GOD THAN HE IS OF HIMSELF. IT IS
ONLY THEN THAT HE WILL BE FREE AND UNINHIBITED TO OFFER
PHYSICAL EXPRESSIONS OF PRAISE IN WORSHIP, IE. LIFTING
HANDS, SHOUTING, DANCING...ETC. ALSO INCLUDED IN MAN'S
SOUL IS HIS MIND AND INTELLEGENCE. MAN'S WAYS ARE NOT
GOD'S WAYS AND THEREFORE HE MUST SUBMIT TO SCRIPTURAL
FORMS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP, REGARDLESS OF HIS
RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING OR TRADITION. ALL OF THE
ATTRIBUTES OF MAN'S SOUL MUST BE DEALT WITH BY THE LORD
BEFORE IT CAN BE USED IN BIBLICAL PRAISE AND WORSHIP.
4. THE FOURTH INGREDIENT IN THE INCENSE IS GALBANUM.
THIS WAS THE GUM RESIN EXTRACTED FROM THE INNER PART OF
THE PLANT. I HAVE LIKENED THIS TO MAN'S HUMAN SPIRIT
WHICH IS AT THE VERY CORE AND CENTER OF MAN. OUR HUMAN
SPIRIT MUST BE CLEANSED AND SANCTIFIED BEFORE IT CAN
RULE OVER AND PROPERLY MANAGE THE SOUL AND THE BODY.
IN OUR HUMAN SPIRIT IS OUR CONSCIENCE WHICH MUST BE
CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS BEFORE BOLDNESS,
CONFIDENCE AND FAITH CAN BE EXPERIENCED IN PRAISE AND
WORSHIP. HEB.11 TEELS US THAT HE THAT COMES TO GOD
MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS... NOW IF OUR CONSCIENCE
OFFENDS US WE WILL PULL AWAY FROM GOD OUT OF FEAR OR AN
INNERS SENSE OF BEING UNFIT FOR THEM PRESENCE OF GOD.
IT IS IMPORTANT, THEREFORE THAT OUR SPIRIT IS CLEANSED
OTHERWISE, THOUGH WE MAY BE DOING BIBLICAL OR RIGHT
THINGS, GOD WILL NOT RECEIVE US.
2 Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
NOW BEFORE WE GO TO THE WORKSHEET THIS MORNING I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ENERGY THAT WAS USED TO BURN THE
INCENSE IN THE O.T. IN LEV.16:12 THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF
INCENSE WAS POSITIONED BEFORE THE VEIL. THE PRIEST
WOULD TAKE HOT COALS FROM OFF THE BRAZEN ALTAR IN THE
OUTER COURT AND PUT THEM ON THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF
INCENSE. EVERY TIME THE PRIEST WOULD ENETR THE HOLY
PLACE TO TRIM THE LAMPS OR TO WORSHIP THE LORD HE WOULD
TAKE A HANDFUL OF INCENSE AND THROW IT ON THE GOLDEN
ALTAR OF INCENSE AND THE FRAGRANCE WOULD PERMEATE THE
VIEL AND INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THE BRAZEN ALTAR IS
A TYPE OF CALVARY. THE ENERGY THAT INSPIRES US TO
SACRIFICE AND WORSHIP GOD IS BELIEVING AND RECEIVING
THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US. WE LOVE HIM, AND OFFER
BIBLICAL PRAISE AND WORSHIP BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.
THE LAST THING I SEE IN EX.30:37-38 WAS THAT IF
ANYONE IN ISRAEL MADE AND BURNED INCENSE AFTER THE SAME
COMPOSITION FOR TEMPLE WORSHIP WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE
CITY AND STONED TO DEATH. IF SELFISHNESS IS NOT
REMOVED FROM OUR WORSHIP SERVICES WE WILL HAVE ALOT OF
PEOPLE AND ALOT OF ACTIVITY BUT WE WON'T EXPERIENCE THE
MANIFESTED PRESENCE OF GOD. (EXPLAIN OMNIPRESENT AND
MANIFESTED PRESENCE.
Ps 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the
praises of Israel. (KJV)
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