Bible Ballistics: BBs #338   Who Is Worshipping???

 

I read something not long ago that really piqued my interest. The question was asked, “Are you worshipping your ‘worship’?” And I would like to take just a few minutes this morning to challenge us all to examine our hearts before The One we claim to ‘worship’. Let’s examine what scripture has to say.

“Give unto the Lord the glory

due unto his name:

bring an offering,

and come before him:

worship the Lord

in the beauty of holiness.” 1 Chronicles 16:29

This was the Psalm of David when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He was full of joy and gratitude, especially after the tragedy of his first attempt to bring it there (Read 2 Samuel 6.). David reminds us that glory is what we are to give unto God, not just with our words, but with our resources as well. He also reminds us that we are coming “before him” to offer our worship, and we are to worship HIM “in the beauty of holiness”! But what does that mean? Well it doesn’t mean only those who belong to a “holiness” church can worship God, but it does tell us that worship is more than simply coming to church. It is more than just taking sides in the “worship wars” of our culture. It is more than a genre’ of music. O.K., so what is it? It is a state of being “set apart” by, for, and to God.

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2

Here we have the same words, which David wrote unto God, recorded not only in the historical accounts of the Kings of Israel, but also recorded in the “Songbook” of Israel, the Psalms. It must be important enough that God wants us to take note of it because  it is repeated. But that’s not all.

“Give unto the Lord the glory

due unto his name:

bring an offering,

and come into his courts.

9 O worship the Lord

in the beauty of holiness:

fear before him,

all the earth.

10 Say among the heathen

that the Lord reigneth:

the world also shall be established

that it shall not be moved:

he shall judge the people

righteously.” Psalm 96:8-10

Here in the 96^th Psalm we see this instruction in worship repeated yet again, and this time it also calls us to spread the Good News. The Good News that God is the sovereign God who rules all—and He will “establish” His Kingdom, in His time, and He will judge all things through The Son; and His judgment will be perfect in righteousness. And just as important, we followers of Jesus are called to walk (live, converse, and worship) before our God in holiness—not just on the days that we corporately worship, but each day and every where. It’s not ok to raise your hands up to God on Sunday (or whatever day you worship on) and then live like the world all week. Worship isn’t restricted to a day, or a time, or a season, or a place—real worship is a state of mind and a reflection of “whose” we are! It’s not a ‘musical’ issue but a heart issue. Are we worshipping God or individual preference?

“But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Holiness is to be the mark of our lives when we belong to Jesus. We are called to live yielded to The Holy Spirit, that His ‘holiness’ will be seen in us.

Real ‘holiness’ isn’t:

A denomination—

A particular church, or any ‘church’.

But real ‘holiness’ is the expression and manifestation of—

A heart and life saved by the blood of The Lamb—

A mind set on Jesus—

A heart yielded to God—

A life lived in pursuit of the pleasure of God–

A life lived in pursuit of the approval of God—

A life lived in humble devotion to The Lord!

The “beauty of holiness” is the testimony to a lost and dying world, that The Holy God of the universe can take a sinner and birth them into His Kingdom, by the blood of The Lamb, making that sinner God’s saint. It is undeniable evidence of the transformed lives that God produces when we become “a new creature” ‘in’ Jesus Christ The Lord!

“Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

So, are you living the “beauty of holiness” in worship of God each day? Or are you worshipping something else? Is your heart as excited about “The Word” as “The Music”?