He is Worthy

In the Christmas Movie, Elf, Buddy asks Jovi out for a date by saying, “I really wanted to see you, and, and I think you're beautiful. And I, um, feel really warm when I am around you? And, um, my tongue swells up?”

This remind me of the first time I saw my wife. She was wearing an orange dress. Let's just say it was pretty impressive. Her hair was like nothing I'd ever seen, and I kept thinking that I could fall right into her eyes and get lost forever.

My first reaction was to say to myself, “What do I look like? Do I have any mints?” You know how we do it. I tried to play it cool, but my guts were in knots.

So what does this have to do with worship?

When we read of men in the Bible encountering God, we see a similar pattern of behavior, multiplied to the nth degree. Isaiah's response is recorded in Isaiah 6:5: “Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”--Amp.

In the presence of greatness, we realize our own inadequacies. This is a great start for the person desiring to worship God.

True worship cannot happen by accident. We must know who we are worshiping. If we get the smallest glimpse of the majesty of the Creator of the universe, we will be humbled and awed by his power and might. If we are not in awe of our Creator, why worship Him? We worship Him because he IS awesome, and because He alone is worthy of our praise.

Our heavenly Father, however, does not want us groveling before Him like beaten dogs. The enemy wants that. Following him always leads to slavery and destruction.

So then, what is the proper balance?

Having children has taught me that you can rarely be friends with your kids. You can be friendly, but you must be “the dad” at all times. Kids need this. They need to have boundaries and they need to learn respect. I do not allow my kids to call me “dude,” or to speak to me like they would speak to their buddies. If they shush each other, I'll tell them it's rude to do that. If they shush me....well, let's not even go there.

God loves us and desires to commune with us. He wants to walk with us and guide us. He wants us to boldly come before His throne, but let's remember that the throne is one of grace. We don't deserve to be there. He meets with us at the seat of mercy, not the seat of obligation or friendship. Though He calls us friend, let's remember that He is our Lord.

The more we learn about our great and awesome God, the more we should respect His presence. We should be amazed that He desires our prayer, our attention, our submission, our supplications, and our worship. He doesn't need any of it, but He loves us and wants to build and strengthen His relationship with us.

Francis Chan says this: “The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time. He treasures us and anticipates our departure form this earth to be with Him—and we wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by,” (from Crazy Love, pg. 61).

This attitude should not be as familiar as it is to us, but we are all there to some degree. We must try to keep in our mind that God is awesome. He is Mighty, and Just, and Faithful and True. He is our constant help in time of trouble. He is the King of Israel, the King of Kings, the Son of David, the Son of Man and the Son of God. He alone is worthy. He is able. He is a conqueror. He is the Lion of Judah, the Holy One and the Just, the great I AM. He is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Emmanuel, God with us. The head over all things, the chief cornerstone, the Bright and Morning Star.

He loves us because He is a friend of sinners, and because He is love, and because He wants to, and because that's who He is.

That should inspire some worship.

“Honor Christ and put others first.”--Ephesians 5:21 (CEV)

This scripture tells two simple things: what to do and why to do it.

We are encouraged again and again in scripture to prefer our brethren over
ourselves. This goes against the 'wisdom' of the world, which usually
encourages a 'me-first' attitude. 'Self-esteem' and 'self-love' are the 
primary focus of many 'self-help' books.

I understand this these ideas are well-intentioned. The problem is that 
they are incomplete. Let's back up and take a look at something we all
should understand fairly well.

We are not saved by works, but by faith. This seed of faith produces fruit:
fruit in ourselves and in our actions. So we ARE doing good works, but we 
are not doing them to get saved. We are doing them as a result of our 
salvation.

So faith and works are inseparable. They are two sides of the same coin, 
much like self-esteem and submission.

Many people trapped in depression spend time and money on self-help 
books and building self-esteem and doing self-talk etc. How many of 
these people are volunteering their time in their community? How many 
of them are laying down their lives for others? How many are serving 
in their calling?

You may have noticed that, when you get involved in the church, there 
are many opportunities to help out our brethren. The more we help out 
(Jesus—the suffering SERVANT of Isaiah), the more we are VALUED. 
One day we hope to hear the Lord say to us, “Well done” (Luke 19:17). 
What is this praise and reward a result of? Being a good servant. 
Being a good servant to whom? Being a good servant to our brethren 
and to the unsaved.

The other half of this verse says “Honor Christ.” This is our motivation. 
Sometimes we really don't want to serve our brethren. But we honor 
Jesus when we do. Flip that idea around for a second: if we DON'T 
prefer our brother over ourselves, we are NOT honoring Christ. Check 
out a few other versions:

Submitting to one another in the fear of God. (NKJV)

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. (RSV)

We are reminded in Phil. 2:2-4: “Let nothing be done through strife 
or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than 
themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also 
on the things of others.” (KJV)

Larry Richards (in The Teacher's Commentary, p. 930) comments: 
“Whatever role we have been given provides us an opportunity to serve 
our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is when we accept our role as 
husband, wife, employer, employee, community leader, or citizen in 
light of Christ's teaching and example, with a reverence for Him and 
His heavenly Father that we will begin to serve one another.”

Christians have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have submitted their 
lives and wills to Him. We have responded to his perfect love. Our 
response includes picking up our cross and following Him. What does 
that look like? It looks like us laying aside our will so that Christ 
can live through us, realizing his will through our lives.

Be encouraged! Ask Jesus for help in this, and He will be faithful! 

The “Called” Versus the “Volunteer”

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking briefly with John O'Campo (Mariners Church in California) about what it means to be called to serve. I've been meditating on this, and would like to share some of my thoughts, and some of his comments.

If you are called, then you are called of God. He has ordained us before the world began to do good works. He allows us to choose whether or not we will walk in His way or not. We are all called to worship, but we are not all called to lead a musical worship service.

God equips those He calls. He empowers, by means of His Holy Ghost, those who have decided to walk in His will. He annoints with purpose.

For those who are called and equipped, let me ask you a few questions:

• How seriously do you take the call of God?
• How seriously do you think God takes His calling?

• How has God empowered you?
• How have you used this power?

I am reminded of Jesus' parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-26). The servant who did not increase his talent was called “wicked and lazy.”

Paul repeatedly spoke of himself as a “bondservant.” This word (GR doulos) means, literally, a slave. It implies that the work he did was not of his own will, but the will of his master.

For those who have given their lives to Christ, let me ask you:

• Do you feel you are doing God's will with the talents with which he has blessed you?
• Do you feel there are areas where you may be an unfaithful slave?

Undoubtedly, the more honest we are with ourselves, the more we will find reason to be on our knees before our gracious and loving God, and ask Him to forgive, restore, and continue to use us.

There is a price to be paid to sacrifice to the Lord, but the rewards are great. Hebrews 13:15 encourages us to “constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.” Speaking about the cost of sacrifice, King David said, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God of that which costs me nothing,” (2 Sam 24:24).

Notice some of Pastor O'Campo's observations about the differences between those who are “called” and those who “volunteer.” (Slightly paraphrased)

• Volunteers see rehearsal as an obligation.
• Those called of God view rehearsal as another opportunity to be used of God, and to develop the gifts with which they have been entrusted.

• Volunteers put in 'just enough' effort.
• The Called put in all that they can.

• Volunteers look to be served.
• The Called look to serve and minister to others.

• Volunteers can feel threatened by the talents of others.
• The Called are secure in God's direction in their lives, and with the role that God has called them to play.

• Volunteers do not prepare.
• The Called are as prepared as they can possibly be.

• Volunteers are often oblivious to the needs of the ministry.
• The Called pray for the ministry and its leaders.

• Volunteers find fulfillment in their talents and abilities.
• The Called find fulfillment in being used of God and in doing His will.

• Volunteers avoid situations which may stretch them.
• The Called respond to the call with humble dependence on Him.

"When God has put His call on you, woe be to you if you turn to the right hand or the left. He will do with You what He never did with you before the call came; He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way.”--Oswald Chambers.

(Thanks Pastor O'Campo!)

B. Cox

P.S. Next we will talk about how God EQUIPS, and what that means for us.

-Brian Cox

"In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!" --Psalm 94:19 (AMP)

Anxiety can get the best of us. Whether it be health concerns, financial concerns, relationships, or other matters, many of us are prone to fret over situations outside of our control.

I often think about that great man of faith, Abraham. Interestingly, the Bible shows us that he didn't always act in faith. He ran to Egypt, he lied about Sarah being his wife, and he acted in the flesh regarding Ishmael.

These passages give me hope. It's encouraging to think that, in spite of our lapses in faith, God will continue to work on us. He sees the belief that we have, and imputes righteousness. He calls us faithful in spite of our momentary unfaithfulness. After all, our faith comes from him in the first place (Rom. 12:3).

We know that "without faith, it is impossible to please" God (Heb. 11:6). Paul tells us that "the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." And yet Jesus rewarded the man who confessed, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). This is my constant prayer for all of us: that Jesus continue to build our faith.

Anxiety often comes when our problems become bigger than they actually are. If we have an eternal perspective, nothing is bigger than God. The Eternal, Omnipotent One who created the universe by the word of His mouth is in our corner. Do we believe that? Do we believe the words of God recorded in Jeremiah, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?" (Jer. 32:27).

The enemy will not only enlarge our problems, but he will lie about the nature of God. He will tell you that you aren't important enough to God. I ask you to remember Luke 5:12-13:

¹²While He was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean.

¹³And [Jesus] reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy left him.

And now a word from our Sponsor:

Psalm 55:22 (Amplified Bible)

"Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail)."

Psalm 139:23-24 (Amplified Bible)

"Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Proverbs 12:25 (Amplified Bible)

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad."

Ecclesiastes 7:14 (Amplified Bible)

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side by side with the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him."

Matthew 6:28-34 (Amplified Bible)

"And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the liles of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence, [excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."

Luke 10:41-42 (Amplified Bible)

"But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; there is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is the her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her."

Luke 12:22-23, 25, 26 (Amplified Bible)

"And Jesus said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear. For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes. And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]? If then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest?"

Phillipians 4:6-7 (Amplified Bible)

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hears and minds in Christ Jesus."

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."

1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible)

"Casing the whole of your care[all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."

Brytni-

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only son, that WHOEVER believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!" John 3:16

I am studying Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) in school right now. We are taking a look at the two major concepts about salvation: Calvinism, and Arminianism! It is amazing how much the two of these are so different from each other, but at the end of the day, I think the verse listed above sets the standard and makes clear all confusion and doubt about the matter! Salvation is for everyone!!! Christ died for the sins of everyone!!

Anyway, I just wanted to give everyone a little something to think about.....................................

Say So, Part II

--Brian Cox

"To be salt and light in the world"

This idea has always fascinated me. Sometimes, the smallest ideas can be the most profound. The words of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in Matthew are as follows:

"¹²Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [II Chron. 36:16.]

¹³You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltiness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

¹⁵Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

¹⁶Let your light so shine before men that they may see your ^a]">[a]moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and ^b]">[b]recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven." Matthew 5:12-16 (Amplified Bible)

SALT

Notice that Jesus didn't say we were the sugar, or the honey of the world. He also didn't say we were the pepper of the world. The function of salt was to preserve the meat from rotting. To prevent corruption and putrification.

Speaking of the condition of the world, the Holy Spirit tells us this:

"²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

³²Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:29-32 (King James Version)

This is God's description of a rotting world...a world in need of preservation. We have the answer for this dying world, and His Name is Jesus. If we are not in the world, among the non-believer, what good is our saltiness? A good question to ask ourselves is, "Have we lost our saltiness?"

LIGHT

"I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life."--John 8:12 (Amp)

Again, notice the contrast: salt is the answer for corruption, light is the answer for darkness. The condemnation of the world is not a question, it is a fact. (Rom 1:18) Our light must shine for all men to see. While we must not be a part of the world, we must be in it.

"¹⁴I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one"--John 17:14-15

We don't buy light or salt for their own sake. No one eats a chunk of salt, or sits down to look at light. However, these are both things that are useful and necessary to live and to appreciate life. The world needs our message, our Savior. It may not taste like sugar (the flesh wars against the Spirit, Gal. 5:17), but it is the Gospel that is the power to salvation (Rom. 1:16).

Say So, Part I

-Brian Cox

Ps. 107:1-9

¹O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. ²Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; ³And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. ⁴They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. ⁵Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. ⁶Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. ⁷And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. ⁸Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! ⁹For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:1-9, King James Version)


The Chorus of Israel Houghton's song "Say So" encourages the redeemed of the Lord to pronounce their redemption. Verse 2 of Psalm 107 continues to say that He has redeemed us from the hand of the enemy.

Backing up a verse, this is a song of praise to the Lord for His goodness and mercy towards us as is evidenced by his redemption.

Often our "soul faints" when we are "hungry and thirsty" (v. 5), when our situation seems desperate. Our temporal problems often keep us from remembering our eternal salvation. How sad is that?

The very name of Jesus means both "Salvation," and is the concatenated form of "Joshua" ("Yahoshua"), which means "The Lord Who Is Salvation." One of my favorite verses about the Lord is found in Zephaniah 3:17:

^"The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing." (AMP)

Perhaps this is more recognizable in the King James:

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

The psalmist's heart toward the Lord is so very evident in verse 8: "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness." Do we feel that way? We should ache and long for our fellow man to see the goodness and love and mercy and grace of Jesus. We should be constantly reminded of His great love towards us in saving us from death and hell. We should be so convinced of His worthiness that we can't understand why anyone would not fall in love with our Lord.

⁸Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! ⁹For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

A final note: Imagine yourself recognizing the greatness of the Lord, and worshiping Him, thanking Him for His goodness and mercy. Now imagine the Lord exulting over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Creation and Creator singing to each other with joy and love. "He will exult over you with singing."