Worship Devotion 11/10/10

As our church is in the transition of searching for a new Worship Leader, I have the wonderful privilege of leading a little devotion for our choir and worship ministry folks on Wednesday evenings. Since we have only a brief time, and I almost always have so much more enthusiasm for the subject and for God's Word than we ever have time for, it seemed good to post my devotion notes and relevant things on this blog for the dear saints involved in our worship ministry to review at their leisure and pleasure. In that light, here are the notes from what we will go over tonight. I pray it richly blesses you and gives you much pause to reflect on God's grace-gifts and calling:

Worship Devotion
11/10/10


Last week we spoke briefly about what it means to be a WL and the importance of our hearts being focused on the Lord. Tonight, we're going to review the last paragraph in our booklet on p. 3 where our author touches a bit more on the responsibility of the WL and the heart God wants us to have.

Let’s look at some of the verses he uses:

And you shall again obey the LORD, and observe all His commandments which I command you today.9 "Then the LORD your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;10 if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. Deut 30:8-10 (NASB)

What will cause the Lord to rejoice over His children in this passage? If we observe all His commandments

What do you think the ‘if’ is there for?

What does it mean to turn to the Lord your God w/ all your heart and soul?

Our author quotes this v. to show us how WL are to have a passion for knowing God.


4 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.6 Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old.7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD.
Psalms 25:4-7 (NASB)

What will God do for those who recognize Him and wait on Him? Lead them in His truths and teach them

I believe our author uses this verse to show us and example of God’s mercy that we can imitate in our relationships w/ others. What is it? He asks God not to remember the sin of his youth or his transgressions.

Can there be compassion without forgiveness? NOPE! That’s another good reminder for us.

Does God’s compassion ever change or even waver? Is that another good example for us?

Our author exhorts us that we need to have a passion for God as well as a heart of compassion for people. What should we desire for our hearts?

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.Psalms 51:10-13 (NASB)

What is the Psalmist longing for? To be in God’s presence.

Notice the use of the word, ‘then’? This verse shows a process. What is it?

1. Our hearts are cleansed and our spirits renewed through being in God’s presence and in the power of the Holy Spirit
2. Once we are there, God restores the joy of our salv. Our spirit is willing to be sustained.
3. ONLY after those things happen are we then ready for ministry. What happens after ‘Then’? We can teach others and witness to others and watch God save them.
And, to further illustrate his point about having compassion for others, our author quotes 2 more verses: John 15:17 in which Jesus gives us a command to love one another and 1 Peter 1:22. There is a lot to 1 Peter, but, let’s see if we can fit the time in to review it:

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:13-23 (NASB)

What an incredibly uplifting and challenging passage this is! We could spend hours just discussing it. However, our author has chosen v. 22 to show how God desires us to love one another.

From where is that love to come? The heart
Finally…why?

Please write this verse down and spend some time this week praising God for all He has done for you. This passage should inspire the very heart and attitude towards God and others that our author is writing of.