A few (more) thoughts on worship:

The salvation won at Calvary by the Lord Jesus Christ has the same effect on everyone to whom it is given - they are transformed from a state of spiritual death into spiritual life (Eph. 2:1-5). The saved person becomes a new creation, old things have passed away and all things made new (2 Cor. 5:17). Such a transformation is beyond human capability, it is supernatural. With this transformation comes a knowledge of God that is radically different from what was known before, or that could be known: The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14). So, with salvation comes a new knowledge of God - and something else: a new desire to worship Him.

What is worship?  Ralph P. Martin describes it perfectly: Worship is the dramatic celebration of God in His supreme worth in such a manner that His worthiness becomes the norm and inspiration of human living. That is a powerful statement. Worship is not only the public gathering of believers to praise and glorify God, worship is also a  lifestyle. We are instructed to do everything to the glory of God (Col. 3:17). In other words, the entire content and direction of our lives is to be such that it reflects our deep conviction that we know God, recognize His supreme worth, and desire to proclaim it in all that we are and do.

Is this how we live?  We must ask this because it is patently obvious that the majority who call themselves Christians do not live as though God's worthiness is the norm and inspiration of their lives. In our worship of God do we even            approach the level of devotion of the early church or of earlier generations? How do our lives and worship stack up when measured against the saints of Hebrews 11 of whom it is

written the world was not worthy of them (11:38a)? Could it be that although we may know God, the fact is that we do not know Him as well as we ought? Do we see Him as clearly as we should or have we allowed other things to get in the way - have we allowed the things of this world to obscure the glory of God?  Listen to the Puritan pastor Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646)...

The reason men worship God in a casual way is because they do not see God in His glory. If a man has ever had Isaiah's vision of the holiness of God (Isa. 6:1-8) he would be changed in an instant. But, until men have seen

God as he truly is (The High and Lofty One) they will be forever guilty of the very same rebuke God gave to the wicked in Psalm 50:21 "You thought I was just like you."  My dear friends, have you ever seen the glory of God? Have you ever been changed in an instant? Is your knowledge of God less that it should be?  Is your worship - our worship - of God lukewarm when it ought to be like a flame? How many things can we name that we would rather do than gather with the saints to worship? Are we guilty of thinking less of God than His Holiness demands?  These questions deserve careful consideration because our spiritual lives depend on how we answer.

I want my life to reflect God's supreme worth. I want my worship to be white hot - do you? Then, pray with me the words of the sons of Korah: [Lord] Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Hallelujah!

In Calvary’s bond,

Pastor Ron