Do You Think in Worship as in War We Could Be More Trusting of God?

Do You Think in Worship as in War We Could Be More Trusting of God?

 

Good Morning Friends,

 

Does your faith need miracles to sustain it? Does it need more entertainment and drama to keep you engaged? Creative activities are wonderful but the dance of the Holy Spirit is choreographed for more than a Broadway show. We are to know that proclaiming the Word of God is still relevant because God is listening as we fight for our faith. And here we are to know that the greatest sin in ministry is to bore people with the Bible. Still people in the pulpit are not to be vying for an Oscar. The battle in the crucible for sanctification is real for them as it is for any leader. But they cannot and should not be trying to do this alone. So, Do You Think in Worship as in War We Could Be More Trusting of God?

 

Scripture:
¹⁷If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us.^*
18But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.

 

Daniel 3:17–18 (NRSV)

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¹¹Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit. ¹²Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord,¹³ for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water,  and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

 

Jeremiah 2:11–13 (NRSV)

 

 

⁷‘Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him; for there is one greater with us than with him. ⁸With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ The people were encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.

 

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 (NRSV)

 

¹²Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made^* the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 

1 Timothy 6:12 (NRSV)

  
 

Message: The message in today’s scripture is that, if we trust in God as our leader, we can triumph. Some battles only God can win.  Scripture tells us that faith, in a God that is on our side, will help us overcome life’s challenges. Faith will help us face difficulties so they do not destroy us, but also will develop us. To succeed we need to do our part, and that goes for leaders especially. Friends, we all need to engage heavenly help.  So when faced with a threat do not give up before the first battle. Ask Jesus to carry some of the burden. Certainly make preparations using common sense. Strengthen fortifications and strategize for the battle having faith in the ultimate outcome, but don’t rely on your own abilities to the exclusion of the body of believers. It is true in worship and in war. By example we all are to intercede for others as best we can but also give God the Glory as we learn to engage Him as an intercessor in the most important of activities of proclaiming our faith with love for a purpose. The purpose of life. So today we hopefully learn that to not be conquered by sin we must ask and receive God’s help. We must learn to trust in Him for our growth and deliverance. We must fight the good fight of faith. We must fellowship in the faith of forgiveness.

 

 
 

Pray that our faith would fortify us for the fight. Pray for those who are standing for truth and justice…that they would receive God’s protection and that He would provide for our mutual victory because we stand with them and Him. Pray that the Spirit in us is the love of God…greater than whatever we face. Pray that we intercede in prayer for others now so that in our faith we would believe God will intercede for us… answering our call for help….responding as our intercessor when we face judgment. Pray that we learn to trust in the presence, promise and person of Jesus. Pray we learn to endure and develop the strength of character that leads to confidence and trust in God. Pray that we trust God to be the one who fulfills. Pray in the Spirit that we place our trust and treasurer in Him. Pray that we would trust Him to provide what we need when we need it. Pray we do less soft shoe sharing and spend more time on becoming sanctified. Pray we do less wooing and more worshiping. Pray we do less intellectualizing and more illuminating. Pray we not condense our worship but cultivate it. Pray we know the battle is about believing.

 

Blessings,

 

John Lawson