changed in his presence - sam hinn

8/13/2019 Changed in His Presence - Sam Hinn

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Copyright 1995 by Sam Hinn

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Catalog Card !mber" 9#$%&'51

(nternational Standard )oo* !mber" +$''#19$&''$'

Creation Ho!se

Strang Comm!nications Company

,++ -inehart -oad

La*e .ary/ 0L &%#,

2his boo* or parts thereof may not be reprod!ced in any form

3itho!t prior 3ritten permission of the p!blisher4

Unless other3ise noted/ all Script!re !otations are from the

e3 6ing 7ames 8ersion of the )ible4 Copyright 19%9/

19'+/ 19' by 2homas elson (nc4/ p!blishers4 Used by

permission4

Script!re !otations mar*ed AS are from the e3

American Standard )ible4 Copyright 19,+/ 19,/ 19,&/

19,'/ 19%1/ 19%/ 19%&/ 19%5/ 19%% by the Loc*man

0o!ndation4 Used by permission4

Script!re !otations mar*ed 678 are from the 6ing 7ames

8ersion of the )ible4

Script!re !otations mar*ed 2L) are from 2he Living )ible4

Copyright 19%14 Used by permission of 2yndale Ho!se

P!blishers (nc4/ heaton/ (L ,+1'94 All rights reserved4

2he .essage Copyright 199&/ 199#/ 1995 by :!gene H4

Peterson/ reprinted 3ith permission from avPress/ P4 ;4 )ot *no3 ho3 to

3orship ?o!4D ( 3al*ed into the room 3here

abo!t one h!ndred people 3ere gathered forprayer and told them 3hat the Lord had spo*en

to my heart4

:ven as ( tal*ed to the people ( prayed

silently/ D)!t/ Lord/ ho3 can ( 3orship in front of

these peopleF (>m a lo!sy singerID Singing 3as

the only 3ay ( *ne3 to 3orship at that time4 2o

me 3orship 3as !st singing all the Christian

songs yo! *ne34 ( 3as not a 3orship leader or

m!sician4 (n fact/ ( co!ld barely carry a t!ne4 ?et

in my h!nger and desperation for @od ( *ne3 (

co!ldn>t 3orry abo!t my ability4 ( !st had to

3orship Him4

( told the people 3ho had gathered for prayer

that morning that 3e 3ere going to 3orship @od

!ntil He came4 ( 3as hoping He 3o!ld come

!ic*ly so the people 3o!ld not have to s!ffer

thro!gh my singing too long4

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The Call to Worship

So/ 3e began to sing4 e sang all my favorite

songs/ one after the ne


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

choice4 And no one co!ld change it or ta*e it

a3ay from me4 ( 3as going to love Him

regardless of 3hat sit!ation or circ!mstancecame my 3ay4

( 3ept till ( tho!ght ( had no more tears to

cry4 ( began to as* for things ( had never as*ed

for in the past4 ( prayed/ DPlease/ Lord/ let me

to!ch ?o! and minister to ?o!4D (n the deepest

part of my heart/ ( 3anted to respond to the 3ay

He had to!ched me4 ( 3anted !st for one briefmoment to have all the angels in heaven stop

3orshipping Him so ( co!ld be the one to

minister to Him4

( told Him if He never healed me ( 3o!ld love

Him4 (f He never delivered me/ my love 3o!ld

never change4 ( 3o!ld love Him no matter 3hat4

( !st loved Him for 3ho He 3as to me at thatmoment4

=!ring this special time 3ith the Lord/ ( 3as

totally oblivio!s to the roomf!l of people ( 3as

there to lead in prayer4 ( remember a holy h!sh

came over all of !s/ and the net to!ch me444!st let me to!ch

?o! this one time4D .y 3hole body trembled4 (

tho!ght maybe ( 3as going to die and be 3ith

Him forever4

-ight after ( said all this/ the Lord gave me a

vision that revealed 3hat 3orship 3as all abo!t4

As ( lay on the floor/ the Lord said" DLoo* to yo!r

left4D

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The Call to Worship

( loo*ed and sa3 a clear pict!re of a man

dressed li*e an old/ traditional Santa Cla!s

sitting in a chair 3ith a very large bag besidehim4 ;n the other side of the bag ( sa3 children

lined !p as far as my eyes co!ld see/ one after

another/ for 3hat seemed li*e miles4 ( said/

DLord/ ( don>t !nderstand4 2his man is li*e a

Santa Cla!s4D

2he Lord said/ DLoo* again4D

hen ( loo*ed again ( co!ld foc!s on the

children>s faces4 2hey 3ere s!ch defeated/

deected faces4 o smiles or emotion!st

e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

body4 (t flooded me 3ith love that 3as not

h!man4 (t 3ent right into my heart/ and ( *ne3 (

3as in the presence of @od4

( cried o!t from my spirit/ D2he !nholy

cannot stand in the presence of a Holy @od/ Holy

@od/ Holy @odID

( loo*ed to my right/ as the Lord told me to

do/ and sa3 this bea!tif!l light in the form of a

body/ sitting4 Again ( sa3 children lined !p for

miles/ b!t this time there 3as no bag of gifts/

and the children>s faces 3ere ill!minated 3ith

light and smiles4 ( felt their oy4

As ( loo*ed closely at the children/ (

recogniGed their faces as being those in the room

praying 3ith me4 ( sa3 the Lord lift each child/

p!t them on His lap and embrace them 3ith lovethat ( co!ld literally feel4 He held each child and

tenderly stro*ed the o!tline of their faces4 (t 3as

a loving gest!re ( had seen my 3ife !se 3ith o!r

o3n childrenbr!shing her fingertips across the

child>s forehead/ do3n his chee*/ and to his

sho!lder4

( said/ D?o! are so bea!tif!l/ 0atherI ( loveyo!I ( never tho!ght ?o! 3ere li*e this4 0orgive

meID All d!ring this/ He *ept embracing child

after child/ holding them so tightly4

( desperately 3anted to respond to this love (

felt4 DPlease/D ( prayed again/ Dlet me to!ch 7es!s

and minister to Him4D As ( prayed and 3ept/ (

felt li*e He 3as going to let me do 3hat ( hadas*ed4 ( began to feel as if ( 3ere all alone before

the Lord/ so ( sang and sang4 .y heart 3as filled

3ith 3orship in a 3ay ( had never e


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The Call to Worship

over3helming presence of the @od all over my

body4 (t 3as almost electric and n!mbing4

o3/ ( *ne3 He 3as in the room4 ( 3as

afraid to open my eyes beca!se ( completely

etID ( 3as s!re if (

3o!ld !st open my eyes/ ( 3o!ld see Him4 2he

fear of @od 3as real4 ( 3as lying face do3n on

the gro!nd4 hen ( finally raised my head and

opened my eyes/ ( fo!nd myself gaGing at

bea!tif!l/ strong/ holy feet4

( honestly tho!ght to myself/ D2his 3as a

great 3ay to die4D ho 3as ( to see s!ch a man/

so f!ll of love for His peopleF 2hen ( felt hands

!nderneath my sho!lders/ p!lling me to my feetand helping me stand !p4 His chest 3as at my

eye level4 ( co!ld not see His face/ b!t$oh$ho3 (

*ne3 it 3as HimI 2he only 3ords ( co!ld !se to

describe 3hat ( sa3 3o!ld bestrengthandloe.

( *ne3 He 3as abo!t to give me the desire of

my heartthat 3hich ( had as*ed for

contin!ally d!ring my 3orshipthat ( mightto!ch Him and minister to Him4

( said to Him/ DLord/ ( am so glad ?o! have a

glorified body/ beca!se ( 3ant to give ?o! the

best h!g ?o! have ever had/ and ( don>t 3ant to

br!ise ?o!4D

( stretched my arms to embrace Him and

heard Him say/ DSam/ minister to .e4D

As ( h!gged Him ( co!ld feel tears hit my

sho!lder4 :ach tear fell 3ith s!ch force that it

seemed to 3eigh a fe3 po!nds4 ( said to Him/

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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

DLord/ 3ho has h!rt yo!FD

Again He replied/ DSam/ !st minister to .e4D

After that moment/ ( felt myself gently

deposited bac* on the floor4 ( lay on the floor and

cried for a co!ple ho!rs4

( had that vision nine years ago/ yet it>s as

clear to me today as the day it happened4 ( have

never had s!ch a remar*able e


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The Call to Worship

2he scene of the blan*$faced children 3ho

lined !p for the gifts made me reeval!ate my

o3n motives4 =id ( come to the Lord for 3hat Heco!ld give meF ;r did ( come to Him so ( co!ld be

changed in His presenceF

2he children 3ho 3ere in the presence of the

Lord reflected His glory on their faces4 =id (

reflect the glory of the LordF

@od>s presence e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

personal es presence4

0inally/ ( have learned so m!ch abo!t

3orship thro!gh the ministry of Phil =riscoll

that ( as*ed him to share some of 3hat the Lord

has sho3n him4

2he Holy Spirit has been so good to me as (

have 3ritten this boo*4 ( pray He 3ill !se these

3ords to to!ch yo!/ too4

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T w o

hat (s orshipF

he fo!ndation of the 3hole matter of

3orship goes bac* to a covenant relationship

3hich 3as established in (srael>s et

yo!F .oses 3rote the follo3ing song and the

people oined him in singing it"

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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

( 3ill sing !nto the Lord/ for He hath

tri!mphed glorio!sly" the horse and his rider

hath he thro3n into the sea4 2he Lord is mystrength and song/ and he is become my

salvation" he is my @od/ and ( 3ill prepare

him an habitationE my father>s @od/ and ( 3ill

es to set !s free

from o!r sin or to heal !s/ o!r response is3orship4

Have yo! ever ta*en time in the day to thin*

abo!t ho3 faithf!l He has been to yo!F hen

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What Is Worship#

yo! thin* abo!t all He has done in yo!r life/ ho3

often He has forgiven yo!/ ho3 He has

ministered life to yo!r heart 3hen yo! felt li*eno one 3o!ld !nderstandyo! can>t help b!t

3orship Him4

Please/ 3o!ld yo! stop reading this boo* for

a moment and reflect on all He has done/ even in

the last fe3 daysF 2his 3o!ld be a great time to

than* Him for His salvation and deliverance in

yo!r life4 )egin to 3orship Him 3ith a heart ofthan*f!lness/ a heart filled 3ith gratit!de for

His faithf!lness4

2he things @od has done for !s give !s

endless inspiration for 3orship4

.any/ ; Lord my @od/ are ?o!r

3onderf!l 3or*s hich ?o! have doneEAnd ?o!r tho!ghts to3ard !s

Cannot be reco!nted to ?o! in orderE

(f ( 3o!ld declare and spea* of them/

2hey are more than can be n!mbered BPs4

#+"54

0or all that @od has done/ there>s only one

possible concl!sion" 3orship is His rightf!l d!e4As the prophet 7eremiah p!t it"

(nasm!ch as there is none li*e ?o!/ ;

Lord

B?o! are great/ and ?o!r name is great in

might/

ho 3o!ld not fear ?o!/ ; 6ing of the

nationsF

0or this is ?o!r rightf!l d!e4

0or among all the 3ise men of the nations/

And in all their *ingdoms/ 2here is none li*e

%


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

?o! B7er4 1+",4

Worship in the Tabernacle

Worship$the 3ord 3e !se today/ comes from

the ;ld :nglish 3ord weorthscipe$ meaning

D3orthshipD or D3orthiness4D orship reveres/

honors and e


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What Is Worship#

name4

2hen they proclaimed His name and His

deeds in song for all the people of (srael to

remember4 2hey sang psalms and spo*e of His

3ondro!s 3or*s4 2hey gave @lory to His ame4

As the people progressed in their praises/

see*ing fresh revelation from @od/ their hearts

reoiced and their strength 3as rene3ed4 As they

called to memory his marvelo!s 3or*s in the

past/ they 3ere enco!raged that He 3o!ld

contin!e to act in their behalf4

S!ch 3orship 3as spontaneo!s and f!ll of oy

and celebration4 (srael became a 3orshipping

nation4 Again and again/ Dall the people said/

>Amen/> and praised the LordD B1 Chr4 1,"&,4

(n the Psalms of =avid 3e see a 3ide rangeof passionate adoration to the Lord4 2he psalms

3ere (srael>s response to @od4 0rom agony to

es tabernacle4

2oday ( love to be in the midst of a largea!ditori!m filled 3ith people celebrating the

3orthiness of @od in their 3orship4 ( love to hear

a mighty choir singing forth the praises of @od to

the accompaniment of m!sicians glorifying @od

thro!gh their instr!ments4 ( love to see a host of

people/ arms raised and faces glo3ing/ singing in

!nison of the goodness of @od4;!r 3orship is a celebration4 Large or small/

yo!ng or old/ 3hatever o!r denomination or

geographical location3e can celebrate the

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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

3orthiness of @od/ and o!r covenant relationship

3ith Him/ thro!gh o!r 3orship4

&+


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T h r e e

&orship 0rom the Heart

ne of the oys of having children is that (

can help instill in them a love for @od4 2o

me/ one of the most bea!tif!l sights in the 3orldis 3atching my little children 3orship Him4

;

:ach of my children have learned to e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

3hat 3orship really is4 orship is not dependent

!pon o!r abilities or talents4 orshipping @od

m!st come from o!r hearts4

;ne of my greatest diffic!lties in my early

years of being a Christian 3as 3atching people

3orship and perform all in one act4 ( 3o!ld

listen to 3orship leaders place s!ch emphasis on

the singing part of 3orship ( tho!ght/ D?o!

really can>t 3orship/ Sam/ beca!se yo! have no

talent to sing4D

( 3o!ld leave ch!rch services thin*ing/ Dhy

am ( not able to feel and sense @od>s presence

li*e they doF hat is 3rong 3ith meF (s there

something hindering @od>s presence in my lifeFD

2he more ( as*ed these !estions/ the Lord

3o!ld open my heart to the !nderstanding that

3orship has to come from the heart and nottalent or ability4

;nce ( !nderstood 3orship is simply

e


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Worship From the Heart

So they come to yo! as people do/ they sit

before yo! as .y people/ and they hear yo!r

3ords/ b!t they do not do themE for 3ith theirmo!th they sho3 m!ch love/ b!t their hearts

p!rs!e their o3n gain B:Ge*4 &&"&14

2he Lord also e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

engages the 3hole congregation4

(t seems some ch!rches have forgotten the

p!rpose behind their m!sic4 Ch!rches 3ill see*

o!t talented m!sicians/ loo*ing for better m!sic4

@od is not see*ing better m!sic b!t better

3orshippers4

2he p!rpose of m!sic in the ch!rch is not to

fill the b!ilding beca!se of the great m!sic4 (

have *no3n ch!rches to hire s*illed m!sicians

3ho are not even saved/ !st for the sa*e of

*eeping the cro3d coming for the great m!sic4 A

good choir or band does not necessarily elevate

3orship4

Please !nderstand there is nothing 3rong

3ith great talent and s*ill4 (t is 3onderf!l to !se

the gifts @od has given !s to bless Him bac*4 esho!ld al3ays strive to give @od o!r very best in

o!r 3orship4 )!t 3hen too m!ch emphasis is

placed on talent/ 3e are only going to stir !p

people>s emotions4 @od is declaring 3orship from

the spirit4

orship is the heart desiring and adoring the

0ather4 .!sic is an e


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distractions for some people4 0or e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

p!re in a corporate gathering4 hen 7ames

-obison made the altar call one night/ ( ran to

the front4 ( 3as h!ngry for more of @od4

As ( *nelt in front of the altar/ ( felt the same

3onderf!l presence that had to!ched me in the

early morning prayer meeting at my o3n ch!rch4

At that time/ ( as*ed the Lord three specific

!estions/ one of 3hich ( 3ant to share 3ith yo!4

Dhy is the 3orship in this place so p!reFD (

as*ed4

2he Lord spo*e to me and said/ DSon/ ( 3ant

yo! to loo* aro!nd/ all aro!nd yo!4D ( loo*ed

aro!nd and sa3 faces/ lots of faces4

He said/ D2here are seven tho!sand people

here from forty$eight different states4 =o yo!

*no3 3hy the 3orship is so p!reF )eca!se theydon>t *no3 each other4 2hey haven>t had time to

get angry or bitter 3ith one another4 2hat>s 3hy

it is so p!re4D

hen a ch!rch is f!ll of strife and dissension/

the people 3ill not be free to 3orship4 (f yo!r

relationships 3ith other people aren>t right/

yo!>re going to have a hard time entering into3orship4 7es!s says if yo! have anything against

yo!r brother/ leave yo!r sacrifice on the altar

and go ma*e it right 3ith him Bsee .att4 5"#4 (

!rge yo!/ as a member of a corporate

3orshipping body/ to reconcile 3ith fello3

believers4

hen 3e are 3orshipping in a gro!p 3here3e *no3 the people aro!nd !s/ 3e also need to

conscio!sly overcome o!r tendency to 3onder

3hat other people are thin*ing abo!t !s4 (f 3e

are 3orried abo!t 3hether they thin* 3e loo*

&,


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foolish/ then o!r 3orship is also inhibited4

(n the ne


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F o % r

#Changed in His Presence

fe3 years ago ( had to travel by plane to

minister in St4 .artin4 As ( boarded the

plane in ;rlando/ ( 3as not es presence4 ( had

come to a place in my life 3here ministry 3as no

longer meeting the cry of my heart4( 3as listening to a 3orship tape by 6ent

Henry 3hen ( felt @od to!ch me4

( began to 3orship Him and than* Him for

&9


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

His presence/ and ( literally felt His presence

intensify as ( contin!ed4 2he more the Presence

intensified/ the more my heart melted4 ( 3asclose to 3eeping openly on the plane/ b!t ( did

not care4

7!st 3hen ( tho!ght ( co!ld no longer *eep

from 3eeping/ ( heard the voice of @od>s Spirit

spea* to my heart saying/ DSon/ yo! are never

changed in the presence of a manE yo! are only

changed in the presence of @od4D

He began to list for me all the great men and

3omen of @od ( had met d!ring my years of

being involved 3ith my brother>s ministry and a

large ch!rch4 2hey 3ere people 3hom ( 3o!ld

al3ays honor4 )!t the Lord sho3ed me right

then even tho!gh this 3as a blessing and ( had

learned some great lessons from these people/ (3as never changed as a res!lt of being 3ith

them4

( then as*ed the Lord to please reveal this

tr!th in His ord/ *no3ing He 3ill al3ays

confirms 3hat He says by His ord4 He too* me

to a verse in Corinthians/ 3hich reads"

)!t 3e all/ 3ith !nveiled face/

beholding as in a mirror the glory of the

Lord/ are being transformed into the

same image from glory to glory/ !st as by

the Spirit of the Lord B Cor4 &"1'4

?o! are changed from glory to glory as yo!

behold Him4 hen yo! come into His presence/His Holy Spirit 3ill change yo!4 e can be

prayed for and anointed by these 3onderf!l

people/ b!t there is only ;ne 3ho can bring the

#+


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Changed in His Presence

change 3e desire4

(f yo! loo* to man*ind to bring change to

yo!r heart/ yo! 3ill be left 3ith an !nchanged

and d!ll heart4 (t 3ill have no passion for @od4 (t

may have a passion for man/ b!t not for @od4

Worship Brings You Into God's

Presence

Change comes 3hen yo! enter into Hispresence4

Ho3 do 3e come into His presenceF orship

is 3hat allo3s yo! to enter in and behold Him4

Pa!l said that 3e see a reflection of @od>s glory4

As 3e behold it/ 3e are transformed4

Pa!l *ne3 this from personal e


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Changed in His Presence

.y fello3ship 3ith @od helps me become the

h!sband ( need to be/ the father my children

need and a better pastor to minister to @od>speople4

;ne of the things ( enoy doing after (

minister is tal*ing 3ith people 3ho have come to

the services4 ( never fail to meet someone 3ho

3ill try to sho3 their spirit!ality by the 3ay

they tal*4 2hey 3ant to o!t$do everyone else by

adding a fe3 more Dpraise the Lord>sD orDhallel!ah>s4D Us!ally ( ma*e my conversation

brief 3ith that *ind of person4

2he essence of 3orship is to to!ch the heart

of @od !ntil ( reflect the very glory of 7es!s4 .y

spirit!ality is not meas!red by ho3 long ( pray

or ho3 many times ( can say Dpraise the LordD in

a conversation b!t by the p!rity of my fello3ship3ith @od4

2he 3hole reason (>m 3riting this boo* is

beca!se (>ve discovered this fact to be tr!e in my

personal life4 hen ( spent time 3ith great men/

read great Christian boo*s or 3ent to great

Christian meetings/ ( learned a lot4 ( felt good4 (

co!ld even impress other people aro!nd me4 (

tho!ght ( 3as ma*ing a lot of progress4 )!t

3hen the Lord to!ched me 3ith His presence/ all

those other things paled in comparison4 ( felt the

impact in my spiritin a 3ay ( never had before4

( 3ant to ma*e yo! h!ngry to be in @od>s

presence beca!se ( *no3 it 3ill change yo!4

2here are t3o 3onderf!l stories in the e3

2estament abo!t people 3hose bro*en lives 3ere

restored by being in 7es!s> presence4 Let>s see

3hat they teach !s4

#&


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F i e

5-estoring the -elationship

ne of the most es

3ell 3as there4 7es!s therefore/ being 3eariedfrom His o!rney/ sat th!s by the 3ell4 (t 3as

abo!t the si


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

gone a3ay into the city to b!y food B7ohn #"#$

'4

(t>s important to !nderstand the city of

Samaria4 (t 3as *no3n as a city of dr!n*enness/

a place of reproach4 7e3s only 3ent there for

b!ying and selling4 ( believe the only reason

7es!s 3ent to this city 3as to meet the 3oman

by the 3ell4

2his 3oman came to the 3ell to dra3 3ater4

2he desert is very hot aro!nd noon/ and she had

a nat!ral need for some 3ater to drin*4 So did

7es!s/ and He as*ed her to give Him some 3ater

also4 2he 3oman said to Him/ DHo3 is it that

?o!/ being a 7e3/ as* a drin* from me/ a

Samaritan/ for 7e3s have no dealings 3ith

SamaritansFD

7es!s replied/ D(f yo! *ne3 the gift of @od/

and 3ho it is 3ho says to yo!/ >@ive .e a drin*/>

?o! 3o!ld have as*ed Him/ and He 3o!ld have

given yo! living 3ater4D

2he 3oman told 7es!s she 3anted this living

3ater/ b!t she 3as s*eptical abo!t His ability to

s!pply it4 Her !estion sho3s she 3as st!c* inher traditions4 She as*ed/ DAre yo! greater than

o!r father 7acob/ 3ho gave !s this 3ell/ and

dran* from it himself/ as 3ell as his sons and his

livestoc*FD

7es!s ans3ered and said to her/ Dhoever

drin*s of this 3ater 3ill thirst again4 )!t

3hoever drin*s of the 3ater that ( shall give him3ill never thirst4 )!t the 3ater that ( shall give

3ill become in him a fo!ntain of 3ater springing

!p into everlasting life4D

#,


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'estoring the 'elationship

7es!s 3as in effect saying/ D?es4 ( am

different4 2he 3ater ( give yo! is better than the

3ater yo! can get from 7acob>s 3ell4D

=!ring this 3hole conversation 3ith 7es!s/

the 3oman>s mind 3as on her nat!ral need4 )!t

7es!s *ne3 she needed more than the nat!ral

3ater4 She needed a deep to!ch 3ithin her

spirit4

2his 3oman had spent her 3hole life

r!nning/ trying to satisfy the deep needs of her

heart4 She had p!rs!ed relationships 3ith many

men and she 3as still !nf!lfilled4 She 3as trying

to scratch an itch in her so!l Bemotions that 3as

really deep in her spirit4

hen the 3oman as*ed 7es!s for a drin* of

this 3ater to satisfy her thirst/ 7es!s *ne3 theneed of her spirit4 He said to her/ D@o/ call yo!r

h!sband and come here4D

2his m!st have st!nned her4 hat did her

h!sband have to do 3ith 3aterF 7es!s started

3ith a nat!ral sit!ation she 3as in/ and 3hen

He had her attention/ He pointed o!t her

spirit!al need4 7es!s p!t His finger on the mostsensitive iss!e of her heart4

D( don>t have a h!sband/D she said4

D-ight/D He ans3ered her/ D?o! have had five

h!sbands and the one yo! are no3 3ith is not

yo!r h!sband4D

o3/ tal* abo!t getting right to the pointI (

thin* at this moment she m!st have 3anted to

r!n/ thin*ing to herself/ Dho is this man that is

telling me abo!t my life/ 3hen all ( 3anted 3as

some 3aterFD

#%


48/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

2here is something important ( 3ant to point

o!t here4 Li*e this 3oman/ 3hen 3e stand in the

presence of the .aster/ He 3ill place His fingeron the most tro!bling iss!es of o!r hearts4 2his

is beca!se He loves !s eno!gh to confront !s

3ith the tr!th4

2he 3oman had been loo*ing for .r4 -ight/

b!t her so!l 3as not satisfied 3ith 3hat she had4

hen she stood in the presence of a real man/

the Son of @od/ she 3as confronted 3ith the lac*in her life4

She responded/ DSir/ ( perceive that ?o! are a

prophet4D She contin!ed/ D;!r fathers

3orshipped on this mo!ntain/ and yo! 7e3s say

that in 7er!salem is the place 3here one o!ght

to 3orship4D

She changed the s!bectI 7es!s m!st have

startled her 3ith His *no3ledge of her past/ so

she !ic*ly tried to get Him to tal* abo!t a

controversial iss!e so He 3o!ldn>t e


49/149


3itho!t having a relationship 3ith 7es!s Christ4

His ne


50/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

Samaritan4 2his did not loo* good to them4 2he

rep!tation of 7es!s> ministry 3o!ld be sm!dged4

2he 3oman then left her 3aterpot/ 3ent

her 3ay into the city/ and said to the men/

DCome/ see a .an 3ho told me all things that

( ever did4 Co!ld this be the ChristFD 2hen

they 3ent o!t of the city and came to Him

B7ohn #"'$&+4

2he 3oman left her 3aterpot4 She let go of

her past and left her nat!ral needs behind4 She

3ent right a3ay to the city and said/ DCome see

a .an4D She did not give her testimony4 She did

not 3ant to share at the nes meeting4

She told people to go see 7es!s4 She bro!ght a

great satisfaction to the Lord4

(n the meantime His disciples !rged Him/saying/ D-abbi/ eat4D

)!t He said to them/ D( have food to eat of

3hich yo! do not *no34D

2herefore the disciples said to one

another/ DHas anyone bro!ght Him anything

to eatFD

7es!s said to them/ D.y food is to do the

3ill of Him 3ho sent .e/ and to finish His3or*D B7ohn #"&1$

hen the disciples as*ed/ DLord/ are ?o! not

h!ngryFD 7es!s responded/ ?o! have no idea

ho3 satisfied ( am4D 2he heart of the .aster 3as

filled 3hen the 3oman 3as changed in His

presence4 She affected an entire comm!nity4

And many of the Samaritans of that city

believed in Him beca!se of the 3ord of the

3oman 3ho testified/ DHe told me all that (

ever didD B7ohn #"&94

5+


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52/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

mercy on me/ ; Lord/ Son of =avidI .y da!ghter

is demon$possessed4D 7es!s did not even reply4

He completely ignored her4

hy 3o!ld He not ans3er s!ch a cry from a

desperate heartF 2he disciples also reected her

and !rged 7es!s to send her a3ay beca!se she

3as ma*ing so m!ch noise4

7es!s e


53/149


the same relationship 3ith Him as did those in

the ho!se of (srael4

He 3asn>t mean or !ncompassionate4 He

!sed this to bring her into a right relationship

3ith Him4

She responded/ D2r!th/ Lord/ ( am a dog/ b!t

even the little dogs eat the cr!mbs 3hich fall

from their masters> table4D

She repented of her previo!s attit!de andac*no3ledged the tr!th abo!t herself4 Her

repentance no3 bro!ght her into a right

relationship 3ith 7es!s4 He commended her/ and

her da!ghter 3as healed at that moment4 She

came into a right relationship 3ith the Lord/ and

the res!lt 3as her da!ghter>s healing4

;ver the past n!mber of years/ ( have3itnessed many things in the ministry4 ( don>t

thin* anything has tro!bled me more than 3hen

( see people desiring the manifestation of @od>s

presence b!t having no desire to *no3 @od4 2hey

3ant 3hat He can do for them/ b!t they don>t

3ant Him4

2oo many believers have a relationship 3ith@od that is dependent on 3hat He does for them4

2hey love Him as long as everything is going

fine/ b!t 3hat happens to the relationship 3hen

things are not going so 3ellF ( enco!rage yo! to

never come into @od>s presence !st beca!se yo!

need something4 Come into His presence beca!se

yo! love Him and need Him42he Lord 3ill !se 3orship to bring yo! to

Himself/ and 3orship 3ill be an eval!ating

factor4 His eval!ations of !s in 3orship are

5&


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

al3ays acc!rate4 2here are times 3hen ( 3orship

@od/ and @od sho3s me there is something

3rong 3ith o!r relationship4 He !ses 3orship tobring me bac* to a right relationship4

2he reason many do not li*e to 3orship is

beca!se 3orship e


55/149

( i )

,2he Heart of a orshipper

od has given me a heart driven by mercy

and has placed in me a tr!e love for people4

( have never been a person 3ho gets mad orangry4 ( co!ld go the et stand me4 ( *no3/

ho3ever/ this is the Lord>s doing and not my

o3n4 He *ne3 ( 3o!ld need all the love and

mercy ( co!ld get beca!se He called me to be a

pastor4

@

People have told me/ DPastor/ yo! are !st f!llof the love of @odD or DPastor/ pray that @od

3o!ld give me a love for people li*e He has given

yo!4D 2his co!ld be very flattering/ b!t ( contin!e

55


56/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

to remind myself to be h!mble beca!se it>s @od>s

3or* in me4

;ne day this very h!mble and loving g!y 3as

ta*ing his son to hoc*ey practice4 e got into the

love mobile and drove o!t4 ( came to an

intersection 3here ( 3as abo!t to ma*e a right

t!rn4 2he light 3as red and ( 3as 3aiting to

merge in 3ith traffic4 .y son 3as sitting in the

passenger seat and 3hile ( 3as 3aiting (

happened to loo* in the rear vie3 mirror4Charging !p behind me 3as this bl!e car that

3as going 3ay too fast4 2here 3as no 3ay for it

to stop 3itho!t smashing into the bac* end of

my car4

2he closer he got to my car the more fear and

anger rose !p in me4 He ended !p on the median

and came very close to sides3iping thepassenger side4 ( 3as really afraid for my son>s

life4 ( tho!ght for s!re he 3o!ld 3ave in apology

or something/ b!t he didn>t4

Something snapped inside my heart/ and an

anger raged 3ithin me4 ( ca!ght !p to this g!y

3ho 3as driving eighty$five miles an ho!r4 hile

3e 3ere both speeding do3n the high3ay/ (

e


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The Heart o" a Worshipper

rin* and ( e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

there4 ( cannot imagine 3hat happens to a heart

that is given to Him only once4 ;!r hearts need

His daily cleansing in order to remain p!re4 @oddesires to remove 3hatever 3o!ld hinder Him

from to!ching !s4

7!st 3hen yo! thin* yo! *no3 yo!r heart/

@od sho3s yo! ho3 m!ch yo! don>t *no34

.aybe yo! gave Him yo!r heart at an altar

once/ b!t yo! have not given Him yo!r heart

today4 ( enco!rage yo! to begin this 3onderf!l

et fool @od by acting spirit!al on S!nday/

beca!se He sees !s all 3ee* long and *no3s all

abo!t !s4 orship brings !s to a place 3here 3e

can see o!rselves as He sees !s40or the Lord does not see as man seesE for

man loo*s at the o!t3ard appearance/ b!t the

Lord loo*s at the heart B1 Sam4 1,"%4

5'


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2hen hear in heaven ?o!r d3elling place/

and forgive/ and act/ and give to everyone

according to all his 3ays/ 3hose heart ?o!*no3 Bfor ?o! alone *no3 the hearts of all the

sons of men B1 6in4 '"&94

( 3ill praise ?o!/ ; Lord my @od/ 3ith all

my heart/ And ( 3ill glorify ?o!r name

forevermore BPs4 ',"14

Worship Hi" With the Whole Heart

Ho3 do 3e *no3 3e are 3orshipping 3ith all

of o!r heartF 2he )ible tells !s ho3 to determine

the meas!re of heart 3orship in the si


60/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

Since then/ ( have contin!ally as*ed @od to

let me see 3hat my heart is li*e4 2he moment

yo! thin* yo! *no3/ @od has a 3ay of s!rprisingyo!4

2he heart is deceitf!l above all things/

And desperately 3ic*edE ho can *no3 itF (/

the Lord/ search the heart/ ( test the mind/

:ven to give every man according to his 3ays/

According to the fr!it of his doings B7er4 1%"9$

1+4

2he Lord 3ill reveal to !s the very intents of

the heart4 He *no3s 3hat 3e say and 3hy 3e

say it4 He cannot be fooled4

As for yo!/ my son Solomon/ *no3 the @od

of yo!r father/ and serve Him 3ith a loyal

heart and 3ith a 3illing mindE 0or the Lord

searches all hearts and !nderstands all the

intent of the tho!ghts B1 Chr4 '"94

@od contin!ally searches o!r hearts and

*no3s o!r motives and intentions4 He *no3s the

very frame3or* of o!r tho!ghts4 @od/ o!t of His

love for !s/ 3ill confront !s 3ith the condition of

o!r hearts4 hat is great is that He doesn>t !st

leave !s hanging 3ith that revelation4 He 3ill

reveal it so He can heal it4 ?o!r responsibility is

to g!ard yo!r heart so it>s not poll!ted again4

6eep yo!r heart 3ith all diligence/ 0or o!t

of it spring the iss!es of life BProv4 #"&4

hat a po3erf!l tho!ght" @!ard yo!r heart4

People b!y e


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spring o!t of my heart4 2he fr!it that comes o!t

of my mo!th is 3hat my heart is really li*e4

0or o!t of the ab!ndance of the heart his

mo!th spea*s BL!*e ,"#54

e do not li*e to admit this/ b!t 3hat 3e say

is 3hat 3e are li*e inside4 ( can>t remember ho3

many co!nseling appointments (>ve had 3here

one person 3ill tell the other/ DCome on/ yo!

*no3 my heart4 ?o! *no3 ( didn>t mean 3hat (said4D 2he fact is/ 3hat 3e say 3ill al3ays reveal

3hat is in o!r hearts4 Proverbs also says it

clearly"

As in 3ater face reflects face/ So a man>s

heart reveals the man BProv4 %"194

(f yo! hear things coming o!t of yo!r mo!th

that do not glorify @od or edify those aro!nd yo!/

then there is something 3rong 3ith yo!r heart4

@et into the presence of @od and as* Him to

reveal it to yo! and cleanse yo!4 Allo3 His Spirit

to change yo! into His image4

hen yo! give yo!r heart to @od/ yo! release

His ord to begin an operation in yo!4

0or the 3ord of @od is living and

po3erf!l/ and sharper than any t3o$edged

s3ord/ piercing even to the division of so!l

and spirit/ and of oints and marro3/ and is a

discerner of the tho!ghts and intents of the

heart BHeb4 #"14

( remember once 3hile ( 3as preaching abo!tthis verse/ ( had a sam!rai s3ord that 3as

pretty sharp and a ch!n* of ham4 ( raised the

s3ord/ s3!ng it 3ith all my might/ str!c* the

ham and ripped it in half in a split second4 2he

,1


62/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

people gasped as the s3ord sliced thro!gh the

meat4 2he ham 3ill never be the same4 2he

people sa3 a visible change4

(magine the effectiveness of the ord of @od

that is alive and more po3erf!l and sharper

than a s3ord4 His ord not only divides bet3een

the so!l and spirit and the oints and marro34

His ord discerns the tho!ghts and intents of

the heart4 (t goes beyond the nat!ral and goes

right into the spirit4 2he ord *no3s 3hat yo!have said and 3hy yo! have said it4

Ho3ever/ after @od operates in yo!r heart

3ith His ord/ yo! 3on>t be left in pieces li*e

the ham ( chopped apart4 2he Holy Spirit 3ill

come and begin the 3or* of transforming yo!r

heart and 3ill ma*e it li*e His heart4 He 3ill

intercede for !s and 3ill minister to those areasthat ca!se !ncleanness to stain o!r hearts4

Li*e3ise the Spirit also helps in o!r

3ea*nesses4 0or 3e do not *no3 3hat 3e

sho!ld pray for as 3e o!ght/ b!t the Spirit

Himself ma*es intercession for !s 3ith

groanings 3hich cannot be !ttered4 o3 He

3ho searches the hearts *no3s 3hat the mindof the Spirit is/ beca!se He ma*es intercession

for the saints according to the 3ill of @od

B-om4 '",$%4

;!r times of 3orship are li*e a mirror in

3hich 3e can see a reflection of o!r hearts4 ;nce

3e see 3hat @od sees/ 3e can allo3 His Spirit to

operate and remove the things in !s that do notreflect his character4

,


63/149

( e e n

%Come to the .ercy Seat

ollo3ing =avid>s e


64/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

hat is it abo!t the heart of =avid that gave

him s!ch a close place to the heart of @odF =avid

!nderstood 3orship 3as not !st es greatness Bsee Ps4 1+ and many others4

:ven in his 3orst sin he co!ld come to the Lord/

repent and be cleansed so he co!ld 3orship @od

ane3 Bsee Ps4 514

hen a 3orshipper enters into the presenceof @od/ he is 3elcomed in 3ith one of the most

glorio!s virt!es of @odHis mercyI (n the

tabernacle/ the lid of the ar* of the covenant 3as

called the Dmercy seat4D 2he ar* of the covenant

3as in the holy of holies/ 3here the presence of

@od d3elled4 hen 3e come into @od>s presence

thro!gh 3orship !nder the ne3 covenant/ 3ealso enco!nter the Dmercy seatD Bsee :s mercy at 3or* in =avid>s

life4 Here 3as a *ing ordained by @od to r!le a

nation/ a great hero and role model to many4 ?et

=avid had to confess sin and as* forgiveness for

that sin4 2his made him a 3orshipper of @od4

orship is not only for those 3hose character

is perfect and morally right4 @od also 3elcomes

the 3orshipper 3ho is honest/ confesses his or

her sin and then praises Him as tho!gh it never

,#


65/149

Come to the !ercy (eat

happened4 2his is 3hat @od re!ires as

repentance"

ith 3hat shall ( come before the Lord/

And bo3 myself before the High @odF

Shall ( come before Him 3ith b!rnt

offerings/ ith calves a year oldF

ill the Lord be pleased 3ith tho!sands of

rams/ 2en tho!sand rivers of oilF

Shall ( give my firstborn for my

transgression/ 2he fr!it of my body for the sin

of my so!lF

He has sho3n yo!/ ; man/ 3hat is goodE

And 3hat does the Lord re!ire of yo!/

)!t to do !stly/ 2o love mercy/ And to 3al*

h!mbly 3ith yo!r @odF B.ic4 ,",$'4

hat does @od re!ire of !s in 3orshipF

2here has been too m!ch emphasis placed on the

methods of 3orship rather than the heart in

3orship4 @od doesn>t re!ire that every time (

come into His presence ( bo3 my *nee or lift my

hands4 2hese physical acts of s!rrender are

pleasing to Him/ b!t His first concern is my

heart4

hat does the Lord see* in yo!/ and 3hat is

it He is searching for in yo!r heartF @od desires"

yo! do !stly Blive in His divine la3

yo! love mercy Bfor yo! have been sho3n

mercy

yo! 3al* h!mbly before Him4

2he Lord re!ires !s to live lives of 3orship/

not !st to have times of 3orship4

ho is a @od li*e ?o!/ Pardoning ini!ity

,5


66/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

And passing over the transgression of the

remnant of His heritageF He does not retain

His anger forever/ )eca!se He delights inmercy4

He 3ill again have compassion on !s/ And

3ill s!bd!e o!r ini!ities4 ?o! 3ill cast all o!r

sins (nto the depths of the sea B.ic4 %"1'$194

( never hesitate to repent beca!se ( *no3

@od delights in mercy4 Al3ays remember no

matter ho3 deep yo! are in sin/ it>s never toom!ch or too late for @od to forgive4 (f 3e 3ill

confess o!r sins/ @od is faithf!l and !st to

forgive !s Bsee 1 7ohn 1"94

;ne of the best chapters 3ritten on the

repentant heart is Psalm 514 0irst of all/ before

the psalm ever starts/ there is a note that reads/

D2o the chief .!sician4 Psalm of =avid 3henathan the prophet 3ent to him/ after he had

gone in to )athsheba4D )y this 3e *no3 that in

this psalm/ =avid 3as repenting of his sin 3ith

)athsheba4

Have mercy !pon me/ ; @od/

According to ?o!r loving$ *indnessE

According to the m!ltit!de of ?o!r tender

mercies/

)lot o!t my transgressions4

ash me thoro!ghly from my ini!ity/

And cleanse me from my sin BPs4 51"1$4

0irst/ =avid boldly as*ed for the mercy of

@od4 hat is the mercy of @od in the life of abelieverF 2he Hebre3 3ord mercy is chanan$

meaning Dto bend or stoop in *indness to an

inferior4D =avid recogniGed his inferior position

,,


67/149


to @od4 He placed himself in a position of total

yield to @od>s mercy4

=avid then 3rote D)lot o!t my

transgressions4D Hebre3 for *lot is machah$ Dto

stro*e or r!b/ to erase4D He as*ed for @od to

Dstro*e/ erase/ r!b o!t my transgressions/ all my

rebellion/ sin and trespasses4D

Dash me thoro!ghly from my ini!ity4D 2he

3ordwashin Hebre3 is ka*ac$3hich means/ Dto

trampleE hence to 3ash by the stamping 3ith the

feet4D hen 3e as* @od to 3ash !s thoro!ghly

from o!r ini!ity/ the process is not very

pleasant/ beca!se it means He 3ill deal 3ith

that ini!ity as if He 3ere stamping it o!t 3ith

His feet4 Praise @od/ tho!gh/ 3hen He deals

3ith it/ it is done4

=avid contin!ed His prayer 3ith Dand

cleanse me from my sin4D Cleanse in Hebre3 is

na+ah$ meaning Dto be made clean/ to be

innocent4D =on>t yo! love the loo* on the face of

an innocent childF ;nce 3e have sinned and

rebelled/ 3e can never gain innocence bac* on

o!r o3n4 )!t 3hen the Lord cleanses !s/ He

gives !s bac* o!r innocence4

2hen he prayed/ D0or ( ac*no3ledge my

transgressions/ and my sin is ever before me4D

=avid 3as responsible for his behavior and

f!lly accepted the g!ilt4

P!rge me 3ith hyssop/ and ( shall be

cleanE

ash me/ and ( shall be 3hiter than sno34

.a*e me hear oy and gladness/

2hat the bones ?o! have bro*en may

,%


68/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

reoice BPs4 51"%$'4

2his verse abo!t repentance has specialmeaning in my life4 hen ( read it the 3ords

sno3 and bones reminded me of a trip ( too*4

A fe3 years ago ( 3ent s*iing 3ith some

friends of mine in 8anco!ver/ )ritish Col!mbia4

( 3as there ministering at my brother Henry>s

ch!rch4 ( had some time off/ and some of my

friends 3anted to ta*e me s*iing4 ( had nevers*ied before and 3as loo*ing for3ard to it4

2hey 3ere all great s*iers/ and after a fe3

times do3n the r!ns ( really pic*ed it !p4 2he

day 3as filled 3ith s*iing and f!n 3ith the g!ys4

.ore sno3 3as e


69/149


the Holy Spirit and never repent4 eeping does

not necessarily mean ( have repented4

-epentance re!ires that my old 3ays be bro*enand that ( am restored as a ne3 person4

Hide ?o!r face from my sins/ And blot o!t

all my ini!ities BPs4 51"94

@od hides His face from yo!r sinsnot from

yo!4 A 3orshipper 3ill boldly approach the

throne of @od in h!mility4Create in me a clean heart/ ; @od/ And

rene3 a steadfast spirit 3ithin me BPs4 51"1+4

=avid did not say/ D@od/ here is my heart4 (

3ant yo! to fi< it and ma*e it right4D He said/

D@od ta*e o!t this filthy/ !nclean heart and don>t

even try to fi< it4 Create a ne3 one in its place4

Let this heart be clean/ li*e yo! are clean4D

2here>s a parallel verse to =avid>s passage

fo!nd in :Ge*iel &,4

( 3ill give yo! a ne3 heart and p!t a ne3

spirit 3ithin yo!E ( 3ill ta*e the heart of stone

o!t of yo!r flesh and give yo! a heart of flesh

B:Ge*4 &,",4

2he sacrifices of @od are a bro*en spirit/ A

bro*en and a contrite heart2hese/ ; @od/

?o! 3ill not despise BPs4 51"1%4

( can best e


70/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

bea!tif!l crystal goblet and smashing it on the

floor4 o3 all that is left is a million pieces4

0or some it may ta*e years to pic* !p the

pieces of that bro*en heart4 ;nce yo! have

pic*ed !p all those bro*en pieces and yo! find

yo!r 3ay bac* to @od/ all yo! can cry o!t is/

DCan yo! do anything 3ith this bro*en and

shattered heartFD @od ta*es all those bro*en

pieces4 He doesn>t gl!e them bac* together/ b!t

He gives yo! a ne3/ brilliant crystal to love and3orship Him4

=avid>s heart 3as not clean/ and he cried o!t

for @od>s mercy4 )eca!se @od delights in mercy/

He restored =avid and He longs to restore yo!

too4

%+


71/149

, i g h t

'orship in Spirit and

2r!th

efore ( began 3riting this boo*/ the Lordspo*e to my heart and said to me/ D(f yo!

3ill see* .e ( 3ill reveal things to yo! abo!t

3orship that yo! have not *no3n4D

):very day ( committed time to see*ing @od/

beca!se ( 3ant the Holy Spirit to minister to yo!

3hile yo! read this boo*4 2he most 3onderf!l

s!rprise 3as ho3 @od has ministered to me3hile ( 3rote4 ;ne partic!lar day/ the Holy

Spirit confronted me abo!t 3hat it is to 3orship

in spirit and tr!th4

%1


72/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

(t started on a 2!esday afternoon4 2hree of

o!r fo!r children 3ere in school and my 3ife

too* the baby 3ith her so ( co!ld spend theentire day 3ith the Lord4 .y heart 3as filled to

overflo3ing 3ith the goodness of @od4 ( spent the

entire day 3ith Him and enoyed His presence4

.y life and ministry seemed so f!lfilled that day

( co!ld not 3ait for tomorro34

2he nes a certain song ( love to sing beca!se

every time ( sing it ( feel His presence4 ( began to

sing that songand felt nothing4 (t 3as li*e myheart 3as millions of miles a3ay from Him4

hile ( 3as praying ( chec*ed my *neeling

position to be s!re that it 3as the same as the

%


73/149

Worship in (pirit and Tr%th

day before4 (t may seem silly b!t ( co!ldn>t

!nderstand 3hy ( felt so empty4 All ( co!ld do

3as *eep as*ing the Lord/ DPlease sho3 me3here ( missed it4D

A little more time passed and ( still co!ld not

feel His presence4 ( !nderstand yo! are not

s!pposed to go by feelings/ b!t ( *ne3 something

3as 3rong4 ( started to do my spirit!al

gymnastics/ all the little things yo! learn from

3atching other people pray4

( act!ally felt !nder press!re to come into

His presence4 Have yo! ever felt stress in yo!r

bac* bet3een yo!r sho!lder bladesF 2hat 3as

the *ind of press!re ( 3as feeling4

( 3anted to tell @od 3hat He needed to do4 (

co!ld not bear the press!re any longer4 DLord/D (said/ Dis this 3hat ( am s!ppose to feel li*e after

t3elve years in f!ll$time ministryFD

D2his is not 3hat it>s s!pposed to be li*e/

@od4 ( have served yo! faithf!lly4 ( have st!died

?o!r ord4 ( have ministered to ?o!r people4 (s

this the res!lt of all of thatF ( !st 3ant to *no3

?o!/ @od4 ith all my heart ( 3ant to *no3 ?o!4Please correct meI =o 3hatever ?o! m!st4 7!st

don>t leave me li*e this4D

2hen the Holy Spirit spo*e to me and said/

D-ela


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

to 3orship 3ith yo!r o!t3ard man 3hen ( desire

3orship in the spirit4 ?o! can>t s!bstit!te yo!r

o!t3ard man for yo!r inner man4 :verythingyo! have done to this point has been done in the

flesh4 =id ( not spea* to yo! and tell yo! that

3orship m!st come from yo!r spiritFD

( realiGed li*e never before that my flesh does

not please Him4 ( 3as trying to please Him by

going thro!gh the motions/ 3hen all He 3anted

3as for me to rela< in Him and allo3 my spiritto 3orship Him freely4

(n one split second all the press!re

disappeared4 ( began to feel His mercy all aro!nd

me4 .y 3ords started to flo3 smoothly4 2here

3ere no more str!ggles4

( have made a ne3 commitment to the Lord/that ( 3ill never again s!bstit!te my o!t3ard

man for my inner man4 Ho3 many times have

yo! and ( made some *ind of commitment to

pray more/ D( am going to get !p a half ho!r

earlier tomorro3 to pray4D 2he nes

presence 3ill come 3hile ( am driving in the car4

Sometimes 3hile ( 3al* do3n the street or

maybe 3hile (>m in the mall 3ith my 3ife and

children4 orship is not reserved for !st sacred

places b!t for one placethe heart4

(f yo!/ li*e myself/ have 3orshipped in the

flesh/ ( pray the Holy Spirit 3ill sho3 yo!/ no

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75/149


matter 3here or 3hen or ho3/ @od desires

3orship that comes from the spirit4

God Is %ee&ing

:arlier 3e loo*ed at the story of 7es!s

meeting the 3oman at the 3ell4 He revealed to

her some of the most significant teaching abo!t

3orship 3e have4

0ollo3ing is the *ey verse from that passage"

)!t the ho!r is coming/ and no3 is/ 3hen

the tr!e 3orshipers 3ill 3orship the 0ather in

spirit and tr!thE for the 0ather is see*ing s!ch

to 3orship Him B7ohn #"&4

e need to ans3er three important !estions

abo!t this verse"

14 hy is @od see*ingF

4 hat is 3orship in the spiritF

&4 hat is 3orship in tr!thF

( believe this is the only place 3here yo! find

the e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

my bed in hell/ behold/ ?o! are there4 (f ( ta*e

the 3ings of the morning/ And d3ell in the

!ttermost parts of sea/ :ven there ?o!r handshall lead me/ And ?o!r right hand shall hold

me BPs4 1&9"%$1+4

Solomon made this profo!nd statement 3hile

standing at the altar of @od4

)!t 3ill @od indeed d3ell on the earthF

)ehold/ heaven and the heaven of heavens

cannot contain ?o!4 Ho3 m!ch less thistemple 3hich ( have b!iltI B1 6in4 '"%

Since @od>s omnipresence fills the earth/ He

3o!ld be s!rro!nding all 3orshippers4 So there

m!st be another manifestation of His presence

that Dsee*s o!tD 3orshippers4 He does not fill the

earth 3ith this e


77/149


3orship Him in spirit and tr!th4 @od ma*es this

possible not thro!gh h!man !nderstanding b!t

thro!gh the Holy Spirit4

Ho3 3e need the fire of the Holy Spirit to

breathe on o!r 3orship4 Ho3 o!r spirits need to

be stim!lated 3ith the Holy Spirit so o!r

3orship is ignited 3ith His fire4 @od>s ord tells

!s/ Do man can say 7es!s is Lord/ b!t by the

Holy SpiritD B1 Cor4 1"&4 (f 3e can>t say 7es!s is

Lord 3itho!t Him/ ho3 can 3e 3orship in spirit3itho!t the po3er of the Holy SpiritF 2here

m!st be an impartation of the Holy Spirit into

o!r spirit/ enabling !s to 3orship in spirit/ @od/

3ho is Spirit4

( 3as saved as a teenager and gre3 !p in the

Lord in the PentecostalMcharismatic ch!rch/ b!t

for many years ( did not have a clear!nderstanding of 3orship in spirit4

( al3ays tho!ght 3orship in spirit meant

spea*ing in tong!es4 (n the early years of my

Christian life/ ( 3o!ld be in ch!rch and d!ring

3orship there 3ere times 3hen the presence of

@od felt thic* all aro!nd me4 At those times (

3o!ld 3eep beca!se His love 3o!ld be so real to

me4 )!t 3itho!t fail/ there 3o!ld be someone

standing behind me spea*ing in tong!es so

lo!dly ( co!ld not concentrate4

Worship in %pirit

(n those days ( had not e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

not 3ant to be reb!*ed4 2he atmosphere aro!nd

me 3o!ld change beca!se ( co!ld no longer

es desire is

to fill every believer/ enabling him not only to

spea* in tong!es/ b!t to 3orship @od in spirit

and tr!th4

And do not be dr!n* 3ith 3ine/ in 3hich

is dissipationE b!t be filled 3ith the Spirit/

spea*ing to one another in psalms and hymnsand spirit!al songs/ singing and ma*ing

melody in yo!r heart to the Lord B:ph4 5"1'$

194

2he call of the Holy Spirit is/ D)e filled4D 2his

is a contin!o!s infilling/ 3ith an overflo3ing of

the Holy Spirit4

Worship in Truth

Sometimes even if 3e !nderstand 3hat it is

to 3orship Him in spirit/ 3e don>t *no3 3hat it

means to 3orship him in tr!th4 e *no3 from

=avid that if 3e love the Lord 3ith all of o!r

hearts that 3e are to 3al* in tr!th/ b!t 3hat isthis tr!th He desires in o!r 3orshipF =oes @od

mean 3hen ( 3orship Him ( need to be s!re not

to lie to himF He not only 3ants me to 3orship in

tr!th/ He 3ants me to 3al* in tr!th4 He desires

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79/149


to be 3orshipped in tr!th and for that tr!th to

be deposited into my heart4

)ehold/ ?o! desire tr!th in the in3ard

parts/ And in the hidden part ?o! 3ill ma*e

me to *no3 3isdom BPs4 51",4

@od desires tr!th in my in3ard parts/ my

heart4 @od is tr!th and tr!e 3orship of Him 3ill

ca!se my heart to 3al* in it4 ( 3ill spea* in

honesty/ sincerity and tr!e holiness42each me ?o!r 3ay/ ; LordE

( 3ill 3al* in ?o!r tr!thE

Unite my heart to fear ?o!r name BPs4

',"114

2rain me/ ?ah3eh/ to 3al* straightE then

(>ll follo3 yo!r tr!e path4 P!t me together/ oneheart and mindE then/ !ndivided/ (>ll 3orship

in oyf!l fear BThe !essage4

A 3orshipper in tr!th is one 3hose heart is

!ndivided4 2r!th 3ill !nite my heart in 3orship

so that my emotions/ mind and 3ill are all

foc!sed on Him4 ( 3on>t have my 3ill intent on

3orship 3hile my mind is on the football game4:very part of my being is passionately !nited in

es important to have both spirit and tr!th in

the act of 3orship4 (f yo! 3orship in tr!th then

yo! 3ill come to *no3 the 3ord of @od4 )!t

3orship in the spirit 3ill allo3 yo! to come and

*no3 the @od of that 3ord4 2hese t3o practicesin 3orship are meant to 3or* together4 ;ne

3itho!t the other is incomplete and can lead to

fanaticism4 (f 3orship in the spirit goes

%9


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

!nchec*ed 3ith the ord of @od/ people tend to

get too fanatical4 orshipping in spirit 3itho!t

tr!th is po3erless4 orship in tr!th 3itho!t thespirit becomes lifeless/ spiritless and lac*s fire4

@od moves in o!r lives differently every day4

A part of 3orshipping Him in Spirit is giving

Him freedom to to!ch !s the 3ay He 3ants to/

rather than the 3ay 3e thin* He sho!ld4 ;!r

aim sho!ld be to let o!r innermost being/ o!r

spirit/ comm!ne 3ith Him/ 3itho!t letting o!rflesh interr!pt the fello3ship4

Sometimes the best opport!nities to 3orship

are the times that seem the most !nli*ely to !s4

@od is al3ays see*ing for !s4 He longs for !s to

abide in Himfor o!r spirits to be filled 3ith

His Spirit and for o!r hearts to e


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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

;ne day @od dealt 3ith my heart abo!t this

iss!e4 hat He sho3ed me 3as that praise and

3orship 3ere never meant to be disconnectedfrom one another4 Praise and 3orship 3or*

together4 (f ( don>t *no3 3ho @od is/ ( can>t

really praise Him for 3hat He has done4 hen (

choose to praise Him/ ( as* Him to bring me into

His presence4 As ( fello3ship 3ith Him there

and get to *no3 Him/ my heart is dra3n more

and more irresistibly to Him in love4 At thatpoint/ ( 3orship Him4 Praise introd!ces me to

3ho He is/ and 3orship is 3hen ( give Him my

heart4

7!st as 3orship comes from yo!r innermost

being/ so praise also comes from yo!r innermost

being4

( believe the real difference bet3een praiseand 3orship is praise is an act of my 3ill/

3hereas 3orship flo3s o!t of my spirit4

2hro!gho!t the Psalms =avid declared/ D( will

praise ?o!4D

( 3ill praise ?o!/ ; Lord my @od/ 3ith all

my heart/ And ( 3ill glorify ?o!r name

forevermore BPs4 ',"14

=avid determined in advance that no matter

3hat happened or ho3 he felt/ he 3o!ld praise

@od4 ;ne of the greatest e


83/149

Praise From the Heart

godly 3ife from the ho!sehold of a man named

Laban4 hen 7acob came to Haran/ he as*ed

some men at the 3ell if they *ne3 Laban4 D?es/Dthey replied/ Dand there>s his da!ghter -achel

no3/ coming to 3ater sheep4D

7acob didn>t 3aste any time trying to impress

-achel4 He ran over to the 3ell/ rolled a3ay the

stone and 3atered all of Laban>s sheep4 His mind

probably 3asn>t on 3atering the sheep as m!ch

as it 3as on -achel4 2hen he *issed her and3ept4

He told her he 3as her father>s relative/ so

she ran and bro!ght bac* her father to meet

him4 Laban invited 7acob to stay 3ith him for a

month4

After a month/ Laban as*ed 7acob ho3 he3o!ld li*e to be paid for the 3or* he did for

Laban4 7acob loved -achel/ so he told Laban/ D(

3ill serve yo! for seven years for -achel yo!r

yo!nger da!ghter4D Laban replied4 D(t is better

that ( give her to yo! than that ( sho!ld give her

to another man4D

e need to remember -achel 3as notLaban>s only da!ghter4 She had an older sister

named Leah4

o3 Laban had t3o da!ghters" the name

of the elder 3as Leah/ and the name of the

yo!nger 3as -achel4 Leah>s eyes 3ere delicate

J(8 says 3ea*K/ b!t -achel 3as bea!tif!l of

form and appearance B@en4 9"1,$1%4

-achel had a bea!tif!l co!ntenance and 3as

bea!tif!l to loo* at4 -achel in Hebre3 means Dto

o!rney4D Leah on the other hand 3as not so

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84/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

attractive4 Leah had a 3ea* eye 3hich m!st

have affected her appearance4 Leah in Hebre3

means Dto ma*e 3eary/ to be disg!sted4D

ith his heart set on -achel/ 7acob served

seven years/ b!t they only seemed li*e a fe3

days beca!se of his love for her4

Stop and thin* for a min!te4 2here 3ere no

machines to lift and remove things/ no co*es/ no

air conditioned offices4 2hose 3ere seven years of

hard/ man!al labor4 ( am s!re he co!ldn>t 3ait

for the day he 3o!ld receive his 3ife4 (magine

seven years of 3aiting for a bride/ seven years of

preparation and et 3ait to marry his

bea!tif!l -achel4 He has given years of hardlabor for this day4 All he 3anted from Laban 3as

-achel4 )!t 3hen he p!lled the covers off the

ne


85/149

Praise From the Heart

As the 6ing 7ames version p!ts it" D)ehold/ it

3as Leah4D

hat a sightI (t 3as she/ the one 3ith the

tender eye4 (n anger he confronted Laban4 Dhat

is this yo! have done to meF as it not for

-achel that ( served yo!F hy then have yo!

deceived meFD Laban made e


86/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

h!sband 3ill love me4D

2he second boy 3as named Simeon and she

said/ D)eca!se the Lord has heard that ( am

hated/ He has therefore given me this son4D

She named her third son Levi and said/ Do3

this time my h!sband 3ill become attached to

me/ beca!se ( have borne him three sonsD B@en4

9"&$

hat pain to end!reI ith every birth she!st 3anted to be loved4

;nce again she 3as pregnant and had a

son and named him 7!dah Bmeaning DPraiseD/

for she said/ Do3 ( 3ill praise 7ehovahID And

then she stopped having children B@en4 9"&5/

2L)4

Here is the first place in Script!re yo! 3illfind the 3ordpraise.(t comes from someone 3ho

did not have a lot to praise @od for4 Leah gave

birth to Praise4 (t came o!t of her innermost

being4 She did not let her circ!mstances change

her heart to3ard @od4

Leah had very little pleas!re in her life4 Her

marriage 3as a disaster and she 3as hated byher o3n sister4 ?et @od chose her to set the

standard of praise in His ord4

=on>t allo3 the storms of life to steal the

praise in yo!r heart4 ?o! can al3ays praise and

3orship @od in the midst of the storm4

2ho!gh the fig tree may not blossom/ orfr!it be on the vinesE 2ho!gh the labor of the

olive may fail/ And the fields yield no foodE

2ho!gh the floc* be c!t off from the fold/

And there be no herd in the stalls

',


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T e n

1+0ello3ship ith @od

3as born in (srael/ b!t my family left 3hen (

3as seven years old4 After ( t!rned t3enty/

my family and ( had an opport!nity to ret!rn fora visit4

(

All the 3ay there my mother tried to remind

me of all my relatives4 ( had so many !ncles and

a!nts and co!sins it 3as hard to remember them

all4 She told me stories abo!t them and *ept

going on and on abo!t one partic!lar !ncle of

mine4D;h/ he is !st li*e yo!r fatherID she said4

Dait till yo! meet him/ Son4 ?o! 3ill love him

beca!se he is so m!ch li*e yo!r father4D

'9


90/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

ell/ 3e finally got to (srael and ( co!ld not

3ait to see that !ncle4 .y father 3as my best

friend and if anyone 3as li*e my dad/ ( 3antedto meet him4 ( 3as so es ho!se4

.y mother *ept telling me stories abo!t him

and said/ D-emember son/ he is yo!r father>s

brother4 He has the same last name as yo! do4

He is !st li*e yo!r father4D

So 3e arrived at my !ncle>s ho!se/ and as my

mom *noc*ed on the door all ( co!ld thin* abo!t

3as ho3 m!ch 3e 3o!ld have to tal* abo!t since

3e hadn>t seen each other in thirteen years4 .y

!ncle opened the door and ( co!ldn>t really

remember him/ b!t3o3Idid he loo* li*e my

dad4

( had t3o ho!rs or so to spend 3ith him and

really get to *no3 him4 So ( began to tal* to him

abo!t the things my dad and ( tal*ed abo!t4 (

started 3ith sportsE he had no interest in sports4

( as*ed him abo!t car racingE he had no interest

in car racing4 Dell/D ( tho!ght/ Dmy dad loves

3restling4 (>ll as* him abo!t that4D .y !ncle had

never seen 3restling4

(t soon became clear 3e had absol!tely

nothing to tal* abo!t/ and the ne


91/149

Fellowship With od

.y meeting 3ith my !ncle is the best 3ay (

*no3 to describe the difference bet3een

relationship and fello3ship4 -elationship defines3ho 3e are/ b!t fello3ship defines 3ho 3e *no34

( 3as related to my !ncle/ b!t ( did not *no3

him4

( 3onder ho3 many in the body of Christ

have a relationship 3ith @od b!t have no

fello3ship 3ith Him4 2hey thin* they *no3 Him

beca!se of 3hat others have told them abo!tHim/ b!t they themselves have no real

fello3ship 3ith the living @od4

-elationship does not replace fello3ship4

hat a privilege 3e have to come and to *no3

the living @odI He desires !s as m!ch as 3e

desire Him4 He longs for o!r fello3ship as m!ch

as 3e desire His4 ( pray 3e never lose o!rh!nger to *no3 Him4

( can>t co!nt the n!mber of times people as*

the !estion/ Dhat happens after ( have

entered into His presenceF hat do ( do thenFD (

believe there are many things that 3ill happen

3hen yo! come into the presence of @od4 )!t the

most important is that 3e enter into a fello3ship

3ith @od4 2he more time 3e spend in fello3ship/

the more @od changes !s to be li*e Him4

orship leads !s into fello3ship 3ith @od4

2hat is 3hat 3e do 3hen 3e come into His

presence4

0rom the very beginning/ @od has al3aysso!ght fello3ship 3ith His creation/ man*ind4

hen 3e read the acco!nt of Adam and :ve in

@enesis/ 3e see a sit!ation 3here man 3as

given so m!ch/ all for him to enoy/ beca!se @od

91


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Fellowship With od

Adam and :ve lost their p!rpose 3hen they

lost their fello3ship 3ith @od4 After the man

and the 3oman sinned against @od/ they fo!ndthemselves na*ed and f!ll of shame4

And they heard the voice of the Lord @od

3al*ing in the garden in the cool of the day"

and Adam and his 3ife hid themselves from

the presence of the Lord @od amongst the

trees of the garden4 And the Lord @od called

!nto Adam/ and said !nto him/ here arttho!F B@en4 &"'$9/ 6784

@od ret!rned to spea* 3ith Adam as tho!gh

He did not *no3 abo!t their sin4 DAdam/ 3here

are yo!FD (t 3asn>t as tho!gh @od did not *no3

3hat had ta*en place/ b!t He 3as see*ing Adam

beca!se their fello3ship 3as bro*en4

Adam had lost his very reason for e


94/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

Ho3 many today really fello3ship 3ith @odF

e have fello3ship meetings in o!r homes and

ch!rches4 e fello3ship 3ith one another/ b!t3e sadly neglect fello3ship 3ith the ;ne 3ho

created !s for that very p!rpose4 (t becomes so

easy to s!bstit!te other things for o!r fello3ship

3ith Him4

2his may get me in a little tro!ble/ b!t (>m

going to say it" one thing people often s!bstit!te

for fello3ship 3ith @od is st!dy of His ord4 eneed to !nderstand it is possible to *no3 the

ord of @od yet have no fello3ship 3ith Him4

hat is important is not that ( spend time in the

ord/ b!t that ( spend time in fello3ship 3ith

@od4 ever s!bstit!te st!dying the ord 3ith

living fello3ship 3ith @od4

Sometimes 3e neglect fello3ship 3ith @odbeca!se 3e are so foc!sed and !ptight abo!t

finding o!t 3hat @od 3ants !s to do4 e are

bombarded 3ith seminars/ conferences and

teachings on DHo3 to 0ind ?o!r P!rpose/D D@od>s

ill for ?o!r LifeD and so on4

?et if 3e spend too m!ch time trying to find

o!r direction/ 3e 3ill miss o!r p!rpose4 As

Christians/ 3e m!st remember in the midst of

all 3e do for @od/ o!r first and most important

calling is to *no3 Him/ to love Him and to

3orship Him4 2his is o!r p!rpose/ and anything

less is not p!rpose at all4

2he very reason @od made !s 3as for

fello3ship4 He gave !s the ability to *no3 Him

and placed 3ithin !s the instinct to 3orship

Him4

@od gave !s His loving salvation that 3e

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95/149

Fellowship With od

might be His children and be filled 3ith a desire

and a passion to love and 3orship Him4 2his is

3hy 3e 3ere not only created b!t called by Hisname4

J:venK :very one that is called by my

name" for ( have created him for my glory/ (

have formed himE yea/ ( have made him

2his people have ( formed for myselfE they

shall sho3 forth my praise B(s4 #&"%/1/ 6784

2oday/ if yo! feel li*e yo! have lost yo!r

p!rpose/ or if yo! feel li*e yo! have no p!rpose/ (

3ant yo! to *no3 @od is longing for yo!4 He has

been see*ing yo! 3ondering 3hat happened to

the fello3ship4

orshipping @od brings the greatest

f!lfillment to man*ind4 2here is nothing on thisearth that can replace 3orship of the tr!e @od4

People search for it in all different aven!es of

life/ b!t life and p!rpose is only fo!nd in

entering into the presence of @od in 3orship4

hat is e


96/149

CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

e need to !nderstand it delights Him 3hen

3e come to see* Him beca!se 3e 3ant to/ not to

f!lfill a religio!s obligation4 @od has beenlonging for His people to come bac* to Him/ not

!st to accept Him/ b!t to see* Him4

.y heart brea*s 3hen ( stand in services

and see the blan* loo* on the faces of @od>s

people d!ring the D3orship time4D 2hey seem lost

as to 3hy 3e are gathered together4 2hey are

more interested in seeing 3ho is sitting on thefront ro3 rather than getting lost in 3orship4

2hey loo* aro!nd as the 3orship leader tries to

lead them into the presence of @od4 Sometimes

they 3ant 3orship to end so they can get into the

ord4

;ne time ( heard a preacher say to his

congregation/ D(t is more important that ( teachthe ord than for the people to enter into

3orship4D As ( heard him say this/ my heart

bro*e4 ( tho!ght to myself/ D(s there anything

more important than 3orshipping @odFD 2his is

the reason 3e 3ere created4 ( 3as not created to

go to ch!rch/ tho!gh it is important4 ( 3as not

created to hear a man preach/ tho!gh it isimportant4 ( 3as created to love and fello3ship

3ith the ;ne 3ho created me4 2he )ible says"

2ho! art 3orthy/ ; Lord/ to receive glory

and hono!r and po3er" 0or tho! hast created

all things Jthat incl!des yo! and meK/ and for

thy pleas!re they are and 3ere created B-ev4

#"11/ 6784

=avid 3as driven by his desire and passion

to 3orship @od4 He artic!lated his feelings in a

bea!tif!l 3ay in Psalm #4

9,


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Fellowship With od

As the hart panteth after the 3ater

broo*s/ so panteth my so!l after thee/ ; @od4

.y so!l thirsteth for @od/ for the living @od"3hen shall ( come and appear before @odF BPs4

#"1$/ 6784

ho p!t that desire 3ithin =avidF ho p!t

the desire in yo!F as it a man or 3as it a

ministry or maybe the ch!rchF 2he ans3er is an

emphatic no4 (t 3as @od 3ho p!t the desire in

yo!r heart to 3orship Him4Some are still 3orshipping other things4

Some 3orship money/ cars/ shopping/ ho!ses or

other materialistic things4 Some may 3orship

football/ bas*etball or hoc*ey4 Some may even

3orship spirit!al things li*e a partic!lar

message/ or a man of @od/ or the gift of prophecy

or a specific movement in the body of Christ4

@od is not after o!r 3orshipE He is after !s4

He is not 3aiting for yo! to sing another songE

He is 3aiting for yo!4

He does not need o!r 3orship to satisfy some

sort of greed4 hen yo! really sit and thin*

abo!t it/ 3hat can 3e really offer Him that He

does not already belong to HimF .y special

ability or song is not going to bring Him glory

that He has not already received4 All of creation

is His4 2he entire earth and the heavens belong

to Him4 All creat!res 3ere made by Him4 All

anointing/ all po3er and all honor is His4

Have yo! ever spent ten min!tes thin*ing

abo!t the maesty of @od or abo!t His vastnessF

He is omniscient/ omnipotent and omnipresentI

All$*no3ing/ all$po3erf!l and every3here at one

timeI (t>s mind$blo3ing to realiGe the incredible/

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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

eternal @od is act!ally see*ing after !s/ tr!e

3orshippersI

Please remember that @od 3as 3orshipped

from the very fo!ndations of the 3orld4

ehemiah 3rote that the hosts of heaven

3orshipped Him Beh4 9",4 @od 3as 3orshipped

before man ever came on the scene4

@od doesn>t need anything from !s/ b!t He

wants o!r fello3ship4 He loo*s for the deep

3ithin the spirit of man to 3orship Him in spirit

and tr!th4

=eep calls !nto deep at the noise of ?o!r

3aterfallsE All ?o!r 3aves and billo3s have

gone over me BPs4 #"%4

Deep Calls to Deep2his verse declares that the =eep calleth

!nto the deep4 @od is calling to the deep parts of

o!r spirit to come to *no3 the deep things that

are in Him4

@od 3ill fill o!r spirits 3ith His springs of

living 3ater4 -emember 7es!s told the 3oman at

the 3ell"

hosoever drin*eth of this 3ater shall

thirst again" )!t 3hosoever drin*eth of the

3ater that ( shall give him shall never thirstE

b!t the 3ater that ( shall give him shall be in

him a 3ell of 3ater springing !p into

everlasting life B7ohn #"1&$1#/ 6784

e as @od>s people desire to see more of

@od>s presence in o!r lives/ ch!rches/ homes and

nation4 )!t it>s not going to happen !st by !s

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Fellowship With od

singing a fe3 t!nes4 @od calls all of !s to a

deeper 3al* and a deeper commitment to Him4

He 3ants !s to be 3illing to spend more time3ith Him so He can po!r His divine treas!res

into o!r hearts4

Hunger for God

(n all my traveling and ministering here and

abroad/ (>ve noticed one common desire in @od>speople4 (n service ( as*/ DHo3 many of yo! are

h!ngry for more of @od than ever beforeFD 2he

people al3ays respond 3ith an over3helming

yesI hether it is in @ermany or in (ndonesia/

people are h!ngry4 2here is a tr!e desire in the

hearts of @od>s people for more of @od and less of

playing ch!rch4

(f ( 3ere to as* yo! right no3 as yo! are

reading this boo*/ DAre yo! h!ngry for more of

@od>s presence in yo!r heart and lifeFD my

prayer is that yo!r ans3er be yes4 (f not/ then (

hope it 3ill change by the time yo! finish

reading this boo*4

(n all the years ( have traveled andministered/ there has been one desire in my

heart4 ( contin!ally pray/ D-eveal yo!rself to the

people 3ho are h!ngry for yo!4 ;pen their

hearts to give ?o! p!re and !ndefiled 3orship4D

hen 3e enter into 3orship/ 3e are entering

into comm!nion 3ith o!r heavenly 0ather and

becoming intimate 3ith Him4 2his is somethingthat demands o!r allE all o!r hearts/ o!r so!ls/

and o!r minds4

(n the boo* of 7ohn is another verse that

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Fellowship With od

relationship 3ith @od 3here ( tal* to Him and

cling to Him 3ith all my heart4 2hat does not

mean ( become so spirit!al that ( am no earthlygood4 )!t ( *no3 @od desires o!r fello3ship to

be filled 3ith passion4 ;ne of the most heart$

to!ching verses in @od>s ord to me is fo!nd in

Philippians &"1+"

2hat ( might *no3 Him and the po3er of

His res!rrection/ and the fello3ship of His

s!fferings/ being conformed to His death4

Pa!l>s greatest desire 3as to *no3 Him4 2hat

too sho!ld be o!r greatest desire4

e>re called to go beyond relationship 3ith

@od/ to have fello3ship 3ith Him4 2here is no

s!bstit!te for sitting at His feet and allo3ing the

deep parts of o!r spirit to *no3 the deep things3ithin Him4 @od desires fello3ship 3ith the

ones He created for that p!rpose4 ;!r h!nger for

more of @od 3ill be satisfied as 3e come to *no3

Him4

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, l e e n

11orship 0irst/ 2hen Serve

remember in my early years of ministry/ all (

3anted 3as to serve @od4 ( began as a

c!stodian in o!r ch!rch/ and even before that/ (traveled 3ith my brother4

(

;ne of the most val!able lessons ( learned

3as to serve the man of @od4 2his is a great

lesson for all those 3ho desire to be !sed of @od4

:verybody has a somebody to serveE my

somebody 3as my brother4 He 3as the

instr!ment @od !sed to help prepare me for theministry4 hen 3e serve !nder someone else>s

ministry/ @od can teach !s things 3e cannot

learn any other 3ay4

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Worship First$ Then (ere

2hose 3ho are serving !nder their pastor

need to pray to catch the spirit and vision of

their pastor4 ( learned firsthand the importanceof faithf!lly serving the pastor/ and as a res!lt/

@od has entr!sted me 3ith a ministry4

(f yo! desire to be !sed by @od/ yo! need to

*no3 it>s not right to try to b!ild on another

man>s fo!ndation4 As @od places yo! in another

person>s ministry to serve/ do not start planning

yo!r f!t!re4 ?o!r f!t!re is in the hands of @od4(f yo! 3ill serve faithf!lly that man or 3oman of

@od/ @od 3ill be the one to anoint yo! and give

yo! a ministry4 )!t He 3ill do it in His time

3hen He *no3s yo! are ready4

hen those serving in a ministry have not

ca!ght the vision and spirit of the pastor/ they

sometimes thin* the anointing of @od is on themas m!ch as on the pastor4 2hey thin* their

anointing is the same as their pastor>s anointing4

2hat *ind of person vie3s his service as a

stepping stone for personal goals4

@od does not ma*e leaders4 He ma*es

servants 3ho become leaders4 .y prayer is for a

oining bet3een the pastors and the leadership

of the Ch!rch4 2here has been too m!ch

bloodshed in the )ody of Christ4 .en and 3omen

are called to one place and then leave and start

their o3n 3or* beca!se they cannot get along

3ith the pastor4 2oo many ch!rches have split

beca!se some have not !nderstood the anointing

of @od and 3hat it means to serve4

2his is not meant to p!t anyone do3n/ b!t to

help yo! !nderstand the anointing of @od b!ilds

and doesn>t divide4 2he anointing of the Spirit

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CHA@:=(H(SP-:S:C:

gives me a greater love for @od>s servant so

3hen times get to!gh/ ( don>t leaveE ( cleave4

Cleaving does not mean for a fe3 months b!tmaybe many years4

;ne of the greatest privileges ( have had has

been to serve in my brother>s ministry for

seventeen years4 ( 3o!ld not trade those years

for anything in this 3orld4 =!ring that time (

have learned lessons that have helped mold my

life in serving @od4

2he day of one$man ministry m!st come to

an end4 @od is bringing together teams of men

and 3omen led by the pastor4 )!t 3e m!st be

caref!l that once 3e are in a place of serving/ 3e

contin!e to serve @od and not the ministry4

Serving a ministry 3ill p!t yo! in a place of

disco!ragement and 3ill event!ally !ench themovement of the Holy Spirit in yo!4

%er!ice Pleases God

(t pleases the heart of @od 3hen there is a

need in His ho!se and someone stands !p and

says/ DPastor/ ( 3ill be glad to serve4D2hose 3ho serve as !shers/ n!rsery 3or*ers/

S!nday school teachers and greetersthose 3ho

give of their time to @od>s ho!se 3ith a p!re

heartdo so as a part of their 3orship4 @od

delights in 3orship that involves service4

And no3/ (srael/ 3hat does the Lord yo!r

@od re!ire of yo!/ b!t to fear the Lord yo!r@od/ to 3al* in all His 3ays and to love Him/

to serve the Lord yo!r @od 3ith all yo!r heart

and 3ith all yo!r so!l B=e!t4 1+"14

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2here is a very close connection bet3een

service and 3orship4 2he @ree* 3ord for service/

latre%o$refers to an offering or service 3ith notho!ght of re3ard4 (t means to minister to @odE

to do the service of 3orship in reverenceE a

service to @od 3ith a deep commitment of the

heart4

A 3ise man of @od once told me" ?o! can

only minister "orHim if yo! have ministered to

Him4

Some people serve @od and s!bstit!te their

service for 3orship4 orship is relationship and

fello3ship 3ith @od/ not mechanics and

form!las4 e sho!ld not be stirred abo!t serving

@od !ntil 3e have learned the oy that comes in

3orshipping @od4

%er!ice Can't %ubstitute for ello(ship

2he order is as follo3s" 0irst ( 3orship/ then

( serve4

(n many ch!rches the opposite is tr!e4 2here

is m!ch service and little 3orship4 hat

happens to those 3ho get ca!ght !p in theperformance of ministryF 2heir relationship 3ith

@od becomes dependent on performance rather

than 3orship4

orship is not a matter of mechanics4 (t

enables a believer to *no3 @od and to fall in love

3ith Him4 (f 3orshipping @od is not the main

obective of the believer/ then the o!tcome ofservice is form!las and mechanics4

Don't Be Distracted ro" Worship

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Him !ntil yo! have ministered to Him4D He did

not *no3 abo!t my deep desire to 3orship and

serve @od/ b!t @od spo*e thro!gh him to 3arnme abo!t a trap set for people 3ho 3anted to

serve @od4 2he trap is p!tting service ahead of

3orship4

2his is an important principle4 ( 3orship first

then ( serve4 2here is a tremendo!s danger 3hen

all ( do for @od is based on service4

orship re!ires that ( stand in His

presence and minister to Him4 ever come to the

place in yo!r heart 3here yo!r desire to serve

Him is greater than yo!r desire to 3orship Him4

(t is in that place the heart gets dry/ empty and

void of @od>s presence4 orship is based on my

heart>s love and passion for Him/ not on my

performance4

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T w e l e

1A Special ote to Pastors

od has given me a great love for His

servants4 (n my traveling ( have had the

privilege of meeting some of the most 3onderf!lmen and 3omen of @od4 2hese are men and

3omen 3ith s!ch a heart for @od4

@

( 3ant to ta*e a fe3 pages to address iss!es

that are special concerns to pastors and leaders4

BHo3ever/ if yo! don>t happen to consider

yo!rself a pastor or leader/ please don>t stop

reading4 ( believe yo! can also benefit from thisinformation4

(n the last fe3 years @od has pla

changed in his presence - sam hinn

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