Good morning. If you read yesterday’s thought for the day you will remember that it was titled: Warriors. My suggestion was that while Biblical history is filled with the stories of mighty warriors of God, every Christian person is called and equipped to be a warrior for Jesus Christ. We are equipped because we all have received the blessing of the Holy Spirit and it is His power that is at work through us. We are equipped because God’s “full armor” is ready for us to wear every day (Ephesians 6:10-18). We are called to stand up for Christ as His warriors, but we are also called to kneel down for Christ as His mighty prayer warriors. Being a warrior for Christ is not dependent on age, or gender, or education, or social standing, or any other external difference. Being a warrior for Christ is all about the willingness to serve in every way that He calls us.
Today, our day of worship, I would like to direct our thoughts to the function of the warrior of Christ in worship.
It is in worship that Christian voices, hearts, minds, and spirits are combined in a mighty effort of prayer. It is in worship that Christian voices, hearts, minds, and spirits are combined in a mighty effort of praise. It is in worship that Christian voices, hearts, minds, and spirits are combined in a mighty effort of fellowship and communion. It is in worship that Christian voices, hearts, minds, and spirits are combined in a mighty effort of learning, opening our hearts and minds to the truths of God’s Word. It is in worship that Christian voices, hearts, minds, and spirits are combined in a mighty effort of promise and commitment.
It is in worship that we do battle with our true enemy on God’s terms, not his. It is in worship that we lift one another up in encouragement and refreshment. It is in worship that we come to realize that in these moments, we are never focused on self. In worship our focus is on God, but it is also in worship that we have an opportunity to touch the lives of our Christian family members in powerful ways.
God-centered worship is a spiritual battle. If the enemy can convince you that you do not need to attend, he has won. If the enemy can convince you that the worship you are going to attend is not worthy, or adequate, he has won. If the enemy can distract you from centering your heart and spirit on God, and instead convince you to focus on the people, or the problems, or the inevitable distractions, he has won.
Do not let him win. Bring the best you have to the battle and give the glory to your commander, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29
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