Worship The Pattern of Things in Heaven by Joseph Garlington

Worship: The Pattern of Things in Heaven
Joseph L. Garlington
Copyright 1997Joseph L. Garlington All rights reserved. This book is protected nder the copyright la!s o" the #nited $tates o" A%erica. This book %ay not be copied or reprinted "or co%%ercial gain or pro"it. The se o" short & otations or occasional page copying "or personal or gro p st dy is per%itted and enco raged. 'er%ission !ill be granted pon re& est. #nless other!ise identi"ied( $cript re & otations are "ro% the )e! A%erican $tandard *ersion o" the +ible( 19,-( 19,.( 19,/( 19,0( 1971( 197.( 197/( 1971( 1977 by The Lock%an 2o ndation. $cript re & otations %arked 3J* and A4' !ere taken "ro% the 3ing Ja%es *ersion o" the +ible and the A%pli"ied +ible( respectively. $cript re & otations %arked )5* are taken "ro% the )e! 5nternational *ersion o" the +ible( 197/( 1970( 1906 by 5nternational +ible $ociety. $elect $cript res are also taken "ro% The 4essage( 199/( 1996( 1991. #sed by per%ission o" )av'ress ' blishing Gro p. Take note that the na%e satan and related na%es are not capitali7ed. 8e choose not to ackno!ledge hi%( even to the point o" violating gra%%atical r les. Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. P.O. o! "#$ %hippensburg, P& #'()'*$"#$ 9$peaking to the ' rposes o" God "or This Generation and "or the Generations to Co%e9 5$+) 1:1,-6/:1916 2or 8orld!ide ;istrib tion 'rinted in the #.$.A. This book and all other ;estiny 5%age( <evival 'ress( and Treas re =o se books are available at Christian bookstores and distrib tors !orld!ide. 2or a #.$. bookstore nearest yo ( call #*+$$*'((*,''-. 2or %ore in"or%ation on "oreign distrib tors( call '#'*)"(*"$-$. >r reach s on the 5nternet? http?@@!!!.reapernet.co%
De.ication
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also ( !imothy "#$ %J&'. 5 dedicate this book to %y %other( *aldese Garlington%ore !idely kno!n as 94 ttie.9 $he has been %y %entor( teacher( and %odel "or !orship all %y li"e. Thanks( 4o%A
/ontents
2ore!ord.....................................................................................7 5ntrod ction.................................................................................9 Part I I 0ove to Worship 1ou, 0or.2................................................#" 1 5 Love to 8orship Bo ( LordA...............................................11 . The Art o" Altar + ilding......................................................./ / 8hat 5s the *ol %e o" =eavenly 8orshipC..........................// Part II Postures of Worship................................................................-# 6 #pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA.........................6/ 1 =e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar...............................................1/ , Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise...........................,/ Part III Heavenly Patterns...................................................................') 7 8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth.........................77 0 8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven...........................07 9 8orship and the Advance o" GodEs 3ingdo%.......................99 Part I3 The Tabernacle of Davi.......................................................### 1- ;avidEs Tabernacle o" 'raise and 8orship........................11/ 11 A )e! $ong......................................................................1./ 1. A )e! $acri"ice................................................................1//
4ore5or.
() promise *eeper is committed to honor Jesus +hrist through worship, prayer, and obedience to ,is Word in the power of the ,oly -pirit.( As 'ro%ise ) %ber >ne o" the $even 'ro%ises o" a 'ro%ise 3eeper indicates( !e believe !orship is one o" the pri%ary disciplines o" the Christian li"e( and( as anyone !hoEs been to a '3 con"erence kno!s( !orship is central to !hat !e do. > r stadi % events begin !ith( are p nct ated by( and end !ith 9psal%s( hy%ns( and spirit al songs.9 2or %any %en( it represents the "irst ti%e they have eFperienced the tr e Goy o" 9singing and %aking %elody in their hearts to the Lord9 Hsee Dph. 1?19I. 5tEs a !orship eFperience that o"ten shers the% into the very presence o" Al%ighty God. G ys !ho havenEt cried "or years Hor everAI "ind the%selves !eeping as their hearts over"lo! !ith a holy desire to love and obey God %ore. Tr e !orship is not G st an e%otional eFperience. 5t reaches to the very depths o" o r so ls and to ches every aspect o" o r being. 8hile it can generate po!er" l "eelings( it also can enlighten o r %inds( eFpanding o r perspective and nderstanding o" God. 5t can convict s o" sin and lead s to repentJ it can con"ir% a $cript re or speci"ic !ord the Lord %ay have spoken to s and enco rage s to obeyJ and it can change o r hearts and inspire s to reach "or ne! heights o" holiness. $ ch is the po!er o" the sincere praise and adoration o" o r heavenly 2atherand that G st !hat it does "or us. The tr ly %irac lo s thing abo t !orship is that in so%e %ysterio s !ay( it also has the po!er to %ove the heart o" God. 5t %ay G st be i%possible "or s to to ch =i% !itho t it. As the psal%ist ad%onishes( 98orship the Lord !ith gladnessJ co%e be"ore =i% !ith Goy" l songs. Dnter his gates !ith thanksgiving and his co rts !ith praiseJ give thanks to =i% and praise =is na%e9 H's. 1--? .(6 )5*I. 5n a very real sense( the Al%ighty receives s on the basis o" o r !orship and thanksgiving. 5tEs o r 9passage !ay9 into the very throne roo% o" God. As !ith prayer( the Lord responds to o r !orship. As !e dra! near to =i% in song( =e dra!s near to s. And as !e %inister to =i% in
Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en
!orship( =e %inisters to s. As !e eFpress "aith in =i% thro gh praise( =e blesses s. 5 kno! "e! %en !ho nderstand these things better or !ho kno! ho! to !orship God in 9spirit and tr th9 %ore than Joseph L. Garlington. As a !orship leader "or 'ro%ise 3eepersE con"erences( Joseph has led h ndreds o" tho sands o" %en in !orshiping the Lord. 8hether itEs an n s al sensitivity to the $pirit o" God or a rare gi"t( ti%e a"ter ti%e( !eEve noticed that so%ething special takes place as Joseph directs %en in praise to o r God. 5Eve seen h ge arenas !ith g ys nited in Goy" l Hor sole%nI !orship as he leads the%. 5n response to a call "ro% Joseph( 5Eve also !itnessed tho sands o" %en "lood a stadi % "loor( singing "ro% their hearts( lingering in GodEs 'resence and content to go on !orshiping inde"initely. ThatEs the e""ect a godly !orship leader can bring to a gathering( !hether itEs 1-(--- %en in a "ootball stadi % or a ho%e +ible st dy !ith G st a "e! people. 5 believe JosephEs book( Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en, o""ers a !ealth o" insights on the nat re o" !orship to anyone !ho reads it. As yo consider the perspectives o" a %an !ho has beco%e one o" the pree%inent praise leaders o" o r ti%e( 5 pray yo Ell be enco raged to p rs e God !ith "resh passion and an ndivided heart( and that they !ill inspire in yo a holy desire to reach "or a deeper level in yo r !orship o" o r Lord and $avior( Jes s Christ. All glory to =is na%e( no! and "orever %oreA +ill 4cCartney 2o nder and CD> o" 'ro%ise 3eepers
Intro.uction
5 canEt re%e%ber a ti%e !hen % sic !as not a part o" %y li"e. 4y %other( !ho is still the %ost passionate !orshiper 5 kno!( al!ays has been a lover o" % sic. $he is an acco%plished % sician and co%poser !ho has trained %any choirs and s%all gro ps. All o" the%( it see%s( sed to co%e to o r tiny apart%ent in the 8illert 'ark =o sing 'roGect in + ""alo( )e! Bork( and rehearse. The saying goes( 95tEs better ca ght than ta ght.9 8hatever she had then( 5 have no!. 5 can re%e%ber ho! % ch % sic co ld console %y disappoint%ent and keep %e entertained !hen 5 !as alone. 8hen the disciples asked Jes s "or an eFa%ple o" a tr e 3ingdo% person( =e placed be"ore the% a child. 5 donEt believe that gen ine !orship( s ch that pleases the 2ather( is possible !itho t 9beco%ing9 childlike. 8hen 5 observe the 9little !orshipers9 in o r ch rch and in %y "a%ily( the attrib te that is %ost apparent to %e is the absence o" sel":conscio sness. Children donEt beco%e sel":conscio s ntil they reali7e so%eone is !atching the%. 98hatever yo do( do heartily as nto the Lord(9 the apostle 'a l told the Colossians Hsee Col. /?./I. The %odel !orshiper "or %e is ;avid. 5 identi"y !ith hi% in so %any !ays. And( so%e o" the %ost po!er" l pict res o" his !orship are at the t!o eFtre%es o" celebration on the one hand and great loss on the other. ;avidEs description o" a sacri"ice o""ered to God is caps lated in his declaration to Ara nah the Gibeonite. 9=o!ever( the king said to Ara nah( E)o( b t 5 !ill s rely b y it "ro% yo "or a price( "or 5 !ill not o""er b rnt o""erings to the Lord %y God !hich cost %e nothingE 9 H. $a%. .6?.6I. 5 a% convinced that( event ally( tr e !orship !ill 9cost9 yo so%ething. 5t !ill cost yo yo r dignity or yo r sel":respect or so%e other thing !e cherish s ally in the sight o" others. 4y s spicion is that !e cloak o r pride or e%barrass%ent in the kind o" !ords 5Eve heard since 5 !as a child? 95t doesnEt take all of that to please God.9 + t ;avid !as di""erent. =is attit de see%ed to be? 9!hatever it takes.9 Jes s told the $a%aritan !o%an that 9the 2ather seeks9 tr e !orshipers. This %akes ;avidEs passion all the %ore appealing to %e beca se the prophet $a% el told 3ing $a l( 9The Lord has so ght o t
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"or =i%sel" a %an a"ter =is o!n heart9 H1 $a%. 1/?16I. 5t !o ld be si%pler to 9"ind9 the 2ather( i" !e only !o ld !orship. 9#nless yo beco%e like a little child(9 Jes s said. 5 have learned that 9beco%ing9 is a process( and that is especially tr e o" beco%ing a !orshiper. That 9beco%ing9 process !ill be the sa%e "or yo and %e as it !as "or 3ing ;avid. 8hat it event ally !ill %ean is that the %ore %at re 5 beco%e in !orship( the %ore childlike 5 !ill be in the presence o" the Ancient o" ;ays. 5n "act( ;avid told his !i"e 4ichal that he !o ld contin e to 9play be"ore the Lord.9 =is o!n sense o" identity is insigni"icant co%pared to his regard "or his Creator. 5 !ant to be G st like that. 98e had " n in ch rch todayA9 These !ere the !ords o" an eight: year:old eFpressing her delight "or an incredible ti%e o" !orship that to ched every generation. A "riend o" %ine in o r city !ho pastors a %ainline deno%inational ch rch visited o r services one s %%er. =e told %e later that his son said( 9;ad( this is a " n ch rch. 8hy donEt !e co%e here on $ ndaysC9 Covenant Ch rch o" 'ittsb rgh has a p rpose state%ent that atte%pts to capt re o r reason "or eFistence. A portion reads? 9Covenant Ch rch o" 'ittsb rgh eFists to glori"y God thro gh a proper response to the Lordship o" Jes s ChristJ to eFpress that response thro gh !holehearted obedience to the script res( po!er" l !orship....9 > r ch rch is involved in %any endeavors in o r city. 8e are reaching o t to the co%% nity in %any di""erent !ays( and o r b rden over the years is to be a credible %odel o" the %essage o" reconciliation. 5" yo !ere to ask the average person in o r region !hat !e are kno!n "or( ho!ever( the response yo !o ld invariably hear is 9the !orship.9 There are t!o phrases "ro% the %ovie !he 3ield of 4reams that have i%pacted %e in %y approach to ch rch gro!th. The "irst is the %ost & oted one? 95" yo b ild it( he !ill co%e.9 The second is at the end o" the %ovie a"ter he has b ilt it( and it see%s to be in vain. =is little da ghter says( 9'eople !ill co%e.9 ;avid said in 'sal% ..( verse three( that God inhabits the praises o" =is people. A "e! years ago( !hile %inistering in Japan( one o" the pastors said that a translation o" that passage in Japanese !as? 98hen !e !orship( !e b ild a big chair "or =i% to co%e and sit in.9 8ell( that is !hat !eEve been doing at Covenant "or the past decadeand %ore. 4y conviction is si%ply this? 5" =e co%es( =e !ill bring or ca se to co%e( anyone and everyone !ho is h ngry "or =is 'resence. > r ch rch is in an 9inner city9 section o" a s b rb o" 'ittsb rgh( called
5ntrod ction
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8ilkinsb rg. > r services are packed every $ nday. 8e have a terrible parking proble% and ti%es o" street violence. > r b dget incl des reg lar sec rity "or o r !orshipers( and still( !e gro!. 8e gro! in violation o" al%ost every ch rch gro!th 9r le9 that 5 kno!. 8e have three services( congestion( and all the other harro!ing iss es o" eFha sted reso rces. $till( they co%e. They co%e "ro% every race( every econo%ic backgro nd( and every generation. 8orship "or s is the pri%ary thing. 8e have invested in itJ !e constantly see the dividends. 2ive o" o r " ll:ti%e sta"" persons pri%arily are involved in !orship. 8e have t!o part:ti%e sta"" persons in the % sic %inistry. 8e are co%%itted to !riting( recording( co%posing( and spreading this %essage. The concepts and principles o" this book are the res lt o" a li"eti%e o" st dy and a !onder" l ch rch "a%ily that has been !illing to be a 9laboratory9 "or the develop%ent o" these ideas. 5t is %y hope that yo !ill "ind so%e ne! tr ths "alling into yo r hands or so%e old tr ths %ade "resh by the & ickening !ork o" the =oly $pirit. And %ay !e( the Ch rch o" Jes s Christ( co%e to kno! "ro% eFperience !hat the creed declares !hen it says( 9The chie" end o" %an is to glori"y God and enGoy =i% "orever.9 5t is %y prayer that yo !ill "ind ne! paradig%s o" !orship and praise as yo Goin %e in participating in Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en. As yo do( !e !ill Goin an eternal strea% o" !orshipers !ho have contin ed since their creation till no!. 9Bo Eve co%e to 4o nt Kion( the city !here the living God resides. The invisible Jer sale% is pop lated by throngs o" "estive angels and Christian citi7ens9 H=eb. 1.?.. The 4essageI.
'art 5
I 0ove to Worship 1ou, 0or.2
Chapter 1
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I 0ove to Worship 1ou, 0or.2
5ut an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the 3ather in spirit and truth; for such people the 3ather see*s to be ,is worshipers (John 6# 7'. Jes s !as talking to a divorced !o%an o" & estionable character and %iFed race beside a !ell in $a%aria nearly t!o tho sand years ago !hen =e shared a po!er" l secret? =is 2ather is seeking people to be =is !orshipers. 5 think !e need to ret rn to the !ell and hear Jes s speak those !ords again. =o! does yo r 9)e! Testa%ent9 ch rch eFperience co%pare to !hat Jes s described to the !o%an at the !ellC The ideal ans!er !o ld be this? 95tEs a per"ect %atchA 8e eFist to !orship =i% %orning( noon( and night. 8hen !e co%e together( !e co%e to praise and !orship =i% !ith all o" o r hearts( all o" o r so ls( all o" o r %inds( and all o" o r strengthA =e al!ays %eets s there.9 =onestly( ho! !o ld yo describe 9GodEs desire9 i" the only evidence yo co ld dra! "ro% !as yo r ho%e ch rch and yo r personal li"eC HThatEs all the nsaved have to !ork !ithAI 5 a% a"raid that so%e o" s !o ld have to say? 95 think God is looking "or the %ost "ashionable and conservative people to gather in =is na%e once a !eek in a sad( sole%n asse%bly.9
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Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en 95 think God is looking "or people !ho G st co%e to ch rch to have a good ti%e and get blessed.9 95 think God is looking "or an a dience o" patient people so =is preachers !ill have so%eone to preach at.9 95t looks like God is looking "or bored people !ho like to dress p and !ait aro nd at the ch rch ntil itEs ti%e to eat l nch at noon( especially on $ ndays.9
This is pretty serio s !hen yo consider !hat God says abo t =is desire H!orshipI in the >ld Testa%ent. 9And it !ill be that !hichever o" the "a%ilies o" the earth does not go p to Jer sale% to worship the 3ing( the Lord o" hosts( there will be no rain on them( HKech. 16?17I. God says( 9)o !orship( no rain.9 >ne o" the reasons 5 love to !orship so % ch is beca se 5 appreciate rain. 8hen yo reali7e that certain necessary things are conditional pon yo r response to God( yo !ill learn to adG st yo r response to God appropriately. > r congregation is re%inded o" o r proper response to God every ti%e they look at a ch rch b lletin. 8eEve printed it in plain vie! "or everyone to see? 9Covenant Ch rch o" 'ittsb rgh eFists to glori"y God thro gh a proper response to the Lordship o" Jes s ChristJ to eFpress that response thro gh !holehearted obedience to the script res( po!er" l !orship....9 Bo %ay have noticed that !e didnEt say 9po!er" l singing.9 That is beca se yo can have po!er" l singing that is not po!er" l !orship. 4r. L ciano 'avarotti is a po!er" l opera singer( b t that is not !hat !orship is. 8orship is 9po!er" l9 inas% ch as !e nderstand the dyna%ics that take place !hen it is going on. ;o yo re%e%ber the +ible acco nt in the third chapter o" the +ook o" Josh a !hen the Levite priests !ere asked to carry the ark o" the covenant across the <iver Jordan at the height o" the harvest "loodsC God said? 9And it shall co%e abo t !hen the soles o" the "eet o" the priests !ho carry the ark o" the Lord...shall rest in the !aters o" the Jordan( the !aters o" the Jordan shall be c t o""( and the !aters !hich are "lo!ing do!n "ro% above shall stand in one heap9 HJosh. /?1/I. God !as telling Josh a( 9)o! !hile yo are stepping into the !ater right here( 5 a% going to c t o"" the c rrent pstrea% !ay p there( "ar "ro% yo r vie!.9 8hen yo and 5 !alk in obedience and do o r part( God al!ays does =is partb t yo s ally !onEt see !hat God does behind the scenes. Bo !ill only see !hat you have done
5 Love to 8orship Bo ( LordA
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%ost o" the ti%e. And i" yo happen to "ind yo rsel" !ading thro gh a raging river at harvest ti%e !ith only =is pro%ise to cling to( then yo %ight catch yo rsel" !ondering i" God has really done =is part. 8orship is like that. 8hen 5 a% !orshiping( 5E% not al!ays a!are o" !hat God is doing beca se %y "oc s is centered on !hat 5 a% doing. 8orship is %y "aith response to God. )o! worship is al%ost al!ays con" sed !ith praise, even by people !ho o ght to kno! better. 8orship doesnEt %ean 9to li"t yo r hands.9 That is act ally a loose de"inition o" praise. There are 1. di""erent =ebre! and Greek !ords translated as worship in the +ible. All "o r o" the =ebre! !ords( and especially the pri%ary !ord shachah, %ean 9to depress( prostrate Hin ho%age to royalty or GodI bo! do!n( cro ch( "all do!n H"latI( h %bly beseech( do H%akeI obeisance( do reverence( %ake to stoop( !orship.91 To !orship is to act as an in"erior be"ore a s perior. 8hen 5 !orship God( 5 a% saying by %y actions( 9God( Bo are better than 5 a%. Bo are bigger than 5 a%. Bo are %ore than 5 a%.9 8e sing the song( 9> r God is an awesome God(9 b t o r nderstanding o" those !ords is clo ded by o r %is se and ab se o" the !ord awesome in everyday li"e. 8e se 9a!eso%e9 to describe everything "ro% o r "avorite sports tea%( %ovie star( or % sician to o r "avorite "lavor o" ice crea%. 5" !e say 9t tti:"r tti9 ice crea% and God are both a!eso%e( then it is obvio s that !e donEt nderstand the %eaning o" awesome. $o%eho! it doesnEt see% acc rate to se the sa%e !ord to describe o r God as !e do o r "avorite high:"at "ood. 8e !orship God beca se =e tr ly is a!eso%e. =is very 'resence inspires a!e. 8hen yo recogni7e GodEs a!eso%eness( it !ill evoke a certain response "ro% yo beca se yo see so%ething and $o%eone !ho is di""erent and higher than yo are. Bo kno! instantly and instinctively that yo are in the presence o" >ne !ho is !orthy o" %ore honor than yo are. 5t is this a!e that inspires yo to !orship =e !ho is greater than yo and every other %an and !o%an be"ore yo . As yo read thro gh the $cript res( yo !ill "ind people !orshiping God at so%e o" the strangest ti%es. 8e need to nderstand !hy this happens. 5" !e donEt nderstand !orship( i" !e donEt create a love "or !orship in o r hearts( then according to GodEs 8ord( !e arenEt going to get any rain in o r landA To " lly appreciate the i%portance o" GodEs !ords in Kechariah( yo need to nderstand !here GodEs people !ere co%ing "ro% and !here they !ere going to !hen this prophecy !as given. God %ade a
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clear distinction bet!een Dgypt( the land o" bondage( and the pro%ised land( Canaan? 3or the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not li*e the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot li*e a 1egetable garden. 5ut the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and 1alleys, drin*s water from the rain of hea1en, ) land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning e1en to the end of the year. )nd it shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to lo1e the Lord your God and to ser1e ,im with all your heart and all your soul, That He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil (4euteronomy ""#"29"6'. Dven today( Dgypt is still essentially a parched land o" canals linked !ith its li"e:so rce( the )ile <iver. The great As!an ;a% proGect co%pleted several decades ago !as DgyptEs %odern atte%pt to ta%e the )ile and red ce the nationEs dependence on that river. 5n +ible ti%es( there !as no As!an ;a% to help reg late the riverEs "l ct ations. 2ar%ers !atered s%all patches o" land arti"icially !ith "oot:po!ered pri%itive p %ps constr cted beside the river or its canals. A "oot lever attached to a boo% !ith a b cket or paddle dipped s%all a%o nts o" !ater o t o" the river or canal and into the "lat "ields o" that region. Then( as no!( things are di""erent in GodEs pro%ised land o" l sh hills and "ertile valleys. =ere( God =i%sel" sovereignly sends rain "ro% heaven to !ater the land and preserve the li"e and prod ctivity o" =is people. + t it co%es !ith a !arning? 9As long as yo do right( yo Ell get rain. 5" yo donEt( then there !ill co%e a ti%e !hen the heavens !ill be to yo as brass( and the gro nd !ill be to yo as d st9 Hsee ;e t. 11?1-:16J .0?./:.6I. ;o yo re%e%ber !hat God told $olo%on one night a"ter the dedication o" the te%pleC =e said( 9L5"M 4y people !ho are called by
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4y na%e h %ble the%selves and pray( and seek 4y "ace and t rn "ro% their !icked !ays( then 5 !ill hear "ro% heaven( !ill "orgive their sin( and !ill heal their land9 H. Chron. 7?16I. The !ord humble is act ally *ana:, one o" the "o r =ebre! !ords "or worship in the >ld Testa%ent. 5t %eans 9to bend the kneeJ hence to h %iliate( van& ish?bring do!n Hlo!I( into s bGection( nder( h %ble Hsel"I( s bd e.9 . <e%e%ber that !hile praise speaks o" hands eFtended to God( worship speaks o" bent knees and bo!ed "aces pressed to the gro nd in =is a!eso%e 'resence. )o! !hen yo say 9hear "ro% heaven9 in a land that depends on rain "or s rvival( there is only one thing yo !ant to hear "ro% heaven? thunder. Bo long to hear "ro% so%ething that says( 9The rain is co%ingA9 8hat is !orshipC 5t is the ability to look at God and bo! yo rsel" be"ore =is !illeven in the "ace o" !hat see%s to be certain disaster. 8hether yo reali7e it or not( everything abo t yo r li"e is dependent pon yo r ability to say( 94y God is an a!eso%e God.9 8hen yo get bad ne!s that see%s to disco nt yo r pro%ise "ro% God( do yo pretend that yo didnEt and say? 9= rtingC >h no( praise GodA A%en( yes 5E% blessed( brother9C Dven tho gh yo Ere h rting like cra7y( do yo pretend that yo arenEt and privately !onder? !here:s something wrong here. -omething wac*y is going on because if God had really gi1en me this promise, and if ,e was really doing what ,e promised ,e would do, then why in the world has God put me in this predicament; )ot only is !orship the response o" "aith in the "ace o" disaster( b t it is also the response o" "aith to the s ccess o" the blessed. 8orship is so%ething yo sho ld do all the time, not G st !hen things are going great or going terribly. 8e sho ld al!ays be !orshipers beca se !e al!ays have a reason to !orship. Let %e tell yo right no! that i" yo Ere !aiting ntil yo get to ch rch to !orship( then yo Ere %issing %ost o" yo r !orship ti%eA Jes s recited the greatest co%%and%ent this !ay? 9Bo shall love the Lord yo r God !ith all yo r heart( and !ith all yo r so l( and !ith all yo r %ind9 H4t. ..?/7I. 5 kno! %any o" s are te%pted to say( 9ThatEs rightA 5 !orship God !ith all o" %y heart "or a solid t!o:and:a:hal" ho rs every single $ nday %orning service at 2irst Ch rchA9 )o( Jes s !as talking abo t a daily thing( a !eekly thing. ;avid( the greatest !orshiper and psal%ist a%ong %en( said he o""ered %orning and evening sacri"ices( along !ith even %ore ti%es o" !orship "or a %ini% % o" seven ti%es a dayA H$ee 'sal% 119?1,6.I 8orship is like
breathing? Bo !ere created to do it all the ti%e. 5tEs a li"estyle. 8hen everything i%aginable co%es against yo ( !orship God. 8hen things "inally go yo r !ay( !orship =i%. H>" co rse( itEs easier to !orship in the good ti%es.I )othing else !ill be as creative as !orship( beca se yo are doing %ore than eFpressing "aith in the sovereign God. Bo are creating an atmosphere in yo r o!n heart and circ %stances that releases "aith and enables yo to say( 94y God is in control o" this.9 8orshiping allo!s yo to get in to ch !ith a 9higher reason9 than not !orshiping. Too %any o" s get eFcited and agitated !hen God asks s to give p so%ething that =e gave s in the "irst place. )o! i" God asks yo to give it p( give it pA + t yo %ight as !ell give it p !hile yo Eve got yo r hands in the air in praise and s rrender. Let the incense o" yo r prayers be as an evening sacri"ice. Let yo r obedience be so%ething that is s!eet in the nostrils God. Tell the Lord the tr th. 98ell Lord( 5E% here. 5 donEt nderstand !hat Bo told %e to do( and 5 canEt see% to "ig re it o t. + t 5 do have this % ch "ig red o t? Bo Eve got an ans!er that 5 canEt see.9 5" yo kne! yo !ere abo t to be laid o""( !o ld yo say( 95E% going to go !orship9C ThatEs !hat "aith says. Look( even i" it is yo r "a lt that yo got "ired( yo can still !orship =i% and take a stand on <o%ans 0?.0( 9And !e kno! that God ca ses all things to !ork together "or good to those !ho love God( to those !ho are called according to =is p rpose.9 There are so %any places in the $cript res that inspire and trigger !orship that yo sho ldnEt have a proble% !ith !orshiping any ti%e or any ho r o" the day. 5" yo Ere con" sed( "ind the passage that says( 9God is not the a thor o" con" sion(9 and !orship right there. H$ee 2irst Corinthians 16?//.I 8hen yo !orship( yo Ere saying? 9God( Bo Ere better than 5 a%. Bo kno! %ore than 5 kno!. Bo Eve got it all laid o t. 5 donEt nderstand it. 5 %essed p( b t so did ;avid( and he !as a %an a"ter Bo r o!n heart. 5E% going to !orship Bo ( Lord. 5 didnEt !orship be"ore( and thatEs !hy 5E% in this predica%ent( b t 5E% going to !orship Bo no!.9 8hen yo !orship( yo are prostrating yo rsel" be"ore God. Bo are s b%itting yo r intellect( yo r " t re( and yo r arrogance to God. Bo are literally s b%itting yo r sense o" s periority to God. Bo %ay not nderstand yo r circ %stances or GodEs co%%ands( b t yo need to start saying? 9Lord God( 5Eve got %y hands in the air( 5Eve got %y "ace bo!ed be"ore Bo ( and 5E% resisting & estions. The ene%y is attacking
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%e !ith all kinds o" signals and do bting tho ghts( b t 5E% not dealing !ith any o" that. 5Eve got %y hands p and %y %o th open !ide so 5 can !orship and praise Bo ( Lord. 5E% !orshiping Bo . 5E% celebrating the reality that %y God is an a!eso%e God.9 5t is i%portant "or s to re%e%ber that God never said yo !o ld nderstand =i%. $cript re does not say( 9Bo shall understand the Lord yo r God !ith all yo r mind.( )o( it says( 9Bo shall lo1e the Lord yo r God !ith all yo r heart( and !ith all yo r so l( and !ith all yo r %ind9 H4t. ..?/7I. This is !hat yo and 5 !ere created to do. 8e !ill never be able to 9"ig re =i% o t9 beca se =e d!ells in napproachable light and no %ortal %an can approach =i% there Hsee l(Ti%. ,?1,I. =e is inscr table( i%% table. =e discloses =i%sel" to s !hen( !here( and ho! =e choosesJ and !hen =e doesnEt !ant s to see =i%( =e hides =i%sel" in =is glory. Dither !ay( the only choice =e p ts be"ore yo is to 9co%e and !orship 4e.9
6n.notes
1. Ja%es $trong( -trong:s E<hausti1e +oncordance of the 5ible H'eabody( 4assach setts? =endrickson ' blishers( n.d.I( 5orship H=701.I. HThese %eanings are dra!n "ro% their pri%e root !ords and so %ay not be eFact to -trong:s.' .. -trong:s, humble H=/,,1I.
Chapter .
(
The &rt of &ltar uil.ing
5 have been told that long ago( potters sed to p t their earthen!are vases in ovens to te%per the% as !e do no!. They had one %aGor proble%( ho!ever. $ince they didnEt have clocks or all o" the technical gear !e have today( they had to literally 9play it by ear.9 >ne %an !atched a potter !ork on his vessel( and !hen the artisan p t it in the oven( the observer asked( 9=o! long !ill yo leave it in thereC9 The potter straightened p and said( 9$o%e take longer than others( and so%e not so long. 5t G st depends on ho! 5 %ake the piece. Bo see( !e never %ake the% G st alike.9 98ell( ho! do yo kno! !hen itEs doneC9 the %an asked. The potter shr gged and said( 98e keep it in the heat ntil it sings.9 The s rprised observer said( 98hat do yo %ean( E#ntil it singsEC9 'atiently the potter eFplained( 9There is a noise that e%anates "ro% te%pered pottery in the heat o" a " rnace once it reaches the proper heat point. 8hen !e hear the pottery EsingingE in the " rnace( !e kno! itEs ready to be re%oved "ro% the heat. $tay right here( and listen "or the song.9 $o the %an sat there by the oven !hile the potter ret rned to his potterEs !heel. $ re eno gh( a"ter a short ti%e he began to hear a high: pitched h % co%ing "ro% the oven. The %an glanced at the potter and said( 95s it singing no!C9
The potter nodded and said( 95t s re is. 5tEs " lly te%pered and ready to co%e o t.9 Bo %ay be in the %idst o" yo r o!n "ire right no!A Let %e ask yo this? 9Are yo singing yetC9 8e need to learn ho! to sing !hen !e are being heated in !hat the +ible calls 9the " rnace o" a""liction9 Hsee 5s. 60?1-I. There is a song that goes( 92or in the " rnace o" 4y a""liction( 5 have chosen thee( +ehold@And so "or iron 5Ell give yo silver( and "or brass 5Ell give yo gold@A!ake > 5srael( p t on yo r gar%ents. ...@2or Bo are glorio s( and !orthy to be praised( > La%b pon the throne....9 'ray this prayer o t lo d !ith %e? Lord, we want to learn how to worship =ou, and how to e<perience the meaning of worship in our own li1es. >ot ?ust here in this place, or in other places li*e it, but e1erywhere. =ou are not confined to a building. =ou are not confined to rooms that ha1e a gathering of +hristians who worship =ou. >o, =ou dwell in our hearts, and =ou are a spirit. !hose who worship =ou must worship =ou in spirit and in truth, and we want to do that today. We worship =ou, Lord. )men. 8e need to learn %ore abo t !hat !orship is( beca se God has created s to !orship =i%. This is an 9interactive9 %essage( and yo are part o" it. ;onEt be s rprised i" yo "ind yo rsel" laying this book do!n "ro% ti%e to ti%e so yo can practice !hat yo are learning abo t !orship. 5" 5 have done %y Gob( then yo sho ld be sensing the gentle n dge o" the =oly $pirit calling yo to !orship every ti%e yo read a %aGor passage in this bookA >ne o" the %ost di""ic lt things to grasp abo t !orship is its ni& e connection to s ""ering( a""liction( and adversity. )o( active !orship !onEt necessarily bring these things to yo r li"e( b t it !ill al!ays be enriched and deepened by these circ %stances. And every ti%e( God ses hard ti%es to per"ect( strengthen( and cleanse seven tho gh =e isnEt the so rce o" yo r pain. >ne !ay to get a healthy perspective on s ""ering is to consider this passage in the +ook o" =ebre!s? )lthough ,e was a -on, ,e learned obedience from the things which ,e suffered. )nd ha1ing been made perfect, ,e became to all those who obey ,im the source of eternal sal1ation (,ebrews $#/9@'. 8e are created to praise =i%( to !orship =i%. 8ith that in %ind(
The Art o" Altar + ilding
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do yo nderstand that obedience is the highest "or% o" !orship yo can o""er to GodC 5n "act( !hen obedience is absent "ro% yo r relationship !ith God( none o" the other "or%s o" sacri"ice( thanksgiving( or !orship !ill have eno gh val e to cover yo r disobedience. 3ing $a l "o nd this o t the hard !ay. God told hi% thro gh $a% el the prophet( 9=as the Lord as % ch delight in b rnt o""erings and sacri"ices as in obeying the voice o" the LordC +ehold( to obey is better than sacri"ice( and to heed than the "at o" ra%s9 H1 $a%. 11?..I. 8hen 3ing ;avid co%%itted ad ltery !ith +athsheba and then plotted her h sbandEs % rder to cover his sin( God con"ronted hi% thro gh )athan the prophet and said( 9Bo r baby is going to die9 Hsee . $a%. 1.?11I. ;avid !ent into "asting and prayer and prostrated hi%sel" on his "ace be"ore God. $even days later he heard the servants !hispering and he kne! his son !as dead. Then ;avid did so%ething that his servants tho ght !as odd? =e got p( cleaned hi%sel" p( and !ent into the ho se o" the Lord( and he !orshiped Hsee . $a%. 1.?.-I. 8hen yo are in the heat o" the " rnace o" a""liction( the only thing yo can do that has any s bstance( any val e( or any creative po!er at all( is to !orshipA 8hyC $cript re says( 9Bet Tho art holy( > Tho !ho art enthroned upon the praises o" 5srael9 H's. ..?/I. 5 think every living thing has a partic lar environ%ent in !hich it eFcels. The eagle eFcels in the air beca se thatEs the eagleEs environ%ent. The dolphin eFcels in the sea beca se thatEs the environ%ent o" the dolphin. The cheetah eFcels on the gro nd( reaching speeds o" ,- %iles an ho r beca se it !as created to be a r nning %achineA God eFcels in an at%osphere per%eated by !orship and praise. 8hen yo !orship =i%( =e gets eFcited. 'a l and $ilas !ere beaten and thro!n in Gail "or preaching the gospel( and God !as in =eaven %inding =is b siness in Acts 1,?.1. Then 'a l and $ilas started singing songs and hy%ns and spirit al songs in the darkest ho r o" their pain and isolation. Dven tho gh their bodies ached and their "eet !ere still pain" lly con"ined in stocks( they "illed the dark shado!s o" their Gail cell at %idnight by singing at the top o" their l ngs to the glory o" God. As the so nd o" their praise and !orship "illed that cell in the heart o" the Gail( the other prisoners locked inside that %iserable place began to listen to the%( and s ddenly the atmosphere began to change. Bo can change the at%osphere !here yo are( too( if you will worship ,im. 5 do bt that yo !ill ever "ind yo rsel" in a !orse
sit ation than the kind 'a l and $ilas "aced that dreary night in Thyatira( b t i" yo do( yo need to begin to !orship and sing to the Lord like they did. 8hyC +eca se God !ill hear yo . 5 can al%ost hear =i% telling the angels and =is $on( 95E% going do!n there( 5E% going to !ear earth& ake shoes( and 5E% going to introd ce %ysel" to those Gailers.9 8hen those %en began to sing GodEs praises and !orship =i%( God looked do!n and said( 95E% co%ing( 5E% co%ing( beca se 5 like !hat 5 hear.9 8hen yo "ind yo rsel" in the %iddle o" trials and trib lations( it so nds a lot better to God !hen yo sing or pray( 95 !orship Bo ( Lord. 5 bless Bo r holy na%e. 5 glori"y Bo (9 rather than !hen yo !hine and %oan( 9Lord( !hy is all this happening to %eC9 5E% s re yo kno! so%eone !ho %akes yo !ant to hide every ti%e yo see hi% co%ing beca se yo kno! heEs going to co%plain and !hine the %o%ent he sees yo . Bo !ant to hide beca se yo are not thrilled to listen to so%eone elseEs co%plaints. God isnEt either. God delights in o r praise and o r !orship. 5t is d ring the dark %o%ents that yo need to re%ind yo rsel"( 9Lord( Bo havenEt lost track o" %e( and !hen Bo Ere done !ith %e( !hen Bo Ere done testing %e( 5E% going to co%e "orth as gold.9 4ost o" s !ant rain in o r lives( b t !eEre not going to get it nless !e nderstand that rain is the prod ct o" a "aith" l and abiding relationship !ith God. The best so rce o" instr ction "or godly !orship is GodEs 8ord( the 94an "act rerEs =andbook.9 Bo %ay not be a "ar%er( b t 5 think yo reali7e that 9rain "ro% =eaven9 re"ers to GodEs blessing and provisionthe essence o" yo r s rvival. J st as rain is i%portant to the land( the 'resence o" God is vitally i%portant to s. 8e cannot %ake it !itho t =i%. God says( 9)o !orship( no rain.9 The origins o" the Dnglish !ord worship give s so%e insight into the original =ebre! ter% as !ell. Worship co%es "ro% the Anglo: $aFon co%po nd !ord( weorthscype. H5t is as hard to prono nce as it looks.I The "irst part o" this !ord( weorth, speaks o" 9!orth( val e( or respect.9 The second part( 9scype or 9scipe, %eant 9to shape or to b ild so%ething.9 8hen the t!o parts !ere co%bined into weorthscype, it "or%ed a !ord !hich %eant 9to shape or b ild !orth( val e( or respect.9 $ince lang age tends to devolve or degenerate over ti%e( the original %eaning o" this !ord grad ally has changed over the cent ries. 5n Dngland( and in other co ntries !hich still %aintain a %onarchy or social syste% o" royalty( the citi7ens have an innate nderstanding o"
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!ords like worship, lord, *ing, and *ingdom. A%ericans( ho!ever( s ""er a distinct disadvantage in this area. The !ord lord is di""ic lt "or %ost A%ericans to really nderstand beca se !e donEt have any lords( d kes( d chesses( knights( kings( or & eens in o r social and political syste%. 8hen !eEre talking abo t the Lordship o" Jes s Christ to people in representative de%ocratic societies( !e have to begin !ith a de"inition o" lordship. 8hen the translators o" the 3ing Ja%es +ible translated the Greek !ord *urios as 9Lord(9 they had reason "or doing so. They had an earthly king and a !hole collection o" lords and ladies to honor and respect. A%ericans donEt even se the !ord lord o tside o" the ch rch or the %ovie theater. 8hen yo talk abo t the Lordship o" Jes s Christ( yo Ere talking abo t so%ebody !ho says( 9Bo r very eFistence depends pon 4e.9 $o !hen !e o""er !orship to s ch an all:po!er" l being( even the post re o" o r body and the !ords o" o r %o ths sho ld "ra%e the !orth( val e( and respect d e to =is na%e and person. Another root o" 9ship9 in weorthscype is scip, or 9ship.9 8hen !e o""er !orship to God( !e literally beco%e vessels or ships i%%ersed in =is in"inite !orth and val e. That leads %e to the art o" altar b ilding and o r spirit al "ather o" "aith( Abraha%. This converted %oon:!orshiper( !ho beca%e the "irst great !orshiper o" God since )oah( le"t s an eFa%ple o" !orship as a li"estyle that !e need to heed today. As yo read thro gh the short verses belo!( yo sho ld notice so%ething ni& e abo t the li"e o" Abraha%? )nd the Lord appeared to )bram and said, (!o your descendants I will gi1e this land.( -o he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. !hen he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of 5ethel, and pitched his tent, with 5ethel on the west and )i on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord (Genesis " #A9/'. !hen )bram mo1ed his tent and came and dwelt by the oa*s of Bamre, which are in ,ebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord (Genesis "7#"/'. $o 9there he b ilt an altar.9 Abraha% !as constantly b ilding altars to the Lord( and God !as constantly %eeting hi% and con"ir%ing =is pro%ises and provision to hi%. ;o yo think !e co ld learn anything
"ro% this patternC The =ebre! !ord "or altar( miCbeach, described a str ct re that had only one " nction or reason "or eFistence? the sla ghter o" sacri"ices. 8e no longer have altars in that sense beca se Jes s o""ered =i%sel" once and "or all as the s pre%e sacri"ice to take a!ay the sins o" the !orld. )o! o r altars are spirit al altars( b t !e still per"or% vital " nctions on the%. Like Abraha%( !e actively participate in the b ilding o" those altars every ti%e !e begin to !orship God. 4ost o" s think !e are 9G st singing9 or praying on bent knees( b t the spirit al reality is that !e are shaping( b ilding( and constr cting so%ething that is holy nto the Lord. 2irst !e b ild a throne "or o r 2irst Love !ith o r praises. 'sal% ..?/ says( 9Bet Tho art holy( > Tho !ho art enthroned pon the praises o" 5srael.9 GodEs throne is as signi"icant as !e !ant to %ake it thro gh o r praises. )o! i" =e d!ells in the %idst o" yo r praises( ho! % ch o" a throne do yo !ant =i% to haveC As yo praise =i%( yo are shaping a throne "or God Al%ighty( =i%sel"( in yo r li"e or in the corporate body seeking =is "ace. As yo !orship =i%( yo are sacri"icing yo r li"e and body on an altar o" s rrender as a living sacri"ice. This says to God( 95 have con"idence that Bo are the sovereign God o" the niverse. 4y !hole being leans pon Bo "or li"e and " llness.9 Altho gh Abraha% had very little control over the circ %stances o" his li"e( he did have a pro%ise( and he kne! ho! to b ild altars to the living God. 5n the end( it t rned o t that he didnEt need anything %ore than the pro%ise( ability( and desire to b ild altars. Like %e( yo probably have very little( i" any( control over yo r circ %stances. Bo canEt control the gross national prod ct( in"lation( "oreign oil %arkets( or the "act that egg prices %ay go p .- cents to%orro!. + t 5 re%e%ber !hat 5 can controlA Bo can control the reality o" yo r at%osphere at all ti%es. Any ti%e yo choose( yo can b ild a throne "or the Lord thro gh yo r praises( and yo can !orship yo r all:po!er" l God by o""ering yo r li"e on the altar o" s b%ission. Bo r acts o" sel"less !orship to God can create an at%osphere in !hich =e can say( 95 !ant to spend so%e ti%e !ith yo A 5 like the throne yo have b ilt "or 4e. 5 like the !ay yo lavishly p t this thing together( and 5 especially appreciate the living sacri"ice yo are o""ering to 4e on the altar o" sacri"ice.9 Tr e spirit al !orship !ill ca se God Al%ighty to co%e and sit !ith yo ( "or =e is enthroned in the %idst o" yo r praises.
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As Abraha% %oved "ro% one geographical spot to another and set p ca%p( his %ind !as on God. 5" he already had ca%ped at the site be"ore( he already had b ilt an altar to o""er sacri"ices. 5" he had never been at a spot be"ore( then the "irst thing Abraha% did !as to b ild a ne! altarA =e pitched his tent( and he b ilt an altar to the Lord. The +ible says( 9Bo !ill kno! the% L%enM by their "r its9 H4t. 7?.-I. Bo can tell at a glance !hat %atters %ost to Abraha%!here he lives !ith his "a%ily and the altar !here he !orships. =e pitches a tent( and he b ilds an altar. A clear pattern is established in Abraha%Es li"e. =e is getting 9altar b ilding9 eFperience. )o! ho! abo t yo C 5t is very i%portant "or yo to learn ho! to b ild an altar o" !orship in yo r o!n personal eFperience. J st as yo need to learn ho! to change a tire in the drive!ay be"ore yo have a "lat in the desert( yo need to learn ho! to b ild an altar o" !orship to God in the good ti%es be"ore yo land in a dark valley !ith no altar:b ilding eFperience. Look closely at !hat happened later in Abraha%Es li"e? 9)o! it ca%e abo t a"ter these things( that God tested Abraha%...9 HGen. ..?1aI. The =ebre! !ord translated as 9tested9 also %eans to 9assay(9 !hich is !hat yo do to gold ore to see i" there is really gold hidden in it( and i" so( ho! % ch. Bo also assay %iFed precio s %etals by heating the% to the %elting point to separate the precio s %etals "ro% the co%%on %etals and conta%inants. Webster:s 4ictionary says the !ay to G dge the !orth o" so%ething is 9to pro1e p in an assay.91 God is saying( 9+ ild so%e altars. Learn the art o" altar b ilding.9 Dven i" yo b ild a bad one( itEs better than b ilding none at all. 8hyC +eca se the day !ill co%e !hen God !ill !ant to assay or test "or gold in yo r li"e tooA The test is co%ing !hether yo kno! it or not. God told Abraha%( 9Take no! yo r son( yo r only son( !ho% yo love( 5saac( and go to the land o" 4oriahJ and o""er hi% there as a b rnt o""ering on one o" the %o ntains o" !hich 5 !ill tell yo 9 HGen. ..?.I. The +ible tells s that Abraha% arose early the neFt %orning( saddled his donkey( and took his son 5saac and t!o servants on a Go rney. 2irst he c t eno gh !ood "or the b rnt o""eringJ then he headed "or 4oriah. >n the third day he sa! his destination in the distance and told his servants to !ait !ith the donkey. Then he said so%ething !e need to re%e%ber? 9...5 and the lad !ill go yonderJ and we will worship and return to you( HGen. ..?1bI. Are yo beginning to nderstand !hy this %an is o"ten called 9the "ather o" "aith9C Abraha% loaded all the !ood "or the b rnt o""ering on 5saacEs back( !hile he carried the coals "or the "ire and the kni"e. At so%e point(
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5saac asked( 9 E+ehold( the "ire and the !ood( b t !here is the la%b "or the b rnt o""eringCE And Abraha% said( EGod !ill provide "or =i%sel" the la%b "or the b rnt o""ering( %y sonE 9 HGen. ..?7b:0I. As soon as Abraha% reached the place o" GodEs choosing( !hat did he doC =e b ilt an altar and p t his bo nd son on top o" the !ood. =e !as deter%ined to carry o t GodEs co%%and and tr st =i% to %ake good on =is pro%ise so%eho!. 5t !as only as Abraha% reached o t "or the sla ghtering kni"e and gathered his strength to strike the "atal blo! that an angel o" God sho ted o t( 9Abraha%( Abraha%A9 H$ee Genesis ..?11.I God is going to talk to yo so%e day abo t so%ething in yo r li"e that =e !ants yo to release( con"ront( or deal !ith. 8hen =e does( yo can be s re =e !ill have given yo eno gh ti%e to prepare and learn. God is the "airest and %ost G st o" all instr ctors. =e !ill never give yo an 9eFa%9 that =e kno!s yo Ere not ready "orif you:1e done what you should !ith the things =e has given yo . 8hen yo are perched on 4o nt 4oriah in the crisis o" yo r li"e( that is no ti%e to p ll o t the 4an "act rerEs =andbook and say( 9)o!( !hat do 5 do hereC 8here do 5 p t thisC9 God %ay appear to be doing one o" those reverses in yo r li"e( b t yo canEt b ild an altar o t o" anFiety. )o!( i" yo are a %an or !o%an !ho has been b ilding altars alreadyi" yo r !hole li"e has been !rapped p in the godly pattern o" pitching a tent and b ilding an altarthen the "irst thing yo !ill do in a crisis is to b ild an altar and !orship in the presence o" God. The only !ay to b ild an altar is to re%ove yo r "oc s "ro% yo r proble% and p t it on God and =is pro%ises. As an altar b ilder( yo have a tre%endo s edge in any sit ation? Bo kno! God !ill %eet yo !henever yo b ild =i% an altar and o""er =i% praise and !orshipA ;avid prayed( 94ay %y prayer be co nted as incense be"ore TheeJ the li"ting p o" %y hands as the evening o""ering9 H's. 161?.I. Bo can b ild an altar any!here( and yo donEt even have to get lo d to b ild it. The !riter o" =ebre!s tells s that Abraha% believed that God !as able to raise 5saac "ro% the dead Hsee =eb. 11?19I. =e !as convinced that God !as able to raise p his sonEs ashes i" necessary( b t =e !o ld keep =is pro%ise to Abraha%. 5t is signi"icant that Abraha% laid the !ood on 5saac( and that this pro%ised son had to carry the b rden o" the very !ood that !as going to take his li"e. Tho sands o" years later( another only beloved $on !o ld carry ro gh:he!n !ood p the sa%e
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%o ntain and o""er =is li"e as a sacri"ice "or %any. + t three days later.... =as God %ade yo a pro%ise( only to %ake a de%and that apparently !ill leave yo nothing b t ashesC Like Abraha%( yo believe yo r God is a God !ho says( 9Ashes or no ashes( yo are going to have yo r pro%ise.9 5" yo Ere not b ilding altars no!( donEt eFpect to be able to b ild the% later nder the press re o" a trial or crisis. 'ractice glori"ying and %agni"ying =i% no!. ;o yo kno! !hat yo do !hen yo %agni"y GodC Bo %ake =i% bigger than the situation eng l"ing yo . $tart talking abo t the God !ho %ade the heavens and the earth( !ho p t the stars into eFistence and spoke galaFies into space. $peak o" the Creator God !ho !ent to !ork to the Goy" l acco%pani%ent o" =is %agni"icent chor s o" angels singing o" =is glory and !onder. As yo !orship =i%( =e !ill eFceed =is o!n greatness in yo r li"eA God isnEt locked p so%e!here saying( 95 !onder i" 5 can beat !hat 5 did yesterdayC9 'a l prays in the +ook o" Dphesians? >ow to ,im who is able to do e<ceeding abundantly beyond all that we as* or thin*, according to the power that wor*s within us, to ,im be the glory in the church and in +hrist Jesus to all generations fore1er and e1er. )men (Ephesians 7# 29 "'. ThatEs the kind o" God yo serve. Bo need to learn ho! to praise and !orship =i%( no %atter !hat is going on or ho! % ch yo nderstand it. + ild a throne o" praise and see =i% seated as the Lord o" yo r li"e. And !hen yo hear bad ne!s( %ake so%e good ne!s right there by shaping an altar o" sacri"ice thro gh !orship be"ore =is throne. 8hen God sees yo r hands li"ted to =i%( =e sees s rrender and adoration. Bo r prayers create the s!eet:s%elling s%oke o" incense be"ore =i%( and !hen yo praise =i%( =e sees la%bs and calves o" sacri"iceA The +ible describes the "r it o" o r lips as the calves o" o r %o ths. >""er yo r Creator a sacri"ice o" praise( and then s b%it yo r very li"e and body to =i% as a living sacri"ice o" h %ble( s b%itted !orship. Bo can be s re that =e !ill Goin yo in the " llness o" =is glory and po!er beca se yo have created an at%osphere in !hich =e al!ays eFcels.
6n.notes
1. Berriam Webster:s +ollegiate 4ictionary, "2th Edition H$pring"ield( 4assach setts? 4erria%:8ebster 5nc.( 1996I( p. ,9.
Chapter /
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What Is the 3olume of Heavenly Worship7
Dvery !eek o" the year( %illions o" people pass thro gh ch rch doors( dragging !ith the% cent ries o" religio s pres %ption( ass %ption( and o tright error. Abo t the only thing %ost o" the% !o ld agree on is the need to i%pose their o!n narro! ideas o" !hat constit tes !orship onto everyone else. 4y & estion is this? 8hat does God have to say abo t !orship in =is 8ordC $o%e o" s think !e are co rting gross error and heresy i" !e !orship God "ro% anything other than an approved ch rch hy%nal and the +ook o" Co%%on 'rayer Hand yes( there are anointed songs and prayers in the%I. >thers donEt think theyEve 9had ch rch9 nless theyEve done cart!heels( blo!n o t the speakers on the so nd syste%( s!eat thro gh t!o sets o" ch rch clothes( and received at least t!o visits "ro% the local constable abo t the neighborsE p blic dist rbance co%plaints. $o%e believers "eel that tr e !orship can only iss e "ro% the vocal chords o" believers( and they sh n the se o" all instr %ents or % sical acco%pani%ent in their services. >thers "eel so%ething is %issing i" there isnEt a =a%%ond +:/ organ( a stack o" electronic keyboards !ith 45;5 inter"aces( a !hole battery o" electric g itars( electric bass g itars( and dr % sets cro!ding the stage and spilling o t onto the "loor o" the sanct ary. 8hat does God thinkC HBo %ight be s rprised.I 5" the eFperiences o" 3ing ;avid and 3ing $olo%on are any g ide(
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God likes eF berant and elaborate praise !ith lots o" dancing and eFcite%ent( and eno gh instr %ents to reach every eardr % "or %ilesA Consider the +ible record? -o 4a1id and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ar* of the Lord with shouting and the sound of the trumpet. !hen it happened as the ar* of the Lord came into the city of 4a1id that Bichal the daughter of -aul loo*ed out of the window and saw %ing 4a1id leaping and dancing before the Lord ( -amuel 8#"$9"8a'. 8hen 3ing $olo%on dedicated the te%ple at Jer sale%( the % sic tea% and singers incl ded 1.- priests blo!ing tr %pets at the top o" their l ngsJ an ntold n %ber o" % sicians playing cy%bals( harps( lyres( and ne! % sical instr %ents specially created by 3ing ;avid "or the !orship o" GodJ and several generations o" Levitical singers "ro% three priestly "a%ilies? )nd all the Le1itical singers, )saph, ,eman, Jeduthun, and their sons and *insmen, clothed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, standing east of the altar, and with them one hundred and twenty priests blowing trumpets In unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their 1oice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying (,e indeed is good for ,is lo1ing*indness is e1erlasting,( then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, -o that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God ( +hronicles $#" 9"6'. Bears later( ;avidEs son $olo%on led the nation in a prayer o" con"ession and covenant be"ore God d ring the dedication o" the ne! te%ple( and the LordEs p blic response !as even %ore enth siastic? >ow when -olomon had finished praying, fire came down from hea1en and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
8hat 5s the *ol %e o" =eavenly 8orshipC )nd the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord:s house. )nd all the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pa1ement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and ga1e praise to the Lord, saying, (!ruly ,e is good, truly ,is lo1ing*indness is e1erlasting( ( +hronicles A#"97'.
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Altho gh the +ible is "illed !ith rich re"erences to eF berant praise and !orship in prostration be"ore God( co ntless %odern ch rch services are beg n !ith the dry recitation o" one $cript re verse? 9+ t the Lord is in =is holy te%ple. Let all the earth be silent be"ore =i%9 H=ab. .?.-I. The verse s ally is read to the entire congregation by a %inister sing his %ost sole%n and God:like voice to i%press on the people the gravity o" the at%osphere. 4ay 5 say to yo that i" yo !ere to look "or other verses G st like this one( yo !o ldnEt "ind the%. This is the only verse in the +ible that says( 9The Lord is in =is holy te%ple( so sh t pA9 $o%eho!( this isolated verse has been elevated to the level o" a ch rch doctrine or ordinance o" operation. The tr th is that this verse is al%ost al!ays & oted !ith no re"erence to conteFt. 5" the readers bothered to read the verses be"ore and a"ter this verse Hre%e%ber that chapter and verse divisions !ere added later by a Catholic %onk "or convenienceI( they !o ld "ind this? Woe to him who says to a piece of wood, ()wa*e.( !o a dumb stone, ()rise.( )nd that is your teacher; 5ehold, it is o1erlaid with gold and sil1er, and there is no breath at all inside it. (5ut the Lord is in ,is holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before ,im.( ) prayer of ,aba**u* the prophet, according to -higionoth. Lord, I ha1e heard the report about !hee and I fear. D Lord, re1i1e !hy wor* in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years ma*e it *nown; in wrath remember mercy (,aba**u* #"@97# '. The !ord -higionoth is tho ght by %any +ible scholars to be a % sical or literary ter%. The editors o" the A%pli"ied +ible say it this !ay? 9A prayer o" =abakk k the prophet( set to !ild( enth siastic( and
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tri %phal % sic9 H=ab. /?1 A4'I. )o! re%e%ber that this verse i%%ediately "ollo!s the verse that says( 9The Lord is in =is holy te%ple( let all the earth be silent be"ore =i%.9 9$o !hat are yo going to do( =abakk kC9 98e are going to sing abo t the !ildest song yo ever heard in yo r li"e!ild( enth siastic( and tri %phal % sic.9 98hy are yo going to do thatC9 9+eca se thatEs !hat co%es neFt on the progra%.9 Dssentially( =abakk k is telling s to get silent "or a %o%ent so !e can "oc s on the >ne !e are going to !orship. =e also is %aking a point o" saying that !e need to be silent at ti%es beca se( nlike the % te and %an:%ade gods o" !ood and stone( this God is alive and at ho%e. =e speaks to =is peopleA >nce !e have "iFed o r "oc s on =i%( !e are to !orship =i% !ith all o" o r %ight and strengthA H5 donEt kno! abo t yo ( b t it doesnEt take any %ight or strength at all to sit % te in a pe! like a li"eless corpse. 5t see%s %ore like an i%itation o" death than !orship. 5 canEt help b t think o" $econd Ti%othy /?1( !hich speaks o" 9having a "or% o" godliness( b t denying the po!er thereo"...9 L3J*M.I =onestly( 5 a% a"raid that %any o" the good people !ho have spent a lot o" ti%e in 9silent !orship9 be"ore God !ill be in "or a shock !hen they "ind the%selves in the presence o" the heavenly hosts? )nd I loo*ed, and I heard the 1oice of many angels around the throne and the li1ing creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, -aying with a loud 1oice, (Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to recei1e power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.( )nd e1ery created thing which is in hea1en and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying (!o ,im who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion fore1er and e1er.( )nd the four li1ing creatures *ept saying ()men. ()nd the elders fell down and worshiped.
8hat 5s the *ol %e o" =eavenly 8orshipC )nd I saw when the Lamb bro*e one of the se1en seals, and I heard one of the four li1ing creatures saying as with a 1oice of thunder, (+ome( (Ee1elation $#""98#"'.
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5 !ant to s ggest reading %any other $cript res that " rther ill strate the proper balance bet!een a godly "ear o" the Lord and Goy" l praise and intense !orship. 8e lean too % ch on o r 9silent o""erings9 to the Lord. 8e have revie!ed biblical evidence that tells s that people be"ore the birth( death( and res rrection o" Jes s Christ enGoyed a richer praise and !orship li"e than %ost o" s doA 8hat does that say to yo C 5 kno! !hat it does in %y heartso%ething in %y spirit declares? -omething is terribly wrong here. !hose people didn:t e1en ha1e the indwelling 0resence of the ,oly -pirit in their li1es. !hey didn:t ha1e the gospel of Jesus or the 5oo* of )cts. =et they worshiped more freely, ?oyfully, and powerfully than any of us. !hey saw fire and glory interrupt their ser1ices because God insisted on personally ta*ing o1er their worship ser1ices. -omething:s bro*en and needs some fi<in:. The +ook o" Jere%iah tells s !hat God does !hen so%ething is 9broken9 in =is 3ingdo%. >ne day God told =is prophet to go do!n to the potterEs ho se=e !as going to give the %an an ill strated ser%on? ()rise and go down to the potter:s house, and there I shall announce By words to you.( !hen I went down to the potter:s house, and there he was, ma*ing something on the wheel. 5ut the 1essel that he was ma*ing of clay was spoiled F(marred( %J&G in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another 1essel, as it pleased the potter to ma*e. !hen the word of the Lord came to me saying, (+an I not, D house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does;( declares the Lord. (5ehold, li*e the clay in the potter:s hand, so are you in By hand, D house of Israel( (Jeremiah "/# 98'. Dvery ti%e 5 think o" this story o" the potterEs !heel( 5 re%e%ber that !e are in GodEs hands. 8hen !e get 9spoiled9 or %arred( !e s ally think God has dropped s. The tr th is that !e beca%e %arred in the 'otterEs hands beca se o" o r o!n actions( o r !rong choices( or
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G st beca se !hen cra7y things happen in o r lives( !e te%porarily have lapses and begin to think !e are lord and =e is not. Bo donEt have to get o tside o" God to get yo r li"e %essed p. Bo can be serving =i% and !alking !ith =i% daily( and yet still be 9%arred9 by resisting the gentle %olding o" =is "ingers in a partic lar area o" yo r li"e. The "act is that =e is the potter( and !e are the clay. 5 re%e%ber the ti%e 5 heard an anointed song that is based on this passage in Jere%iah. 5t ca%e at a ti%e in %y li"e !hen 5 needed to hear that God co ld %ake %e ne! again. 5 !anted to start all over as a ne! vessel( and the tr th encased in song bro ght a ne! re"reshing and hope to %y li"e. J st as God picked p the pieces o" %y li"e and revived %y so l( =e also can pick p yo r broken pieces and "iF the%. 5" yo have any rivers that yo think are ncrossable( 5 can tell yo that =e is the +ridge over all tro bled !aters. =e is a t nnel thro gh yo r biggest %o ntainA 5" yo !ant to get yo r car "iFed( do yo get a pet care %an al "or yo r dachsh nd to help yo "iF yo r carC )o. 5" yo have a 2ord( do yo get a Cadillac %an alC )o( yo have to get the right %an al "ro% the creator o" !hat is brokenA 5" so%e things in o r local ch rches are broken Hand they areI( then !e need to go back to the A thor and 2inisher o" o r "aith to "ind !holeness. Think o" the people in yo r local ch rch and ask yo rsel"? 98hose ch rch is thisC9 The ans!er is obvio s? 5tEs the LordEs ch rch. That %eans =e has the eFcl sive right to say ho! =e !ants s to live and behave in it. >ne o" the things that =e see%s to say abo t !orship and praise in the last part o" =is instr ction %an al is that !eEre going to need s pernat ral eardr %s in =eaven beca se itEs lo d p thereA 9A"ter these things 5 looked( and behold( a door standing open in heaven( and the "irst voice !hich 5 had heard( like the so nd o" a tr %pet speaking !ith %e( said( ECo%e p here...E 9 H<ev. 6?1I. )o! i" yo kno! anything abo t tr %pets( then yo kno! they are lo d. H5" an angel !alked into yo r !orship service and ble! a tr %pet( !o ld "olks G %p p o t o" their pe!s in Goy or G st "all do!n in st nned shockCI The tr %pet so nds are G st the beginning. Look at !hat happens neFt? (+ome up here, and I will show you what must ta*e place after these things.(
8hat 5s the *ol %e o" =eavenly 8orshipC Immediately I was in the -pirit; and behold, a throne was standing in hea1en, and Dne sitting on the throne... )nd around the throne were twenty9four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty9four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. )nd from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder (Ee1elation 6#lb9$a'.
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Thrones( "lashing lightning( so nds and peals o" th nder. 8o ld yo agree that these things s ggest that %aybe there is so%e noise going on in the throne roo% o" GodC The siFth verse describes "o r living creat res 9" ll o" eyes in "ront and behind9 aro nd the throne o" God. These creat res %ay be the noisiest o" the% all? )nd day and night they do not cease to say, (,DL=, ,DL=, ,DL=, is !,E LDE4 GD4, !,E )LBIG,!=, W,D W))>4 W,D I- )>4 W,D I- !D +DBE.( )nd when the li1ing creatures gi1e glory and honor and than*s to ,im who sits on the throne, to ,im who li1es fore1er and e1er, !he twenty9four elders will fall down before ,im who sits on the throne, and will worship ,im who li1es fore1er and e1er, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (Worthy art !hou, our Lord and our God, to recei1e glory and honor and power; for !hou didst create all things, and because of !hy will they e<isted, and were created( (Ee1elation 6#/b9ll'. They keep this p day and nightA They never stop saying( 9=oly( holy( holy is the Lord God Al%ighty( !ho !as( and is( and is to co%e.9 8e all need to get in synchroni7ation !ith =eaven and Goin in their endless song o" praise and !orship. $ay it o t lo d right no!? 9=oly( holy( holy is the Lord God Al%ighty( !ho !as( and is( and is to co%eA9 )o! say it a little lo der? 9=oly( holy( holy is the Lord God Al%ighty( !ho !as( and is( and is to co%eA9 The +ible is the lti%ate hy%nbook i" yo havenEt noticed. The +ible says that they sang in a loud 1oice, 98orthy is the La%b( that !as slain( to receive po!er and riches and !isdo% and %ight and honor and
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glory and blessing9 H<ev. 1?1.I. 4any o" s think itEs 9orderly9 in =eaven. 8e think itEs G st nice( and neat( and packaged( b t =eaven is not like that at all. 5tEs lo dA 5tEs bigger than 8oodstock. 5" yo have been telling yo rsel"( 9>h( 5 G st !ant a little cabin on a hillside over in glory land( !here 5 can G st be & iet( G st %e and Jes s. 5 !ant to go to a place !here !e can have o r o!n thing going( !here !e !onEt need anybody else(9 then yo Ere going to be disappointed. Dverybody !ill be eFtroverted p there( !ith one "oc s? the La%b. Jes s =i%sel"( the La%b( !ill be the light "or that holy city. As %e%bers in partic lar o" the Ch rch o" Jes s Christ( !e need to listen to !hat theyEre saying in =eaven right no!. 5" o r holy instr ction %an al tells s theyEre saying( 9Bo are !orthy( > Lord o r God( to receive glory( honor( and po!er(9 then !e need to be declaring( 9Bo are !orthy to take the scroll and open itEs seals.9 8e need to sho t !ith lo d voices( 98orthy is the La%b !ho !as slain to receive po!er( and !ealth( and !isdo%( and strength( and honor( and praise( and glory. 8orthy is the La%b( !orthy is the La%b( !orthy is the La%b( !orthy is the La%bA9 GodEs 8ord describes !orship as an action "illed !ith po!er( a thority( devotion( s b%ission( anointing( and inti%acy. The !orld pict res it as a dead( %eaningless religio s eFercise reserved "or Goyless religio s people. The tr th is that it is a holy " nction enGoyed by angels( %en( and the entire created niverse. Bet there is a special level o" !orship reserved solely "or those !ho have been redee%ed by the blood o" the La%b o" God. Bo and 5 need to enter into that !orship !ith all o" o r hearts. 5t is ti%e "or s to con"or% to the heavenly pattern and increase the vol %e and intensity o" o r high !orship to the 3ing o" 3ings and Lord o" Lords ntil =e Goins s in o r nityA
'art 55
Postures of Worship
Chapter 6
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8plifte. Han.s %ignal 3ictorious %acrifice2
D Lord, I call upon !hee; hasten to me. Gi1e ear to my 1oice when I call to !hee. Bay my prayer be counted as incense before !hee; the lifting up of my hands as the e1ening offering (0salm "6"#"9 '. The neFt ti%e yo "eel like keeping yo r hands st ck in yo r pockets or clinging to a p rse d ring a !orship( 5 !ant yo to re%e%ber DliGah the prophet. 5n 2irst 3ings( chapter 10( DliGah alone "aced 91prophets o" +aal and the Asherah in a sho!do!n by "ire in "ront o" the %en o" 5srael. +y %idday( the idol !orshipers !ere still carrying on. )nd it came about when midday was past, that they ra1ed until the time of the offering of the e1ening sacrifice; but there was no 1oice, no one answered, and no one paid attention. !hen Eli?ah said to all the people, (+ome near to me.( -o all the people came near to him. )nd he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down (" %ings "/# @972'. DliGah !aited to reb ild the altar o" the Lord ntil 9the ti%e o" the evening sacri"ice.9 5t didnEt %atter to hi% that the l natic prophets o" "alse gods raved( !aved( and c t the%selves all day long in "ront o" their dea" and d %b idols. DliGah !as eFpecting so%ething to take place
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at the ti%e o" the evening sacri"ice. =e !as so con"ident o" it that he told the "ickle %en o" 5srael( 95 !ant yo to get close to %e. 5 !ant yo to see !hatEs abo t to take place.9 8hen !e talk abo t the evening sacri"ice( !e are talking abo t a ti%e !hen !e e<pect something to ta*e place in our presence, and we e<pect something to ta*e place in the hea1enlies. The botto% line is that !e sho ld eFpect to see God descend in ,is glory in response to o r gi"tA The 'sal%ist !rote( 94ay %y prayer be co nted as incense be"ore TheeJ the li"ting p o" %y hands as the evening o""ering9 H's. 161?.I. =e is really saying( 9Lord( !hen Bo see %y hands li"ted p to Bo ( let the% represent to Bo the sa%e thing that the evening sacri"ice represents to Bo .9 5n ) %bers( chapter 10( the Lord tells 4oses so%ething pec liar concerning the priestly tribe o" Levites. $et apart to serve God in priestly !orship( this tribe o!ned no land( operated no b sinesses( and "ar%ed no land. 5nstead( they !ere s pported thro gh the tithes H1percentI given by the other 11 tribes o" 5srael. God told 4oses to tell the Levites? ...you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe. )nd your offering shall be reckoned to you as the grain from the threshing floor or the full produce from the wine 1at (>umbers "/# 8b9 A'. ;o yo nderstand !hat God is saying in verse .7C =e is telling this tribe o" priestly servants( 95 !ill co nt yo r one percent tithe o""ering as i" it is the entire grain o""ering "ro% the threshing "loor or all o" the full produce taken "ro% the !inepress.9 )o! think abo t 3ing ;avidEs prayer. 8hen ;avid( the psal%ist( prayed to God( 9Let the li"ting o" %y hands be as the evening sacri"ice(9 he !as really saying( 95n Bo r heart and %ind( God( let the o""ering o" %y li"ted hands be no di""erent "ro% the total evening sacri"iceA9 8hat does that %ean "or sC 5" !e can overco%e o r a!k!ardness and pride eno gh to li"t o r hands in tr e praise and !orship to God( then =e !ill le1erage or increase the val e and i%pact o" that !orship eFponentiallyA A lot o" people co%e to !orship( b t !hen they see "olks !orshiping God !itho t inhibitions or hang ps( they ask( 98hy do they have their hands li"ted p any!ayC 8hat does it all %eanC9
#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA
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5 sa! a cartoon once !here a g y !as in a very conservative and staid ch rch. As the %inister !as speaking in very so%ber( sober tones( this g y !as sitting o t in the a dience. Dvery ti%e the %inister !o ld say so%ething( the g y !o ld say 9=allel Gah( a%enA Bes( praise the Lord.9 2inally( an sher( !ho !as dressed in a "or%al o t"it co%plete !ith !hite gloves( leaned over and said( 98e donEt praise the Lord in this ch rchA9 H8ell( yo kno! !hat he %eant? 98e donEt praise the Lord o t lo d( !e donEt li"t o r hands( !e donEt clapJ !e o""er silent sacri"ices.9I 8e have already established that the lti%ate !orship handbook is the +ible. 5" !e really !ant to kno! ho! to !orship God( then !e need to look in the +ible and see !hat the great leaders o" the "aith did !hen they !orshiped God. 8hat they did !ill !ork "or s as !ell as it did "or the% beca se they are a lot closer to the pattern than !e are. Bes( the >ld Testa%ent syste% o" ani%al sacri"ices has been replaced by the greater sacri"ice o" the $acri"iced La%b o" God( Jes s Christ. Bet the patterns o" !orship established by 3ing ;avid prod ced res lts that !e G st arenEt seeing in o r !orship. That tells %e !e still have so%e things to learn and a considerable !ay to goA 5" yo donEt kno! ho! to !orship( yo have a serio s proble% beca se yo co ld be o""ering so%ething to God that =e really doesnEt !antA 5" =e is asking "or obedience in a proble% area o" yo r li"e( b t all yo give =i% is a 1- percent tithe check every other !eek( then yo are displeasing GodA Bo %ight think yo are being holy !hen yo are really on dangero s gro nd beca se o" disobedience. 5 attended a %eeting abo t a decade ago !ith several tho sand pastors "ro% aro nd the co ntry. 8e !ere in the %iddle o" a tre%endo s ti%e o" !orship right a"ter the late Drn +aFter had preached a %essage on the res rrectiona %essage that %ade s believe that Jes s co ld co%e at any %o%ent. 5n "act( a lot o" s !ere looking p at the ceiling as !e " lly eFpected =i% to co%e at any ti%e. 8hile !e entered even deeper into !orship( a prophetic !ord ca%e "orth that declared? 9Take o"" yo r shoes( "or the gro nd !here yo stand is holy gro nd.9 Tho sands o" voice responded( 9Beah( hallel Gah( a%enA9 + t !hen 5 looked p on the plat"or%( 5 noticed that a respected teacher by the na%e o" ;erek 'rince had slipped his shoes o""A 8hen 5 looked at hi%( 5 tho ght( What:s wrong with 4ere*; Why has he ta*en his shoes off; Then it s ddenly da!ned on %e? 4ere*
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0rince belie1ed the prophecy and acted accordingly. 8hen God says( 9Take yo r shoes o""(9 yo had better take those shoes o"". 5t doesnEt %atter !hether yo have holes in yo r socks or not. Take the% o"" and enGoy the "r its o" obedience( beca se disobedience pl s sacri"ice still e& als disobedience. ;avid prayed( 94ay %y prayer be co nted as incense be"ore TheeJ the li"ting p o" %y hands as the evening o""ering9 H's. 161?.I. 5 !ant yo to nderstand so%ething abo t !orship and !hat takes place !hen yo li"t p yo r hands to the Lord. =osea the prophet declared? Eeturn, D Israel, to the Lord your God, for you ha1e stumbled because of your iniHuity. Take words with you and return to the Lord. -ay to ,im, (!a*e away all iniHuity, )nd recei1e us graciously, !hat we may present the fruit of our lips( (,osea "6#"9 '. The 3ing Ja%es *ersion o" the +ible translates the last part o" this passage this !ay? 9so !ill !e render the cal1es o" o r lips.9 5n this case( the 3ing Ja%es *ersion agrees !ith the original =ebre! %an scripts( !hich contain an obvio s re"erence to the ani%al sacri"ices %ade "or the atone%ent o" sin. 8hen yo o""er a sacri"ice( yo Ere giving God so%ething. + t God is not %erely interested in !hat yo b rn on so%e altar. Today =e asks s to give =i% the sacri"ice or "r it o" o r lips( as !e give thanks nto =i% and !orship =i%. This is echoed and con"ir%ed nder the )e! Covenant in the Dpistle to the =ebre!s? 9Thro gh =i% then( let s contin ally o""er p a sacri"ice o" praise to God( that is( the "r it o" lips that give thanks to =is na%e9 H=eb. 1/?11I. Look closely at this revol tionary >ld Testa%ent passage? 5ut I am afflicted and in pain; Bay !hy sal1ation, D God, set me securely on high. I will praise the name of God with song, )nd shall magnify ,im with than*sgi1ing. )nd it will please the Lord better than an ox or a young bull with horns and hoofs. !he humble ha1e seen it and are glad; you who see* God, let your heart re1i1e.
#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA 3or the Lord hears the needy, and does not despise ,is who are prisoners (0salm 8@# @977'.
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8hen yo are o""ering God thanksgiving( according to the $cript res yo are o""ering =i% 9a better sacri"ice than a b rnt b ll.9 The praises and !orship o" yo r lips are yo r sacri"ices( yo r b lls( yo r %eal o""erings( yo r "irst "r its. )o( they donEt replace "inancial giving beca se giving is still part o" GodEs re& ire%ent "or disciples( b t the sincere !ords o" yo r lips are o" great val e to God. The apostle 'eter !rote to the ch rches? )nd coming to ,im as to a li1ing stone, re?ected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, =ou also, as li1ing stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus +hrist (" 0eter #69$'. 8hen yo enter into !orship( yo are o""ering spirit al sacri"ices that are G st as real to God as literal sacri"ices o" b llocks( oFen( hei"ers( ra%s( and goats. Bo also are giving %eal o""erings. 8hen yo r prayers go p be"ore God( they are real to God. 8hen %ost people say 9spirit al(9 they are thinking? -piritualIyeah, something that:s not real. The tr th is that the spirit al is %ore real than the nat ralA The spirit al real% is going to last a lot longer than nat ral things. 8hat does God say abo t the spirit al sacri"ices !e o""er to =i%C They are 9acceptable9 to God. 8hy did ;avid pray abo t the li"ting o" his handsC The things !e do !ith o r hands have "ar %ore %eaning than %ost people !o ld ever drea%A Dven a & ick s rvey o" the role o" 9hands9 in the $cript res !ill t rn p so%e real s rprises. The li"ting o" the hands is associated !ith the taking o" an oath? 9And Abra% said to the king o" $odo%( 5 have lift up mine hand nto the Lord( the %ost high God( the possessor o" heaven and earth9 HGen. 16?.. 3J*I. D7ekiel the prophet !rote( 9Th s saith the Lord GodJ in the day !hen 5 chose 5srael( and lifted up Bine hand nto the seed o" the ho se o" Jacob( and %ade 4ysel" kno!n nto the% in the land o" Dgypt( when I lifted up Bine hand unto them, saying( 5 a% the Lord yo r God9 HD7ek. .-?1 3J*I. 'a l told Ti%othy( 9There"ore 5 !ant the %en in every place to pray( lifting up holy hands, !itho t !rath and dissension9 H1 Ti%. .?0I. $o%eti%es !hen o r hands are li"ted p( !e are saying to God( 9God( 5 believe !hat 5E% abo t to ask Bo to do.9 8hen 4oses stood on the
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banks o" the <ed $ea !ith the 5sraelites and 'haraoh close behind( God told hi%? (Why are you crying out to Be; !ell the sons of Israel to go forward. ()nd as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand o1er the sea and di1ide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land (E<odus "6#"$9"8'. The praised or stretched o t hand is a biblical state%ent and sy%bol o" po!er and divine a thority. Bo r praised hand speaks abo t !hat yo eFpect God to do in response to yo r "aith. The 'sal%ist !rote h ndreds o" years later abo t the day 4oses eFtended his hand and sta"" over the <ed $ea? 9The sea looked and "led9 H's. 116?/I. =allel GahA 5t is no %arvel to %e that the ene%y doesnEt !ant yo to raise yo r hands. 8hen 4oses stretched o t his hands( to all appearances he !as G st eFtending a rod. + t the greater reality is that he !as deter%ining the o tco%e o" a crisis. 8hen he held his hands p !ith the help o" Aaron and = r on a hilltop later on( he looked pretty silly to the nat ral %an. + t the greater reality !as that he !as deter%ining the o tco%e o" a battle in the valley belo!. 5 think that %any ti%es Christians donEt reali7e ho! % ch they are deter%ining so%ething beyond their scope o" nderstanding thro gh their obedience. And "or %e( the highest "or% o" !orship is obedience. >ne ti%e !hen 5 !as in =ong 3ong( 5 sa! so%e people practicing 9Tai Chi(9 an ancient oriental "or% o" eFercise based on %artial arts %ove%ents per"or%ed at an eFtre%ely slo! speed. 8hen 5 sa! those people practicing Tai Chi( it !as the !eirdest looking thing. + t it !as nor%al and nat ral to those people beca se they had been practicing those %ove%ents "or years. Dach o" those %ove%ents !as a %artial eFercise !ith a speci"ic na%e. 5t didnEt %ean anything to %e( initially( b t then 5 re%e%bered a conversation 5Ed had !ith ;erek 'rince years be"ore. 5 asked ;erek abo t Boga beca se 5 kne! that !hen he beca%e a Christian( he !as delivered "ro% a really po!er" l spirit o" Boga a"ter practicing it "or years. 5 asked hi%( 9;o yo still do the eFercisesC9 At that ti%e( 5 !as sing Boga eFercises as stretching ro tines beca se 5 !as r nning a lot.
#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA
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;erek said( 9)o( 5 donEt do the% any%ore beca se nobody really kno!s !hat the body post res %ean. 8hen yo Ere sitting in the lot s position or in the plo! position H!hich is another characteristic ter% in yogaI( yo co ld be %aking key state%ents to the de%onic !orld !ith yo r post re. $o 5 donEt do the% any%ore.9 8hen 5 p lled those t!o pieces togetherthe Tai Chi thing and the state%ents ;erek 'rince %ade abo t the post res %aking state%ents to the spirit real%5 said( 95 !onder then ho! % ch o" !hat !e do in o r !orship are state%ents to an invisible real%( state%ents that have a!eso%e po!erC 'erhaps God chooses and ses the !eak thing o" the li"ting o" hands( or the "oolish thing o" dancing in !ays that 5 donEt nderstand. 2or instance( !hen 5 !orship the Lord( even i" that act o" !orship %ight look "oreign or "oolish to so%eone else( perhaps it has acco%plished so%ething "or God and "or the p rposes o" God that 5 canEt see. The 'sal%ist !rote( 9Let the high praises o" God be in their %o th...to bind their kings !ith chains( and their nobles !ith "etters o" iron9 H's. 169?,:0I. That %eans %y !orship to God is really " l"illing a " nction in =eaven that is beyond %y scope. =o! % ch %ore o"ten !o ld that happen i" 5 really nderstood !hat happens !hen 5 obediently !orship GodC 8hen so%eone says( 9LetEs G st li"t o r hands be"ore =i%(9 is it possible that G st the si%ple act o" li"ting o r hands be"ore God enables =i% to do so%ething as po!er" l as =e did !hen Joash shot the arro! o t o" the !indo! to!ard the eastC > t!ardly this action appeared to be an absol tely "oolish thing( b t it acco%plished a victory. $o%eti%es( !hen yo %ost need to raise yo r hands!hen yo are i%pressed by the =oly $pirit to raise the% pyo !ill have so%ething co%e over yo that says( 95 donEt "eel like raising %y hands.9 )o! that little voice talking to yo is really the adversary. =e doesnEt !ant yo to raise yo r hands beca se the %o%ent that yo do yo Ere really saying( (In your face, de1il.( 2rankly( satan doesnEt !ant God or GodEs anointed representative in his "aceA 5n 5saiah 1/?.( GodEs 8ord says( 9<aise a banner on a bare hilltop( sho t to the%J beckon to the% to enter the gates o" the nobles9 H)5*I. 5n %odern ter%s( God is saying( 9Look( i" yo donEt like !hatEs going on in yo r neighborhood( go o t and li"t yo r hands p to 4e be"ore they p t the g n on yo A9 Let the li"ting o" yo r hands be a victory "lagA Let the li"ting o" yo r hands be the sa%e thing as !hen 4oses li"ted p his rod over a battle"ield and !atched GodEs people !in the battle against A%alek Hsee DF. 17?1-:11I.
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There !ere really t!o battles going on in that story. >ne !as do!n on the act al battle"ield( and one !as p on the hilltop !ith 4oses( Aaron( and = r. As long as 4osesE hands !ere raised( the people o" God prevailed. 8hen the hands dropped( so did the "ort nes o" 5sraelEs ar%y. 8hyC As long as 4osesE hands !ere p( God fought for Israel. A"ter the battle( 4oses b ilt an altar o" re%e%brance to God and called it Jehovah )issiGod is %y +anner. There are a lot o" "olks in %inistry !ho donEt reali7e that their 9s ccess9 didnEt co%e beca se they preach so !ell. 5t ca%e beca se so%e!here( so%ebody had his hands li"ted p "or the%. All o" those victories !ere !on in the prayer roo%( not the p lpitA +attles are !on !herever holy hands are li"ted p to God. The +ible also tells s !e can bless God !ith a 9!ave o""ering9 today G st as Aaron did according to the +ook o" Levitic s. #nder the )e! Covenant( the e%phasis is on o r hands and the "r it o" o r lips rather than on the physical parts o" a sacri"iced ani%al. !hen he slaughtered the o< and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings which was for the people; and )aron:s sons handed the blood to him and he sprin*led it around on the altar. )s for the portions of fat from the o< and from the ram, the fat tail, and the fat co1ering and the *idneys and the lobe of the li1er, !hey now placed the portions of fat on the breasts; and he offered them up in smo*e on the altar. 5ut the breasts and the right thigh )aron presented as a wave offering before the Lord, ?ust as Boses had commanded. !hen )aron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after ma*ing the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. )nd Boses and )aron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. !hen fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces
#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA (Le1iticus @#"/9 6'.
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5n this pre:Calvary sacri"ice( Aaron held p a h ge ch nk o" %eat that he had c t "ro% the center o" an ani%al sacri"ice and !aved it be"ore the Lord. Then he li"ted his bloody hands and blessed the people. Today o r sins have been !ashed a!ay by the precio s blood o" Jes s Christ( and =e ever lives to intercede "or s to the 2ather. 8e can still li"t o r hands and bless in =is na%eand !e no longer need to !ave the breast o" a sacri"iced ani%al or a bo!l o" grain. 8e can !ave an o""ering o" adoration( praise( and !orship to God the 2ather( and !e can eFtend o r hands and bless others in the na%e o" Jes s !ith % ch greater po!er and a thorityA ;avid sa! past the ani%al sacri"ices to sacri"ices o" the heart and hand in 'sal% 1/6( !hen he declared( 9Li"t p yo r hands to the sanct ary( and bless the Lord9 H's. 1/6?.I. HThe !ord sanctuaryI Hodesh in the =ebre!co ld act ally be translated 9the $acred >ne9 in this verse.I =o! can !e bless GodC =o! can the lesser bless the greaterC 2irst o" all( God is blessed by o r obedience. 8hen Jes s s b%itted =i%sel" to be bapti7ed in the % ddy Jordan Heven tho gh =e !as sinlessI( =is obedience to ched the heart o" God !ho spoke o t o" =eaven and declared( 9This is 4y beloved $on( in !ho% 5 a% !ell pleased9 H4t. /?17I. 8hen !e li"t p o r hands in obedience to the $piritEs pro%pting( !e i%%ediately beco%e %ore involved in !hat God !ants s to do. A spirit al battle %ight be going on so%e!herea battle in !hich God !ants to se s thro gh o r obedience. >r =e %ay !ant to do so%ething in o r o!n lives. 5 think a lot o" battles are lost beca se !e donEt obey God. 5Eve been in a n %ber o" %eetings in !hich 5 told people( 9LetEs li"t o r hands(9 only to see %ost o" the% stand there and stare at %e. 5 co ld al%ost hear the% saying to the%selves( 95 kno! yo Ere not talking to %e( preacher( beca se 5 donEt li"t %y hands "or nobodyA9 5 have talked to %y brothers abo t ;adEs s ccess" l %iracle and healing %inistry. 4y brotherEs god%other said( 95 sed to !atch hi% pray( and be"ore he !o ld p t his hands on anybody( he !o ld li"t his hands be"ore the Lord.9 $he added( 95 have yet to see hi% pray "or anybody that God didnEt to ch.9 8hy sho ld !e li"t o r hands to GodC +y li"ting o r hands !e are
saying( 9God( 5 pro%ise Bo that Bo !ill get all o" the glory9 or 9God( 5E% telling yo ( 5 need Bo r help.9 $o%eti%es o r pli"ted hands say( 9God( this is Bo r victory( beca se Bo Ere the banner( Bo Ere the !inner in all o" this. 5E% !aving the God "lag !hen 5 !ave Bo r )a%e over this circ %stance. 5E% saying to the devil( E5n yo r "aceAE 9 Dvery ti%e !e eFtend o r obedience beyond o r tho ghts to physical action( !e are %oved "ro% sel":conscio sness to God: conscio sness. 8e are ready to !orship.
Chapter 1
)
He Teaches 9y Han.s to War
5lessed be the Lord, my roc*, Who trains my hands for war, )nd my fingers for battle (0salm "66#"'. There is one place in every desert !here yo !ill "ind li"e:giving re"resh%ent( and al%ost contin al %ove%ent( activity( and violence. 5E% talking abo t the desert oasis( !here !ater so%eho! "inds its !ay to the s r"ace o" a sea o" sand. 8hen the 5sraelites crossed the <ed $ea and le"t 'haraoh and his ar%y to sink or s!i%( they soon "o nd the%selves s rro nded by sandy !astes !itho t !ater. This happened t!ice( and each ti%e( like %ost h %ans( they "ell back on their nat ral abilities to solve the proble% and pro%ptly began to co%plain. God !orked a %iracle thro gh 4oses despite the do bt and nbelie" and s pplied !ater "ro% a bitter pool the "irst ti%e( and "ro% a rock the second ti%e. Dverything !orked o t !onder" llyor did itC The +ible says that once the 5sraelites "o nd !ater the second ti%e Hthey !ere % ch deeper into the desert by that ti%eI( then the A%alekites "o nd them. A%alekites never sho! p ntil !ater is aro nd. The %ore yo ask God to !ater yo r li"e( the %ore yo sho ld eFpect to see 9A%alekites9 popping p in yo r li"e. A%alekites !ant !ater the%selves( b t they donEt !ant to dig !ells. They !o ld rather G %p yo and steal !hat yo have "o nd or labored to create. The "irst ti%e these descendants o" Dsa sho! p is in DFod s 17 !hen they con"ronted 4oses and the sons o" 5srael( asking the% to reveal !here
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God gave the% !ater. The +ible describes the incident in the +ook o" ;e terono%y? Eemember what )male* did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt. ,ow he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God (4euteronomy $#"A9"/'. The A%alekites %atch the LordEs description o" the thie" in John 1-?1-a? 9The thie" co%es only to steal( and kill( and destroy....9 The eFistence and persistence o" this desert clan o" thieves and % rderers in the nat ral is a type and shado! o" the spirit al predators stalking GodEs people in hopes o" attacking the !eak( the stragglers( and the separated %e%bers along the road o" destiny. They also eFplain !hy God !ants to teach our hands to war. The dra%atic battle described in DFod s 17?0:1, !as especially signi"icant beca se every 5sraelite in the battle had been raised as a slave in captivity( "orbidden to o!n or se any !eapon. 4aybe 5E% reading too % ch into this event( b t in %y opinion( those 5sraelites sho ld have been really grate" l that God !as "ighting "or the% !hile 4osesE hands !ere li"ted to =eavenA H$ee DFod s 17?11.I They !ere a%ate rs( ntried !arriors in har%Es !ay "ighting to de"eat %ore eFperienced adversaries( and they !ere sing the n"a%iliar !eapons o" their "or%er Dgyptian %asters. +y the ti%e the 5sraelites "inally crossed the Jordan to take the 'ro%ised Land( the do bting generation born in slavery had passed a!ay. They !ere replaced by their desert:born children( a generation that God had trans"or%ed into a nation o" seasoned !arriors. Cent ries later( God !o ld se a yo th" l 5sraelite poet and shepherd to raise p and lead the largest( %ost deadly standing ar%y in Asia 4inor H;avid and his %en o" reno!nI. )nyone who dares to claim and fulfill the promises and purposes of God must become s*illful in war. >nce yo get !ater o" the =oly $pirit in yo r li"e( yo can eFpect the 9desert:d!elling A%alekites9 to sho! p( too. Jes sE "irst "ace:to: "ace enco nter !ith the devil ca%e i%%ediately a"ter the =oly $pirit descended pon =i% !hen =e !as bapti7ed in the Jordan <iver by John the +aptist. The +ible says the ,oly -pirit led =i% to the !ilderness to be te%pted and tried by the devil. 5tEs hard to believe the =oly Ghost !o ld do that to so%eone( b t i" =e did it to Jes s to " l"ill
=e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar
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GodEs per"ect !ill( then =eEll do it to yo tooA 5" yo are ever to possess the land "or GodEs 3ingdo%( yo are destined to "ace so%e A%alekites in battle. 5n the process( God !ill train yo r hands "or !ar and yo r "ingers "or battleA 8hat did 4oses do right a"ter the A%alekites !ere de"eatedC =e b ilt an altar. And he called it( 9The Lord is %y +anner9 or Jeho1ah >issi. 8hen yo r n into resistance or s ""er a s rprise attack "ro% %odern A%alekites( then no %atter ho! hostile the sit ation %ay be( G st p t yo r hands p and say( 9Jehovah )issiA The Lord is %y bannerA9 ;onEt "ight the battle alone!ave the banner o" God and release =is po!er into the sit ation !ith praised hands "ro% the high gro nd o" "aith. That %eans the battle belo! can have only one o tco%e. 3or to this end also I wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 5ut whom you forgi1e anything I forgi1e also; for indeed what I ha1e forgi1en, if I ha1e forgi1en anything I did it for your sa*es in the presence of +hrist, In order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes ( +orinthians #@9""'. The apostle 'a l says so%ething later in his letter to the Corinthians that sho ld !ake s p and open o r eyes? )nd no wonder, for e1en -atan disguises himself as an angel of light. !herefore it is not surprising if his ser1ants also disguise themsel1es as ser1ants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds ( +orinthians ""#"69"$'. 9Beah( 5 %et satan once( and he looked like a gargoyle.9 )o( that probably !asnEt hi%. =e is a %as& erader. )o!( i" yo tell %e yo %et a person !ho glo!ed in the dark and said that he !o ld give yo everything yo ever !antedthen 5 !o ld say yo Eve probably %et the great trans"or%er( satan. 4any o" the proble%s in o r lives and ch rches arise beca se !e are ignorant o" satanEs sche%es and !e allo! hi% to o t!it s. 8e need to "ollo! Jes s and stay alert to satanEs sche%ing !ays. 4any Christians are na!are that God also has
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sche%es( devices( and plans. God has a %aster strategy and individ al battle strategies "or each o" s. A lot o" s G st need a 9perspective transplant.9 Bo Eve heard the co%plaint( 9$o%e "olks are so heavenly %inded that theyEre no earthly good.9 5 think that !e need so%e heavenly %inded people right no!A 8e need so%e "olks !ho think heavenly tho ghts instead o" earthbo nd "leshly tho ghts. 8here sho ld yo be sitting right no! according to the +ook o" DphesiansC 'a l !rites( 9LGod hasM raised s p !ith =i%( and seated s !ith =i% in the heavenly places( in Christ Jes s9 HDph. .?,I. 8hat angle or perspective do yo have o" earthly a""airs !hen yo are seated in the heavenly placesC Bo are looking down on the sit ations. <e%e%ber that the ene%y !ants to keep yo r "oc s t rned a!ay "ro% GodEs strategy "or !orld con& est. =e !ants yo to get "oc sed on his diabolical strategy "or !orld con& est so he can do yo in. The sol tion is God =i%sel"( !ho 9teaches yo r hands to !ar.9 The #.$. Treas ry ;epart%ent sed to train ne! agents ho! to deal !ith co nter"eit %oney by "oc sing eFcl sively on 9the real st "".9 They never eFposed the% to co nter"eit %oney. They al!ays ta ght the% the real st "". 9=ereEs the real %oney. This is a real dollar bill. This is a real ten. This is a real "ive. This is a real h ndred:dollar bill.9 These agents: in:training !o ld st dy the real thing "or !eeks and !eeks. Then one day the instr ctors !o ld slip so%e co nter"eit %oney into the %oney strea%. $ ddenly( it !o ld da!n on the trainees? 9=ey( thereEs so%ething !rong !ith this billA9 God is trying to get s "oc sed on the real( b t the !orld !ants s to "oc s on the co nter"eit. 9$t dy the c lts. $t dy these "ringe gro ps. $t dy the satanists and the )e! Age doctrines.9 Bo donEt need to st dy "alse doctrines to kno! one !hen yo hear itA HJ st like yo donEt need to eat bad "ood to kno! good "ood.I 5" yo gro! p eating good "ood( the bad "ood !ill instantly stand o t to yo . 8hen tr th is the staple o" yo r spirit al diet( anyti%e so%eone co%es along !ith error( yo !onEt look "or so%eone to point the error o t to yo . Bo !ill be the one pointing it o t. God is saying( 95 !ant to teach yo r hands to !ar. 5 !ant to teach yo to do battle.9 This training is a process( a progression "ro% s%all to large( "ro% si%ple to advanced levels. Jere%iah 1.?1 says( 95" yo have r n !ith "oot%en and they have tired yo o t( then ho! can yo co%pete !ith horsesC 5" yo "all do!n in a land o" peace( ho! !ill yo do in the thicket o" the JordanC9
=e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar
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5" yo havenEt had battle eFperience( God is going to give yo so%e. Bo either !ill enter a battle !ith battle eFperience or yo !ill enter it !itho t eFperience. 5 reco%%end yo get the eFperienceA God teaches yo r hands to !ar by letting yo go thro gh sit ations and di""ic lties that "orce yo to overco%e by sing tools and abilities beyond yo r o!n strength and ability. >ow these are the nations which the Lord left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not e<perienced any of the wars of +anaan; Dnly in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not e<perienced it formerly (Judges 7#"9 '. 4ost o" s eFpect to learn !ar"are in a classroo% or $ nday school class setting !ith chalkboards and +ible charts. Bes( yo can learn principles o" !ar"are in the sa"ety o" yo r seat( b t once yo learn the principles( you are accountable for their application. God le"t ene%ies in the land G st so =e co ld test all those 5sraelites !ho had not eFperienced any o" the !ars in Canaan. The only !ay to learn !ar"are is thro gh tests and trials. The =ebre! !ord "or teach is lamad. 5t %eans 9to eFercise in91 and 9to goad9. Las i" enco raging cattle to %ove thro gh an n"a%iliar gate or to p ll a plo!( sing an oF goad or a 9cattle prod9M. 5t is % ch stronger and %ore action:oriented than o r static Dnglish %eaning "or the !ord teach. >bvio sly( God !ants to teach =is people so%e very speci"ic things abo t !ar"are. )o!( !e nderstandand !eEve been ingesting this again and again and againthat the !eapons o" o r !ar"are are not "leshly. They are not carnal. They are not nat ral !eapons. + t yo Eve got to hear this. 8e do have !ar"are( and !e do have !eapons. 8e do have ene%ies. 8e do have "oes. They are in the heavenlies. They are not neFt door to yo . They are not yo r bosses. They are not yo r %ates. They are not yo r spo ses. They are not the political candidates. $o%e!here !eEre going to have to get a dra%a tea% to do so%ething to act o t a p ppet thing !here the real po!er is in the heavenlies and !e do!n here !ill be %anip lated by the po!ers. 5t can be %ore clearly seen. $o%e people say( 94an( 5 donEt kno! !hatEs going on in %y li"e. 5 donEt nderstand !hatEs taking place.9 Get in the real !orld. God has
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le"t so%e ene%ies here. And i" yo havenEt had any !ar eFperience( yo Ere going to get so%e. ThatEs part o" a test. 5tEs part o" a teaching. 5tEs part o" yo r learning eFperience. GodEs 8ord care" lly catalogs skills in !ar"are? 9The sons o" <e ben and the Gadites and the hal":tribe o" 4anasseh( consisting o" valiant %en( %en !ho bore shield and s!ord and shot !ith bo!( and !ere skill" l in battle( !ere 66(7,-( !ho !ent to !ar9 H1 Chron. 1?10I. 5n a later chapter( the 8ord says( 9)o! these are the heads o" the %ighty %en !ho% ;avid had( !ho gave hi% strong s pport in his kingdo%( together !ith all 5srael( to ma*e him *ing, according to the !ord o" the Lord concerning 5srael9 H1 Chron. 11?1-I. 8hat !as their goal and p rposeC 9To %ake hi% king9 Hthe )e! 5nternational *ersion says they 9gave his kingship strong s pport to e<tend it over the !hole land9I. 8hat sho ld be the goal o" the Ch rchC To eFtend the 3ingdo% o" Jes s Christ over the !hole landA 5tEs going to take so%e !ar"are to reach that goal. 8e !ill have to cast o t de%ons and heal the sick. At so%e point( !e even !ill have to raise the dead to get the Gob done. Training %akes the di""erence bet!een s ccess and "ail re in al%ost every area o" li"e. The +ible is "illed !ith stories o" people !ho overca%e adversity by tr sting God and yielding to =is training. ;avid didnEt start o t on top. =e didnEt al!ays have a %ighty ar%y o" skilled !arriors backing hi% p? -o 4a1id departed from there and escaped to the ca1e of )dullam; and when his brothers and all his father:s household heard of it, they went down there to him. )nd e1eryone who was in distress, and e1eryone who was in debt, and e1eryone who was discontented, gathered to him; and he became captain o1er them. >ow there were about four hundred men with him (" -amuel #"9 '. ;avid trained his %en o" !ar the old:"ashioned !ayby cond cting !ar Hin his case( against the 'hilistinesI. 8hat a %otley cre!. 9;avid( 5E% in debt. 8ill yo be %y pastorC9 9;avid( 5E% so pset and discontent !ith %y ch rch !here 5Eve been. 8ill yo be %y pastorC9 These %en !ere distressed( and ;avidEs task !as to teach the% to beco%e %ighty %en o" !ar. =o! do yo do that !ith discontented( indebted( distressed peopleC Bo do it very lovingly( very patiently. The res lts o" ;avidEs labors are legendary.
=e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar )nd these constitute the list of the mighty men whom 4a1id had# Jashobeam, the son of a ,achmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time )nd after him was EleaCar the son of 4odo, the )hohite, who was one of the three mighty men. ,e was with 4a1id at 0asdammim when the 0hilistines were gathered together there to battle, and there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled before the 0hilistines. )nd they too* their stand in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and struck down the !hilistines; and the Lord sa1ed them by a great 1ictory (" +hronicles ""#""9"6'.
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5 serio sly do bt that any o" s !ill be eFpected to s!ing a s!ord in a physical battle on GodEs behal"( b t !e %ay be dra"ted "or service as a !orshiper and prayer !arrior. Dven in ;avidEs day( singers !ere considered i%portant assets in the ho se o" God. They too re& ired training and skill to do their Gob. )ll these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the ser1ice of the house of God. )saph, Jeduthun and ,eman were under the direction of the *ing. )nd their number who were trained in singing to the Lord, with their relati1es, all who were skillful, was // (" +hronicles $#89A'. 2ro% the battle"ield to the tabernacle o" God( ;avid trained and directed highly trained( proven %en !ho !ere skilled in their partic lar discipline. They had !on reno!n 9by reason o" se9 and thro gh hard: !on eFperience in action. 5" yo are going to be a !arrior( yo !ill need so%e eFperience in !ar. God is too !ise to drop yo in the %iddle o" the hottest and %ost sophisticated battle !hen yo have never been in battle be"ore. =e begins o r training by overco%ing s%all obstacles and spirit al opponents and then %oves s on to larger( %ore "or%idable battles as o r abilities( skills( and con"idence gro!s. The !riter o" the Dpistle to the =ebre!s says( 9+ t solid "ood is "or the %at re( !ho beca se o" practice have their senses trained to discern
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good and evil9 H=eb. 1?16I. $olid "ood is "or the mature. 4at re believers are people !ho have practiced and sed their spirit al senses again and again in direct con"rontation !ith the ene%y. They arenEt "ooled easily. They can spot the di""erences bet!een good and evil !ith con"idence beca se they are e<perienced. 5" yo are %at re( yo !ill be able to see !hat others canEt see beca se yo Eve been there be"ore. )ear the end o" his earthly li"e( the apostle 'a l !rote( 95 have "o ght the good "ight( 5 have "inished the co rse( 5 have kept the "aith9 H. Ti%. 6?7I. God !ants yo to "ight a good "ight too. + t yo canEt even %ake a good stand i" yo donEt kno! !hat the "ighting is all abo t. =ebre!s ,?1 says( 9There"ore leaving the ele%entary teaching abo t the Christ( let s press on to maturity...( =e ends his rgent appeal to the people to go on to %at rity by saying( 9And this !e shall do( i" God per%its9 H=eb. ,?/I. $ay these !ords !ith %e please. 98e cannot go on to %at rity nless God per%its s to.9 )o!( hereEs !hat 5 !ant to say to yo . God !ill not per%it yo to go on to %at rity and bypass any grade. Bo donEt skip grades in the 3ingdo%. 9This is "irst grade( son.9 Bo %ay say( 9>kay. 8hat i" 5 donEt like itC9 God says( 9Then yo spend a lot o" ti%e here.9 =e trains s. =e teaches s. =e opens o r ears to listen as one being ta ght. >ne o" the principle reasons that ;avidEs kingdo% !as eFtended beyond any other kingdo% !as? ;avid enco ntered and reached %ore bo ndaries in his r le than any other. This happened beca se the pri%ary aspect o" ;avidEs kingdo% !as !orship and praise. 5tEs pheno%enal !hat God can do !hen people are praising =i%. =eEs training %y handsJ =eEs teaching %e. 5E% beco%ing skilled in this thing. 5E% learning ho! to say( 9God( 5 !orship Bo .9 5E% learning that the li"ting o" %y hands is the sa%e as a sacri"ice. 5E% learning that 5 can p t a high hand in the ene%yEs "ace. ;onEt despise the day o" yo r training. ;onEt despise the day o" s%all things. 5 honestly believe there are things that God is going to sho! s in the " t re that are the res lt o" o r obedient and s*illed !ar"are in !orship todayA 5 believe =e !ill call s and say( 9Co%e here. Let 4e sho! yo !hat yo !ere doing in 199.( and then on Christ%as night in 1996( and in A g st o" 1997. Dach ti%e yo raised yo r hands high in the air in 4y na%e on those occasions( these key events took place in the heavenlies.9 At that point( !e !ill probably say( 9>h( Lord God( i" !e had only
=e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar kno!n ho! % ch more !e co ld have given o rselves to !orship....9
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5" the % sic ;avid played on a single instr %ent literally drove evil spirits a!ay "ro% 3ing $a l( then !e need to !age $pirit:led !ar"are by !orshiping God and playing on a h ndred or a tho sand instr %entsA 8hat evil in"l ence !o ld be eGected "ro% yo r city or this planet at that pointC Can yo see the pict re o" the hidden potential o" o r secret !eapon o" !orshipC The Ch rch is only beginning to nderstand the po!er God has planted in its people. A %inister in Argentina goes to cities that historically have been closed to the gospel. 'rayer tea%s go in t!o or three !eeks ahead o" hi% and lock the%selves in a hotel roo% !here they !orship( pray( "ast( and call o t to God to reveal the principalities and the strong %en in that area. Then( they decisively deal !ith all opposing "orces in the heavenlies "ro% the seat o" the $aviorEs po!er. 5t is no !onder that this %inistry has had re%arkable revivalstheir $pirit:inspired invasion strategy is G st a!eso%eA 5n every %eeting( they see people co%e to the Lord as their de%ons co%e o t. 4 ltit des are healedA 9+lessed be the Lord( %y rock( !ho trains %y hands "or !ar( and %y "ingers "or battle9 H's. 166?1I. 4y "riend( yo better get yo r "ingers ready to do battle. The 3ing is at the gate and =is battle s %%ons is ringing in yo r ears.
6n.notes
1. >ew )merican -tandard E<hausti1e +oncordance of the 5ible HThe Lock%an 2o ndation( 1901I( teach H=/9.1I. .. -trong:s, teach H=/9.1I.
Chapter ,
,
0aying the &mbush of Worship an. Praise
5 !as the g est %inister at a ch rch one $ nday night !hen 5 !itnessed perhaps the "inest thing 5Eve ever seen in %y li"e. 5 !atched a %an dance be"ore the Lord d ring the !orship service. This %an !as "oc sed totally on GodJ he !as incredibly ninhibited. Also( he !as absol tely spastiche co ldnEt get his rhyth% together and his li%bs see%ed to have no coordination that 5 co ld see. 5t !as G st a hilario s sight in the nat ral real%( b t in the spirit real%( things !ere altogether di""erent. 5 had the i%pression as 5 !atched all o" this that God didnEt %ind in the least that this ncoordinated %an !as looking "oolish on =is behal". The %an !as dancing in Goy be"ore the Lord beca se he loved =i%. 5" yo have a proble% !ith looking "oolish( yo G st o ght to go ahead( look "oolish( and get it over !ith. $o%eti%es 9"oolishness9 is the only !ay to acco%plish the !ill and p rpose o" God. )oah looked "oolish b ilding one o" the largest !ooden str ct res o" his ti%e !hile clai%ing it !as going to "loat on a !orld!ide "lood that !as on its !ay. Abraha% looked "oolish !hen he stood over his son( 5saac( !ith the kni"e o" sacri"ice in his hand. 4oses looked "oolish sitting on a hilltop "lanked by t!o g ys holding p his ar%s !hile tho sands o" people "o ght to the death belo! hi%. =annah looked "oolish in DliEs eyes as she prayed "ervently in the ho se o" God( and ;avid looked "oolish standing in "ront o" Goliath ar%ed !ith only a
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leather sling and "ive s%ooth stones. 4ary looked "oolish !hen she beca%e pregnant as a virgin( and Joseph looked G st as "oolish !hen he agreed to %arry her any!ay Haltho gh he !o ld not be inti%ate !ith his !i"e ntil a"ter the birth o" her %ystery childI. 4ean!hile( the nosy neighbors in J dea probably co nted the %onths back!ard "ro% the birth o" Jes s and ca%e to their o!n concl sions. Jes s looked "oolish !hen( as a local carpenterEs son( =e stood in the synagog e and read the "a%iliar passage "ro% the scroll o" 5saiah and said( 9Today this $cript re has been " l"illed in yo r hearing9 HLk. 6?.1I. =is archene%y( satan( tho ght Jes s looked even %ore "oolish the day that =e !as stretched o t on a <o%an cross bet!een t!o cr ci"ied thieves a"ter clai%ing to be the $on o" God...b t =e !asnEt "oolish. =e !as doing the !ill o" =is 2ather. =ave yo looked "oolish "or God latelyC =ave yo dared to !orship =i% the !ay =e co%%ands s to !orship in =is 8ordC There %ay be % ch %ore at stake than yo have ever drea%ed. )nd the Lord will cause ,is 1oice of authority to be heard... 3or at the 1oice of the Lord )ssyria will be terrified, when ,e stri*es with the rod. )nd e1ery blow of the rod of punishment, which the Lord will lay on him, will be with the music of tambourines and lyres; and in battles, brandishing weapons, ,e will fight them (Isaiah 72#7297 '. There are certain 9post res o" !orship9 that constit te 9non:verbal co%% nication9 o" eternal signi"icance nder the orchestration o" the =oly $pirit. 5n a sense( there are t!o "or%s o" !orshipone is the classical "or% !e think o" !hich involves bo!ing o rselves in love and adoration be"ore o r great God. The second is %ore nconventional in nat reit is obedience in all o" its varied "or%s. 4oses !as !orshiping God !hen he obeyed and eFtended his hand over the <ed $ea. DliGah the prophet !as !orshiping God !hen( three ti%es( he ordered the cro!d to thro! %ore !ater on the !ood and sacri"ice stacked on the reb ilt altar o" God. Look care" lly at 9!hose !ord9 DliGah !as "ollo!ing? !hen it came about at the time of the offering of the e1ening sacrifice, that Eli?ah the prophet came near and said, (D Lord, the God of )braham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be
Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise *nown that !hou art God in Israel, and that I am !hy ser1ant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word ()nswer me, D Lord, answer me, that this people may *now that !hou, D Lord, art God, and that !hou hast turned their heart bac* again.( !hen the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and lic*ed up the water that was in the trench. )nd when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, (!he Lord, ,e is God; the Lord, ,e is God( (" %ings "/#7897@'.
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$a% el the prophet said it per"ectly !hen he told $a l in 2irst $a% el 11?..( 9=as the Lord as % ch delight in b rnt o""erings and sacri"ices as in obeying the voice o" the LordC +ehold( to obey is better than sacri"ice( and to heed than the "at o" ra%s.9 The =oly $pirit( !ho directs o r !orship( !ill say "ro% ti%e to ti%e( 9;o this9 and 9;o that.9 $o%eti%es( =e clearly !ill ask or i%press pon s the need to physically bo! be"ore the Lord( to kneel( to li"t o r hands( or to clap. $o%eti%es( !e are eFhorted to sho t "or Goy or to dance. The "act is that %any o" the 9"oolish9 or neFplained things the $pirit asks s to do in o r !orship and prayer ti%es have a direct e""ect on both the seen and nseen real%s. 5n the tenth chapter o" the +ook o" ;aniel( !e see !here ;aniel prayed( "asted( and interceded "or .1 days !hen he sensed a s pernat ral 9%o rning9 co%e over hi%. At the end o" the .1:day period( an angel appeared to hi% and con"ir%ed that God had heard his prayer the very first day ;aniel !ent to prayer. The angel eFplained that he had been hindered by a po!er" l de%onic prince or principality assigned to 'ersia( !here ;aniel lived. 5t !as the "ervent prayer o" ;aniel that enabled GodEs %essenger to hold "ast ntil the archangel 4ichael co ld co%e to help. ;anielEs actions in $pirit:inspired prayer in a closed roo% in 'ersia a""ected the heavenlies !here the real battle bet!een angelic po!ers took place. 'a l the apostle said( 92or o r str ggle is not against "lesh and blood( b t against the r lers( against the po!ers( against the !orld "orces o" this darkness( against the spirit al "orces o" !ickedness in the heavenly places9 HDph. ,?1.I. 8hat %any Christians donEt reali7e is that
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this str ggle is cond cted thro gh o r worship and praise as % ch as it is thro gh o r prayers and actions on earth. Look closely at the $cript re !e & oted earlier in this chapter? )nd the Lord will cause ,is 1oice of authority to be heard... 3or at the 1oice of the Lord )ssyria will be terrified, when ,e stri*es with the rod. )nd e1ery blow of the rod of punishment, which the Lord will lay on him, will be with the music of tambourines and lyres; and in battles, brandishing weapons, ,e will fight them (Isaiah 72#7297 '. The ta%bo rine is a prec rsor o" all o" the %odern dr %s that !e have today. 5t !as sed to establish the rhyth% and cadence o" !hat !as taking place. 0raise the Lord. -ing to the Lord a new song, and ,is praise in the congregation of the godly ones. Let Israel be glad in his Ba*er; let the sons of Jion re?oice in their %ing. Let them praise ,is name with dancing; let them sing praises to ,im with timbrel FtambourineG and lyre FharpG. 3or the Lord ta*es pleasure in ,is people; ,e will beautify the afflicted ones with sal1ation. Let the godly ones e<ult in glory; let them sing for ?oy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two" edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples; !o bind their *ings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; !o e<ecute on them the ?udgment written; !his is an honor for all ,is godly ones. 0raise the Lord. (0salm "6@#"9@'.
Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise
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<ead verse siF again !ith %e? 9Let the high praises o" God be in their %o th( and a t!o:edged s!ord in their hand....9 8hyC 9To eFec te vengeance on the nations( and p nish%ent on the peoplesJ to bind their kings !ith chains( and their nobles !ith "etters o" ironJ to eFec te on the% the G dg%ent !ritten9 H's. 169?7:9I. )o!( 5E% not interested in binding the 3ing o" $!eden( the 3ing o" Dngland H!hen they have oneI( or any other r ler( president( chair%an( secretary( pri%e %inister( diplo%at( despot( tribal chie"( or a%bassador eFtraordinaire. Darthly kings donEt hold the real po!er on the earth. 8eEre a"ter the real 9po!er behind the thrones9 and govern%ents o" the earth. God dispatched an angel to ;aniel to cal% his concerns over the " t re o" 5srael. That angel described in incredible detail every %aGor political shi"t o" po!er a%ong the nations. The angel o tlined the shi"t o" !orld do%ination "ro% the +abylonian e%pire to the 4edo:'ersian e%pire and then described the rise and "all o" AleFander the Great HGreeceI( along !ith the ascendancy o" the great <o%an D%pire. And behind it all !ere the battling principalities and po!ers o" the heavenlies. ;onEt be deceived by events taking place in yo r ho%eto!n( or in 8ashington( ;C( or <o%e( Jer sale%( or London. The real po!ers are not sitting in the ho ses o" Congress( in the parlia%ents( asse%blies( or even in the %ilitary head& arters o" the so:called s per po!ers. The real po!ers in the heavenlies %anip late these so:called earthly po!ers. 5" yo donEt nderstand this( then 5 can g arantee that yo !ill be "r strated. 'icket signs donEt a""ect the real po!ers behind earthly po!ers. These principalities in the heavenlies H!hich are not necessarily the highest =eaven o" GodEs habitationI are not inti%idated !hen the Ch rch has a p blic %acra%e session. 5 think de%ons pass or "loat by o r ch rches and listen to see !hatEs going on. 5 can i%agine the% saying? 9>h( theyEre doing %acra%e in there again. J st keep right on going.9 9=o! abo t that oneC9 9>h no( theyEre into aerobic dancing this !eek. J st keep right on going.9 Ch rch activities that have little or nothing to do !ith the real% o" the spirit donEt bother the de%onic real%. + t i" yo decide to have a
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prayer %eeting( then donEt be s rprised i" the "irst thing that goes is the so nd syste%A HA"ter all( the devil is called 9the prince o" the po!er o" the air.9I )evertheless( God created s to !orship =i%( to praise =i%( and to seek =i% !ith all o" o r being. 5n ret rn( =e is pleased to se o r obedience to literally strike death:dealing blo!s on o r ene%ies in the heavenliesA The +ook o" <evelation tells s that an angel !ill bind satan !ith a 9great chain9 "or a tho sand years Hsee <ev. .-?1:.I. 4ost o" s reali7e this is apocalyptic i%agery( or nat ral !ord pict res sed to describe a s pernat ral reality. God !ants s to nderstand that =eEs talking abo t spirit al chains that !e can se against the dark kingdo% !hen !e %ove in the di%ension o" praise and anointed !orshipA 8hen !e cooperate !ith the =oly $piritsing( praise( and !orship God according to =is instr ctions=e can !hip a chain aro nd one de%onic po!er( slap so%ething aro nd another one( and slash another one !ith the "la%ing s!ord o" =is energi7ed 8ord. 5t happens every ti%e God takes delight in =is people. Bo and 5 have been given the a thority to bind !hatever tries to get bet!een s and the Lord. 8e can do it thro gh the po!er o" GodEs 8ord and thro gh !orship o" =is na%e. 8e kno! the +ible says that the Lord 9!ill ca se =is voice o" a thority to be heard9 H5s. /-?/-aI. The )e! 5nternational *ersion says 9the Lord !ill ca se %en to hear =is %aGestic voice.9 =o! !ill =e do itC 8e kno! the verse is "illed !ith i%agery to portray the real thing( b t !hat is itC The )e! Testa%ent record spells it o t in detail? 5ut than*s be to God, who always leads us in ,is triumph in +hrist, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the *nowledge of ,im in e1ery place. 3or we are a fragrance of +hrist to God among those who are being sa1ed and among those who are perishing ( +orinthians #"69"$'. )nd to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; In order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made *nown through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the hea1enly places (Ephesians 7#@9"2'.
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8eEve been !aiting "or God to speak o t o" the heavens !ith a boo%ing voice that !ill ca se gridlock and pheaval in every %aGor city across the !orld. + t !hile !eEre do!n here saying( 9$peak to s( Lord(9 =e is saying( 98hy donEt yo read 4y bookC 5 !ant to speak thro gh yo individ ally and together as 4y Ch rchA9 A lot o" s are "r strated beca se the tr th hasnEt s nk in that the proble% is not people or instit tions on earth. The proble% is not the gangsJ it is the principality that is %anip lating the gangsA That %eans the sol tion isnEt in any partic lar progra% or o treach to gangsit lies in the heavenlies. 5" !e donEt address that spirit al proble% !ith a spirit al sol tion( then !e can eFpect to have gangs proli"erate like roaches. 8hen 5 !as gro!ing p( %y "a%ily lived in an apart%ent b ilding !ith three separate apart%ents on each side o" the b ilding. 8e discovered very early that all o" the neighbors had to agree abo t their 9roach policy.9 5" one "a%ily decided to go a"ter the roaches( then everybody had to go a"ter roaches. 5 re%e%ber that one day !hen %y %a%a !asnEt ho%e( !e sa! a b nch o" roaches. +eing the great h nters !e !ere( the Garlington boys got o t their g ns Ha can o" roach sprayI. 8e started socking it to those roaches( and !e !ere pretty pro d o" o rselves beca se those b gs G st disappeared. All o" a s dden( the people !ho lived in the apart%ent above s called do!n( 9)o! yo all stop that do!n thereA9 8e hadnEt eli%inated o r roach proble%!e had G st 9loaned9 it to o r neighbors !itho t their per%ission. Those roaches r led o r roost as long as there !as no consens s or nity a%ong the residents o" that apart%ent b ilding abo t declaring !ar on o r n!anted pests. 8hether the in"estation involves a nat ral ar%y o" insects or a s pernat ral cre! o" devils( there % st be nity( deter%ination( and the a thority o" the 3ing to !in the battle. The 3ingEs a thority is represented in al%ost every c lt re by a rod or scepter o" a thority. This is tr e !hether yo look at the older %onarchies o" D rope( present:day %onarchies in Dngland and $!eden( or in the A"rican %onarchies in eFistence today. GodEs 8ord says( 9The voice o" the Lord !ill shatter AssyriaJ !ith =is scepter =e !ill strike the% do!n9 H5s. /-?/1 )5*I. The Lord has delegated =is na%e and a thority to s( b t !e canEt se GodEs scepter si%ply to do !hat !e !ant. GodEs scepter is designed to be sed "or !hat =e !ants it to be sed "or( and =e !ill allo! no one to %is se =is a thority. Look at !hat happens !hen the 3ingEs a thority is sed correctly? 9And every blo! o" the rod o" p nish%ent( !hich the Lord !ill lay on hi%( !ill be
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!ith the % sic o" ta%bo rines and lyresJ and in battles( brandishing !eapons( =e !ill "ight the%9 H5s. /-?/.I. Co%bine this pict re !ith the verse that tells s? 9=e trains %y hands "or !ar and %y "ingers "or battle.9 Bo are beginning to gli%pse the incredible i%portance o" $pirit:led !orship and praise in the 3ingdo%. 5 can see God destroying =is ene%ies to the beat and % sic o" ta%bo rines and harps. ;id yo ever think that !hile yo are !orshiping do!n here and celebrating !ith Goy and hilarity( God is having the sa%e kind o" " n in =eavenC ;o yo reali7e that =e ses yo r praise and !orship as !eaponsC 5 can al%ost i%agine =i% saying( 95 can se that onethatEs a high praise. Thro! %e a higher oneA 5 !ant to hit this one o t o" the niverse.9 4 sic has three co%ponents? %elody( rhyth%( har%ony. The sec lar !orld nderstands the po!er o" rhyth% and %elody. 5" yo donEt think so( then yo need to listen to so%e o" the songs being played on top sec lar radio stations( partic larly those !ith a rock % sic "or%at. >ne song recorded by the +ritish rock gro p N een has so po!er" lly a""ected large cro!ds that it has beco%e 9the song9 at %aGor sports events. The chor s "eat res the !ords( 98e !ill( !e !ill rock yo A9 %atched to a heart:throbbing beat. 8hen that song is s ng by 6-(--"ans in nison !ith their "eet sto%ping in ti%e to the beat( every %olec le in the sports stadi % is %oved !ith it. 5" yo have eFperienced it( yo !onEt have any tro ble believing every detail o" the Jericho 9con& est by so nd9 in Josh a chapter ,. 5n the hands o" God( any "or% o" !orship or praise beco%es lethal to the p rposes o" satan. At Jericho( God sed the so nds o" tr %pets and a single great sho t "ro% =is people to recon"ig re the %olec lar %ake p o" JerichoEs %assive !alls and totally collapse the% to the gro nd so that every 5sraelite soldier !as able to !alk straight into that "orti"ied city. Then God sent Jehoshaphat against the ene%y ar%ed only !ith this song? 92or the Lord is good and =is %ercy end reth "orever.9 Bo %ay be thinking( 9+ t +rother Garlington( that doesnEt so nd very E!arlikeE to %eA 8hat kind o" "ear does that createC9 The po!er isnEt resident in the songit is in the ar% and hand o" the >ne !ho !ields it as a s!ordA That passage can be s ng to al%ost any kind o" rhyth%( b t i" it co%es "ro% the heart( God can se it to destroy yo r ene%ies in the heavenlies. The point is that as !e !orship God in obedience to =is $pirit( =e says( 9And every blo! o" the rod o" p nish%ent...!ill be !ith
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the % sic o" ta%bo rines and lyresJ and in battles( brandishing !eapons( L5M !ill "ight the%9 H5s. /-?/.I. God likes doing things to % sicA God asked Job !ho laid the earthEs cornerstone( 9!hen the %orning stars sang together( and all the sons o" God sho ted "or Goy9 HJob /0?7I. God obvio sly is describing creation in this passage. 8hat did =e say !as going on !hile =e !as creatingC The angels Hor sons o" GodI !ere singing and shouting !ith great Goy. Can yo G st i%agine God saying to the angelic choir( 9Go ahead. $ing and sho t so%e %ore. 5 !ant to get creativeA9 God loves % sic beca se God =i%sel" is music. God nderstands all o" the dyna%ics and intricacies o" % sic beca se =e created it. $atan or l ci"er nderstands % sic beca se( according to D7ekiel the prophet( he !as once 9the anointed cher b !ho covers9 HD7ek. .0?16I. $atanEs !hole "ra%e!ork !as % sic. The $cript res even describe his body as an instr %ent in D7ekiel .0A )o!( i" anyone has %is sed % sic( the ene%y has. 5 have ne!s "or yo . God is restoring all things( and =e is telling the Ch rch? Let:s get this thing straight. Busic, the 1ery gift that satan wants to use to distort truth and send people off in different directions, I will use to destroy his wor*s in the earth. According to 5saiah /-?/.( every ti%e yo sing and !orship( God is going to se yo r % sic o" !orship to strike do!n =is ene%ies in the earthA =e !ill Goy" lly strike the Assyrian !ith =is rod o" po!er to the acco%pani%ent o" ta%bo rines and harps. 5 can al%ost see the devilEs i%ps co!ering nder a crippling barrage o" blo!s on the strongholds o" darkness as they hiss( 9Look( i" those people donEt ever sing again( it !o ld be too soon "or %eA9 8e canEt overesti%ate the po!er and i%pact o r spirit al songs( singing( and spirit al %elodies have on the po!ers o" darknessA 'ray this prayer !ith %e i" yo are serio s abo t cond cting !ar"are thro gh praise and !orship? Lord, you rule in the hea1enlies and =ou:re teaching us how to rule with =ou. We:1e made it complicated. We:1e made it comple<, and yet =our Word says, (Let the lifting of our hands be to =ou the same thing that the burnt offering was.( Dh God, let the beating of the tambourines and the rhythmic flow of the music, the worship, and the song be to =ou the binding power o1er the enemy in the hea1enlies. The $cript res clearly indicate that there are hierarchical layers o" spirit beings in the heavens. The +ible re"ers to 4ichael as an archangel in J de 1?9( and the >ld Testa%ent describes cher bi%( seraphi%( and
9!inged creat res9 in =eaven. 5t is the apostle 'a l !ho gives s the best pict re o" the organi7ation o" the hosts o" =eaven in Dphesians ,?1.? 92or o r str ggle is not against "lesh and blood( b t against the r lers( against the po!ers( against the !orld "orces o" this darkness( against the spirit al "orces o" !ickedness in the heavenly places.9 )o! that is !here the battle is. )o!( i" !e keep that in %ind( !e !ill begin to nderstand that on earth there is a str ggle going on that re"lects the str ggle going on in the heavenlies. 5t is God !ho trains o r "ingers "or battle against the ene%y. $everal years ago( this prophetic !ord ca%e to a ch rch? !he people say it:s ?ust a simple song. God says our song is a symphony of praise unto ,im and a dirge of destruction to the enemy. !he people say it:s ?ust the clapping of hands, but God says in the hea1enly realm it:s not ?ust a clap, but a thunderclap bringing fear to the enemy. !he people say stomping the feet is ?ust a silly thing but God says that the stomping of feet sha*es the foundations of hell creating fissures or large crac*s in it. !he people say the wa1ing of flags are ?ust a silly thing but God says the wa1ing of flags is a signal to the enemy of ,is imminent defeat and a wa1e offering unto God. 8hen !e sing( praise( and !orship God together( so%ething takes place in the spirit al di%ension that !e canEt see. 5 believe that God is giving s so%e pict res or snapshots o" !hat takes place in the spirit al di%ension in 5saiah /-. 5n 1901( o r ch rch received this prophetic !ord? 3no! that 5E% %oving in a ne! di%ension o" praise. #nderstand that as yo clap yo r hands yo are not only praising 4e( Lb tM yo are saying to the adversary( even as a %other !o ld say to a cat nder the table( E+e gone( in the na%e o" Jes s.E9 5t is interesting to see ho! this %eshes so closely !ith the !ords o" 5saiah? 9And every blo! o" the rod o" p nish%ent( !hich the Lord !ill lay on hi%( !ill be !ith the % sic o" ta%bo rines and lyres9 H5s. /-?/.aI. God !ants s to nderstand that o r singing is not EG st singing.9 > r !orship is not G st !orship. 8e are not o t to stroke an in"inite ego !e are " l"illing GodEs p rpose in the earthA As !e noted earlier( GodEs 8ord declares? Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two9
Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise edged sword in their hand, !o e<ecute 1engeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples; !o bind their *ings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; !o e<ecute on them the ?udgment written; this is an honor for all ,is godly ones. 0raise the Lord. (0salm "6@#89@'.
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The Assyrians !ere a proble%( b t the real leader o" the Assyrians !asnEt on earth. =e co ld only be "o nd in the heavenlies !ith the other principalities o" darkness. The tr e leader o" 'ersia !asnEt d!elling on the earth !here ;aniel !as. The tr e king or prince o" 'ersia r led or do%inated the earthly king "ro% the heavenlies. God says that =e !ill se o r praises to bind their kings !ith "etters( their nobles !ith shackles o" iron( and to carry o t the sentence !ritten against the%. This is the glory o" all =is saints. 5t is the glory o" the saints to carry o t the sentence( according to GodEs 8ord. A sla ghter needs to take place in the heavenliesA 8hen +abylon ca%e do!n( it !as beca se the principality o" +abylon ca%e do!n. 8hen the e%pire o" the 4edo:'ersians ca%e do!n( it !as beca se the principality o" the 4edo:'ersians ca%e do!n. 8hen the Grecian kingdo% ca%e do!n( it !as beca se the Grecian principality ca%e do!n. 5 can tell yo that the principalities r ling and %anip lating the %inds o" people in yo r city or region only !ill co%e do!n !hen the people o" God stand together and !age !ar !ith the spirit al !eapons o" prayer( praise( and !orship. 8eEve got to say( 95" this clapping %eans anything at all( 5E% going to get serio s abo t it. 5" this li"ting o" the hands %eans anything at all( 5E% going to get serio s abo t it. And even tho gh 5 look like the biggest o" "ools( 5 !o ld rather look like a "ool and acco%plish so%ething "or Bo ( Lord( than be cool and get nothing done.9 >ne o" the %ost eFciting +ible passages "or believers engaged in spirit al !ar"are appears in a relatively obsc re passage in the +ook o" $econd Chronicles !here a prophet na%ed Jaha7iel said? 9Listen( all J dah and the inhabitants o" Jer sale% and 3ing Jehoshaphat? th s says the Lord to yo ( E;o not "ear or be dis%ayed beca se o" this great % ltit de( "or the battle is not yo rs b t GodEsE9 H. Chron. .-?11I. The p nchline yo need to see today is in verse ..? 9And !hen
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they began singing and praising the Lord set ambushes against the sons o" A%%on( 4oab( and 4o nt $eir( !ho had co%e against J dahJ so they !ere ro ted.9 ;id yo see thatC Let %e repeat it G st to %ake s re? 9And !hen they began singing and praising( the Lord sent ambushes( H. Chron. .-?..aI. 8ho set the a%b shesC The Lord =i%sel"A 8hen did =e set the a%b shesC When ,is people began singing and praising ,im. )o! ans!er this & estion? 98hat !ere they sayingC9 The ans!er is in the last hal" o" verse .1? 9And !hen he had cons lted !ith the people( he appointed those !ho sang to the Lord and those !ho praised =i% in holy attire( as they !ent o t be"ore the ar%y and said( EGive thanks to the Lord( "or =is lovingkindness is everlastingE9 H. Chron. .-?.1I. 5snEt it abo t ti%e "or all o" s called by =is na%e to set so%e lethal a%b shes "or satanEs %otley cre!C =avenEt yo had eno gh o" satanEs grie" and harass%entC Then it is ti%e to stop co%plaining and start praising and !orshiping o r 4ighty GodA =is 9g n9 !as loaded an eternity ago. =is ar%ies are !aiting patiently "or the so nd o" the tr %pet and the %elodies o" o r high praises to God. =e is ready to "ight o r battles today on o r behal"( b t !e need to do o r part.
'art 555
Heavenly Patterns
Chapter 7
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Worshipers 9a:e War in Heaven an. 6arth

3or the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but di1inely powerful for the destruction of fortresses ( +orinthians "2#6'.
Anything God acco%plishes in the earth is done thro gh spirit al %eans sing spirit al people. Bet( the Lord o"ten re& ires spirit al people to do 9nat ral9 things !hich directly a""ect the s pernat ral. Let %e rattle yo r cage !ith a series o" state%ents? 1. The giving o" tithes( o""erings( and gi"ts are acts o" !ar. .. 'raising God is an act o" !ar. /. 8orshiping God is an act o" !ar. 6. 'rayer is an act o" !ar. 1. 2asting is an act o" !ar. 5" yo decide that yo are going to tithe( 5 can al%ost g arantee that yo s ddenly !ill r n into all kinds o" opposition and 9"inancial proble%s9 calling "or yo r %oney the "ollo!ing !eek. 5" yo decide yo are going to "ast be"ore the Lord( eFpect te%ptation. Bo can go to !ork siF days a !eek "or siF %onths and never have anyone in the o""ice or !orkplace o""er yo anything to eat. + t i" yo tell yo r spo se to%orro! %orning( 95E% not going to eat break"ast or l nch today( honey. 5E% G st going to "ast(9 then 1- or 11 o" yo r co!orkers
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!ill get a 9bright idea9 that %orning. ThatEs the day that every one o" the% !ill bring "reshly baked date:n t bread( banana bread( chocolate cookies( cake( ho%e%ade pie( and yo r "avorite brand o" ice crea% to yo r deskA 9;onEt yo !ant so%e o" theseC9 They !ill say. >" co rse( yo !ill try to be cas al beca se yo kno! "ro% the +ible that yo sho ldnEt broadcast the "act that yo are "asting( so yo say( 9)o( thank yo .9 They shake their heads in nbelie" and say( 9>h co%e on( 5Eve never bro ght yo anything be"ore.9 8hen yo say( 98ell( okay9 Hsecretly planning to take it ho%e to eat laterI( yo r ne!"o nd bene"actors !ill say( 9Go ahead and taste it itEs the best thing 5Eve ever %ade.9 HThe nspoken threat is? 95" yo donEt taste it( 5Ell be eternally o""ended( yo ngrate" l thing( yo .9I 8hy did they have to bring all that great "ood on that day; 8hy didnEt they bring it the day yo %issed break"ast and "elt "a%ishedC That !as the day they !ere eating +ig 4acs and hoagies and everything else( !ith grease dripping o"" the side o" their %o ths( b t they never o""ered yo anything. 2asting is !ar"are. 8e are dealing !ith spirit al proble%s in this li"e( and itEs i%portant "or s to hear that. $pirit al proble%s re& ire spirit al sol tions. Let %e say it again? $pirit al proble%s re& ire spirit al sol tions. )o! that !e have that "iFed in o r %inds( 5 need to add? $pirit al proble%s and sol tions donEt al!ays appear to be spirit al. 5n "act( they so%eti%es look or so nd absol tely "oolish. 8hen !e "irst looked at 'sal% 166?1:.( !hich says the Lord 9trains %y hands "or !ar( and %y "ingers "or battle(9 !hat !ere yo r "irst tho ghtsC 5t is logical to think( 98ell( thatEs a great state%ent "or the days !hen !ars !ere "o ght !ith s!ord and b ckler( b t a "e! years have passed since then.9 )o( GodEs 8ord still applies to li"e today. =e is still training o r hands "or !ar and o r "ingers "or battleA There !as a prophetic !ord given to a "riendEs ch rch "a%ily in 2lorida that applies to every one o" s. >ne o" the key parts o" the prophecy said this? !he people say it:s ?ust the clapping of hands, but God says in the hea1enly realm it:s not ?ust a clap, but a thunderclap bringing fear to the enemy. !he people say stomping the feet is ?ust a silly thing but God says the stomping of feet sha*es
8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth the foundations of hell, creating fissures or large crac*s in it.
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8hat does God train o r hands "orC 8ar. > r "ingersC 2or battle. This is %ore than another eFa%ple o" >ld Testa%ent i%agery. This is a classic eFa%ple o" see%ingly 9"oolish9 nat ral actions bearing po!er" l spirit al "r itA 'sal% 67?1 says( > Clap yo r hands( all peoplesJ sho t to God !ith the voice o" Goy.9 )o! i" the 'resident o" the #nited $tates !alked into the roo%( !e !o ld not only clap( b t !e also !o ld stand in honor o" his o""iceeven i" !e didnEt like his politics or( his li"estyle. 5" Jes s( the Lover o" o r so ls( !alked in( !o ldnEt clapping be an eFciting !ay to receive =i%( tooC 8e !o ld give =i% a standing ovation that !o ld never endA According to GodEs 8ord( the Lord Jes s is in o r %idst !henever and !herever t!o or %ore gather together in =is na%e Hsee 4t. 10?.-I. That %eans !e need to clap !hen !e gather in =is na%eA 5Eve never "o nd a +ible translation o" 'sal%s 67?1 that says( 9Clap yo r hands all yo Charis%atics(9 or 9Clap yo r hands all yo 'entecostals(9 or even 9Clap yo r hands all yo $o thern +aptists and 'resbyterians.9 5t says 9clap yo r hands all yo nations9 beca se thatEs !hat God !ants it to say. The late Corrie ten +oo% sed to say( 9There are no s ggestions in $cript re( only co%%and%ents.9 8hen God says to clap yo r hands( yo need to clap yo r handsA =e also co%%ands all o" s to sho t to =i% !ith a voice o" Goy. 8e need to get b sy. The =ebre! !ord "or clapping in 'sal% 67 and )ah % /( is the !ord tata. 5t %eans to 9blo!( to clap( to strike( to thr st( to drive( to give a blast.9 5tEs an eFplosive !ord. 5tEs an eFp lsive !ord. 5tEs a hit !ord. =our shepherds are sleeping, D *ing of )ssyria; your nobles are lying down. =our people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to regather them. !here is no relief for your brea*down, your wound is incurable. )ll who hear about you will clap their hands o1er you, for on whom has not your e1il passed continually; (>ahum 7#"/9"@'. Too %any ti%es( !hen !e read in the +ible abo t a 3ing o" Assyria( i%%ediately !e think o" an earthly king. The teFt says( 9yo r shepherds.9 )o! in the >ld Testa%ent( the shepherds !ere the kings. Assyria !as an e%pire that had do%inated civili7ations in that part o" the !orld "or a n %ber o" years. The +ible calls Jes s Christ 9the 3ing
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o" kings and Lord o" lords9 H1 Ti%. ,?11J <ev. 19?1,I. 8hen the $cript res talk abo t Jes s being the 3ing o" 3ings( the iss e is not !hether or not =e is 3ing over the king o" Arabia( the king o" $!eden( the ancient kings and & eens o" Assyria( or the & een o" Dgypt. =e is the 3ing o" all those !ho hold s!ay in spirit al kingdo%s. =e says to this king o" Assyria( 9There is no relie" "or yo r breakdo!n( yo r !o nd is inc rable. )ll who hear about you will clap their hands o1er you( H)ah % /?19aI. Along !ith the co%%and to clap o r hands and sho t to God !ith Goy( GodEs 8ord tells s( 9Let the godly ones eF lt in glory( let the% sing for ?oy on their beds9 H's. 169?1I. 8hen yo !ake p to%orro! %orning( the "irst thing yo need to do is sing a song o" Goy that God has p t in yo r heart. This 9praise b siness9 is not so%ething done eFcl sively in a ch rch service or large:gro p setting. Bo can praise God any!hereA 5 appeared on the Trinity +roadcasting )et!ork !ith %y "riend( 'astor 3i% Cle%ent. =e & oted "ro% 'sal% ..( !hich says( 9Bet Tho art holy( > Tho !ho art enthroned pon the praises o" 5srael9 H's. ..?/I. 'astor Cle%ent added( 95n the Japanese translation( they take that sa%e verse and say( E8hen !e praise God !e b ild a big chair "or God to co%e and sit in.E9 The %ore yo !ant God in yo r circ %stances( the bigger yo need to %ake the chairA =ave yo sed yo r praises to %ake =i% a little three:legged stool or a 3ingEs throneC 5t is ti%e "or s to start praising God regardless o" o r circ %stances. 5" !e do( !e !ill discover the tr th in the verse that says( 95n Thy presence is " lness o" GoyJ in Thy right hand there are pleas res "orever9 H's. 1,?11bI. #se the po!er o" praise to take do%inion over the circ %stances !here yo are. #se the di""ic lty o" hard circ %stances to sit on the throne !ith Jes s Christ. Look again at the psal%istEs po!er" l pict re o" the saints "ro% GodEs point o" vie!? Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two9 edged sword in their hand, !o e<ecute 1engeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples; !o bind their *ings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; !o e<ecute on them the ?udgment written; this is an honor for
8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth all ,is godly ones. 0raise the Lord. (0salm "6@#89@'.
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;o yo believe this verseC 8ill yo accept the "act that God says yo r Gob is to in"lict vengeance on the nations and p nish%ent on the peoples( to bind their kings !ith "etters and their nobles !ith shackles o" ironC =e says that yo are to carry o t the sentence !ritten against the% beca se it is the glory o" all =is saints. Bo are " l"illing this $cript re every ti%e yo sta%p yo r "eet to % sic o" praise( !hen yo play a ta%bo rine or violin( !hen yo play the dr %s or the high: so nding cy%bals( !hen yo play the organ or sing !ith Goy to =i%. Bo r glory is to praise GodJ yo r glory is to reGoice in =i%. 8hen yo do these things( according to GodEs 8ord( yo are binding the r ling nobles Hprincipalities and po!ers in the heavenliesI !ith chains and "ettersA Listen? 5" yo donEt like !hat the ene%y is doing in yo r li"e( then tie hi% pA <e%e%ber the apostle 'a lEs state%ent in his $econd Dpistle to the Corinthians( 92or the !eapons o" o r !ar"are are not o" the "lesh( b t divinely po!er" l "or the destr ction o" "ortresses9 H. Cor. 1-?6I. God has given yo spirit al !eapons that !ill tie the hands o" the spirit po!ers behind yo r ene%ies and circ %stances. The battle is not do!n here. 8e do not !restle against "lesh and blood b t against principalities( po!ers( the r lers o" the darkness o" this !orld( spirit al !ickedness in the heavenlies Hsee Dph. ,?1.I. The battle is not at the o""ice or in the ho se !ith yo r kids. The battle is not in the high school or in the abortion clinic. The battle is in the heavenlies. 5" yo "ight from the hea1enlies, yo can s bd e things in both the heavenlies and on earth even tho gh yo live in this earthly di%ensionA 5" this so nds too "antastic to believe( then look at the !ords o" Jes s? 9Tr ly 5 say to yo ( !hatever yo shall bind on earth shall be bo nd in heavenJ and !hatever yo loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven9 H4t. 10?10I. The lang age in the original Greek %an scripts is very i%portant here. 5t sho ld be translated this !ay "or the %ost acc rate nderstanding? 98hatever yo bind on earth must ha1e already been bound in =eaven.9 5" yo try to bind things in yo r li"e or citythings that havenEt been bo nd in the heavensthen yo can "orget it. ;onEt try to deal !ith a principality here i" yo havenEt dealt !ith it in the heavenlies. 8hyC Jes s said( 9...>r ho! can anyone enter the strong %anEs ho se and carry o"" his property( nless he "irst binds the strong %anC9 H4t. 1.?.9aI Jes s !as talking abo t casting o t de%ons in this passage( so
this applies directly to any battle involving evil "orces in the heavenlies. Bo canEt spoil an evil strong%anEs st "" ntil yo tie p the strong%an in the heavenlies. >nce in a !hile God reveals to s ho! =e thinks. >ne o" these places is in the +ook o" 2irst Corinthians? 5ecause the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the wea*ness of God is stronger than men. 3or consider your calling brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 5ut God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the wea* things of the world to shame the things which are strong )nd the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that ,e might nullify the things that are, !hat no man should boast before God (" +orinthians "# $9 A, @'. 5t is G st like God to se %ere h %an beings to "ight cos%ic battles against the devilEs principalities and po!ers in the heavenlies. >n top o" everything else( the Lord insists on %aking s "ight !ith the see%ingly passive post res o" !orship and praiseA +e"ore !e ever see 1--(--people gather and 1-(--- co%e "or!ard a"ter an altar call by the %an o" God( the Lord %ay re& ire s to battle "or those so ls on o r knees and thro gh o r praise and !orship in the !ee ho rs o" the %orning( in o r prayer closets( and in s%all gro ps devoting o rselves to ho rs and days o" intercessory prayer. > r battle !eapons consist o" an odd collection o" tears( sho ts o" Goy( prayers on bended knee( the clapping o" o r hands( and Goy" l dancing be"ore =is "ace. Ti%e and againeven in the >ld Testa%entGod sed people !ho didnEt even have a s!ord or spear in their hands to de"eat %assive ar%ies in " ll battle array. #n"ort nately( !e also see !here %en have "ailed to tr st or obey God " lly and received only partial res lts "ro% GodEs %irac lo s provision instead o" the total victory =e intended "or the%. The "la!ed obedience o" 3ing Joash is especially dist rbing "or s( beca se !e co ld easily sin in the sa%e eFact !ay he didA Like 3ing Joash( !e have been pro%ised total victory over the !orks o" the
8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth ene%y( b t obedience is reHuired.
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3ing Joash had a big proble% in $econd 3ings 1/?16. 5sraelEs greatest ene%y( the b lly o" the 4iddle Dast neighborhood in those days( had sho!n p at the door to deliver another beating. +y this ti%e( 5sraelEs aged prophet !as at deathEs door and things looked pretty gri%( and the "act that 3ing Joash hadnEt been diligent in the things o" God didnEt help the sit ation. 8hen he sho!ed p at DlishaEs bedside to beg "or help( the old prophet gave hi% so%e odd instr ctions. )nd Elisha said to him, (!a*e a bow and arrows.( -o he too* a bow and arrows. !hen he said to the *ing of Israel, (0ut your hand on the bow.( )nd he put his hand on it, then Elisha laid his hands on the *ing:s hands. )nd he said, (Dpen the window toward the east,( and he opened it. !hen Elisha said, (-hoot.( )nd he shot. )nd he said, (!he Lord:s arrow of 1ictory, e1en the arrow of 1ictory o1er )ram; for you shall defeat the )rameans at )phe* until you ha1e destroyed them( ( %ings "7#"$9"A'. 5n o r 8estern thinking %ode( !e !o ld say( 9=ey look( all the g y did !as shoot an arro! o t o" a !indo!. +ig deal. 5 donEt nderstand ho! Dlisha can say that beca se he shot the arro! heEs going to de"eat the $yrians. It:s only an arrow.( Correction? 5tEs 9only an arro!9 !hen yo have it. 8hen God tells yo to do so%ething !ith an arro!( it beco%es the pheno%enal arro! o" God. That arro! doesnEt G st "ly o t o" the east !indo!it "lies o t into the eastern at%osphere o" the heavenlies and invades the spirit al di%ension !ith GodEs po!er. 5t in"licts lethal da%age !here the real r le is taking place. 5t brings do!n po!ers and principalities. That is !hy the prophet co ld say( 98hen yo shot that arro!( God gave yo the victory over yo r ene%ies.9 God loves to con"o nd the %ighty !ith "oolish things. Look closely at the neFt t!o verses and learn a cr cial lesson "or yo r o!n li"e? !hen he said, (!a*e the arrows,( and he too* them. )nd he said to the *ing of Israel, (-tri*e the ground,( and he struc* it three times and stopped. -o the man of God was angry with him and said, (=ou should ha1e struc* fi1e or si< times, then you would ha1e struc* )ram
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Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en until you would ha1e destroyed it. 5ut now you shall stri*e )ram only three times( ( %ings "7#"/9"@'.
Joash s ""ered "ro% a proble% that %any Christians have in o r dayhe didnEt really think the things that he did in the nat ral di%ension !ere that i%portant to the spirit al di%ension. 5" the prophet had said( 9God says clap yo r hands(9 like %any believers today( he !o ld have gr dgingly clapped his hands !hile % ttering to hi%sel"( 9>kay( 5Ell do it as a token o" obedience. LetEs G st h %or the %an o" God. Like 5 al!ays say( Etoo spirit ally %inded to be any earthly goodE.9 Joash sho ld have been paying closer attention d ring the !indo! incident. This %an !as in an at%osphere !here a single arro! shot "ro% a !indo! !as !iping o t his bitter ene%iesA =e had G st heard Dlisha say( 9...yo shall de"eat the Ara%eans L$yriansM at Aphek until you ha1e destroyed the%9 H. 3ings 1/?17I. The prophet !as speaking in plain:Jane( bl nt( in:yo r:"ace =ebre!. The =ebre! !ord "or destroyed is *alah, and according to the 9J. Garlington LeFicon o" =ebre! $treet Ter%s(9 it %eans that yo Eve 9co%pletely( totally( absol tely( beyond:a:do bt( annihilated and crea%ed9 so%ebody.1 8hen Dlisha said that( he set the stage "or !hat 3ing Joash should ha1e done neFt. #n"ort nately( the kingEs do bt got in the !ay. > r proble% in spirit al !ar"are is that !e think !e only can give God so % ch. 8e need to err on the positive side o" "aith and tr stA 8hen God hands s an arro!( a song o" praise( a ta%bo rine( or a heavenly vision( !e need to 9beat on the gro nd9 !ith it ntil God co%es over( shakes s back to o r senses( and says( 9>kay already( yo can & it. Bo can & itA9 There needs to be so%ething violent in s that !ill eFplode in obedience at the slightest !ord "ro% the Lord o" Lords. Bo and 5 need to believe that every !ord "ro% the %o th o" God is tr e and p t o r lives on the line "or it. Anything that God to ches is s pernat ral and po!er" l incl ding yo A God is calling each o" s to pull dorm strongholds through obedience. 8hen yo respond to GodEs 8ord( clap to God( and sho t to =i% !ith a voice o" Goy( yo are doing so%ething that is special to God and lethal to the devilEs b nch in the heavenlies. 5t canEt be done any other !ayA 5tEs not co%plicated and that is !hy !e resist it. God isnEt interested in eFplaining to s the traGectory o" the arro! in ter%s o" & ant % physics=e isnEt abo t to lay o t the 9e& ation9 o" =is heavenly %ethodology( like DinsteinEs theory o" relativity. )o( =e isnEt looking "or so%e p ""ed p intellect al adherents to =is philosophy=e de%ands obedience and childlike "aith "ro% =is
8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth
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children. God G st says( 9Take these arro!s and beat on the gro nd9 beca se =e kno!s !e probably can handle that !itho t h rting o rselves or anyone else in the process. 8e constantly are str ggling and "ailing beca se !e are b sy trying to achieve victory do!n on the earthly real% be"ore !e !in it in the spirit real%. =ave yo ever noticed that even Jes s "ollo!ed the pattern o" !inning in the heavenly real% "irst be"ore =e battled in the earthly real%C Jes s spent entire nights or the early part o" each day in prayer to the 2ather be"ore =e vent red o t to !ork %iracles a%ong %en and destroy the earthly !orks o" the devil. The %ost i%portant key o" all !as that =e only did !hat =e sa! =is 2ather doing Hsee Jn. 1?19I. ThatEs !hy =e tho ght nothing o" doing 9silly things9 like %aking % d patties to heal a %anEs eyes or "eeding tho sands !ith a little boyEs l nch. =e sa! it and =e did it in total "aith. God !ants s to learn ho! to %ove in the si%plicity o" !orship. =e is training o r hands "or battle and o r "ingers "or !ar. Let the li"ting o" o r hands be as the evening sacri"iceA >h( clap yo r hands all yo peopleA 8hen yo raise yo r voice( yo are s%iting the ene%y with God:s 1oice. 8hen yo beat the ta%bo rine( yo are beating the ene%yEs back thro gh GodEs ar% as yo give =i% a steady beat "or !ar. God is saying( 95 !ant a /@6 ti%e here( okay. )o! letEs go a little "aster beca se 5E% !inding this one p.9 Bo %ay be thinking? >ow that ?ust sounds so far out, 5rother Garlington. ThatEs eFactly !here the heavens are"ar o t there. 8hat i" God G st tells yo to dance in the %iddle o" a !orship service this !eekC 8ill yo say( 9God( 5E% so e%barrassed9C =e !ill G st tell yo ( 98ell( go ahead and dance any!ayA Get in the spirit and let the si%ple things o" God to ch yo at the very core o" yo r eFperience.9 These things !ill enable yo to say( 9God( teach %y hands to !arJ teach %y "ingers to do battle.9 8hen God tells yo to clap yo r hands( yo need to say? 9=o! %any ti%es( LordC9 5 canEt help b t !onder !hat !o ld happen i" the entire Ch rch the !hole Ch rchincl ding every born:again( blood:!ashed +aptist( 4ethodist( L theran( 'entecostal( Charis%atic( transdeno%inational( transcontinental( non:deno%inational( Dastern >rthodoF( $yrian and $erbian >rthodoF( Ar%enian Catholic( Dpiscopalian( >rthodoF Dpiscopalian( Ch rch o" God in Christ %e%ber( and tr e believers o" every other type and stripe !o ld gather together to celebrate the
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Lordship o" Jes s Christ. 8hat i" !e act ally appointed a day and declared? 98e are going to clap to God and sho t to =i% !ith a voice o" Goy "or "ive %in tes9C H5 pray that !e "ind o t( and soonAI 5n 4atthe! 10( Jes s said( 95" t!o or three o" yo ever get together( 5Ell co%e and see it 4ysel" Hsee 4t. 10?.-I. >" co rse( 5 kno! the 3ing Ja%es *ersion o" this verse act ally says( 92or !here t!o or three are gathered together in 4y na%e( there a% 5 in the %idst o" the%(9 b t the original Greek "avors %y paraphrased versionA 8e need to take this a thority and h %ble obedience right into o r ho%es( too. +egin to think o" yo r ho se and ho%e as a battle"ield !here yo can do battle "or God. 5" yo are e%barrassed( then !ait ntil yo r spo se and kids are o t o" the ho se. Lock the doors and engage the second lock so they canEt get in even i" they slip back early. Then practice %arching aro nd yo r ho se. 4arch into every roo% and sing? 9Give thanks to the Lord "or =is love end res "oreverA9 5" yo have a b sinessor i" yo !ork "or so%eone else at a place o" b siness and yo eFperience opposition thereyo need to kno! that the battle has a spirit al point o" origin nless yo are in sin yo rsel". Ask i" yo can !ork overti%e( or ask i" yo can G st !ork late or co%e in early. Then( be"ore anybody else gets there Hand be"ore yo clock inI( !alk aro nd the o""ice declaring? 9Give thanks to the Lord "or =is love end res "oreverA9 Bo !ill be cond cting covert spirit al !ar"are o" the "irst order. God takes great delight in sing the si%ple things to con"o nd those things that are pro"o nd. =e takes great delight in sing %eek things to tear do!n %ighty things. =e says that every ti%e yo clap yo r hands =e !ill lay a stroke on yo r ene%y. H5" yo really kne! and believed that God !as laying a stroke on yo r ene%y every ti%e yo clapped yo r hands( 5 believe yo !o ld clap ntil yo r hands !ere black and bl eAI 8ellC 8hat are yo !aiting "orC
6n.note
1. ;ra!n "ro% !ord st dies in -trong:s E<hausti1e +oncordance, .estroye. or consume. H=/,11IJ and !heological Wordboo* of the Dld !estament, <. Laird =arris( Gleason L. Archer( Jr.( +r ce 3. 8altke( eds. HChicago? 4oody 'ress( 190-I( pp. 6/966-( 90..
Chapter 0
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Can yo i%agine trying to eFplain to so%eone !ho had tasted stra!berries( b t had never seen or tasted a raspberry( !hat raspberries are likeC 98ell( raspberries taste something like stra!berries( b t then they donEt.9 $o%eti%es( !e enter into ne! and eFciting levels o" !orship and are te%pted to think !e 9have arrived.9 8hat !e donEt nderstand is that even tho gh )e! Testa%ent !orship is %ore %at re and closer to 9the per"ect pattern9 than >ld Testa%ent !orship( itEs still not heavenly !orship. God is taking s so%e!here that !e have never been be"ore. Bo %ay think that 5E% a little strange( b t 5 think that i" God gave s heavenly !orship right no!( !e !o ld eFplodeA ;oes that %ake sense to yo C 5 believe !e co ldnEt handle hea1enly worship beca se !e donEt have hea1enly bodies yet. The +ible says( 92or o r conversation is in heavenJ "ro% !hence also !e look "or the $avior( the Lord Jes s Christ? !ho shall change o r vile body( that it %ay be "ashioned like nto =is glorio s body( according to the !orking !hereby =e is able even to s bd e all things nto =i%sel" H'hil. /?.-:.1 3J*I. ;onEt !orry. This doesnEt %ean that !e canEt %ove higher in !orship and praise right no!A 8e have to beca se !e have a !orld to !in in battle thro gh Christ. 8e need to nderstand that !e live and %ove in the %idst o" a dyna%ic tension bet!een the seen and the nseen( the te%poral and the
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eternal( the earthly and the heavenly. Thro gho t $cript re yo !ill "ind co%parisons and transitions. >n the one hand( there is 4osesE tabernacle o" the !ilderness era. Then( there is ;avidEs tabernacle( !hich %ade GodEs presence accessible to the co%%on %an "or the "irst ti%e in h %an history since be"ore Ada%Es "all into sin. A"ter ;avid( things see%ed to take a step back!ard to!ard the 9boFing:in9 o" God and the separation o" %an "ro% Jehovah. Bet( even ;avidEs tabernacle o" inti%ate !orship "alls short o" the true tabernacle, !hich God =i%sel" pitched !itho t the hands or plan o" %an. Dven nder the )e! Covenant o" the blood o" Jes s Christ( !e still co%e to !orship laden !ith o r h %an li%itations and i%per"ections. 5tEs tr e that !e no longer "ace the proble%s co%%on to the >ld Covenant( !hen each !orshiper had to bring a la%b( a goat( or a %eal o""ering. 8e donEt need to bring the blood o" ani%als any%ore. 5nstead( !e bring the sacri"ices o" praiseA The prophet =osea Hyes( an >ld Testa%ent prophetI says? 98e o""er =i% the calves o" o r lips( the sacri"ices o" o r lips.9 Darly in this book( 5 %entioned the revelation Jes s gave s at the !ell in $a%aria !hen =e told a "allen b t spirit ally h ngry !o%an( 9+ t an ho r is co%ing( and no! is( !hen the true worshipers shall !orship the 2ather in spirit and tr thJ "or such people the 2ather seeks to be =is !orshipers9 HJn. 6?./I. )o! 5 !ant yo to pl g this elect gro p o" true worshipers into 9the LordEs prayer9 !here Jes s gave the disciples an eFa%ple o" God: pleasing prayer? 0ray, then, in this way# (Dur 3ather who art in hea1en, ,allowed be !hy name. (Thy kingdom come Thy will be done, #n earth as it is in heaven( (Batthew 8#@9"2'. Co ld it be that God !ants tr e !orshipers Hyo and %eI to bring =is r le do!n to the earth thro gh the blood o" the La%b and the po!er o" prayer( praise( !orship( and obedienceC 5 think so. 8e need to delve %ore deeply into the vital relationship bet!een heavenly things and earthly things( !hich %eans !e need to go to the +ook o" =ebre!s. >ow the main point in what has been said is this# we ha1e such a high priest, who has ta*en ,is seat at the right hand of the throne of the Ba?esty in the hea1ens,
8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven ) minister in the sanctuary, and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3or e1ery high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this high priest also ha1e something to offer. >ow if ,e were on earth, ,e would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; Who ser1e a copy and shadow of the hea1enly things, ?ust as Boses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, (-EE,( ,e says, (!,)! =DK B)%E all things )++DE4I>G !D !,E 0)!!EE> W,I+, W)-,DW> =DK D> !,E BDK>!)I>( (,ebrews /#"9$'.
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5 !ant yo to say three !ords alo d to yo rsel"? 9The tr e tabernacle.9 According to the +ook o" =ebre!s( the only tr e tabernacle is the one set p by the Lord =i%sel"( not by %an. Anything else is at best a copy or shado! o" the tr e tabernacle o" God. 8hen 4oses !as asked to b ild an earthly copy o" the heavenly tabernacle( he "o nd o t G st ho! serio s God !as abo t =is d!elling place and anything b ilt according to its pattern. That is !hy God !arned 4oses( 9$ee that yo %ake everything according to the pattern !hich !as sho!n yo on the %o ntain9 H=eb. 0?1I. There is a big di""erence bet!een an eFhortation and a !arning. 4ost o" s are sed to eFhortations that basically say( 9Try not to %ess p.9 4oses didnEt receive an eFhortation abo t the tabernacle. =e got an old "ashioned !arning that said( (4on:t %ess p or elseA $ee that yo %ake everything according to the pattern.9 )nd according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgi1eness. !herefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the hea1ens to be cleansed with these, but the hea1enly things themsel1es with better sacrifices than these. 3or +hrist did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into hea1en itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
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Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en >or was it that ,e should offer ,imself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own (,ebrews @# 9 $'.
5" yo care" lly s rvey the >ld Testa%ent $cript res( yo !ill see co ntless copies or types and shado!s o" tr e !orship appearing "ro% Genesis to 4alachi. Dven in the )e! Testa%ent( !here !e co%e "ace to "ace !ith the tr e 4essiah "oretold and %irrored in the >ld Testa%ent( !e are dealing !ith gli%pses o" heavenly !orship that still havenEt been %ani"ested or seen on earth. Thro gho t the 8ord o" God( o r heavenly 2ather is saying so%ething to s abo t o r !orship by presenting copy a"ter copy( leading s "ro% type to shado! in o r earthly plane to portray in ever:increasing " llness the heavenly pattern( the tr e !orship o" the tr e tabernacle !here =e resides. 2irst( let %e deal !ith any do bts people %ay have abo t =eaven being a speci"ic place separate "ro% 9here.9 =ebre!s 9?.6 says( 92or Christ did not enter a holy place %ade !ith hands( a %ere copy o" the tr e one( b t into hea1en itself, no! to appear in the presence o" God "or s.9 This verse tells s Jes s entered 9heaven itsel".9 This verse says the ti%e period that =e appears in the presence o" God "or s is now, not 9back then9 or 9so%eday.9 Jes s doesnEt have to g ess or i%agine !hat =eaven is like beca se =e kno!s. =e d!ells there today( right no!( at the right hand o" the 2ather. The =oly $pirit kno!s !hat real !orship is( and =e kno!s !hat the glory o" God is. =e kno!s !hatEs going on in =eaven. + t !hen God talks to s abo t tr e !orship in =eaven( =e % st talk to s on o r level!hich %eans =e % st re"er s to the taste o" earthly praise and !orship eFperiences Hlike the stra!berries in %y ill strationI to help s so%eho! grasp the reality o" !orship on a heavenly plane Hthe raspberriesI. =e % st co%pare earthly things !ith heavenly things. That is !hy !e so o"ten hear( 95tEs so%ething like this. 5tEs like this( b t itEs not this.9 There !as a ti%e in =eaven !hen !orship !as n"la!ed thro gho t the niverse. All o" the angelsarchangels( cher bi%( and seraphi%!orshiped God together nder the leadership o" l ci"er( the 9star o" the %orning(9 the covering cher b !ho !as created to be !orship leader o" the niverse. 5saiah the prophet describes l ci"er and his "all? ,ow you ha1e fallen from hea1en, D star of the morning, son of the dawn. =ou ha1e been cut down to the earth, =ou who
8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven ha1e wea*ened the nations. 5ut you said in your heart, ($ will ascend to hea1en; $ will raise my throne abo1e the stars of God, )nd $ will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. ($ will ascend abo1e the heights of the clouds; $ will make myself li*e the Bost ,igh.( >e1ertheless you will be thrust down to -heol, to the recesses of the pit (Isaiah "6#" 9"$'.
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5 have highlighted the 9"ive !ills9 that l ci"er ttered to hi%sel". =e %ade a cr cial %istake along the !ay by not saying( 95 !ill if =ou will.( =e didnEt involve his Creator beca se he had a%bitions to e& al and eclipse his Creator. God ans!ered !ith a single sentence? 9Bo !ill not.9 =e said in =is 8ord( 9Bo !ill be thr st do!n.9 5 donEt kno! i" yo reali7e this( b t thro gh the "inished !ork o" Jes s Christ( =is $on( God has gi1en s all "ive o" the things l ci"er Hno! called satanI tried to sei7e illegallyA )o !onder he hates s so % chA Another pict re o" !orship in the "or% o" the 9chie" !orshiper9 !ho "ell appears in D7ekiel .0. $o%e %isg ided artists "ro% past and present have painted pict res o" o r adversary( satan( depicting hi% as so%e kind o" grotes& e gargoyle. There is no do bt that absol te evil signi"icantly has altered his appearance "ro% !hat it once !as( b t even no! he has the ability to appear to h %an eyes as an 9angel o" light9 H. Cor. 11?16I. Consider this pict re o" !hat satan once !as in the "or% o" l ci"er? -on of man, ta*e up a lament concerning the *ing of !yre and say to him# (!his is what the -o1ereign Lord says# :=ou were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. :=ou were in Eden, the garden of God; e1ery precious stone adorned you# ruby, topaC and emerald, chrysolite, ony< and ?asper, sapphire, turHuoise and beryl. =our settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. :=ou were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. =ou were on the holy mount of God; you wal*ed among the fiery stones.
Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en :=ou were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wic*edness was found in you. :!hrough your widespread trade you were filled with 1iolence, and you sinned. -o I dro1e you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I e<pelled you, D guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. :=our heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. -o I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before *ings:((ECe*iel /#" 9"A >I&'.
The "irst thing that co%es to yo r %ind a"ter reading this verse %ight be( 95" l ci"er !as thro!n o t o" =eaven( then ho! can he have principalities in the 9heavenlies9C 2irst o" all( there are di""erent 9heavens9 or levels o" the heavens. $olo%on declared( 9+ t !ill God indeed d!ell on the earthC 5ehold, hea1en and the highest hea1en cannot contain Thee( ho! % ch less this ho se !hich 5 have b iltA9 H1 3ings 0?.7I. The apostle 'a l !rote( 95 kno! a %an in Christ !ho "o rteen years ago!hether in the body 5 do not kno!( or o t o" the body 5 do not kno!( God kno!ss ch a %an !as ca ght p to the third hea1en( H. Cor. 1.?.I. 8hether yo look in the >ld Testa%ent or the )e!( GodEs 8ord speaks o" heavens in the pl ral sense. $atan has been re%oved "ro% the 9highest9 =eaven !here God d!ells( b t he has not yet been re%oved "ro% the heavens belo! the highest real%( the heavenly places. 8e read in the +ook o" =ebre!s that9.. .it !as necessary "or the copies o" the things in the heavens to be cleansed !ith these( b t the heavenly things the%selves !ith better sacrifices than these9 H=eb. 9?./I. <e%e%ber that there really is only one $acri"iceJes s Christ. 8e donEt need to cleanse the highest =eaven !here God d!ells beca se =e took care o" that a long ti%e ago. 8e are cleansing the heavens !here the !ar"are is taking place. God !ants s to nderstand that =e can acco%plish % ch %ore thro gh the si%plicity o" o r !orship than !e reali7e. Jes s said( 92or !here t!o or three have gathered together in 4y na%e( there 5 a% in their %idst9 H4t. 10?.-I. Let %e paraphrase this state%ent to acc rately eFpress the %eaning i%plied in the original Greek %an script? 95" t!o or three o" yo will e1er get together, 5 !ill be so impressed that 5 will come and see it Byself.( J st be"ore Jes s
8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven
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said this( =e said so%ething else that is very c rio s? 9Tr ly 5 say to yo ( !hatever yo shall bind on earth shall be bo nd in heavenJ and !hatever yo loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven9 H4t. 10?10I. 8henever !e try to acco%plish earthly things be"ore !e have dealt !ith their co nterparts in the heavenlies( !e are co rting "ail re. Think o" an pside:do!n tree !ith its roots in the heavens and its leaves( branches( and "r it on the earth. 8eEre picking the "r it( b t !eEre not dealing !ith the rootsA The iss e is this? Can !e deal !ith the rootsC 5n the Gospel o" L ke( Jes s described the !ay =is 2ather dealt !ith !orthless trees !hen =e said( 9And also the aFe is already laid at the root o" the treesJ every tree there"ore that does not bear good "r it is c t do!n and thro!n into the "ire9 HLk. /?9I. 8e need to deal !ith every seless tree in o r individ al lives in the sa%e !ay. 5" !e deal !ith roots o" sin( neglect( !eakness( bondage( or "ear in o r lives( !e donEt have to bother !ith "r it or o t!ard res lts o" those proble%s over and over again. 5" yo chop a tree o"" at its roots( yo donEt have to ever pick p another seed pod or piece o" "r it "ro% that tree. 4any people str ggle !ith rec rring proble%s in their lives beca se they havenEt dealt !ith the root iss es that ca se the%. As long as yo donEt deal !ith root iss es( that !orthless tree !ill still bear "r it or spread roots that !ill a""ect the good parts o" yo r li"e. 9Bo kno!( 5 still lose %y te%per.9 95 still have these bad tho ghts so%eti%es.9 95 still get dr nk on a n %ber o" occasions.9 95 still hit %y !i"e.9 5nvariably !e ask the sa%e & estion a"ter con"essing o r rec rring proble%s? 98here is all that co%ing "ro%C9 The li"e o" every tree is in its roots. 5" yo have a proble% or sin that !onEt go a!ay( then the roots o" that 9tree9 have not been dealt !ith. As long as the roots o" that proble% tree are still intact( yo !ill be harvesting %ore proble%s "ro% itA Go deal !ith the root. $trike the root o" that tree !ith the aFe o" GodA Bo !ill "ind the proble%s that they prod ced G st give !ay !itho t yo ever having to cast o t another de%on. Darthly things. =eavenly things. $een things. #nseen things. Te%poral things. Dternal things. $ince !e tend to look at te%poral things all the ti%e( !e are too easily dist rbed by the%. They donEt a""ect God=e a""ects the%A God doesnEt %anage the !orld and the niverse in nervo s "ear as =e % tters to =i%sel"( 98ell( letEs see. The co%% nists are in there( so 5 can only do so % ch in that place. >h( the <ep blicans are in. LetEs see( the ;e%ocrats are in....9 )oA God does
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not %anage the niverse thro gh the 8hite =o se( the 3re%lin( thro gh Congress or any other parlia%entary ho se o" delegates. ,e manages it through the +hurch house and itEs abo t ti%e the Ch rch reali7es itA 95snEt that a little pres %pt o s( 'astorC9 Absol tely notA According to the +ook o" <o%ans? -o then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 3or the -cripture says to 0haraoh, (3DE !,I- &EE= 0KE0D-E I E)I-E4 =DK K0, !D 4EBD>-!E)!E B= 0DWEE I> =DK, )>4 !,)! B= >)BE BIG,! 5E 0ED+L)IBE4 !,EDKG,DK! !,E W,DLE E)E!,.( -o then ,e has mercy on whom ,e desires, and ,e hardens whom ,e desires (Eomans @#"89"/'. 5" yo are a blood:!ashed child o" God( yo havenEt lost yo r in"l ence in the earth as long as yo havenEt lost yo r in"l ence in the heavenliesA Jes s said that !hatever !e bind in the heavens !ill be bo nd on earth. 5 dearly love the sincere Christian brothers !ho tell %e( 9LetEs get a conservative $ pre%e Co rt in there to get the Gob done "or s. LetEs elect so:and:soJ he can appoint the right people. ThatEs ho! !eEll get a right decision abo t abortion.9 5 G st have to tell the%? 92orget the $ pre%e Co rtA Go !here the real proble% isdeclare !ar in the heavensA9 That s ally isnEt !hat they !ant to hear( b t 5 canEt get %y %ind o"" GodEs 8ord in 'sal% 169. HBes( !eEve read it be"ore( b t 5E% going to keep taking yo to this passage again and again ntil yo Ere drea%ing abo t it.I 0raise the Lord. -ing to the Lord a new song and ,is praise in the congregation of the godly ones. Let Israel be glad in his Ba*er; let the sons of Jion re?oice in their %ing. Let them praise ,is name with dancing; let them sing praises to ,im with timbrel and lyre. 3or the Lord ta*es pleasure in ,is people; ,e will beautify the afflicted ones with sal1ation.
8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven Let the godly ones e<ult in glory; let them sing for ?oy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two9 edged sword in their hand, !o e<ecute 1engeance on the nations, and punishment on the peoples; !o bind their *ings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; !o e<ecute on them the ?udgment written; this is an honor for all ,is godly ones. 0raise the Lord. (0salm "6@#"9@'
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8hen the praise o" God is in o r %o ths( !hat is in o r handC ) two9edged sword. 8hat is it "orC To inflict 1engeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples. =o! do !e do thatC 8hile !e praise God !ith o r %o ths( !e have a t!o:edged s!ord in o r hands( b t %ean!hile God gets b sy binding their kings !ith "etters and their nobles !ith shackles o" iron. 8hile !e praise God( !e are carrying o t the sentence o" divine G dg%ent !ritten against the%. God s %s everything p by saying 9This is an honor "or all =is godly ones9 H's. 169?9I. Let %e clari"y this beca se it goes against so%e o" o r erroneo s pres %ptions. The glory o" the Ch rch is not to be co!ering in so%e corner !hile !e "ear" lly !ait "or the rapt re to resc e s "ro% the bad old devil. ThatEs not a glory at all( and it is de"initely not o r gloryA > r glory as the Ch rch o" the Living God is to be o t !here the action is. )o( 5E% not talking abo t G st !orshiping God in the cocoon o" o r "o r ch rch b ilding !alls. 5E% talking abo t a Ch rch that is in the high!ays and by!ays( passing o t "ood and giving "olks clothing !hile !e tell the% !ith n& enchable Goy? 9God is not co nting yo r trespasses against yo A9 That is o r glory as saints o" the <isen Christ. Too %any Christians have "orsaken their God:ordained glory to !ring their hands in "ear and !hine( 9The sky is "allingA9 Well, it ain:t. Hpardon %y 9'ittsb rgh prose9I. !he rain is falling. These are the days o" the 9latter rain(9 the prophesied o tpo ring o" the $pirit. God said that in the last days( 95 !ill po r o t 4y $pirit on all %ankind9 HJoel .?.0I. The last ti%e that 5 checked( the !ord all still %eant 9all.9 ;onEt bother checking the =ebre!that !ord still %eans 9all9 tooA1 5" God is po ring o t =is $pirit on all "lesh( can any "lesh 9d ck9 itC )o. God
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%et the% at the !o%b be"ore they took their "irst breath and to ched their spirits !ith an inner h nger "or =is 'resence. They have no choice b t to accept or reGect it. 5n a real sense( the nations are controlled by principalities and po!ers in the heavenly places. 5t is our worship !hich is the 9better sacri"ice9 that cleanses the heavensA 8hen Jes s appointed 7. people to go into to!ns and villages ahead o" =i%( =e said( 9The harvest is plenti" l( b t the !orkers are "e!9 H4t. 9?/7I. The $pirit o" God has already been po red o t on all "lesh. That is !hy the harvest is plenteo s. The real battle to bring in the harvest is not !ith "lesh( b t !ith spirit al beings in the heavenlies. That is !hy the !ar"are o" !orship and praise is so i%portant. 5" yo donEt have ti%e to preach( i" yo donEt have the opport nity to give yo r testi%ony to street people( i" yo donEt have ti%e to receive an o""ering in a service( then "or GodEs sake( worship. 'raise God at all costsA 4ore !ill be acco%plished in yo r praise and !orship than co ld ever happen nder the %ost pro"o nd preachingA Bo r !orship and praise releases the ne& aled po!er o" God in the heavenliesA God !as looking beyond the copy that 4oses !as abo t to b ild to the real tabernacle o" =is o!n choosing !hen =e said? 9According to all that 5 a% going to sho! yo ( as the pattern o" the tabernacle and the pattern o" all its " rnit re( G st so yo shall constr ct it9 HDF. .1?9I. =e !as going to invite 4oses back p to the %o ntain so =e co ld sho! hi% a pattern o" the tr e sanct ary. 8hat is the point o" this sanct aryC =e tells 4oses in verse 0( 9And let the% constr ct a sanct ary "or 4e( that I may dwell among them( HDF. .1?0I. J %p ahead thro gh the generations to the "irst chapter o" the Gospel o" John? 9And the 8ord beca%e "lesh( and d!elt a%ong s( and !e beheld =is glory( glory as o" the only begotten "ro% the 2ather( " ll o" grace and tr th9 HJn. 1?16I. 8e called the thing 4oses %adethe >ld Testa%ent copy o" a %ysterio s heavenly originala 9tabernacle9 or tent. 5t !as the 9tent o" =is presence9 !here the $pirit o" God Al%ighty !o ld brood over the ark o" the covenant. ;o yo kno! !hat John !as saying in the Greek lang age in John 1?16C =e !as saying( 9And the 8ord beca%e "lesh and made ,is dwelling LtabernacledAM a%ong s.9 The 3ing Ja%es *ersion says Jes s 9d!elt9 a%ong s( and it is the transliteration o" the Greek !ord s*enoo, a verb "or% !hich %eans 9to tent( or enca%p( to occ py( to reside or d!ell.9. This is a %ore per"ect type o" the pattern behind the tabernacle 4oses %ade in the >ld Testa%ent( b t one %ore step re%ains be"ore
8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven
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the tr e pattern is revealed on the earth. 5t is "o nd in <evelation .1 !here John !rites? )nd I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of hea1en from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. )nd I heard a loud 1oice from the throne, saying (5ehold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and ,e shall dwell among them, and they shall be ,is people, and God ,imself shall be among them, ()nd ,e shall wipe away e1ery tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning or crying or pain; the first things ha1e passed away.( )nd ,e who sits on the throne said, (5ehold, I am ma*ing all things new( (Ee1elation "# 9$'. >nce again( !hen the !riter says that 9=e shall dwell a%ong the%(9 he is sing that sa%e tabernacle !ord( s*enoo, !hich re"ers to pitching a tent or tabernacle in !hich to d!ell. GodEs ai% all along has been to d!ell !ith s in blessed co%% nion. The old tabernacle o" 4oses !as a %an:%ade tabernacle o" skins( b t the )e! Testa%ent tabernacle !as in the sinless "lesh o" the God: %an( Jes s Christ Hsee Jn. 1?16I. 5n the +ook o" <evelation( it is in s( the people o" God( the city o" God( the +ride o" Christ. God is saying( 95E% going to d!ell in yo .9 And !ho is this +rideC 5tEs a %ore co%plete representation o" that !hich God sho!ed 4oses. 8e are at once earthly( heavenly( te%porary( eternal( seen( and nseen. 8e are the s pernat ral people o" Godredee%ed o t o" the earth "ro% every nation. God !ants to cleanse the heavens above the earth !ith better sacri"ices( and !e need to bring =i% sacri"ices that !ill please =i%.
6n.notes
1. -trong:s, kol H=/,-1I( !hich %eans 9the !hole( all( any( or every.9 .. -trong:s, skenoo HG6,/7I( 9to d!ell.9
Chapter 9
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Worship an. the &.vance of <o.=s >ing.om

?The best is yet to come.?
Three !ords !ill %ark the i%%inent doo% o" any ch rch( any spirit al %ove%ent( any deno%ination( and any spirit al co%% nity. Those three "atal !ords are? 98e have arrived.9 > r Go rney "ro% conception to beyond the grave is a Go rney into an in"inite God( so !e can never say that !e 9have arrived9 H nless !e are ad%itting that !e 9have arrived9 at the end o" o rselves( the end o" o r strength( and the end o" o r o!n abilitiesI. There is G st no !ay a h %an being can tr th" lly say( 95 kno! everything there is to kno! abo t God.9 2e! o" s !o ld say so%ething like this( b t %any o" s act li*e it. There is no !ay anyone can right" lly say( 95 kno! everything that God is teaching s abo t so%e partic lar thing.9 The %ore !e kno!( the %ore !e reali7e ho! % ch !e don:t *now. The "act is that !e have a perspective o" reality that is at best partial. All o" this can be applied to o r !orship and o r praise in one si%ple phrase? 9)o %atter ho! good it is( it isnEt as good as it can get.9 +y saying 9good(9 5E% not talking abo t ho! good it is to or "or yo . 5 a% talking eFcl sively abo t ho! 9good9 o r !orship and praise is to God( !ho sho ld be the sole obGect o" o r !orship. 5 kno! !e have praise and !orship se%inars and praise gatherings
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all aro nd the !orld. 5 kno! they are s ally " n to attend and eFhilarating to the spirit %an. + t listen? It is not for us. 5t belongs to God alone( beca se =e alone is !orthy to be praised. 5t is a resid al bene"it( a 9perk(9 o" o r "a%ily %e%bership as sons and da ghters o" God thro gh Jes s that !e are able to enGoy it( too. Dverything !e do in o r praise and !orship sho ld be done "or God Al%ighty. 8hen !e li"t o r hands and voices in praise and !orship( it is "or Godnot G st beca se so%e %an like Joseph L. Garlington said( 9Li"t yo r hands.9 8e li"t o r hands beca se the $cript res say( 9Li"t p yo r hands to the sanct ary( and bless the Lord9 H's. 1/6?.I. 5Eve got so%e shocking ne!s "or yo ? This 9li"ting the hands b siness9 isnEt a charismatic thingitEs a 5ible thing. Dven people !ho donEt !ant to li"t their hands nder nor%al circ %stances !ill do so & ickly nder certain kinds o" press re. 2or instance( 5 %ay tell everyone( 95 !ill ne1er raise %y hands at the %ere co%%and o" %anA9 + t i" 5 !alk o t the ch rch door and %eet a g y !ith an #7i Han 5sraeli s b%achine g nI( 5Ell p %p those hands in the air as "ast as 5 canA The g y probably !onEt even have to say( 9<aise yo r handsA9 >nce 5 see that #7i( he !ill have no proble%s !ith %e. 8hen yo raise yo r hands to God( yo are saying( 9Bo !ill have no proble% !ith %e. 4y li"e is Bo rs to co%%and.9 8hat is God leading s toC 5n a !ord? more. The +ook o" 'roverbs tells s( 9The path o" the G st is as the shining light( that shineth %ore and %ore nto the per"ect day9 H'rov. 6?10 3J*I. )o %atter ho! % ch yo see( nderstand( or eFperience today( God can sho! yo %ore to%orro!A )o %atter !hat yo enGoy today( God can give yo %ore to enGoy to%orro!. Bo %ay think yo have pl %bed the depths o" yo r relationship !ith yo r spo se( b t yo havenEt. God can sho! yo hidden treas res that yo have yet to "ind in yo r %ateA The sa%e is tr e o" =is 8ord( and o" every God:given relationship. God !ants to sho! s %ore( give s %ore( teach s %ore( b ild s %ore( bless s %ore( challenge s %ore( and anoint s !ith %ore o" =i%sel"A There is al!ays more in God. Look closely at the !ay the apostle 'a l described the role o" the =oly $pirit? =e were sealed with that ,oly -pirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of ,is glory (Ephesians l#"7b9"6 %J&'.
8orship and the Advance o" GodEs 3ingdo%
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Dven the best things God gives s are prec rsors o" things to co%e that are even better( richer( " ller( bigger( and deeper than !hat !e have no!. Altho gh Jes s Christ !onEt be 9better9 than =e is no!( o r nderstanding o" =i%( o r co%prehension o" =is love and sacri"ice( o r revelation o" =i% as God incarnate( and especially our capacity to enGoy inti%ate "ello!ship !ith =i% !ill be better( " ller( richer( bigger( and deeper than !hat !e have no!. That is !hy the apostle 'a l called the gi"t o" the ind!elling =oly $pirit the 9earnest9 o" o r inheritance in Christ. )o( he !asnEt talking abo t a do!n pay%ent. =e !as talking abo t 9earnest %oney.9 5" yo !alk past a sed:car lot and linger longer than yo intended( a salesperson !ill ask( 9;o yo like that carC9 9Beah( 5 like that car(9 yo !ill say. Then heEll say( 95 can hold it "or yo . Give %e so%e earnest %oney.9 98o ld "ive dollars !orkC9 98ell( this is a 4ercedes(9 he replies. 98hat do yo call earnest %oneyC9 yo ask. =is ans!er is? 9Give %e a check "or abo t "ive h ndred b cks thatEll hold it ntil yo co%e back !ith the do!n pay%ent and approved "inancing.9 8hen a salesperson sees a little green( he kno!s yo are really interested. God gave s the ind!elling =oly $pirit as the 9earnest9 o" o r eternal inheritance. )o! i" the 'resence o" the =oly $pirit in o r hearts d ring o r earthly eFistence isnEt even called a 9do!n pay%ent9 H!hich is s ally % ch larger than the a%o nt re& ired "or an earnest pay%entI( then !hat is the %agnit de o" o r inheritanceC 5t is hard to think o" the =oly $piritEs ind!elling 'resence as a gi"t to kind o" tide s over in the earth ntil !e receive 9the real thing in its " llness.9 5t %akes yo !onder !hat a!aits s !hen !e "inally get o t o" these "ragile earthly bodies and p t on o r glori"ied bodiesA 'a l !rote in his letter to the Dphesians? E1en when we were dead in our transgressions, FGodG made us ali1e together with +hrist (by grace you ha1e been sa1ed', )nd raised us up with ,im, and seated us with ,im in the hea1enly places, in +hrist Jesus,
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Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en In order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in *indness toward us in +hrist Jesus (Ephesians #$9A'.
;o yo think yo are enGoying the grace o" God no!C )o !ay. Bo donEt have the "acilities to enGoy the i%%eas rable grace o" God. Bo donEt have the 9e& ip%ent9 to enGoy it !itho t %eas re or li%itation. DnGoy !hat yo have received( b t al!ays reali7e that !hat yo have isnEt all that =e is going to give yo A =e is telling yo thro gh =is 8ord that =e is going to give yo more. As long as !e are earthbo nd creat res( !e are going to be li%ited in o r ability to eFpress everything !e "eel or perceive in o r !orship and praise eFperiences. <ight no!( as yo read these !ords( i" yo !ere trying to eFpress all that yo "eel( "olks aro nd yo !o ld probably begin to call yo so%e really strange na%es. Dven the %ost liberated earthly !orshipers are li%ited in their ability and !illingness to o""er ninhibited !orship to o r heavenly 2ather. Three str ct res in the >ld Testa%ent deserve o r attention beca se they serve as partial bl eprints or ro gh dra!ings o" the " ll and rich spirit al !orship that !e !ill eFperience and prod ce in =eaven. The "irst str ct re is called the tabernacle o" 4oses( beca se God gave 4oses the plans "or that tabernacle( or tent o" skins( according to the heavenly pattern. The second is called ;avidEs tabernacle beca se it( too( !as given to ;avid by God as a copy o" the real thing in =eaven. The third is called $olo%onEs te%ple. Altho gh it !as a "iFed str ct re( the te%ple !as b ilt according to the %ore co%plete plans and pattern God gave to $olo%onEs "ather( ;avid. There is a "o rth str ct re that %ay !ell be incl ded in this list( b t !e are not going to talk abo t it in any great length. That is the te%ple revealed in a vision to the prophet D7ekiel( as recorded in his prophetic book. The tent or tabernacle o" 4oses !as arranged in the shape o" a rectangle !ith three %ain sections. The priests entered thro gh one end o" the enclos re and passed thro gh the o ter co rt or co rtyard past the bra7en altar and bra7en laver. 8ithin the o ter tabernacle stood another enclos re containing the inner co rt or holy place( and "inally the %ost holy place. 5nside the holy place !ere the table o" sho!:bread( the golden altar o" incense( and the golden candlestick. +ehind these h ng a veil or thick tapestry separating the holy o" holies "ro% the holy place. 5t barred physical access and blocked the vie! o" %an "ro% the shekinah presence o" God nder the >ld Covenant.
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>nly the priests Hthe %ale descendants o" AaronI and the %ales o" the tribe o" Levi !ere allo!ed to serve the Lord by o""ering sacri"ices on the bra7en altar( or to cond ct priestly d ties in the vicinity o" the holy place. These %en began their service at the age o" /- and retired at the age o" 1-. The holy o" holies !as the resting place o" the ark o" the covenant. The lid o" this gold:overlaid ark( "eat ring t!o cher bi% or covering angels "acing each other( overshado!ed the %ercy seat that hid or covered the la!. 'laced inside o" this ark o" the covenant !ere the Ten Co%%and%ents given to 4oses( along !ith AaronEs rod that b dded and a pot o" %anna "ro% the desert !anderings. These three ite%s speak o" GodEs !ill( a thority( and provision( respectively. #nder the la!( one person alone !as allo!ed to pass thro gh the veil and see the ark o" the covenant once a year. This privilege !as reserved "or the high priest( and he didnEt look or linger very long. This priest !o ld "ear" lly pass thro gh the veil once a year on the day o" atone%ent to sprinkle blood on the %ercy seat seven ti%es and p rge( or atone "or( the sins o" the nation "or one %ore year. Let %e skip past ;avidEs tabernacle "or a %o%ent to look at $olo%onEs te%ple. 5" the tabernacle b ilt by 4oses cost the 5sraelites a co ple %illion dollars( then $olo%onEs te%ple cost abo t "o r billion( one:h ndred %illion dollarsA That te%ple !o ld %ake the <ev. $ch llerEs Crystal Cathedral look like $!iss cheese in ter%s o" the invest%ent that !as %ade. 5 believe <ev. $ch llerEs congregation invested bet!een 16 and 17 %illion dollars in that "acility in Anahei%( Cali"ornia. A%os the prophet said( 9$ rely the Lord God does nothing nless =e reveals =is secret co nsel to =is servants the prophets9 HA%os /?7I. God is constantly "orecasting =is plan( o r destiny( and " t re events thro gho t the $cript res. Bes( even the >ld Testa%ent gives prophecies abo t !hat is going to take place in o r day. 2ro% ti%e to ti%e( 5 like to share a little poe% abo t the >ld and )e! Testa%ents or Covenants o" the +ible? 9The >ld is in the )e! eFplained. The )e! is in the >ld contained. The >ld is in the )e! revealed. The )e! is in the >ld concealed.9 #n"ort nately( % ch con" sion has been created by the decision by so%e ch rch leaders to l %p together %any o" the prophecies in the >ld and )e! Testa%ents and stick the% into a theological 9never:never land9 called the 4illenni %( !here !e are "orbidden to enGoy those things right no!.
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$and!iched bet!een the badger:skin tabernacle o" 4oses and the ornate %asterpiece o" $olo%onEs te%ple is ;avidEs tabernacle. Dach o" these str ct res !as a copy o" so%ething that is tr eJ they !ere not phony. Their only proble% !as they !ere de"icient in their ability to re"lect the real. The tabernacle( the ark o" the covenant( and all o" the other ele%ents o" these str ct res are types and shado!s o" the Lord Jes s Christ in one !ay or another. 5 %ost !ant to talk abo t ;avidEs tabernacle. The reason is "o nd( oddly eno gh( in a )e! Testa%ent passage reporting state%ents by Ja%es the apostle in the +ook o" Acts citing an older prophecy "ro% the +ook o" A%osA -imeon has related how God first concerned ,imself about ta*ing from among the Gentiles a people for ,is name. )nd with this the words of the 0rophets agree, ?ust as it is written, ()3!EE !,E-E !,I>G- I will return, )>4 I WILL EE5KIL4 !,E !)5EE>)+LE D3 4)&I4 W,I+, ,)3)LLE>, )>4 I WILL EE5KIL4 I!- EKI>-, )>4 I WILL EE-!DEE I!, (I> DE4EE !,)! !,E EE-! D3 B)>%I>4 B)= -EE% !,E LDE4, )>4 )LL !,E GE>!ILE- W,D )EE +)LLE4 5= B= >)BE,( -)=- !,E LDE4, W,D B)%E- !,E-E !,I>G- %>DW> 3EDB D3 DL4 ()cts "$#"69"/'. The Ch rch in the +ook o" Acts enco ntered so%e basic proble%s early in its eFistence beca se its leaders vie!ed the ch rch as an o""shoot o" the Je!ish "aithat best( a Je!ish ch rch. They didnEt really e%brace Jes sE co%%and to( 9go into all the !orld( beginning at Jer sale% and J dea and $a%aria( into the tter%ost parts.9 They "ig red Hand the +ook o" Acts de%onstrates thisI that Jes sE !ords !ere a co%%and to seek o t Je!s in these places. They enGoyed the =oly $pirit and began to 9ca%p9 !here they !ere. And( they liked it there. 5n the end( God had to %otivate the% by persec tion to go on( to scatter the gospel %essage o tside o" the holy city o" Jer sale%. Dvent ally( the 2irst Cent ry believers did vent re o t or !ere driven o t o" Jer sale% and into the by!ays o" international society. The proble% !as that the Je!ish disciples really !erenEt convinced
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that the gospel %essage !as "or Gentiles as !ell as Je!seven tho gh Jes s and the prophets o" old speci"ically said this on %any occasions. They pre"erred( instead( to stay a%ong their o!n people. ThatEs !hen God spoke to 'eter in a vision and sent hi% to the ho se o" an 5talian Gentile na%ed Corneli s. 'eter and his seven co%panions !ere shocked !hen the =oly Ghost "ell on Corneli sE ho sehold right in the %iddle o" 'eterEs %essage. 5 can al%ost see 'eter look at his Je!ish "riends "or a reaction !hen the Gentiles started speaking in other tong es? 9Look( g ys( 5 didnEt have anything to do !ith that. 5 !as G st talking... Bo g ys sa! %e5 didnEt p t %y hands on anybody( rightC <ightC9 Dven a"ter 'eter and his seven !itnesses ret rned to Jer sale% to say( 9Look( it !as a sovereign %ove o" the =oly $pirit. Gentiles are no! co%ing into the 3ingdo%(9 the Je!ish ch rch leaders still said( 98ell( !eEre not s re that this is God.9 5t !as God( and it still is GodA 8hen 'a l and +arnabas began to aggressively share the good ne!s !ith the Gentiles( they responded to Christ by the tho sands( and the =oly $pirit %oved a%ong the%. That le"t the Je!s !ondering( 98ell( !hat sho ld !e do !ith the%C $ho ld !e circ %cise the% and %ake the% Je!ish believers like sC $ho ld !e bring the% into the la!C9 Acts 11 is the record o" the "irst ch rch co ncil called in Jer sale% to decide this iss e. 5t !as at the concl sion o" this co ncil !hen Ja%es said that God took 9"ro% a%ong the Gentiles a people "or =is na%e9 and that =e !as deter%ined to reb ild ;avidEs "allen tabernacle HActs 11?16I. 8hy is God going to restore ;avidEs ancient tabernacleC 5snEt it G st an >ld Covenant type and shado! o" a )e! Testa%ent realityC God =i%sel" ans!ers this & estion in Acts 11? ()3!EE !,E-E !,I>G- I will return, )>4 I WILL EE5KIL4 !,E !)5EE>)+LE D3 4)&I4 W,I+, ,)3)LLE>, )>4 I WILL EE5KIL4 I!- EKI>-, )>4 I WILL EE-!DEE I!, (I> DE4EE !,)! !,E EE-! D3 B)>%I>4 B)= -EE% !,E LDE4, )>4 )LL !,E GE>!ILE- W,D )EE +)LLE4 5= B= >)BE,( -)=- !,E LDE4, W,D B)%E- !,E-E !,I>G- %>DW> 3EDB D3 DL4 ()cts "$#"89"/'.
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God has kno!n !hat =e !as going to do "ro% the beginning o" ti%e. There isnEt a thing going on right no! that has taken God by s rprise. =e kno!s !ho !ill be 'resident o" the #nited $tates in the neFt "ive elections( =e kno!s !here every n clear !arhead is stored( and =e kno!s the na%e and address o" every cri%inal on this planet. GodEs chie" concern is eFtending =is 3ingdo%. The " t re is not a proble% to God( and it sho ldnEt be a proble% to yo . 5E% interested in the tabernacle o" ;avid beca se Ja%es the apostle( speaking nder the inspiration o" the =oly $pirit( & oted A%os the prophet and said( (In that day 5 !ill restore ;avidEs "allen tent.9 Ja%es !as p blicly anno ncing 9that day9 had co%e( and the baptis% o" the =oly $pirit a%ong the Gentiles %arked the beginning o" the " l"ill%ent o" the prophesy o" A%os. The last days began !ith the o tpo ring o" the =oly $pirit on the day o" 'entecost as Joel prophesied cent ries be"ore( a "act 'eter %entioned in his address to the large cro!d o" Je!s a"ter the pper roo% eFperience Hsee Acts .?1,I. 5 think !e need to "ind o t everything !e can abo t !hat the tabernacle o" ;avid is and !hat it is to be in o r dayA 8e need to start !ith the prophecy o" A%os? (In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of 4a1id, and wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; (!hat they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by By name,( declares the Lord who does this. (5ehold, days are coming,( declares the Lord, (when the plowman will o1erta*e the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine, and all the hills will be dissol1ed( ()mos @#""9"7'. The 9last days9 began at 'entecost nearly t!o %illenni %s ago. 5n o r day( 9the plo!%an !ill overtake the reaper and the treader o" grapes hi% !ho so!s seedJ !hen the %o ntains !ill drip s!eet !ine...9 HA%os 9?1/I. God is talking abo t unprecedented fruitfulness here. =e is saying that there !ill be so % ch to reap "or the 3ingdo% that the plo!%an !ill be right behind the reaper to rge hi%( as he says( 9Co%e on( %an. Bo Ere holding s pA9 5" yo look closely at a %ap co%paring the si7e o" J dah and 5srael
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!hen ;avid "irst ascended their thrones to the si7e o" the re nited 5srael at the height o" his reign( yo !ill see that those borders !ere eFtended in an nprecedented eFpansion on every side. 5ronically( altho gh ;avidEs son( $olo%on( stepped onto the throne e& ipped !ith incredible !isdo%( al%ost nli%ited !ealth( and the %ost po!er" l standing ar%y in Asia 4inor Hthanks to the s ccess o" his !arrior "ather and the grace o" GodI( $olo%on did nothing to eFpand his borders " rther. 5n "act( his sin led to the division o" the throne again and the do!n"all o" 5srael in the end. A"ter ;avid died( 5srael lost gro nd and never regained it. The reason "or ;avidEs s ccess !as the nprecedented !orship and praise going on d ring his li"e and reignA HAnd $olo%onEs "ail re ste%s "ro% its replace%ent !ith rote rit al in the te%ple %ade o" stone.I 8hen yo read ;avidEs acco nt in 'sal% 169 o" sing praise to bind the nobles and their princes !ith "etters and chains( yo can al%ost hear ;avid saying? 9G ys( thereEs so%e %ore land right over there( and it is part o" o r inheritance. LetEs !orship and praise the Lord( and then go clai% o r land.9 ;avid and his "ollo!ers sed praise to God to 9p sh o t9 or eFpand their borders. Bet( even ;avid eFperienced serio s ps and do!ns in his 7eal to per"ect praise and d!ell in GodEs 'resence. Like %any !orshipers and !orship leaders today( ;avid %ade the "atal %istake o" trying to do the !ork o" God o tside o" GodEs g idelines or blessing in $econd $a% el. >ow 4a1id again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. )nd 4a1id arose and went with all the people who were with him to 5aale9?udah, to bring up from there the ar* of God which is called by the >ame, the 1ery name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned abo1e the cherubim. )nd they placed the ar* of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of )binadab which was on the hill; and KCCah and )hio, the sons of )binadab, were leading the new cart. -o they brought it with the ar* of God from the house of )binadab, which was on the hill; and )hio was wal*ing ahead of the ar*. Beanwhile, 4a1id and all the house of Israel were
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Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en celebrating before the Lord with all *inds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. 5ut when they came to the threshing floor of >acon, KCCah reached out toward the ar* of God and too* hold of it, for the o<en nearly upset it. )nd the anger of the Lord burned against KCCah, and God struc* him down there for his irre1erence; and he died there by the ar* of God. )nd 4a1id became angry because of the Lord:s outburst against KCCah, and that place is called 0ereC9uCCah to this day. -o 4a1id was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, (,ow can the ar* of the Lord come to me;( ( -amuel 8#"9@'.
8hen ;avidEs %en set the ark o" God on a 9ne! cart(9 itEs too bad they didnEt hear so%eone say( 9#h:oh.9 5t !o ld have saved the% a lot o" grie". ;avid see%ed to be doing a good thing !ith a good %otive the proble% !as that his %ethod !asnEt so good. =e !as operating in ignorance beca se he hadnEt cons lted GodEs 8ord. Bes( ;avid and all o" 5srael !ere !orshiping God !ith all their %ight !ith songs( harps( lyres( ta%bo rines( and cy%bals. That !as good. The proble% !as the ne! cart. 8hen the procession ca%e to the threshing "loor o" )acon( a priest na%ed #77ah reached o t to steady the rocking ark o" God( and God str ck hi% do!n "or his pres %ption. <ight there( in the %idst o" eF berant !orship and praise( a %an died literally in the shado! o" the ark o" God. ;avid beca%e angry at God "or killing #77ah( b t the real c lprit !as a little closer to ho%e. ;avidEs pres %ption had ca sed #77ahEs death. $ ddenly( !e "ind that ;avid !as afraid o" the Lord. 8e need to nderstand that the 9"ear o" the Lord9 is one o" the %issing ele%ents that God !ill restore to =is Ch rch in o r day. ;avid basically dropped the ark o" the Lord like a hot potato and le"t it standing on the threshing "loor o" >bed:edo% the Gittite. Bet God !anted to teach ;avid so%ething abo t =is 'resence( and the proper !ay to approach and reverence =i%even in his %ethodology o" !orshipA ;avid needed to learn to honor God in God:s way to receive the approval o" God. 8hen God sho!ered >bed:edo% !ith
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blessings( ;avid kne! he had to s!allo! his pride and once again try to bring the ark into Jer sale%. )otice ho! he did it? )nd 4a1id went and brought up the ar* of God from the house of Dbed9edom into the city of 4a1id with gladness )nd so it was, that when the bearers of the ar* of the Lord had gone si< paces, he sacrificed an o< and a fatling. )nd 4a1id was dancing before the Lord with all his might, and 4a1id was wearing a linen ephod ( -amuel 8#" b9"6'. 5t !as at this point that ;avidEs !i"e H$a lEs da ghterI 4ichal peered o t o" her !indo! and despised ;avid beca se he !as leaping and dancing in p blic celebration over the blessings o" God !itho t inhibition or any tho ght abo t the approval o" other people. 4ichal sho ld have been reGoicing over the glory o" the Lord ret rning to 5srael( b t( instead( she !as groveling in the d st o" her o!n Gealo sy and petty bitterness over her h sbandEs devotion to God. =er anointed h sband literally !as !alking to!ard the door o" their ho%e to prono nce a blessing on his ho sehold !hen 4ichal stepped o t to %eet hi% and spe! her bitter ridic le over hi%. 5 believe she !as ca ght o"" g ard by his response. 4ichal probably believed her ridic le !o ld red ce ;avid and p ll hi% do!n to her level( b t he "ired back !ith a thoritative a""ir%ations o" GodEs blessings and decrees over his li"e. Then he de"iantly declared his intention to be a "ool "or GodEs sake( no %atter !hat the cost. 4ichalEs c rse over ;avid !as t rned aside by the greater tr th o" GodEs pleas re in ;avid as a !orshiper and obedient servant. ;avidEs blessing never ca%e to 4ichal( and neither did GodEs. $he died childless and bitter( !hile her h sband died in GodEs "avor( s rro nded by his children Hby other !ivesI and the "r its o" a li"eti%e o" !orship be"ore God. 5t is G st the sa%e today !hen critics "oc s their energies on critici7ing the things o" God and the people !ho yield the%selves to the Lord. The criticsE negative reGection o" the holy things o" God !ill cost the% in the end( b t the tr e !orshipers and obedient servants !ill enGoy the bo nti" l "r it o" their labor. The second ti%e aro nd( ;avid discarded the ne! cart and called "or the Levitesthe tribe chosen by God to bear the ark o" =is 'resence. They carried the ark o" the Lord to the hill in Jer sale% called 9the city o" ;avid9 H!hich !as called 4o nt Kion ntil ;avidEs %en capt red it by de"eating the Jeb sitesI and placed it inside a tent
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that 3ing ;avid had pitched "or it. 5nside !hatC The tent HtabernacleI that ;avid had pitched "or it. ;avid broke precedent again !hen he personally o""ered b rnt o""erings and peace o""erings to the Lord. Then he blessed the people in the na%e o" the Lord Al%ighty and gave everyone a loa" o" bread( a cake o" dates( and a cake o" raisins be"ore they ret rned to their ho%es. 8hatever yo do( yo need to nderstand yo cannot be a !orshiper and a %an:pleaser at the sa%e ti%e. 5" yo Ere going to please God( then be prepared to be h %iliated be"ore yo r peers at so%e point. 8hyC +eca se the !ord worship doesnEt G st %ean 9to sing.9 5t also %eans 9to prostrate yo rsel" and 9to bo! do!n.9 ThatEs !orship( and that can be e%barrassing !hen yo are s rro nded by critics !ho donEt !ant anybody to be %ore 9spirit al9 than they are. >ne o" the %ost co%%on Hand acc rateI state%ents that !e hear these days is? 95t see%s as tho gh every previo s %ove o" the =oly $pirit( no %atter !hat kind o" %ove it is( persec tes the neFt %ove.9 5" yo eFa%ine ch rch history( yo !ill see G st ho! tr e this is. The Anabaptists( !ho believed baptis% !as only "or those old eno gh to kno!ingly con"ess their sin and allegiance to Christ( !ere persec ted by the Calvinists( !ho !ere o""ended by this practice. The Calvinists practiced in"ant baptis%. They told the Anabaptists( 9;o yo !ant to be bapti7edC 8eEll bapti7e yo A9 Then( they !o ld take their victi%s o t to a lake or river( !rap heavy !eights aro nd the%( and drop the% in the !ater to dro!n. The c rrent rene!al %ove%ent !as persec ted in a n %ber o" !ays by other gro ps !ho are no! saying( 95E% h ngry "or so%ething.9 8hat they are h ngry "or is the very thing that they have persec ted in recent years. 5Eve learned that !hen people get real h ngry( they !ill say( 95 donEt care. 5 a% h ngry. 8hatever it is that God !ants( thatEs !hat 5 !ant.9 $pirit al h nger !ill %otivate s to reach o t to God in !ays that %ove s beyond o r li%ited perception o" o rselves. 8orship is designed to %ove yo o t o" sel":conscio sness into God:conscio sness Hand this can be an interesting Go rneyI. Bet tr e !orship al!ays de%ands a price o" s.
'art 5*
The Tabernacle of Davi.
Chapter 1#$
Davi.=s Tabernacle of Praise an. Worship
3ing ;avid( the prophet( priest( and king o" 5srael is GodEs pree%inent %odel "or !orship in $cript re. 5" yo !ant to kno! ho! to !orship( look at ;avid. 5" yo !ant to kno! ho! to praise God( yo can learn "ro% ;avid. 5n the previo s chapter( !e learned that God !ants to p t something back in the Ch rch. =e intends to do it by reb ilding ;avidEs tabernacle o" praise and !orship. This re%inds %e o" the stacks o" 9enriched bread9 "o nd in grocery stores across A%erica. Bears ago( !e didnEt need 9enriched9 bread beca se !e %ade it "resh each day at ho%e by sing !hole grain "lo r that !as "reshly %illed do!n the road. )o!adays( !e 9process9 o r !heat be"ore !e se it beca se !e are %odern people. That %eans !e se %achines to knock o"" the good st "" like bran. 8e grind and bleach !hatEs le"t ntil no vita%ins or n trients re%ain in the "lo r to %ess p the bland taste that !eEve co%e to crave. 2inally( !e add liberal a%o nts o" 9do gh so"teners and conditioners(9 and G st be"ore !e bake the st ""( !e se %achines to s& irt a vita%in %iFt re back into the gooey paste. That allo!s s to pro dly slap an 9enriched bread9 label on the package so people can spread pean t b tter( honey( and Gelly on the bland st "" and say( 9B %( y %. Dnriched bread.9 + t itEs not. !hat:s e<actly what happened to our worship. The eF:!orship leader o" the niverse slipped into the Ch rch and said? 95Ell take those
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ra co s horns. HThey canEt be holy. TheyEre the traditional instr %ents o" !ar"are. )ope( yo donEt need those dist rbing yo r services.I 5Ell de"initely take those noisy dr %s o"" yo r hands( and give %e those cy%balsyo donEt need the%. >h( 5Eve got to have the g itarsthey so nd so good( theyEve got to be sin" l( rightC >kay( no!. 8hat are !e le"t !ithC >h yeah( this is !hat 5 !ant yo to sing. 4%%%%%. 5t so nds nice and religio s and b:o:r:...oops. Bes( %onotone is good. Ahh( nice and lethargic( h( 5 %ean !orship" l. )o! !hatever yo do( donEt p t any passion or e%otion in yo r !orship and praise % sic( beca se yo kno! those are bad. 4%%( %%%.9 HA snore is heard in the backgro ndI. Then( the ch rch people asked( (What:s that;( (Dh, well,( the help" l eF:!orship leader said( (!hat:s true worshipIthe *ind I find well9pleasing to my soul.( 2or cent ries( GodEs people have been passing by the devilEs bistros( p bs( bars( and taverns that are G st Ga%%ing !ith the %ost po!er" l so nds i%aginable. Bo "eel attracted to the % sic( b t g ilt strikes and the devil strikes ho%e !ith the co%%ent( 9ThatEs the devilEs % sic.9 5n each generation( o r kids have passed the sa%e so nds co%ing o t o" those Goints( only to plop do!n in d ll ch rch services !here they hear sleepy people intone %onotono s hy%ns to the Goyless so nds o" 9%%%%( %%%%%( %%%%.9 8hen o r kids %eet their "riends( it is a relie" to "inally be aro nd so%e % sic that speaks to the hor%ones( energy( and opti%is% boiling p in their blood. + t !hen !e say( 9LetEs go to ch rch(9 they canEt help b t say( 9>h( ;ad( itEs d ll over there. )obodyEs happy at ch rch. 8hy is thatC9 God !ants to give s so%ething that !e processed o t in o r %odern sophistication and !isdo%. The devil nderstands the po!er o" % sic( b t the Ch rch has been so ignorant over the cent ries that it has "reely given a!ay !hat God intended to be its eFcl sive do%ain. 8eEre G st no! beginning to nderstand the po!er God invested in % sic. God is saying to s( 9Get !ith itA9 ;avid !as ahead o" his ti%e. =e delved so deeply into the depths o" !orship that he crossed the barrier o" ti%e into )e! Covenant inti%acy !ith Godinti%acy that transcended the la!A 8e need today !hat ;avid had back then( b t o r proble% is !e are a"raid o" 9ne!9 things. 8e like the old( even i" God isnEt 9speaking that lang age9 any%ore. 8hen so%eone dares to introd ce so%ething "resh that the =oly $pirit is doing( strong opposition !ill present itsel"especially "ro% those !ho eFperienced a %ove o" the =oly $pirit G st be"ore this
;avidEs Tabernacle o" 'raise and 8orship one.
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=o! do !e stay "leFible( in ter%s o" being !ineskinsC =o! can !e re%ain "leFible and t rn o r old !ineskins into ne! !ineskinsC Bo soak the old !ineskin in !ater and beat it !ith rocks. 5 !ant to stay "leFible( 5 !ant to be ne!( b t it !ill cost %e to stay "leFible. ;avid introd ced so%ething that !as born o" the $pirit and %oved si% ltaneo sly !ith another !ineskinA ;avidEs tabernacle !as patterned a"ter the tabernacle o" 4oses and enriched !ith ;avidEs rich inti%ate relationship !ith God( a relationship n rt red thro gh decades o" praise on the hillsides !ith the sheep and in the cave o" Ad lla% in desperate ti%es. ;avid "reely borro!ed "ro% 4oses and established so%ething ne! that God is sing to enrich =is Ch rch todayA And he did it !itho t despising the tabernacle o" 4oses. 5n other !ords( 9Bo need to keep a good attit de abo t !here yo ca%e "ro%.9 <e%e%ber the concl ding !ords o" Ja%es the apostle in Acts 11 !hen he & oted A%os the prophet? ()3!EE !,E-E !,I>G- I will return, )>4 I WILL EE5KIL4 !,E !)5EE>)+LE D3 4)&I4 W,I+, ,)3)LLE>, )>4 I WILL EE5KIL4 I!- EKI>-, )>4 I WILL EE-!DEE I!, (I> DE4EE !,)! !,E EE-! D3 B)>%I>4 B)= -EE% !,E LDE4, )>4 )LL !,E GE>!ILE- W,D )EE +)LLE4 5= B= >)BE,( -)=- !,E LDE4, W,D B)%E- !,E-E !,I>G- %>DW> 3EDB D3 DL4 ()cts "$#"89"/'. God !ants s to nderstand that G st beca se so%ething is ne! to s does not %ean it is ne! to =i%. =e gives s things in relationship to =is ti%e and season "or introd cing it back to the Ch rch. =e is giving s back so%ething that !e had lost. 8hen !e see so%ething in the $cript res that !e never sa! be"ore( the tr th is that it !as there all the ti%eA The >ld Testa%ent prophets( A%os and Joel( spoke o" GodEs %ighty !orks 9in that day(9 b t it is ab ndantly clear that 9that day9 is no!A 8e live in 9that day.9 $o%e o" the prophecies !ere " l"illed in the thirtieth year o" Jes sE earthly %inistry !hen =e read "ro% 5saiahE scroll the ancient prophecy that says( 9T=D $'5<5T >2 T=D L><; 5$ #'>) 4D( +DCA#$D =D A)>5)TD; 4D T> '<DAC= T=D
""8
G>$'DL...9 and then declared( 9Today this $cript re has been " l"illed in yo r hearing9 HLk. 6?10( .1I. $o%e o" the ancient prophecies ca%e to pass on the cross !hen Jes s declared( 95t is "inished9 HJn. 19?/-I( and others ca%e to pass on the day o" 'entecost !hen the =oly $pirit descended like "ire on the 1.- in the pper roo% Hsee Acts .?1:6I. Jes s told the disciples( 95 have %any %ore things to say to yo ( b t yo cannot bear the% no!9 HJn. 1,?1.I. + t Jes s kno!s o r "ra%e and o r li%itations. There is a !hole lot o" tr th that the Ch rch !asnEt able to e%brace historically. + t no! =e is restoring %any things to s beca se %ore and %ore believers are praying( 9God( 5E% h ngry "or so%ething %ore than !hat 5Eve hadA 5 !ant %ore o" Bo A9 GodEs ans!er to o r prayer is the restoration o" ;avidEs "allen tabernacle or tent o" praise and tr e !orship. >ne o" the things ndergirding the eFpansion o" the 3ingdo% o" God is a ne! concept o" praise. $o%ething %ighty is taking place in the earth. 'raise and !orship are at the center o" !hat is happening. 5 can stand in o r !orship "acility in 'ittsb rgh( 'ennsylvania( and Goin !ith other believers !ith pli"ted hands and a""ect nationsA The shock !ave o" o r praise is na""ected by distance( di""erent ti%e 7ones( or di""erent lang ages( c lt res( and political syste%s. 5t is a spirit al "orce to be reckoned !ith( and the Ch rch is G st no! catching on to this tr th. ;avidEs earthly kingdo% eFpanded pheno%enally( and it cannot be attrib ted to anything other than his co%%it%ent to !orship and praise. ;avid !as a 9praise ani%al.9 =e kne! ho! to do it right. 8hat do yo think Jes s( the prophetic 9son o" ;avid9 !asC =e !as a !orshiperJ =e nderstood the po!er and i%portance o" praise to =is 2ather. That is !hy =e told the $a%aritan !o%an at the !ell( 94ay 5 tell yo that the 2ather is not looking "or apostlesC =e is not looking "or prophets and evangelists either. God is a spirit( and =e is looking "or real !orshipers !ho !ill !orship =i% in spirit and in tr th9 H%y paraphrase o" John 6?./I. The central "ocal point in >ld Testa%ent !orship !as the ark o" the covenant( on !hich the cher bi% overshado!ed the %ercy seat. 5t !as niversally considered to be the %ost signi"icant piece o" " rnit re in the tabernacle beca se it !as the ark o" the covenant o" the Lord. ;avid not only erected a tent and recr ited the Levites to transport the ark to the tabernacle( b t he also prepared an at%osphere and o""ering o" praise and !orship to !elco%e and bless the Lord o" the ark. 9Then ;avid spoke to the chie"s o" the Levites to appoint their relatives the
;avidEs Tabernacle o" 'raise and 8orship
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singers( !ith instr %ents o" % sic( harps( lyres( lo d:so nding cy%bals( to raise so nds o" Goy9 H1 Chron. 11?1,I. The +ible record also tells s ;avid had high standards "or leadership in service to the Lord? 9And Chenaniah( chie" o" the Levites( !as in charge o" the singingJ he gave instr ction in singing because he was s*illful( H1 Chron. 11?..I. ;avid organi7ed the Levites to %inister reg larly be"ore the ark o" the covenant according to each dayEs re& ire%ents( b t things see%ed odd abo t the !hole arrange%entthis !as radically di""erent "ro% the !orship o""ered at the tabernacle o" 4oses. 8here !as the ark o" the covenant d ring this ti%eC 5t rested in the place ;avid had prepared "or it( on the little hill "or%erly called 4o nt Kion( no! called 9the city o" ;avid.9 The holy ark o" the covenant !as si%ply covered !ith a tent it !as not blocked o t or concealed "ro% vie!. The tent !as only eFtensive eno gh to protect the ark "ro% nat ral ele%ents like rain( heavy de!( and the s nEs rays. 5" yo re%e%ber( the tabernacle o" 4oses had three layers o" shielding separating the shekinah presence o" God "ro% the co%%on people. 8hen the ark o" the covenant !as in 4osesE tabernacle( it !as co%pletely concealed in the holy o" holies. >nly one person !as per%itted to enter that roo% once a year. ;avidEs tabernacle also had an area called the holy o" holies( and in every other respect( besides the %ostly open tent design( the patterns established in the tabernacle o" 4oses !ere "ollo!ed Hsee 1 Chron. 1,?/9:6-I!ith one incredible difference. The +ook o" $econd $a% el also describes the ret rn o" the ark to Jer sale%( !hile adding another bit o" in"or%ation that %arks the %ost signi"icant change in !orship since the day God spoke to 4oses abo t the ark o" the covenant. ;avid told )athan abo t his desire to b ild God 9a ho se(9 and )athan at "irst told hi% to do it. 8hen God repri%anded the prophet( he ret rned to tell ;avid that God !o ld not allo! hi% to b ild a ho se "or =i%( b t =e !o ld b ild ;avidEs ho se. At that point( the $cript res say( 9Then ;avid the king went in and sat be"ore the Lord( and he said( E8ho a% 5( > Lord God( and !hat is %y ho se( that Tho hast bro ght %e this "arCE 9 H. $a%. 7?10I. )o! !hat did ;avid doC =e sat before the Lord. 8here did he do thatC =e did it in front of the ar* of the co1enant, in the holy of holies. ;avid !as not a priest in the line o" Aaron( nor !as he a Levite. Bet( here he !as sitting in the presence o" God. 3eep in %ind that nder the la!( only the Levites !ere allo!ed to serve in the holy place. >nly the high priest !as allo!ed to enter the %ost holy place !ith the
""/
ark o" the covenant to o""er sacri"ice once a year. 8hat !e see here is that ;avid represents a greater priesthood, a type and shado! o" the co%ing 4essiah !hich is con"ir%ed in the +ook o" =ebre!s? 3or when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there ta*es place a change of law also. 3or the one concerning whom these things are spo*en belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 3or it is e1ident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Boses spo*e nothing concerning priests. )nd this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the li*eness of BelchiCede*, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical reHuirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life (,ebrews A#" 9"8'. ;avid !as nkno!ingly de%onstrating that a greater priesthood !as co%ing( a priesthood rooted in relationship( not %ere rit al or ancestral lineage. 8e have beco%e a kingdo% o" priests and kings in Christ be"ore God. ;avid !as a type and shado! o" the better priesthood to co%e. God !as b ilding a ho sethe ho se o" ;avid !hose $eed( Jes s Christ( !o ld tear do!n the dividing !alls so every %an and !o%an co ld sit and ga7e at the bea ty o" the LordEs 'resence. The psal%s o" ;avid reveal a totally ne! concept o" abiding in GodEs 'resence( o" d!elling in =is tabernacle and te%ple in co%plete peace and sa"ety. This %an *new and lo1ed God !ith all o" his heartJ he didnEt si%ply "ear =i% "ro% a distance. God didnEt !ant to ins late =i%sel" "ro% ;avid( beca se =e had "o nd a %an a"ter =is o!n heart. La! isnEt needed !here there is love and devotion. 5n the .7th 'sal%( ;avid described so%e o" the ene%ies and dangers he "aced( !hen he said? Dne thing ha1e I as*ed from the Lord, that I shall see*# that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in ,is temple. 3or in the day of trouble ,e will conceal me in ,is tabernacle; in the secret place of ,is tent ,e will hide me; ,e
;avidEs Tabernacle o" 'raise and 8orship will lift me up on a roc*. )nd now my head will be lifted up abo1e my enemies around me; and I will offer in ,is tent sacrifices with shouts of ?oy; I will sing yes, I will sing praises unto the Lord (0salm A#698'.
119
=ave yo noticed that in this tabernacle( yo donEt need to bring a b rnt o""ering. Bo give the Lord sho ts o" Goy as a sacri"ice. Bo sacri"ice sho ts o" Goy to =i%. ;avid is describing an inti%ate( loving( and con"ident relationship !ith the living Goda relationship never seen in the earth p to that point in h %an history. $o%e leaders !ere allo!ed to co%% ne !ith God( b t never on s ch an inti%ate and loving level. ;avidEs precedent:setting relationship !ith God !o ld be ne& aled and nparalleled ntil the arrival o" Jes s Christ. The po!er o" his praise and !orship is still being restored to the Ch rch todayA The circ %stances s rro nding ;avidEs li"e !hen he !rote this psal% sho ld enco rage anyone !ho "eels s rro nded and aloneA An evil %an !as advancing to devo r ;avidEs "leshJ ;avid !as "acing antagonistic ar%ies !ith !ar breaking o t against hi%. 5n the %iddle o" all this( ;avid said( 95E% looking in the tabernacle( 5E% in& iring in the bea ty o" the Lord( and 5E% saying( God( E5snEt this !onder" lCE 9 ;avid is saying( 98hen the ene%y co%es to eat p %y "lesh( 5 go to the table and look at God9 Hsee 'sal% ./I. $o%ething is special abo t the sanct ary or d!elling place o" God. According to 'sal% 7/( !hen the !riter got "ed p !ith evil people prospering !hile holy people s ""ered( he headed "or the sanct ary o" God. =e ad%its( 98hen 5 pondered to nderstand this( it !as tro bleso%e in %y sight ntil 5 ca%e into the sanct ary o" God...9 H's. 7/?1,:17aI. 8hy did ;avid go to the tabernacle( the sanct ary o" God a"ter his disappointing %eeting !ith )athanC =e did it to get GodEs perspective on things. Worship helps you get your perspecti1e right. 5t is easy to get do!n !hen yo look at dr g p shers %aking "ort nes overnight by selling %enEs so ls and !hen yo look at all o" the corr ption in politics. Bo have a choice at that point? Bo can either get do!n( or yo can get to the tabernacle and sanct ary o" God. $o%ething happens !hen yo behold GodEs shekinah glory and the bea ty o" =is 'resence. Like Asaph( the a thor o" 'sal% 7/( !e can say( 9L8henM 5 ca%e into the sanct ary o" GodJ then 5 perceived their end9 H's. 7/?17I. God is looking "or a resting place. =e !ill take pleas re in yo r ho se i" =e "inds yo praising and !orshiping =i% in yo r ho%e. 8hat
" 2
do yo think =e does !hen =e hears yo !orshiping in the %orning? 95 love yo ( Lord. 5 !orship and bless Bo . Lord( 5 love Bo and 5 !ant to sit at Bo r "eet and tell Bo ho! good Bo are and ho! % ch Bo %ean to %e9C 5 can al%ost hear God say( 9Bo kno!( 5Ell G st rest here "or a!hile. 5Eve been looking "or a ho se like this all %orningA9 8e need to do !hat ;avid did so !ell in 'sal% 1/.?0 !hen he said( 9Arise( > Lord( to Thy resting placeJ Tho and the ark o" Thy strength.9 Then he said( 9Let Thy priests be clothed !ith righteo snessJ and let Thy godly ones sing "or Goy9 H's. 1/.?9I. )o! look closely at so%e o" the verses that "ollo! this in 'sal% 1/.? 3or the Lord has chosen Jion; ,e has desired it for ,is habitation. (!his is By resting place fore1er; here I will dwell, for I ha1e desired it. (I will abundantly bless her pro1ision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. (,er priests also I will clothe with sal1ation; and her godly ones will sing aloud for ?oy. (!here I will cause the horn of 4a1id to spring forth; I ha1e prepared a lamp for Bine anointed( (0salm "7 #"79"A'. ;onEt %iss o t on !hat 5E% going to say to yo ? 4any o" s begin to panic !hen !e start to r n o t o" the necessities o" li"e or the things !e need to %inister or reach o t to others. + t( i" !e ever get o r act together and prepare a place for God:s presence in Kion( then God !ill provide all o" o r needsA Jes s echoed this even %ore po!er" lly in 4atthe! ,?// !hen =e said( 9+ t seek "irst =is kingdo% and =is righteo snessJ and all these things shall be added to yo .9 Get to Kion. Get to the tabernacle and sit in the place !here God "inds rest. 5 believe this $cript re is saying( 98orship and prosperity are not divorced "ro% one another.9 God has pro%ised that =e !ill ab ndantly bless yo r provisionA 5" yo Eve been co%plaining( try praise. 5" yo Eve been % r% ring( try !orship. 5" God hasnEt sho!n p beca se yo Eve been bellyaching( then see i" =eEll sho! p !hen yo get to the tabernacle o" ;avid and begin to o""er sacri"ices o" Goy. >nce yo Eve learned to sit in the tabernacle o" God and create an at%osphere o"
;avidEs Tabernacle o" 'raise and 8orship
1.1
praise( it is ti%e to %ove on( %ove p to ne! levels o" divinely creative praise and !orship.
Chapter 11
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& @e5 %ong
We ha1e an altar, from which those who ser1e the tabernacle ha1e no right to eat.. .3or here we do not ha1e a lasting city, but we are see*ing the city which is to come. !hrough FJesusG then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God... (,ebrews "7#"2,"6,"$a'. 8hile o r $avior is the sa%e yesterday( today( and "orever Haccording to =ebre!s 1/?0I( o r nderstanding o" God and the !orship !e o""er to =i% is changing. 8e still are learning abo t !orship. Tho gh it !onEt be per"ected in o r ti%e Has !e disc ssed brie"ly in an earlier chapterI( !e are s re to eFpress it !ith greater depth and %at rity the %ore !e !alk in obedience to the =oly $pirit. 'er"ect !orship !ill only take place !hen !e are in a per"ect at%osphere and environ%ent( !orshiping !ith per"ect bodies and sensibilities. <ight no!( in o r day( God is e& ipping and preparing s "or all that =e !ill do in the ages to co%e. That is !hy =e is reb ilding the "allen tabernacle o" ;avid. 3ing ;avid possessed something in his praise and !orship li"e that God is deter%ined to see restored to =is Ch rch Hbeca se =e likes itI. Bo canEt talk abo t ;avidEs tabernacle !itho t talking abo t a ne! so nd( a ne! sacri"ice( and a ne! song. These things are like the precio s treas res Jes s described to the disciples in the Gospel o" 4atthe! a"ter sharing several parables on the 3ingdo% o" =eaven? (,a1e you understood all these things;( !hey said to ,im,
" 6 (=es.(
)nd ,e said to them, (!herefore e1ery scribe who has become a disciple of the *ingdom of hea1en is li*e a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old( (Batthew "7#$"9$ '. 5s the old al!ays bad beca se itEs oldC Absol tely notA 5 can re%e%ber singing( 9>h %agni"y the Lord !ith %e( ye people o" =is choiceJ let all to !ho% =e lendeth breath no! in =is )a%e reGoice. 2or loveEs blessed revelation( "or rest "ro% conde%nation( "or tter%ost salvation to =i% give thanks. Let all the people praise Thee( let all the people praise Thee( let all the people praise Thy )a%e "orever and "orever %ore( "orever %ore dear Lord.9 That is a !onder" l song. 5 can re%e%ber singing that song at o r "or%er pastorate( <ehobeth Ch rch in 8ashington( ;.C.( at 0th and L streetssinging ntil there !as no %ore G ice in itA 8hen 5 "irst ca%e into the Charis%atic <ene!al in the early 197-s( no good songs !ere o t there by todayEs standards. A lot o" the early Charis%atic praise songs !ere little %ore than rhy%ed "or% la t nes? 9=e died "or %e( pon the tree( and by =is grace =e set %e "ree.9 They !erenEt % sicalat least to %e. They G st !erenEt %y 9genre(9 i" yo kno! !hat 5 %ean. =o!ever( !e !ere trying to do a ne! thing and enter ne! levels in o r spirit al !alk !ith God. 5t takes ti%e( e""ort( and eFperience to develop ne! % sic to eFpress o r ne! eFperiences in God. 8hen things are evolving or changing( !e are o"ten te%pted to look back on o r beginnings and despise the days o" o r changing process. 9>h %an( 5 canEt believe !e sed to sing that song.9 5 can honestly tell yo that in the early days o" the <ene!al( !e took great delight in singing songs !ith lyrics like( 9'eter !alked on the !aterJ 4oses !alked on dry landJ Jonah sank to the botto%( and landed on the sand. 5E% !alking on the !ater( holding Jes sE hand( and 5 kno! that so%eday =eEs going to !alk %e to the pro%ised( !alk %e to the pro%ised( !alk %e to the pro%ised land.9 5t doesnEt do anything "or %e no!( b t it %eant a lot back then. Jes s said that any +ible st dent !ho st died the 3ingdo% o" =eaven !o ld be like a ho seholder !ho 9brings "orth o t o" his treas re things ne! and old9 H4t. 1/?1.I. )o!( !hy do !e co%bine old things !ith ne! thingsC +eca se people are also nco%"ortable !ith ne! things. Jes s said?
A )e! $ong 5ut new wine must be put into fresh wines*ins. )nd no one, after drin*ing old wine wishes for new; for he says, (!he old is good enough( (Lu*e $#7/97@'.
1.1
4ost o" s donEt say( 9This is greatA9 !hen so%ething ne! is introd ced. 8e s ally sit there in disapproving shock. 5 heard a Christian leader na%ed John 'ool & ote a passage "ro% L keEs Gospel and say( 9The children o" this !orld are in their generation !iser than the children o" light9 Hsee Lk. 1,?0I to ill strate o r blindness to the need "or adaptation( change( and creativity. 4artin L ther said o" his generation( 95 need a !ay to capt re the %inds o" people.9 That deter%ination( %iFed !ith prayer( led L ther !ho had not al!ays been a saved( sancti"ied( "illed:!ith:the:=oly Ghost %onkto 9borro!9 a pop lar bar song o" the day and "it it !ith a ne! set o" lyrics based on so%e po!er" l passages o" $cript re. Today !e recogni7e this 9revered classic o" the Ch rch(9 s ng to the t ne o" a 9Top:6-9 beer:g 77ling song( as 9A 4ighty 2ortress is > r God9A )o! that is a great song( b t %any people donEt kno! that this song niversally reverenced as a bastion o" conservative sacred % sicologyis a re!orked co%%on tavern song. 4artin L ther dared to %ake the leap "ro% the Gregorian chants that had do%inated Ch rch % sic "or cent ries. 4artin L ther piggybacked s bstantive( theologically so nd !ords !ith the pop lar % sical %elodies o" the co%%on %an in his generation. 5t !orked. 'eople aro nd the !orld began to sing the 8ord o" God( and 4artin L ther !as able to grab the hearts and %inds o" his generation !ith a revol tionary prod ct o" the age. The sa%e thing happened in the %inistry o" the 8esley brothers d ring the Great A!akening( !hen %any o" o r pop lar hy%ns o" the ch rch !ere created by sing pop lar %elodies co%%on in p bs and taverns across Dngland and the #nited $tates. 5n o r day( st ""y "olks in ch rches "ro% coast to coast are saying( 98ell( they need to keep that rap and hip:hop % sic o t o" here. And( the alternative st "" is too alternative "or %e. 8eEll do G st "ine !ith the sacred classics %y grand"ather loved to sing( like EA 4ighty 2ortress 5s > r God.E 9 )o!( rap % sic and hip:hop isnEt %y thing( b t it is Hor !asI the % sic o" this generation. This % sic %oves so "ast that itEs hard to keep track o" trends these days. This "act is absol tely tr e? If the +hurch doesn:t learn how to be wise in its generation, it will lose its generation.
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5" it !as possible "or a ne! so nd to e%erge in GodEs 3ingdo% in ;avidEs day( in the days o" 4artin L ther( and the 8esleyEs day( is God doing so%ething ne! no!C As al!ays( 5 can g arantee yo there are people !ho !o ld shake their heads 9no9 be"ore 5 even "inish this sentence. 5n the 10--s( a pro%inent ch rch leader p blicly eFpressed the "ear that all o" the % sic 9!o ld be sed p9 beca se there !ere only a 9"inite n %ber o" notes.9 This leader con"idently !arned his listeners that i" they !erenEt care" l( all o" the % sic !o ld be goneA >" co rse( that !as be"ore the arrival o" <alph Car%ichael( Andrea Cro ch( $andi 'atty( Gene Ghets( $tan 3enton( Co nt +asie( and ; ke Dllington. The !orst thing !e can do is to sit back in o r isolated perspective and say( 9This is it. 8eEve arrived.9 8eEve barely startedA 94ean!hile( ;avid and all the ho se o" 5srael !ere celebrating be"ore the Lord !ith all kinds o" instr %ents %ade o" "ir !ood( and !ith lyres( harps( ta%bo rines( castanets and cy%bals9 H. $a%. ,?1I. =o! !ere they celebratingC 98ith all their %ight.9 8hereC 9+e"ore the Lord.9 8ith !hatC 98ith songs( !ith harps( !ith lyres( ta%bo rines( !ith castanets and cy%bals.9 =o! %anyC 9;avid and all the ho se o" 5srael.9 ThatEs a lot o" people( isnEt itC 8hat do yo do 9be"ore the Lord9 !ith yo r "a%ily and local ch rch bodyC ;o yo sit and end re !ith a %ini% % invest%ent o" energy and a lo! tolerance "or anything di""erent that involves changeC >r( !o ld 5 see yo !orship God !ith all yo r %ight !ith a bead o" s!eat rising across yo r "oreheadC 5 have to !arn yo that yo r ans!er %ay be sel":incri%inating.... GodEs 8ord declares in both the )e! and >ld Testa%ents( 9And yo shall love the Lord yo r God !ith all yo r heart( and !ith all yo r so l( and !ith all yo r %ind( and !ith all yo r strength9 H4k. 1.?/-J 4t. ..?/7J Lk. 1-?.7J ;e t. ,?1I. This verse de"ines beyond any arg %ent the intensity le1els o" tr e( biblical !orship and devotion to God. The +ook o" 2irst Chronicles says so%ething n s al abo t the content, scale, and format o" !orship in ;avidEs day. 5s God abo t to restore these to the Ch rch in o r dayC >ow when 4a1id reached old age, he made his son -olomon *ing o1er Israel. )nd he gathered together all the leaders of Israel with the priests and the Le1ites.
A )e! $ong )nd the Le1ites were numbered from thirty years old and upward, and their number by census of men was 7/,222. Df these, 6,222 were to o1ersee the wor* of the house of the Lord; and 8,222 were officers and ?udges, )nd 6,222 were gate*eepers, and 6,222 were praising the Lord with the instruments which 4a1id made for gi1ing praise (" +hronicles 7#"9$'.
1.7
Look again at the last "e! !ords in this passage? 9praising the Lord !ith the instr %ents !hich ;avid made "or giving praise9 H1 Chron. ./?1bI. The =ebre! !ord translated as 9%ade9 in this passage %akes its "irst appearance in the +ible in the verse that says( 9And God made FasahG the "ir%a%ent...9 in Genesis 1?7. ;avid personally %ade or cra"ted instr %ents "or this te%ple band. This !ord is o"ten translated( 9to create( to %ake( to do( to "ashion.9 8hy a% 5 %aking s ch a big deal over s ch a little !ordC ;oes it really %atterC Ask yo rsel" ho! o"ten yo Eve heard o" people creating ne! % sical instr %ents& ite a "e! have appeared in the last "e! decades( and %ost o" the% !ere linked to %odern technologies in electronics or non:%etal co%ponents. God !as giving ;avid ne! % sic that co ldnEt be prod ced by eFisting % sical instr %ents and %ethods. The only sol tion "or this psal%ist !as to create ne! instr %ents and %ethods to %atch the ne! % sic in his so lA 5s God trying to give yo ne! % sicC Are yo ready "or a ne! song and a ne! so nd to create itC 5" yo are a % sician( then yo kno! eFactly !hat 5E% talking abo t. The scene is ha ntingly "a%iliar? $o%e!here( so%ebody begins to say( 9>h %an( i" 5 co ld G st get this % ch %ore o t o" %y saFophone...%y g itar...%y violin... %y dr %s...%y clarinet.9 $ ddenly !e have ne! or %odi"ied instr %ents created beca se o" a %ysterio s drive to eFpress !hat !e "eel !ithin. Today( !e are blending the incredible po!er o" technology !ith % sical creativity to prod ce so nds that !e tho ght only !o ld be heard in o r drea%s or in =eaven one day. 8hen the =a%%ond organ !as "irst introd ced( it had the %ost pro"o nd in"l ence on Ga77 and gospel % sic "or%s at the ti%e. 5E% not s re !hether it e%erged in both Ga77 and gospel si% ltaneo sly( beca se both o" the% are interlinked in certain places. 8hen technology or h %an ingen ity s ddenly kicks in and says( 9=ey( 5 can give yo a ne! so nd.. .!eEll 45;5 yo r keyboard to this nit...(9 !hat is the
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typical reaction a%ong "olks in the Ch rchC They %ay say( 98ell( thatEs certainly not o" God. ThatEs not the !ay %y grand"ather did it( and that is certainly not the !ay ;avid did it.9 5 think !e %ight be s rprised at ;avidEs reaction i" he !ere !ith s today. $tep back to the ti%e abo t 1(--- years !hen % sic and % sical instr %ents !ere "airly pri%itive. 3ing ;avid began to hear ne! so nds d ring his ti%e o" praise and !orship be"ore the ark o" the covenant. This cons %%ate !orshiper( % sician( praiser( and psal%ist also !rote( prophesied( preached( and p blicly declared things to the congregation o" the Lord. =e did all o" it o t o" the psal%ic %ode. This %an o" the " t re !as hearing and seeing things in the heavenlies "or !hich there !ere no earthly co nterparts d ring his li"eti%e. 5t !as p to hi% to bring !hat he sa! in the heavenlies in vision and revelation back do!n to the earthly plane. =e % st have asked hi%sel"( 9=o! do 5 reprod ce the so nd that 5 heard in the heavensC9 >nce he had the ans!er( he told his son( 95 !ant yo to b ild this te%ple eFactly according to the pattern God p t in %y %ind. )o! the so nd 5 heard canEt be prod ced the old !ay"orget the t!o:%an d ets "or this te%ple. Bo !ill need to think a little bigger this ti%e. 5tEll take( letEs see( % ltiply the "o r( carry the 7ero!eEll need "o r tho sand singers( $ol. And the old instr %ents canEt carry this thing by the%selves( b t donEt !orry abo t it. God gave %e so%e ideas and 5 G st %ade p so%e ne! instr %ents %ysel"A Give these instr %ents 5 %ade to yo r ne! holy Ga77 band and t rn the% loose to do so%ething co%pletely di""erent.9 8hat happened at ;avidEs tabernacle in the years be"ore $olo%on b ilt the te%ple !asnEt G st a ne! sacri"ice. God !as birthing a ne! so nd and a ne! song in =is psal%ist. <ead thro gh the 'sal%s and ask yo rsel" ho! %any o" those psal%s !ere born in the presence o" God !hen ;avid !as seated right there neFt to the ark( ga7ing into the "ace o" God at the tabernacle. ;avid entered the glory o" God and e%erged !ith so%ething ne! that yo and 5 still need to receive and %ani"est in o r dayA ;avid prayed an asto nding prayer !hile he !as sitting be"ore the presence o" God that is preserved "or s in one o" his %ost "a%o s psal%s? 9>ne thing 5 have asked "ro% the Lord( that 5 shall seek? That 5 %ay d!ell in the ho se o" the Lord all the days o" %y li"e( to behold the bea ty o" the Lord( and to %editate in =is te%ple9 H's. .7?6I.
A )e! $ong
1.9
This is a song that !as born o t o" ;avidEs revelation and openness to the =oly $piritEs in!ard !ork. =e !as sitting in the presence o" God( G st listening and soaking in =is glory. 5t !as only nat ral that ;avid !as inspired and his heart !as opened to ne! eFperiences( nderstanding( and creativity. ;oesnEt the apostle 'a l tell s in the )e! Testa%ent? 9+ t !e all( !ith nveiled "ace beholding as in a %irror the glory o" the Lord( are being trans"or%ed into the sa%e i%age "ro% glory to glory( G st as "ro% the Lord( the $pirit9 H. Cor. /?10IC 8hen God is giving birth to so%ething ne! !ithin yo ( !hen =e is cra"ting so%ething divinely creative in yo r heart( yo donEt say( 95 donEt !ant this creative st "" no!. 5tEs inconvenient( and 5E% not s re 5 even believe in it.9 J st like nat ral babies o"ten co%e in the %iddle o" the night( spirit al babies %ay co%e at 9inconvenient ti%es9 too( b t i" yo are !ise( yo si%ply do !hat % st be done to acco%%odate GodEs 'resence. 8e have been !arned by the prophet in 5saiah !ho said( 9Bo !ill have songs as in the night...9 H5s. /-?.9I. <eligio s people need to G st give p being 9religio s9 and si%ply nderstand that !hen God said in 5saiah 6/?19a( 9+ehold( 5 !ill do so%ething ne!( no! it !ill spring "orthJ !ill yo not be a!are o" itC9 =e !asnEt talking abo t a oneti%e eventJ =e !as describing =is eternal %ode o" contin ally doing ne! things in the earth "or =is o!n glory. )o!( 5 !ant to say so%ething thatEs going to shock yo ? 5 don:t belie1e all the new stuff goes to the world first. 5 believe it goes to GodEs people first, b t too o"ten !e say( 9That isnEt God(9 and reGect it beca se it is ne! or di""erent. + t God !ants to get it into the earth( and =e !ill se !hatever channel is open to =i%. 4y +ible says( 9Dvery good thing besto!ed and every per"ect gi"t is "ro% above( co%ing do!n "ro% the 2ather o" lights( !ith !ho% there is no variation( or shi"ting shado!9 HJas. 1?17I. 8hen God gives s s pernat ral assign%ents like( 9<each yo r generation !ith the gospel o" Jes s Christ(9 then 5 believe =e also s pplies s !ith everything !e need to acco%plish o r task. $o !e %arch o t and try to reach o r generation !ith the sa%e % sic and lang age the previo s generation sed to reach s. The res lts are predictable? 8e sing to the%( 9>h "or a tho sand tong es to sing...9 and they s%irk back at s and say( 92orget it %an. 8hereEs the beatC9 8e have no b siness trying to "orce:"eed todayEs children !ith yesterdayEs %eal plan. And there is no needA God gives each generation a ne! song and a ne! so nd to !in the !orldi" they only !ill listen and receive the%A
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=o! %any ti%es have yo heard so%ebody say( 9<ock and rollC !hat:s the de1il:s music(; The devil doesnEt have any % sic( beca se he is incapable o" 9creating9 anything. =e is a pree%ptor by nat re and by necessity. =e didnEt kno! anything abo t seF( b t he !as able to t!ist seF so he co ld se it to " l"ill his o!n crooked designs. God created seF and gave it to s( and the devil deviated seF and t!isted it a%ong s. God created % sic( and the devil distorted and %isappropriated % sicEs innate po!er o" s ggestion( rein"orce%ent( and in"l ence. God created art and gave it to %anJ the devil distorted art and ses it to %ock its Creator. God created sc lpt re and gave it to %an( and the devil distorted sc lpt re and sed it to %ake idols to de%ons. $atan is not a creatorJ he is only a distorter and pree%ptor. 8e need to pray? 9> God( sho! s ho! to recover that !hich has been distorted. Then sho! s ho! to advance abo t nine steps ahead o" the distorter so !e can Epied piperE a brand ne! so nd to lead a brand: ne! generation to the $aviorA9 ;avid a!akened his !orld !ith s ch a pheno%enal depth and scope o" praise and !orship that it literally( physically eFtended the borders o" the 3ingdo% o" GodA =osea the prophet !rote( 9Take !ords !ith yo and ret rn to the Lord. $ay to =i%( ETake a!ay all ini& ity( and receive s gracio sly( that !e %ay present the "r it Lcalves3J*M o" o r lipsE9 H=osea 16?.I. 5" !e "oc s on the Lord and the things =e has given s( and stop thinking abo t the things that are going on aro nd sJ i" !e begin to o""er =i% the "r it o" o r lips( notice !hat happens? 1. 2><G5*D)D$$( =DAL5)G( L>*D? 95 !ill heal their apostasy( 5 !ill love the% "reely( "or 4y anger has t rned a!ay "ro% the%9 H=osea 16?6I. God says =e !ill heal and love "reely. .. D$TA+L5$=4D)T( 2<#5T2#L)D$$? 95 !ill be like the de! to 5sraelJ he !ill blosso% like the lily( and he !ill take root like the cedars o" Lebanon9 H=osea 16?1I. /. $D)T >#T $=>>T$ HD*A)GDL5$4I? 9=is shoots !ill spro t( and his bea ty !ill be like the olive tree( and his "ragrance like the cedars o" Lebanon. Those !ho live in his shado! !ill again raise grain( and they !ill blosso% like the vine. =is reno!n !ill be like the !ine o" Lebanon9 H=osea 16?,:7I. 'eople are h ngry "or God( and God is !aiting "or s to begin
A )e! $ong
1/1
singing a ne! song tailor:%ade "or o r generation( co%plete !ith a ne! so ndA Dven !hile !e are begging =i%( 9> God( 5 !ant to !orship Bo (9 =is $pirit is pleading !ith s? 9Try so%ething new. J st try. Try singing a ne! song to 4e( a song that 5 !ill se to dra! the nations.9 8e need to h %ble o rselves be"ore =is tabernacle( a tabernacle not %ade !ith hands( and begin to pray together in nity? Lord( !e bring the sacri"ice o" praise into Bo r ho se( > God. Lord Jes s( !e declare that Bo are the 3ing o" 3ings and Lord o" Lords( the $avior !ho is the sa%e yesterday( today( and "orever. 8e %agni"y Bo . 8e eFalt Bo and li"t p Bo r holy na%e. 4ake yo r praise glorio s in this place. Lord( take the ne! so nd( the ne! song( and the ne! sacri"ice and %ove the% together. +lend together that !hich is old and that !hich is ne!( Goin that !hich is "resh !ith that !hich is !orn and "a%iliar to s. +ring the% all together in a %arvelo s and %agni"icent %osaic o" !orship( adoration( praise( and thanksgiving nto Bo r glory. 8e ask that there !o ld be ti%es o" sho ting( o" o""ering p re sacri"ices o" Goy( and ti%es o" prostration !hen !e bo! be"ore Bo and open o r hearts to Bo . And !e ask Bo to speak to s. 8e !ill declare Bo r %aGesty and a""ir% Bo r right to r le the niverse and o r individ al lives. 4ost people read books in private settings !here they arenEt bothered by o tside distractions or voices. 5" yo are alone right no!( yo can still begin by praying this prayer right no! in the privacy o" yo r o!n prayer ti%e? 2ather God( 4aster and < ler o" the niverse( 5 bo! be"ore Bo in this sacred %o%ent( ackno!ledging Bo r right to receive %y !orship( %y love( and %y devotion. Bo paid the price? Bo gave Bo r $on. =e gave =is li"e( and today 5E% here in this place beca se o" Bo r grace and %ercy. >pen %y heart to Bo J %ake %e a !orshiper( a lover o" things "resh and ne!( a lover o" things historic and old( to see yo r treas res in all o" these. 5 con"ess that Jes s Christ is Lord o" Lords( 3ing o" 3ings( to the glory o" God the 2ather.
"7
Allo! the =oly $pirit to !alk into yo r li"e( into every hidden closet and locked roo%. 5nvite =i% into the ho se( and give =i% "ree rein to rearrange " rnit re and priorities( adG st sched les( %ove o t nneeded clocks( sh t o"" the appliances( and take co%plete control. Lord( %ake s living instr %ents o" !orship and praise( created to sing ne! songs and creative ever:changing %elodies at Bo r slightest c e( and to sing %aGestic hy%ns to Bo r glory !ith a!eso%e ni& e so nds e%anating "ro% redee%ed vessels o" praiseA
Chapter 1.
#(
& @e5 %acrifice
!a*e words with you and return to the Lord (,osea "6# '. A hobo !alked p to a ladyEs ho se( knocked on the door and said( 9;o yo have a bo!l o" so p and a sand!ich "or a h ngry %anC9 $he said( 9Bes.9 And he said( 9Thank yo .9 Then the !o%an added( 9Bo donEt have to thank %e. ;o yo see that pile o" !ood over thereC9 The hobo said( 9)o( 5 donEt see it.9 DFasperated( the !o%an said to hi%( 95 G st sa! yo see itA9 The hobo shook his head and said( 94aEa%( yo %ight have sa! %e see it( b t yo ainEt going to see %e sa! it.9 This is o r sit ation( too. 5" yo are honest Hand 5E% s re yo areI( then yo have to ad%it that there are things yo are n!illing to 9see9 abo t yo rsel"( yo r sit ation( yo r "a%ily( and yo r prayer and !orship li"e. 4ost o" s think that i" !e say that !e see it( then like the old hobo( !eEll have to go 9sa! it.9 5" !e say( 9Bes( Lord( 5E% holding back in %y !orship beca se 5E% a"raid o" !hat the people aro nd %e !ill think(9 then !e are s re that God is going to %ake s do so%ething abo t it. =e probably !ill( b t pretending the proble% doesnEt eFist doo%s s to contin e living in the del sion o" a charade and the grip o" a lie.
"76
#ntil ;avidEs day( the only !ay to co%% nicate to God !as thro gh the sacri"ice o" ani%als and the o""ering o" grain o""erings. ;avid broke thro gh the barrier on the strength o" the inti%ate relationship he "orged !ith God d ring his years alone in the "ields and the dark years in the cave o" Ad lla%. The day 3ing ;avid sat do!n in "ront o" the ark o" the covenant to co%% ne !ith God( a !indo! opened in ti%e. That !indo! into the )e! Covenant revealed a gli%pse o" GodEs eternal plan to restore =is inti%ate "ello!ship !ith %an thro gh the blood o" =is o!n $on and its nat ral by:prod ct? inti%acy bet!een God and %an( !hen 9God and %an at table are sat do!n.9 ;avid perceived there !as another sacri"ice that God loved %ore than the sacri"ice o" b lls( goats( and sheep. + t it re& ired a 9heart a"ter God.9 The lti%ate blood sacri"ice still !o ld be re& ired %any generations later on the hill called Golgotha !hen Jes s Christ( the 9son o" ;avid9 and $on o" God o""ered p =is li"e as a ranso% "or %ankind. )evertheless( ;avid established so%e eternal patterns o" God: pleasing !orship that % st be restored to the blood:!ashed Ch rch in o r dayA The "irst pattern or principle has to do !ith the !ord la1ish. (Let your heart therefore be wholly de1oted to the Lord our God, to wal* in ,is statutes and to *eep ,is commandments, as at this day.( >ow the *ing and all Israel with him offered sacrifice before the Lord. )nd -olomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, ,222 o<en and " 2,222 sheep. -o the *ing and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. Dn the same day the *ing consecrated the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord, because there he offered the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings; for the bronCe altar that was before the Lord was too small to hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat of the peace offerings. -o -olomon obser1ed the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly from the entrance of ,amath to the broo* of Egypt, before the Lord our God, for se1en days and
A )e! $acri"ice se1en more days, e1en fourteen days. Dn the eighth day he sent the people away and they blessed the *ing. !hen they went to their tents ?oyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord had shown to 4a1id ,is ser1ant and to Israel ,is people (" %ings /#8"988'.
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The sacri"ices that !ere celebrated aro nd the tabernacle o" ;avid( and the te%ple that $olo%on b ilt to ;avidEs speci"ications Herroneo sly called $olo%onEs te%pleI represented a ne! %ode( a ne! !ay o" !orship. This is a ne! kind o" sacri"icea la1ish sacrifice. $olo%on o""ered ..(--- cattle and 1.-(--- sheep and goats. 8o ld yo say that !as 9lavish9C 5t !as also lengthy. These people held contin o s ch rch services "or 16 daysA )o! this !as a la1ish ti%e o" !orship. 8e sho ldnEt hold back anything "ro% God either. 8e need to ackno!ledge the "act that it ta*es time to worship God the !ay !e sho ld. 8e need to set aside seasons individ ally and corporately G st "or the eFcl sive !orship o" God. 5" !e have to take so%e vacation ti%e to do it( then !e need to take the ti%e to say( 9God( 5E% going to give Bo this day. All day long 5 a% going to !orship Bo and "oc s on Bo alone above all things.9 5" yo dare to set this kind o" priority and %ake this kind o" sacri"ice to God( then "asten yo r seatbelts. )o %atter ho! hard yo try( you can:t out9gi1e God. ;avid tried and 9"ailed %iserably9 i" these verses in the +ook o" 2irst 3ings are a tr e record o" $olo%onEs li"e a"ter the dedication o" the te%ple? >ow the weight of gold which came in to -olomon in one year was %%% talents of gold, 5esides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the *ings of the )rabs and the go1ernors of the country. )nd %ing -olomon made &'' large shields of beaten gold, using %'' shekels of gold on each large shield )nd he made ('' shields of beaten gold, using three minas of gold on each shield, and the *ing put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Boreo1er, the *ing made a great throne of i1ory and overlaid
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Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en it with refined gold !here were si< steps to the throne and a round top to the throne at its rear, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. )nd twel1e lions were standing there on the si< steps on the one side and on the other; nothing li*e it was made for any other *ingdom. )nd all %ing -olomon:s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. >one was of sil1er; it was not considered 1aluable in the days of -olomon (" %ings "2#"69 "'.
*erse .7 adds a ni& e perspective to this pict re o" bo nty? 9And the king %ade silver as co%%on as stones in Jer sale%9 H1 3ings 1-?.7aI. =o! do yo get to that placeC >""er lavish sacri"ices to the 4ost =igh. Let %e ask yo a si%ple & estion? 92ro% !here did $olo%on reap all o" this !ealthC9 Bes( God %ade $olo%on !iser than any other %an on earth( b t according to 2irst Chronicles .9( $olo%on !as really reaping "ro% the lavish sacri"ices and gi"ts o" his "ather( 3ing ;avid( !ho said( 9)o! 5 have prepared with all my might "or the ho se o" %y God the gold "or things to be %ade o" gold( and the silver "or things o" silver...9 Hsee 1 Chron. .9?.I. )o! !hen the +ible says ;avid did so%ething 9!ith all o" his %ight(9 then that %eans this %an !as eFpending ;avidic:type energyA That %eans ;avid !as once again eFpending 9lion:killing9 energy( 9bear:killing9 energy( and 9Goliath:killing9 energy. That so nds like a g y yo !o ld !ant on your side, doesnEt itC 3ing ;avid didnEt stop a"ter he gathered gold and silver and other %etals "or the constr ction and decoration o" the te%ple. =e !anted to o""er so%ething really special to God( so%ething that 9h rt9 beca se o" its val e to hi% personally? ()nd moreo1er, in my delight in the house of my God, the treasure I have of gold and sil1er, I gi1e to the house of my God, o1er and abo1e all that I ha1e already pro1ided for the holy temple,
A )e! $acri"ice (>amely, 7,222 talents of gold, of the gold of Dphir, and A,222 talents of refined sil1er, to o1erlay the walls of the buildings; (Df gold for the things of gold, and of sil1er for the things of sil1er, that is, for all the wor* done by the craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord;( (" +hronicles @#79$'.
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3ing ;avid so!ed s ch a lavish sacri"ice to God in his li"e that his son( 3ing $olo%on( !as able to reap "ro% the bo nty o" GodEs ret rn on a scale that is al%ost ni%aginable todayA +y %y reckoning( i" yo add p all o" the things $olo%on gave a!ay d ring his reign( yo have to co%e to the concl sion that $olo%on ga1e away nearly two billion dollars !orth o" gold and gi"ts "or the LordEs serviceA )o! thatEs !hat ;avid( his "ather( so!ed into the p rpose o" God. 8ho reaped a harvest "ro% itC $olo%on did. 8e all need to nderstand so%ething abo t the !hole b siness o" giving so%ething to God? When you gi1e something to God, ,e isn:t ?ust loo*ing at youI,e is loo*ing at your seed. =eEs looking at the generation that is going to "ollo! yo A 8hen yo bless yo r heavenly 2ather( the God "ro% !ho% all blessings "lo!( =e !ill not only set o t to bless yo ( b t also =e !ill %ake s re =e blesses yo r children( and yo r childrenEs children a"ter the%A ;onEt believe the devilEs lie that this kind o" 9generational blessing9 so%eho! died o t a"ter the +ook o" 4alachi( that it is strictly so%e kind o" 9>ld Testa%ent "airy tale.9 God isnEt like %ankind=e doesnEt change. =eEs going to bless yo r childrenEs children( and it !ill be =is delight and good pleas re to do soA This point is beyond arg %ent? God blesses those !ho bless =i%A )o!( there is so%ething else that !e sho ld notice abo t this sacri"ice $olo%on o""ered to God at ;avidEs co%%and. Dven tho gh $olo%on and the priests o""ered the lavish sacri"ice o" ..(--- cattle and 1.-(--- sheep and goats over an nbroken period o" 16 days !hile the people o" 5srael !atched and reGoiced( no one !as pset over b rned roast( a %issed "ootball ga%e( or lack o" sleep. They !ere happy and "illed !ith Goy. H8o ldnEt yo like to "eel that !ay every ti%e yo leave a ch rch serviceCI =ere is another i%portant point? The new sacrifice ;avid pioneered in the "ields( the cave( and the 9tabernacle o" ;avid9 on Kion !as carried over into the !orship o""ered in the ne! te%ple $olo%on
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had b ilt. 4any generations later( !hen 3ing =e7ekiah ordered that the abandoned te%ple be repaired and !orship res %ed( !e still "ind ;avidEs 9ne! sacri"ice9 observed? !hen ,eCe*iah ga1e the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. )hen the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord also began with the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of *avid king of $srael While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpet sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. >ow at the completion of the burnt offerings, the *ing and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. Boreo1er %ing ,eCe*iah and the officials ordered the Le1ites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of *avid and +saph the seer So they sang praises with ?oy, and bowed down and worshiped ( +hronicles @# A972'. This is a pict re o" !hat God !ants to restore to the Ch rch today. 8hen ;avid ca%e into the presence o" God( he bro ght a sacri"ice o" the lips to God. =e bro ght !ords and songs o" adoration( love( reverence( and a!e to his %ighty God. The !hole idea is that God !ants s to nderstand that singing is its own sacrifice. 5t is no!here described %ore po!er" lly than in the +ook o" =osea? !a*e with you words, and turn to the Lord# say unto ,im, ta*e away all iniHuity, and recei1e us graciously# so will we render the calves of our lips (,osea "6# %J&'. CalvesC ThatEs rightA Altho gh %ost %odern translations insert 9"r it9 in place o" 9calves(9 the older translation is %ore acc rateA =osea the prophet sed the =ebre! !ord par, !hich %eans 9a b llock Happarently as breaking "orth in !ild strengthI? a yo ng b ll( cal"( oF.9 1 The prophet is saying the !ords o" o r lips are e& al in GodEs sight to the physical sacri"ice o" calves nder the old sacri"icial syste%. 8hile yo begin to sing to the Lord as a blood:!ashed priest and king in Christ( yo are o""ering a high sacri"ice to God that is holy and acceptable in =is sight. 8hen ;avid sat be"ore the presence o" the Lord and o""ered the !orship o" his heart and lipseven !itho t ani%al sacri"ice or grain o""eringhe !as tapping into the dyna%ic tr th that
A )e! $acri"ice
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Jes s revealed !hen =e told the !o%an at the !ell( 9God is spirit( and those !ho !orship =i% % st !orship in spirit and truth( HJn. 6?.6I. 4any Christians and ch rch congregations have abandoned the dyna%ic po!er o" tr e $pirit:led praise( !orship( and the sacri"ice o" their lips to God. They have "allen into the r t o" rote !orship and o" religion by the letter( !hen God really !ants the% to !orship the 2ather in spirit and in truth. 8e o ght to kno! better( b t too %any o" s donEt act like it. Too %any o" s sto! a!ay the n"orgettable i%ages o" ecstatic !orship( h %ble prostration( and ear:dea"ening praise "o nd in the +ook o" <evelation to the distant " t re( never reali7ing that this is also a pict re o" the e%erging Ch rch o" Jes s ChristA 5t !as Jes s !ho ta ght =is disciples to pray to the 2ather( 9Thy !ill be done on earth as it is in =eaven.9 +y o r actions !e are praying( 92ather( Thy !ill will ha1e to wait till !e "inally get to =eavenA9 8hat have !e learned abo t !orshipC 'er"ect !orship !ill( indeed( co%e only a"ter !e have received glori"ied bodies nha%pered by the !eaknesses o" the "lesh( b t God is teaching and preparing s right now by per"ecting o r praise and !orship by =is $pirit. 8orship has evolved or progressed in the +ible along !ith o r nderstanding o" o r heavenly 2ather. >nce Ada% and Dve sinned( their inti%ate relationship !ith the Creator God !as severed( and they !ere separated "ro% 'aradise and the presence o" God by the "iery s!ord o" the cher bi% assigned to DdenEs gate. Things got !orse "ro% there. #lti%ately( nearly every %e%ber o" o r race "orgot their heritage !ith God( eFcept "or )oah. The "lood !iped a!ay every %e%ory o" that ancient race( eFcept "or )oah and his "a%ily. The kno!ledge o" God & ickly "aded "ro% )oahEs descendants ntil a %oon:!orshiper na%ed Abra% %et the one tr e God and dared to !orship =i% alone. =is descendants gre! in their kno!ledge o" God as =e intervened and g ided the% "ro% generation to generation( b t their !alk !as still pri%arily a !alk o" "eareven nder the leadership o" 4oses. 5t !asnEt ntil ;avid that %ankind regained an nderstanding o" GodEs everlasting lovingkindness( and !ith this ne! kno!ledge and inti%acy ca%e a "resh nderstanding o" sacri"ice and tr e !orship. Jes s Christ !as the " l"ill%ent o" !hat God la nched thro gh ;avidEs li"e and leadership. The disciples !ere !itnesses to GodEs n"olding plan as the Ch rch !as birthed in the "irst cent ry.
"62
=ere !e are( tho sands o" years later( blessed !ith the blood o" the La%b( the gi"t o" the ind!elling =oly $pirit( and the leadership gi"ts and %inistry gi"ts God gave to =is Ch rch. 8e have printed the 8ord o" God in nearly every h %an lang age. 8e possess a vast library o" Ch rch history describing GodEs "aith" lness and tho sands o" years o" n"olding revelation by the $pirit to %an. Bet( God says that =e % st reb ild the tabernacle o" ;avid Hsee A%os 9?11I. 8e !ere created "or =is good pleas re. 8e !ere created to !orship and praise God and to be con"or%ed to the i%age o" =is $on( Jes s Christ. 8e !ere co%%anded to love one another so the !orld !o ld kno! =is disciples. 8e !ere co%%anded to destroy the !orks o" the ene%y and to preach the gospel to the !orld. All o" these %andates "ind their co%pletion and secret o" s ccess in the sanctuary, the d!elling place o" God. > r 3ing !ants to eFtend the borders o" =is holy 3ingdo% in the earthand =e has chosen to se hands and hearts o" "lesh to do it. =e eFpects s to con& er and do battle the sa%e !ay that ;avid did it tho sands o" years ago "ro% his tent on 4o nt Kion( seated in the presence o" God. 5t is ti%e "or s to sho t nto God !ith voices o" tri %ph Hnot !hi%pers o" e%barrass%entI. 5t is ti%e "or s to o""er a s!eet sacri"ice o" praise( the "r it o" o r lips nto the Lord. 5t is ti%e to sing alo d !ith songs o" Goy to the Lord o" o r $alvation. 5t is ti%e to dance and sing be"ore =i% !ith all o" o r strengthto dance 9like ;avid danced9 so the Lord can do battle in the heavenlies on o r behal". $ince !e are "illed !ith the =oly $pirit( s rely( !e can begin to sing a new song and create a new sound be"ore the Lord "or =is gloryA $ rely( !e can begin to speak to that 9!hich is not as tho gh it !ere9A $ rely( it is ti%e "or s to rise p in Jes sE na%e to bind on earth those things that =e has already bo nd and cast "ro% =eavenEs borders( and to loose on earth those things that =e long ago loosed in the heavenlies. 4y !i"e sed to let %e get a!ay !ith bringing her so%e "lo!ers !henever 5 had done so%ething to h rt her( or !hen 5 "elt the need to 9sho!9 her that 5 loved her. At the ti%e( she kne! 5 had too % ch pride to say 5 !as sorry or to verbali7e %y love. Dven then( the tr th !as that sheEd rather hear an 95E% sorry9 or 95 love yo 9 than receive a do7en o" the "inest roses. The =oly $pirit said to her( 9ThatEs his only !ay to do it right no!. Take the "lo!ers.9 5n ti%e( 5 learned ho! to say 95E% sorry9 and 95 love yo 9 and the benefits of my new ability to spea* to my belo1ed were wonderful. God !ants =is Ch rch to step o t o" the pe!s and sit at =is "eet(
A )e! $acri"ice
161
close eno gh to !hisper 95 love Bo 9 in =is ear. =e longs to see s leap "or Goy over =is na%e and "aith" lness. =e !ants to hear a 9really big band so nd9 in =is sanct arya so nd that !ill %ake $olo%onEs 6(---:%e%ber tea% see% like a street:corner & artet and !ill shake the !hole earth !ith =is gloryA God !ants =is people to clap their hands "or Goy in =is 'resence !ith s ch po!er and a thority that l ci"er !ill co!er !ith his %inions to avoid the crippling blo!s o" GodEs glory raining do!n on the earthA =e !ants o r sho ts "or Goy to reverberate thro gho t the created !orld and the spirit real% !ith rebellion:cr shing intensity and po!er. =e !ants to see o r !ords o" sacri"icial praise and o r !orship in prostration and h %ility b ild yet another even %ore glorio s 9sanct ary9 and resting place "or =is glory. $o%eti%es( =e even asks s to do this in the %idst o" sorro! or adversity. >n Th rsday( Jan ary 1,th( 190,( !e learned that %y oldest brother and his !i"e had been killed. > r ch rch !as in the %iddle o" a 6-:day "ast( and !e "elt like anything co ld happen. + t !hen the tragic ne!s ca%e( it !as e%otionally devastating. 8hen the "a%ily %e%bers arrived in 'ortland( >regon( "or the ho%e:going service( !e re%e%bered that %y brother had said that he didnEt !ant anybody singing any sad songs at his " neral. =e told s( 9;onEt bring %e "lo!ers( beca se 5 canEt s%ell "lo!ers.9 Then he added( 9)o! i" yo G st have to bring so%ething to %y " neral( then bring s!eet potato pies. 5 love s!eet potato pies. 5 canEt eat the pies( and 5 canEt s%ell the "lo!ers( b t %y pre"erence !o ld be s!eet potato pies.9 8ell( so%e "olks bro ght hi% so%e "lo!ers any!ay( b t so%ebody got a lot o" "olks to bring a total o" .6 s!eet potato pies to the " neral( and 5E% telling yo it !as a Goy enco nterA 5" yo had co%e to that %eeting and hadnEt seen the co""in in "ront o" the ch rch( yo !o ld have never g essed yo !ere at a " neral. 5t !asnEt that people !erenEt sorro!" l. 8e !ere all grieving over the nti%ely deaths o" %y brother and his precio s !i"e( b t !e !ere b sy o""ering sacri"ices o" Goy to the God o" res rrection. The Governor o" >regon !as there( along !ith the 4ayor o" 'ortland( the ;istrict Attorney( and a n %ber o" la! en"orce%ent o""icers. 4y brother had an incredible ento rage attend his ho%e:going beca se he had greatly i%pacted that city. $o they !ere all there that day( G st scratching their heads and trying to "ig re o t !hat kind o" %eeting they !ere inA 95s this a " neralC 5 tho ght this g y died in the pri%e o" his li"eC9 They !ere con" sed beca se even in the "ace o" tragic death( !e !ere
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o""ering sacri"icesand 5 %ean sacrificeso" Goy to o r 3ing. 4y sister !as 9c tting a step9 and sho ting and dancing to Jes s( and a lot o" other "olks !ere doing the sa%e thing. 4y late brotherEs oldest son( Johnny( started o t singing in the choir( b t !hen they started a really hot song( Johnny G st had to step do!n o t o" the choir and take a hold on the edge o" the co""in. Then he G st started going at it !ith a holy dance o" Goy be"ore the Lord. And all o" those visiting dignitaries !ere trying to say( 98hat is thisC9 $o%e o" the% looked at %e and said( 98hatEs !rong !ith this pict reC9 Bo sho ld have seen the !rite: p "or that ho%e:going service in the ne!spaperA 5t !as a testi%ony to the Goy o" the Lord in the "ace o" death. 5" Christians co ld G st learn to o""er the sacri"ice o" Goy in every circ %stance( they !o ld discover the po!er and blessing o" a ne! kind o" sacri"ice "irst pioneered by ;avid( the %an a"ter GodEs o!n heart. God also !ants to restore to s ;avidEs nderstanding o" the val e o" la1ish sacrifice. 5 believe ;avid said things like( 95 !ant so%ething thatEs going to be noisy. 5 !ant so%ething thatEs going to be rob st. 5 !ant so%ething thatEs going to be % sically eFcellent. 5 !ant so%ething thatEs going to be so innovative and press the envelope o" c rrent technology so % ch that 5 !ill have to %ake ne! instr %ents to capt re the ne! so nds that !e % st have.9 8e need to pray the sa%e prayer todayA God is calling s to a di""erent di%ension o" praise and !orship. 5t re& ires each o" s to co%e boldly to the throne o" grace in Jes sE na%e. =ere 5 co%e. 5 believe % sicians( song !riters( psal%ists( and singers aro nd the !orld are hearing %ysterio s ne! so nds in their spirits( b t donEt kno! !hat to do !ith the%A 5 call the% "orth in Jes sE na%eA 5t is ti%e to speak o t !hat yo hear yo r 2ather in =eaven speakingA 5t is ti%e to sing o t !hat yo hear the angels in =eaven singingA 5t is ti%e to create the instr %ents that yo see and hear glori"ying God in the heavenliesA 5t is all part o" bringing GodEs !ill to pass on the earth as it is in =eaven. + t this task( like any other in GodEs 3ingdo%( is a s pernat ral task that % st be done by the $pirit o" God and not by the "lesh o" %an. God has reb ilt the tabernacle o" ;avid in o r day. )o!( =e is !aiting patiently "or a people !ho !ill co%e boldly to sit in =is 'resence bearing a s!eet sacri"ice o" praise and !orship. Dvery !all
A )e! $acri"ice
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and veil o" separation has been re%oved. 8e have "ree entrance to =is 'resence thro gh the blood o" the La%b. God has done =is partJ no! it is o r t rn. 8ill !e be content to rest in o r pe!( or kneel in =is restC There is glory a!aiting s at the "eet o" God. There is healing in ab ndance "or s in the light o" =is glory. There are blessings and Goys nspeakable in store "or s i" !e !ill only leave o r ho ses and sit be"ore =i% in !orship and co%% nion. There are kingdo%s to con& er and ene%ies to van& ish thro gh o r victorio s praise and ninhibited !orship. All !e % st do is say( 9Bes.9 Join %e. Take !ords !ith yo and ret rn to the LordEs 'resence. There is a seat !aiting "or yo right beside another 3ing !ho !o ld b ild God a ho se....
6n.note
1. -trong:s, calves H=,699I.

Worship The Pattern of Things in Heaven by Joseph Garlington

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Worship The Pattern of Things in Heaven by Joseph Garlington

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Worship: The Pattern of Things in Heaven

Worship: The Pattern of Things in Heaven

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

I 0ove to Worship 1ou, 0or.2

I 0ove to Worship 1ou, 0or.2

5 Love to 8orship Bo ( LordA

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

5 Love to 8orship Bo ( LordA

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

5 Love to 8orship Bo ( LordA

The &rt of &ltar uil.ing

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

The Art o" Altar + ilding

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

The Art o" Altar + ilding

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

The Art o" Altar + ilding

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

The Art o" Altar + ilding

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

What Is the 3olume of Heavenly Worship7

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

8plifte. Han.s %ignal 3ictorious %acrifice2

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

#pli"ted =ands $ignal *ictorio s $acri"iceA (Le1iticus @#"/9 6'.

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

He Teaches 9y Han.s to War

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

=e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

=e Teaches 4y =ands to 8ar

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

0aying the &mbush of Worship an. Praise

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Laying the A%b sh o" 8orship and 'raise

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worshipers 9a:e War in Heaven an. 6arth

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth ene%y( b t obedience is reHuired.

8orshipers 4ake 8ar in =eaven and Darth

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

Worship: The Pattern of Things in Heaven

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en

8orship? The 'attern o" Things in =eaven

Worship# !he 0attern of !hings in ,ea1en