School of Worship

Level One

Foundation

Principles Of Worship

Tom Inglis

Dedication

This work is dedicated to my wife Barbara, who has supported and encouraged me to take the message of worship to the nations. Without her, this work would not have been possible and thousands would never have heard this message. It is also dedicated to my wonderful children, Kirsty, David, Andrew and Jessica Joy, who are a constant blessing and reminder to me of the goodness of God. The greatest testimony I have is that my wife and children are worshipers of God, which makes this work a living reality.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank everyone who has supported this ministry throughout the years and encouraged me to finish writing these manuals. Especially to those who have represented Psalmody International in many nations throughout the world and faithfully taught the principles of worship as a lifestyle.

There are so many individuals to acknowledge but I have decided not to mention anyone in particular. You who serve this ministry and have sown into it know your contribution. These three volumes of study would never have been possible without you and I am grateful for the role you have played. I pray God’s richest return to you all in every way for all you have sown.

Website

We would like to stay in touch with our students and graduates and encourage you to visit our website. We will update regularly with news, teaching articles and conference information. www.psalmody.org

Scripture quotations in this publication are taken from the following Bible versions unless otherwise stated:

The New King James Version © 1983 Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Amplified Bible © 1965 Zondervan Publishing House

The Message Bible © 1993 Eugene H. Peterson

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, James H. Strong, S.T.D., L.L.D. © 1990 Thomas Nelson Publishers Published by Psalmody International. Copyright © 2007 Psalmody International. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

Letter of welcome

Dear Student,

I welcome you in the precious name of Jesus to the ministry of Psalmody International and in particular to the School of Worship.

The objective of the School of Worship is simply to help you get to know God more and worship Him.

Since the inception of Psalmody International in 1983, the material in its various stages of development has been implemented in over forty nations and many denominations. The consistent testimony we have received from students who have attended schools around the world has been - ‘My life has changed’.

I am excited to introduce you to the School of Worship in three volumes of study.

1. Foundation Principles of Worship

2. Lifestyle Principles of Worship

3. Local Church Principles of Worship

This is not a definitive work on the subjects of worship or lifestyle and neither myself nor those who represent the ministry consider ourselves experts. Our only testimony is the fruit of lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit when the principles of ‘worship as a lifestyle’ have been implemented.

My prayer and earnest desire for those of you who apply these principles is that you become more in love with God and have a greater compassion for those who do not know Him. May God bless you as you receive the truths from this course through the spirit of worship as Jesus has instructed us according to His Word.

Tom Inglis

Founder and President

Three Levels of Study

These courses are based on biblical principles of worship lifestyle, and are for all believers in the church. There are three levels of study, each consisting of thirteen lessons, and we recommend that they be studied progressively.

Foundation Principles of Worship ~ Level One

You will learn what praise and worship is, how it works and how it can totally transform you as a person.

Introduction to Worship Lifestyle - Thanksgiving - Introduction to Praise

Lifestyle of Praise 1 - Lifestyle of Praise 2 - Introduction to Worship

Abraham’s Journey of Worship - Introduction to Warfare - Healing & Worship The Holy

Spirit & Worship - Glory & Worship - Giving & Worship

Restoration of the Tabernacle of David

Lifestyle Principles of Worship ~ Level Two

You will learn how to implement the principles of praise and worship as a lifestyle that will influence your walk with God

Thanksgiving & Remembrance - Turning Circumstances Around - Praise & Confession

The Power of Music - New Testament Warfare - Deliverance & Worship - Adam, The

First Worshiper - David, The Heart of a Worshiper - The Presence of God - Entering His

Presence - Worship Creates an Atmosphere - Prayer & Worship - The Disciples’ Journey of

Worship

Local Church Principles of Worship ~ Level Three

This course clearly outlines the profound influence of praise and worship in the local church and your involvement in it.

Worship in the Early Church - Worship in the Local Church - Characteristics of Worshiping

Churches - Kings & Priests in the Local Church - Role of Leaders in Local Church Worship

Role of Musicians in Local Church Worship - Role of the Congregation on Worship 1-3

Role of the Family in Worship - Preparing for Worship - Worship & Church Growth - The

Future of Worship

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Website

Letter of welcome

Three Levels of Study

Foundation Principles of Worship ~ Level One

Lifestyle Principles of Worship ~ Level Two

Local Church Principles of Worship ~ Level Three

Lesson one

Introduction to Worship Lifestyle

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. CREATED FOR FELLOWSHIP

2. WORSH IP IS A LIFESTYLE

Transformed In His Presence

3. WE BECOME WHAT WE WORSHIP

Transforming Power Of Worship

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE HEART

5. WORSHIP GOD ANYWHERE , ANY TIME

6. WORSHIP GOD ONLY

The Supernatural

CONCLUSION

Lesson two

Thanksgiving

Objective of lesson

Key point

1. I WILL TELL YOUR NAME

2. MAGNIFY GOD WITH THANKSGIVING

3. THE PRESENCE OF GOD

4. MORE AND MORE THANKFU L

God Wants To Prosper Us

5. THANKSGIVING AND SALVATION

Thanksgiving Is A Distinguishing Characteristic

6. INSTANT CAPAC ITY TO BE THANKFU L

7. THANKSGIVING AND THE WILL

Ability To Make Choices

Importance Of The Will

8. SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING

King David Understood Sacrifice

9. CONTINUOUS THANKSGIVING

10. LIFESTYLE OF THANKSGIVING

11. ETERNALLY THANKFU L

CONCLUSION

Lesson three

Introduction To Praise

Objective of lesson

Key point

1. PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS OF PRAISE

2. CREATED FOR PRAISE

3. CHANGE – THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE

Praise Changes Us

Praise Changes Our Circumstances

4. PRAISE BRINGS SUCCESS

5. GOD’S WORD IS A CATALYST FOR PRAISE

6. YOU CANNOT BE A PRAISER AND A PRISONER

7. FAITH - THE SUBSTANCE OF PRAISE

8. RELATIONSH IP - THE TRUTH OF PRAISE

9. LOVE - THE MOTIVATION FOR PRAISE

CONCLUSION

Lesson four

Lifestyle of Praise 1

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. LIFESTYLE OF LOVE - HALAL

Definition Of ‘Halal’

We Are Created To ‘Halal’

Developing The Genuine Experience Of ‘Halal’

Every Day God Is Praised (Halal)

Praise (Halal) Should Be A Habit

We Are Commanded To Halal

Hallelujah

2. LIFESTYLE OF THANKFULNESS - ‘YADAH ’

Definition of ‘Yadah’

We Praise God For Being Alive.

It’s The Way We Praise For Being Redeemed.

Praise Is An Eternal Occupation

Praise Is A Sign To The Unbeliever

3. LIFESTYLE OF BLESSING - BARAK

Definition of Barak

The Source of All Blessing is Jesus

Cycle Of Blessing

God Blesses The Home And Family

God’s Blessings Are Without Measure

It’s More Blessed to Give Than To Receive

God Wants To Bless All That Is Within Us

CONCLUSION

Lesson five

Lifestyle Of Praise 2

Objective of lesson

Key point

1. LIFESTYLE OF HOLINESS - TEHILLAH

Definition of ‘Tehillah’

Holy Living

God The Marriage Partner

God The Judge

Tehillah (Praise) Is Beautiful

Unsaved Are Drawn To (Tehillah) Praise

It Is Continual - All Day Long

2. LIFESTYLE OF SINGING - ZAMAR

Definition Of Zamar

God Is Our Song

God Wants Everyone To Zamar

3. LIFESTYLE OF SACRIFICE - TOWDAH

Definition Of Towdah

Praise That Delivers Us From Self

4. LIFESTYLE OF DECLARAT ION - SHABACH

Definition Of Shabach

Shout & Boast

From One Generation To Another

CONCLUSION

Lesson six

Introduction To Worship

Objective Of Lesson

Key point

1. OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF WORSHIP

Definition Of Worship (Old Testament ’Shachah’)

2. NEW TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF WORSHIP

Definition Of Worship (New Testament ‘Proskuneo’)

Worship Is Our Reaction To His Love

3. JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

The Place Of Worship

Worship Is Not Limited To A Building

The Local Church

4. THE FATHER WE WORSHIP

Definition Of ‘Abba Father’

Cannot Worship In Ignorance

5. WORSHIP IS ALWAYS ‘NOW ’

True Worship

Worship In Spirit And Truth

6. THE SEEKING FATHER

7. THE WORSHIPERS THE FATHER SEEKS

8. THE NECESSITY OF WORSHIP

CONCLUSION

Lesson Seven

Abraham’s Journey of Worship

Objective Of Lesson

KEY POINT

1. WORSHIP IS MOVING TOWARDS

God Adds To The Church

2. ABRAHAM ’S JOURNEY OF WORSHIP

Verse 1: Worship Can Involve A Test Of Our Character

Verse 2: Worship Requires That We Move In Faith

Verse 3: The Journey Was One Of Sacrifice

Verse 4: Worship Involves Time, Energy and Faith

Verse 5: Worship Involves Separation

Verses 6 and 7: Worship Involves Preparation

Verse 8: Worship Involves The Prophetic

Verse 9: Worship Involves Hearing And Obeying

Verses 10-12: Worship Is A Celebration

Verse 13: Worship Involves Obedience

Verse 14: Worship Relates To Jehovah Jireh

Verses 15-17: Worship Results In Multiplied Blessings

Verse 18: Worship Involves Blessing Others

Verse 19: Worship Results In Testimony

CONCLUSION

Lesson Eight

Introduction To Warfare

Objective Of Lesson

Key Point

1. DEFINITION OF WARFARE

2. THE OBJECTIVE OF WARFARE

3. THE ORIGIN OF WARFARE

4. WARFARE IN THE NATURAL REALM

5. WARFARE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

God Is Building His Church

6. PREPARATION FOR WARFARE

Dealing With The Size Of The Enemy

Dealing With The Nearness Of The Enemy

Dealing With Double-Mindedness

Dealing With Fear

Electing Leadership

How to Deal with the Enemy When He Is Attacking Our Godly Inheritance

Total Occupancy Is For A Reason

7. IN THE BATTLE

National Teaching Campaign

Enemies Identified

Fast Proclaimed Throughout The Land

United Nation

Leadership Builds Faith And Hope In The People

Our Inheritance

Eyes Upon You

Praising Fathers

Prophesy In The Midst Of Worship

Advancing Army Of Praisers

Worship First, Then Praise

After Worship, They Praised & Went To War.

Peace In The Midst of War

Sing The Results

God Sets Up An Ambush

Prosperity Follows Warfare

Prosperity Should Lead Us Back to God’s House

Peace Follows Prosperity

CONCLUSION

Lesson Nine

Healing & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. THE SOURCE OF SICKNESS

Poor Lifestyle Habits

Wrong Thinking

Ignorance

2. THE SOURCE OF HEALING

3. WORSHIP IS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING

4. GOD’S WORD IS THE KEY TO HEALING

5. JESUS DESIRES TO HEAL (THE LEPER)

6. THE CANAAN ITE WOMAN RECE IVES HEA LING

7. THE RULER’S DAUGHTER IS HEALED

8. THE MERRY HEART

9. JOYFULNESS

10. THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON HEALTH

CONCLUSION

Lesson Ten

The Holy Spirit & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit’s Presence At Creation

Holy Spirit’s Presence At The Start Of The Church

2. THE KINGDOM IS WITH US

3. THE AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The River Of God’s Presence

The Church Age

4. THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS

Holiness Is A Key To Worship

Faith As The Key To Holiness & Worship

5. WORSHIP THE HOLY SPIRIT

6. THE SPIRITUAL SONG

Filled With The Spirit

Divine Source Of Inspiration

7. SET FREE TO WORSHIP

CONC LUS ION

Lesson Eleven

Glory & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. DEFINITION OF GLORY

2. GOD’S GLORY

Intrinsic Glory

Moses’ Experience Of God’s Glory

Ascribed Glory

Comparing The Old And New

Jesus Glorified God

3. HOW WE GLORIFY GOD

Fulfil God’s Will For Our Lives

Sacred And Secular

Fruit Bearing

4. THE GLORY OF WORSHIP

5. THE GLORIOUS CHURCH

6. MANIFESTATION OF GLORY IN THE WORLD

CONC LUS ION

Lesson Twelve

Giving & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. GIVING IS GOD’S HEART

God Loves The World

The Gift Goes On

2. GIVING SHOULD BE OUR HEART

Getting Our Priorities Right

3. GIVING IS A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

4. WORSHIP AND GIVING ARE RELATED

5. RELEASE OF FINANCES INTO THE KINGDOM

6. STEWARDSHIP IS A TEST OF OUR WORSHIP

7. GOD’S TREASURES

8. LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

9. GIVING AND WORSHIP

CONCLUSION

Lesson Thirteen

Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. DEFINITION OF RESTORATION

2. THE DECLINE

3. RESTORATION OF PRAISE & WORSHIP

Reference To The Tabernacle Of David

The Tabernacle Of David

Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David

What Is The Tabernacle Of David Today?

How Does This Restoration Effect Me?

Conclusion

Conclusion

Lesson one

Introduction to Worship Lifestyle

Objective of lesson

To lay a foundation for the whole course and introduce the concept of the worship lifestyle and the principle that we are a ‘product’ of what we worship.

Key Point

Worship Transforms Me

1. CREATED FOR FELLOWSHIP

We are unique individuals created by God in His image (Genesis 1:27-28) for the purpose of fellowship with Him. This fellowship essentially operates in two ways - firstly to worship God and secondly to serve Him, but it has to be in that order. Our worship empowers us to serve and establish His kingdom. When Adam fell, he was put out of the Garden of Eden - the place where he worshiped, had fellowship and was given authority to rule.

The Garden of Eden

1. A place of worship (to God)

2. A place of fellowship (with God)

3. A place of authority (given by God)

Adam and Eve chose to believe the lie of the serpent rather than God (Genesis 2-3). God had warned them that they would die if they ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). They did not die physically on that day but the result of their action severed the spiritual connection between themselves and God. The eternal life and harmony that they enjoyed was now broken by wilful disobedience. This affected man in the following ways:

When Adam Sinned

1. His spirit became ‘dead’ to God

2. His mind opposed God

3. His body physically deteriorated

Adam’s spirit was ‘dead’ in the sense that it was separated from God and no longer in harmony with God’s Spirit. His mind became subject to shame, fear of rejection and guilt that made him hide from God. His body began to deteriorate and become susceptible to disease (dis-ease is the opposite of harmony) and ageing resulting ultimately in death.

Only when man is spiritually joined in relationship with His Creator does he function as God intended. The breakdown in relationship with God through sin had to be repaired. God had a plan to redeem man (Romans 5:8-9). Through redemption, our sins are forgiven, but it would take worship to restore man back to intimacy with God. In His presence we are transformed and worship is the way God has chosen for this to happen.

Genesis 1:27-28

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.Then God blessed them, and God said to them,“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Note:

The Garden  of eden,  a place of worship,  had boundaries that protected Adam from whatever  was outside the garden.  This environment of worship and fellowship was the safest place in the world as long as he resisted the devil’s lies. Worship is a safe environment but it does not offer us immunity from temptation. We still have to resist the devil.

Genesis 2:17

“ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Note:

There is a deep-rooted desire for worship and intimacy within mankind.  Dr. Billy Graham  once said, “every man and woman  has a ‘God-shaped’ vacuum  in their life and nothing but God can fill it.” power,  prestige, money,  possessions,  fame and popularity  do not guarantee happiness.

Note

When you are intimate with someone, your two lives are so intertwined that neither can be fully understood without reference  to the other. God’s plan is for our lives to be intertwined with his so that we become inseparable.

Romans 5:8-9

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood we shall be saved from the wrath through Him

1 Corinthians 15:45

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

2. WORSH IP IS A LIFESTYLE

Jesus had the keys to get us back to the ‘Garden of Eden’ - the place of worship and authority; the place where we belong. He came as the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) to redeem and restore us to intimacy with God and authority over the enemy.

Worship is sometimes hard to define, but it is easy to measure. Worship is measured by the value (not necessarily monetary), regard or importance we put on something that we give our lives to. Worship demands the attention of one’s life. You cannot worship something without it taking something out of your life.

Worship is a lifestyle irrespective of what it is that you

worship.

While on his way to Galilee, Jesus had an amazing encounter with a Samaritan woman (John 4:4-42) who had become the victim of six failed relationships with men. What she needed was a man who would transform her life. Jesus told her that He was the Messiah. At last she had met the seventh and perfect man in her life, but He also introduced the idea that relationship with God was based on worshiping Him as a Father.

Jesus wanted to give her a new life based on a relationship with God. She was challenged to transfer her worship lifestyle from men to God. She was about to become a true worshiper, whose life would not only value God, but be valued by God.

Transformed In His Presence

The woman was transformed in His presence. She immediately left what she was doing and went into the city to tell the men (John 4:28-30). She would never be the same. Jesus did not choose to share this revolutionary truth (of worship) with a religious leader. He shared it with someone who was looking for their life to be radically transformed. Worship is for those who want transformation.

Note:

God has created  us to be in love (intimate) with him, so that our lives are a reflection of his love.

Note:

Seven is the number  of perfection. Jesus was the perfect man in her life.

John 4:28-30

The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him.

Note:

God is the ultimate relationship. every relationship we have with others is based on the relationship we have with God. if we find it hard to love others, it’s possibly because we find it hard to love God.

Psalm 115:4-8

Their idols are silver and gold,The work of men’s hands.They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat.Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Note:

everything we worship outside of God relegates us to being less that who we are created  to be.

3. WE BECOME WHAT WE WORSHIP

Scripture clearly shows us that we become what we worship and we take on its personality (Psalm 115:4-8).

The object we worship transforms us. The profile of any

person is a reflection of their worship.

Those who worship idols become like them and those who worship God become like God (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). This is a basic law in scripture. Idol worship is not necessarily sitting in front of a wooden image chanting or praying. It is allowing whatever we worship to control and transform our lives. It may be the worship of money and material possessions, a career or business, a sport, hobby or a relationship.

Anything that occupies our thoughts, attention, time

and energy more than God has the potential to make us

more unlike God than like Him.

Transforming Power Of Worship

Worship transforms churches, individuals and nations. There is nothing as powerful in existence that influences society more. Every nation has its religions and every religion has its worshipers who influence the character of their nation through their worship.

A nation ultimately becomes a reflection of who it worships (Psalm 33:12). It’s the same with a church. The character of any church is a reflection of its worship. Nothing transforms a church more than worship. Nothing stagnates a church more than a lack of it. A church can never rise above the level of its worship because worship is the primary purpose for which it exists. Transformation takes place in the presence and through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we worship the Lord, there is a freedom and liberty for the Holy Spirit to transform us (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

Psalm 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

Note:

God does bless nations who follow him.

John 4:16

Jesus said to her,“Go, call your husband, and come here.”

Note:

The presence of God is the environment for disclosure. When people  worship,  God will disclose things in the innermost  parts of their lives that they did not even know were there. it’s a place where we allow God to come and uproot things that are not of him.

John 4:20-24

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” Jesus said to her,“Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Note:

Jesus introduced the concept of worship as a lifestyle to the woman.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE HEART

Read John 4:4-15. In verse 16, Jesus gets to the real issues of the woman’s life. He confronts her with the truth and exposes her deep-rooted need for lifestyle change. In this encounter there comes a moment of disclosure. The mask comes off as she admits who she is and what she is really like. Jesus got her to share her heart. The deepest needs and desires of the human heart are exposed in His presence. God longs to reveal Himself to us, but before He can He must show us who we are. Worship always opens our hearts to who we are in the light of who He is. It’s a place of disclosure and great healing.

Jesus was preparing the woman to receive revelation

on the subject of worship and did so by preparing her

heart.

5. WORSHIP GOD ANYWHERE , ANY TIME

For centuries the centre of worship for the Jew had been the temple in  Jerusalem and the religious festivals had required the Jewish males to travel to Jerusalem at least three times a year. To the Jewish and Samaritan mindset, worship was synonymous with the Temple, Law, tradition and religious ceremony. Jesus attempted to change this mindset by stating that worship could now take place anywhere and at any time, because worship was no longer restricted by geography but dependent on relationship (John 4:20-24).

God’s people have access to God to worship Him

anywhere, any time, and experience continual

transformation in His presence.

Worshipers would not have to travel to the Temple to worship God like in the Old Testament. They now had instant access to God’s abiding presence. God had come down to live in men’s hearts and from there they could worship Him (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20).

6. WORSHIP GOD ONLY

Jesus also addressed the object of worship as the ‘Father’ God (John 4:23;This will be dealt with in a later lesson). Whenever there was a restoration of true worship in Israel, there was first a dismantling of all false worship. Hezekiah became king of Judah and dismantled false worship before he could restore the nation’s worship to God (2 Kings 18:1-8). There is much dismantling needed in our lives and churches today to restore true worship back to its rightful place. We need to dismantle religious traditions and man-made practices. We have to worship God as a Father. This is the message Jesus gave to the Samaritan woman. He introduced God the Father as the object of worship. This is the foundation upon which all New Testament worship is built.

According to Jesus, the object of our worship is God the

Father.

Obviously we must worship Jesus also, but there is no Biblical evidence that we should worship anyone else or anything else. No earthly man, or any other biblical person should be worshiped. No church traditions, denominations or cultures should prevent us from worshiping God the Father.

When He is worshiped our praises will be accompanied with powerful manifestations of His presence, invading the natural realm we live in with His supernatural presence.

We can never prioritise anything over worship, if we

do we give opportunity for idols to invade lives and

churches.

The Supernatural

The un-churched are looking for the supernatural when they come to church, and we have to offer them a God who is in our midst with the power to heal, deliver, set free and comfort. They are also looking for evidence of God in Christians, that we are people whose lifestyle is different to theirs. They visit our churches because they want a better life and know in their hearts that God can help them. The last thing they are looking for is people who are no different to themselves and a church that is empty of God’s presence and power. While many good church programs are successfully attracting un-churched people, the greatest testimony is that they came and stayed because they felt and experienced His presence (Acts15:12).

CONCLUSION

The message of a worship lifestyle is one of extreme importance to the church if we are going to fulfill our calling as priests and kings. It’s only when we know how to worship that we can operate as kings and move into the authority that God has called us to. The world will feel the effects of a generation who worship God in spirit and truth. Let it be this one.

Note:

Hzekiah removed  every trace of false worship from his people.  He was ruthless in his pursuit of worship and service to God. He cleansed the house of God and put things in order. We put things in order in God’s house when we prioritise worship above all else that results in a cleansing.

Note:

The un-churched know how the churched should act, which is sometimes  more of a reality to them than it is for many christians. Things are changing  however  and God’s people  are living lives that are attractive to those who don’t know God.

Note:

Just because we have a church  doesn’t mean we have God in it. It’s not until we worship that  he feels comfortable  to come.

Acts 15:12

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Lesson two

Thanksgiving

Objective of lesson

To understand the biblical purpose of thanksgiving and how it relates to our salvation.

Key point

Thanking God For Salvation

1. I WILL TELL YOUR NAME

Recent studies of the Hebrew language in the Old Testament indicate the absence of a word for ‘thank you’ as we would understand it today, especially in respect to receiving a gift. The word they used meant: ‘to tell another of your name’, rather than merely saying ‘thanks’. It seems they placed more emphasis on declaring the name of the giver of the gift than on the gift itself. It was a public expression of thankfulness for what God had done, giving particular emphasis to His name.

A more accurate interpretation of thanksgiving in the

Hebrew language is ‘I will tell your name publicly’.

Telling God’s name to others is what we call witnessing today. It is our confession of thankful praise for who God is and what He has done in our lives. If we cannot be thankful for what God has done in our own lives, how can we ever witness to others either verbally or by the way we live?

2. MAGNIFY GOD WITH THANKSGIVING

God is magnified through our thanksgiving (Psalm 69:30). Our thanksgiving draws attention to God’s goodness and is the most basic witnessing tool to the unsaved.

God wants us to give Him thanks in such a way that we draw attention to Him through the miracles, signs and wonders that He is doing in our lives (Psalm 105:1). Our witness has to be saturated with thankfulness for the world to be drawn to Christ.

We have often reduced God to our size, which is why

we don’t see supernatural results, but the Bible says we

should magnify Him.

This means to let them know that He is bigger than us and infinitely miraculous.

3. THE PRESENCE OF GOD

When King David returned the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem containing God’s presence, he did it with thanksgiving (1 Chronicles 16:4, 7-8). The principle is that God’s presence is always accompanied by thanksgiving. As saved people we carry God’s presence in our lives continually and should evidence this with continual thanksgiving.

Thanking God for being saved is the priority of every

believer.

Individuals who develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving will experience the miraculous works of God in their lives and churches who are thankful will be known for the presence of God in their midst.

Note:

Thanksgiving can best be defined as: ‘A public demonstration or acknowledgement of what God has done by telling others about his character or love, with special reference  to his name’. It is the appropriate response  to God for saving us.

Psalm 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 105:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

Note:

The word ‘deeds’ means: God’s performance that brings miracles, signs and wonders.  We are to make known his deeds among the people who don’t know him. In 1 chronicles 16:7, reference  is made to the fact that ‘David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren  to thank the lord’. In other words, thanksgiving was the priority action of the israelites when God’s presence was returned  to Jerusalem. We should prioritise thanksgiving for his presence in our lives, just as David did when he returned  the Ark.

Note:

Thanksgiving is linked to the presence of God. Where there is salvation (God’s presence),  there is thanksgiving.

1 Chronicles 16:4, 7-8

And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel:

On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord: Oh, give thanks to the Lord; Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

4. MORE AND MORE THANKFU L

The longer we walk with God, the more we should be thankful to Him because we are increasing in the knowledge of His Word and the power of His love (Colossians 1:9-10). Keep growing in God and you will keep thanking Him. The more we get to know Him, the more thankful we will be.

Increasing gratitude is a sign of spiritual growth, for it

cannot happen without spending time in His presence.

It’s impossible to spend time with God and not be thankful. A thankful heart is not something you force, it’s something you develop in His presence.

God Wants To Prosper Us

God’s plan is to increase us in every way (Psalm 115:14), but many never experience this because they don’t know that increase is dependent on the principle of thanksgiving. If you are not thankful you will not experience the fullness of God’s blessings in your life, so keep thanking. God wants to shower us with perfect, beneficial gifts (James 1:17) because He loves us so much and wants us to establish His kingdom through us. Receiving benefits from God is not only to make you and I prosperous, but to help rid the world of lack and poverty.

5. THANKSGIVING AND SALVATION

It has been said that the most basic sin is that of ingratitude. God has made it clear (Romans 1:19-21 Amplified) that He has made Himself known to all men. His existence has been written in their conscience, but many have rejected the truth that has been revealed to them. They have not recognized Him as God and turned to other gods. They rejected the only true and living God and subsequently could not give Him the thanks He deserves.

The God who created everyone would not leave anyone

without an awareness of His existence. That would

be impossible to comprehend from a loving Heavenly

Father.

Conversely, the scripture says that when we do accept God we should be thankful.

Thanksgiving Is A Distinguishing Characteristic

If anything distinguishes the saved from the unsaved it should be thanksgiving. The reality of what salvation means is evident through thanksgiving.

If we lack thanksgiving to God in our lives, it’s because

we lack the revelation of what salvation is and what we

have been delivered from.

If you cannot thank God for saving you it will be difficult to thank Him if you need healing. The greatest act of deliverance is salvation, requiring the greatest response, which is thanksgiving. Salvation without thanksgiving is like an ocean without water, it is simply impossible. You cannot be touched by Almighty God and not be thankful to Him.

His presence in your life is so overwhelming that

thanksgiving should be like breathing.

The Apostle Paul was so thankful to God for His grace in saving him and putting him in the ministry in spite of his hatred toward God before his salvation experience on the road to Damascus (1 Timothy 1:12-15).

Colossians 1:9-10

For this reason we also since the day we heard it do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Psalm 115:14

May the LORD give you increase more and more, you and your children.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Romans 1:19-21 (Amplified) For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defence or justification], Because when they knew and recognised Him as God, they did not honour and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and [a] godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

Note:

no one should be more thankful than a born again believer.  our gratitude should challenge the world to seek Jesus.

6. INSTANT CAPAC ITY TO BE THANKFU L

The exercise of praise is based more on having knowledge of God; worship is based on intimacy with God; but thanksgiving is based on a revelation of His presence. The instant we get saved our ‘dead’ spirit becomes ‘alive’ to God and we have the capacity to be thankful from that time on. God has designed us in such a way that when we first become aware of His presence in our lives we are thankful.

We start our Christian walk with a thankful heart and

should continue to be thankful as we discover the

goodness of God’s saving grace.

It is impossible to be saved and not know it and we cannot be saved and not be thankful. How could the Creator of the universe come to live in us and we be unaware of His presence our lives or ungrateful for it? There is so much to be thankful for. It was God who saved us by His own will (James 1:18) and who predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30). What an awesome God we have living in us.

7. THANKSGIVING AND THE WILL

Ability To Make Choices

Our salvation does not guarantee a thankful lifestyle but it does give us the potential to develop one. Our will is involved in the process of being thankful and is vital in developing a lifestyle of thanksgiving.

Choice is a God given gift and something that we exercise daily as we are confronted with a plethora of options. Very often our minds are conditioned to give thanks when things are going well, but this is not the essence of thanksgiving. Biblical thanksgiving is deeply rooted in the revelation that God has chosen us, loves us, and is continually working in and through us irrespective of whether things are good or bad. As we renew our minds to this revelation by reading God’s Word, thanksgiving will become a part of our lives irrespective of circumstances.

Importance Of The Will

Thanksgiving is God’s will for us according to Leviticus 22:29, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18. The will is undoubtedly one of the most important attributes of man and controls the quality of our lives as Christians.

The choices we make either draw one closer to God or

further from Him. Every battle is either won or lost in

the will and sin is the result of willingly making ungodly

choices.

The willingness to be thankful is important to God since we are instructed to be thankful in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). If thanksgiving is God’s will for us, surely it infers that we are walking in a way pleasing to God and in line to fulfill the destiny He has planned for us. Be diligent in giving God thanks and God will be diligent in giving His attention to you.

Note:

Although salvation includes  healing, you might be struggling with symptoms in your body. remember that when

you thank God for your salvation,  your healing is included.

1 Timothy 1:12-15

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Note:

At the beginning  of our salvation,  our praise is limited because praise is based on knowledge and at that stage we don’t know much about God. our worship is also limited because we have not experienced intimate times with God. We can however  be thankful because of his presence has come to dwell in our lives.

James 1:18

Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

Romans 8:29-30

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Note:

God loved us even before the world began. He has loved us eternally (Titus 1:2).

Titus 1:2

In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

8. SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING

Although we understand that there is no longer any need for blood sacrifice, the principle of sacrifice is still a New Testament requirement (Hebrews 13:15). Before Jesus came, sacrifice was associated with death, but after Jesus’ death (the ultimate sacrifice) and resurrection, sacrifice is now associated with life. God wants us to live a sacrificed life. He wants living sacrifices.

The sacrifice of thanksgiving is giving God thanks when we don’t feel like it, and when our circumstances or feelings are not the motivation for doing it. This is the death part of the living sacrifice.

If God can raise the dead, He can certainly raise our

‘dead’ circumstances.

When we bring our sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise, it allows Him to bring life into our circumstances. Some may feel it is hypocritical to be thankful when we do not feel like it and that God would not ask us to do something like that. This is not true. God does require us to do it, and He knows we are capable of it even when we don’t feel like it.

The principle of sacrifice originated in the heart of God

and was demonstrated when God gave His only Son

Jesus as the sacrifice for all humanity (John 3:16).

Develop the sacrifice of thanksgiving when you least feel like it, the sacrifice of joy when you are not joyful and the sacrifice of sharing your resources and being generous when you feel ungenerous. As we sacrifice, we become more Christ-like and it is for this purpose that we are asked to make these sacrifices. Because man is created in the image of God, there is within every believer the capacity to sacrifice.

This is evident when we see even the most ungodly parents who are willing to sacrifice for their children.

King David Understood Sacrifice

David was a man who understood sacrifice (2 Samuel 24:24-25). Notice in verse 25 that the result of sacrifice was deliverance. Sacrifice is associated with deliverance. We see it was the Passover sacrifice that delivered Israel from Egypt, and also the sacrificial Lamb of God on the cross that delivered mankind from the power of the devil. The continuous sacrifice of thanksgiving will keep us delivered especially when it is offered in response to our salvation. Develop a sacrifice of thanksgiving when you least feel like it, a sacrifice of joy when you are not feeling joyful and a sacrifice of sharing your resources and being generous when you are in need. As we sacrifice we become more Christ-like and it is for this purpose that we are asked to make these sacrifices that are well pleasing to God.

Leviticus 22:29

And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord, offer it at your own free will.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

note:

In everything give thanks, not for everything.  no matter what you are going through,  God is still worthy of thanksgiving. That’s why you can give thanks in the midst of every circumstance.

Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.

Note:

Jesus did not want to go to the cross, but he sacrificed his feelings for his father’s will.

Note:

Spiritual exercises have nothing to do with natural feelings. You do them because you are a spiritual being, born of God’s Spirit even when the natural circumstances say otherwise.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

9. CONTINUOUS THANKSGIVING

Hebrews 13:15 teaches us to continually offer the sacrifice of praise by giving thanks to His name. The fruit of our lips comes from the seed of thanksgiving in our hearts. If you are continually thankful to God for saving you, you will produce fruit from your lips that will eventually produce a harvest in your life.

There is more to thanksgiving than its being continuous. It must be of great quality and quantity. In Colossians 2:7, the Greek word for ‘abounding’ is ‘perisseuo’, meaning ‘to super abound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous, excel, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, increase, to remain (over and above).’

The word is also used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom.

Thanksgiving is a bursting forth in appreciation of the new life we have in Christ. Thanksgiving will take us to full bloom in the Lord. Salvation is such a remarkable work of grace that it requires continual (quantity) and genuine (quality) thanksgiving from the recipient.

10. LIFESTYLE OF THANKSGIVING

As we grow in God’s presence, we should become more grateful because we are growing in the knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us. If we do not grow in gratitude, it is symptomatic that we are probably not growing at all. As priests today (1 Peter 2:5), we must offer up our lives as spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving, not as a works program that is scheduled into Sunday services only. A weekly appreciation of God on Sunday is far removed from the reality of a continual consciousness of salvation and a continual response to it with thanksgiving.

11. ETERNALLY THANKFU L

In Revelation 4:9 we see thanks being given to God who is eternal and Psalm 30:12 states that we will give thanks to God forever. We may not know what eternity will have for us but we do know that we will be eternally grateful to God.

There are undoubtedly many things in eternity that we

will be grateful to God for, but central to everything will

be our thankfulness to Him for saving us.

As we live throughout eternity, we will never grow weary in thankfulness to God. He does not want us to get to heaven before we get the revelation of what our salvation really means. He wants us to understand now, so that our appreciation of Him might help others to receive that same revelation.

Our appreciation of God now will affect the eternity of others.

CONCLUSION

Thanksgiving should be a continuous personal ministry to God as a result of the continual presence we experience of Him through salvation. Our gratitude should be expressed not only in speech and in song, but also in our lifestyle. The world should not only hear us, but also feel the effect of His presence in our lives. Our thankfulness will not only develop growth within us, but overflow into our home, family, church and the world around us.

2 Samuel 24:24-25

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Hebrews 13:15 Amplified

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

Colossians 2:7

Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

1 Peter 2:5

You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:9

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever.

Psalm 30:12

That my soul may sing praise toYou and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You Forever.

Lesson three

Introduction To Praise

Objective of lesson

To understand the purpose God has for praise and how we can fully develop it as a lifestyle, so that it not only draws us closer to Him but also incorporates the dynamic of faith and love.

Key point

Created to Praise

1. PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS OF PRAISE

In Acts 15:13-17, reference is made to the rebuilding or restoration of the Tabernacle of David that has taken place since the Gentiles received the gospel. This is not referring to a physical building but a spiritual restoration of truth that includes praise and worship.

The restoration of praise and worship seems to be one

of the key indicators for God’s prophetic timetable to be

fulfilled before the end of the church age.

The biblical principle of restoration guarantees that what is to be restored will be greater than what previously existed. God is busy restoring everything that was stolen in the Garden of Eden and praise and worship is central to this restoration. It is a generation of worshipers who will experience the greatest restoration of the church toward its glorious destiny.

2. CREATED FOR PRAISE

Everything is created for a purpose and unless it fulfils its purpose, it is useless. God said that we are ‘formed’ (created) to declare His praise (Isaiah 43:21). If praise is missing in a person’s life, then their life is not fulfilled and their Christian journey will be frustrating, but when praise is a lifestyle the journey will be smooth. Praise will help your life more than you can imagine because you are simply doing what you were created to do.

Nothing satisfies like praise. It removes all frustration,

fear and sense of unfulfilment in life.

3. CHANGE – THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE

Praise Changes Us

God’s dream for each one of us is to become more like His Son Jesus. Every second of every day He wants to shape, transform and mature us (Ephesians 4:15, Hebrews 6:1). How awesome is the love the Father God has for us.

God’s love toward us is infinite and His work in us (if we

allow Him) is endless.

The Holy Spirit is with us to affect this change as we fellowship with God through reading His Word, prayer and praise. Daily practice of these truths will cause the individual to become more like Jesus.

The essence of the Christian walk is regular fellowship

with God resulting in transformation.

God loves the fellowship, and we will love the transformation. Nothing is more important and fulfilling in life than to become more like Jesus. Praise is a particularly life transforming exercise since the Scripture tell us that God is personally drawn to us when we praise (Psalm 22:3). Praise seems to activate God’s transforming presence in our lives like nothing else.

If we want to praise God we must be ready for God to

change us.

Scripture shows us the power of God’s presence that is manifest when we praise (Acts 16:25-27).

Praise Changes Our Circumstances

Praising people are changing people; praising churches are changing churches; and a praising church is a church of influence in the spirit realm that affects the local community.

The psalmist says in Psalm 34:1 ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth’. He had determined that he was going to praise God at all times irrespective of circumstances. We often ask God to change our circumstances, but His priority is to do a work ‘in’ us before He does a work ‘around’ us. Our attitude must be to praise Him in all things.

When things change, it is usually because there has

been an attitude change in us first.

A little attitude change in us can cause an enormous change in our circumstances. When you are experiencing adverse circumstances, keep praising and things will keep changing.

Acts 15:13-17

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying,“Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’

Note:

The church  is destined  to become more intimate with God through personal  and corporate worship.

Isaiah 43:21

This people I have formed for Myself;They shall declare My praise.

Quote:

The greatest obstacle  before you will not require more than praise to convert it to a miracle.  (D. Oyedepo)

Ephesians 4:15

‘But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head

- Christ..’

Hebrews 6:1

‘Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection (maturity)....’

Note:

paul had the revelation  that praise and thanksgiving was an important  dimension in our prayer life. The importance of thanksgiving and praise in the prayer life of a believer cannot  be underestimated. Generally  speaking we could conclude that praise is one of the most important  functions in christendom.

Psalm 22:3

‘But you are Holy, Who inhabit the praises of Israel...’

4. PRAISE BRINGS SUCCESS

The Hebrew word in Psalm 47:7 for ‘understanding’ means to have knowledge of God that brings success. The scripture infers that praise is based on knowing who God is and expressing that knowledge through praise. Praise is the expression of someone who knows and trusts God’s Word. This is what makes you successful.

When your purpose is praise, your outcome will be success.

Every man creates his own success (Joshua 1:8), but it is never without praise. God wants His children to be successful every day (Genesis 24:12), so praise every morning and expect a successful day.

5. GOD’S WORD IS A CATALYST FOR PRAISE

A catalyst is something that causes a reaction to take place between two or more chemical substances that don’t necessarily want to react if the catalyst is not present. The significance of a catalyst is that it needs to be present for the reaction to take place. God’s Word is the catalyst that causes us to praise. When we read and meditate on God’s Word, the ‘reaction’ is praise.

God’s Word detonates the explosive ministry of praise

to God.

It is impossible to be silent when we know the character of God revealed in His mighty Word. The least we can do is praise. The great English theologian Spurgeon once said ‘the person who believes will soon sing’. The key to a praise lifestyle is to regularly read and meditate on God’s Word.

Praise is the release of your personal revelation of the

greatness of God as you have discovered Him in His

Word.

The following scriptures confirm this.

(Psalm 43:3-4) It is God’s Word that guides the psalmist to the tabernacle to praise Him.

(Psalm 56:4,10) The psalmist praises God for His Word. If the Word is not present, praise will be absent.

(Psalm 119:7) Praise comes when you learn (know) God’s Word. If you don’t know God’s Word, praise does not come.

(Psalm 119:14) Rejoicing (praise) comes from God’s testimonies (Word). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit that exudes from knowing God through His Word.

(Psalm 119:54) God’s Word was his song. The source of all Christian singing must be God’s Word. If the lyrics don’t support Biblical truth, the songs do not praise.

(Psalm 119:164) The psalmist said he praised seven times a day because of God’s Word. We could safely conclude that he was reading or meditating on God’s Word seven times a day that caused him to praise. He had developed a lifestyle of praise.

When you take away God’s Word, all you have left is

darkness. Keep meditating in the Word and your praise

will expel all darkness

Acts 16:25-27

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.

Notes:

When paul and Silas praised in the jail house,  everything changed (Acts 16:25- 27). No chain can hold the worshiper  in bondage. Everything holding you down is waiting for your praise to lift you up and release you.

Psalm 47:7

For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding

Note:

Praise is a magnet to success. It magnifies God’s Word above every circumstance that tries to keep you from being successful.

Genesis 24:12

Then he said,“O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

Note:

Most believers want to praise God, but don’t have the catalyst (God’s Word) present in their lives. It’s not the act of praise that excites God, but the fact that it is a response  to knowing who he is. Praise is simply the result of knowing God. It is our love response  to the knowledge of knowing him intimately.

6. YOU CANNOT BE A PRAISER AND A PRISONER

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were in prison and they began to pray and sing praises to God. Scripture makes a point of letting us know that the prisoners were listening to the songs and prayers of Paul and Silas. One translation infers that the prisoners listened intently and with pleasure. God moved miraculously by sending an earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison. Their chains were loosed, and along with the prisoners were free to walk out.

Those who don’t know Jesus are still held in captivity.

Could it be that they are waiting for the prayers and

praises of the church to be set free?

The significance of this story is the fact that Paul knew what to do in this particular situation that would get him out of prison. Psalm 119:61-62 would have been the scripture he brought to remembrance, for it talks about rising at midnight to give God thanks. It was midnight and they needed to be free and rise from their prison chains. Praise mixed with prayers was the key to open the prison doors.

When the prayer and praise went up, God came down.

There is no illegitimate prison that can hold God’s people when they praise, nor any chains that cannot be loosed.

Note:

There has never been a time when so much of God’s Word has been revealed.  We are living in a knowledge revolution.  This is the forerunner  to a praise revolution  because praise is based on revelation  knowledge.

Psalm 43:3-4

‘Oh send outYour light andYour truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me toYour holy hill and toYour tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and on the harp I will praiseYou, O God my God..’

Psalm 56:4

‘In God (I will praise HisWord), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?’

Psalm 56:10

‘In God (I will praise HisWord), in the Lord (I will praise HisWord)..’

Psalm 119:7

I will praiseYou with uprightness of heart, when I learnYour righteous judgments.

Psalm 119:14

I have rejoiced in the way ofYour testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Psalm 119:54

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Psalm 119:164

Seven times a day I praiseYou, because of Your righteous judgments.

Note:

Ignorance of God’s Word is an enemy of praise.

Acts 16:25

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Psalm 119:61-62

The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgottenYour law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks toYou, Because of Your righteous judgments.

7. FAITH - THE SUBSTANCE OF PRAISE

It’s one thing to read God’s Word and confess God’s Word, but there’s something very powerful about praising God for His Word.

It’s been said that praise is the highest expression of

faith, because we sing the result before the result is

manifest.

Praise is the Christian’s cry of victory. It is a spiritual force that lets the principalities and powers know they are defeated. Praise demonstrates the celebration mode we are in because of Christ’s victory.

Praise is the best way to deal with things that don’t

yet exist, but have been promised according to God’s

Word.

Faith is the substance behind praise. It’s what makes praise so powerful and devastating to the enemy. The scripture (2 Chronicles 20:21-22) reminds us that when God’s people started singing, God immediately acted. The reason for this was that they believed God’s prophets (2 Chronicles 2:10). They believed the Word of God, and then they sang praise. Men and women of great faith were and still are people of great intimacy, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20). This principle is explained in Hebrews 10:22 and 11:6.

Faith is a lifestyle. It is the kind of lifestyle that takes us into the uncomfortable zone where the total reliance for our very existence and our success is on God. It is the place where there is no security in anything except God. Faith has no hidden agendas or plans outside of God’s will.

Faith is an unselfish lifestyle that takes our eyes off ourselves and puts them on God.

Faith is a place where most people would like to live,

but few dare to go. It is the place where mountains of

impossibilities are removed, and where Goliaths lie in

the dust.

Faith is the only lifestyle that pleases God, and it is characterised by praise.

Knowledge must precede faith and both knowledge and faith must precede praise. If we praise without knowledge, our praise has no truth and will be fleshly. If we praise with knowledge but have no faith, our praise has no substance.

Praise is the fruit from the tree of faith that is rooted in

the soil of knowledge.

Note:

When praise goes up, the walls came down.

Note:

Praise is a celebration of God’s promises even though we don’t have the manifestation of them in the natural realm.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the Lord,

For His mercy endures forever.”

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Romans 4:20

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

Hebrews 10:22

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

8. RELATIONSH IP - THE TRUTH OF PRAISE

In John (4:23-24), we are exhorted to worship in spirit and in truth. Truth is more than God’s written Word. It is the person of Jesus. He said ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6).

The essence of true praise is to have an intimate

relationship with Jesus, who is Truth.

Praise must be personal and from the heart. We don’t sing just because we have music ministry in the church. We sing because we love our best friend Jesus.

If our praise is based on anything outside of a personal relationship with God, it is not true praise but a substitute. Jesus made this principle clear when he spoke to the Pharisees who searched the scriptures for truth but would not come to Him who was Truth (John 5:39-40). They refused a relationship and intimacy with the Person of Truth. This is a very subtle deception among many Christians who don’t want to get too close to Jesus and keep Him at a distance when it comes to worshiping Him.

If we keep Jesus at a distance He will remain there.

When we embrace Him, He will embrace us.

9. LOVE - THE MOTIVATION FOR PRAISE

In (Galatians 5:6) it states that faith works by love. Praise must also work by love, because it involves faith. Love is what makes our praise real. The reason we praise God is because we genuinely love Him. If we do not have love, we will lack faith and certainly won’t be able to praise.

Love is above all things and it has no competitors (1

Corinthians 13:13). It is impossible for it to fail.

When we praise God from a foundation of love, there is nothing that can stop our praise from moving mountains. Everything submits to love.

Nothing can withstand its presence because God is love. Because love is above all things, all things bow in its presence. When we praise, our motivation must be only one thing, and that is love. We praise because we love God so much.

Love is also the most permanent and everlasting power in the universe, and it abides forever (1 Corinthians 13:13). Praising God is our expression of love for God from a heart of faith. I suspect that our praise might have a permanent record in heaven.

CONCLUSION

The foundation of praise is a knowledge of God’s Word. It is the catalyst that causes us to react with praise.

Note:

The just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11). Faith gives us the kind of life that pleases God. Life without faith is living below God’s standards.  If God tells you to do something,  He will always give you the faith to fulfil it. Many people  are asking God for more faith, but in reality all they have to do is what God told them to do. faith will always match every instruction  God gives you.

Note:

The only thing we need to fear is ignorance.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Note:

it is Truth himself who has set us free to praise him.

John 5:39-40

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Note:

The balanced christian life is spending  time in the Word of God and spending  time in the presence of God. There is no substitute for either.

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

I Corinthians 13:13

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Lesson four

Lifestyle of Praise 1

Objective of lesson

To learn three Hebrew words of significance used for praise (‘halal’, ‘yadah’ and ‘barak’), their ‘modern day’ interpretation and how they can be applied in our lives.

Key Point

Lifestyle of Love, Thanksgiving and Blessing

1. LIFESTYLE OF LOVE - HALAL

Definition Of ‘Halal’

The word ‘halal’ is used more times in the Bible than any other Hebrew word for praise and means:

‘To be clear, to shine; hence to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; to celebrate, commend, glory, [sing, be worthy of] praise, laud, and be joyfully excited about God.’ It implies the unashamed use of the voice in demonstration of what one thinks of God. Halal praise is best explained by the way one may act having fallen in love. It’s an elated joyful state of boasting about the person you have fallen in love with. God expects that kind of demonstration from us because of the love affair we have with Him.

If we are not demonstrative about our love for God it

might be that we have yet to discover His love for us

When we have truly fallen in love with God our actions should reflect it in some demonstrative way. The essence of this kind of praise is an abandonment of self, not worrying about the way we look or what others think when we demonstrate our love for God. We are concerned only with God. You can now see why we have defined this as a lifestyle of love.

‘Halal’ is a continuous lifestyle of being in love and

acting in love with Love Himself.

We Are Created To ‘Halal’

Have a look at Psalm 102:18. God is telling us that this kind of praise is not only for one generation, but for succeeding generations, including the New Testament church. The Hebrew word for ‘created’ is the word ‘bara’ meaning ‘entirely new creations’. The only entirely new creations since Adam are the New Testament saints, born of the Spirit of God. God wants this generation to halal Him. In Matthew 22:35-38, when Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment in the law, He answered giving us a definition of ‘halal’ praise. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Loving God with our whole spirit, soul and body is something God actually commands us to do, which means it is possible. This was an Old Testament commandment to people who were not saved, so we who are born of God’s spirit should find no difficulty with it.

Developing The Genuine Experience Of ‘Halal’

God wants praise from the heart - the real thing, not fake or shallow, but how do we genuinely express halal?

Halal praise comes as a response when we read and understand God’s Word (Psalm 56:4,10). It is impossible for us to demonstrate a excited response to God unless His Word reveals it.

The most commonly used word for praise (halal)

confirms that God’s Word is its source.

King David understood that the way to respond to God’s Word was with praise (halal). The names of God used in Psalm 56:10 are interesting.

The first name used for God is Elohim which describes God as a judge and the second name for the Lord is Jehovah, which describes God’s mercy. The scripture infers that God is to be praised whether He deals with us in justice or in mercy.

However we feel or whatever we are going through,

God is worthy of halal praise.

In the New Testament (Colossians 3:16-17) we are told that if the Word of God is dwelling in us, it will manifest as an expression of praise (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs).

If the Word is dwelling in us richly, it will manifest

through us as psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,

singing in our hearts to the Lord.

When God gives us His Word, we give Him praise. That’s the great exchange.

Note:

Scripture tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8). Every fibre of his being is love and everything he does is in love. If the world knew the reality of this they would run to im. If the church  had this revelation  they would never run away from him.

Note:

God has boundaries within which he operates  and these boundaries are love. When we walk in love, we are within God’s boundaries and his power.  God’s boundaries are God’s love wrapped up in words called the Bible. Thanksgiving, praise and worship is heaven’s activity and love is its atmosphere. When we give thanks, we are literally bringing heaven  into manifestation on earth by faith. A lifestyle of love is the highest expression  of faith in God that exists. That’s why it is the most mentioned praise word in the Bible. God wants us to bring heaven  into our life and circumstances through our praise.

Psalm 102:18

This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord

Matthew 22:35-38

Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him,“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind....’

This is the first and great commandment.

Psalm 56:4

In God I will praise (Halal) HisWord.

Psalm 56:10

In God (Elohim) I will praise (Halal) His word, in the Lord (Jehovah) I will praise His word.

Every Day God Is Praised (Halal)

Psalm 113:3 reminds us that as long as the sun is rising and setting, there will be someone somewhere giving God praise. The rising sun reminds us to praise God for His loving kindness and the setting sun for His faithfulness (Psalm 92:2). A day should not go by without expressing your heart-felt love to God.

Praise (Halal) Should Be A Habit

The psalmist declares that seven times a day he praises God because of (God’s Word) righteous judgments (Psalm 119:164). It’s only reasonable to believe that he was meditating on God’s Word at least seven times a day which led him to praise seven times. The Amplified translation brings out clearly ‘Seven times a day and all day long’ do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees’.

If you do something seven times a day, it is a habit.

This can only be interpreted as a habitual continuous lifestyle of praise.

When we read God’s Word daily, praise will be come a daily habit.

We Are Commanded To Halal

Psalm 150 is the greatest praise psalm in the Bible and commands all things to praise the Lord. The word ‘praise’ that is used in every occasion is the word halal. It is classified as a doxology (a conclusion of praise). Psalm 150 is God’s way of concluding the entire book of Psalms. It has been suggested that Psalm  150 is a foretaste of praise in heaven. It’s also interesting to note that the book of Revelation is a doxology (a conclusion of praise). God has chosen to close His Holy Word with a book of praise.

This is a clear prophetic message to the church that the

end of the church age will conclude with a doxology of

praise to God

The last verse in Psalm 150 in the Amplified version is most expressive.

God is worthy of praise from every living creature. However, only those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus have the privilege to praise (halal) Him. Only as children of God do we have some insight into the great majesty of His name, person and mighty acts.

It’s a privilege to live, and while we do let every breath

of life be praise to God.

Colossians 3:16-17

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Note:

The psalms are regarded  as one of the most important  books in the Bible from which we draw strength for daily living. It has been said that the book of psalms shows how great God is although  life can sometimes  be tough. Halal praise will bring us through this life victoriously.

Psalm 113:3

From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.

Psalm 92:2

To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Psalm 119:164

Seven times a day I praiseYou, because of Your righteous judgments.

Hallelujah

The word (halal) is used in conjunction with the name of God (Jah) to form hallelujah, one of the most commonly used words in the Bible for praise. It has no language barriers and is used universally as an expression of delight, although many who use it have no idea of its meaning. Many of the psalms also contain the word hallelujah as a response to God’s greatness, power, majesty, glory, holiness, and infinite love.

The following Psalms contain the word ‘hallelujah’, or the phrase ‘praise the Lord’: Psalm 104, 105, 106, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 135, 146, 147, 148, 149 and 150.

2. LIFESTYLE OF THANKFULNESS - ‘YADAH ’

Definition of ‘Yadah’

The Hebrew word ‘yadah’ is another very important word found in the Bible that conveys a strong emphasis on gratitude and thankfulness. It means: ‘to use (i.e. hold out) the hand, physically to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands), to confess, praise, be thankful.

‘Yadah’ is an expression of thankful praise with the hands lifted. God wants us to be thankful for our salvation more than anything else but He also want us to be thankful for everything He does in our lives.

Yadah’ is simply being grateful for everything God is in

us and does for us

Much use is made of the lifting of hands in the church but little understanding of why it is done. Let’s discover some interesting situations in which this word is used in the Bible.

We Praise God For Being Alive.

Scripture tells us to praise (yadah) God because we have been fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

It’s the kind of praise we give to God for the miracle of

creating us.

It’s expressed with the lifting of hands, thanking God that it was His will to bring us into this world, in His perfect timing to fulfil His plans and purposes. Every Christian should express thankfulness to God with lifted hands for the privilege of living and knowing God as His child. It’s really a privilege to be alive. We need to get this revelation and respond accordingly with praise (yadah).

Next time you lift your hands in praise, thank Him for

the fact that you were created

Psalm 150 (Amplified)

1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!

3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!

5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise (halal) the Lord! Praise (halal) the Lord! (Hallelujah!).

Psalm 139:14

I will praiseYou, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous areYour works, And that my soul knows very well.

It’s The Way We Praise For Being Redeemed.

Many people lift their hands in praise but have no understanding of why they should do it. Psalm 107:1-2 gives us the reason. Lifting hands is an expression of praise to God for redeeming us. Anyone can lift hands in praise but those who appreciate what redemption means have the privilege of doing it with the knowledge that it is God’s prescribed method of telling Him we appreciate our salvation.

We don’t always have to be conscious of redemption when we lift up our hands in praise, but it would be good to remember that He has prescribed it with redemption in mind. When the enemy sees you with your hands raised in praise it reminds him that his hand no longer holds us captive. It’s a tremendous expression and display of freedom.

Praise Is An Eternal Occupation

There will be many things for us to do in eternity, but praise will be high on the list of activities. The awesome environment of God’s presence will naturally cause us to praise, but so will the revelation of God’s grace in saving us. It will take an eternity to thank God for our deliverance and safekeeping (Psalm 52:9).

Praise Is A Sign To The Unbeliever

The giving of thanks in Psalm 18:49 is the word ‘yadah’ and is a wonderful example of using the physical expression of lifted hands among unbelievers. This is done in the context of deliverance. We truly have been delivered and we should not be ashamed to lift our hands to express our gratitude. The world needs to see the church unashamedly lift their hands to God in praise.

3. LIFESTYLE OF BLESSING - BARAK

Definition of Barak

Although ‘barak’ is classified as a praise word, it is rarely translated ‘praise’ in the King James Version, but rather as ‘blessed’ or ‘blessing’. It also means to bend the knee, or kneel; by implication to bless God as an act of adoration. The word is also associated with receiving and giving benefits.

Barak has three aspects to it:

(a) to bless God (we do when we praise Him).

(b) to receive blessing from God.

(c) to be a blessing to others.

God‘s plan is for us to first be a blessing to Him, so He can in turn bless us, so that we can bless the world.

Note:

praise is not something  we do but an expression  of who we are in relationship with God. This relationship is developed by getting to know God intimately through his Word and expressing how we feel about him through praise.

Psalm 107:1-2

Oh, give thanks (yadah) to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,

Psalm 52:9

I will praiseYou (yadah) forever, Because You have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait onYour name, for it is good.

Psalm 18:49

Therefore I will give thanks toYou, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises toYour name.

Note:

God has never created  anything that he has not blessed, and anything God has blessed is beneficial  to life.

The Source of All Blessing is Jesus

Jesus is the fountainhead of everything good. He is the Saviour to mankind, the ultimate blessing (benefit) to humanity (Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16-17). When we acknowledge that Jesus is the source of all blessing, we have laid the foundation in our lives for a life that can reach others with the love and power of God.

Every benefit man has ever enjoyed has come from Him

and there is no benefit in living without Him

Everything good flows from Jesus.

Cycle Of Blessing

God started the cycle of blessing by first blessing man and everything he created. We see this in the creation of all living things (Genesis 1:20-22); the creation of man (Genesis 1:27-28 and 5:2); those God has called and their seed: Noah (Genesis 9:1); Abraham (Genesis 12:2; 25:11); Isaac (Genesis 26:3); Jacob (Genesis 35:9) and others. When God blessed Abraham in Genesis 12:2, He told him he would be a blessing (a benefit or gift) to others. Throughout Bible history, God has called men and women to be a blessing to others.

We are not to be containers of God’s blessing but

channels.

The New Testament word for ‘blessing’ has the same meaning as the Old Testament word ‘barak’.

In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-11, Jesus used the word ‘blessed’ many times and it is the Greek word ‘makarios’ meaning ‘supremely blessed, fortunate, well off, blessed, happy’. To be blessed means to be fully satisfied with God Himself, but God wants the blessings we have received to reach others. The Bible says that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We are supposed to look for ways to bless others, and in doing so God will find ways to bless us.

God Blesses The Home And Family

When God’s presence rested in the home of Obed-Edom, his family was blessed (1 Chronicles 13:14). David also understood this principle (1 Chronicles 16:43) and returned to bless his household after bringing the ark back to Jerusalem. The divine order is that we be a blessing in our home, in our church and then to the world. Many Christians are winning the world for Jesus and losing their homes to divorce and wayward children. Our first place to experience God’s blessing is in our homes.

A blessed home life contributes to a strong healthy

church.

The challenge to Christianity is translating godly lifestyle from the pages of the Bible to the church and home.

Revelation 4:11

You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, And byYour will they exist and were created.

Colossians 1:16-17

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Note:

We bless God by praising him, because he knows it’s on the basis of the relationship we have with his Son Jesus and dependence on the holy Spirit. he is blessed by our faith demonstrated through praise.

Genesis 12:2

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

Matthew 5:3-11

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

1 Chronicles 13:14

So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.

The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.

God’s Blessings Are Without Measure

In Genesis 24:1 we see that God blessed Abraham in all things. God’s blessings are without reserve and without limit. He will keep on blessing whatever needs to be blessed to build His kingdom.

If we have given our life to Him, there is nothing He

will withhold from us in order to establish His kingdom

through us.

God’s divine power has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). God has blessed us with all things we need for a good life. A blessed life (in Christ) is the quality of life God wants for all His children. How Do We Bless God? We read in Hebrews 7:7 that “...the lesser is blessed by the better.” Our praise does not fulfil any needs of God because He does not have any needs. However, God does receive our praise personally and this is significant, because when we praise God we actually bless Him. What a thought, to imagine that we can be a blessing to God.

It’s More Blessed to Give Than To Receive

Scripture makes it clear that ‘...it is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35). It’s a scriptural law and works every time.

We can never out-give God with our praise. As He

receives our praise, we put ourselves in a position to

receive from Him.

If we develop a lifestyle of praise then our life will be inhabited by God’s presence. This is why God is seeking praise from us, so that we invoke the law of ‘more blessed to give than receive’.

God Wants To Bless All That Is Within Us

In (Psalm 103:1) it is referring to all that is within our innermost being or all that is contained within us. If we consider that we are spirit, soul and body, it is not unreasonable to expect that God wants us to be a blessing to Him in all three areas. Keeping a pure heart before Him, a mind that is undefiled and renewed constantly by God’s Word, and not misusing our body.

In (Psalm 103:2), we are encouraged not to forget His benefits (good actions) to us, especially as we ‘barak’ or bless Him in praise. Here are some ways to develop this.

1. Let your judgment bless Him by making decisions in line with His Word.

2. Let your imagination bless Him by thinking pure thoughts.

3. Let your affections bless Him by loving what He loves.

4. Let your desires bless Him by seeking after His presence.

5. Let your thoughts bless Him by meditating on His Word.

6. Let your Hope bless Him by looking and longing for His glory.

7. Let your words bless Him by your controlled speech.

8. Let your actions bless Him by your integrity.

9. Let your memory bless Him by not forgetting His benefits.

10. Let everything that is within you bless His Holy Name.

If we do so we are promised forgiveness of our sins and healing of our diseases (Psalm 103:3) What a destiny we have in this life if we just learn to bless God.

CONCLUSION

These three words all have lifestyle applications that will bless God when applied. It may seem to the casual observer that we don’t have to consider the lifestyle application of Old Testament Hebrew words into modern day, twenty-first century living. This would be a mistake and can rob us of great blessing from God. Understanding and applying these words bring honor to God and changes our lives at the same time.

1 Chronicles 16:43

Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

Genesis 24:1

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue

Hebrews 7:7

Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.

Note:

So much confusion  has arisen over the subject of prosperity,  but it is best understood in terms of giving. You cannot  reap until you sow. The truly God-prosperous have a revelation  that it is more blessed to give than to receive and are looking for opportunities to give, especially  of praise. God inhabits (abides, is present) when we praise and his presence is the basis of prosperity.  Prosperity then, is the presence of God in our lives, through lifestyles of praise and worship.

Acts 20:35

I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said,‘It is more blessed to give than to receive..’”

Psalm 103:1-5

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul ;And forget not all

His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Lesson five

Lifestyle Of Praise 2

Objective of lesson

To learn four Hebrew words of significance used for praise (tehillah, zamar, towdah and shabach), their ‘modern day’ interpretation and how they can be applied in our lives.

Key point

Lifestyle of Holiness, Singing, Sacrifice & Declaration

1. LIFESTYLE OF HOLINESS - TEHILLAH

Definition of ‘Tehillah’

The word ‘tehillah’ is derived from ‘halal’ and is generally accepted as ‘involving singing’ or ‘to laud’. It is also perceived as involving music. It is commonly known and referred to as the praise that God inhabits because of our understanding of Psalm 22:3.

We should not interpret this as a particular type of praise that attracts God’s presence as it would be wrong to think that there is a formula to get God in our midst. There is none, however the Amplified translation of Psalm 22:3 gives better insight.

Holy Living

Notice the emphasis on holiness. It was a Holy God who dwelt in a Holy place in the Old Testament (Holy of Holies) receiving the praises of Israel.

The connection is made between God’s presence and an environment of holiness. We can conclude that God is attracted to holy living and He demands it (1 Peter 1:15-16).

He has come to live in us. We are now the temples; the holy place of His presence (1 Corinthians 6:19). It’s not unreasonable to suggest that God feels most comfortable living in our ‘temples of flesh’ when we live a life of holiness.

Holy living is not to never sin, it is quickly repenting

before God when you do, and sincerely asking Him to

help you overcome your weaknesses.

God is not looking for perfect people, only repentant ones who genuinely desire to turn away from sin.

God The Marriage Partner

A further meaning of the Hebrew word ‘abide’ is to sit down or dwell, remain, settle as in a marriage.

Putting these thoughts together regarding the meaning of the Hebrew word ‘tehillah’, we can conclude that God wants to feel at home and comfortable as a marriage partner would. A holy lifestyle will provide this environment for God to feel at home. Conversely, it is not difficult to understand that unholy living will cause God to feel uncomfortable.

God The Judge

The word also means ‘to judge’. God also wants us to allow Him to judge everything we are and do, according to His standard of justice which is Holiness. We must not forget it is God (the Holy Spirit) who has come to dwell in us. His very name is Holy. We have the inconceivable privilege of housing a Holy God in these temples of flesh Who is ever present to help us to live holy lives.

‘Tehillah’ praise is not just to sing praise but to live holy lives.

The way we live is important to God. The Holy Spirit will reveal Himself to us in a more powerful way when we live holy lifestyles. The following scripture references connect ‘tehillah’ with holiness: Exodus 15:11, Deuteronomy 26:19, 1 Chronicles 16:35, Psalm 145:21, Psalm 106:47 and Habakkuk 3:3.

Psalm 22:3

ButYou are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:3 Amplified

God was enthroned in the secret shrine of the Holy of Holies receiving praises from Israel.

Note:

From a positional  (legal) point of view, we are righteous before God without any blame,  but from a practical  point of view we are to live holy lives. (phillipians 3:9 and 1 peter 1:15-16)

Phillipians 3:9

And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

1 Peter 1:15-16

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written,“Be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Corinthians 6:19

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Note:

Holiness is not perfection. it is giving God the place of both marriage partner and judge, to be set apart for him alone and allowing him to correct that which is unholy within us.

Tehillah (Praise) Is Beautiful

In Psalm 33:1, the word ‘beautiful’ in the Hebrew is the word ‘naveh’ and means ‘suitable, beautiful, seemly, befitting’.

It appears that praise is something beautiful in the eyes

of God.

According to Isaiah 61:3, ‘tehillah’ is the garment that we wear. It suits us when we praise for we are created for that purpose. It is our spiritual clothing.

God is the ultimate fashion designer and praise is

always the latest thing in fashion.

Depression is a spiritual garment from the devil’s wardrobe that tries to clothe us but tehillah praise guarantees that it will not fit. We’re looking good with the praise garment that God has designed for us. We simply look our best when we praise.

Unsaved Are Drawn To (Tehillah) Praise

Psalm 40:3 refers to our testimony to the nations through a lifestyle of praise. God has a plan to display His praising people on the world’s stage.

Contrary to what most people think, holiness and

righteous living is attractive to the unsaved (Isaiah

61:11).

The world is looking for truth and reality. Unbelievers long for something that is authentic! They will see the nature and character of our Lord through our holy lifestyles and praise-filled lips.

It Is Continual - All Day Long

Our mouths should continually be filled with ‘tehillah’ praise (Psalm 34:1).

God should never be far from our conscious mind at

any time, or from our praise-filled mouths.

What is in our mouth continually comes from that which is in our heart. If we are conscious of God all day long, our mouth will praise continually from pure hearts (Matthew 15:18). A lifestyle of praise follows a lifestyle of thought. God is not a ‘Sunday God’. He is ever present at all times in all situations and worthy of praise continually.

Note:

We could say that tehillah praise is when we submit all of our lives to God gladly.

Psalm 33:1

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.

Isaiah 61:3

To console those who mourn in Zion,To give them beauty for ashes,The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

Psalm 40:3

He has put a new song in my mouth Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:3 (Message)

He taught me how to sing the latest God- song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Matthew 15:18

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

2. LIFESTYLE OF SINGING - ZAMAR

Definition Of Zamar

This word has musical connotations that cover both singing and its accompaniment by musical instruments and literally means: ‘pluck the strings of an instrument, play upon it; to make music, to celebrate in song and music, to sing praise.’ As we look for God’s visitation in the earth today, we must prepare to train anointed and skilful singers and musicians, for they are a key to revival, breakthrough and ushering in the presence and power of God.

God Is Our Song

In Exodus 15, Moses and the children of Israel sung a song to the Lord declaring that He is their song. The Hebrew word here for ‘song’ is the word ‘zimrath’, derived from zamar and is a song accompanied with instrumental music. This word confirms that God endorses song to be accompanied with musical instruments. The New Testament again confirms the use of musical instruments in Ephesians 5:19.

The Greek word ‘psallo’ means: ‘to twitch, twang, to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying songs), make melody, sing (psalms).’

God is the Master Musician and through the Holy Spirit we sing His melodies. He is our hope and song. In the end times the greatest melodies the world has ever heard will come from the hearts of believers because God is their song.

God Wants Everyone To Zamar

Deborah and Barak are found to be singing ‘zamar’ in Judges 5:3. Barak makes a very significant statement to some of the kings and princes. He says that he will ‘zamar’ the Lord. This can be a challenge to those in leadership who are hesitant to allow musical instruments into the church. Barak was numbered among the mighty in faith, and should be an example to all of us who are casual or timid in our approach to sing praise to God. If  Barak could declare his enthusiasm, how much more should we, who have the testimony of Jesus. The voice is the greatest instrument and should be used to sing from a heart that is fixed on God (Psalm 104:33).

For further study read: Psalm 108:1, Psalm 138:1, Psalm 33:2, Psalm 71:22, Psalm 98:5, Psalm 144:9, Psalm 149:3

3. LIFESTYLE OF SACRIFICE - TOWDAH

Definition Of Towdah

The word ‘towdah’ is used in conjunction with an offering meaning: ‘An extension of the hand, adoration; specifically a choir of worshipers: confession, (sacrifice of) praise, thanks (giving, offering).’ Scripture clearly shows that this kind of praise involves sacrifice (Psalm 107:22, 116:17).

Offering the sacrifice of praise means that we praise God as if the things we believe God for have already come to pass. It is faith expressed through song; praise that brings things that don’t yet exist into existence. It is a very powerful form of praise because it’s full of faith. It’s a lifestyle of faith expressed in praise. The Christian’s life is full of ‘towdah’ because we praise a God we have never seen for things that we do not yet have, but are promised in God’s Word.

‘Towdah’ praise responds to God’s promises irrespective

of the circumstances.

Note:

Although musical instrumentation is the vehicle for singing and dancing, it is only in the last century that we have seen the use of many kinds of instruments  used in the church.

Exodus 15:2

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.

Ephesians 5:19

Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Judges 5:3

Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.

Psalm 104:33

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

Psalm 107:22

Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.

Psalm 116:17

I will offer toYou the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.

Praise That Delivers Us From Self

As a kingdom of priests we are to offer God spiritual sacrifices such as those mentioned in Hebrews 13:15-16 and James 1:2. These include doing good, sharing our resources, being generous and kind, and making the sacrifice of joy. More than this, God wants us to be living sacrifices according toRomans 12:1.

It’s only reasonable to be totally sold out to God.

In John 7:38-39, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit who will flow out of believers as rivers of living water. This speaks of rivers of life that will be poured out through us to others. The Holy Spirit doesn’t want us to be internal dams for His rivers of life. Our effectiveness in the kingdom can be measured by the sacrifices we make for others. This kind of sacrifice pleases God. ‘Towdah’ is a lifestyle of sacrifice as we allow God to flood us with His life so that we can empty it out onto others.

For further study read Psalm 50:14, Psalm 56:12-13, Psalm 107:22 and Psalm 116:17.

4. LIFESTYLE OF DECLARAT ION - SHABACH

Definition Of Shabach

‘Shabach’ means ‘to shout, address in a loud tone, to speak about; an exclamatory form of praise, glory, pacify through words, to calm anger.’

Shout & Boast

The word ‘triumph’ in 1 Chronicles 16:35 and Psalm 106:47 is ‘shabach’ and is the response of those who have been delivered. If we cannot shout about our deliverance, something is wrong. Not only should we shout but we should also be boastful in our shout.

God’s triumph is our boast. It’s as simple as that. God’s purpose for the shouts of His saints are to testify to the unsaved. The ears of the unsaved need to hear the shouts of the delivered.

From One Generation To Another

Children love to shout, have you noticed that? It seems that God designed them this way (Psalm 145:4) and there is a reason for it. Many of us as parents have experienced God’s mighty acts and works in our lives and we should be testifying, shouting and boasting of them to our children. This will cause them to shout and boast in the Lord. Allow your children a time to shout during your family praise time. They will enjoy it and so will God.

Children have to hear our shouts and boasting of God.

The next generation should be stronger in the Lord

because they have been encouraged by our boasting on

Him.

As parents and fathers and mothers in the faith, we have a responsibility to boast about God’s goodness in our lives (Isaiah 38:19).

CONCLUSION

These words are obviously important to God, because He used them over and over again in His Word, and clearly showed us that they are for daily living. God will bless us when we apply them, and we will see the results quickly. Praise quickens God on the scene, and changes our adversities.

Hebrews 13:15-16

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

James 1:2

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

John 7:38-39

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those  believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

1 Chronicles 16:35

And say,“Save us, O God of our salvation; Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles, to give thanks toYour holy name,To triumph inYour praise.”

Psalm 106:47

Save us, O Lord our God, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks toYour holy name,To triumph inYour praise.

Note:

We are delivered  to praise.

Psalm 145:4

One generation shall praiseYour works to another, And shall declareYour mighty acts.

Isaiah 38:19

The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make knownYour truth to the children.

Lesson six

Introduction To Worship

Objective Of Lesson

In John 4:23 we are told that God the Father seeks those who will worship in spirit and truth. It is almost inconceivable to think that the infinite, Almighty God who is in need of nothing is actually seeking

those who will worship Him. The most amazing thing about this is that God has made it possible for us to worship Him anywhere, any time.

Key point

I Can Worship Anywhere & At Any Time

1. OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF WORSHIP

The motivation for worship in both the Old and New Testament is the love one has for God. Generally speaking however, the Old Testament saints worshiped from a distance and no one had personal access to God except for the High Priest. (Hebrews 9:7-8). They had no real concept of God as Father and before King David’s time there was little understanding of how to freely express their worship.

Definition Of Worship (Old Testament ’Shachah’)

The most commonly used Hebrew word for worship is ‘shachah’ and from this root we have the meaning of a pit or well, a deep cistern, a place where you can go lower down or sink in. Their worship was often demonstrated by a prostration, bowing down, falling on their knees with their foreheads touching the ground in reverence. The Old Testament worshiper had a simple response to God’s presence by taking the lowest physical position. This was the normal reaction to the presence of God and unlike praise, it required little action, noise or demonstration.

The Old Testament worshiper knew Him as God only,

and yet we are privileged to worship Him as Father

2. NEW TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF WORSHIP

Jesus moved the veil of access to God so that we could boldly enter into His  presence with an honest and sincere heart (Hebrews 10:19-22, Ephesians 3:12). To understand the New Testament concept of worship, we must study the Greek word (‘proskuneo’) most commonly used for worship.

Definition Of Worship (New Testament ‘Proskuneo’)

The word ‘proskuneo’ formed from the prefix ‘pros’ means ‘in front of someone or in the direction of someone,’ and the verb ‘kuneo’ which means ‘to kiss.’ This word has the same root as ‘shachah’ and has been defined as a prostration, falling down to one’s knees, to worship, adore, revere, to move towards with the intention to kiss.

The New Testament concept of worship involves movement and intimacy. In a practical way this represents loving God for the opportunity to serve Him.

Worship Is Our Reaction To His Love

God initiated His love toward us, He moved toward us first (1 John 4:10), because He is love. It was God’s love that found us and freed us. Worship is now our move toward God, expressing our love to Him for finding us and freeing us.

Worship is our reaction to His act of love. The more we

know of God’s love, the more we will want to worship.

The essence of fellowship is the continual flow of love that we receive from God and the continual flow of worship that God receives from us. We can never worship too much as a response to His infinite love.

The Scripture in James 4:8 tells us to ‘draw near’ and literally means to join yourself with another through close contact. Don’t be frightened to move into this kind of experience with God or you will fall short of the intimacy He has planned for you and the results it will bring.

Hebrews 9:7-8

But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

Note

There were some exceptional men such as Moses and David who experienced God in a very intimate,  personal  way - face to face (exodus 33:11).

Exodus 33:11

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

Hebrews 10:19-22

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Ephesians 3:12

In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Note:

Worship is the most exciting place to be, for in it we find the father who has been searching  for us. in that place we hear what he is saying to us, his plans and purposes  for our lives.

3. JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

Read John 4:1-26. The longest recorded conversation Jesus had with anyone was with the Samaritan woman. The content and context of this conversation is very important. It is centred around the subjects of salvation and worship (John 4:19-21) and reveals the spiritual condition of the Samaritan woman. When Jesus started telling her about her own life she realised that she was speaking to a prophet of God. This got her attention.

The Place Of Worship

She brought up the subject of worship by stating that the Samaritan fathers worshiped in the area in which they were standing (Mount Gerazim) but she knew that Jerusalem was the place where the Jews worshiped. The place of worship was an issue for her. Jesus immediately used this point to show the essence of New Testament worship that much of the church is still trying to understand.

Worship Is Not Limited To A Building

Jesus makes it clear that the place of worship is no longer important with respect to Mount Gerazim or Jerusalem. This is a dramatic statement since worship was always centred around the temple. It simply means that we have no restrictions in terms of where we worship God (Psalm 34:1).

Jesus was saying that worship was no longer restricted

to the temple but was rather a lifestyle that could be

practised anywhere at any time.

The Local Church

This does not mean we abandon the local church as a place of worship. On the contrary, we must find a local church and be planted so that we can flourish (Psalm 92:13). The local church should be the place where we demonstrate our worship lifestyle in a corporate setting. Worship should not be something we have to be ‘worked up’ to do in church but a natural extension of the lifestyle we have developed on an ongoing basis.

The primary purpose for us going to church should be

to worship God in the presence of other believers.

4. THE FATHER WE WORSHIP

In the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman, He refers to the fact that ‘the Father is seeking such to worship Him’ (John 4:23).

What an act of grace that we now have the same Father

as Jesus and have the freedom to worship Him as our

very own Father.

We are no longer slaves but sons and daughters (Galatians 4:7). Jesus mentioned the Father three times. This must have been extremely radical to the woman. It may still seem radical today but it’s the truth, God is our Father.

Note:

God wants us to have an intimate relationship with him as his children.  If we do not embrace that place of intimacy with God, we will be new Testament believers who have a better covenant

but inferior fellowship than some who experienced intimacy with God in the old Testament.

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Note:

Keep in mind that although  we can be intimate with God, we always have to maintain  the fear of the lord. God is still God although  he has become our father.

John 4:19 -21

The woman said to Him,“Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

Jesus said to her,“Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Note:

God is everywhere all the time and always ready to receive our worship.

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 92:13

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Note:

True worship is based on knowledge and relationship. You have to know God to have relationship with him.

John 4:23 (Message)

But the time is coming - it has, in fact, come - when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth.That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.

Definition Of ‘Abba Father’

The word for Father in the Greek is ‘pater’ and means ‘Father, parent, and comes from a root word signifying a nourisher, protector, upholder.’ The expression ‘Abba’ is found three times in Scripture (Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6).

‘Abba’ is the kind of word that would be used by infants

and gives the impression of childlike faith and trust, that

provides protection and provision.

Vines Expository Dictionary explains ‘Abba’ as an Aramaic word that slaves were forbidden to use in addressing the head of the family.

The word ‘Father’ was added by Greek speaking

Jews and has the meaning of adult maturity based on

knowledge of God’s Word and exercising faith that

brings protection and provision.

There are times when our worship is childlike in its simplicity, when we trust in God not because of what we know but because of who He is. Simply because He is Daddy who loves me as His very own child. Equally there are times when we worship as mature, authoritative, responsible, faith-filled, knowledgeable sons and daughters of the Omnipotent Father.

Cannot Worship In Ignorance

Jesus made an amazing statement to the woman in John 4:22. He told her that although she was a worshiper of God she did not know the God she worshiped. This proves that it is possible to worship in ignorance. In fact, many people actually do and their worship benefits them little. This is probably one of the greatest deceptions in the history of Christianity even in today’s church.

Worship is not just saying the name of Jesus or singing songs to Him.

Worship comes from an experiential knowledge of God.

5. WORSHIP IS ALWAYS ‘NOW ’

Worship should be personal and in the present tense. It’s the great ‘I Am’ that receives worship now. If God were an object, our worship would simply be based on knowledge about it. However, He is not an object but a Person who receives personal, present tense worship. Just as faith is in the present tense (Hebrews 11:1), so is worship (John 4:23).

The hour or season of worship that Jesus is referring to is this time, hour or moment. It is a continuous, present tense act of adoration.

There has never been such a time for the church to

blossom forth in worship. It will be emphasised and

practised until the end of this age.

The Holy Spirit is emphasising this truth across all nations and denominations. There is a genuine hunger for true worship.

Galatians 4:7

Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Note:

A word of caution  - we can never think we have matured  to a place of not needing  to be childlike in our worship of him.

Mark 14:36

And He said,“Abba, Father, all things are possible forYou.Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,“Abba, Father.”

Galatians 4:6

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out,“Abba, Father!”

John 4:22

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

Note:

The Samaritans studied only the first five books of the Bible (the pentateuch) and had only a limited knowledge of God.  The Jews, however  studied all the Books of the old Testament and therefore had more knowledge. it was said however  that the Samaritans were more enthusiastic than the Jews when they worshiped. it’s important  to know this background to understand the point Jesus was making to the Samaritan woman.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

True Worship

The word ‘true’ in the Greek (John 4:23) is ‘alethinos’ and means ‘true in the sense of being real, genuine, ideal. That which has not only the name and resemblance but the real nature corresponding to the name.’

The word is also used to describe the ‘true’ (genuine, real) God who sent Jesus, the fullness and genuineness of God, Jesus and the Word (John 7:28 and John 1:9). As much as God is true and genuine in all His ways, so should His worshipers be in their worship. The word is also related to the Greek word “alethes” which means ‘unconcealed or manifest.’ A true worshiper has nothing to hide. He is true to God in every way and does not fake any area of his life to satisfy religious standards. He is the real thing, the genuine article.

The manifestation of true worship is not something that

is hidden in a Christian’s life.

It is made manifest as a lifestyle for the world to see that we unashamedly love and worship Him. God is looking for those who worship sincerely. That is true worship.

Worship In Spirit And Truth

New Testament worship is a spiritual exercise. It is the recreated spirit responding to the measure of truth which is understood and appreciated. It is the truth that sets us free to worship (John 8:32).

As we feed our spirit man with God’s Word (truth), our spirit will respond in worship. We have to be delivered to sing the new song (Exodus 14:29 and Exodus 15:1-2).

However, if we attempt to worship without truth, our

worship is empty. It is the intake of God’s words that

enables the outflow of worship from our spirit.

Reference is made to the fact that we must worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Just as we ‘must be born again’ (John 3:7), we must ‘worship in spirit and truth’. These are the two ‘musts’ in the Bible. However, we also have to live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:5) by having a conscious respect and submission to the Holy Spirit, who will certainly lead us to worship.

Worship in spirit is to let your spirit under the influence

of the Holy Spirit express your love to God.

Worship in spirit is simply but profoundly a submission to the truth that the Holy Spirit has revealed and continues to reveal within each of us.

This makes our worship experience as individuals different for each person depending upon the paths of truth the Holy Spirit has guided us through.

The truth of God’s Word as revealed by the Holy Spirit will definitely set you free to worship. If we are living according to the Spirit, we are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1) to worship at the level of truth in which we stand. This removes all comparison, competition and judgment with others and we can say that we are truly free to worship in spirit and in truth.

Worship in truth is to let your spirit under the influence

of God’s Word express your love to God.

Note:

The devil has tried so hard to distort the truth of worship and relegate it’s importance, but God has graciously opened our eyes to see its importance and give it the priority it deserves.

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 7:28

Then Jesus cried out, as He taught in the temple, saying,“You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.

John 1:9

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

Note:

There’s a difference between knowing truth and having knowledge. it is only truth that sets a person free (John 8:32) to worship.  Knowledge is something  the religious pharisees  had, but they lacked truth to set them free. True religion is appreciating the truth that has been revealed  to you and the personal  relationship you have with Jesus christ.

John 8:32

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Note:

Massive deliverance will take place in the church  in times of revival, accompanied by a new song. every new move of God releases a new song.

John 4:24

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

John 3:7

Do not marvel that I said to you,‘You must be born again..’

Romans 8:5

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6. THE SEEKING FATHER

In the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman, He refers to the fact that ‘the Father is seeking such to worship Him’ (John 4:23). The picture of an earthly father seeking for his lost child is one of relentless endeavor until the child is found. Only then is the father’s desire fulfilled.

Our Heavenly Father does not seek for us in the sense that we are lost, but He does seek for us to worship Him in spirit and truth. The reason the Father seeks for us to worship in spirit and truth is for our benefit, we are the ones who are changed, not God. Worship seems to be the key God has given us to unlock the door to heavenly blessings.

The Father’s motivation in seeking worshipers is never

self-gratification but self-giving.

If we could only grasp this, our worship would take on a new dimension. The time has come for us to allow the seeking Father to change, transform and revive His children as we worship (Psalm 85:6). Knowing that we are children helps us to approach with respect and boldness. No earthly child is hesitant to embrace a loving father.

It is very difficult to comprehend that the One who

holds the entire universe together by the Word of His

power is at the same time searching among His children

for those who worship in spirit and truth.

Note:

If we understand the operation of our spirit in worship,  it will take place from disciplined minds and bodies yielded to God’s Word. (philippians 3:3).

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Note:

Worship must be so important  to God, because he seeks it. I doubt if we have scratched the surface of the importance of this subject,  but no doubt the church  will walk in the fullness of it.

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

Psalm 85:6

Will You not revive us again,ThatYour people may rejoice inYou?

Note:

Worship is the spiritual atmosphere we need to exist. Without it we are out of breath and gasping for spiritual sustenance.

7. THE WORSHIPERS THE FATHER SEEKS

It is worshipers who worship in spirit and truth that the Father seeks. It is not the act of worship, but the life that carries out the act that is important to God. It is sobering to realise that God knows how much of our lives  constitute worship. He wants us to hold nothing back when it comes to worshiping Him. Our whole life must be liberally given to God in worship.

A worshiper knows that God is constantly searching into the depths of his being. David was such a man as we see in Psalm 26:1-2. The context in which Psalm 26 was written is derived from Psalm 25 in which David acknowledges his sins and shortcomings. With earnest supplications, he asks God for mercy and forgiveness. In that light, he then boldly asks for Divine inspection.

Thank God that He forgives us our sins when they are confessed (1 John 1:8-9). This gives us the boldness to ask God to never stop seeking and searching our hearts and minds. This is the essence of the worshiper. The worshiper must be cleansed as by fire to remove the dross. It is so easy to worship God in the day of prosperity and health but are we as prepared in the day of lack and sickness? It is in those days that the fire of God will burn out the insincerity and bring forth pure vessels of worship.

We do not have to wait for the crisis for God’s fire

to burn. Let the flame continuously be alight in our

hearts so that the smallest imperfections are constantly

consumed.

8. THE NECESSITY OF WORSHIP

The ‘must’ of worship is probably the greatest necessity in the Bible for all believers. It has been said there are four necessities in life: air, water, food and sleep, without which we die. God has given us His one basic necessity to sustain our spiritual life. It is worship. The two greatest “musts” ever written in literature are those of John 3:7, “... you must be born again” and John 4:24, “...they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

The consequences of disobeying the first are eternally

devastating and the consequences of disobeying the

second are spiritually debilitating.

We cannot afford not to worship especially in the light of the fact that Jesus said we must.

Worship will become one of the most important issues in the end time church and will be challenged. Churches who accept the ‘must’ of worship (lifestyle) will experience the glory and outpouring of God. Those who do not will be reduced to religious gatherings and will probably spend much of their time opposing those who do accept the ‘must’ of worship. There will be a third group who will see worship as a 20 minute warm-up before the ‘real service’ begins. These churches will soon collapse because their worship will not be in spirit and truth. Worship is the very last subject in the Bible we should minimise.

CONCLUSION

If we grasp the longing heart of the Father God to receive our worship, we would take time to do it. This lesson is a reminder of God’s priority for His children - to worship Him as a Father. When you do you will enter into the greatest privilege that anyone can practice on a daily basis.

Psalm 26:1-2

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, I have also trusted in the Lord, I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;Try my mind and my heart.

Note:

Spurgeon’s interpretation of psalm 26:2 is: ‘examine me and look me through and through; make a minute survey and put me to question  and cross examine  my evidence. prove me and test me put me again to trial. Try me and assay me as metals are assayed in the furnace’.

1 John 1:8-9

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:7

Do not marvel that I said to you,‘You must be born again...’

John 4:24

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Lesson Seven

Abraham’s Journey of Worship

Objective Of Lesson

The journey of worship has only one path, it’s called ‘change’. It is an unfolding journey on which God not only reveals who He is, but who we are and how we can be transformed into His image. In this lesson the student will obtain an understanding of the various aspects of Abraham’s journey of worship and the lessons we can learn from it and apply in our lives today.

KEY POINT

Worship Is A Life Journey

1. WORSHIP IS MOVING TOWARDS

We have already established that worship is a movement on our behalf toward God with the intention of intimacy. It’s our move and God is waiting.

The Bible tells us that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

This scripture does not say that God inhabits and then we praise. We praise and then He inhabits.

God has already inhabited us as New Testament saints,

so our worship doesn’t get us closer to God. He is

already closer than you can imagine. It does however

release us to understand God in a more intimate way,

and gives faith for us to see Him for who He is.

As we develop a lifestyle of worship through a continual consciousness of God, our worship on Sunday (or whenever we go to church) will be an overflow if it. In a sense, we take our worship to church instead of going to church to enter into worship. When this happens God will become so real  to us in a corporate setting and we will be ready to receive all that He wants to do in our midst.

Worship is really a continual state of being conscious of an awesome, powerful loving God who is ever ready to heal, deliver and set the captives free from every oppression of the devil.

When believers make a determined move towards God

in worship, God will make a determined move to heal,

deliver and save. The unsaved will be swept in the flow

of that movement.

God Adds To The Church

God will add to the church, not only when the unsaved hear the Word through evangelism, but also when the focus of the church is on the things of God: doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer and praise (Acts 2:42-47). Evangelists do not add people to the church, God adds them.

While God uses the evangelist, He also uses the church in worship of Him to draw them.

It is not only God’s Word preached that will evangelise

unbelievers but it is God Himself (His presence)

amongst us that will attract them.

God wants to use both evangelism and worship to win the lost. The church has done much evangelism but little adoration. There will be a great thrust of worship in conjunction with mass evangelism to bring in the end time harvest.

Evangelism is the invitation to relationship with God and worship is the demonstration of the reality of that relationship. God‘s ultimate for every man is not just to be saved but to be a worshiper.

Psalm 22:3

ButYou are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Note

As new Testament saints we know that God lives in us through the indwelling  presence of the holy Spirit. We are ‘inhabited’ already but praise seems to activate God’s presence in our lives. Whether  we describe  God as ‘coming down’ or ‘inhabiting’ our praise doesn’t really matter. The point to remember is that praise activates the manifestation of his presence.

Acts 2:42-47

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved, praising God and having favour with all the people.

2. ABRAHAM ’S JOURNEY OF WORSHIP

In Genesis chapter 22 we have the first recorded biblical use of the word ‘worship’. It is a journey of a man (Abraham) on his way to worship with the intention to sacrifice his son (Isaac).

To better understand the numerous principles involved in worship we look at the account in some detail of Abraham and Isaac’s journey.

Verse 1: Worship Can Involve A Test Of Our Character

God does not tempt but he does test us so that our character can be developed. This was a test of Abraham’s love for God, his faith in God and his obedience to God. The greatest characteristic of a worshiper is lovingly and willing obeying God in faith.

Verse 2: Worship Requires That We Move In Faith

God instructed Abraham to go into the land of Moriah which is the name of a hill in Jerusalem where Solomon subsequently built the Temple. He had to move there (see also verses 3, 6 and 8 - ‘they went’). There was movement toward the place of worship chosen by God. A worshiper will never allow spiritual stagnation to be a part of their life.

Abraham knew that he had to hear from God during his journey and he did. Worship is never a one way communication from man to God. There is probably no greater time for God to speak to us than in the atmosphere of worship. If you want to hear from God, don’t forget He speaks when we  worship.

Verse 3: The Journey Was One Of Sacrifice

Abraham rose early in the morning to prepare for his journey of worship. This is a challenge for us to attend to our daily journey of worship. There were three days and three nights between the time Abraham was told to sacrifice his son and the time he actually arrived at the place of sacrifice.

Every step moving toward Mount Moriah was a sacrifice. Imagine what  went through Abraham’s mind when he took the journey. God never told him he would save his son, but Abraham went ahead as God had ordered him.

The hardest part of the sacrifice was the obedience of Abraham. When we obey God, it often requires sacrifice, but God is faithful to provide and reward in ways we cannot imagine. The rewards are wonderful.

Worship lifestyle is a continual sacrifice, putting God first, others second and ourselves last. During this time God must have told him the exact place to go. Whether this happened during the first night before he left for Moriah or during the journey, is not made clear. However, it was after Abraham had committed himself to the task that he received the specific direction from God.

Genesis 22:1

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said,“Here I am.”

Genesis 22:2

Then He said,“Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Genesis 22:3

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Nnote:

Worship Involves the Giving of  Life

God asked Abraham to worship him by sacrificing his only son isaac. Worship was to involve the cost of  a life, and in a way still does. Worship is not a regular activity we enter into when we go to church.  It is an ongoing lifestyle that emanates from a life that is totally dedicated (sacrificed) to God.

Note:

Worship Involves hearing from God

God told Abraham to go into the area of Moriah but the specific instructions regarding the exact place on the mountain would be given sometime  during his journey.  God wants us to start the journey without knowing all the details of where we will end up, this is faith. Abraham knew that he had to hear from God during his journey and he did. Worship is never a one way communication from man to God. There is probably  no greater time for God to speak to us than in the atmosphere of worship.  if you want to hear from God, don’t forget he speaks when we worship.

Verse 4: Worship Involves Time, Energy and Faith

The journey of three days and three nights, during which time nothing is recorded, needed three major personal requirements: time, energy and faith.

Abraham saw the place from afar off. God does not reveal His destiny for us all at once but graciously allows us to see it from a distance as we walk by faith. During these three days there is no recorded conversation between Abraham and God. God had spoken and Abraham had to move in faith.

This is where faith has its greatest activity - not necessarily in aggressive action but in quiet assurance.

Verse 5: Worship Involves Separation

Abraham instructed his young men to remain while he and his son went to the place of worship (Genesis 22:5). This speaks of personal separation and intimacy in worship. We climb the mountain of worship alone. Abraham expressed faith when he told the young men that he and the lad would return. The experience of worship will always ensure that we return to the people to testify of God’s presence. His life was an example to the young men (the next generation) as he testified of the presence of God at the place of worship.

Verses 6 and 7: Worship Involves Preparation

Apart from taking his son Isaac, Abraham also made sure that the necessary provisions of wood, fire and a knife were taken (Genesis 22:6-7). Without these, the sacrifice could not have been offered. This speaks of Abraham’s thorough preparation for the sacrificial act of worship. Obedience and resistance to temptation was Jesus’ necessary preparation for God to accept Him as a sacrifice. Our life of  worship here on earth is merely a preparation for our eternal occupation. What a privilege to be prepared by God so that we can sincerely worship Him.

Verse 8: Worship Involves The Prophetic

Abraham was a prophet (Genesis 20:7). He spoke prophetically in Genesis 22:8 when he said, “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.”

Worship will release the prophetic voice that will lead the church to the place of provision to win the lost.

Verse 9: Worship Involves Hearing And Obeying

They arrived at the exact place which God had told Abraham. This speaks of hearing accurately and obeying specifically the instructions of God (Genesis 22:9). Worship will always lead to a God ordained destination, it is not a series of isolated acts of adoration to please God. It is a progression to our final destination. Christianity becomes boring and dull if we do not continuously hear from God and obey.

Genesis 22:4

Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

Genesis 22:5

And Abraham said to his young men,“Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

Genesis 22:6-7

So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said,“My father!” And he said,“Here I am, my son.” Then he said,“Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Genesis 22:8

And Abraham said,“My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

Genesis 22:9

Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

Genesis 22:10-11

And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said,“Abraham, Abraham!” So he said,“Here I am.”

Verses 10-12: Worship Is A Celebration

Man cannot provide the sacrifice: God has to do it. Man’s sacrifice is not acceptable to God no matter how noble the cause. Abraham was prepared  to pay the ultimate price in giving the life of his son but God could not accept the life of man as acceptable worship.

When we worship, it really is a sweet smelling sacrifice to God because it has the aroma of Jesus who made it possible. Every time we worship, we are reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus and we remind the devil of the victory of the cross.

Verse 13: Worship Involves Obedience

When man is in the right place with God, all he has to do is look up to see the provision God has made (Genesis 22:13). When our focus is on God, our provision is in sight. Abraham could have missed the provision if he had been just a few feet away from the exact place where God had told him to go. God brought the ram to the divinely ordained place but it took Abraham’s obedience to get to that place. The wonderful thought is that God had prepared the provision (the ram) before Abraham left to go to Moriah. Wherever God tells us to go, He has already prepared the necessary provision to meet our need. However, we only find the provision if we obey His instructions. Obedience to God’s voice leads us to His provision.

Verse 14: Worship Relates To Jehovah Jireh

Abraham called the name of the place: Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will Provide.  The word ’provide’ in the Hebrew means ‘to see, advise, consider, appear, gaze, take heed, provide.’ The English word ‘provide’ is taken from two Latin words: ‘pro’ meaning first or before, and ‘vido’ meaning to see. Together the meaning is: ‘to see before’. Therefore, Jehovah Jireh is the God who sees beforehand. We will never have a need that has not already been seen and met by Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14).

Verses 15-17: Worship Results In Multiplied Blessings

The willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son resulted in a multiplication of blessings, power and authority over the enemy (Genesis 22:15-17). We have this same promise that through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings and have power over all the enemy (Ephesians 1:3, 19-20).

Verse 18: Worship Involves Blessing Others

Abraham’s obedient act of worship led to God’s promise to bless his descendants (Genesis 22:18). As we live a lifestyle of worship we enter into this promise that our families and those we come into contact with shall also be blessed.

Verse 19: Worship Results In Testimony

Abraham returned to his young men with his son just as he had said and undoubtedly testified of God’s gracious provision (Genesis 22:19). Worship will result in testimony, for it reveals God’s presence, character and nature, and results in others hearing of His majestic power and provision.

CONCLUSION

Worship will transform us more than anything else. It is the most powerful tool God can use to transform the life of the individual. It does require obedience and God will graciously show each of us the path of ‘worship transformation’ He has for us. We are all called to worship, so let’s get on the journey of great discovery.

Genesis 22:12

And He said,“Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

Genesis 22:13

Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

Genesis 22:14

And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day,“In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:15-17

Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, And said:“By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

Genesis 22:18

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Genesis 22:19

So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba

Lesson Eight

Introduction To Warfare

Objective Of Lesson

To learn the principles of warfare and how to trust in God to overcome every battle through the mighty weapon of praise.

Key Point

Praise Is A Weapon

1. DEFINITION OF WARFARE

A secular definition of warfare is ‘a quarrel between nations conducted by force; a state of open hostility; suspension of international law.’

2. THE OBJECTIVE OF WARFARE

The objective of warfare is to have supremacy, to govern, to control and have authority over something or someone else by using force. The spirit behind warfare is covetousness. Lucifer was covetous of God and attempted to overthrow God’s Kingdom and seize power. He wanted to control every angelic being in heaven and be worshiped as God. Some angels followed this self-exalted god, but Lucifer’s power was limited compared to God’s power and he was cast out of heaven. The objective of the warmonger today is still the same whether in the natural or spiritual realm. His passion is to illegitimately control the life of another.

3. THE ORIGIN OF WARFARE

Lucifer gradually took his eyes off God and placed them on himself. His desire to do his own thing became greater and more important than fulfilling the desire of the One who created, anointed and loved him. Self importance took the place of self-giving love.

Sin was born when Lucifer stopped giving worship

(worth-ship) to God and ascribed himself more worth

than God.

He began to idolise himself through vain imaginations and demanded worship that he felt he was worthy of. The cross of Calvary delivered the death blow but he still continues with a fanatically insatiable desire to be in control of men’s lives. When he is in control, he is a god to those he controls and in a cheap, distorted way, receives worship from them.

For further study, see Ezekiel 28:12-19 and Isaiah 14:11-17

4. WARFARE IN THE NATURAL REALM

The aim of warfare is control: the driving force behind warfare is self gain. Realising that warfare has a spiritual root, we can translate this into spiritual warfare.

5. WARFARE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

The same principles apply in spiritual warfare as in natural warfare. There is a war between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light to occupy the spiritual territory (godly inheritance) that has been secured for us through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

Our godly inheritance is here for us to occupy by faith,

but the devil will attack with any weapon that he can

use to nullify the effectiveness of Christ’s victory.

Note:

The covetous  person is driven by continual dissatisfaction.  Never being content  with what he has, he forms images in his mind of obtaining  or controlling  what others have. He may even be religious and attempt to justify his actions as being righteous in the interest of others.

Note:

There was a time before Lucifer rebelled  against God when there was no war, only peace. peace  is not the absence of war, but the presence of godly order. When Lucifer and his angels rebelled  the godly order was  challenged and war broke out. Man is created  for peace. War and strife are inherently  foreign to us a human  beings. We are created  to enjoy God’s intimate presence and the peace  that goes with it. When we put God first in our lives we prioritise godly order and peace  is what we experience.

Note:

Lucifer was created  perfect but God still felt it necessary  to anoint him (Ezekiel 28:14). The anointing  God gave him was to perform the duties God had assigned to him. The principle  we can learn from

this is that no matter how well we can do something,  we still need the anointing  of God to do it God’s way.

Ezekiel 28:14

You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

Note:

Control is exercised  in the natural realm through the occupation of territory, using force and violence. The general rule is that if one occupies the territory, he controls the people.  Occupation of territory has always been the prerequisite for successful warfare. If it is not occupied, the people  cannot  be controlled. Man is a territorial creature  and will occupy  territory in order to effectively live out his life at a basic level. When an opposing  force occupies our territory it dictates our lifestyle. When war results in the occupation of territory it is almost always at the expense  of human  lives. The quality of human  life always suffers under the hand of the oppressor.

God Is Building His Church

The Lord is building His church (Matthew 16:18) and He cannot do it unless He has something to build upon. God cannot build the principles of divine health through an individual who does not believe in healing (Mark 6:5-6). God cannot build prosperity for His kingdom through people who believe God’s kingdom must be financially poor. God will build His church through a people who believe and receive the covenant inheritance He has provided in Christ, and who will stand against the devil.

6. PREPARATION FOR WARFARE

Deuteronomy Chapter 20 will help us understand the preparations required for warfare.

Dealing With The Size Of The Enemy

See Deuteronomy 20:1. In a battle, the enemy often looks bigger than you, and almost impossible to overcome. It is a contest of faith in God’s Word, overcoming overwhelming odds. Our perception of the size of the enemy is related to the size or amount of God’s Word in us. How you perceive the enemy is up to you, but it determines the outcome of the battle. The Lord reminded Israel that He had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and would deliver them again. In the same way God has delivered us, and He will be with us no matter what battles we face.

Dealing With The Nearness Of The Enemy

See Deuteronomy 20:2-4. When the enemy attacks we must not allow our hearts to become faint, afraid or troubled. God’s deliverance is not dependent on the size of the enemy or how close the enemy is. God’s command is the same, “Fear not, I am with you to fight against your enemies.” Psalm 91:7 states that the enemy may come within an arm’s length but will not touch us.

Intimacy with God ensures that the devil will never get

too close to defeat us although he may appear to do so.

Keep him at a distance through intimacy with God in prayer and worship and applying God’s Word.

Dealing With Double-Mindedness

See Deuteronomy 20:5-7. The officers spoke to the people about their focus. God wanted total commitment of mind, will, emotions and energy in the battle ahead. God was saying ‘If your attention is on something else other than the battle it is better to return home, because you could die’.

We cannot be double minded when it comes to

warfare. Single mindedness requires single focus.

Only total focus on God can cause us to be of a single heart, mind and purpose. This is the basis of victory.

Matthew 16:18

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Mark 6:5-6

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief.Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Deuteronomy 20:1

When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 20:2-4

So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them,‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you...’

Psalm 91:7

A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

Deuteronomy 20:5-7

Then the officers shall speak to the people, saying:‘What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man dedicate it. Also what man is there who has planted a vineyard and has not eaten of it? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man eat of it. And what man is there who is betrothed to

a woman and has not married her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man marry her....’

Dealing With Fear

See Deuteronomy 20:8. God eliminated every trace of fear from among the army because fear is the greatest enemy to victory. A spirit of fear, if allowed, will run through our families and churches and cause destruction.

Fear is a major tool of the devil, but when we resist it, the devil flees (James 4:7). Statistics state that over 90% of everything that man fears does not actually happen. Although fear is one of man’s greatest enemies, it is only because man does not know it is a spiritual force that can be dealt with.

Fear is the devil telling you the worst thing will happen,

but he cannot guarantee it will until you believe it.

If we don’t receive his lies, fear loses its power. When we agree with anything contrary to God’s Word we are deceived and have opened the door to fear.

Electing Leadership

See Deuteronomy 20:9. The officers chose leaders and captains to lead the people from those who remained. God longs for leaders who are not afraid of the enemy and who can inspire others by example.

Strong leaders are those who know and apply God’s

Word without compromise in every area of their lives.

They are bold in what God has said in His Word and refuse to believe the devil’s deceptive lies. They possess a spirit of power, love and a sound mind and are unafraid to take God’s people into battle and secure their rightful inheritance in Christ (2 Timothy 1:7).

How to Deal with the Enemy When He Is Attacking Our Godly Inheritance

See Deuteronomy 20:16-17. God is jealous about our inheritance because it cost Jesus’ life to appropriate it for us. We must therefore be assertive in fighting for our inheritance. We do not war because we enjoy war, but in order that we can enjoy peace through the victory Jesus has secured for us.

Although God is a God of war it does not mean that His inherent nature is to war. When He wars, He is coming against sin and all the forces of darkness that oppose Him. Remember, Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We as believers should therefore essentially live in peace, but be soldiers who know how to fight in seasons of war when the enemy comes against us.

The kingdom of God which we enjoy is righteousness,

peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Our occupation for

most of the time should be enjoying the presence of

God and not fighting.

We therefore take our inheritance through occupancy. Some think that our inheritance in God will fall into our lap. It will not! We must occupy and keep on occupying all that has been freely given to us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Deuteronomy 20:8

“The officers shall speak further to the people, and say,‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest the heart of his brethren faint like his heart.’

James 4:7

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Deuteronomy 20:9

And so it shall be, when the officers have finished speaking to the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Deuteronomy 20:16-17

“But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you,

Note:

The word “inheritance” in the Hebrew means ‘something inherited, occupancy, an estate, possession,  a possession  to which one has received  the legal claim.’

Total Occupancy Is For A Reason

See Deuteronomy 20:18. This verse clarifies why God required His people to eliminate everything that breathed in the enemy camp. He knew that if they didn’t, their abominations (immoral idolatry) would affect their relationship and worship to Him.

A lifestyle of worship is important because it prioritises

what’s important to God.

God doesn’t restrict us from enjoying many wonderful things the world has to offer as long as He comes first. When He does we will make right choices and never be drawn into the enemy camp of immoral idolatry. We should now have a basic understanding regarding warfare, its source and objectives operating against us. Now we are ready to look at how to prepare for war.

7. IN THE BATTLE

In 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 a teaching campaign was conducted throughout the nation.

National Teaching Campaign

Note how the people in the cities were taught God’s Word throughout the nation. God was preparing them for what they needed when confronted with battle in the future.

God’s Word brings us peace but also prepares us for

battle.

If we are going to stand against the enemy today it must be with His Word.

Enemies Identified

In 2 Chronicles 20:1-2, a threefold enemy was identified: Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir. This may seem an over-simplified point but we must be aware that our fight is not against flesh and blood but has been identified in Ephesians 6:12 as being against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. Many Christians walk through life in a constant battle with many things, but never identify the source as being spiritual and never take authority over them in the spirit realm.

Fast Proclaimed Throughout The Land

2 Chronicles 20:3 the leader and the nation fasted. This was part of their preparation for battle. They had been taught the power of fasting and now they were implementing it at the most crucial time in their history. Fasting gets us to hear God clearly and gives us the wisdom and power to get effective results against the enemy.

United Nation

2 Chronicles 20:4 Jehoshaphat stirred the people to come together to seek God and pray. The possibilities that exist for positive change when a nation  seeks God in prayer is astounding. If we take this portion of scripture as an example there is proof that God delivers His people when they pray, even entire nations.

I believe there will be entire cities and nations turning to God in the end times. Very soon we will see cities turning to God because of national catastrophe, filling stadiums early in the morning for prayer, unashamedly crying out to God for help. What a challenge there is for leadership in cities and nations to stir the people up to pray.

Deuteronomy 20:18

Lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your God.

2 Chronicles 17:7-9

Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah,Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people.

2 Chronicles 20:1-2

It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying,“A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi).

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

2 Chronicles 20:3

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

2 Chronicles 20:4

So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

Leadership Builds Faith And Hope In The People

In 2 Chronicles 20:5-10 Jehoshaphat stood before the people and declared the greatness of the God they served. He stressed the incomparable power and might of their God, who is absolutely invincible and who had delivered them in the past and would do it again.

The people’s hearts were stirred to trust God even more. A spirit of unity and faith coming from the leadership filled them with unshakeable confidence. If our leaders are not full of faith, how can our churches ever be? There is however a growing boldness rising up in leadership to lead the church in triumph, declaring that we will stand in His presence and cry out to God for deliverance.

Our Inheritance

In 2 Chronicles 20:11, Jehoshaphat identified the enemy not only coming against him and his people, but against God. He said that the enemy “...had come to cast us out of the possession which you had given us to inherit.” Any victory the enemy enjoys should be seen as victory against God. Our inheritance is God’s possession, what belongs to God belongs to us who are in covenant relationship and vice versa. God’s Word no longer belongs to God only, it is our Word. God has given His Word and all it contains, to us. God is jealous of His inheritance for us and we must appropriate it. The devil would like to steal all that God has freely given to us and he will if we allow him to. We have to know the inheritance God has given us and stand on the promises without compromise.

Health is our inheritance, not sickness.

Prosperity, not poverty.

Spiritual life, not spiritual death.

Freedom, not bondage.

Faith, not fear.

When we realise what belongs to us, what Jesus gave to us so freely and the price it cost Jesus, we will aggressively stop the devil from stealing.

Eyes Upon You

See 2 Chronicles 20:12. Humility is always depending on God for everything. Jehoshaphat and his people declared that their eyes were upon God. They were totally dependent on God to deliver them. They could do nothing in their own strength. It is only when we reach the realisation that we desperately need God in every situation that we will win the battle.

Our total attention and focus must be on God to deliver. A great measure of humility comes through in this scripture when Jehoshaphat admitted their inability to react, he said ‘our eyes are upon you’.

Note:

South Africa has been such a nation over the past few years whose people  cried out to God in prayer for peaceful  elections  in 1994.  Prayer meeting were happening in football stadiums,  people  were praying all over the nation.  God heard and brought about  peaceful  elections  and changed the nation from a racist society. South Africa is truly a miracle brought about by God’s divine intervention.  Pray that this beautiful nation of South Africa would not forget what God has done for her, so she can take her strategic place as a leader in the continent of Africa.

2 Chronicles 20:5-10

Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said:“O Lord God of our fathers, areYou not God in heaven, and doYou not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and inYour hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstandYou? AreYou not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land beforeYour people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of AbrahamYour friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have builtYou a sanctuary in it forYour name, saying,‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and inYour presence (forYour name is in this temple), and cry out toYou in our affliction, andYou will hear and save..’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whomYou would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them.

2 Chronicles 20:11

Here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out ofYour possession whichYou have given us to inherit.

2 Chronicles 20:12

O our God, willYou not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are uponYou.”

Praising Fathers

2 Chronicles 20:13 is one of the most touching scriptures in the Bible. We see a picture of the nation seeking God and then standing as united families before Him. Notice this scripture carefully for it is prophetic for the time in which we live. The fathers were referred to as Judah (praise), standing with their children and their wives. God defines fathers and husbands as praisers. As fathers and husbands we should stand before the Lord with our families as praisers. If there is a father or husband in the house, God expects him to lead the way in praise.

Prophesy In The Midst Of Worship

See 2 Chronicles 20:14-15. In verse 15, the word ‘dismayed’ means confused. God was saying in the midst of these worshiping families not to be confused by the presence of the enemy. The Spirit of God was reassuring them that He was in their midst and in control of their circumstances. As we come before God with our families, we can expect the Spirit of God to speak to us. God will speak the same words to us today. If ever there was a time to hear them, it is now.

There will be at least one generation of Christian

children who know the presence of God because their

natural parents have taken the time to pray and praise

with them.

Let it be this generation, let it be our children or grandchildren.

Advancing Army Of Praisers

In 2 Chronicles 20:16-17, God told them exactly where to go and specifically when to go. Notice that they advanced against the enemy. They did not wait for the enemy to come to them. We only advance when God tells us to and we only succeed when He tells us where to go.

Worship First, Then Praise

See 2 Chronicles 20:18. If we are not worshipers, we will hardly be warriors. They all fell before the Lord in worship. Note again that the leader was the example. Church leadership should give the best example of worshipers. It was worship they gave God first before they praised and went to war. Worship was their first activity and is the basis from which we enter into warfare. We must be careful that we do not emphasise the subject of warfare (as many have) at the expense of understanding and practicing worship. If we do, our people will get tired and defeated and the devil will be featured at our services and meeting places instead of God. Intimacy is where we get the authority and power to fight.  We go to church essentially to worship, although we know that there are legitimate seasons of warfare in the local church as we take authority over principalities and powers in our communities.

2 Chronicles 20:13

Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:14-15

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of  Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you:‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.

Note:

The world is gripped by all kinds of fear and this is especially  true of the children.  It is a dangerous world for children  to live in today but God’s children  who know his presence will not be afraid or confused.

2 Chronicles 20:16-17

Tomorrow go down against them.They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before theWilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

Note:

Humility  is the total dependence on God at all times for all things. Humility is also acting boldly on God’s Word. The humble  man knows that his only chance of victory is to act upon God’s Word knowing that God will never fail him.  Humility  is a lifestyle of continual dependence on God to back up our actions against the devil, by the power of his Word.  The humble  man does not wait for God to do something,  he waits first on God and then acts himself once God has told him what to do.

2 Chronicles 20:18

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

After Worship, They Praised & Went To War.

In 2 Chronicles 20:19, the kind of praise they gave God was ‘halal’. They were demonstrative, boasting and clamorously foolish in their praise. It was a loud excited display of their trust in God.

They were enjoying the victory before it took place. It

was faith in action regarding the outcome of something

that was still to happen.

To the natural man it was crazy, and it still is today to those who know little of the ways of God. Their praise was based on God’s promises and it blessed the heart of God. It stirred the angelic host and aroused God as a Warrior. This is desperately needed in the church today. It is vital and will bring life to those that practice it. It will bring revival, it will bring growth, it will bring maturity and it will always bring God.

Peace In The Midst of War

See 2 Chronicles 20:20. God’s people must have had a good night’s sleep because the Bible tells us that they to rose early in the morning. Surrounded by an enemy that outnumbered them by thousands they slept peacefully.

God’s promises bring peace in the midst of war. Again notice Jehoshaphat stirring up faith in the hearts of the people. We are at rest when we know our faith is working to bring about the fulfilment of God’s promises in our midst.

Sing The Results

In 2 Chronicles 20:21, singers were appointed by the elders to spearhead the attack, not with weapons of war but with praise. They were clear that the strategy to be used was singing the results (victory) of the battle before it actually happened. The song chosen was: ‘Praise the Lord, for his mercy endures forever’ They went before their army with praise. It was a sound of joy and hope to the army behind them and a sound of destruction and doom to the army before them.

The singers and musicians could face the enemy first

because their focus was not on the enemy but on God.

God must raise up a church of praisers before He can raise up a church of warriors. When our focus is on God we won’t focus on the strength and size of the enemy, because they are of no consequence. It’s important to notice that they sang God’s Word from Psalm 106:1. They sang the desired result, which was God’s mercy to deliver them. We should sing the results we are trusting God for, if possible, directly from scripture. We achieve the best results in warfare when we sing God’s Word.

It’s not praise that wins the battle. It is God’s Word that

brings the victory. Praise enforces the victory as it brings

the power of the Holy Spirit to act on the Word that we

sing.

I am not saying that all our worship songs should be restricted only to scripture but they should represent the scripture as accurately as possible.

2 Chronicles 20:19

Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high.

2 Chronicles 20:20

So they rose early in the morning and went out into theWilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

2 Chronicles 20:21

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:“Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.”

God Sets Up An Ambush

See 2 Chronicles 20:22-24. Sing and let God set the ambush. They had just begun to sing praise and the first few bars were enough for God to intervene. God did not need much to work with and He sent the enemy into utter confusion. Our praise confuses the enemy and incenses them into a frenzy of desperation but they cannot outrun God. Notice it says that none escaped. It has been said that there is an escalation in spiritual warfare with praise. The devil has nothing in his power or arsenal to stop praise or counteract it. His purpose is to attack us to try and get us to abandon our determination to praise. It is extremely vital for the praiser to increase his intensity of praise as the battle increases. The devil cannot stand for long against the powerful weapon of praise. When it is a time of warfare, the singers should sing. Never has the warfare been as intense as it is now. Sing and let God set the trap for the enemy.

Prosperity Follows Warfare

See 2 Chronicles 20:25. Dead men don’t react when you take the spoil. Here, we see that blessing accompanies the victory. When God is in our warfare, He always wins and guarantees that we come through more prosperous than before. Our prosperity might not be in terms of riches (although in this case it was), but it will certainly include a wealth of experience and stronger faith when we have come through the battle.

Notice that they needed three days to pick up the spoil. God gives us as much time as we need to collect the spoils after we have defeated the enemy. Dead men do not react when you take their possessions, but don’t try to take them while they’re alive.

Likewise, the devil has no power over us when we use

the Word of God against him. He is like a dead man

incapable of reacting while we plunder his kingdom of

darkness.

Prosperity Should Lead Us Back to God’s House

See 2 Chronicles 20:26-28. What a lesson there is to learn here. It is often in the hour of prosperity that we forget God. Not so with Jehoshaphat, he led his people with great rejoicing back to the house of the Lord. God’s victory is depicted here through pageantry and procession. They paraded straight to the house of the Lord bringing glory to God along the streets for anyone who would listen. Note that the battle did not take place inside God’s house, it was outside. Our church services should be the facility for us to parade our great God with much rejoicing for what He has accomplished in and through us during the week and what He will do for us in weeks to come.

2 Chronicles 20:22-24

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

2 Chronicles 20:25

When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewellery, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much.

2 Chronicles 20:26-28

And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord; therefore the name of that place was called TheValley of  Berachah until this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord.

Peace Follows Prosperity

2 Chronicles 20:29-30 God builds the Church in times of peace. The fear of the Lord will be upon the enemy if they know that we can praise to the place where God manifests Himself in our midst. If we are continual praisers, the enemy will not hang around very long because he will continually be reminded of the past victories. The result of all this is peace.

We may be involved in spiritual warfare while our heart, soul and body is at rest in God, knowing that the battle is won. The realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: “for God gave him rest round about.” What a tremendous scripture to end this lesson. God does not build the church during times of war but during times of peace. If we are continually fighting the devil, we won’t enjoy peace. Jesus’ victory has guaranteed us peace.

CONCLUSION

The significant steps in this lesson are:

1. Teaching

2. Worship

3. Praise - warfare

4. Prosperity

5. Peace

This is the order in which we will see events unfold in the last days that will have an astounding effect on the church.

2 Chronicles 20:29-30

And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel.Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. So Jehoshaphat was king over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.

Lesson Nine

Healing & Worship

Objective of lesson

God wants us healthy. This lesson looks at the influence of and relationship between healing and worship.

Key Point

Worship is an Environment for Healing

1. THE SOURCE OF SICKNESS

The source of sickness and disease is unquestionably the fall of man and the entrance of sin. Death and all that produces it, including sickness (physical, mental and emotional) is the direct result of sin (Romans 5:12). When man fell, he relinquished his God-given authority (Geneses 1:28) and gave the devil the opportunity to oppress humanity with sickness, which he does at every opportunity. The devil’s nature is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10) and sickness is one of the primary tools he uses to achieve this objective. Inadvertently we give the devil an opportunity to attack us with sickness through a number of avenues.

Sickness is an oppression of the devil (Acts 10:38). The word ‘oppressed’ in the Greek is ‘katadunasteuo’ and means to exercise dominion against, but Jesus came to release us from all satanic dominion, depression and sickness. We do have, however a responsibility to eat right, think right and know what God has promised us in His Word.

Poor Lifestyle Habits

Poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and over-work all affect our body’s performance and its ability to repair itself. Proper rest, good nutrition, right job choices and spending time with the Lord are all necessary lifestyle habits that protect us from the devil’s attack. God has built into us an immune system to protect us and fight against sickness, but it is important to give the immune system the opportunity to function properly by making the right lifestyle choices.

Wrong Thinking

Many doctors believe that 60-70% of sicknesses has its source in our minds (psychosomatic), relating to the way we think. The Bible confirms that we are a product of our thought life (Proverbs 23:7). A man cannot achieve any more than what his mind can achieve. When we think right (thinking in line with God’s Word), we will find that we minimize the devil’s opportunities to attack us with sickness because of wrong thinking.

Ignorance

The Bible states that only the truth can set us free (John 8:32). When we are ignorant of God’s promises, we simply cannot enjoy the freedom they bring.

Many are being led into captivity simply because they don’t know what God’s Word has to say about healing (for example). Many are not convinced that God is the healer and vacillate between two opinions - that sometimes God heals some and sometimes He doesn’t heal. If this is the way God operated, He would be guilty of having favourites, which can never be the case. It’s true that not all who ask for healing are healed, but this doesn’t mean that God is not willing and able to heal everyone.

Poor lifestyle habits, wrong thinking or ignorance are

leading factors as to why people do not receive and

maintain their healing.

All of us at some stage are attacked with sickness but we must resist it with faith in the knowledge of God’s Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit to heal us. Probably the most important key in fighting sickness is to be absolutely convinced that God is neither the source of sickness nor the perpetrator of it (James 1:17 and Psalm 145:9). He is the source of healing and health.

Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Genesis 1:28

Then God blessed them, and God said to them,“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Proverbs 23:7

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

John 8:32

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

2. THE SOURCE OF HEALING

In contrast to the above, we see that God is the source of life given in abundance (John 10:10).

The Greek word for ‘life’ is ‘zoe’ which is, ‘Life as

God has it, that which is in God Himself, the absolute

fullness of life belonging to God’.

God has given us many promises in His Word regarding the quality and quantity of life that He has for us if we love Him and keep His Word  Psalm 91:16 and Proverbs 3:1-2). He promises us a long life of prosperity and health. It almost sounds too good to be true, but this is what it literally means. God is offering us the kind of quality of life that He experiences, free from demonic influence, sickness and depression. We have to appropriate it by faith in His Word.

The Godhead is also in agreement with this (Acts 10:38). There is no doubt from scripture that God is the source of healing and He gives us every opportunity to resist sickness and poor health so we can enjoy life to the full.

3. WORSHIP IS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING

Apart from the vast evidence of healings that have taken place during praise and worship services in both evangelistic healing crusades and local churches meetings, there is also scriptural evidence that praise and worship is the environment for healing.

King Saul was distressed by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:16, 23) and called for a musician to play so that he could be delivered from his oppression.

David the young worshiper was called upon and played his harp in Saul’s presence. It would be ridiculous for us to believe that the greatest worshiper in the Bible played secular music for Saul. David played what he played every day in the sheep fields, which was praise to his God.

It was David’s praise that invoked God’s presence and

delivered King Saul from the troubling spirit. The spirit

departed from him and he was refreshed and felt well.

Worship is an environment for deliverance and healing. There is an interesting reference in Acts 17:25 where the word ‘worshiped‘ is translated to heal, cure, restore to health and to also serve. It is used in reference to the fact that God does not need our worship (although He loves to receive our worship). Although this word is normally translated to ‘serve’, it is here translated to ‘heal’ or ‘cure’.

God reminds us that He is not healed or changed by

our worship or service, but that we are the recipients of

healing and change.

God’s presence accompanies His Word to heal. The New Testament physician Luke in Luke 5:17 tells us that as Jesus taught, the power of God was present to heal. Again we understand that God’s presence is the environment for healing and that there is no greater catalyst for His presence to manifest than worship. It is enough for us to understand and expect that in the very act of worship there is the potential for us to be healed.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Note:

if something  is not good, it is definitely not of God.

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Psalm 91:16

With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

1 Samuel 16:16 & 23

Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand.Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

Note:

1. God the Healer

God not only said He would heal (exodus 15:26), but declared, “Health is what i Am.” God revealed  Himself as  ‘Jehovah Rophe’. rophe means to heal, cure, restore. God wants to impart His health to His children.  For further study: exodus 23:25,  psalm 103:3,  psalm 105:37, psalm 107:20

4. GOD’S WORD IS THE KEY TO HEALING

The power of God to heal is contained in His Word (Proverbs 4:20-22). We should use God’s ‘healing Word’ in our praise when we are trusting him for healing. When we do this we put into operation a powerful chain of events.

1. We put His healing Word above our sickness.

2. We believe God’s Word as the final authority on sickness.

3. We exercise our faith in God’s Word by praising Him for our healing.

God’s Word is health to all our flesh. This means that when these words become a part of us (before our eyes and in our heart) they are health to our bodies. Our entire body responds healthily to God’s Word. This a reality that the church must understand.

5. JESUS DESIRES TO HEAL (THE LEPER)

It is interesting to note the fact that, in spite of the crowds that thronged around Jesus at this time, the unclean leper managed to get close to Him (Matthew 8:2-3). This would have been difficult since a leper was not allowed to mingle with the crowds, in fact, he was not allowed to enter the town and the people would probably have run in horror as he approached them. His desire for healing was greater than any worry of rejection from the people. The leper did something that was against everything he knew he should do. He was required by the law in Leviticus to keep his mouth covered. However, he started to worship Jesus from lips that were condemned only to cry, “unclean”. The leper took the attention off himself and his unclean condition, and placed it on Jesus and his spotless, glorious life.

There was no question about the ability of Jesus to heal, but there was about the desire for Jesus to heal. This act of worship moved Jesus with compassion and He stretched out and touched the worshiping leper. It is the desire of Jesus to heal. This man’s act of worship revealed the heart of Jesus regarding healing, for in worship, not only do we touch His heart, but we motivate His desire to touch us. Again we see that worship is the environment for healing.

2. Jesus The Healer

in Acts 10:38 we have seen that the Godhead is mentioned with reference  to healing. The Father anointed the Son (Jesus) with the Holy Spirit. Jesus preached and healed  (Matthew 9:35). He also gave power to His disciples to heal the sick (Mark 6:12-13). As believers we not only receive healing, but also administer  it to others by the laying on of hands.

3. The Healing Holy Spirit

it was the power of the Holy Spirit working in Jesus’ life  to perform miracles and healings (romans 15:18-19).  From Romans 8:26 we understand the healing work of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word for ‘weaknesses’ is ‘‘astheneia’’ meaning  ‘feebleness of body or mind; by implication malady,  moral frailty; disease,  infirmity, sickness, weakness’. The word ‘helps’ is the Greek word ‘sunantilambanomai’ and means, ‘to take hold of opposite  together with, to assist, help, co-operate with us against that which is attacking us.’ The scripture is telling us that the Holy Spirit is in agreement with us as we stand on God’s word for healing, taking hold with us against the attack in our lives.

Acts 17:25

Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life,

Luke 5:17

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.

Matthew 8:2-3

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying,“Lord, ifYou are willing,You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying,“I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

6. THE CANAAN ITE WOMAN RECE IVES HEA LING

In Matthew 15:22-28, we find a woman who begged Jesus for mercy to heal her daughter who was troubled by demons. Jesus ignored her but this did not perturb her. She fell to her knees and worshiped Jesus with her forehead touching the ground in profound reverence before Him.

Jesus stated that He had come for the Jews and it was not fair to give that which was for the Jews to someone else. This was related in terms of Jews being the children of God and Gentiles being the dogs who would want the children’s bread. The woman answered, “even dogs are accustomed to eating the crumbs that fall from the table of their master.”

What she was effectively implying was that, although

she might be considered a dog (non-Jew), her act of

worship was the recognition that Jesus was her Master.

Through this act of worship and the exercise of her faith, she was in a position to receive the crumbs from her Master’s table. Jesus commended her great faith and her daughter was healed from that hour. Since Jesus has come for everyone who believes in His name, we can expect to sit at the Master’s table and feed from Him, irrespective of nationality, culture, race or creed. Worship gives us that right and privilege.

7. THE RULER’S DAUGHTER IS HEALED

Sickness at its ultimate is death. The ruler had just lost his daughter (Matthew 9:18 -19; 23 26), and yet when he approached Jesus, he worshiped Him. It is amazing to think that this man could offer worship in the midst of circumstances of death. He was so sure of Jesus’ ability to raise his dead daughter that he could worship.

The life of Jesus was greater in his sight than the death

of his daughter.

He worshiped the One who was Life, and then asked Jesus to come and  impart life again to his little girl. Jesus followed him home and took the girl’s hand and she arose. There is something strong about a man who is known as a worshiper and certainly to this little girl, the most important thing her father ever did was to find Jesus, worship Him and bring Him home.

8. THE MERRY HEART

Our attitude and general demeanour has a profound effect on our health. In Proverbs 17:22, we are told that merry heart affects our health. ‘Merry’ in Hebrew is ‘sameach’, meaning glad, joyful, merry, rejoice, cheer up.’ ‘Medicine’ means ‘to cure, to remove as a bandage from a wound.’ A heart that is rejoicing in God will help keep us in a good state of health.

The Bible commentator Adam Clarke said “Nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, etc. All these work death”.

Matthew 15:22-28

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying,“Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said,“I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying,“Lord, help me!” But He answered and said,“It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said,“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her,“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Note:

The influence  of a Father and mother’s relationship with God has a profound  affect on his children,  but in this instant it is the father who sought healing from Jesus. A worshiping  Father will ‘bring home’ a healing Jesus.

Matthew 9:18-19 & 23-26

While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying,“My daughter has just died, but come and layYour hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them,“Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

9. JOYFULNESS

We are commanded to be joyful, (Deuteronomy 28:47-48 & 60-61), and failure to do so opens up the inroads of every kind of disease. Negativity, worry and anxiety not only affects us emotionally and mentally, but over time will also affect our health.

In Psalm 51 David is repenting before God and asking God to help him be joyful. He knows the combination of repentance and joy will positively affect his health.

Nehemiah 8:10 declares, ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength’. It is our defense where we can expect to be physically sound and healthy.

10. THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON HEALTH

Not all music is bad and I don’t want to give the impression that we must only listen to Christian music. We do however have to be aware of the dangers of some music that can have a negative influence on our lives. We are living in an age when songs of anarchy, rebellion, sex, violence, satanic worship and drug abuse are on the increase and the devil has an agenda using music to portray this as an acceptable lifestyle to this generation.

Music can influence a person’s thoughts and moods and possibly their health. Listening to the wrong type of music could have a negative effect on our health and well-being. We must exercise our common sense, be led of the Holy Spirit, and possibly also seek advice from those in leadership when it comes to what music we should or should not listen to. The incident of David ministering to king Saul (1 Samuel 16:23) with his harp is worthy of note.

From this scripture we can observe the following:

Demons discern music, they know its source. The

demons left Saul when David played his harp. They

could not remain in the presence of worship. Healing

accompanied the music.

Notice in 1 Samuel 16:18 “...the Lord is with him (David).”

The music David played was not for Saul but for God. God manifests Himself in the praises of His people (in this case David) and Saul benefited because he was in the presence of David (Psalm 22:3).

Today there are many documented accounts of healings which have taken place in an atmosphere of praise and worship. There are also testimonies from people who, while listening to praise and worship music at home, have been healed.

It is important for us to fill our homes with praise. There are many good products for our benefit today to suit all tastes, from instrumental praise and worship to scripture set to music, from children’s praise to classical, christian jazz, rock and pop music.

CONCLUSION

Worship is the environment where we can receive healing and stay healthy.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48, 60-61

“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed.

Psalm 51:8

Make me hear joy and gladness,That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Nehemiah 8:10

The joy of God is your strength!”

Note:

Music is a powerful entity that affects our lives. Much scientific evidence exists today to confirm that music has the ability to affect our soul (mind, will and emotions), and body. There is nothing new about this connection between music and health and it has been known from Biblical times. The lyrics used in songs also affect us because we are influenced  by what we constantly  hear and confess.

1 Samuel 16:23

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand.Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

Psalm 22:3

ButYou are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

Lesson Ten

The Holy Spirit & Worship

Objective of lesson

To lay the foundation that the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit helps us to worship. We study the Person of the Holy Spirit and how He works in us in relation to worship.

Key Point

The Holy Spirit Helps Me Worship

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit’s Presence At Creation

The earth was ‘without form and void’ (Genesis 1:2). It was a waste place, empty, desolate, worthless, chaotic and disorderly but the Holy Spirit was present at creation hovering (moving) over the face of the waters. God spoke and creation was formed out of nothing by the power of the Holy Spirit (Job 26:13, Psalm 33:6-9).

When we speak God’s Word, the Holy Spirit is hovering

over, ready to perform the miraculous.

The power of the Holy Spirit brings resurrection life to everything that is dead. His presence brings life into every situation. Without the Spirit’s presence we have a lifeless existence.

Holy Spirit’s Presence At The Start Of The Church

The Holy Spirit was also present when the church was started (Acts 2:1-4).

His creative power started the church and His presence continues to sustain it. Without the creative presence of the Holy Spirit, the church is void; awaste place, desolate and empty. It is not people alone who make up the church but the Holy Spirit moving in and through people of faith to do the miraculous.

The church has no purpose without the Holy Spirit

‘hovering over it’. If He is not present we might as well

be absent.

His presence is necessary to bring the abundant supernatural life of God that Jesus talked about in John 10:10. The Holy Spirit started the church, so how can we ever hope to continue it without Him in our midst? Jesus said that it was necessary for Him to go and the Holy Spirit to come (John 16:7).

2. THE KINGDOM IS WITH US

Jesus told us three outstanding things.

1. I am going to the Father (John 7:33-34).

2. I am leaving the kingdom with you (Hebrews 12:28).

3. I am sending the Holy Spirit to you (John 14:16, John 16:13).

The Holy Spirit governs the kingdom on earth, but the kingdom is invisible except to those who see it by faith. It is a real kingdom but can only be entered into by faith. It is the realm of the Spirit where He operates and governs, where His presence ‘hovers’ over our faith-filled words, ready to act. If we don’t know the Holy Spirit, we will never have access to the kingdom.

Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Job 26:13

By His Spirit He adorned the heavens;

Psalm 33:6-9

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

Acts 2:1-4

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

John 16:7

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

3. THE AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The River Of God’s Presence

When we start to compare our New Testament worship with that of the Old Testament, the obvious difference is the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who were not available to the Old Testament saints. They knew the Holy Spirit‘s presence upon them, but not the way we know Him in us. We could say that they had a trickle of His presence compared to the river wehave been given (John 7:37-39), yet they accomplished miraculous things.

The Church Age

Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the Helper or Comforter (John 16:7). He was another of the same kind as Jesus Himself (John 14:16). The advantage to us is that the Spirit’s presence abides in us individually, something that Jesus could not do while He was on the earth.

The church age (since the book of Acts until the present)

is far better equipped than any other time in human

history to experience and demonstrate the fullness of

God in the earth through the Holy Spirit.

As individuals we have God on the inside (Holy Spirit) to help us fulfill the will of God the Father and Jesus His Son. What an awesome privilege it is to be born in this time with the person of the Holy Spirit living in each one of us. See Acts 1:4-8

4. THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS

The work of the Holy Spirit is to help develop holiness within us so that we can be an effective witness of Jesus. What God requires of us is a submission to the Holy Spirit so that He can work through us to reveal Jesus.

Worship testifies to those around us of the work of the

Holy Spirit in confirming the reality of Jesus. Worship is

a testimony of a changed life.

Holiness Is A Key To Worship

The angels do not exalt God by saying: “Eternal, eternal, eternal” or “faithful, faithful, faithful”. Their cry is “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8). They worshiped what they saw, and they saw a Holy God.

We have to see God as holy and blameless and ourselves the same (through Christ’s atoning work) in order to worship. We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ in order that we can boldly come before God in worship and prayer (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Faith As The Key To Holiness & Worship

While God condescends in grace to save us, He expects us to ascend in holiness to worship Him. Holiness is not acting, but rather believing you are holy according to 2 Corinthians 5:21 and walking in that truth through faith. We have to believe we are acceptable to a Holy God because He has done the work to make us acceptable (holy). This is why the scripture cancommand us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15). When we believe His Word, our natural response is to draw close to God free of condemnation to worship Him.

John 7:37 -39

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those  believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 16:7

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

John 14:16

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever

Acts 1:4-8

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,“which,” He said,“you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying,“Lord, willYou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them,“It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Revelation 4:8

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

5. WORSHIP THE HOLY SPIRIT

Some question whether we should worship the Holy Spirit and I cannot unequivocally give an answer. I do however believe our focus of worship in the church age should be to the Father and the Son, and there is sufficient evidence in scripture to confirm this. This in no way relegates the Holy Spirit, but actually magnifies His greatness as the person of the Godhead who has humbled Himself in this dispensation to come to earth as our vital connection to the Father and Son.

The Holy Spirit is the person who comforts, guides and

helps us to effectively live the Christian life. Without His

presence in our lives on a daily basis we could not pray

or worship as we should.

Scripture instructs us to worship God in spirit and truth and have no confidence in the flesh (John 4:24, Phillipians 3:3). The Amplified Bible says ‘we worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God’. The Holy Spirit leads us and guides us in worship because only He knows what worship is required by the Father and Son (1 Corinthians 2:11). What we need is a keen awareness, a continual consciousness of the Holy Spirit and a yieldedness to His promptings in our lives . This is the first step to ‘worship in Spirit’.

Each worship experience must be guided by Him,

because the way we worshiped yesterday may not be

the way in which the Holy Spirit will guide us today.

If we do not know the Holy Spirit who lives in us, how can we worship the Father who lives in heaven?

6. THE SPIRITUAL SONG

Filled With The Spirit

Being filled with the Holy Spirit guarantees there will be a melodious overflow (Ephesians 5:18-20). The verb ‘be filled’ is in the present, continuous tense, implying that we should be continuously filled with the  Holy Spirit. The Spirit-filled believer will be characterized by singing to the Lord with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Divine Source Of Inspiration

The word ‘spiritual’ in the Greek is ‘pneumatikos’ and is an expression that was only used after Pentecost to signify an utterance inspired by the Holy Spirit. It does not refer to the character or classification of the song but that it is of divine origin. Its source is the Holy Spirit and the believer is the channel through which it is delivered. In other words, spiritual songs are songs that are sung by the believer by the inspiration and help of the Holy Spirit. This spontaneous song with its instant improvisation is a song of the Spirit and not the sole product of man’s composition. It is not totally controlled by the Holy Spirit nor is it controlled by man, but rather a working together with the Holy Spirit. He is our source of inspiration to sing.

Note:

You cannot  worship a Holy God with an inferiority complex. You’re valuable  in God’s eyes and He loves your company when you talk to Him, trust Him and worship Him.

Note:

I am holy not because I think so but because He has said so. God commanded us to be holy which means that we are supposed to act the way He has already made us to be (1 peter 1:15).

1 Peter 1:15

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written,“Be holy, for I am holy.”

Phillipians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Note:

The Holy Spirit is the one who is with us, leading and guiding us, He is the one who is speaking to us, helping and comforting us, but also helping us to worship.  it is possible to be born again, Spirit filled yet not aware of  His presence in our lives. This will hinder our worship.

1 Corinthians 2:11

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 5:18-20

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. SET FREE TO WORSHIP

The indwelling Spirit of God not only helps us worship God, but He also bears the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-26). This effectively replaces much of our carnal nature with God’s divine nature which is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

If we walk in the spirit we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Since the greatest hindrance to worship is inherent in our carnal natures, the work of the indwelling Spirit is freeing us from the works of the flesh and breaking the bondages that prohibit and restrict us. Our worship should be characterised by the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and will be, if we allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us, replacing our carnal nature with His fruit.

As the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident in our lives and the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) operate through us, Jesus will become more tangible and real to a world that does not know Him. A worshiping life will keep bearing fruit and will be a testimony to God.

CONC LUS ION

This teaching confirms that the Holy Spirit wants to help us worship beyond our ability. This is exciting because it confirms the importance of praise and worship and the results they can bring. What a privilege to know that the Holy Spirit helps me worship!

note:

The Holy Spirit wants to be the composer and conductor of the spiritual songs we offer to God in worship.  it is wonderful  that he not only helps us pray but to worship also.

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:16

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Lesson Eleven

Glory & Worship

Objective of lesson

The glory of God is not an event but the manifestation of God’s life operating through worshipers.

Key Point

God Is Revealed Through Me

1. DEFINITION OF GLORY

The Hebrew word most commonly used for glory is ‘kabowd’ and means ‘weight, in a good sense; splendour, great brightness, magnificence, parade, pomp, brilliance and copiousness’ or ‘plentiful, rich, honourable, abounding in words, exuberant.’

The Greek word most commonly used for glory is ‘doxa’ and means ‘dignity, honour, praise, worship’ and includes reputation.

We could say that God’s glory includes:

1. His character (who He is by nature).

2. His actions (what He does).

3. Our response to His character and actions (praise).

The ultimate expression of God’s glory is not to release His power but to reveal His character through believers. In this His reputation is revealed. He has chosen to be known through His sons and daughters. This is a staggering fact and sobering for those of us who call ourselves children of God, for we can either increase His reputation or decrease it. To glorify God then is to increase His reputation by revealing His true nature and character through our lifestyle and our praise.

Galatians 5:22 are God’s displayed attributes. This is what the world must see through the Church.

2. GOD’S GLORY

There are two aspects of God’s glory, inherent or intrinsic glory, and ascribed glory.

Intrinsic Glory

This is the glory that is infinite in its greatness, brilliance and magnificence by virtue of who God is. We could say then that because God is God, He is glorious and His glory separates Him from all created beings. In other words, God’s glory is all that He is. God is inherently and infinitely glorious and He will never be changed by time or location. When God lived between the cherubim in the ark of the covenant in Moses’ tabernacle, His displayed glory was as real then as it is today in heaven. God cannot diminish Himself in any way to accommodate man and we cannot ask Him to change to accommodate us. If we did, we would be asking Him to decrease His glory, decrease His person and stand down from being infinite in every attribute.

Moses’ Experience Of God’s Glory

Moses asked to see God’s glory, and in reply to his request God responded by saying He would let all His goodness (Hebrew ‘towb’) pass before him and that He would proclaim His name (Exodus 33:18-19).

The Hebrew word ‘towb’ means ‘God’s beauty or best; bountiful, kindness, precious, prosperity, wealth, welfare, gladness.’

God’s glory is God’s best, it is all that He is. When

God’s glory is manifest in our presence, we do not have

a type or a facet of God, but rather ALL of God with ALL

of His infinite attributes.

As believers, we have the potential to display these attributes because we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, imparting the fruit of the Spirit, and we have the authority of God.

God has given us His best, all that He is. God wants all of us to display all of Him through the church to the world. The church must reveal Jesus in all His attributes and power. God has no ‘Plan B’.

God also said that He would proclaim His name before Moses (Exodus 34:6). The name of the Lord (Jehovah) declares ‘I Am’. His name is all encompassing and when spoken out of the mouth of God Himself it is the most powerful word that any of the Old Testament saints could ever have heard. When God speaks His own name there is nothing left to say, and there is nothing anyone can add to it. It simply defines all that God is.

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness,  self-control.

Exodus 33:18-19

And he said,“Please, show meYour glory.” Then He said,“I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

Ascribed Glory

This is a recognition and acknowledgement of all that God is, exercised through praise and worship, the vehicle through which we glorify God.

The substance of our praise and worship is in praising all that He is (‘to the praise of His glory’, Ephesians 1:12-14). If God’s glory is all that He is, then we are created to the praise of all that He is. Not only everything we do, but everything we are should be to the praise of His glory (Psalm 29:2).

Comparing The Old And New

There is a distinction between the Old Testament saints and New Testament believers in regard to giving God glory. The Old Testament saints glorified God by praising His attributes and character, yet were very much aware of the distance that separated them from God. We are however able to glorify God through our lifestyle. God has become visible and tangible through us.

The world need to look no further for evidence of God than in those who profess to be Christians.

As Christians we see God in one another and the world

sees God in us. God has chosen it to be this way. He

proved it by sending Jesus in human flesh (John 1:14).

Jesus Glorified God

Jesus said many things, but the people needed more than words. They wanted a Saviour who would save, deliver, heal and set free. Jesus had to back up His Word with action, and by doing this He glorified His Father.

He revealed the Father’s heart of compassion and His hand of deliverance to humanity. The point is, He never took any credit, but glorified the Father through His lifestyle of praise, always telling the people it was the work of the Father. Jesus’ life was full of praise.

Note:

We have the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22) and the authority of God (Luke 10:19).

Luke 10:19

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Exodus 34:6

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed,“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth

Ephesians 1:12 -14

That we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Psalm 29:2

Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

John 1:14

And theWord became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

3. HOW WE GLORIFY GOD

Fulfil God’s Will For Our Lives

Jesus is our example (John 17:4). He glorified the Father by completing the work that He gave Him to do. Jesus knew what to do. It has been said that many leaders in the church are not doing what God told them to do. Some are evangelising when they should be pastoring. Others are pastoring who should be travelling teachers. It is important to know what to do, because we reveal God in our lives when we do. Furthermore the scripture in John 17:4 says that glorifying God means to finish the work. God wants you to know the work He has planned for your life and expects you to finish the work. If you know what to do (God’s plan for your life), you should not die until you have finished the work. God is glorified through this.

Sacred And Secular

The glory of God must be the central theme of every believer’s life, whether he is eating or drinking, walking or playing (1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:17). There is no distinction between ‘sacred’ and ‘secular’. We should seek to glorify God in every area and aspect of our lives. Your life is an anthem of praise to God.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit bearing is the result of abiding in the vine (John 15:8). It is the visible, tangible evidence on the outside of a believer that Christ lives on the inside (John 15:16). God is glorified when we bear much fruit, and especially fruit that remains. Good men and women have produced lasting fruit that impact our lives years after they have died. We are still praising God for the fruit of their lives. Everyone is called to bear fruit that remains. It may be a mother who sows love into her children, or a businessman who sows money into God’s kingdom. It may be the school teacher, who impacts a student’s life or a musician who writes songs of praise that influence a generation. We are all capable of bearing fruit that remains.

4. THE GLORY OF WORSHIP

God’s glory is a manifestation of all that God is and was powerfully seen at the dedication day of the temple of Solomon when ‘the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God’ (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). Preceding this event, the singers and trumpeters were as one. There was a unity among those present, exactly as on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1. They were united in their objective to praise Him. The cloud of God’s presence moved into the temple with accompanying glory. The glory literally meant that the weight, abundance, and wealth of God’s presence was amongst them. No wonder they could not stand to minister. The atmosphere was literally too heavy with the presence of God for them to continue.

God’s presence has always been associated with worship and as we see the tabernacle of David (which is essentially praise and worship), being restored (Acts 15:16), we will experience the abundance of God amongst us. God’s plan throughout history has always been to be amongst His people and our worship will certainly reveal His presence in a way that the church has rarely experienced before. God has promised us in Haggai 2:9 that the glory of this latter house (church) shall be greater than that of the former.

The outpouring of God’s Spirit prophesied by Joel and confirmed by Peter in Acts 2:17 has taken place from the beginning of the early church, and will increase as we move toward the end of the church age. The heart of the church today is to experience God’s glorious presence and for those whose cry is for revival (Psalm 85:6), there will be joy unspeakable and they will be full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).

John 17:4

I have glorifiedYou on the earth. I have finished the work whichYou have given Me to do.

Note:

Some translations  refer to the fact that Jesus did the work among men on the earth. We are called to do work among men, not to isolate ourselves from them. The church  is at its best when men and woman  are impacted by it’s presence in the community they live in.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

John 15:8

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:16

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:“For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Acts 2:1

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Acts 15:16

‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;

5. THE GLORIOUS CHURCH

Romans 15:5-7 and John 17:22 imply that we can and will glorify God as one church. We glorify God not only as individuals, but also corporately, as the glorious church.

All of God’s eternal purposes are centred around the church. It is a staggering thought that God has allowed us to live at this time, that we may be the manifestation of God’s glory on the earth. Since before the foundations of the earth, God has been working towards one grand event, one supreme end: the glorious wedding of His Son, the marriage supper of the Lamb. This puts everything that is going on in the world into perspective. Although we do not always understand why things happen and why nations and people suffer, one thing is certain - God is in control of ALL history and all will be to the praise of His glory. The glorious praising church is an overcoming church that will have influence wherever it may be found. We must believe that the manifest glory of God in our lives will affect people, saved and unsaved, and affect circumstances brought about by demonic activity. We must believe that our local church will affect the local community and the nation. If we become kingdom-minded, we will start to see that our corporate effort is effective. God does not think in terms of a divided body of believers, each independently doing their own thing. He sees the entire body moving together to accomplish His will and purpose. It is impossible that the united Body of Christ glorifying God will not affect this world. It may never reach a sense of unity in doctrine, but it will in glorifying the King. We must not accept anything less.

6. MANIFESTATION OF GLORY IN THE WORLD

God’s glory cannot be contained within anointed earthen vessels, it is for the world. Remember that the disciples said that they beheld His glory.

His glory was manifest in their midst. God simply cannot be contained, not even in us.

We all have a ‘pouring out’ ministry which is the life

and nature of God flowing toward humanity.

When you fill your home with praise, the very brick and mortar rejoices.

The very atoms vibrate in all substances and nothing is at rest. Scientists can determine molecular structure by the vibration of these unseen atoms.

Creation longs for us to praise, and when we do, we become harmoniously in tune with creation. If man was created to praise and have fellowship with God and was placed on a special planet for that particular purpose, then physical creation was designed and prepared to contain an atmosphere of praise. In other words, the physical world is in a foreign environment when men and women do not praise and glorify God. In praise and worship we proclaim that this world is not all that there is, and also that the inhabitants of this world are subject to a higher authority. As we glorify God, we actually overcome and defeat the powers of darkness that surround and try to influence us.

Paul teaches us that Christ has disarmed these powers and authorities (Colossians 2:15) and that praise and worship celebrates it. If Jesus triumphed (celebrated) His victory over demonic powers, we should also. Praise is a celebration of the triumph of Christ. It neutralises the powers that are against us and sets the stage for the manifestation of God’s glory on the earth.

The prelude to this manifestation of God’s glory will be a tremendous manifestation of God’s praises. Praise will lay the foundation for God’s glory to shine universally.

CONC LUS ION

You are born into a time when the glory of God will become more and more manifest throughout the world. The church will be transformed and the unsaved will be touched by it as God pours out His glory (all that He is) through His sons and daughters onto all of humanity. God is revealed through you and me - what a privilege and responsibility.

Haggai 2:9

‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts.‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Acts 2:17

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,Your young men shall see visions,Your old men shall dream dreams.

Psalm 85:6

Will You not revive us again, thatYour people may rejoice inYou?

1 Peter 1:8

Whom having not seen you love.Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.

Romans 15:5-7

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

John 17:22

And the glory whichYou gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just asWe are one:

Colossians 2:15

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Lesson Twelve

Giving & Worship

Objective of lesson

It has been said that “a shortage of any kind stems from a selfimposed limitation of thought.”

God is limitless, and this lesson deals with the possibilities of a flow of unlimited resources when we maintain a lifestyle of worship.

Key Point

Worship is Giving Our Best to God

1. GIVING IS GOD’S HEART

God Loves The World

One of the greatest and most important passages in scripture is John 3:16. It tells us that God loved the world so much that He gave His Son Jesus for fallen humanity. It’s called ‘agape’ love and is the giving of one’s life in exchange for another. The motivation of God’s love was to free us from the bondage of the devil, that we may not perish but have everlasting and abundant life (John 10:10).

Giving is measured not merely by the gift, but by the

degree of sacrifice involved in the giving of the gift.

King David understood this principle when he refused to receive the threshing floor of Aruanah the Jebusite without paying for it (2 Samuel 24:24). There is however no nothing to be paid for anything in God’s kingdom except to receive freely by faith.

In 1 Corinthians 2:12 we are told that ’we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God’, and in 2 Peter 1:3 we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness. God has provided all we will ever need in this life and in the next through the gift of His Son Jesus.

The Gift Goes On

Jesus said that it was to our advantage that He should go away and send the Holy Spirit to live in us (John 16:7).

The Holy Spirit has come to help us live the life of God

and to give the life of God. Now it is to the world’s

advantage that we allow the Holy Spirit to live through

us to minister God’s saving grace to them.

The gift of giving goes on through us.

2. GIVING SHOULD BE OUR HEART

Our purpose as Christians is to love God and love one another. We are channels of the gift of God’s life that must continually flow, otherwise we will become a stagnant pool. Salvation brought Christ to live within us, but the Christian walk is to let Christ out of us towards others. God cannot be contained within us, He will always want to save and deliver others through us. If we are not giving orientated, we know little of the purpose of Christianity and the reason we exist.

As long as there is need in this world, there will be love

to fulfil it, and we are the privileged channels through

which His love is given.

God has no other plan but His children to share His life with humanity.

What an awesome thought, that we hold the key to fulfil God’s plans.

Getting Our Priorities Right

When the focus of the Church is to worship and serve God we will see the outpouring of God’s Spirit in an unprecedented way. The church’s most prosperous time is when we prioritise Him and His kingdom, giving worship and unselfish service to build the kingdom. The church in the past has been so occupied with the gifts that God can provide to meet our needs (and there is nothing wrong with this), but things are changing and we are realising the awesome power of God at our disposal to meet the needs of those outside the church. We have to be ‘giving conscious’ and this begins in the worshiping heart before it is expressed in the giving hand.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

2 Samuel 24:24

Then the king said to Araunah,“No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.”

Note:

There are 20,000 references  of God revealing himself in the Bible. God wants to be discovered, but it takes a journey to find Him. The journey we are on is to discover the love of God. it is the most important  discovery we will ever make because it changes  our lives to become giving people.  When we give sacrificially we are demonstrating the highest characteristic of God’s love.

2 Peter 1:3

As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

John16:7

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Note:

God had no other son but Jesus, and no alternate  plan. it was possible for Jesus to fail and all of God’s eternal plans would have failed with Him. Jesus did not only become a gift to the world when He died, He was a living gift from His birth. His whole life was one of continual giving, but this giving only came because of His obedience to His Heavenly Father. When Jesus hung on the cross it was the greatest victory because it took a life of obedience to get there. The disciples did not understand this and in the natural it looked like a failure. Jesus gave and gave until He could give no more. His last breath on the cross was the ultimate gift to humanity.

3. GIVING IS A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

We cannot say we love God and hold anything back. When we worship we give spiritually, but when we give of our substance (tithes and offerings) we give materially. Both are spiritual exercises and expressions of worship. We are told that we rob God if we withhold our tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10). How can this be? The laborer is worthy of his hire, but if there is no money to send him, how can he go (Romans 10: 13-15)? When Jesus told His disciples to go, He told them not to take money, but to receive whatever was given to them. However, if they went into a town and were

not welcomed nor received anything from them, they were to move on and that place would not receive the Word or the blessings of God.

God’s life is not threatened if we withhold our material

offerings, but the lives of others are when they do not

hear the gospel because no one was sent due to a

financial lack.

Jesus did not say they had no money to take, but to take no money because He wanted them to receive as they ministered. We must bring our tithes into the storehouse (Malachi 3:10) and we must give offerings. It is interesting that often the first place God tests us after our salvation experience is in the area of tithing and giving. From that day on it is a constant test. It is easy to say we love God from our mouth but the ultimate test is from our pocket.

4. WORSHIP AND GIVING ARE RELATED

Man will worship either God or himself. When he worships God he will put God first, but when he worships himself, he will put himself first. Whoever he puts first (worships) is where he will put his money. What we do with our material resources is a reflection of our worship.

The tithe in the Old Testament was understood to belong

to God and given back to HI m as an act of worship.

Nothing has changed.

In Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7, we see clearly that Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe because he was God’s representative High Priest. It was a form of worship and Melchizedek was undoubtedly a type of Christ (Hebrew 7:4-10).

The tithe is the outward recognition and appreciation that everything belongs to God. We are stewards of the resources God has given us. If we love God we will not only return to Him the tenth of our substance, but we will want to give more. When you love someone you naturally want to give to them. Two of the great hallmarks of the end time Church will be worship and the giving of our resources.

Note:

it is doubtful if God will receive our tithes and offerings unless they are given as an act of worship.Some argue that tithing is not applicable for the New Testament,  but tithing was instituted 430 years before the old Testement law, and was written in men’s hearts.

Malachi 3:8-10

“Will a man rob God?Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,‘In what way have we robbedYou? In tithes and offerings.You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts,“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven, And pour out for you such blessing.That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

Note:

The difference between a thief and a robber has been explained in this way: A thief will steal without necessarily  endangering your life, but a robber will have no problem  if your life is endangered when he steals. We are told that we rob God if we withhold  our tithes and offerings.

Note:

When we withhold  our tithes and offerings we rob God’s labourers  (ministries) and hinder them from fulfilling God’s purposes  for them.

Hebrews 7:4-10

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

5. RELEASE OF FINANCES INTO THE KINGDOM

God wants to release finance into the Body of Christ. However, He is bound by the principles in His Word. We are the ones who must apply the principles to receive the blessings. The Church must be liberal in its giving and this always starts with the leadership.

In Malachi 1:1-2, God told Israel that He loved them, but they doubted His love. If we doubt His love for us, this too will affect our giving. Church leaders must teach and lead by example in this vital area so that the ‘spirit of giving’ will permeate the entire Church. They should also exemplify a lifestyle of worship.

The two qualities of worship and generosity will cause

churches to flourish and it will lead to a release of

finances in the Body of Christ to do God’s work.

If we are liberal in our worship we will be liberal with our finances. It’s a matter of trusting God, developed through intimacy that emboldens us to give generously.

6. STEWARDSHIP IS A TEST OF OUR WORSHIP

Money is a blessing but it’s also a test. We are commanded to honour God with our possessions and the increase of all our first fruits (Proverbs 3:9). We are also instructed to freely give (2 Corinthians 9:7, Matthew 10:8). God has given His children the power (ability) to obtain wealth in order to establish His kingdom (Deuteronomy 8:18). He tests our stewardship in relation to how we build His kingdom with personal wealth as an act of worship. Many commentators agree that one in six verses in the New Testament deals with stewardship, which suggests that our spiritual environment is affected by the way we steward our possessions. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

7. GOD’S TREASURES

In 1 Chronicles 26:20 & 27, reference is made to the treasuries or upper chambers in the house of the Lord, probably located above the Holy of Holies. The treasures were dedicated to the Lord and placed in the temple chambers and consisted of gold, silver and the spoils of war. God’s people such as Moses, David, Samuel, Saul and Solomon gave God the spoils as a recognition of His faithfulness to them and their love for Him. Israel’s history however is unfortunately sprinkled with sin and idolatry. During these seasons, God’s presence, power and protection departed from the people and the enemy was allowed to plunder the treasuries of the Lord’s house. While God was ‘enthroned’ through the praises of His people, the treasuries were safe. We have now become those treasures referred to in 1 Peter 2:9 and enjoy His protection as we proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The presence of God is always associated with financial

freedom and abundance. If we have financial problems

in the church, it may be because we do not have the

presence of God among us.

God’s presence safegauards His own treasure. We need never fear lack if we maintain our priorities of obedience and devotion to God. God not only expects us to maintain our treasury, but for it to be expanded because the more we give, the more we receive. God does not give so the church can look rich or so we can live ostentatiously, but so we can give and thereby become channels of blessings. It is not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin not to give.

Christian businessmen today have an awesome responsibility, for just as God calls and anoints the preacher to preach, He calls and anoints the businessmen to give. Church leaders are the recipients of the treasury (tithes and offerings) and are responsible to give as the Lord leads.

Note:

1. Giving our ‘spiritual worship’.

This is worshiping  God with our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

2. Giving our ‘service worship’

This is giving our time, talents and so on back to God. in luke 1;74 the Greek word for ‘serve’ means to worship but also can be translated to serve. The priests serving in the old Testament Temple did it as an act of worship. When we serve with our heart, God interprets it as worship.

3. Giving our ‘material worship’

This is our tithes, offerings, and material substance. it’s true that God equips us for every good work, but He wants back all that he has given us, so that we may receive more. in this cycle of giving and receiving,  the world will feel His giving power through us.

Malachi 1:1-2

The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say,‘In what way haveYou loved us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord Yet Jacob I have loved.”

Proverbs 3:9

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

2 Corinthians 9:7

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew 10:8

Freely you have received, freely give.

Deuteronomy 8:18

For it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Chronicles 26:20

Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the dedicated things.

1 Chronicles 26:27

Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the Lord.

8. LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Jesus referred to the treasury chambers (Matthew 6:19-21). If we do not continually give our resources toward building the kingdom here on earth, we will have empty treasuries in Heaven. Jesus did not say if you get a man’s heart right he will give his money. He said almost the opposite. You cannot get a man’s heart right until he gives. Salvation makes his heart right before God, but giving helps to keep his heart right. We cannot serve God and mammon (money, Matthew 6:24). However, we can serve God with mammon. A believer who gives accrues investments in heaven that cannot in any way be touched or depreciate, and God starts to multiply his account even while he is still here on earth. What freedom we will experience as we give.

9. GIVING AND WORSHIP

The subject of worship and giving go together, for worship releases the heart to give. They are two of the most important subjects in the church today because worship releases us to give cheerfully.

An amazing insight into the devil’s tactics regarding worship and giving is found in Exodus 10:24-26. Moses repeatedly asked Pharoah to release him from bondage and eventually he did. Pharoah, however, had an unusual request before he released him. He told Moses to leave his sheep and cattle behind and not take them on his journey into freedom. Moses refused, for he knew that Pharoah was asking him to give up two important things that would sustain him in his journey. The sheep and cattle represented:

1. His source of income (livestock)

2. His means of worship (animals for sacrifice)

The devil inspired Pharoah to try and get Moses to serve God in poverty (without his assets) and without being able to worship. He knew that if Moses surrendered his means of financial productivity and his worship, he would be powerless in his relationship to God. While money does not factor into our relationship with God, the lack of it will hinder our productivity in His kingdom. We are not only to worship God, but to establish His kingdom through His ability for us to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Moses refused and said that not one hoof would be left behind.

CONCLUSION

We cannot separate the subjects of worship and giving. When God’s people give, the church will move into a tremendous time of prosperity characterised by God’s presence and abundance, resulting in a great harvest of souls into the kingdom.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Note:

God’s accounting is not mathematical addition  but spiritual multiplication. local churches must be generous  givers so they can enter into God’s multiplied harvest.

Exodus 10:24-26

Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said,“Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.” But Moses said,“You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the Lord our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.”

Deuteronomy 8:18

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day”.

Lesson Thirteen

Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David

Objective of lesson

The theme of God’s Word is restoration. It has always been the intention of God to restore man to his rightful place of fellowship with Himself and authority on the earth. In this lesson, the student will

explore the theme of restoration as it relates to worship.

Key Point

God Restores

1. DEFINITION OF RESTORATION

The Old Testament Hebrew word for restoration is ‘shalam’ and means ‘to be safe, make amends, make good, prosper, recompense, make restitution i.e. restore back something stolen or owed, to set again.’ (Joel 2:25). The New Testament Greek word for restoration is ‘apokatastasis’ meaning to set something back again into its former state, re-establish’ (Acts 3:21).

Restoration is the return to a former position or condition by renewing or returning that which has been taken away. For the Christian, the understanding of restoration can be defined in this way:

‘To restore the corporate Church to the truth and power

of God and to restore the individual believer to the

image of God.’

The word for the ‘Shulamite’ bride in the Song of Solomon 6:13 comes from the Hebrew word ‘shalam’. It also is the same root word from which  Solomon’s name is derived. As bridegroom and bride, both Solomon and the Shulamite woman bear the same name. This relationship prefigures Christ as Bridegroom and the church as His bride. He is the ‘Restorer’ and she will ultimately be the ‘restored’.

2. THE DECLINE

Although the early Church suffered severe persecution, it began to gain popularity. As Christianity spread throughout the world there came a gradual infiltration of practices of pagan religions. Unrighteous compromise with worldly views became tolerated, as well as a lack of commitment to the local church and to the reading of God’s Word.

False teaching, worldliness, loss of vision, carnality and

luke-warmness brought eventual spiritual decline and

collapse, which plunged the Church into the dark ages

that lasted for hundreds of years.

This decline was spoken of by the prophets. However they also saw and spoke of a time when there would be a restoration of all things.

3. RESTORATION OF PRAISE & WORSHIP

All that the early church lost is being restored, such as truth, ministries, holiness, power in prayer, Holy Spirit guidance, spiritual authority, signs and wonders, unity of spirit, fear of God, joy, long-suffering in persecution, godly character, righteous living and praise and worship. Due to the nature of this course we will only study the restoration of praise and worship in context of the Tabernacle of David.

Reference To The Tabernacle Of David

There are many good books that cover the subject of the Tabernacle of David, so we will cover what is necessary in relation to worship. There is an account in Acts 15 of controversy concerning whether gentile converts to Christianity should be circumcised or not. James’ judgment was that they should not be circumcised and the assembly all agreed. Reference is made to the restoration of the Tabernacle of David in this debate and the phrase ‘after this’ (Acts 15:16) refers to God’s action of including the Gentiles in His plan of restoration. Peter had recently preached Christ to the household of Cornelius, who were Gentiles (Acts chapter 10). Therefore, the restoration of the Tabernacle of David which includes praise and worship started after the Gentiles had received the Gospel.

Joel 2:25

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Acts 3:21

Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Song of Solomon 6:13

Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.

Note:

Darkness is always associated with the devil. The dark ages was a time in europe  from the fifth century A. D., lasting for hundreds of years. it was a time of ignorance, superstition  and social repression. The root of all of this was the devil’s cunning  plan to remove the Bible from the common man and leave interpretation of it to religious bigots. Man had no anchor  for civilisation to hold on to and society floated in a sea of chaos.

By the mid fourteen-hundreds, Gutenburg  invented  the printing press and shortly afterwards,  the German  reformer Martin Luther shocked  the religious world with his writings, especially  that the just

should live by faith. reformation led to restoration  of the momentous truth that God’s Word was to be read and believed by everyone.

The Tabernacle Of David

The Ark of the Covenant containing the presence of God was originally housed in the Tabernacle of Moses (also called the Tabernacle of the Congregation). God told David to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem, which he did, and he placed it in a tent called the Tabernacle of David (2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13-16). The Ark stayed in David’s Tabernacle for 40 years. It was then moved into the Temple built by David’s son Solomon (2 Chronicles 5-7) During this time David instituted a new freedom and expression of worship (Psalm 95:2, 100:4, 141:2).

Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David

The restoration of the Tabernacle of David is not exclusively limited to praise and worship but certainly includes it in a very significant way. David was a ‘type and shadow’ of what God wanted for His New Testament church. He was a king who exercised dominion by expanding the kingdom, and a priest who introduced a new form of worship. There is a restoration of the Tabernacle of David in the church today in respect to the two offices of king and priest. God’s plan is for a church of kings and priests (Revelation 5:10) who worship God intimately and rule by exercising dominion authority through the residing power of the Holy Spirit.

What Is The Tabernacle Of David Today?

The ‘Tabernacle of David’ is the New Testament believer operating in kingdom power from a strong foundation of intimacy with God through worship. When we look for the restoration of the Tabernacle of David we must not look at music or worship styles, formulas, institutions, organisations or denominations. We must look for individuals who are intimate with God and fearless with the devil.

God’s presence was worshiped with liberty at the The Tabernacle of David including singing, instrumental music, standing, kneeling, bowing, raised hands, clapping and dancing. God was obviously pleased for He blessed everything David did, even calling him a ‘man after his own heart’.

How Does This Restoration Effect Me?

Our bodies have become the tabernacle, the dwelling place, the sanctuary for the Spirit of God to dwell from which we exercise authority and freedom to worship. The exciting fact about restoration is that it is progressive in nature and increases in quality and quantity with time (Exodus 22:4,7,9). God is doing a work of restoration in the church in and through you greater than you can imagine. We are the ones He uses for this great time of restoration.

QUALI TY: We worship God with the help of the Holy Spirit. There is no greater quality of worship. We have the potential in these earthen vessels to worship in a way that will fully satisfy our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

QUANTITY: Instead of one tabernacle in Jerusalem, there are now millions of tabernacles. Instead of one place where the glory of God shone out, there are now millions of places.

Conclusion

God’s people are living, moving tabernacles that make available the presence and power of God to humanity. When God restores, there is an outpouring of His Spirit, resulting in revival and evangelism. We are on the brink of the greatest outpouring the Church has ever experienced. There will be mass evangelism that will sweep across nations and continents. Awesome signs and wonders will happen  everywhere, all the time. God is restoring things in His church right now and you are His chosen vessel to achieve this.

Conclusion

I want to thank and congratulate you for diligently working through this manual. I trust that positive changes have taken place in your life and encourage you to regularly review the principles you have learnt during this course. You will find that it may take some time to apply these truths in your life, but the effort will be worth it. Remember that you are making changes to your lifestyle, and this requires persistence and patience.

I now encourage you to enroll for Level Two, ‘Lifestyle Principles of Worship’. Please keep up your involvement in the online community of Psalmody International at www.psalmody.org.

Acts 15:13-18

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Psalm 95:2

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 141:2

Let my prayer be set beforeYou as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Revelation 5:10

And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.

Note:

God does not refer to the restoration  of the Temple of Solomon or the Tabernacle of Moses. He refers to the restoration  of the Tabernacle of David that has been taking place since the Gentiles received  the gospel over 2000 years ago.

Note:

Davidic Worship is based on the biblical principles  of praise and worship that God gave David for the Tabernacle of David. it is the fulfilment of loving God with all our heart, soul, heart, mind and strength. it is everything within us responding to God in worship.

Exodus 22:4, 7, 9

If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double. “If a man delivers to his neighbour money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. “For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbour.

Table of Contents

www.psalmody.org

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Website

Letter of welcome

Three Levels of Study

Foundation Principles of Worship ~ Level One

Lifestyle Principles of Worship ~ Level Two

Local Church Principles of Worship ~ Level Three

Lesson one

Introduction to Worship Lifestyle

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. CREATED FOR FELLOWSHIP

2. WORSH IP IS A LIFESTYLE

Transformed In His Presence

3. WE BECOME WHAT WE WORSHIP

Transforming Power Of Worship

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE HEART

5. WORSHIP GOD ANYWHERE , ANY TIME

6. WORSHIP GOD ONLY

The Supernatural

CONCLUSION

Lesson two

Thanksgiving

Objective of lesson

Key point

1. I WILL TELL YOUR NAME

2. MAGNIFY GOD WITH THANKSGIVING

3. THE PRESENCE OF GOD

4. MORE AND MORE THANKFU L

God Wants To Prosper Us

5. THANKSGIVING AND SALVATION

Thanksgiving Is A Distinguishing Characteristic

6. INSTANT CAPAC ITY TO BE THANKFU L

7. THANKSGIVING AND THE WILL

Ability To Make Choices

Importance Of The Will

8. SACRIFICE OF THANKSGIVING

King David Understood Sacrifice

9. CONTINUOUS THANKSGIVING

10. LIFESTYLE OF THANKSGIVING

11. ETERNALLY THANKFU L

CONCLUSION

Lesson three

Introduction To Praise

Objective of lesson

Key point

1. PROPHETIC IMPLICATIONS OF PRAISE

2. CREATED FOR PRAISE

3. CHANGE – THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE

Praise Changes Us

Praise Changes Our Circumstances

4. PRAISE BRINGS SUCCESS

5. GOD’S WORD IS A CATALYST FOR PRAISE

6. YOU CANNOT BE A PRAISER AND A PRISONER

7. FAITH - THE SUBSTANCE OF PRAISE

8. RELATIONSH IP - THE TRUTH OF PRAISE

9. LOVE - THE MOTIVATION FOR PRAISE

CONCLUSION

Lesson four

Lifestyle of Praise 1

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. LIFESTYLE OF LOVE - HALAL

Definition Of ‘Halal’

We Are Created To ‘Halal’

Developing The Genuine Experience Of ‘Halal’

Every Day God Is Praised (Halal)

Praise (Halal) Should Be A Habit

We Are Commanded To Halal

Hallelujah

2. LIFESTYLE OF THANKFULNESS - ‘YADAH ’

Definition of ‘Yadah’

We Praise God For Being Alive.

It’s The Way We Praise For Being Redeemed.

Praise Is An Eternal Occupation

Praise Is A Sign To The Unbeliever

3. LIFESTYLE OF BLESSING - BARAK

Definition of Barak

The Source of All Blessing is Jesus

Cycle Of Blessing

God Blesses The Home And Family

God’s Blessings Are Without Measure

It’s More Blessed to Give Than To Receive

God Wants To Bless All That Is Within Us

CONCLUSION

Lesson five

Lifestyle Of Praise 2

Objective of lesson

Key point

1. LIFESTYLE OF HOLINESS - TEHILLAH

Definition of ‘Tehillah’

Holy Living

God The Marriage Partner

God The Judge

Tehillah (Praise) Is Beautiful

Unsaved Are Drawn To (Tehillah) Praise

It Is Continual - All Day Long

2. LIFESTYLE OF SINGING - ZAMAR

Definition Of Zamar

God Is Our Song

God Wants Everyone To Zamar

3. LIFESTYLE OF SACRIFICE - TOWDAH

Definition Of Towdah

Praise That Delivers Us From Self

4. LIFESTYLE OF DECLARAT ION - SHABACH

Definition Of Shabach

Shout & Boast

From One Generation To Another

CONCLUSION

Lesson six

Introduction To Worship

Objective Of Lesson

Key point

1. OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF WORSHIP

Definition Of Worship (Old Testament ’Shachah’)

2. NEW TESTAMENT CONCEPT OF WORSHIP

Definition Of Worship (New Testament ‘Proskuneo’)

Worship Is Our Reaction To His Love

3. JESUS AND THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

The Place Of Worship

Worship Is Not Limited To A Building

The Local Church

4. THE FATHER WE WORSHIP

Definition Of ‘Abba Father’

Cannot Worship In Ignorance

5. WORSHIP IS ALWAYS ‘NOW ’

True Worship

Worship In Spirit And Truth

6. THE SEEKING FATHER

7. THE WORSHIPERS THE FATHER SEEKS

8. THE NECESSITY OF WORSHIP

CONCLUSION

Lesson Seven

Abraham’s Journey of Worship

Objective Of Lesson

KEY POINT

1. WORSHIP IS MOVING TOWARDS

God Adds To The Church

2. ABRAHAM ’S JOURNEY OF WORSHIP

Verse 1: Worship Can Involve A Test Of Our Character

Verse 2: Worship Requires That We Move In Faith

Verse 3: The Journey Was One Of Sacrifice

Verse 4: Worship Involves Time, Energy and Faith

Verse 5: Worship Involves Separation

Verses 6 and 7: Worship Involves Preparation

Verse 8: Worship Involves The Prophetic

Verse 9: Worship Involves Hearing And Obeying

Verses 10-12: Worship Is A Celebration

Verse 13: Worship Involves Obedience

Verse 14: Worship Relates To Jehovah Jireh

Verses 15-17: Worship Results In Multiplied Blessings

Verse 18: Worship Involves Blessing Others

Verse 19: Worship Results In Testimony

CONCLUSION

Lesson Eight

Introduction To Warfare

Objective Of Lesson

Key Point

1. DEFINITION OF WARFARE

2. THE OBJECTIVE OF WARFARE

3. THE ORIGIN OF WARFARE

4. WARFARE IN THE NATURAL REALM

5. WARFARE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

God Is Building His Church

6. PREPARATION FOR WARFARE

Dealing With The Size Of The Enemy

Dealing With The Nearness Of The Enemy

Dealing With Double-Mindedness

Dealing With Fear

Electing Leadership

How to Deal with the Enemy When He Is Attacking Our Godly Inheritance

Total Occupancy Is For A Reason

7. IN THE BATTLE

National Teaching Campaign

Enemies Identified

Fast Proclaimed Throughout The Land

United Nation

Leadership Builds Faith And Hope In The People

Our Inheritance

Eyes Upon You

Praising Fathers

Prophesy In The Midst Of Worship

Advancing Army Of Praisers

Worship First, Then Praise

After Worship, They Praised & Went To War.

Peace In The Midst of War

Sing The Results

God Sets Up An Ambush

Prosperity Follows Warfare

Prosperity Should Lead Us Back to God’s House

Peace Follows Prosperity

CONCLUSION

Lesson Nine

Healing & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. THE SOURCE OF SICKNESS

Poor Lifestyle Habits

Wrong Thinking

Ignorance

2. THE SOURCE OF HEALING

3. WORSHIP IS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR HEALING

4. GOD’S WORD IS THE KEY TO HEALING

5. JESUS DESIRES TO HEAL (THE LEPER)

6. THE CANAAN ITE WOMAN RECE IVES HEA LING

7. THE RULER’S DAUGHTER IS HEALED

8. THE MERRY HEART

9. JOYFULNESS

10. THE INFLUENCE OF MUSIC ON HEALTH

CONCLUSION

Lesson Ten

The Holy Spirit & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit’s Presence At Creation

Holy Spirit’s Presence At The Start Of The Church

2. THE KINGDOM IS WITH US

3. THE AGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The River Of God’s Presence

The Church Age

4. THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS

Holiness Is A Key To Worship

Faith As The Key To Holiness & Worship

5. WORSHIP THE HOLY SPIRIT

6. THE SPIRITUAL SONG

Filled With The Spirit

Divine Source Of Inspiration

7. SET FREE TO WORSHIP

CONC LUS ION

Lesson Eleven

Glory & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. DEFINITION OF GLORY

2. GOD’S GLORY

Intrinsic Glory

Moses’ Experience Of God’s Glory

Ascribed Glory

Comparing The Old And New

Jesus Glorified God

3. HOW WE GLORIFY GOD

Fulfil God’s Will For Our Lives

Sacred And Secular

Fruit Bearing

4. THE GLORY OF WORSHIP

5. THE GLORIOUS CHURCH

6. MANIFESTATION OF GLORY IN THE WORLD

CONC LUS ION

Lesson Twelve

Giving & Worship

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. GIVING IS GOD’S HEART

God Loves The World

The Gift Goes On

2. GIVING SHOULD BE OUR HEART

Getting Our Priorities Right

3. GIVING IS A SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

4. WORSHIP AND GIVING ARE RELATED

5. RELEASE OF FINANCES INTO THE KINGDOM

6. STEWARDSHIP IS A TEST OF OUR WORSHIP

7. GOD’S TREASURES

8. LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

9. GIVING AND WORSHIP

CONCLUSION

Lesson Thirteen

Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David

Objective of lesson

Key Point

1. DEFINITION OF RESTORATION

2. THE DECLINE

3. RESTORATION OF PRAISE & WORSHIP

Reference To The Tabernacle Of David

The Tabernacle Of David

Restoration Of The Tabernacle Of David

What Is The Tabernacle Of David Today?

How Does This Restoration Effect Me?

Conclusion

Conclusion