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The Heart of a Worshipper- John 4:24 says that those who worship God must “worship Him in Spirit and truth.” We must be worshippers of God. To do so requires that we worship Him in spirit and truth. Too often, worship experiences are not worshipful at all but exercise in futility because the ‘worshipper’ does not have a heart to worship. He is doing little more than religious calisthenics. His mind may be on something other than the Lord, he ‘mouths’ the words without any identification with what is being sung, and his attitude is ‘let’s do this and get it over with’ and feels that he has done God and the church a service by being there. This is not worship.

True worship begins in the spirit of the individual. It is his recognition of who the Lord is and that He is worthy of our adoration. It is his desire to give thanksgiving, praise, and adoration to the Lord because of who the Lord is and what He has done. He is intense about worship.  He is committed to worship. He feels short-changed if he hasn’t had the opportunity to worship during a church service. All human beings worship something because we all have that innate desire to worship. A worshipper of God finds worship is his ‘second nature.’ Really, it is a product of his recreated spirit, which is his new nature. Worship to a worshipper is like a breath of fresh air. It is something he looks forward to. He usually doesn’t have to be prodded to worship, but be given an opportunity to do so.

Worship strengthens the lines of communication and fellowship with God. We often allow things into our lives that dull the spiritual senses. Worship is an aid that removes such distractions and helps us hear God more clearly.

Worship sets the stage for hearing the Word of God in church service and private devotions. One who spends some time in worship will discover that he recognizes the presence of God quicker and hears Him speak clearly. While it is a stage setter; there are times when worship should be an end in itself. We should come to the Lord, at times, not to ask for anything but just to worship Him.

Let’s learn to be a worshipper! Yes, it can be learned. Study the Scriptures on worship. Look at people in the Bible who were great worshippers- such as King David- and learn from their example.

ALL HEALING IS TEMPORARY
One of the complaints from cessationists is that physical healing doesn’t last, and they are correct on this point. Why? Because we still have a mortal body that is subject to death and disease. At the resurrection, we will have a glorified body that will be immortal, no longer subject to sickness, disease, or death (1 Cor.15:42-54). Jesus restored Lazarus to life after being dead for four days (John 11:1-26) but later he died. Why? He still had a mortal body, and like the rest of us, he would get an immortal body at the resurrection.
In the first century, during the ministry of Jesus, He healed lots of people. But none of them were given immortal bodies. They all died and awaited the resurrection to get a glorified body. This is true of all those who have been restored to life or healed since the first century and will continue to be true until the resurrection.
When Jesus was resurrected, many saints who had died were restored to life (Matt.27:52-53) and later died again. According to 1 Corinthians 15:26, the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
In the New Heavens and new earth, there will be no more sickness or death (Rev.21:4, Rev.22:2). Hallelujah!

The Three Earths

What are they? The original earth (Gen.1:1) which was destroyed in the flood of Noah’s time (2 Pet.3:5-6), the earth which is now which will be renovated by fire (2 Pet.3:7-10-13), and the new earth (Rev. 21-22).

The Three Heavens

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Notice the word ‘heaven’ is plural. The Apostle Paul said he knew someone who was caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor.12:2). If there are three heavens, what are they? Generally, they are thought of as the first heaven being what we see from horizon to horizon, then outer space, and finally the dwelling place of God (Ps, 48:1-3). Could it be the person Paul was speaking about actually saw the New Heaven?

Which Heaven Are We Going to When We Die?

This is a valid question, which I believe, is answered by the following passage.

 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

Notice some key points –

Earthly house (mortal body)

We have a house (body) that is eternal

We desire to have that immortal body

God knows that and has prepared one for us there

We desire to be in His presence

New Heaven

After the earth was renovated by fire, John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven onto the new earth. God comes to dwell among His people forever

Notice some key points

.God will wipe away all tears

No more death, nor sorrow, nor crying

No more pain

Enjoy the fountain of the water of life 

There will be no need for the sun or moon to give light, the Lamb is the light

Access to the tree of life

No more curse

We will see His face

No night

Nations on the earth shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.

Reign forever with Him

THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WILL BE THERE AND ENJOY THESE THINGS AS THEY SERVE, WORSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY.

Romans 8:18-23 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope: because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the child of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

The Groaning of Creation (8:19–22) Interestingly, Paul decides to demonstrate his thesis of verse 18 by addressing the issue of creation first, probably to show that the future glory was far more comprehensive than just applying to believers. All of God’s creation will be transformed, beginning with this world and then encompassing especially God’s own people. The eager expectation with which creation longs for our revealed glory means literally “stretching the head” or “straining the neck” to see what is coming. While there may be no sense of anxiety here (so Schreiner 1998; Cranfield 1975 calls it “confident expectation”), there is a longing to see the final transformation come to pass. It is interesting that creation longs for the revelation of the sons of God here rather than its own, recognizing that the primary thrust is on the future glory of God’s people. Creation will participate in those results in verse 21. This is truly an apocalyptic event (apokalypsis, revelation), the final unveiling of our status as royalty (the children of the King of kings) at the eschaton. We are already “sons of God” (vv. 14–16), but the final manifestation of that glorious reality is in the future. It is a spiritual reality now, but then it will be a visible event.

That is a question that the disciples of Jesus have tried to find a sufficient answer for centuries. In the Gospel of John chapter seventeen, Jesus says that we are not OF the world even as He was not OF it (John 17:11,14,16). He did not pray that we be taken OUT of the world but protected while within it (John 17:15). He has purposefully sent us INTO the world (John 17:18) to be His representatives and ambassadors to it (2 Cor.5:20).

What We Have that Enables Us To Minister To The World

Each of us has been born with a tendency to sin and be rebellious against God. But when we were born again we received a new nature, the old nature has gone and the new nature has come (2 Cor.5:17-18, 2 Peter 1:3,4). We have His Spirit within us (Rom.8:9, 1 John 4:4, Col.1:27). We have His Word (the Bible) with instructions about how we relate to the world while living by Kingdom principles. We must renew our minds according to the promises of God (Rom.12:1-2).

When we are told in the Bible that we should not love the world or be a friend to it (1 John 2:15-17, James 4:4) it refers to beliefs, values, attitudes, and actions. We live among people who have different beliefs than those of us who belong to Jesus. They have values in agreement with the kingdom they are living in. Disciples of Jesus are to live counter-culturally to the world. We are in but not of the world, and it is a constant battle against spiritual forces (2 Cor.10:3-5, Eph.6:12) of evil to live according to the Word of God.

Other Things We Can Do

• Regular worship with a local congregation.
• Consistent study of Scripture.
• Consistent prayer life.
• Become more outward-focused.
• Be filled with the Spirit of God.
• Exercise what motivational or spiritual gifts you may have.
• Meditate on the promises of God that assure us that He has given us everything needed for life and Godliness.

We are told in Scripture that children must be taught to obey their parents (Eph.6:1). We are told to submit to civil authorities (Romans 13:1). Yet, Peter and the other apostles said “We ought to obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).

Is there a difference between obedience and submission? I think there is. Obedience means to do what you are told to do by someone in authority, while submission indicates the proper attitude toward the person in authority even if, for conscience’s sake, one cannot do what they are told to do. A good illustration of this is a story I once heard: a little boy was standing up on the pew in church and his father told him to sit down and he wouldn’t do it, so the father put his hands on the boy’s shoulders and made him sit down. The boy said to his father, ‘I am sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside!’ The father made the boy obey but did not make him submissive.

How Does This Relate To Daily Life

One of the most important things one can learn is how to recognize authority and how to relate to it. Authorities exist in all realms of life. Your employer, police officers, government officials, leaders in church, etc. Authorities exist for the sake of order in our society. We need these different manifestations of authority. But, sometimes human authority becomes abusive, unbiblical, or acts as a dictatorship. What are we to do in such situations?

Pray for those in authority (1 Tim.2:1-2).

Obey as much as you possibly can without disobeying the Word of God or your conscience.

If the authority requires something contrary to the Word of God, disobey it and obey God’s Word, while attempting to keep a right attitude toward the authority.

One can always be submissive even in times when one cannot obey. The ability to do so shows the work of the Spirit within us – self-control (Gal.5:22-24).

This is often seen in government leaders who, by fiat or legitimately pass laws that require citizens to do unbiblical things. There are numerous examples of that in both Old Testament and New Testament passages.

I believe this becomes even more important to know and do the closer we get to the return of the Lord.

It has been referred to as the ‘still small voice” that Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:12). It has been mentioned in secular society as one’s moral compass telling them when something is right or wrong. It has been equated with the Holy Spirit speaking to us from within. It has also been referred to as the voice of the human spirit. From the Scriptures listed below, it seems that at various times and circumstances, it could be referred to as all of these things.

The word “conscience” is not mentioned in the Old Testament. The NT Greek word is suneidesis.

HERE IS A LISTING OF ALL 32 TIMES IT IS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 

John 8:9  (when Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery) “being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one.”
Acts 23:1 (Paul speaking to the council) I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.”
Acts 24:16 (Paul speaking before Felix) “ I do exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God,”
Romans 2:15 (Paul writing to the Roman church)  “their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or excusing them.”
Romans 9:1  “I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 13:5 “not only because of wrath, but also for conscience sake.”
1 Corinthians 8:7 (Paul writing to the church in Corinth) “that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour”
1 Corinthians 8:8  ” And their conscience being weak is defiled.”
1 Corinthians 8:10 “The idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened.”
1 Corinthians 8:12  “But when you sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.”
1 Corinthians 10:25 “Eat whatever is sold in the meat market,  asking no question for conscience sake:”
1 Corinthians 10:27  “Eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience sake.”
1 Corinthians 10:28 “But if someone says to you, this was offered to idols, do not eat it for the sake of him who told you, and for conscience’s sake, for the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
1 Corinthians 10:29  “Conscience, I say, not your own, but of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?’
2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conduct ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity..”
2 Corinthians 4:2 “but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God”
2 Corinthians 5:11″ But we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”
1 Timothy 1:5  “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith.”
1 Timothy 1:19  “having faith, and a good conscience; which some having rejected”
1 Timothy 3:9 “holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.”
1 Timothy 4:2  ” speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
2 Timothy 1:3 “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did,”
Titus 1:15 “To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure, but their mind and conscience are defiled.”
Hebrews 9:9  “Which cannot make him who performed  the service perfect, regarding the conscience;”
Hebrews 9:14  “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot, to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God!”
Hebrews 10:2 “For the worshipers, once purified, would have no more consciousness of sins.”
Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 13:18 “Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”
1 Peter 2:19 “For this is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.”
1 Peter 3:16 “having a good conscience; that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”
1 Peter 3:21  ” (..baptism…but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE?

-Be born again through trusting Jesus’ work on the Cross and Resurrection.

-Realize that Jesus has forgiven us of all sin, and we stand justified clothed in His righteousness.

-Fill our mind and spirit with the Word of God.

-Make every effort to obey the Word of God.

—–AI produced these statements about conscience that I thought were interesting—-

What is Conscience?

Conscience is a cognitive process that involves both emotion and rational associations. It is shaped by an individual’s moral philosophy or value system. Here are some key points about conscience:

1. Definition: Conscience elicits feelings and thoughts related to morality. It stands in contrast to immediate sensory perceptions and reflexive responses. When a person commits an act that conflicts with their moral values, conscience often leads to feelings of remorse.
2. Religious Views: Many religious traditions view conscience as linked to inherent human morality, a beneficent universe, or divinity.
3. Secular Views: Common secular perspectives suggest that the capacity for conscience is genetically determined, while its content is learned or imprinted through culture.
4. Metaphors: Metaphors used for conscience include the “voice within” or the “inner light.” Socrates relied on his “daimōnic sign,” an inner voice that guided him away from mistakes.

How Does Conscience Work?

1. Evaluation: Conscience arises when we evaluate our actions as “correct” or “wrong.” It serves as our moral compass, informing us of our values and principles.
2. Individual Development: Conscience develops at a personal level. It helps us understand moral principles and motivates us to act accordingly. Through conscience, we assess our character and behavior.
3. Ethical Judgment: Conscience becomes the standard by which we judge whether our actions are ethical. It guides us toward right conduct and encourages empathy and compassion.

In summary, conscience is more than mere “gut instinct.” It reflects our inner moral compass, shaping our choices and influencing our interactions with the world. Whether informed by religion, culture, or personal reflection, conscience plays a crucial role in ethical decision-making.

Remember, it’s the quiet voice within us that nudges us toward goodness and compassion. 🌟

Suffering may take many forms. It could be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, family, or financial. Usually, we want to be delivered from all of it, and sometimes, we are willing to pay almost any price to be free of it. 

SOME CAUSES OF SUFFERING

The causes of suffering may have one or more causes.  Sometimes, we suffer from the bad choices we have made. It may be that we are at the wrong place at the wrong time. Some are caused by the time and place where we live. Other times the cause may be disobedience to God and His Word. Or the attack of the evil one who is trying to kill and destroy us!!

HEBREWS 11

Let’s look at some great examples from God’s Word.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had an opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac, your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, and were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Having read all the things that happened to these people, we see mentioned over and over again that they had at least one thing in common, they all believed and trusted in God to bring them through what they suffered by FAITH! They believed His Word. And that is what we should do when we are suffering, believe God’s Word, and declare it’s promises that God has made. 

Keep believing and standing even when things are difficult. God is for you. He is with and IN you. He has promised to never leave nor forsake you!

John 19:30 “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

INTRODUCTION: This indicated that redemption was accomplished, even though He had not gone through everything that would be done, in His mind and the mind of the Father redemption was accomplished.

All that redemption provided was available. He would never die for sin again! He would never take stripes on His back for our healing again! Etc.  (Romans 4:17 “As it is written ‘I have made you a father of many nations’ in the presence of Him whom he believed – God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.”)

What I am about to say is NOT a formula but the result of a relationship.

KNOW IT

To enter what Jesus has provided for us we must first know about it. Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

This applies to being born again, healed, filled with the Spirit and everything God has provided for us. There may be exceptions when God just does something and we find out about it later, but usually, it follows this path.

BELIEVE IT

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

PROCLAIM IT

Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.”

Numerous passages in Scripture indicate the power of our words. For example: the book of Proverbs alone has 63 verses that indicate this. One well-known passage, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

CHALLENGE

Find an area of your life that you would like to see changed.

What does the Bible say about this?

What do you need to do to meet the conditions?

Begin to declare the promises about this area.

I. WHAT TONGUES ARE

 A. Language of men or angels. I Cor.13:1

B. Language one has not studied and does not know.

C. Expression of divine presence and ability – Acts 10:44-46

II. HOW THEY OPERATE

A. Speaking is a learned ability.

B. With the infilling of the Holy Spirit we have His ability.

C. His knowledge and ability are not limited to ours.

D. This ability comes through the human spirit – 1 Cor.2:12-14

E. Working together – Spirit gives utterance – the person does the speaking.

III. REASONS TO SPEAK IN TONGUES

A. Initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Spirit – Acts 2:1-4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6

B. Personal edification – 1 Cor.14:4

C. Keeps us aware of His presence.

D. Eliminates selfishness entering into our prayers – Rom. 8:26

E. Helps our trust in God – builds us up – Jude. 20

F. Keeps us free from filthy contamination.

G. Provides a way to pray for things otherwise not able to.

H. Doorway into the supernatural.

I Helps to tame the tongue – James 3:8

IV. REASONS FOR THE GIFT OF TONGUES

A. To get people’s attention – Acts 2.

B. Makes us aware of the supernatural presence of the Lord.

C. One of the avenues that God has chosen to use to allow His children to speak to Him – 1 Cor. 4:2.

D. Spiritual weapon – 2 Cor. 19L3-5

V. ITS ORDER IN THE CHURCH – 1 Cor. 14:27-28