Wednesday, 18 May 2022
LET’S GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2 NIV).
Right from the very beginning of my Christian walk, I always wanted to know what God wanted, what’s on His mind. I wanted to know His perfect will about everything, so I could serve Him rightly. I didn’t want to ever find myself in a certain direction, or doing something, only to discover that it wasn’t what God wanted.
So, oftentimes, He directed me to the Scriptures. But He did something even more: He opened my understanding in an extraordinary way, because He saw my heart. It’s one of the ways I get to know His heart about anything, about what He wants.
Therefore, in serving God, it’s about Him, what He wants and how He wants it. It’s not about our feelings, impulses or sense knowledge. For example, in praising and worshipping Him, we shouldn’t find ourselves doing it in a way that He isn’t pleased with. Praise and worship in the Church is so important to God; it’s something we must do according to the prescribed order — according to His Word.
Some believe clapping is a way to praise and worship God, but it isn’t. Clapping is applause; you don’t applaud God. These are some of the things we’ve done in the past that God wants us to correct. He is perfecting His Church for His return. We don’t clap for God. You may say, “But Psalm 47:1 says, ‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”’ That was written for those in the Old Testament and it wasn’t for us to copy because those in the Old Testament mostly walked in the flesh. If you want to know how you’re supposed to serve God, how you’re to praise and worship Him as a new creation, study the New Testament, the epistles. There, we’re told “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3 NKJV).
The Lord is perfecting His Church with His truth. So, we’ve got to put things in their proper places so we’ll get the right results. Let’s give Him what He wants, which is true spiritual worship through the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for the ministry of your Spirit through which you’re perfecting the Church and helping us to place a premium on living by your Word, rendering to you worship in spirit and in truth. Your Word is gaining the pre-eminence, with true worship taking centre stage among your congregations as your glory fills our hearts, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 15:8-9 NIV; Acts 17:30; John 4:23
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 8:31-47 & 1 Kings 22
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 10:14-21 & Proverbs 14