WORSHIP CHASES

WORSHIP CHASES!

John 4:22-24

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 16:25-26

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

           Because of the resurrection, the day of worship was changed from Saturday to Sunday. Some scholars believe the Jewish Christians would go to the synagogues on Saturday and to their own meeting on Sunday. Three elements characterized New Testament worship and still do today. These were prayer, praise (singing), and preaching.

           Worship chases doubt away! It’s hard to doubt a God you are actively worshipping. The remedy for doubt is prayer and praising. Yesterday was Monday and I was feeling a bit of Easter hang-over. The high energy of Easter Sunday had left me a bit drained until I watched a short segment of Christian hymns on TV. It filled me with spiritual energy and chased away any doubt I might have had.

           Worship chases the blues away! Paul and Silas had been beaten (that must have hurt) and their feet placed in stocks. At midnight they decided to pray and sing praises to God. It filled them and the prison with a spiritual energy so strong that their bands were loosed.

           Worship chases guilt away! It’s hard to worship when your heart is filled with the memory of some sin. Worship prompts the worshipper to confess and repent which leads to forgiveness and restoration. Being restored to fellowship with the Savior lightens the heavy heart. There is a feeling that all is right and that we can, once again, come boldly to the throne of God’s grace.

Tell it to Jesus

Are you weary, are you heavyhearted?
Tell it to Jesus,
Tell it to Jesus;
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Chorus:
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that's well-known;
You've no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.