"Worship And Praise"

Being perfectly honest with you, I didn't think that I could effectively teach a lesson on Worship & Praise. I know what it is, I know what it entails, I even know how to do it. But Worship & Praise is something that's kind of hard to articulate, hard to put into words, hard to define. So please bare with me & I'll try. I'll do the best that I can with my limited degree of wisdom.

Some things are hard to define. As a husband and a father, I sometimes find it difficult to define the love that I have for my wife and children. And I say funny things that best describe my feelings for them. I would extend my arms as wide as I can and tell them I love you this much. Well, that seems to be one of the best ways that I know of describing my love for them. Yes. some things are difficult to define and Worship & Praise are among those difficult things.

One of our great theologians put it this way, while writing on the subject about "Time", he said, " What is time? If no one ask of me, then I know. If I wish to explain to him that ask, then I know not". The same is true of the subject Worship & Praise. There is no adequate definition for Worship & Praise. Oftentimes, when we define things we put limitations on them. But Worship & Praise is too broad of a subject to put limitations on.

Worship & Praise go hand in hand. Worship is a higher level of Praise. Worship goes deeper. Worship is a kind of an intimacy. It is possible to have a sexual relationship and not experience intimacy. Likewise is it possible to Praise and not experience Worship. I have said on several occasions that the Worship & Praise portion of the service is the most important part of the service. Why? Because Worship & Praise is what we give to God. It's for God. Everything else is for us. Worship & Praise is for God and we should not be skimpy on what we give to God!

Worship & Praise is a kind of expression. We are taught that its okay to express ourselves everywhere we go. At a ball game, there are cheerleaders, constantly urging us to express ourselves. At funerals and weddings, we're told that its okay to express our feelings. Doctors and Therapists have told us that its unhealthy to hold in our feelings. GET IT OUT! It has even been said that its okay for our children to throw a temper tantrum every now and then because it allows them the opportunity to express themselves. In nearly every phase of life, we are told that expression is okay. But when it comes to expressing our love for God, we are told that its uncivilized, don't get emotional, keep it on the inside.

Nevertheless, we have scriptural proof that validates our methods of expression. David danced before the lord with all of his might (2 Samuel 6:14), and he commands us to make a joyful noise (Psalms 100:1). When John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness he made so much noise that they heard him in the city (John 1:23).

Expression is doing something. Don't just sit like an emotionless, lifeless, bump on a log. LIFT UP YOUR HANDS, OPEN UP YOUR MOUTH, AND LET THE LORD KNOW HOW MUCH HE MEANS TO YOU!!!!

LET EVERYTHING THAT HATH BREATH PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"A Personal Comment"

When I was a young child, I wondered what happened to people when they died. My father, in spite of his ignorance at the time about these things, tried to satisfy my curiosity. He told me "when people die they just die. Nothing happens." I wondered, with my childish thinking, what that would be like. I pictured in my mind the buildings that would be here with nobody to inhabit them. I tried to imagine what the city would look like without people. Whenever I had these thoughts, I would be overtaken with a deep, sick feeling that made me well up with tears. I could not imagine that. The world being here with nobody in it.

Then, I grew up and heard the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached by my now deceased father-in-law, Bishop Sterling J. Spencer. Through his preaching and teaching I am now saved, sanctified and on the Lord's side. Now, I don't have to wonder anymore where people go when they die. Now that I have Jesus, I'm on my way to a "place" where the wicked will cease from troubling, the weary will be at rest and God's people will be with Him forevermore. I don't have to wonder anymore what will happen to buildings or the world, for our Bible tells us they will pass away and there will be a NEW EARTH AND NEW HEAVEN, PRAISE GOD!!!

Will you make a decision today, to know Christ Jesus as your Lord and Saviour so when you die, you WILL KNOW where you will spend eternity.

I'd like to take time right now to reflect on the tragedy of September 11, 2001. Although it has been many years now, there still seems to be sadness in my spirit when I think of that day.

I didn't lose a loved one that day, but when I think about it, I did. When I saw people of all walks of life on the news, on talk shows, etc., talking about those they loved who were killed that day; it was as if I knew them like family. I felt their pain. On September 11, 2001, I believe America lost many loved ones. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, friends, etc.

In spite of what happened, our enemies need to know that we are still alive and well because we have and serve a God who will not let us down. Oh yes, some have and will say that God was not there that day. We can say like Joseph when tragedy struck in his life, "the devil meant it for bad, but God meant it for good." He was able to say that after he'd been through the rough times.

Of course it won't seem like God is there during hard times but, when it's all said and done, WE HAVE VICTORY BECAUSE HE IS THERE! So go on and SHOUT America, give God Praise and Glory for we still have the VICTORY! He is still in CONTROL! He will not let us down.

Let us look at this tragedy as a stepping stone to loving each other more as well as loving God more. We need to look to Him for He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He will love us, teach us, and keep us as long as we allow Him to. Let us continue to pray for those who were hit the hardest from this ordeal and because Jesus said to love our enemies, pray for THOSE WHO DIDN'T CARE.