1- Last night I received a phone call from my dear friend - Robin John from Australia. He had just heard that I had been in the hospital over my heart issues. After talking for a few moments, he started to pray, which was one of the most heartfelt 15 minute prayers I've ever heard. He wasn't just praying - he was worshipping God. I was truly blessed.
2- Then, this morning, I woke up with a song on my heart: "This is the reason I sing." It is a song we sing at church and the words kept flowing out of my heart of praise and joy to God Almighty. I am so thankful for all that He had done and is planning to do.
(By the way, I received two different "words" yesterday from two different people that the aftereffect of my "trial" would be a great outpouring on my church. Watch out New Life Chapel!)
Let's talk about worship today, about what are the components of true worship in our lives. In the Old Testament Moses was commanded to assemble certain ingredients that would be part of the worship experience. You can read that in Exodus 30:34-38.
The Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:34-38 ESV)
Notice the components and how they relate to our own lives.
The first three ingredients that make up the holy incense speaks of our contribution to worship. The last ingredient speaks of God’s contribution.
1 - OUR PART IN WORSHIP – (Three ingredients)
- Stacte - This Speaks Of Spontaneity In Worship.
Stacte is a gum resin that oozes spontaneously from the bark of the storax and opobalsumum trees of the Palestinian region.
As we spend time in the Lord in prayer and in His word, or hearts will “ooze spontaneously in worship.”
- Onycha - True Worship Must Come From Within Our Hearts
Onycha is a substance which is obtained from the “closing flaps” of a certain deep sea mollusks.
They had to go to the depths of the sea to get this creature.
This is the same way that God wants our worship to come from deep within our innermost being. It was a lack of depth that Israel came to God.
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, (Isaiah 29:13 ESV)
Not only are we go go "deep" but we need to come with "open hearts" to God so He can speak to us and give us guidance for our day.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)
“Unveiled face” speaks of a whole hearted, unhidden, honest communication with God the Father.
Our worship should invite Him to examine us, cleanse us, and transform us into the image of His Son.
- Galbanum - Our Worship Proceeds From Brokenness
Galbanum is a amber colored substance gathered by breaking the stem of a certain local plant and by collecting the substance that oozes from the break.
Fig trees, milkweed, and dandelions all produce a milk like this.This speaks of the brokenness God desires in our worship.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 ESV)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17 ESV)
God asks that you and I bring an open hearted spontaneity which comes from deep within a broken and contrite heart.
These THREE ITEMS are our part in spiritual worship!
2. GOD'S PART IN WORSHIP – (Frankincense)
- Jesus Worships With Us
This is the same thing as Galbanum. It is a medicinal plant. It is a greasy, sticky granulated resin with a strong odor.
Frankincense is pure white and is obtained in the same way as galbanum.
Frankincense represents two things:
1) Purity
2) Brokenness
Only Jesus can be described in these terms.
He was the perfect spotless lamb of God, whose body was broken to take away the sins of the world.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)
So, as you go about this day, take a few moments to think about "This is the reason I sing." Think about how you approach God and what He means in your life. Consider the ingredients that God asks us to bring to worship and the ingredients that you are actually bringing. Some might be bringing Stacte, Onycha and Galbanum while others might be bringing bitter weed. I want to go "deep" with God today and I want to experience His presence in my life. May God increase our desire to to truly worship and praise His name.
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