worship

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God’s New Testament Levites

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God’s New Testament Levites

I believe musicians and worshippers need a greater understanding of the wonderful calling that they have in God and His House. I’ve noticed as I have ministered in Churches around the world, a lack of understanding amongst so many musicians of the high calling that they have in God. Often there is very little thought put into how we can enter the presence of God. It’s often just a performance with no understanding of the purpose of their position. Being a musician in Church is not like being on America’s Got Talent, to show your skills at singing or playing. That is a performance. We are really there to help bring God’s people into His presence and this is a very important ministry. You can’t afford to be out of sorts with others or walking in sin if involved in the music.

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The blessings of Psalm 16

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The blessings of Psalm 16

Psalm 16 has often been entitled the Psalm of the ‘Good Life.’ I would say that it is one of my most favourite Psalms and I meditate on portions of it just about every day as I go for prayer walks, speaking it over my life. It’s called a Psalm of David and prophetically describes the ‘resurrected life’. It was affirmed by Peter, Paul, and Mary. Not the singers, but is referred to by Peter in the Book of Acts (Acts 2:25-28) and Paul (Acts 13:34-35) and literally experienced by Mary, being the first to see Jesus after rising from the dead.

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The Signs of His Presence

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“Live a happy life! Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence. Remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles,” Psalm 105:4 Message

Elizabeth Barrett Browning said …nothings small ! …Earth is crammed with heaven. And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees, takes off his shoes. How true.

Practicing His Presence - Part 6

Practicing His Presence - Part 6

“How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend— far more pleasing than a fine, rare wine, your fragrance more exotic than select spices.” Living Bible

“How satisfying to me, my equal, my bride. Your love is my finest wine—intoxicating and thrilling. And your sweet, perfumed praises—so exotic, so pleasing.” The Passion (TPT)

I have been reading through the Passion Translation of the Song of Songs and find that it really brings out what the Lord thinks about His Church, His Bride. Here is a portion by the author, explaining the above verse.

“Your life of devotion pleases Him more than any other beautiful thing He's created.”

It intoxicates Him! Jesus is essentially saying that your love for Him is more valuable than anything else in the universe. Your love thrills His heart. He values your love more than any other pleasure there is. He measures it, not by its strength, but by its sincerity. He knows you love Him although you may fail and sin at times. You are desired just the way you are. Never let these words go in one ear and out the other. Take a moment and meditate on this truth. It will make your heart soar and cause you to live differently. Knowing how much He loves you will ignite passion that becomes an unquenchable fire.

How could this possibly be? How could God want and appreciate our fickle love so much? We see in John chapter 4 when Jesus was talking to the woman at the well that God is actively looking for worshippers.

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Practicing His Presence - Part 4

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Practicing His Presence - Part 4

The Book of Genesis is called the book of beginnings. It’s here we find out the ‘whats,’ ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ of man’s existence. It’s interesting to know that before God made living creatures, He made a place for them to live first. He made the sea first then the fish to swim in it. He made soil then plants to grow in it. He made the firmament for the stars before He made the planets that He placed there. He made Eden for man to live in before He made man. When you take the fish out of water it malfunctions. When you take a plant out the soil it malfunctions and when you take a star out of its place it becomes a meteor. Take a man out of Eden and he kills someone.

No one has ever found Eden for it was not so much a place but an environment. Man was created to live in God’s presence and when he is outside of His presence he malfunctions. In a previous message we looked at how King David said that there was one thing he desired more than anything else, and that was to live in God’s presence every day of his life.

“One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord. And to meditate in His temple.” Psalm 27:4