Christ Embassy Long Beach

Rhapsody of Realities
Topic: TRUE PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Monday 2nd May 2022
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome PhD D.Sc DD

The Church of Jesus Christ has come of age. Some of the things the Lord tolerated in the past, even though they didn’t make much spiritual sense, are now being corrected. This is because He’s perfecting the Church for the coming of the Lord. For example, true worship and true praise in the house of God: many don’t understand what it is. Some think that when they dance themselves high in church, they’re really praising and worshipping God. But dancing in the flesh is neither praise nor worship.

What is praise? And what is worship? Worship is the recognition and appreciation of the reality, blessings, character and greatness of God. This recognition and appreciation, we express in prayer, sacrifice and service. In the New Testament, we offer spiritual sacrifices called praise (Hebrews 13:15, 1 Peter 2:5, Psalm 69:30-31). Hence, praise is an expression of worship. When we praise God, WE’RE worshipping Him. When you say, “Lord, you’re good; you’re kind, gracious and loving; you’ve blessed me, you’re righteous, etc., you’re defining, recognizing, and appreciating His character and His works.

Praise is the fruit of our lips—giving thanks to God (Hebrews 13:15). So, in worship or praise, you’re SAYING something to God thankfully. This profuse expression of appreciation of His character and personality in words of thanksgiving should be from the heart; that is the spirit, not the flesh.

The dancing that most people do in many churches is in the flesh. That may have its place outside the church. In the New Testament, you don’t dance in the flesh to worship God. Dancing in the flesh is based on the beat of the music. When the beat changes, the dance changes.

If you’re inspired to dance, it should be in the spirit and by the Spirit. The dance may not even synchronize or follow the beat of the drums. In such situations, you’ll find yourself jumping, spinning, rejoicing in and from your spirit. We’re the true circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3).

PRAYER
Gracious heavenly Father, I worship you today for your love, kindness and grace manifested in my life. You’re great and greatly to be praised. I extol your greatness and worship your holy Name, for there’s none like you; your kingdom is forever, your reign is everlasting! You’re the only true and wise God. To you be all glory, honour, majesty, dominion and praise, forever and ever. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 47:6-7 KJV “Sing praises to God, sing praises: Sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding.”
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Psalm 69:30-31 KJV “I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD Better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.”
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Hebrews 13:15 AMPC “Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. [Lev. 7:12; Isa. 57:19; Hos. 14:2.]”
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DAILY SCRIPTURE READING:

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Luke 24:36-53 & 2 Samuel 12-14

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 & Psalm 145-146

_Extract From Rhapsody Of Realities Devotional_

*Good Morning Beloved.*
*Welcome to the month of PRAISE!*
*Enjoy A Wonderful Day!*

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Rhapsody of Realities
Topic: SERVING GOD RIGHTLY
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome PhD DSc DD

And Samuel said, hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (Ephesians 3:20).

The Lord Jesus, in John 4:23, outlines true worship as that which is done in spirit and in truth. There’s no other way. Serving the Lord has to be from your spirit and according to His Word. His Word provides the guidance, the prescribed order of service and worship in the Kingdom.

You don’t give God what you choose or just what you like; you give Him what He has asked for, in the way that He asked for it. You serve Him according to His demands, not according to your feelings or emotions. There’re people who say, “Everyone can serve God in His own way!” That’s not true. When you study the Bible, you’d find that those who tried to serve God in their own way got killed or rebuked by God.

Genesis 4 tells us of the story of Cain and Abel: two brothers who brought their offerings to the Lord. Cain brought an offering of his choice, while Abel brought what God asked to be offered. Abel’s offering was accepted, but Cain’s sacrifice was rejected. In Genesis 4:7, seeing that Cain was angry, the Lord rebuked him saying, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?”

How about Moses, who, instead of talking to the rock, struck the rock? Water came out, and the people drank to their fill, but God was displeased and rebuked Moses (Numbers 20:1-12, Deuteronomy 4:21-22). Uzzah was killed when he tried to render service to God by stabilizing the stumbling Ark of God at Nachon’s threshing floor (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
If you want to serve God rightly, give more attention to studying the Scriptures. He will grant you the wisdom and insight of the Spirit on how to serve Him truly, with a pure heart and a willing mind.

Prayer

Dear Father, I worship you in spirit and in truth. I love you with all my heart and will study your Word to walk always in your truth to serve you accordingly, in Jesus’ Name Amen.

Further Study:

1 Chronicles 28:9
“And thou Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; bit if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

1-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Luke 10:35-36;
Joshua 23-24

2-Year Bible Reading Plan:
Romans 7:12-25;
Psalm 108

Extract From Rhapsody Of Realities Devotional

Good Morning Beloved.
Serve The Lord According To His Demands!
Enjoy A great Day Of Watching And Praying!

Now that you have been blessed with today's , kindly share it to bless someone else.