YOUR PRESENCE

MY DWELLING PLACE

WORSHIP BELIEFS

Worship changes the worshipper into the image of One worshipped

Jack Hayford

WE WERE DESIGNED FOR WORSHIP

Why does the Lord call us into a place of worship? The Lord, through eternity, designed it for us that we would find our entire expression in life standing before Him accepted, delighted in, and therefore ministering unto Him in thanksgiving and praise. Much like the angels, who cry out day and night in praise and worship to God, He intended that we would be worshippers of Him. God always chooses the best. God knew that every moment we encounter His presence, we would be re-aligned to His purposes and plans for our lives. In Jeremiah 29:11 He says, "I know my thoughts and plans for you" and He further says "His plans are Shalom for you". The meaning of the Hebrew word Shalom there is "being Whole". When we worship Him, He restores us by making us whole (making us complete in Him, removing our misplaced trust in things of this world). Being whole is becoming like Him.

TO BECOME LIKE HIM

What do you conclude when you know that God designed you to be a worshipper? You always become like what you worship. There’s nothing more He wants from us than to become like Him. With that in mind, He designed us as worshippers!

At Bethsaida, we are absolutely sure about this truth, "This is the reason why we’re alive on the planet, this is our prime responsibility, our great God-given revelation to be those who worship Him in spirit and truth." As a church, our entire ministry began out of this truth. Everything we've ever learned in this journey, we've learned as worshippers.

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HEBREW WORDS

FOR PRAISE

YADAH

This means to throw out the hand, to worship with the extended hand

BARAK

This means to kneel down, to Bless God as an act of adoration

TOWDAH

This means an extension of the hand in adoration or acceptance

This means to kneel down, to Bless God as an act of adoration

SHABACH

This means to address in a loud tone, to triumph, glory, shout!

TEHILLAH

This means to sing, to laud; praise that God inhabits

ZAMAR

This means to touch the strings, to pluck the strings and sing along

HALAL

This means to be clear, to shine, to boast, celebrate, be clamorously foolish

WORSHIP DEVOTIONALS

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Worship is the highest privilege given to humans. However, this can be done only through deep intimacy with Christ. Worship is God’s idea and the very reason he created us. Worship is exalting God with right attitude, fear, reverence, submission, and respect. It should not be misunderstood with singing slow songs in church services. It is a life lived with holiness and a lifestyle exalting God in all aspects of our life.

People of Israelites were told how to worship. They were instructed to construct a tabernacle and what to sacrifice and the reason for everything they do. Deuteronomy 6:13 says, "You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. In 2 Samuel 6:5 David and all the Israelites gathered in front of the Ark of the covenant to celebrate and played all kinds of instruments. Later Jesus as a full-filler of the law said in John 4:24 to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. The Jews had tabernacle and synagogues to worship but Jesus teachings clearly defines that it is just more then what is done in a confined or specific place.

Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." It is clear that the sacrifices of goats and bulls are no longer pleasing to God but a broken and a contrite heart He will not despise. Psalm 51:17.

Therefore, worship is not a feeling of music or songs but our life. When we become believers, we become worshipers of God. Living our lives giving glory to God till eternity.
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This world defines people based on race, religion, caste, the profession they do and several other forms of division. Often people conclude their identity as those what others have believed them to be. The frightening fact is that most people end up being who they aren’t than to be who they really are.

Our life has complete meaning and purpose when we live according to what God has declared about us. Bible teaches us that our identity is totally found in Jesus Christ. Our God is a Good and Loving Father. We are His sons and daughters. We are seated with Him in the Heavenly places. We have the authority back that we once lost through Adam. We are a new creation in Christ. Our sins are washed by the blood of Jesus. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are more than conquerors in Christ. We are the living temple of the Holy Spirit.

If we are believing anything other than these truths, we are living in a lie. Thats what the enemy wants. Satan wants us to believe his lies. However if we allow God to encounter us with these truths, we will be firmly established in Him. Our walk with God requires us to understand who we are and who's we are.

Let’s just set apart a season and allow God to encounter and expand these truths. Firstly, the more we learn about these truths, We become people of His kind. That's what God desires. Let’s take a firm decision not to listen and live according to the lies of the enemy. Living in the truths of God will enable us to grow in Him. God exactly wants all of us to grow in the whole measure of the fulness of Christ. Secondly, these truths of God liberate us. Just as scripture says "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free". Freedom is received when we allow these truths of God to define us.
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Many christians think that worship is all about singing a few songs, praying for few minutes and going to church regularly. If you think this is what worship actually is, then you are totally wrong. We cannot choose when we should worship and when we should not. Worship is a lifestyle. When we consider worship to be a lifestyle, we’ll learn to give glory through everything we do. Every activity in life becomes significant. Our life becomes largely centred upon worship. We would certainly know that our Father in Heaven is watching us and we are accountable to every single decision and action.

Cultivating a Heart of Worship requires understanding certain key truths. Firstly, we ought to live always with an awareness that we are called to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Knowing this truth will enable us to do what’s acceptable in His sight. Holy Spirit is the key to our spiritual journey. Shutting down His voice will move us into confusion and chaos. Listening to His voice will enable us to live with clarity and courage.

Secondly, developing a daily relationship with God is important. To illustrate, I know what my friend would do in a given day. I'd certainly know how long will he be in the Gym, his breakfast time, his lunch time and so on. I'm fully aware of his daily activities because I get to spend time with him everyday. The more I'm exposed to Him, the more I learn about Him. In the same manner when we spend time with God daily, we would know His Heart, His secrets and what He’s about to do. We’ll never walk in confusion. The truth is that we are called to be His friends. To remind you that It's when we are with friends, we get to share secrets. So if you want to know God’s Heart and secrets (prophetic direction over a person or a situation), I’d encourage you to be His friend.

Lastly, we will choose to honour and value His presence and His ways more than anything else in this world if we truly long for a Heart of worship. Saying NO to our human desires when we know that it's not in alignment with what God is saying will remain to be a core value in developing a heart of worship. A heart of total surrender to His ways will be the greatest priority.

Be encouraged to embark on a journey with God to see Him develop a Heart of Worship in you.
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Jesus is the greatest example who walked in absolute fellowship with the Holy Spirit. When He was baptised, we read in Luke’s gospel that the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and remained on Him. Jesus once said, “The Son of Man could do nothing of himself”. This verse indicates How desperately He was dependent on the Holy Spirit and the Father. The life of Jesus summarizes His fellowship with the Holy Spirit and the Father. Every miracle that He performed indicates His connection with the God Head. He was literally showing the whole world on how to live in fellowship with the God Head while on Earth. What First Adam couldn’t do, the Last Adam (Jesus) did!

Before He ascended to Heaven He looked at His disciples and said “As the Father has sent me, I’m sending you”. The Life of Jesus’s disciples was also filled with miracles, signs and wonders because It was the Holy Spirit that guided them through out their walk with God. The New testament History book Acts of the Apostles is widely known to be the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Even the disciples knew how to connect with the Holy Spirit.

Our Christian Journey can be simple and easy, if we know to silence every other voice and keep listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance. A Pastor once said, “Self-Control is defined as When we are so focussed on God’s voice that everything else loses its voice”.

Be encouraged to be guided by the Holy Spirit in every step of your Journey. There is only victory for us when God becomes our strategist.

BETHSAIDA SCHOOL OF WORSHIP

JESUS, Its all about you and that's what true Worship is.

SCHOOL OF WORSHIP