They that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth

Do you find it hard to worship? The problem probably lies with your lack of interaction/intimacy with God. When you are close to God and you realise the reality of how sinful you are, your reaction to God's mercy and love towards you would be to worship Him. Worship is like a reaction to God's goodness. It comes naturally to a truly converted believer. The inability to worship reflects a possible problem in (or absence of) a relationship with God and is a good indication that things need to change between you and God.

There is a website which looks at Hymns and their stories behind how they were written and composed. Knowing this can help you to appreciate the words in the hymn and worship more meaningfully. Go to this page to get studies on Hymns. A sample is found below:

"JESUS PAID IT ALL"
"Purge me...and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than show" (Psa. 51.7)

INTRO.: A hymn which encourages us to remember that Jesus made it possible for us to be purged, cleansed, and washed whiter than snow is "Jesus Paid It All" (#488 in Hymns for Worship Revised and #606 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text was written by Elvina Mabel Hall, who was born at Alexandria, VA, on June 4, 1820, the daughter of Capt. David Reynolds. After she married Richard Hall, for forty years they were faithful members of the Monument St. Methodist Church in Baltimore, MD. One Sunday morning in 1865, while supposedly listening to the minister's rather lengthy closing prayer, her mind wandered and she began thinking about the lesson's message regarding God's forgiveness and all that Christ had done to provide redemption for mankind, especially for her. A poem began forming in her mind, so since she had no paper handy she looked around and spied the only thing at hand to write on, a hymnbook whose title was the New Lute of Zion.

Picking up the hymnbook and opening to a blank flyleaf, Elvina began jotting down the verses. After the service, she showed it to the minister, George W. Schrick, although she was somewhat embarrassed at having to explain that she had written it in a hymnbook during the prayer. Schrick tucked it away in his files. Sometime after receiving Mrs. Hall's words, Mr. Schrick called on the church's music director, John Thomas Grape (1835-1915). Mr. Grape, also a successful coal merchant in Baltimore and an amateur musician, had earlier been impressed with another hymn entitled "Jesus Paid It All" which had appeared in The Golden Censer, a hymnbook published in 1864 by William B. Bradbury. Grape had composed a tune (All to Christ) patterned after the other hymn. When he gave a copy to Schrick, they found that the stanzas written by Mrs. Hall fit it perfectly. The song was soon sung at several churches in the Baltimore area.

Three years later, in 1868, someone--either Schrick or Grape--sent the hymn to be published in the 1868 collection, Sabbath Chords, compiled by Theodore Perkins for Brown and Perkins in New York City, NY. It is possible that Mrs. Hall was also familiar with the Bradbury song and was unconsciously influenced by it when she produced her words. Many alterations have been made to her original text, and this accounts for the changes of wording in different books. The song in its present form appeared in the 1874 Gospel Song Book Collection published by Philip Paul Bliss (1838-1876). After the death of her first husband, Elvina married Thomas Myers in 1885. He was a Methodist minister with the Baltimore Conference. She died three years later at Ocean Grove, NJ, on July 18, 1889.

Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1921 Great Songs of the Church (No. 1) and the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 both edited by E. L. Jorgenson; the 1935 Christian Hymns (No. 1), the 1948 Christian Hymns No. 2, and the 1966 Christian Hymns No. 3 all edited by L. O. Sanderson; the 1963 Abiding Hymns edited by Robert C. Welch; and the 1963 Christian Hymnal edited by J. Nelson Slater. Today it may be found in the 1971 Songs of the Church, the 1990 Songs of the Church 21st C. Ed., and the 1994 Songs of Faith and Praise all edited by Alton H. Howard; the 1983 Church Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard; and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand; in addition to Hymns for Worship, Sacred Selections, and the 2007 Sacred Songs of the Church edited by William D. Jeffcoat.

The hymn reminds us of the price that Jesus paid to save us from our sins.

I. From stanza 1 we learn that Jesus alone must be our all in all
"I hear the Savior say, 'Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all."
A. Our strength indeed is small because we all have sinned: Rom. 3.23
B. As a result, we are children of weakness before God and cannot save ourselves by our own good works: Eph. 2.8-9, Tit. 3.5
C. The reason that Jesus is our all in all is that only in Him is found redemption: Col. 1.12-14

II. From stanza 2 we learn that nothing but His power can change us
"Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper's spots, And melt the heart of stone."
A. Of course, the power of Jesus Christ to make this change is in the gospel: Rom. 1.16
B. By that same divine power Christ changed the leper's spots: Matt. 8.1-4
C. And this power can melt the heart of stone to change those who are unrighteous to those who are justified before God: 1 Cor. 6.9-11

III. From stanza 3 we learn that it is Christ's blood that can wash away our sin
"For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white In the blood of Calvary's Lamb."
A. Nothing that we can do, no good works of ourselves, can make us clean: Tit. 3.3-5
B. Only the grace and power of God can take our sins which are like scarlet and make them white as snow: Isa. 1.18
C. The means by which He is able to do this is the blood of Christ: 1 Jn. 1.7

IV. From stanza 4 we learn that the righteousness which Christ proves us brings blessings
"And now complete in Him, With robes of righteousness,
Close sheltered 'neath His side, I am divinely blessed."
A. We can be complete in Christ because He has done everything that is needed to make salvation available: Col. 2.10
B. Thus, it is by the righteousness of Christ in dying for us that we are redeemed: Rom. 3.24-26
C. All spiritual blessings in heavenly places are found in Him and Him alone: Eph. 1.3-7

V. From stanza 5 we learn that His death will enable us to stand before His throne
"And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,
I'll lay my tropies down, All down at Jesus' feet."
A. Someday we shall stand before His throne in judgment: Matt. 25.31-33ff, Rom. 14.12, 2 Cor. 5.10
B. However, those who have obeyed the Lord's will so as to serve and please Him will stand before Him complete and hear Him say, "Well done": Matt. 25.21
C. They will lay their trophies down at His feet and be granted eternal salvation: Heb. 5.8-9 (note: some songbooks have altered the final two lines of the stanza to read, "'Jesus died my soul to save,' My lips shall still repeat")

CONCL.: The chorus joyfully proclaims the fact that Jesus is the basis for our salvation.
"Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."
It should be a great source of encouragement to us in trying to deal with the problem of sin in our lives to know that forgiveness is available because "Jesus Paid It All."

Taken from http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies

How to be Humble

CJ Mahaney, former pastor of Covenant Life Church in the USA has this list of ways to cultivate humility. This list is taken from ChristianCounseling.wordpress.com

Each day you should be addressing your greatest enemy and cultivating your greatest friend. So here’s how I attempt to mortify pride and cultivate humility.

1. Study the attributes of God, especially His incommunicable attributes
2. Reflect on the wonder of the Cross of Christ
3. Study the Doctrines of Grace
4. Study the Doctrine of Sin
5. Cultivate spiritual disciplines
6. Invite and pursue correction
7. Encourage and serve others each and every day
8. Identify evidences of grace in others
9. Respond humbly to trials
10. Discern your thorns
11. Use unflattering illustrations of yourself publicly
12. Recognize your theological limitations
13. Prepare to be replaced
14. Recognize your relative unimportance
15. Laugh with others when you are the object of humor
16. Play golf as much as possible…
17. Read as many of C.H. Spurgeon’s sermons as possible

Also, start reading books such as the freely available book by Andrew Murray called "Humility"
here.

If I don't want to obey God am I a hypocrite if I obey

When you take off your rose-tinted glasses and look at your Christian life, you realise that you are not ALWAYS obeying God happily or willingly. Sometimes/often you don't want to obey. One of the common lies we tell ourselves is that if we obey God when we don't feel like it, we are being a hypocrite. When you're told to take out the trash, do you refuse to do it because you don't feel like it and doing so will make you a hypocrite?

Obeying when we don't feel like it is not hypocrisy. Jesus wants us to take up our cross and follow him but if it was not a burden, what is the point of Jesus telling us to take up our cross? if it cost us nothing or if we would do it anyway, what's the point of telling us to do it. There are times that we won't feel like obeying but when we choose to obey ANYWAY, we are saying "nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." An example given before is - are you a hypocrite for getting out of bed in the morning when you dont feel like it? You're only a hypocrite if you don't get out of bed and pass comment on those that don't get out of bed.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

If you lack the willingness.. do the right thing anyway but ask God for the willingness because it is the WILL and the DO of His good pleasure that comes from God. But you have to take a first step and leave the journey to God. Trust and obey ==> Grace?

How do you Know God's Will? Grace from God

There is something about grace which we forget. Grace is divine enablement to do what we should be doing. This implies obedience. One thing we often forget is that grace only powers you while you are obeying. The decision to seek God or obey him is for you to make first. The power to carry that decision is given by God.

So when seeking God's will on something, you need to get the ball rolling even if it means picking up the ball. Every step, seek God's confirmation that He is wanting you to be doing this (I guess this is where signs can come in?) How far that ball rolls could probably help you determine whether it is God's will. (This all presumes that you can clearly see that what you are doing is in obedience to Him). WOuld God show you a sign that you are walking in the right direction when you are seeking to obey him? Think about it. Why wouldnt He? He delights in our obedience. God created the world and what is all that power going to be used for if not for encouraging his people to obey Him? So His divine enablement is correlated to the level of conformity your decision has to God's priorities.

So another connection drawn. God's grace, His divine enablement, is how God shows us His will. If Grace is the superpower to do what God wants you to do, then seeking God's will is finding out what God wants you to do. When you have power to do it, grace is helping you find God's will.. think that makes sense..

No God's Grace leads to Bitterness

Bitterness has an element of frustration with yourself. It could be letting yourself into a situation which you wish you hadn't entered or it could be with your inability to deal with a current situation. In the tragic story of King David's son raping his sister, strange thing happens with Amnon who ends up hating the sister he lusted after. Why? Bitterness?

2 Samuel 13:15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

In a sense, he hated himself for getting himself into that situation and hated her for letting it happen. This doesn't happen when we obey God because His assurance that we are on the right track helps us deal with the unpleasant things that obedience brings about. However, when you want to hack through life on your own, in disobedience to God, you will end up hating yourself and feeling bitter with others.

God's grace is the supernatural ability to do what God wants you to do and to be what we ought to be. Without it, we can be bitter people. Situations and people can overwhelm us. However, when God is giving us grace, it is always sufficient to deal with ALL situations.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Its the supernatural counter balance that helps you get through the trial, temptation or area of service. When you have grace from God, it is evident. You are overflowing with God's provision such that you don't lack anything.

Psalms 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

When we have grace, we can't be bitter because with grace, we are contented. When we are contented, we don't become bitter. No one is able to deprive us when our supply comes from God. Whatever people do, we are stable when we drink from the God's living stream.

Don't want to be bitter? Get grace from God. How do you get grace? see this post. If anything doesn't sound right here, feel free to comment.

I'm Lonely. Does anyone care? God Understands - Psalm 139

We are never alone. God knows and undestands us intimately. God cares for us and uses the Psalms to show that he understands this feeling of loneliness.

Lonely Lies: Nobody notices me
Psalms 139:1 <> O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.

(LORD in capitals means the personal name of God. He knows everything about us and when we are alone and sad, He is there. He takes personal interest in your life and loves you. Friends may fail us but God will always be there. He knows all our sins and died to save us. How much more will he embrace his child when they are lonely?)

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

(We are never outside his presence. He surrounds us. We can't escape God's love for us)

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

(He knows everything you did. He knows the secret thoughtst that we would be embarrassed to admit to anyone else. Even so he still loves you)

Lonely Lies: I want to be alone
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

(When God sees us in need. He takes initiative to lay his hand on us. To comfort us if we want it).

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Lonely Lies: Nobody wants me around
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

(Our natural reaction when we are depressed and sad is to push others away. We don't want others around us because no one understands. However, we can never leave God's presence. God knows that while you are running, you actually want comfort. When others give up on making you feel better, God continues to stand next to us to comfort us.)

Lonely Lies: I'm just a cosmic accident or part of evolution, not created by a loving God
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

(When we say "who cares about me?" The answer is, God cares about us. He formed us meticulously and carefully and even bothered to make sure your DNA is unique to everyone else just to show you that he knows you specifically. It is a comfort to know not just SOMEONE cares but a God who created everything and us, cares.)

Lonely Lies: God doesn't care about the forsaken, downcast and lonely.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

(God is the great avenger and empathises with people who are cast down, wronged or abused. God will judge. But he is also merciful so come just as you are to your loving God. The God who was betrayed by his disciple, he knows how it feels to be alone).