“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:10 NKJV)
What does it mean to “Fear the Lord”? The word used in this passage is: יִרְאָה yir’ah (yir·ä’ Strong’s Hebrew 3374). Fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety. We are to come into the presence of Almighty God, with respect and reverence.
The Church today, has become a place of entertainment. When Worship is going on, folks feel free to socialize with their neighbor. Just showing up like you are ready to go to the beach, and get your one hour in, is not reverence. How did God set standards for Worship, in the Old Covenant?
In the book of Leviticus, Chapter 21, are the Regulations for Conduct of the Priests. There were strict guidelines, for purity, dress, and procedures. Violating any of these commands, resulted in instant death! God was serious about the level of reverence, that was required for worship.
We get the word worship, from two words, Worth-Ship.
Worth: placing extreme value on something.
Ship: to shape, the demonstration, and understanding of that worth.
The act of worship shows God how much we value Him, and all that He has done for us. It is no wonder the angels in heaven, are in a constant state of worship.
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3) And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.’
6) ‘Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7) The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8) The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:’
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
9) ‘Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10) the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:’
11) “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:2-11 NKJV).
All throughout the Word, we have examples of how we should be worshiping:
“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” (Psalm 95:2 NKJV).
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV).
Nowhere in these passages, does it say we come to Church and TAKE IN. It is what we BRING, and GIVE OUT, that makes our time of worship, beneficial to all. We have the purpose of Church all wrong! It is not about us, but it is ALL about Him.
We need to bring back the Fear of The Lord, into our Churches, and lives. I guarantee it will make an immediate difference. CHRIS
We will continue in Part 2. CHRIS
Covenant Chronicles with Chris Lovett 