Praise Break: Just Give Me 15 Minutes!

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Do You Know What Worship & Reverence Really Is?

There are more than a few comments that have been made in light of the Bishop Jackson ordination controversy. Though I have addressed other aspects of the issue in the previous post, another one of the criticisms is that the Bishop's laying prostrate on the floor was and ungodly act because it was a form of male emaciation, Roman Catholicism or Masonic in origin.

Statements like that not only show a hatred for Catholics, (which I believe is ungodly in and of itself, certainly non-Christian) but also ignorance of scriptures and the act of worship. Simply stated, worship didn't begin neither will it end with the Catholic church, and it is certainly not defined by Masonry and is not an emaciation of men or males. So there needs to be a disconnection between these issues and I believe obscurity exists because the devil is a deceiver and men are more open to being deceived now like never before.  

What Does Worship In Spirit & Truth Look Like?

The bible commands that the requirement for worship is that it must be in Spirit and in Truth.

John 4:24 ~ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

First of all, worship begins in the heart and mind of the individual. That worship must be directed at the ONE who is the TRUTH and that is God himself. The key to this is that worship actually begins long before it can be seen. However, there are things we can do to symbolize our worship and reverence towards God that God respects, honors and encourages. Some of those things outlined in the bible include, raising and clapping one's hands, yelling or shouting, speaking well of HIM and praising his name, dancing and singing, meditating, studying, praying, fasting and the list goes on and on.  

Laying prostrate on the floor as an act or reverence, devotion, yielding and honor is in solid biblical order as well. This is also an act of the deepest humility. Here are just a few scriptures in support of my assertion:

Lev. 9:24 ~ And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Matt. 2:11 ~ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Isa. 66:23~ And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. (Many modern translations say "BOW DOWN")

Ps. 95:6 ~ O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. (What does bowing down begin with? KNEELING, bending and lowering one's self...)

Micah 6:6~ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Rev. 4:10-11 ~ 10-The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11-Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created

Rev. 7:11 ~And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Falling on one's face was an act, one of the most high acts of reverence:

Num. 16:45 ~ Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces

1 Kings 18:39 ~ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

1 Chron 21:16 ~ And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

In addition to all of this, in 2 Chronicles 5 we note the the Priests "could not stand" in the presence of the Lord because the glory of the Lord was so strong. In Chapter 1 the Prophet Ezekiel saw the Lord and the heavenly host, couldn't stand on his feet and recorded the following in Ch.1:28:

"As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake." 

As we can see, one of the most solidly affirmed biblical practices is that of falling on one's face, bowing down to God or kneeling in utter humility and submission. 

The Fast Food Christian Generation

Now, this is a "fast food" generation and though it (by way of Christian believers) quote all kinds of scripture to make all kinds of points, I have wondered does this generation really know or have an experience of any  kind with God? We now believe in "fast food" Christianity, which includes the  "God understands me" type living and lifestyle, that simply says what it says, does what it does and claims that "God loves me anyhow"....We live in the generation of them that can tell you a thing or two, but when confronted with the truth and error of their ways, runs to the hills and every mountain for safety and security and agreement. Paul wasn't wrong, this is what they do even under the "guise" of Christian truth:

2 Timothy 4:3 ~For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Well...THESE are the times!!!!!!

Lack Of Personal Experience With God 

This may be offensive to some, of that I am sure, but the problem is, as I see it, a serious lack of any personal experience with the true and living God. 

Judges 2:10 ~ And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

This new generation. has relegated truth and truth seeking to radio blurbs, TV personalities, internet expostulation, blogs, daily rants on Facebook, Tumbler and even Tweets.  Personal experience and reverential worship to God are things of antiquity, lore or folklore. The movement of God and the people to really be responsive to God in public worship has been reduced to "casting out devils" (because many of the same critics can only find devils in the church and believe that everyone but THEM has one...go figure!) and various types of "healings" that many times only they and their adherents attest to or confirm. 

See, I have had my experience in a very real and personal way. I KNOW and have experienced and seen the healing power of God. I have PERSONALLY seen and peered into spiritual things undefined by natural realm or natural processes. So I KNOW beyond scripture that God exists and the scriptures are real. I have been there for myself and given my life to the pursuit of that ever ongoing and real TRUTH. 

Laying prostrate on the floor is an ordinary and even necessary experience for me. When I see a Catholics do it, it is only something that I pray that is blessing them and something by which they receive from God. To demonstrate this form of humility before God blesses me. So far as the rest, (as it pertains to the ordination) our scriptural opinion is clear, but the profane in no way overshadows the HOLY nor the HOLY God we serve. Thank God for that!  

My question to you is, have you been there or do you go?

Blessed!

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