Translated

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Enoch was translated by faith. The word translate means to change, remove, to put.

 

Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

We have read that to worship God we must worship him in Spirit and in truth.

 

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

Our faith must rest on the true God and Jesus his son. The LORD requires faith to move in his people.

 

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

What else is needed besides faith and true worship? It is a continual walk in the presence of God.

 

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. 

Strange Worship

  

Some music that is supposed to be for worship just does not move me. I must examine my own heart and seek to be in tune with it. When reading in the book of Amos I found that God is not always pleased with man's form of worship. Is God pleased with our worship? Is it from the heart? Just because worship is loud, doesn't mean that it is spiritual. The prophets of Baal screamed and danced around to their dumb idol. God speaks to us with a still small voice.

Amo 4:4  Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
Amo 4:5  And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Amo 4:6  And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Let me explain this as I see it. Israel was worshipping in temples that God did not approve of. They worshipped the Golden calf idol. They offered leaven, which is sin and free offerings for this liketh you. The key words are "this liketh you". You are enjoying yourself worshiping and singing, but it is not to me. God is not glorified in this, he is not honored or impressed. When I hear worldly music entering the church, I wonder if the LORD is pleased?

 I also give you cleanness of teeth, which means he gave them a famine to draw them back to him; no food to stain their teeth.

Music and worship are to be in spirit and in truth. Not some false "feel good emotional spirit to another god of our making."  God expects worship to glorify him. Is the music Biblical? Does it glorify the LORD or  self? Pray about what is to be the worship. Is it true? Is it Spiritual? Is it a solo performance or for all to sing? These are my thoughts. It appears to me that many of the church do not really know what they believe. They could easily be led away, like the new age movement, because they do not know God's word and do not know the Lord.

Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Let us prepare our hearts for worship and pray that it pleases the LORD.

Worship Music

Worship is between you and God. It is personal and deep from the heart. I love the old hymns and their anointed messages. Some of the newer hymns are beautiful. One of my favorites for worship is "As the Deer"

 

As The Deer - YouTube

 

Ps 42:1 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.

Ps 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 

 

This was one of my first web pages...

 

http://www.ilovejesus.com//worship/mpj/

 

When we are in God's presence the entire creation will sing in worship and praise.

The Gift of Music

We went to the Alzheimer wing of a nursing home for church and the old hymns were played. Many joined us there including family visiting. Bob sang a popular hymn from the 1950's. 

 

THIS OLD HOUSE by STUART HAMBLEN - YouTube

 

I love the old hymns. Most are messages from the Bible. I have been making instrumental parts for a Brass Sextet that I was asked to join. Many of these great hymns of the faith are no longer played. Some in our group are from the old time denominations, Christian Churches that still sing the old hymns. There are beautiful new hymns as well.

 

Psa 33:1  Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psa 33:2  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Psa 33:3  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
Psa 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

I understand a new song as music coming from the heart, making it new. Just like the word of God if it is spoken by the Spirit of God it takes on new life in the hearer. An old hymn can take on new life if played and arranged in harmony pleasing to the ear.

 

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

 

Some by the Spirit speak in tongues, while others speak music from their heart or preach from his Spirit new incites to make the Word of God come alive.

 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Thank you LORD for the gift of music to minister grace to the hearer.

 

What is in the Temple?

 Zerubbabel's Temple Dedication

There was something missing from all the temples in Jerusalem after Solomon's temple was destroyed; the indwelling presence of God. What good is a temple without God's presence? It became a place of sacrificing animals and rituals, but also a place of prayer.

Ezra 6:16  And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,

Ezra 6:17  And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
Ezra 6:18  And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.

 Compare this to the dedication of Solomon's temple.

 

2 Chr 7:5  And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.

2 Chr 7:6  And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

 

2 Chr 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Zerubbabel's temple was smaller and did not have the Ark of the Covenant which was the place of the presence of God's Spirit. The Ark was destroyed or missing and according to Ezekiel the presence of God had left the Ark and the temple, before it was destroyed by the Chaldean's because of the idolatry of God's people.

 

Ezek 10:18  Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Ezek 10:19  And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

Ezek 11:23  And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

 

The glory of God went to the place where Jesus would ascend up into the clouds. This is the very place where Jesus would return again according to Zechariah's prophecy.

 

Zec 14:4  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

What purpose is a temple without the presence of God? It became a place of rituals. Animals were killed to cover the sins of the people. They kept a Sabbath and the feasts, these were outward rituals.  I can imagine that there are churches and synagogues today that are just places of rituals; religion without the presence of God's spirit. How could they bring the presence of God back to the temple? Jesus answered this question when he was talking to the Samaritan woman at the well.

 

John 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Seek the truth in the rituals, read the scriptures, they are where God speaks to us. He also inhabits our worship and praise. The spirit of God no longer dwells in a box, God has left the Ark here on earth. He is not in a temple made by hands, he is in his creation, but more importantly he now is in the temples of our bodies through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith, we receive his grace. When he departed from our presence, he sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be the presence of God in the temples of our bodies. The Spirit loves the Word of God and praise to God He also helps us to pray in the will of God in words or in groanings not understood. Yes the presence of God has returned, not to a house made with hands, but in the temple of your body, if you are in Christ Jesus. We meet together, this is church. We together are the church and the presence of God.

Worship the LORD

We are to sing praises to the Lord daily and we are to do His will. We worship with a song in our hearts to our Creator who is worthy of all our praise.

 

1 Chron 16:23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.

24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be revered above all gods.

26 The gods of other nations are merely idols, but the LORD made the heavens!

27 Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty are in his dwelling.

28 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD, recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.

29 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come to worship him. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. (NLT)

 

The creation proclaims the glory of the Creator and we who are redeemed by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are commanded to tell all the world the good news of salvation, through faith in the Son of God.

 

Psa_33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mar 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Mar 16:20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.  

 

Forget all the bad news, sing forth the good news with a heart of thanksgiving!

 

The Glory of the LORD

2Ch 5:11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:

2Ch 5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
2Ch 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
2Ch 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

The Ark was in place in the temple. All gathered to praise the LORD in one accord. Voices and instruments together making joyful praise unto the LORD. Oh if God's people would stop fighting over differences and come together in truth to praise God, then we will see the glory of the LORD in our presence.

Ezekiels vision

Eze 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.
Eze 10:5 And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.

Because of their heartfelt praise in unity, the presence of the LORD filled the house with a cloud. The priest could not stand to minister because of the glorious presence of the LORD. Flesh must bow to the presence of the LORD.

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 45:24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
Isa 45:25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

Psa 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Many fall at the touch of man, some have the power of God, some do not.

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

We want the real thing, the awesome presence of God in our assemblies. This will happen by walking in the spirit of truth in unity and in total praise. This means we sing holy songs that honor and glorify the LORD. Worship flows from the heart and invites the presence of the LORD.