The Concept of Worship
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The Concept of Worship
Concept, we must first understand what concept is. Concept- according to the Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 1. Concept is something that is conceived in the mind: thought, notion. 2. An abstract or generic idea generalized from particular instances synonym, it is that past participle of concipere or to conceive. Gonna talk about conceiving in a minute.
2. concept adjective. An adjective describes in detail a thing Concept described is 1. organized around a main idea or theme (here the main idea, the concept is worship……worship is the main idea). 2. A concept is created to illustrate a concept.
In other words, a concept originates in the mind it starts out as abstract.
I’m trying to explain concept before we get to worship. Because the Lord spoke to me and {prophetic} told me that “my people don’t really understand what worship truly is.”
Worship is more than coming to church. There are many parts to worship and {prophetic} God says “there are some people who think they worship me but they really don’t.”
I have brackets here that say {prophetic} to remind me if when God is speaking to me. But there will be some that will disregard because you think it is Bishop Adkins just saying what he believes or what he thinks…..but I want to assure you that God is speaking…..or you willing to listen and obey?
(Let’s start again with abstractness). I know this is meaty this morning….but for the babes don’t worry you’ll eat at the table this morning.
Concept originates in the mind, it starts out as an abstract thought. Abstract therefore is a disassociation from any specific instance. Webster describes it as difficult to understand.
Thought:
Many of you might know this, but along with being a preacher and musician (and please don’t take this is me hyping myself because it is far from that…..I’m must using an example), I am also an artist. See most of you all think you know me…..my wife has been married to me for 23 years, we live in the same house and there are things that she is still learning about me.
I went to school for graphic design, I have drawn and painted all of my life…..why? Because Bishop Joe Adkins is a musician and he is an artist too….yeah he can draw.
I took art in high school, took art in college, so I know how to draw a little bit, I know how to work with different media, know how to paint with water color, but I took classes with oil painting because water color was boring….been doing that since I was a kid.
My wife will tell you and she probably has forgot about this (yall hang in there….I’m going some where with all this stuff….I’m not just rambling). I love abstract art….I’m a huge find of it. There are some people who when they look at art they like to see concrete images. I like art that is abstract because the artist paints from their soul, their feeling, it gives every one a chance to interpret the piece differently. I love art museums…..I’m not interested in the pretty painted house, or the plate of fruit, or the the individual that’s been painted. I want to see the stuff that has different shapes and colors because it speaks to me. What was he or she thinking, how did they come up with this concept for this painting it is interesting to me.
Most people don’t like abstract art because they don’t understand it. I let my wife do most of the decorating around the house, but is I had my way….I would have a gallery of abstract art with abstract pieces and furniture and color to match the art piece to make the art piece pop and stand out to initiate conversation. I actually have a nice piece that she put up….lol.
Abstract is also to consider apart from application to or association with a particular instance.
So NOW……HOW DO WE APPLY WORSHIP? Do we truly understand the CONCEPT OF WORSHIP? Worship has to originate in the mind…..AND THAT IS WHERE THE BATTLE BEGINS BECAUSE YOUR CARNAL MIND DOES NOT WANT TO WORSHIP!!!
LET’S BE REAL…..I THINK YOU CAN BE REAL IN HERE THIS MORNING…..FOR SOME OF US IT IS A STRUGGLE TO WORSHIP!!! WHY?
Because number one we have are carnal mind to contend with that is enmity against God the scriptures says (scripture).
Our flesh automatically doesn’t want to worship. That’s why most of us have certain days a week that we worship God when true worship is not restricted to one day.
Our flesh has to be in the mood to worship. Or we don’t like how the song sounds, but if you think about the lyrics and ponder what the artist may be saying it should evoke a response in you.
Our flesh feels uncomfortable doing the things of God but feels gratified doing that which is agains the will of God. Paul summed it up best by saying….it is no more I but the sin in me.
Resume August 18
Resume August 18
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 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. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Last week we talked about the concept of worship.....spent some time talking about understanding concept and we will pickup where we left off.
Last week, one of the last points that we made is that when our worship is true and pure it is like a soothing aroma going up to God and when we have worship correct and when worship is true and pure and untainted.....God responds to our worship.
But there are some who struggle with worshipping God. Why?
We really don’t understand the concept of worship because it is abstract in mind.
Worship is not clear in our mind, we have it in our mind but we don’t know how to get it out or how to properly engage. We think we understand it but we really do not understand it.
Last Sunday we dealt a little with the difference between abstract and concrete. Again, concept begins with an abstract ideal in the mind. It is in the mind, but it is not concrete yet it is a thought that develops in the mind. In the problem with some people is that their worship is stuck in abstract, it is not concrete.
But worship has to go from being a concept, it has to go from being abstract and stuck in the mind to being concrete, it needs to go from concept to conception.
With an artist, art begins in the mind as a concept.....as an artist you then begin to take what is in the mind and then you work on it and develop it until it becomes concrete and is illustrated or externalized.
Our worship must then evolve from concept to conception and one of the reasons why some of us struggle with worship as a whole is that our worship is not conception but misconception.
Concept is the root word for conception. What is conception? Conception is the process of becoming pregnant involving fertilization or implantation or both. I won’t to focus on the implantation part.
BIG POINT: WHEN GOD HAS BEEN IMPLANTED IN YOUR MIND IT SHOULD BRING FORTH SOMETHING.
A mother when she is implanted with seed immediately begins to go through changes!
When God get’s in your mind….change should happen!
Her body begins to shift and for 9 months her body prepares to bring forth! Someone say bring forth!
We start to see the signs, the face plumps, there is a glow, the appetite changes. And as the fetus in sides her grows, the belly begins to protrude out.
Spiritual application
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
AND THEN AGAIN:
He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
God implants us with his word! It is through his word that we get to know who God is. And when his word is in us: we go through changes us:
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
It is the word of God that sanctifies us. There is a misconception out there that we have the ability to sanctify ourselves.
Secondly, not only does God implant us with his word, but when we apply faith with the word the Bible declares:
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
The bible then says:
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Jesus himself said:
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
To quicken means to make alive! When the word is planted in your mind, when you receive the Spirit of God, it doesn’t make you dead......IT MAKES YOU ALIVE!!!
JESUS WHEN HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN HE WAS BROUGHT FORTH FROM THE DEAD!!! HE WAS QUICKEN!!! That’s why you should be concerned if every now and then you don’t receive a quickening in the spirit!!!
Misconception: Better make sure you’re not a Still-Born. A Still-born doesn’t move, a Still-born doesn’t breath, a Still-born doesn’t make a sound, a Still-born doesn’t live. And don’t get this twisted, it is more than just a feeling.....the essence of worship is not emotionalism, the essence of worship isn’t only speaking in tongues, but worship is the prostrating of one’s self to the will of God. Worship is the bringing forth of homage to God.
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.
WHEN GOD IS IN MY MIND AND WHEN GOD IS IN MY SPIRIT, WHEN I UNDERSTAND WHO GOD IS, IT PRODUCES, IT BRINGS FORTH WORSHIP!!! IT IS DEMONSTRATED IN MY WALK, IT IS DEMONSTRATED IN MY TALK, IT IS DEMONSTRATED IN MY WORSHIP:
It looks like this:
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
This was how worship was conducted. Not even the angels in heaven do what we do. But again worship isn’t just restricted to an outward appearance:
It is a life consecrated to God, it is us living for God, it is an outward demonstration of the inward manifestation of God.
This is why Jesus told the Samaritan woman “They that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth!!!”
It is the word of God and Jesus is the word of God, he is the Logos, but word of the Lord, and the Spirit of God should produce WORSHIP IN THE BELIEVERS LIFE!!!
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
The misconception is that we don’t truly understand this scripture. There are somethings THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THE POWER TO CLEAN OUT OF YOU! ONLY JESUS CAN DO IT. Know the difference between holiness and self-righteousness. It is God that makes us holy, not you, it is God that sanctifies us, not you, because if you could do it, then there was no need for Jesus to come and die for your sins. If you could clean yourself then what do you need Jesus for.
The correct understanding of this scripture is posturing ourselves. Because there are some people that enjoy their sin that they don’t want to be clean. Life teaches us, that if we are dirty, if we are smelly, then we need to go the shower, the tub, and if you don’t have that a sink, turn on the water and wash up. In order for you to clean yourself......from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, you need to God to the Holy Ghost Shower!!! You need to go to Jesus!!! Let the Lord clean you up, let the Lord purify you, let the Lord sanctify you! And if we have ways that we know are not pleasing to God......don’t stay dirty......bring yourself to Him and TELL HIM CLEAN ME UP JESUS!!!! REPENT!!!!
FOR THE RECORD, THIS SCRIPTURE IS NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT GETTING THINGS OR CLEANING THINGS OUT OF YOU THAT SHOULD BE THERE, THAT IS THE SURFACE UNDERSTANDING. THE DEEP UNDERSTANDING IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE CLEAN, YOU NEED TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE UNCLEAN THING.
Paul said first “do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Verse 16 “Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. Ahhhh so we see the saints in the Corinthian church was still having some dealing with their old pagan traditions, they were so programmed and used to being with their friends, yes they were saved but still going to these pagan temples, yes they were saved, but they were new in the faith and when you are weak in the faith and you don’t have enough word in you and power of the Holy Ghost your unsaved friends, your unsaved husband can pull you out of the church. That’s why Paul said “marry only in the Lord.”
I know you love them, but the LORD said “COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE” SAYS THE LORD. I KNOW YOU WANT TO BLEND IN BUT YOU CAN’T BLEND IN YOUR DIFFERENT NOW……GOD HAS IMPLANTED IN YOU HIS WILL, HE HAS IMPLANTED IN YOU HIS WORD, HE HAS IMPLANTED IN YOU HIS SALVATION, HE HAS IMPLANTED IN YOU HIS SPIRIT.
IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO START SHOWING IT. A mother can only conceal her pregnancy for so long before she starts showing.
IT’S TIME FOR US TO START SHOWING SAINTS…. IT’S NOT TIME FOR YOU TO BLEND IN…..IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO STAND OUT. WE DO A GOOD JOB OF BLENDING IN WHEN WE COME TO CHURCH…..AND IF YOU’RE DOING THAT IN THE CHURCH I CAN IMAGINE WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN THE STREET.
But if it be any consolation, I see a whole lot of growth in the church. I say people’s lives being changed, I see people opening up to God and allowing God to have his way, I see people taking what God has invested them with and sharing it with others, and I see you growing and I see the church growing…..and we have to keep at it. I’m starting to see people get loose in church, starting to see people open up to God and worship God.
Let’s take it home now:
Therefore: Understanding the concept of worship. The ideal of worship, what does worship truly consist of?
Worship is the reverential response to an all encompassing magnificent God. Worship is a response…..there should be a response. In order to truly worship God you have to see God for who He is.
That and of it’s self is a challenge. Because our minds (again which is enmity against God) has a hard time processing exactly who God is. Because some have in their head who they think is Jesus but it is really Cesare Borgia. Do me a favor if you have your find google Cesare Borgia. Who does he look like? That fake Jesus you been worshipping. Oh I know some of yall bout to be mad. Some people are so racist in thought, that they are arguing over what Jesus looked like. And guess what to me, I know what the scriptures says, he is described clearly in scriptures, but yet at the same time.....I don’t care if he was purple or green.....He came to die for my sins, deliver me, and to give me an inheritance amongst the saints of God!!!
But did not the Lord say:
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
It doesn’t matter what he looks like…..I can assure you he don’t look like a european. What matters is that he came and died for our sins! Those pictures......those pictures of Jesus.....don’t matter what color he is in the picture.....you are worshipping a graven image. That crucifix you’re walking around with I know it is suppose to represent Jesus but we don’t know exactly how he looks therefore it is a graven image.
You’re looking at this handsome fake Jesus but the scripture says:
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
It is contrary to the images that we have been conditioned to and that is why some of us can’t really tap into true worship, because we worshipping a false idol.
Jesus said:
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
I don’t need an image to worship God. Some of you can’t worship God because the condition for your worship has to be met. It has to be the right song, the right person has to be singing it, it has to be the right tempo, the right genre. You base your worship off of a feeling and if you don’t feel nothing you won’t worship.
But worship is not based upon a feeling, worship is not based upon a circumstance, worship is based upon who God is. Who is God? He is the Lord of Host, he is the King of King and Lord of Lords, He is the Creator of the Universe, He is the Great I Am, He is the Prince of Peace, He is the Alpha and Omega, He is a Rock in weary land, a shelter in the time of storm, He is Jehovah Jireh, my provider, He is Jehovah Shalom, He is my peace, He is Jehovah Tsidkenu- my righteousness…..because when I couldn’t live righteous enough Jesus came and died for me.
I’ll find you in a minute…..ask your neighbor WHO IS GOD TO YOU? He is my Jehovah Rapha my healer, He is Jehovah Olam the eternal everlasting God with no beginning and no end, the one who never slumbers nor sleeps, God is always on the Job!
He is Jehovah El Roi, it means God sees…..when I find myself in trouble…..Hagar found herself in trouble, thrusted out from Abraham’s house with her baby, no water in the desert, she cried but an angel showed up to comfort her and when she thought it was over, the angel said take another look, and she saw a spring and she begin to worship God and called Him Jehovah El Roi, the God that sees…..the God that knows.
I believe by now there ought to be sometime of worship response……WHO IS GOD TO YOU!?
HE IS MY JEHOVAH NISSI, HE IS MY BANNNER……HE FIGHTS FOR ME…..I SAID HE FIGHTS FOR ME….MY GOD…..I FEEL A RESPONSE!
He is Jehovah Ebenezer a stone of help….when I’m sinking he provides stability.
But there is one name that is above all name that:
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
And that name is translated Yah which means God and Husua which mean “is my salvation”.
Yahushua
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
I’m not hear to debate with the ignorants about the name of Jesus. Because if you knew anything about antiquity you would understand that the pagans had different names for their regional gods, but most of them were the same God’s just different names.
And so yes, Yahushua HaMashiach is Jesus Christ and Christ is not a name but a title to describe who he is and that means He is the Messiah the promised one foretold of the prophets. And so Jesus is Jesus in Spanish, Jesus is Isa in Arabic, In Chinese he is Yesu, in Japanese it is Iesu, in Greek it is Iesus, in Zulu it is uJesu.
But what is so wonderful is that all though we have different languages, and all though we have different pronunciation we don’t serve a dumb God, we serve a all knowing and all seeing God! And God is so intelligent that he knows when we are calling his name because he sees our heart! Because you can use any of these pronunciation and the devil will know who you’re calling on! And when I call on Jesus the devil gotta back up, when I call on Jesus healing happens, when I call on Jesus demons tremble, when I call on Jesus miracles happen!
End Part 1
Why a response. Because when there is stimuli, there should be a response. I preached a couple of weeks ago from the subject matter “But God”. Within that message I told the saints that there is an inward response that should matriculate to an
outward response.
Conception vs Misconception