RJ - FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

PROPHETIC WORDS – I believe it is a time that the church will understand who we are called to be and live out our lives in true worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! The Church will be marked by authenticity as it displays the glory of the Lord and many will be attracted to hear the good news of the kingdom. I see a church that is hungry for a move of His Spirit and not in a fruity way, but of genuine change of heart, as we surrender to the goodness of God over our lives. Joy will be in abundance and victory will be in the ranks, as the praise goes up, healing will follow. So lift your heads, people! This is the time, says the Lord, the time of my favour, the time of my blessing, the time of the harvest, the season of miracles! Amen!

John 4:23-24 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Speak about living a life of worship…couldn’t shake it this week!

Worship is more than singing songs

What does a life of Worship look like?

WORSHIP MEANING

1. The primary Hebrew word for worship.

a. Shachah - "to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royalty or God): bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship."

2. Three Greek words.

a. Proskuneo - "meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand), to fawn or crouch to, homage (do reverence to, adore): worship." It occurs 59 times in the New Testament. It originally carried with it the idea of subjects falling down to kiss the ground before a king or kiss their feet.

b. Sebomai - "to reverence, hold in awe." Used 10 times in the New Testament.

c. Latreuo - "to render religious service of homage." Used 21 times in the New Testament.

3. The word in the English language. Literally means to ascribe worth to something.

4. True worship begins with a deep respect or reverence for God, a frame of heart, an attitude.

· Romans 12:1-8 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[a] I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.[b] 2 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

3 Because of the privilege and authority[c] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[d] 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

As New Testament believers, this is what the act of “worship” is really all about. It’s about being fully and completely surrendered to the in-dwelling spirit of God, by being holy and striving to please Him, being different from the world

· Love God with all your heart & obey Him with all your life – Russell Evans

Esther & Abram (Abraham)

Susa – Persia – They lived there a separate people (jews) – exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon, under King Nebuchadnezzar. Where they lived scattered throughout the area, able to live relatively freely.

Interesting to note: Babylon represents spiritually the worldly system that is opposed to God – where we are right NOW!

Orphan, raised by her cousin Mordecai

King Xerxes

Esther 4:1 -17

Genesis 12

ABRAM (ABRAHAM)

Mesopotamia - Canaan (land of promise)

Leave your family, I’ll bless you Genesis 11 - Harran - worshipped the Moon God Abram - living in the middle of moon worshipers 1. MARKED BY OBEDIENCE - Abraham & Esther obeyed with faith - God called them to a place of the unknown - They listen & obey

Esther was obedient submitted to Gods plan for her life and changed the plan of the enemy over an entire nation/generation.

Leave (go) even if you’re not sure of the destination – Abraham & Esther went, both not knowing the destination.

The call is personal and comes with personal sacrifice. You need to leave the familiar behind and step into new territory.

Purpose is realised in obedience

2. MARKED BY WORSHIP – ABRAHAM establishes a new lifestyle - monotheism - worship of the one true God - marked by a worshipful heart. 12:7 Abraham built an altar. He was called to live a radical new life. Worship kept him grounded.

ESTHER fasted & prayed – bowed down low for the glory of the Lord to be displayed I her life. She didn’t let go of her worship in the middle of hostile territory.

3. MARKED BY SUBMISSION - 12 months of preparation - not knowing if she would ever be picked and walk into the destiny she was preparing for. No whinging no grumbling – but doing what God put in her hand to do for the day.

Teachable – she listened… to Mordercai & Hegai (the keeper of the Kings Harem)

Sometimes preparation takes a long time and sometimes you have a sense but you really don’t know what God or when God is going to use you Submit to preparation anyway!

4. MARKED BY LEGACY- Left a legacy for others. Abraham moves throughout the land of Canaan. Became major worship centres for the people of Israel.

Beginning of the 12 tribes of Israel. Father of nations.

Esther, saved her people & changed the course of a nation, because she chose to live a life of worship.

Worship that impacts generations – children and their children & their children’s, children!

AGE IS NO LIMITATION - Abram was 75! Esther was 15 when married & 20 when she saved the nation!

Gods plan will be realised! And His promise for you will come to pass if you stay the course. Territory gained, victory’s won and generations blessed!

BAND UP - Champion

Live a life of worship:

Family issue that keeps coming up each generation…stops here

Work issue that you can’t fix….gone in Jesus name

Titles that have plagued you and tried to define you… gone

Poverty……broken

Depression….replaced with joy

Addiction…..replaced with freedom

Hallelujah!!!