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The Most Deadliest Virus

Did you know there is a much more deadlier virus than COVID-19 on the loose – One with 100% mortality rate? While the variants of COVID-19 is once again in the spotlight, acting the lead role of a villain in a horror movie, there is a more deadlier and contagious problem than Covid-19 on the loose. It has stolen, destroyed and killed so many lives and devastated families since the dawn of man kind. It started in the Garden of Eden and continues to today. No one is exempt. Every single person has it.

What is this deadly virus?

It is the SIN of mankind which eventually results in DEATH. The ever increasing COVID-19 death totals truly scares us. Little do we realize that worldwide, aside from these virus-related deaths, even in normal times 3 people die every second, 180 die every minute, almost 11,000 die every hour, and more than 250,000 perish every day. These statistics are shocking, aren’t they?

We are all living in a fallen, infectious, contaminated world dominated by SIN and all it’s ramifications which ultimately results in DEATH.

Symptoms of the SIN virus

Similar to cancer, the SIN virus spreads silently. Many people lead normal lives with cancer, without seeking treatment, because they don’t know they’re carrying a root of death within themselves. Those who live in sin often lead normal lives as well, without seeking reconciliation with God, because they don’t know they’re also carrying a root within that will lead them to hell.

But, just as cancer and other fatal diseases display symptoms, sin also has its symptoms. And the symptom of sin is disobedience.

A sin can be very well hidden, but the actions and reactions of a disobedient person show that sin is in their heart. The same way an internal disease manifests itself externally, in a visible form, through strange signs in the body, sin will also manifest itself externally through rebellious attitudes, in such a way that, what was invisible becomes visible.

Disobedience may be the tip of the iceberg of pride, malice, envy, racism, arrogance, lack of fear, being apart from God, selfishness, spiritual weakness, greed, sexual immorality, idolatry, and all other sins. 

Who has contracted the SIN virus?

The symptoms of SIN may or may not be visible on the outside, but the Bible tells us that every single person on the earth has tested positive for the SIN. There’s traces of it in our head, heart, and hands, and its effects cut across our body, soul and spirit. Globally, as of July 30, 2021, there have been 196,553,009 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4,200,412 deaths, reported to WHO. That means that of those who contracted the COVID-19 virus, 2.14% died from the virus world wide. Here in the U.S. the CDC reports a total of 34,926,462 confirmed cases with 610,873 deaths. So, for the U.S 1.75% of those who contracted COVID-19 died from the virus.

But the Bible tells us that every single person that has lived, other than Jesus, has contracted the SIN virus. Romans 3:23 says, “ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In fact, Adam and Eve were the first to contract the SIN virus and then they passed the virus down to every other person. One could say it’s in our DNA. Each one of us were born with it.

What is Sin?

Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18). Genesis 3 describes Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God and His command. Because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, sin has been an “inheritance” for all of their descendants. Romans 5:12 tells us that, through Adam, sin entered the world and so death was passed on to all men because all have sinned. This passed-on sin is known as inherited sin. Just as we inherit physical characteristics from our parents, we inherit our sinful nature from Adam.

So, 100% of the world population is infected with the SIN virus. Not only does 100% of the population have the SIN virus, 100% of the world-wide population will eventually die because of SIN. No one is immune and no one can escape the plague of SIN and DEATH.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death…”

The Origin of the SIN Virus

Since Covid 19 was discovered, there has been much research into where and how the virus started. But the Bible is very clear about the origin of SIN and DEATH. In the beginning God created a beautiful home full of potential for His creation of mankind and He placed the very first family in the Garden of Eden. Looking at everything God created, God Himself declared it all “GOOD.” It was all pure without any contamination. So what happened?

God didn’t create Adam and Eve as puppets on a string, they had A CHOICE, either they could trust and obey God to rule the world according to God’s standard OR they could eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil and rule the world according to their own standards. Using their free will they decided to cease living God’s way and chose to live their own way. As a result SIN, and consequently DEATH, starts leaking out into the world. Apostle Paul summarizes it in Romans 5:12. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”

Notice the progression in Romans 5:12: sin entered the world through Adam, death follows sin, death comes to all people, all people sin because they inherit sin from Adam.

The SIN Virus is a weapon against humanity

Satan is God’s enemy – but he is also our enemy. In the Garden of Eden, man was deceived to unleash a weapon against himself using his free will by disobeying God. And Satan has dedicated himself to continue deceiving mankind so that we will remove God from our lives. But the result is always the same – death. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Consequences of the SIN Virus

Every choice comes with a consequence. But when we choose to live our way, instead of God’s way, things start falling apart and we begin falling into a downward spiral of moral corruption and rebellion. Generation after generation the intensity and the magnitude of human rebellion increases until it reaches its the results that we see in our world today. The whole world is drowning again in a vicious cycle of Sin and death. It all started with a single act of disobedience and multiplied over the generations to a more destructive and resistant variants. Now what is the status of the good, perfect and uncontaminated world God created. It is all infected with the SIN virus and moving towards eternal DEATH.

God’s plan to rescue humanity

As hard as people have worked to find a vaccine effective against COVID-29, there is no one who can create a cure for the SIN Virus. Nor is there any person who save himself from it. So who is going to bring salvation to mankind? What kind of cure is powerful enough to neutralize the adverse effects of the poison released by the Sin virus? Who is the virologist who can calculate the correct genetic code for the right antivenom to confront and neutralize Sin and cure humanity of its effects? Thankfully, God had a plan to rescue humanity.

Who is capable to save humanity from the SIN Virus?

Even after repeated failures on the part of man, God is faithful to keep His promises. The moment the Sin birus entered into humanity in the Garden of Eden, God promised man that He himself will solve this problem, that God himself will provide THE WAY out for man. Through a promise which will never change God shows mankind a great light at the end of the dark tunnel of sin. God promised to raise THE SEED OF THE WOMAN who will put an end to the SIN and DEATH.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15

No matter how hopeless the situation seems our God can deliver us. A deadly contagious virus has invaded the whole worth but we still have hope. No matter how messed up humanity may seem God is able to bring the answer. And that answer demonstrates the total reckless and extravagant love of God for all mankind. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That’s right! His Only Son – Jesus – was sent into the world to save humanity from the SIN Virus.

The Antidote to Sin and Death

Yes, Jesus is God’s antidote to the Sin Virus and the death it brings. To understand this, let us refresh our memory on what we learned about producing antibodies for a venom in our science class. For example let’s consider how the antigen is produced to fight snake venom. The venom from the snake is obtained and injected to the host animal. When the uninfected host is injected the venom it’s pure blood forms the antivenom to fight the snake’s venom. The blood from the animal is drawn out the produced antibodies separated then concentrated and injected into the infected person.

Let’s unlock the principle here. An uninfected, pure host has to be injected with the venom of sin and the host’s blood which contains the antidote needs to be drawn out. What do you think would be the status of the host when all this happens?

2 Corinthians 5:11 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The Antidote was made on the Cross

This is what happened on the cross. Jesus lived a perfectly holy life in obedience to God and all His commandments. He never sinned. If He had sinned even once, then He could not have paid the penalty for our sin and become the sacrifice for us. He died as God’s chosen sacrifice to take away the sins of mankind. Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to counteract the deadly poison of sin.

The only antidote for sin and death is God’s gift of eternal life through the sacrifice of Jesus our Lord. Because “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), we need a perfect, sinless sacrifice to wash away our sin, something we are powerless to do on our own. Thankfully, Jesus Christ is the Savior from sin! Our sin has been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). God, in His infinite wisdom, has provided the remedy for the sin we inherit, and that remedy is available to everyone: “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you” (Acts 13:38).

The Antidote is sufficient

He rose from the grave and proved that His sacrifice alone was sufficient. He ascended to the Father’s right hand and He freely gives the VACCINE, eternal life, to all who repent of their sins and trust Him as Lord and Savior and receive Him by faith. It’s all provided freely, we don’t have to be in the waiting list, stand in line, make an appointment, bribe someone to get it, be scared of the side effects or worry about a second dose. It’s all given to humanity free of charge because Jesus paid the price for us.

So this is it. God provided the WAY, the cure, Jesus the Messiah. God provided the spotless lamb to die on our behalf. He died and His sacrifice gave us life. Humanity is no longer doomed to eternal destruction but we have a WAY out.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Our only hope against the SIN Virus

It is obvious the whole world is drowning in a sea of SIN virus. Humanity, along with the whole of creation, is groaning for salvation. I’m afraid the COVID 19 vaccine can’t fix this problem. The only hope for this dying world is to receive salvation, the cure provided by God Himself. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way.

The only question is, have you received the free gift Jesus offers to you that will save your from the SIN virus? There’s no time to waste, now is time to receive Jesus into your heart and give your life to Him. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” It is a decision and step of faith that you take in this life. Once you die, it will be too late to decide then. Romans 10:9-19 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

What will you do with the free antidote for the SIN Virus?

Remember earlier we said that every choice has a consequence? What you chose to do with the free antidote to the SIN Virus that God has provide has eternal consequences. When you accept by faith that Jesus is God’s antidote and that Jesus paid the price of death for you because of your sin, you will have the victorious consequence of eternal life. But if you chose to reject Jesus as the antidote that saves your from your SIN virus, your consequence is eternal separation from God in Hell. God has graciously provided the antidote. It is His give to us. You only have to reach out and accept it by faith. What will you do with the free antidote for the SIN Virus?

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God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

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Life is a Journey

Comfort in knowing God Instructs, Teaches, and Guides

With COVID numbers rising once again as a new strain of the virus emerges, it’s good to be reminded that God never takes His eyes off what is happening here on planet earth. When we seek Him with our whole heart and listen for His voice, He will instruct, teach and guide us as we make the journey in life. God initiated that journey the day of your conception and you will continue that journey until you have reached your eternal destination.

As we journey from here to there, we will find many paths that we must choose and if you listen, God will make it evident to you the path that is part of your intended journey. He will also use the paths of your journey to teach you and instruct you so that He can make you more like Him. Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.”

God instructs every step of our journey

At first we might think that instructing and teaching is the same thing, but there is a difference. When you instruct someone, you’re giving them a set of tools or tasks to do something specific. For example, if I want to crochet a blanket for my sister for her birthday today, I need to follow the instructions so that the blanket takes the correct shape and pattern. If I want to assemble a piece of furniture, I need to follow the step by step directions to avoid having to take things apart and reassemble over and over again.

Whenever I don’t follow the instructions of whatever project I’m working on, I can become frustrated, even angry, and give up. Walk away. Maybe to never pick it up again. Or perhaps, as a last resort, I pick up the instructions and decide the manufacturer actually knew what they were talking about and when I follow the instructions my project turns out well.

So whatever journey God outlined and ordained for your life, He instructs us by giving us the exact tools we need to do the specific journey that was designed for us. He will never tell us to do something without giving us the skills, gifts, and abilities we need to be able to fully accomplish His plan for us. So if you are hesitant about take that first step onto the path He has placed in front of you, go ahead and take the step. You can know God will instruct you every step of the way.

God teaches us to prepare us for our journey

Where instruction provides the skills, teaching is more generic. You can teach almost anything: concepts, ideas, theories, history, or what the Scripture has to say about how we should live. Teaching implies “education” which includes academics but also encompasses moral and social aspects of our development. Instruction takes the basics of what is taught and moves it to application and processes. YouTube can teach me how to crochet. It can teach me about different kinds of tools and how to use them to build furniture, but until I pick up the crochet hook or the tools and begin following a specific set of instructions what was taught in YouTube is nothing more than head knowledge. Teaching gives us the knowledge in our head but instruction moves it to action.

We can see a good example of teaching and instruction in Moses. At the burning bush, God speaks to Moses and teaches him about who he is, saying “I AM.” But once he teaches Moses, he then gives him specific instructions: “Go to Pharoh, tell him to let My people go, and then lead the people to the promised land.”

God guides in our journey

Psalm 32:8 tells us that God guides us with His eye. He’s looking out and watching over us. He sees what we cannot see. He’s not leading us blindly along. Rather He is purposefully guiding us with the ending destination in mind.

The great thing about Moses’ life journey is that God constantly guided him. When his mother placed him in a basket to float in the Nile trying to save his life from Pharaoh who was murdering all the baby boys, God made sure that he was found by none other than Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him as her own son which ensured that Moses would be raised as a prince who would learn all there was to know about Egyptian law, court etiquette, and receive the best teaching and instruction in all of Egypt. But Moses still needed more teaching and instruction to be able for God to use him for God’s plan to bring the nation of Israel out of slavery.

After Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating one of the Hebrew slaves, it was discovered and Moses fled and left Egypt. He then spent the next 40 years tending sheep but it was there that he would learn the skills he needed to shepherd God’s people out in the wilderness. Then when God sent Moses back to Egypt, God guided him in what to say and what to do.

Destination Preparation

God does the same today. He is a God that is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But when we allow the noise and distractions of life and we believe the lies of Satan, the still small voice of God is drowned out and it becomes difficult to hear God above the noise. Sometimes, we seek the advice of others when seeking God’s will for us. When that advice is coming from a strong, mature Christian, it can be helpful. But don’t allow their voice to be louder than God’s voice. So sometimes, we need to take some time out and just be still in His presence and listen (without talking) for the voice of the Holy Spirit within us. And He will guide you through the wilderness when there seems to be no way. Just listen for His instructions and His teachings – they are preparing you for the destination.

God will guide you through the wilderness when there seems to be no way. Just listen for His instructions and His teachings. They are preparing your for the destination.

.

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Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template

Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.

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Download our Free 2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan

We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.

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Download our Free 2021 Daily Bible Reading Plan

With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!

One Year Bible Reading Plan

Download our Free Self-Care Wheel

The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.

Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.

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All things are possible

The slide show below highlights some of our favorite Christian Tees designs available in our Spreadshop and Teespring stores.

  • Revive Us Again, Lord

See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New

All Things New

We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.

When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.

To see the collection of Canvas and Poster Prints


Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube

Click here for the Contemporary Christian Playlist
Click here for the Southern Gospel Playlist
Or Click here for the Hymns Playlist

You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel


God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce

What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?

God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:

  • Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
  • Conversation Starters.
  • Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
  • Romance Builders.
  • Relationship Builders.
  • Personal reflections.
  • Date ideas.
  • Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.

Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.

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Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.

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The Antidote to Stress, Worry, Depression & Anxiety

How COVID has impacted mental health

Most of us would agree that we have not seen a year like 2020 in our lifetimes. It has been a year of stress, worry, depression, and anxiety. And we need an antidote!

The headline of an article published by WKYT in Kentucky reported that a study revealed increased suicide rates across the U.S, and mental health issues arose among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports from the CDC (as reported in June of 2020)

  • 40% of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse
  • 31% reported anxiety or depression symptoms.
  • 13% started or increased substance abuse.
  • 26% reported trauma or stress-related disorder symptoms
  • 11% say they seriously considered suicide.

The New York Times reported in May of 2021 that in San Francisco more people died last year from drug overdose than COVID.

The world-wide pandemic has had a world-wide impact that needs a world-wide antidote

While the statistics above are from the US, it isn’t just the US that has seen an increase in mental health problems. It’s happening all over the world. Government statistics in Japan reported that more people died from suicide in the month of October, than from COVID-19, in all of 2020. A majority of these were women. But there is an antidote.

Stress, Depression, Anxiety and Worry has been present since the beginning – and so has the antidote

Stress, depression, anxiety and worry is nothing new to the human experience. You can read through the Bible and find that many people, even those who God used mightily, had emotional challenges. In 1 Kings 19, we find Elijah running for his life from Queen Jezebel and he lies down under a broom tree and asked God to die. When we read the Psalms we can find many of them where David pours out his heart to God with a variety of emotions. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet. The book of Lamentations is the laments of the prophet. The disciples of Jesus locked themselves in a chamber after Jesus’ death out of fear of what the Jews would do to them.

We need an Antidote

From Genesis to Revelation, you can see stress, depression, anxiety and worry as people lived their lives. However, you can also read the Bible to discover the antidote.

Peace is the antithesis, not the antidote

For example, in the last verse of Psalm 29 we find the words, “May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!” The opposite of stress, anxiety, worry and depression is peace. We get our strength to get through these times from God and it is He who blesses us with peace. But peace isn’t the antidote, its the antithesis. So what, then, is the antidote?

David is the author of Psalm 29 and in the ten verses that precede his prayer, he shares the antidote to worry and stress, anxiety and weakness of faith.

Psalm 29:1-10 Ascribe to the LORD, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; The God of glory thunders, The LORD is over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful, The voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, And Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD hews out flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer to calve And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everything says, “Glory!” The LORD sat as King at the flood; Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.

The Psalmist is telling us that even in the midst of the tremendous storms of life, God is Sovereign above everything in creation, and He is Lord of all!

The antidote is proper worship

The antidote of stress, worry, depression, and anxiety is worship. This is what we see David doing in Psalm 29 – He is worshipping the Sovereignty of God. When we understand the Sovereignty of God and worship Him, we can let go of stress, worry, depression and anxiety and trust that God is in control.

If worship is the antidote, then we need to know exactly what is worship. We also need to know how to use this antidote. So let’s start with defining worship and then we will learn how to use this antidote as we discover the proper attitude of worship and the proper act of worship.

If worship is the antidote, then what is worship?

Worship is much more than just going to church, singing some songs, shaking hands with other believers, lifting hands, praying, partaking of communion, or anything else we do in church. True worship is not about our acts – it’s about our heart.

So, how would you define worship? Wikipedia defines it as, “an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader. Such acts may involve honoring.” – Wikipedia

The modern Webster dictionary defines it, “the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god.”

The 1828 Noah Webster dictionary defines worship like this, “Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. The worship of God is an eminent part of religion. Prayer is a chief part of religious worship.”

Worship includes honor, reverence and adoration. There needs to be a sense of awe and perhaps even fear – or a deep, deep respect for our Supreme Being and Creator. A popular song sung in churches is “Heart of Worship” and certainly the ‘heart’ of worship is respect, love, and self-sacrifice. One line of that song says, “Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is Yours, every single breath!” The song discovers that God does not require a song – but our hearts.

Worship is much deeper than a song

In the analysis of worship we need to understand that the acts and attitude needs to be much deeper than a mere song. The biblical definition of worship can be found in Romans 12:1. It says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

If we are going to truly worship, then before anything else – we need to surrender all to God. Including the things that cause us stress, worry depression, and anxiety. We need to be entirely sanctified for our acts of worship to have any meaning. Jesus said we need to worship in spirit and in truth. Without it we are just going through the motions. True worship involves the heart. It involves the will. And true worship involves the spirit. Anything less will not do.

The Attitude of Worship is necessary for an effective antidote

God says in Isaiah 1:11-16: “The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”

The antidote starts in the heart – not our acts

The people were doing all the right things; they were doing the acts of worship – but the attitude was wrong. They were rebelling in their heart while their actions were ones of worship. Because the attitude was wrong the acts were more than meaningless. And as a result, they were detestable to God. God looks at the heart. God looks on the thoughts and the intents of a person. If you are in rebellion with God; if you are living in disobedience to God – your worship is more than meaningless – it is detestable.

So before we can truly worship God, we must first get the heart right. Jesus said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24

When we come to God we need to come with pure hearts. When we take Communion – we need to come with pure hearts or it is more than meaningless – it is detestable to God.

Attitude is everything.

“The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 9:13

Attitude is everything. Talk is cheap. These people talked the talk but didn’t walk the walk. With their mouth and lips they honored God but their hearts were far from God. They had a list of ‘do’s and don’ts’ they followed, but their hearts were still devoted to themselves and not God. They were on the throne.

Here is the right attitude for worship. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” Hebrews 12:28

The right attitude is gratitude, reverence and awe. When we come to worship we need to come with thanksgiving and praise. We need to come reverently – with a sense of awe. I think the Church has lost that sense of awe for God when we come to worship. The way we come into the sanctuary, the way we dress, and the way we speak should show respect for our God. It should reveal a sense of awe for Him.

The Acts of Worship that provides the antidote

What does the act of worship look like? There are many acts of worship that are meaningful with the right attitude and heart. Noah Webster mentioned prayer. Paul, mentoring the young pastor, Timothy, says, “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” 1 Timothy 2:8

Prayer with the right attitude of holiness and purity

Notice the call to prayer is included with the right attitude – holiness. Worship must begin with purity. We find in 2 Chronicles 29:15-16, “When they had assembled their fellow Levites and consecrated themselves, they went in to purify the temple of the Lord, as the king had ordered, following the word of the Lord. The priests went into the sanctuary of the Lord to purify it.” 

The place of worship

Notice that they consecrated themselves and purified the temple of the Lord. Worship is also in a particular place – the House of the Lord or a place dedicated to the Lord. I think this is a reason we have Churches or Houses of worship. Notice the acts of worship in Deuteronomy 12:5-7. “But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.” 

Offerings and sacrifices

“Offerings and sacrifices; tithes and special gifts; freewill offerings; the best of your increase or income”, it says. Then you shall rejoice and be thankful because of how the Lord blessed you. As we focus on His many blessings, our stresses, worries anxieties, and depressions are exchanged for the goodness of God that He has poured out in our lives.

Praise

Here is another example.

“Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the musicians played and the trumpets sounded. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. 2 Chronicles 29:27-30

When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped.” 

Bowing

Bowing was also a part of worship as was kneeling and sometimes standing.

I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your Name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word according to all Your name. Psalm 138:2

Bowing is the act of making ourselves humble by kneeling or bowing down before the Lord as a way of demonstrating our humility and devotion to Him. It helps us remember that worship is an act that brings glory to God, and our act of kneeling or bowing is a sign of our submission to His authority. By showing our submission we are signifying our understanding of the power and authority that we serve, this allows us to align ourselves with Him fully as our focus is only on Him during the act of worship

Bowing or kneeling is also a great way to show our unconditional love and surrender for when mere words are not enough! Bowing and worshipping go hand in hand because when we bow our heads in worship we are comforted and fulfilled.

A great example of this is when Job hears the horrific news of the total loss of everything he loved, instead of reacting in negative way, he “arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshipped” (Job 1:20). An amazing way to show his faith and trust in the Lord!

The antidote of Worship has a progression

Are you seeing those acts of worship? Prayer, singing, bowing, praise. There is a progression here. When we are stressed, worried, feeling anxious or depressed, we start with prayer, castings our cares on the Lord. When we give them to Him, we can sing with joy as we acknowledge all the blessings He has given us. That should then lead us to bowing before our Sovereign God with thanksgiving and praise Him for his goodness.

The Bible says,

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:1-2

“With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.” Psalm 109:30

“God inhabits the praise of His people” (Psalm 22:3).

If the antithesis of stress, anxiety, worry, and depression is peace, then so is joy which comes as we give God praise. Peace and joy cannot occupy the same space and stress, anxiety, worry, and depression. It is just impossible.

God is a God of Peace

1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.”

Do you remember when Elijah had a duel with the prophets of Baal? You can read the whole story in 1 Kings, Chapter 18. Listen to what the Bible says the prophets of Baal did.

“they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.” 1 Kings 18:28-29

Can you imagine such a sight? Shouting, frantic prophesying, even slashing themselves with swords until the blood flowed. The prophets of Baal were serious! They were emotional! They were sacrificial! The results? No one answered. No one paid attention.

God does not delight in meaningless acts, even when those acts are full of passion and zeal. God is a God of order – not confusion or frenzied and empty acts. Philippians 4:6-7 says,  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Trading Stress, Anxiety, Worry, & Depression for Peace

Taking time to dwell and meditate on the Sovereignty of our God and spending moments in true worship will help us trade our stress, anxiety, worry, and Depression for peace. Then our hearts beat with joy. We’ll have a song of praise on our lips. We will be able to find peace in the storms of anxiety and worry, calm in the face of stress, joy in the depression when we enter into worship with the right attitude and a pure heart so that our worship is filled with reverence, awe, thankfulness, and praise.

I want you to know that you can worship the Lord individually and have sweet communion with Him – and you ought to. Sometimes just you and Jesus engaged in worship can be so sweet and wonderful as we let go of the cares of this world 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us. So surrender them to Jesus and come to him with a heart of worship, which is the antidote to stress, anxiety, worry, and depression.

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