Pastor issues warning to churches in America over 'worship'

[Soldier4Christ]

Pastor issues warning to churches in America over 'worship'

A worship leader and author says many churches in America have lost their focus and main mission. That's why he is calling them to return to what he considers the greatest form of worship -- prayer.

In his new book Worship Awakening, Gary Wright issues a warning to the church in America. Using statistics which show that more than 85 percent of churches have reached their plateau or are declining, Wright says many pastors and church members need to recapture their passion to know Christ. He says that will only come about when churches return to fervent prayer, which he says is the greatest form of worship.

"I don't believe God's going to allow the demise of his church -- I don't believe that," says Wright, who is lead pastor of Lifesong Church in Bessemer, Alabama. "But I do believe that God is working to unite folks to begin a prayer movement to see awakening happen in the church."

In his book, Wright urges the church in America to return to its first love. He contends most churches lack true worship, which is why there is a lack of fruit. "I believe that God will bring revival if we really seek his face," he shares -- noting that that belief focuses his prayers for all believers.

"My prayer is that somebody would read this book -- a pastor or a lay person -- and would really get a burden and start praying for their church, and the church as a whole, to see God's Spirit really poured out and to see God's people really fall on their face before God and seek him and depend on him totally to fulfill his purposes in the world," the pastor shares.

Wright argues that too many Christians are trying to serve as God's ambassadors in the world without being connected to God through prayer. Wright is president of Fish the Planet, Inc. , an evangelistic ministry.

[Stephanie]

Though I have not read the book myself and therefore, can not comment on it but the truth of the matter is that the Holy Spirit is awakening the Church of Christ all over the world on Worship.  I for one has been taught so much on Worship.. Below is a summary of the sermon note I delivered here in South Africa, Gauteng some three weeks ago (I hopeit is not too long):
Praise & Worship


Opening Scripture: Colossians1:15-17

“15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”

What is Worship?
It is the highest form of prayer.  Psalm 149:6-9 teaches us that the praises of God is a sharp sword in our hands. The Word of God in Psalm22:3 continues to tell us that God lives in the praises of His people. 2Chronicles20 (example).  Praise and Worship gets to the heart of the Almighty God and creates a divine atmosphere for God to manifest Himself in all His Glory (Ephesians3:20-21) “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”  (The Message)






What does it mean to Worship the Lord and what happens when we worship Him?
It is when our spirit focus entirely on God and His goodness, our hearts lifts up in praise to the Lord, our souls is flooded with the spirit of the Lord’s presence. It is when we are telling God that we love Him above anyone and anything else.

It is during Worship that the Lord reveals His secrets and heart to you. As we Worship our hearts gets in tune with the heart of God. His desires become our desires, His Words become our words, His thoughts our thoughts, He totally consumes us with Himself. (Psalm 150).  Psalm98:1 continues to teach us that we should let our hearts be filled with a new song unto God, thanking, praising and adoring Him. When we worship we are being carried above our daily problems and worries because as we come before the Lord His majesty and power dims all of those problems and concerns.  As we bless the Lord we are being blessed.

Who is to Worship God?
Psalm 100:1 tells us that “all”.  It is God’s desire that all His creation can spend time and worship Him.

When are we to worship God?
Psalm100:2 In our daily walk How? With gladness

Why do we worship Him? Psalm100:3
BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS, BECAUSE OF what He has done for us. He is God – The Hebrew word for God is Elohim which means Creator, the Ruler of the universe, It means God rules over everything.  We worship Him because we know that He is in control. 

In Hebrew Lord is Yahweh which means Covenant Keeper, He keeps His promises. We worship Him because He made us and continues to form us, we worship Him because we know we are in good hands.  Because we know that He knows exactly what is good for us and He is making us into what He wants us to be. “and not we ourselves” because we know that we did not save ourselves, He provided the perfect sacrifice for our sins – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because we know we are under the watchful care of God.  Because we know that we are not our own but we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

How are we to worship Him? Psalm100:4

As we begin Worshiping and entering into communion with the Lord  we should have the spirit of gratitude.  As we praise Him, we should think of all the good things He has done for us and rejoice and give thanks. John4:24 “God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth”

Phillipians3:3 "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

What does that mean to be the circumcision…
 
It means that you are devoted to the worship of God, making your boast in Jesus, having an utmost interest in Him and His Kingdom - while renouncing anything that has to do with the flesh or the confidence therein.
A man or a woman who understands that they are the "circumcision" will speak like this “Though I might also have confidence in the flesh..."(Philippians 3:4)I have no confidence in the flesh. He or she places no confidence in human honors or accomplishments, uncommon advantages, or special privileges.

The Psalmist said it this way, and we will not know lasting Peace until we can say the same - "For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me"(Psalm 44:6). His only ground for victory was Christ - His Wisdom directing...His Power strengthening, working and enabling...and His Promises securing success. All other reliances were renounced and cast aside. His "weapons of...warfare"(2 Corinthians 10:4) were not "carnal" - that which the people of the world used, relied on, or derived an advantage from. On the contrary, they were "mighty through God" - divinely powerful through the One Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

When David, the little Shepherd boy, went up against the Mighty Giant Goliath, his confidence was not in the flesh - though he may have had confidence therein. He boldly declared - "...I come to Thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied"(1 Samuel 17:45).
 
Until we renounce all confidence in the flesh - Satan will "take you for a ride."  Until we walk in the revelation that you are the "circumcision" whereby our all in all is in Christ Jesus and He alone is the answer to our dilemma.  Until all boasting is to be found in Him who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Until our confidence is in the One who is “…is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (KJV) then the devil will “take you for a ride”.  As we worship our Father let us do so in truth and spirit.

May the good Lord bless you.
 

[Soldier4Christ]

Amen!

Yes, when we worship God we are in obeisance to Him, we go to Him in all humility recognizing Him as the Creator of all things. The word worship means to revere, to adore, to love. Why should we worship Him? We love Him because He first loved us.