Month: November 2022

Worship

O Come, Let us Worship

Inge Schultz

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

Psalms 95:6

O come, let us worship, for He is our God, and we are the pasture, and the sheep of his hand [Psalms 95:6-7]. Is He, our God? Are we the sheep of His pasture or someone’s else pasture? When I think of sheep in the pasture, I think of peace, rest, and serenity. Yet, for many it is anything but that. Our soul is not in a peaceful state to where we can worship. For some worship does not apply to them at all. Many times, I have heard the excuses of I can’t sing, therefore I cannot worship. This is far from the real truth, and it is not because you cannot carry a tune. If King David can be made a fool by dancing and singing before the Lord, then so can we. O come, let us worship and bow down to the Lord our God. Can we not bow down to our Lord? Maybe we should ask God as to why we are not able to bow down and worship our Lord.

The interesting thing is that many can go to a rock concert and have no problem worshipping the band who is playing the music. I have seen many people whisper the words of the song and singing even when they know they are not singing in tune. You can whisper the words of praise to our Lord God. The Hebrew word for worship is “shachah” which means to bow down before another. This word for worship takes on action in that we must be doing something before another and that is bowing down or prostrating ourselves in homage to the Lord God. Can we recognize and respect God for who He is? Can our hearts not become hardened before our Lord, but rather instead can we have a willingness to follow him into the green pastures. It is the green pastures where we bow our heads and eat the food and drink in the living waters of His life. The word willingness is the key to new heights in revelations and visions. We must remember that true worshippers can only worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Nothing else matters to the Lord then to have his children come and sit before him and truly worship him. As we worship him new revelations come forth and His healing begins to flow by his Spirit to those who need it within the congregation.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.”

John 4:23

The Father seeks those who are in the spirit and in truth to worship Him. Why? Because God is a Spirit. Now listen carefully what the apostle Paul said, “Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Liberty means to be free from oppression. Free from bondage and from whatever yoke we may have had around our necks. If we cannot worship, we must have some kind of bondage that is keeping us from worshipping our Lord. Did not Christ make us free from any yoke of bondage? If we have liberty, we have peace. What the world needs now is love, sweet love as the song lyrics state, but we must also have peace. Jesus Christ is our peace, for he has overcome the evil one. We are no longer under Satan’s power. We now can have peace with God. That is why the apostle Paul exclaims in the following scripture to:

Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast my friend, in the freedom you have in Christ. Stand fast means to not yield yourself to any other position. Christ is our sure foundation, and He is our peace. Let us be assured to whom we are worshipping. Let us be honest within our own heart where we stand. We must hear the words of Jesus when He mentioned about God’s commandments versus man’s tradition. Why did Jesus say that with their mouth, and lips they honor me, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, [see Matthew 15:8-9]. Teaching the commandments of men instead of God. Are we free in Christ from the things which the world would bind us? Are we free from severe self-discipline to any form of righteousness or from any form of indulgence? Do we not live under the grace of God? One must remember that God had the physical temple built upon the earth, but even the rituals of the temple could not change men’s conscience toward God. We can only receive a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ is the perfect sacrifice for all our sin. If we live and walk in the spirit of Christ, then we can also worship in spirit and in truth. Our worship is not in vain since our conscience has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

The whole point of the issue of traditions, is that it becomes men’s way instead of God’s way. Worshipping God should not become a burden in practice. If it is a burden, then one must look at the heart as to why it is a burden. If worship is a burden, then we must ask God to search us and to reveal the cause. We must remember that it is Christ who reconciled all things unto himself [see Colossians 1:20]. Reconcile means to change thoroughly. I am changed in my actions and thoughts from doing evil to doing good. He is renewing us every day to have a right spirit. He will restore us with the joy of his salvation. Let us examine ourselves and repent from anything that may withhold us from worshipping the Lord. Let us ask the Lord to give us a heart of worship. A heart of worship that is directed by the Holy Spirit where the gifts of the Spirit are displayed to the glory of God.

When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

1 Corinthians 14:26

When we come together the gifts of the Holy Spirit are working within the congregation to the edifying of every person within the body of Christ who hears and listens to the message. We can also worship and sing unto the lord a new song and declare His works within the congregation. In our own personal time, we can worship and sing to the Lord any time of the day. This is exciting and for many of us we have yet to get to this special place of worship. In reality, if you live and walk in the Spirit, every moment becomes a time of worship since we are considered the living temple of God. We just have to acknowledge it and believe that He will dwell and walk with us.

For you are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

2 Corinthains 6:16

When we get to this place of worshipping Him every day, our walk will be in the character of Christ where love and peace reigns. This is the place I myself desire to be. No matter what is happening around me, I desire to be in His love and peace every day. As we come close to the end of this year with only 6 weeks away until Christmas day, let us remember to whom we are worshipping. Many are wondering how they can buy gifts for their own family. Remember it is the little things that you do that counts. Tell your children that you love them and hug them close, for they are a heritage from the Lord. Tell your wife or husband that you love them. Remember that we all labor together in Christ and He is our example. Let us remember the babe born in Bethlehem and sing Christmas songs with the family. This is a small example of worship to our Lord, and it may help you to understand its meaning just a little bit better. The joy of an infant born in this world and who becomes our sacrifice is worth singing about.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 2:13-14

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward all men. Christ was born in Bethlehem and has become our salvation. Christ is our peace for He has reconciled us back to God. Let not our heart grow weary in giving Him praise every day. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his Holy Name [Psalms 103:1]. No matter where you are today, you can worship him from your own lips and read Psalms as another way of worshipping our Lord God. It is your heart of worship as his child that He desires. Whatever rituals we may perform will perish with the using, but His love will endure forever along with His word. Let us be the sheep of His pasture. Let us worship Him in spirit and in truth. Let us have a willing heart of worship. O come, let us worship and bow down.

NOTE: This is the last devotional for the year 2022. Check back after the New Year for next year devotionals. In the meantime, you can read any devotional that you may have missed during this year. I pray that God’s blessing be upon each person who has read these devotionals. I pray that God may draw you close to him. We all live in a world that is full of uncertainty. However, no matter what the circumstances we may find ourselves in, God is with us. He will perform and show himself to each individual His works of healing and provision. Stand firm in whom you believe in and go with God. Count it a blessing to be with friends and family this Holiday season. Check out the “All About Worship” page to read more and to listen to over 3 hours of worship songs. Now is the time to worship, for He dwells within you.

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Holiness, Uncategorized

The Holy Temple of God

Inge Schultz

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

2 Corinthians 6:16

The holy temple of God was built twice and destroyed. We can only imagine the beauty of the first holy temple of God that King Soloman built. The second temple was built after the Persian exile and had some renovation done by King Herod before the Roman empire destroyed it. Many people wonder about its former glory and its usage by those of the Jewish faith who came yearly for the holy holidays such as the Passover. The Passover is one of the most celebrated Jewish holidays and it is in remembrance of the Israelites’ departure out of Egypt. In Jerusalem the “Temple Mount” is said to be the place of the original Holy Temple of God. Today, the “Dome of the Rock” sits on the Temple Mount which was built during the Mamluk times. The “Dome of the Rock” has its roots in Islamic beliefs. The meaning for the Dome of the Rock is the Ascension of the Prophet to heaven, or where heaven and earth meet. Let us remember the marvelous story of what happened after Jesus yielded up the spirt in Matthew chapter 27.

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks were split; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints that slept were raised, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”

Matthew 27:51-53
The ark of the covenant

The Holy of Holies was a small room at the back of the hall of the temple and it had a cloth partition that separated it from the Holy Place where the golden lampstand and the shewbread table stood. Only the priest could enter the Holy of Holies and that was once a year on the Day of Atonement. This curtain partition between the two rooms, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom. This opened up the Holy of Holies to the outside world. It was said that during the Roman Empire invasion of the Temple in Jerusalem that Titus went into the Holy of Holies and found nothing in the room. Titus found nothing in the temple for Jesus, our sacrifice for sin had risen and now sits on the right hand of God. There is much speculation as to where the ark of the covenant went. However, if you read about God’s appearance to Solomon in 1 Kings chapter 9, you will read about Israel being cut off from the house of the Lord due to them worshipping other Gods. Under King Nebuchadnezzar, his captain of the guard plundered and burned the house of the Lord [see 2 Kings 25:8-9]. The second temple under King Herod on the Temple Mount was also destroyed by fire. Some wonder where the ark of the covenant went. It is now in heaven [see Revelation 11:19]. I am always baffled how man goes about destroying his environment. It does not matter what it is destruction seems to be on the minds of man. Let us remember that the second temple, God did not instruct any man to build like the first temple. There is no agreement whatsoever that His temple should be linked to any kind of idol worship. That is why the apostle Paul stated that every man’s work will be tested. It is tested to find out what the real motive of man is.

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

1 Corinthians 3:13

God will test every man’s work with fire to reveal the truth about their work whether or not it is worthy. If it is worthy, God will give a reward. God will reveal in what manner or situation your work stands in, whether for good or bad. God will reveal the truth of the matter of the heart of man. God will reveal the fake news, the fake prophets, and whatever else is not of the Lord. It was Jesus who said, “you do not know to whom you worship,” [John 4:22]. We have so many iconic items that we worship, and the truth is we really do not know what it is that we are worshipping these days. Any kind of virtue has gone from what we are worshipping and there is no moral value tied to what we are worshipping these days. The removal of the temple of God is the one sign that the Lord God himself is the only one who truly is Holy. Any other item becomes idol worship. Think about it, the temple itself with its objects could not change man’s consciousness’. Our life is built upon Jesus Christ as the only foundation that is laid [see 1 Corinthians 3:11]. We are being built up by the spirit of God. We do not need a big building in order to worship God since we are the temple of God. Our salvation is a free gift from God that we receive by faith. It is only by faith that we have received eternal life. God provided the way through Christ Jesus. Jesus has reconciled us back to God. Whatever we do now, we do by the glory of God, for we are now the temple of God. The apostle Paul stated, “know you not that you are the temple of God?” We were bought with a price and now belong to God. We now belong to the body of Christ, and we therefore should glorify God in whatever task He has chosen for us to do.

You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:5

We are lively stones because Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone that has been laid. We are being built up into a holy spiritual house in the Lord. We do not fashion ourselves according to our former lusts or ways of the world, but we fashion ourselves after the Lord Jesus Christ who has freed us from the bondage that was under the power of Satan. We are now the children of God. The son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. We are born again by the incorruptible word of God which lived and abided forever, [see 1 Peter 1:23]. We are to be holy in all manner of life, for He is holy.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18-22

This is astounding and for me unfathomable to conceive that I would be of the household of God and to grow into a holy temple in the Lord. The very Presence of God in all His fullness is now dwelling in our spirit right now. How amazing is this. How amazing it is to be framed together and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. Out of his sanctuary will flow rivers of living water and we will all drink from it to become a holy temple of God where we will grow fruit every month. As we are sheltered under the mighty hand of God, the living waters shall be our food and healing will flow from it to all who are in need. As we rest in the Presence of the Lord, He will take away the dead branch in us and all the deadness of our own self to bring forth new growth. We must grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Get ready to be His Holy temple and grow into the trees of righteousness. As He gives you living water, you will bear new fruit for the glory of God. Become His habitation of worship as a Holy temple of God. All Praise and Glory to the Lord of Host.

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Righteousness

The Trees of Righteousness

Inge Schultz

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3

Who are the “Trees of Righteousness”? I have never heard about the “trees of righteousness” have you? In this verse it references to those who might be called the “trees of righteousness” who are the planting of the Lord. The planting of the Lord . . . those who hear him calling them, those who are mourning, and those who have the spirit of heaviness. Oh, how we need beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for today. We need to know that our God hears us when we have a heavy heart. These are those who have believed in him and those who have been grafted in by God. How amazing that the Lord has a personal interest in all who are grafted into the vine of His lordship and fellowship. The root of the tree is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who is the righteous one. Jesus himself is the gift of righteousness to the world. The grace of God became the gift of grace by one man, Jesus Christ.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

Romans 5:19

It was Adam’s disobedience to God that caused sin to become the character of man towards doing evil. Everyone is tempted when they are drawn away by their own lust and enticed, [see James 1:14]. Adam’s sin brought judgment upon all men to condemnation, but the righteousness of one the free gift came upon men to justification of life, [see Romans 5:18]. It was Jesus Christ who humbled himself and become obedient unto death on the cross that we might be made righteous. It is by faith in Jesus that we become righteous. The Hebrew word for righteousness is “‘tsedeq’ and it means ‘rightness or justice.’ This means that a human being is morally good. This means that humans have a genuine respect for all people. It was Jesus who was anointed by God to preach the good news unto the meek, and to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, to comfort all that mourn, oil of joy for the mourning, garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and so forth. In a world that is torn by injustices every day, we need to know that there is hope for something better than the failure of our human condition. Those who are righteous have the Lord’s ear. He hears their cry.

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Psalms 34:15-16

The Lord hears the cry of the righteous for they are the planting of the Lord. They are the ones who have been established by their faith in Christ. They have put on the armor of Light by casting off the works of darkness. They have put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do not allow the works of the flesh to rule their hearts. They are the ones who put on the whole armor of God in order to stand against the devious works of the devil.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

2 Corinthians 10:5

The righteous ones are not deceived for they know who they are in Christ. They know that whoever abides in the Lord Jesus will not sin, for the purpose of the Son of God was to destroy the works of the devil, [see 1 John 3:8]. Those who are righteous are those who abide in the vine. They know that without Jesus they can do nothing. Only if they abide in Him are all things possible.

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.”

John 15:7

Ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. It shall be done unto you for the father desires that you bear much fruit. The father recognizes Jesus in you. Have you ever thought about this. The apostle Paul did, for he stated that “we are laborer’s together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building,” [1 Corinthians 3:8]. This implies fellowship and communion with God. If you are abiding in the vine, you have fellowship with God. If you are God’s building then you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. You have become a holy temple. The apostle Paul stated, “for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are,” [see 1 Corinthians 3:17]. We must learn to see through the eyes of the Lord God, and it is only through the Holy Spirit that we gain wisdom and understanding in knowing God and how He sees us through His Son Jesus Christ. In this we see God’s desire for all mankind.

“Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.”

Isaiah 60:21

We become the branch of His planting, the work of His hands, that He may be glorified. Christ is the gift of God, and so is righteousness a gift of God. We do not work for it since it is a gift received by faith. We must remember that Jesus Christ is himself the chief corner stone. Jesus is our peace that has broken down the middle wall of partition. We who once were aliens and strangers to the covenants of promise and having no hope in the world have been drawn near by the blood of Christ. Is Christ our peace? Yes, He is our peace and righteousness. It is through Christ that we become the trees of righteousness for we are grafted into the true vine who is Christ. Through Christ we become and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. We are being built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, [see Ephesians 2:22]. How exciting it is to become a holy temple of God. Can we even envision such a mystery as this.

The apostle of Paul wanted us to know that we are no longer strangers and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God [see Ephesians 2:19]. Are you not of the household of God? Have you believed in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for our sins, arose from the grave, and is now sitting at the right hand of God? Are you not born again into a new man by faith in Jesus Christ? Have you been reconciled to God? There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that has repented. Can you imagine that? Joy in the presence of the angels over one lonely sinner who has repented and ask for forgiveness. Only God is able to save us from our sin. Only God can create a new man. Only God can provide a new way of living in this world. Paul exclaimed that all men should see what the fellowship of the mystery is, which from the beginning of the ages hath been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, [see Ephesians 3:9]. Let the love of Christ be grounded and rooted in your heart so that you may grow into a tree of righteousness for all to see how Christ is glorified within you to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Temple of God
The Holy Temple of God

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