Worship that Honors God
In the days of Nehemiah there was a great revival among the people. They thirsted for the Word of God, and they heard it gladly. Then, they came together for a time of confession that was a wonderful worship time that honored God. (Nehemiah 9:3) I believe we need to see three principles from what they did that will help us honor God in our worship today.
They began the time of confession by standing for 6 hours to hear the Word of God read. This shows that all of what they were doing to worship the Lord was grounded in His Word. Too often worship is strictly emotion or experience based, but it is not based on the Word of God. We truly honor God in our worship when it is a response to His Word working in our hearts and lives.
After they heard the Word of God, they confessed and worshiped for 6 more hours. They started with confession, because they were convicted by the Word of God, and it was necessary to confess their sins and to be clean before the Lord. This is what God is looking for in our worship. He desires worship from a clean heart. Therefore, we must prepare for our times of worship by taking time for confession of sins first.
Finally, they worshiped the Lord out of clean hearts and the forgiveness they had received from confession. It was glad worship of the Lord that was freely given. It was not a duty or a habit. They were not time conscious, either. By the time they finished their time of worship they had been in God's presence for 12 hours. I can imagine that type of love and commitment thrilled the heart of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Nehemiah 11-13 and Esther 1.
They began the time of confession by standing for 6 hours to hear the Word of God read. This shows that all of what they were doing to worship the Lord was grounded in His Word. Too often worship is strictly emotion or experience based, but it is not based on the Word of God. We truly honor God in our worship when it is a response to His Word working in our hearts and lives.
After they heard the Word of God, they confessed and worshiped for 6 more hours. They started with confession, because they were convicted by the Word of God, and it was necessary to confess their sins and to be clean before the Lord. This is what God is looking for in our worship. He desires worship from a clean heart. Therefore, we must prepare for our times of worship by taking time for confession of sins first.
Finally, they worshiped the Lord out of clean hearts and the forgiveness they had received from confession. It was glad worship of the Lord that was freely given. It was not a duty or a habit. They were not time conscious, either. By the time they finished their time of worship they had been in God's presence for 12 hours. I can imagine that type of love and commitment thrilled the heart of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Nehemiah 11-13 and Esther 1.