| If you build it, He will come...
As we all know, there is no salvation by works. But, there is no blessing, favor, nor presence without obedience. There is a reason as to why we sing songs together in a congregational setting. This isn't to be used to placate or please the people. We are not to flow according to the wants or desires of the people. Regardless of what the people want, we must make ready a habitation for God. No. God does not need for us to do these things. But if we desire for Him to grace us with His presence, we must be pleasing to Him in word, deed, music, and song. Psalm 22:3 states that God inhabits the praises of Israel. This is a two-fold meaning. Firstly, God's people enthrone God in their praises by focusing their praise and worship to Him. Secondly, the presence of the Lord manifests in the midst of His true servants who worship Him truly, passionately, and selflessly. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24 When we come together in worship, our first priority must be to glorify God and His Son. We must praise Him from our hearts and mouths. As we do this, God hears us say, "We welcome you into this place." When we sing and play music, we must do our best to minister to God. Yes I said 'MINISTER' to God. We can touch the heart of God. As we minister to God, we must not desire for God to reward us in some manner as individuals, organizations, or gatherings. We must condition ourselves, with help of the Holy Spirit, to simply desire to please God. To touch Him. Completely unexpectant of any reward or gratification. As we begin to minister to God, His presence arrives. The literal presence of God arrives. And when God has been touched and has arrived, He ministers not only to us but to the people. Our focus in touching Him must be devout extravagant love. And then as we have built a habitation for Him, people are saved. People are healed. People are delivered. People are fulfilled. People begin to have purpose. Spiritual Freedom comes. If you build it... He will come. Jeremy Brown 2004 |
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