What up Reality Youth;-)
This is a reminder that we will NOT be meeting at the usual time because it falls on Christmas day. We will resume the following Monday which is January 1st, New Years day.
Until then, soak your hearts in the Lord Jesus Christ, and drench your minds in the 1st chapter of Ezekiel. Remember when we talked about the gnarly angels in Revelation 4 & 5, and in Isaiah 6? Well, the angels in Ezekiel 1 are even gnarlier, and will blow your mind. Soak it up and then worship their Creator.
Your friend and co-laborer,
~Christopher Lazo
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Undone Worshipper (Chapter 2)
Read Isaiah 6.
In the presence of a holy God, Isaiah sees how sinful he is, and falls to his face in worship to God. This was right after Isaiah spoke judgment to Israel in chapter 5. He realized because of his sin that he was in their boat, so to speak.
There have been many times that while I was worshipping God, I became undone because the Holy Spirit revealed the Holiness of God, thus revealing my sinful nature in comparison. When this happens, I must be quick to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit by bowing down low, and worshipping the King of kings on a deeper level. Often this involves me checking my own heart, and repenting from gross sin. God doesn't need our talents or gifts. He asks us for those things because for some mysterious reason, He loves to include us in his plans. What is of ultimate importance to God is our adoration and intimacy with Him.
In the presence of a holy God, Isaiah sees how sinful he is, and falls to his face in worship to God. This was right after Isaiah spoke judgment to Israel in chapter 5. He realized because of his sin that he was in their boat, so to speak.
There have been many times that while I was worshipping God, I became undone because the Holy Spirit revealed the Holiness of God, thus revealing my sinful nature in comparison. When this happens, I must be quick to embrace the work of the Holy Spirit by bowing down low, and worshipping the King of kings on a deeper level. Often this involves me checking my own heart, and repenting from gross sin. God doesn't need our talents or gifts. He asks us for those things because for some mysterious reason, He loves to include us in his plans. What is of ultimate importance to God is our adoration and intimacy with Him.
The Unquenchable Worshipper (chapter 1)
We are checking our lives next to what the Bible says a worshipper is, and seeing where they line up and where they don’t.
Unquenchable characteristics:
• “We can always find a reason to praise” pg. 20 of the UW
• “Bitterness dampens and eventually destroys love for God…by telling us He is not faithful” pg. 21
• Matt Redman gives us an illustration of fuel for our worship:
Fuel runs out! (Fuel is revelation of God: through His Word, praying, going to church)
These things keep your love for God more “overwhelming” than life and grief pg. 24
The Word feeds us revelation of God’s attributes(who He is), and fuels our desire to worship
When my worship becomes quenched, dry, or stagnant, it's because I have no fuel, but since God’s fuel is inexhaustible…what went wrong?) This is what went wrong = It is a painful indication that your fuel is dependant on something other than the revelation of God.
•Since you were designed as a worshipper, if you are not fueling that desire with things of God, you WILL fuel it with other things, like grief, anger, money, relationships, other worldly things, etc... this will cause your worship to become stangant.
We MUST stay in the Word and in prayer. It is vital to our spiritual condition.
Unquenchable characteristics:
• “We can always find a reason to praise” pg. 20 of the UW
-“For since the creation of the world His invisible ATTRIBUTES, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” Rom 1:20 (The fool has said in his heart…Ps. 14:1)Sooo... in Romans 1:20 Paul tells us that there are an infinite number of reasons to praise God, then in Philippians 4:8, he tells us that we need to constantly be dwelling on those things
ATTRIBUTES of GOD =
1. Holiness, justice, jealousy, perfection, truthfulness, and love.
-“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there be any excellence, if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Phi. 4:8 When you’re not doing this…
• “Bitterness dampens and eventually destroys love for God…by telling us He is not faithful” pg. 21
• Matt Redman gives us an illustration of fuel for our worship:
Fuel runs out! (Fuel is revelation of God: through His Word, praying, going to church)
These things keep your love for God more “overwhelming” than life and grief pg. 24
The Word feeds us revelation of God’s attributes(who He is), and fuels our desire to worship
When my worship becomes quenched, dry, or stagnant, it's because I have no fuel, but since God’s fuel is inexhaustible…what went wrong?) This is what went wrong = It is a painful indication that your fuel is dependant on something other than the revelation of God.
Here's a crazy thought = We were designed (purposed) to be worshippers!
Ex: Ryan Hillner is a pastor that shepherds our youth group. But this is NOT his DESIGN or PURPOSE! It is his CALLING. God calls us to be ministers in one way or another and empowers us through His Holy Spirit, but this is still not our ultimate purpose in life. Our ultimate purpose is to worship Jesus Christ. It's that simple.
•Since you were designed as a worshipper, if you are not fueling that desire with things of God, you WILL fuel it with other things, like grief, anger, money, relationships, other worldly things, etc... this will cause your worship to become stangant.
We MUST stay in the Word and in prayer. It is vital to our spiritual condition.
Monday, December 4, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
"First Love" 11.27.06
A Brief Description of Jesus: (Revelation 1)
•Jesus speaks with a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet10, and rushing waters15
•He is wearing a robe that descends to his feet,
•He is girded across the chest with a golden sash13
•His head and his hair are white like wool and snow14
•His eyes are like flames of fire14
•His feet are like glossy bronze glowing as if they were in a furnace15
•He holds seven stars (pastors, 20) in his right hand
•A sharp two-edged sword comes out of His mouth16
•His face is as radiant as the sun shining in its strength16
•When John saw him, he fell down as if he were a dead man17
•Lighting shoots out of His throne 4:5
The Response of all who are close to Jesus: (Revelation 4, 5)
~24 elders
~Angels
1. A strong angel
2. Myriads of myriads of angels (myriads=10,000) vs11
~4 creatures – all have eyes in front and behind, and have 6 wings.
1. Lion
2. Calf
3. Creature with a face of a man
4. Creature like a flying eagle
•The creatures never cease to say “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” 4:8
•As the creatures do this, the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne (with lighting shooting out of it), and NEVER STOP WORSHIPPING HIM!!
They cast down their crowns before him.
Each one holds up a golden bowl of YOUR PRAYERS to Jesus! 5:8
They sing a new song
•The strong angel = “Who is worthy to open His book??” No one.
•Myriads of myriads of angels = “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
•Every living thing begins to worship Him, as the 4 creatures keep saying “amen,” and the 24 elders fall down and worship.
This is the response of those in close proximity the Jesus
Why isn’t this always MY immediate response, and the immediate response of all Christians all the time?...
The answer is in Revelations 2:2-4
• Background on Ephesians
Israel leaving first love:
• Ezekiel 16:8-15
• Jeremiah 2:2
•Betrothal: “an engagement”
•Devotion: “Ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle” –American Hertitage Dictionary
We can leave our first love if we don't stay intimate with Jesus:
• Matthew 24:12
HOW DO WE PREVENT OURSELVES FROM LEAVING OUR FIRST LOVE?
• Revelation 2:5 “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first:” Ardent, selfless affection and dedication to a person.
If you are not putting things aside to spend time with your savior, you are forgetting your first love.
Husband/Wife analogy (sacrifice) – our relationship to God is similar. You must MAKE time. Your worship is grounded and based off of this point...nothing else is more important in worship than the foundation of spending time with Jesus.
Spending time with Jesus = reading your bible + praying.
Homework: Read chapters 1 & 2 (Unquenchable & Undone)
•Jesus speaks with a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet10, and rushing waters15
•He is wearing a robe that descends to his feet,
•He is girded across the chest with a golden sash13
•His head and his hair are white like wool and snow14
•His eyes are like flames of fire14
•His feet are like glossy bronze glowing as if they were in a furnace15
•He holds seven stars (pastors, 20) in his right hand
•A sharp two-edged sword comes out of His mouth16
•His face is as radiant as the sun shining in its strength16
“A typical solar flare can release the energy equivalent of millions of 100-megaton hydrogen bombs exploding at once.” CNN
•When John saw him, he fell down as if he were a dead man17
•Lighting shoots out of His throne 4:5
The Response of all who are close to Jesus: (Revelation 4, 5)
~24 elders
~Angels
1. A strong angel
2. Myriads of myriads of angels (myriads=10,000) vs11
~4 creatures – all have eyes in front and behind, and have 6 wings.
1. Lion
2. Calf
3. Creature with a face of a man
4. Creature like a flying eagle
•The creatures never cease to say “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” 4:8
•As the creatures do this, the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne (with lighting shooting out of it), and NEVER STOP WORSHIPPING HIM!!
They cast down their crowns before him.
Each one holds up a golden bowl of YOUR PRAYERS to Jesus! 5:8
They sing a new song
•The strong angel = “Who is worthy to open His book??” No one.
•Myriads of myriads of angels = “Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
•Every living thing begins to worship Him, as the 4 creatures keep saying “amen,” and the 24 elders fall down and worship.
This is the response of those in close proximity the Jesus
Why isn’t this always MY immediate response, and the immediate response of all Christians all the time?...
The answer is in Revelations 2:2-4
• Background on Ephesians
Israel leaving first love:
• Ezekiel 16:8-15
• Jeremiah 2:2
•Betrothal: “an engagement”
•Devotion: “Ardent, often selfless affection and dedication, as to a person or principle” –American Hertitage Dictionary
We can leave our first love if we don't stay intimate with Jesus:
• Matthew 24:12
HOW DO WE PREVENT OURSELVES FROM LEAVING OUR FIRST LOVE?
• Revelation 2:5 “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first:” Ardent, selfless affection and dedication to a person.
If you are not putting things aside to spend time with your savior, you are forgetting your first love.
Husband/Wife analogy (sacrifice) – our relationship to God is similar. You must MAKE time. Your worship is grounded and based off of this point...nothing else is more important in worship than the foundation of spending time with Jesus.
Spending time with Jesus = reading your bible + praying.
Homework: Read chapters 1 & 2 (Unquenchable & Undone)
What is Worship?
Biblical worship is described as:
• Proskuneo, [4352]: to kiss, adore, to fall or prostrate before.
Literally to kiss towards someone.. The ancient oriental {especially Persian}, mode of salutation between persons of equal ranks was to kiss each other on the lips; when a difference of rank was slight, they kissed each other on the cheek; when one was much inferior, he fell upon his knees and touched his forehead to the ground or prostrated himself, throwing kisses at the same time toward the superior. It is this latter mode of salutation that Gr. Writers express by proskuneo. -Zodhiates
When Jesus instructs us on proskuneo, He gives us some guidelines…
• In Spirit and in Truth
Read John 4:7-26
”God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Spirit: pneumatos, means “with a sincere mind, with a true heart, not with mere external rites.
• Showing our love to Jesus with both reverence and sincerity… but…
We can’t love Jesus out of our own love, because we have none to offer except what the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts[Romans 5:5]. We are loving Jesus with Jesus’ love. Jesus was the 1st to say “I love you,” by his active affection on the cross. When we worship Him [adore, fall before him, sing to him] in spirit and in truth, we are essentially saying, “I love you too.”
“As far as love goes, Lazo is broke. So, I’m gonna die on the cross to bring him close. And then I’m gonna give him love, since he has no capacity to love, and it’s up to him to give it back.” -God
Worship can be called:
• Observing The love of Jesus towards us, falling before Him in reverence and sincerity, to tell Him, I love you too.
How Worship is Birthed:
• By the Holy Spirit
1. No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:3
2. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26
3. At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth Luke 10:21
• Since it is to God, and from God, it would only make sense that it is enabled, and continually fuelled by God. To be continually full of fresh worship, we should be continually filling our hearts and minds with Jesus = Bible + prayer
If you are not in both of these things, worship will be dry for you.
As we read Unquenchable Worshipper, know these things-
• If you are not soaking up the Word of God, and intimate in prayer, this will be just another book you have to read. If you are reading the Word and praying, this book will open your eyes to the depths of worship, and further intimacy with God
• Practice you relationship with God. You don’t need a guitar, turn on your itunes, and sing worship songs.
• Worship by yourself.
• Proskuneo, [4352]: to kiss, adore, to fall or prostrate before.
Literally to kiss towards someone.. The ancient oriental {especially Persian}, mode of salutation between persons of equal ranks was to kiss each other on the lips; when a difference of rank was slight, they kissed each other on the cheek; when one was much inferior, he fell upon his knees and touched his forehead to the ground or prostrated himself, throwing kisses at the same time toward the superior. It is this latter mode of salutation that Gr. Writers express by proskuneo. -Zodhiates
When Jesus instructs us on proskuneo, He gives us some guidelines…
• In Spirit and in Truth
Read John 4:7-26
”God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Spirit: pneumatos, means “with a sincere mind, with a true heart, not with mere external rites.
• Showing our love to Jesus with both reverence and sincerity… but…
We can’t love Jesus out of our own love, because we have none to offer except what the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts[Romans 5:5]. We are loving Jesus with Jesus’ love. Jesus was the 1st to say “I love you,” by his active affection on the cross. When we worship Him [adore, fall before him, sing to him] in spirit and in truth, we are essentially saying, “I love you too.”
“As far as love goes, Lazo is broke. So, I’m gonna die on the cross to bring him close. And then I’m gonna give him love, since he has no capacity to love, and it’s up to him to give it back.” -God
Worship can be called:
• Observing The love of Jesus towards us, falling before Him in reverence and sincerity, to tell Him, I love you too.
How Worship is Birthed:
• By the Holy Spirit
1. No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:3
2. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26
3. At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth Luke 10:21
• Since it is to God, and from God, it would only make sense that it is enabled, and continually fuelled by God. To be continually full of fresh worship, we should be continually filling our hearts and minds with Jesus = Bible + prayer
If you are not in both of these things, worship will be dry for you.
As we read Unquenchable Worshipper, know these things-
• If you are not soaking up the Word of God, and intimate in prayer, this will be just another book you have to read. If you are reading the Word and praying, this book will open your eyes to the depths of worship, and further intimacy with God
• Practice you relationship with God. You don’t need a guitar, turn on your itunes, and sing worship songs.
• Worship by yourself.
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