EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA:
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide
TITLE: WORSHIPPING GOD IN HOLINESS
DATE: TUESDAY JUNE 29, 2021
TEXT: NEHEMIAH 8: 1-10
KEY VERSE: “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (Nehemiah 8:6).
This scriptural account gives us a good understanding of worship activities in a religious congregation in Israel, similar to the pattern of worship activities in the New Testament church. The congregation came together for the purpose of hearing the word of God. Their activity centred on the word of God. Here Ezra the priest was the pastor of the congregation, having other elders and workers in his support, the word was read and the congregation listened attentively to it. Ezra led the people in a period of praise and worship of God: he blessed the Lord, the great God. The people answered, Amen, Amen, lifted up their hands and bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Ezra opened the book of the law in the sight of all people, who stood in honour of the word of God. The people wept, prayed and repented before the Lord, because of the convicting power of the word of God in their hearts and were assured and comforted by the ministers. They rejoiced greatly for the Lord’s works and presence among them.
Dancing was not included in the activities of this congregation. They praised and worshipped God with gladness, but did not dance. The word of God was the centrality and main emphasis of their assembly. In many churches today, the word of God has lost its centrality, emphasis, authority and convicting power. Emphasis is not on the word, but on the pleasure of the worshippers. The present church is prone to dancing and looks for every occasion to indulge in it. The word of God is not honoured, not read distinctly, not applied to the lives of the people in sincere preaching. The worship service is so noisy that the soberness and attentiveness required for the convicting power of the word cannot be realized. The effect is that the members are emotionally excited, but not saved, cleansed and spiritually edified after the worship service.
Thought for the day: Seek His face and precept and avoid sacrifice of fools.
Song for the day: When I come into Your presence, I’m so happy……
Bible reading for the day: Job 16-18; Acts 9:1-22