Pastor Nelda’s Notes: “Worship”

and a special thanks for our VBS Angels …

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One of the most powerful spiritual weapons God has given to us, as His people is Worship. Our true worship, is in “Spirit and Truth” as Jesus said. God is searching and seeking people who worship Him in this way. (John 4:2324).? {{more: continue ?}}

There is tremendous spiritual power built into worship, it can be and is often misused and abused by those who either miss the point of worship entirely or lack understanding of Scripture, or they are operating under the same influences that caused Satan to be thrown out of heaven like a flash of lightening (Luke 10:18).

It?s hard for us as Christians, to wrap our minds around the idea that not everyone who worships God is actually worshiping Him. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said it would be this way. He said, ?Not everyone who says to Me, ?Lord, Lord,? shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ?Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and ?led worship? in Your name?? But then I will declare to them, ?I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil.”

Here are some wrong reasons why people worship:

Routine, Routine, Routine

If we’re not: working on keeping our relationship fresh, taking time to connect with God on every level, spending time with God, reading His Word and finding new things out about God as you get to know them better each day, it weakens your connection. And what once felt exciting and new starts to feel boring and predictable. Keeping that cycle flowing will transform how you think of worship and breathe new energy and life into your Sunday “routine.”

The Allure For Attention

You don?t need to worship to get God’s attention about anything. God already knows everything about us and everything we’re going through. Worship doesn?t increase the attention He will give to us.

Worship is exclusively God-centered and God-focused. God doesn?t love you more in seasons when you worship or less in seasons when you don?t. He sees everything all at the same time about you. Seek to connect with the Lord for no other reason than because He is good. Because He loved you first. Because you?re thankful for all He has done. Come in with no agenda other than to lift Him high. Minister to Him. He?ll take care of the rest.

The Trap of Tradition

It is wrong to worship God just because that?s what we?ve always done. Traditions aren?t wrong unless they start to cancel out the Word of God (Matt. 15:6) and quench the Spirit. However, worshiping God for the sake of tradition is missing the point. You may as well skip it altogether. The whole point of worshiping God is to connect with Him.

Catching God Up To Speed

Sometimes we can?t wrap our heads around the fact is that God already knows everything. Remember, worship is ministry to the Lord, and nothing else. It is important that we draw a distinction between songs that are worship and those that are worshipful. They are not the same thing. Worship ministers to the Lord. Songs that are worshipful minister to us. We never want to sing more about ourselves and our experiences than we do about Him. Singing about God in light of ourselves isn?t worship.?

Seeking God’s Hands, Not His Heart

We love to say about worship is how much we have received from God. Have you ever heard anyone say that? Have you ever said it yourself? When worship is especially powerful, people often come away refreshed, restored, rejuvenated and feeling a renewed sense of faith in the Lord. What a powerful outcome of operating within the presence of God, ministering to Him! He is faithful! However, when we have those amazing experiences, we tend to try and replicate them. We try to repeat them so we can feel that way again.

Always remember, worship is one thing: Ministry to the Lord. Yes, we should each sing and testify to each other of what the Lord has done. When we come together to speak of the good things God has done, we are speaking prophetically that He will do it again in the lives of others (Revelation 19:10).

Coming into worship seeking a refreshing restoration and renewal are wrong reasons to worship. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise and everything will be added unto you. God will listen to us because God is faithful.

• Don?t use songs to tell God things He already knows.
• Don?t set your needs to music and call it worship.
• Don?t ask God to do things He?s already done.
• Don’t ask God to do things He has given you the power to do in Jesus? name.
• Let your words reflect a heart that has no other reason to sing than pure adoration.

Now a word about VBS …

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On a different note, Thanks to Laurie and her team for organizing a great VBS. The theme was “Angels” We had lots of angels that came to share with our children and be examples of how God can use us.

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OUR Angels, DJ Candice Puente, Kacey Pardee, Angela & Charlie Clemens, Robert Brake, Jerry Priddy, Coung Pham, Robbie Layne, Dolores Smith, Larry Smith, Darlene Reese, Vinita Thomas, Katy Shelby, Danielle Sanders, Vanessa Nichols, Esta Dunham, Marilyn Priddy and Leona Wadkins.

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We also had community leaders that served as “Angels” Jessica Mang – President of Rotary, Chad Gee – Superintendent of KISD Schools, Joe Taylor – former School board trustee, Cesar Guerra – Keep Kennedale Beautiful, Jeff Nevarez – Parks Board & BOA, Josh Altom – City Council, Mayor Brian Johnson – Best Mayor Around! Domingo and Irene Chavez for funding the 22ft. Water Slide VBS closing activity. Captain Hull KPD Water Slides Extraordinaire and David Green’s Jabo’s Sno Shack!

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The children learned about God and Jesus. They had lots of fun at the First UMC Kennedale.

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See you on Sunday!

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“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”

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Peace,

Pastor Nelda

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