“The primary purpose of the Church/Temple is to worship and exalt God and to minister to Him. Our prayer meetings, worship services, church services and Bible studies should begin with worshiping and exalting Him. Worship service is not about us enjoying the music or getting a fuzzy feeling. The songs should seldom be about us, especially in the beginning. Worship is a sacrificial offering unto the Lord which can consists of music, song, prayer, reading of the Word, shouting, dancing, leaping, sitting still and quiet, meditation, Holy Communion, artistic expression…
If we actually do this we won’t need nearly as much time focused on personal ministry because as we seek and behold Jesus, our hearts are being transformed by His presence and ministered to in ways that we can’t compare to. If we make it all about us and our needs, who are we really worshiping? Who’s at the center of the meeting? Who is the Guest of Honor?
The Temple wasn’t created simply for us to get from Him. There is an appropriate time and place for that which was the original Synagogue/teaching place. We’ve combined the two. But we must begin by beholding Him, not entering His house immediately expecting to receive from Him for our benefit. He’s not a genie in a bottle. He desires relationship. He created us to worship Him, to minister to Him.
Think about this—You don’t show up at a friend’s house and barge right in and start asking for things. This would be rude and you probably wouldn’t have them as a friend for long because they’d see you as greedy and always in it for yourself.
Can you imagine friends throwing a party in your honor and no one even really talks to you or acknowledges you? In fact, they all just talk about themselves and ask you for stuff? They don’t bring you any gifts, but expect gifts from you?!😮
You acknowledge them, you ask about them. You honor them for their hospitality and often times we even bring gifts of gratitude.
It’s the same way with our Creator. We approach His throne in humble reverence. The Priests had to go through a series of cleansing rituals before entering the Holy of Holies. It was a serious thing. Might it be wise for us to do the same?
Acknowledge His glory and majesty. Acknowledge His Kingship and position of authority and honor. Worship Him. Lavish your love upon Him. Soak in His presence and glory. Repent of unconfessed sin. Thank Him for His grace and mercy. Talk with Him. Ask Him what’s on His heart in that moment. Sit and listen to Him.
Then…if the need is still there, partner with Him in ministry to the brethren.
By the way, whether we’re having a good day or bad day, whether we’re in a wilderness season or a mountain top season, whether healthy or sick, we are to praise, worship and exalt Jesus!
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”
Psalms 100:1-5 NKJV
“One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalms 27:4-8 NKJV
“saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
Hebrews 2:12 NKJV
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”
Hebrews 13:15 NKJV
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
I Peter 2:9 NKJV
“After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Revelation 19:1-8 NKJV”—Ann Lindholm