I Was Made For Worship

I Was Made For Worship

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Exodus 17:8-13, Psalms 95:1-6

Throughout Scripture there are several outward expressions people use to worship.
Dance, shouting, clapping, kneeling, laying prostrate, sitting quietly, jumping like a pogo stick, loud music, soft music, drums, cymbals, stringed instruments, swaying back and forth, singing, lifting hands.

In our culture, here at FC, the most common are standing, singing, lifting our hands.
But I want to emphasize, it’s not the outward expression that is as important as the inward expression. I think we need a mix of both.

Jn.4:23 “…true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
The Father is looking for worshipers – not worship.

I believe when we worship, there are supernatural things going on that we can’t see or understand.
What we do physically has spiritual effects, and what we do spiritually has a physical effect.

Using one example, let’s look at what it means to lift my hands in worship.
Why do people lift their hands? * they know the answer * A sign of surrender
A sign of obedience * A child wanting to be picked up

Exo 17:8-13
On the surface Moses lifting his hands looks physical.
But obviously, in the spiritual realm, there was something going on that they couldn’t see or understand. (Obedience is SO important)
Eph.6:12 our battel is not against flesh and blood.

There was a spiritual component that affected the physical realm.
Worship is not just an outward expression, and it is not just an inward expression.

A key to victory in life’s battles can be found in what we do supernaturally and physically combined.
In our culture, there is MAJOR emphasis on only the physical.
But we live in a very supernatural world.
I submit Biblically there is a mix of what is important.

How do you fight a spiritual battle?
There are a lot of different “take away” lessons in this scripture.
Sometimes you need others to see breakthrough.

Ver.13 Joshua overcame with the sword.
On the surface, it looked like Joshua had the better army, but what Mose did with the combined help of Aaron and Hur, combined with swordplay, brought victory.
Raised hands in this battle is what determined the outcome.
So is that our formula then? No, but….

There is something here that is beyond my understanding or my reasoning.
Its not the only tool in the box, but it appears to be a God given tool.

God gives us “… The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” Isa 61:3
It’s a tool in the box.

What happens when you replace worry with worship?
When I respond to circumstances that normally bring anxiety, fear, anger, etc – when I respond by turning my focus to worshiping God, it alters the atmosphere.
I put on a garment of praise. That is a prophetic action.

Holy Spirit inspired physical action that disrupts the atmosphere.
Obedient physical action precedes spiritual breakthrough.