Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Monday, November 4

Worship ... and Serve

Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
Matthew 4:10

Recommended Reading
Matthew 4:1-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%204:1-11&version=NKJV )

In his book Called to Worship, Vernon Whaley writes, "True worship embraces love for the people of God -- demonstrated through service .... Our worship of God cannot be isolated from the real world or trapped inside the walls of our 'secret place.' It must impact us to reach out to and at times confront the culture around us."

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

In the New Testament the Pharisees knew much about God and His Law, but they didn't have compassion for the people around them. When the Lord Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, the Pharisees were critical. But true worshippers exhibit a God-like behavior that touches the lives of others in service. When we truly worship God, we're transformed into His likeness and become people who reach out to others and serve them. When we enter into the needs of other people and begin to minister to them, we recapture the sense of the wonder of who God is.

Sing a song of praise to the Lord today. Find a way to serve God and touch the lives of those around you.

When God's people turn their hearts to biblical worship, there will be social change. And with that change comes ethical and moral accountability.
Vernon Whaley

Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 7-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207-8&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, November 5

The Price of Worship

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1

Recommended Reading
Romans 6:12-19 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%206:12-19&version=NKJV )

Imagine this Old Testament conversation: "John, I am headed to the temple to offer a sacrifice for something I did earlier this week. Could you give me one of your blemish-free lambs to offer? I only have one and need to keep him for breeding." Or consider this modern-day conversation: "Mary, I made a commitment to donate blood at the blood drive. Could you go in my place and donate a pint of blood for me?"

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

What's wrong with these questions? It's obvious -- the person who has an obligation or commitment doesn't want to make a sacrifice to fulfill his duty. And yet that negates the very notion of sacrifice. A personal sacrifice costs something; "sacrifice" means we have less than before. That is consistent with Paul's words in Romans 12:1 where he urges us to make ourselves a "living sacrifice." Imagine asking someone, "Could you give your life to Christ in my place? I'd like the benefits but am not crazy about the cost involved."

Worshipping God involves many sacrifices: time, money, energy, our will, and our decisions. We should count the cost before making the commitment (Luke 14:28-33).

Consecration is resolution that is not afraid of sacrifice.
Unknown

Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 9-10 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209-10&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, November 6

Worthy of Sacrifice?

Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: "Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!"
Judges 16:23

Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 5:2-7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%205:2-7&version=NKJV )

The exact implied "powers" of Dagon, the Philistine god, are uncertain. But when the Philistines captured Samson the judge, and blinded him, they offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to Dagon for delivering their enemy to them. As it turned out, Dagon wasn't as powerful as those sacrificing to him would have liked.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

As a final act of retribution, Samson pulled down the columns supporting Dagon's temple and crushed more Philistines than he had killed in battle. Later, when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant from the Israelites, they put it in Dagon's rebuilt temple -- right next to the idol. The next two mornings, the Philistines found Dagon laying face down on the ground before the ark. The Philistines returned the ark to the Israelites!

Dagon's impotence raises the question: Should we sacrifice to or for that which is unworthy of sacrifice? Clearly Dagon was unworthy. What about examining our own lives? Is everything we sacrifice  to  or  for  worthy of what we are sacrificing?

If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.
C. T. Studd

Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 11-12 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2011-12&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, November 7

Knowing the God We Worship

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: ... "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him."
Exodus 15:1-2

Recommended Reading
Ezra 3:10-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%203:10-13&version=NKJV )

Many people come to know Christ personally after having attended church for many years. And they often give testimony to experiencing a different kind of worship after becoming a Christian. Before being saved, they were singing worship songs about God; after being saved, they were singing to God. It boils down to the difference between knowing about God and knowing God Himself.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

After Moses led the Hebrew slaves across the floor of the Red Sea, out of the reach of the Egyptian army, he led them in a song of worship to the God who had just delivered them from death. For understandable reasons, their song was sung in personal terms: "The LORD is my strength ... my salvation; He is my God" (Exodus 15:2, italics added). Up until this point, they had learned about God through the plagues on Egypt. But their knowledge had suddenly become personal!

People who know the works of God in their own lives are the ones who worship with the most meaning. The next time you are involved in worship, consider what God has done for you personally.

If worship does not change us it has not been worship.
Richard J. Foster

Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 13-15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013-15&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Friday, November 8

Never-Ending Worship

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
Revelation 4:11

Recommended Reading
Revelation 5:11-13 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%205:11-13&version=NKJV )

It is worth remembering that our modern word worship comes from the Old English word weorthscipe, or "worthship" -- meaning to ascribe worth to someone or something. So when we worship God, we are reciting the reasons He is worthy to receive our praise: "We worship You because ...."

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

The psalmist David wrote, "I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised" (Psalm 18:3). Just before those words, he lists the reasons God is worthy: God is his rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, shield, stronghold, and the horn of his salvation. The apostle John heard these words in heaven: "You [ Jesus ] are worthy ... for You were slain, and have redeemed us" (Revelation 5:9). Worship is always attached to worth. The question becomes, Is God only worthy on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. until noon? Do the reasons God is worthy go away when we leave church? Or is God always worthy to be worshipped because He is always our rock, redeemer, and so on?

The answer is Yes -- God is always worthy. The question then is, Are we always worshipping Him? If God never ceases to be God, our worship should also be never-ending.

Worship is Christian living.
Dick Lucas

Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 16-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016-17&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, November 9 & 10

Blessing Bundles: Food, Clothing, and Shelter

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.
1 Kings 17:6

Recommended Reading
1 Kings 17:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2017:1-6&version=NKJV )

Recently a church in Ohio received a $93,000 water bill in the mail. It wasn't because of conducting too many baptisms; it was a mistake on the part of the utility company. A spate of similar bills arrived in mailboxes all over the town of Girard, Ohio, leaving city officials in, er, hot water.

Watch This Week's TV Broadcast ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/television.aspx?tid=email_watchedevo )

The Lord didn't send Elijah a bill for his food and water in 1 Kings 17. The rugged prophet had courageously confronted King Ahab, announced a drought on the land, and retreated to a safe place where the Lord sent him food by the ravens and gave him water in the brook. The Bible commentator Matthew Henry observed that God provided for Elijah using unlikely caterers, and "the provision was plentiful, and good, and constant, bread and meat twice a day, daily bread and food convenient."

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things," referring to food, clothing, and shelter. Look around you today and notice how wonderfully God has provided for you. Remember to thank Him. Remember to praise His name.

He who could furnish a table in the wilderness and make ravens the cooks and servers to His prophet is able to supply all our need according to His riches in glory.
Matthew Henry (paraphrased)

Read-Thru-the-Bible
John 18-21 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2018-21&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Monday, November 11

"We Didn't Hear It in Heaven"

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Recommended Reading
Colossians 3:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203:12-17&version=NKJV )

Corrie ten Boom told of an old monk who sang every Christmas Eve for his brothers in the monastery. His voice was rough, but he loved the Lord and sang from his heart. One year the director of the cloister said, "I'm sorry, Brother Don, we have a new monk who has such a beautiful voice ... he will sing this Christmas."

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

The new fellow sang beautifully and everyone was happy. But that night an angel came to the superior and said, "Why didn't you have a Christmas Eve song?" The superior replied, "We had a beautiful song, didn't you hear it?" The angel shook his head sadly. "It may have been very inspiring to you, but we didn't hear it in heaven."1

Remember that God is more interested in "heart" than "art" in your singing -- or in whatever ministry you possess. He gives us talents to showcase His grace, not our glory. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord and for His honor alone.

The person who fears God seeks to live all of life to the glory of God .... All the activities of life should be pursued with the aim of glorifying God.
Jerry Bridges, in The Joy of Fearing God

1 Corrie ten Boom, In My Father's House (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1976), 136-137.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201-3&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, November 12

World Without End

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 89:1

Recommended Reading
Psalm 92:1-4 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2092:1-4&version=NKJV )

The more we study the Bible, the more we want to sing. Our hearts become a virtual doxology. The word doxology comes from two Greek terms: Doxo, meaning praise, and -logos, meaning word. It's a word or a burst of praise. The most famous doxology was written in 1674 by Thomas Ken, and begins: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." It's one of the oldest English hymns; but as doxologies go, it's the new kid on the block. The oldest doxology still commonly sung is the Gloria Patri. According to Basil the Great, portions of the Gloria Patri were being sung as early as the time of Clement of Rome, who died around A.D. 100.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

If you don't know the Gloria Patri, you can still utter its words as a prayer of praise to our Triune God: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be -- world without end. Amen."

Amen!

When a non-singer becomes a Christian, he or she becomes a singer.
Ronald Allen, in Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 4-5  ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204-5%20&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, November 13

No Worship Without Sacrifice

I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:17

Recommended Reading
Psalm 51 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2051&version=NKJV )

Put  sacrifice  at the top of the list of words we'd rather avoid. The dictionary defines  sacrifice  as "the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something with a higher claim." We sacrifice when we give up something precious, personal, or profitable to us. Children might sacrifice their favorite toys for a charity drive; a firefighter or soldier might sacrifice his or her life to save others.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

The Bible talks about the sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15), the sacrifice of prayer (Psalm 141:2), the sacrifice of giving to missions (Philippians 4:18), the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), and offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

Many Christians serve God only when it's convenient. We are willing to give something to God as long as it doesn't cost much. We know little of the sacrifices of those who have preceded us or who are today suffering great privations for the Gospel. But true worship means counting the cost without fear, and serving God without thought of convenience or cost.

Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, and help me to make a complete sacrifice. I give up myself, and whatever I know; now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
James Nicholson

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 6-7  ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206-7%20&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, November 14

Expand Your (Worship) Boundaries!

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
Acts 17:24

Recommended Reading
Genesis 12:7-8 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012:7-8&version=NKJV )

A family with three young children was faithful to attend their church's worship and Sunday school classes each Sunday. When they were out of town, the parents conducted a family worship service using materials the church furnished. As a result, the children were able to maintain their "perfect church attendance" record for the entire year. Regardless of the family's motives (worship or rewards), their out-of-town practice illustrates a biblical point: Worship knows no bounds.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

There was a transition when the Church was birthed at Pentecost (Acts 2). Before then, Jewish worship had been in a sacred building: first the tabernacle, then the temple, then synagogues in cities beyond Jerusalem. Then Christians began meeting in homes as well as the temple courts (Acts 2:42-47). And Peter declared that the new "temple" is one made of "living stones" (1 Peter 2:5), affirming that "where two or three are gathered together in [ Christ's ] name," He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).

Expand your boundaries! Make a point of worshipping God -- wherever you are.

When we see even a small glimpse of God's holiness, we will bow in worship.
R. C. Sproul

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Acts 8-9  ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208-9&version=NKJV )