Friday, July 12, 2013

Believing is worship!

Believing is worship!


While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said,“Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.

Matthew 9:18-26 (NKJV)

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I’m not sure why the Holy Spirit led me to this scripture this morning but He did and I thought to share some of the insights I received while I studied:

1.       Believing that God can turn a situation around in your favour, irrespective of how bad things look or seem, translates to Worship –

… While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”…  (Matthew 9:18)
Bible refers to the man as being a “certain ruler”. He wasn’t named. He was a ruler alright but not important enough to have his name mentioned. It wasn’t about who he was. It was more about what he represented. About the principle Christ was going to use him to teach His followers. It was about his attitude.

Anyway, this unnamed ruler had just lost his daughter. She had just died. She wasn’t in critical condition or in a coma in some hospital, she was dead. Scripture records that he left his dead daughter at home – he didn’t take her to the morgue. He didn’t bury her immediately. He went straight to Jesus and (wait for this), he worshipped!

 What do we do when we face dead or dying situations? What do we do when it looks as though our marriage is dying? Where do we place that organ that the doctors have certified dead? What is our attitude to the seemingly insurmountable problems that we encounter in our lives?

For this unnamed ruler, scripture records that he worshipped Jesus saying “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” . You may ask how this was classified as worship. Afterall all he did was invite Jesus to come to his house and lay hands on his daughter abi?  There was no singing of slow songs or calling different high sounding titles of God.  The very act of believing that Jesus was able to re-open a chapter that was closed was attributed to him as worship!

Again, remember that if the girl was dying, it may not have been such a big deal. But she was dead. Pause and think about it. The ideal thing would have been to prepare for her funeral and tag her death as “God’s will” but this unnamed ruler believed that because Jesus was the Beginning and the End,  he had the final say and it was not over until it was over. The Bible called this attitude, WORSHIP!

2.       Worship brings God into situations

So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples (Matthew 9:19)

When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy
crowd wailing, (Matthew 9:23)
Scripture records that Jesus arose and followed the ruler to his house! I do not think there was anywhere in scripture where Jesus followed a person to his house and there wasn’t some kind of miracle.  Worship brings God into your house! Into the situations you are facing! Into your life! And when the Almighty steps in, things are bound to change!

Matthew 9:24, records that Jesus, immediately He got into the house, set right to work. The man had only asked that Jesus lay hands on his daughter but Jesus began to deal with other issues the man had in his life. Bible records that Christ put away the “noisy crowds”.  Those people and situations who never encourage you. Who are quick to “mourn” with you rather than believe with you. Who tell you to “be realistic” rather than believe God. Christ helped the unnamed ruler put them away. It was after this that Christ ministered to the ruler’s daughter.

When you worship, God comes in and deals with not only your pressing needs, but also less obvious situations that could have impeded you in one way or the other.

3.       Worship brings forth the supernatural

But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.  And the report of this went out into all that land.

(Matthew 9:25-26)
Just by a touch from Jesus, she who was dead arose!  Why? Because her father worshipped! Worship brings forth the (super)natural! Because worship causes the Almighty to step into the life of the worshipper, things begin to turn around. Scripture is replete with illustrations of the power of worship – from the children of Judah (2 Chronicles 2:22) to Paul and Silas in jail (Acts 16:25), worship has always moved God to show up!

The bible records that the report of what Jesus had done for the ruler went out into all the land! Worship births the unprecedented!

I do not know what situation appears to be dead or dying in your life. Have you received a negative doctor’s report? Is it a child that seems to be lost to the spirit of addiction? Is it your marriage that appears to be falling apart? Has the world said you will never be married because of your past? Is it that secret issue that causes you to cry when you are alone? Dare to believe like the unnamed ruler, that Jesus can turn things around! Say to Jesus, come and lay hands on this and it will come alive! He will count it to you as worship and step in.

Pray with me

Father,

Thank you for our lives. Thank you for your word. Thank you for the Holy Spirit.

Lord, today we dare to believe you for that seemingly impossible situation. We thank you because we know that with You nothing shall be impossible. Like the ruler in the scripture, we call out to you Lord – Lay your hands on this dead situation and let it live.

Give us a heart of continuous worship that we may worship you all the days of our lives.

Thank you for the testimonies that you have already started working!

We love you Lord.

In Jesus name we have prayed, Amen.



Ps. If you have never confessed (with your mouth) Jesus as your Lord and personal savior, now may be a good time. Romans 10:9 is very clear - … if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…

Think about it and make up your mind quickly! The time is short. You may say this prayer (please feel free to use your own words. God actually prefers your words :) )

Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for my sins, and God raised you from the dead. I am very grateful for your love. Today, I confess you as Lord over my life! Come into my heart today. I declare I am born again and I will serve you forever! Thank you Jesus!!!

Once you have prayed “the prayer” please find a church that believes in the bible and be planted there! You may e-mail me on ngozilee1325@yahoo.com and we could discuss. God bless you!!!!

5 Comments:

Blogger Funmilayo Jeje said...

Great. My faith was lifted by this. God bless you

July 12, 2013 at 5:14 PM  
Anonymous Abigail said...

Woah,this is awesome.am blessed,will sure share it

July 12, 2013 at 11:00 PM  
Blogger Tehilah said...

Thanks Funmi and Abigail. God bless you guys! Please do share!

July 13, 2013 at 7:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is a real eye opener. God bless you and your family.

July 13, 2013 at 10:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God will continually bless and enrich your spirit Ngozi. I was blessed by this piece.
-Omy

July 13, 2013 at 10:39 AM  

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