Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God…. 2 Corinthians 2:15 NLT
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:30 NLT
“I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1 NLT
THE KEY TO A THRIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS TRUST, WHICH IS DISPLAYED THROUGH ABANDONMENT TO GOD. THAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF WORSHIP.
Now he brought me back to the entrance to the Temple. I saw water pouring out from under the Temple porch to the east (the Temple faced east). The water poured from the south side of the Temple, south of the altar. He then took me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the gate complex on the east. The water was gushing from under the south front of the Temple. He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through. He said, “Son of man, have you had a good look?” Ezekiel 47:1-7 MSG
4 LEVELS OF CONTROL
- ANKLE-DEEP
He walked to the east with a measuring tape and measured off fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was ankle-deep. Ezekiel 47:3 MSG
Be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:6-8 NLT
- KNEE-DEEP
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water that was knee-deep. Ezekiel 47:4 MSG
The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:25 NLT
So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? Galatians 4:9 NLT
- WAIST-DEEP
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet, leading me through water waist-deep. Ezekiel 47:4 MSG
Taste and see that the lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the lord will lack no good thing. Psalms 34:8-10 NLT
- OVER YOUR HEAD-DEEP
He measured off another fifteen hundred feet. By now it was a river over my head, water to swim in, water no one could possibly walk through. Ezekiel 47:5 MSG
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:24-25 NLT
THE REWARDS OF SURRENDER
Then he took me back to the riverbank. While sitting on the bank, I noticed a lot of trees on both sides of the river. He told me, “This water flows east, descends to the Arabah and then into the sea, the sea of stagnant waters. When it empties into those waters, the sea will become fresh. Wherever the river flows, life will flourish—great schools of fish—because the river is turning the salt sea into fresh water. Where the river flows, life abounds. Fishermen will stand shoulder to shoulder along the shore from En-gedi all the way north to En-eglaim, casting their nets. The sea will teem with fish of all kinds, like the fish of the Great Mediterranean. “The swamps and marshes won’t become fresh. They’ll stay salty. “But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won’t wither, the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:7-12 MSG
- TREES REPRESENT HEALING
- FISH REPRESENT HARVEST
Wherever the river flows, life will flourish…; Where the river flows, life abounds. Ezekiel 47:8-9 MSG
WHEN WE ABANDON OURSELVES TO GOD’S WILL & PRESENCE WE BECOME THE CHURCH. THEN WE GET TO BE A PART OF SEEING SOULS SAVED & PEOPLE HEALED.
HOW TO HAVE A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP
1. INCORPORATE GOD IN YOUR LIFE
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NLT
2. CHOOSE TO REMAIN COMMITTED
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18 NLT
3. BE OBEDIENT
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16 NLT
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:21 NLT
4. SHOW REVERENCE
But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. John 4:23 NLT
He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalms 147:10-11 NLT
Fear of the lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. Proverbs 19:23 NLT
….True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” John 4:23 NLT