Christian Living

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“Is this the right path; haven’t I been here before? It looks so familiar! Am I going in the opposite direction, it can’t be Lord? Where am I?”

Not waiting for an answer Christina looks for a resolution deep within herself, an apparent light in the distant as the fog thickened and the gap widened. A mist of grey clouds rolling together, to form a barrier between the light.

Lord, she called out I’ve walked this path before haven’t I? Father, please speak to me. Christina continued she breathes from deep within. Father, I thank You for being with me but I’m feeling so confused; and it’s not Your will for me to be confused. I need clarity, purpose and directions, Lord. I know that’s not Your plan for me to be hanged out on a limb. But what’s going on in my life right now Lord? Please tell me!

“Worship Me!” loud and clear was the reply.

Christina dropped on her knees and blurted out a song, “Lord! Here I am to worship, here am I to bow down, here I am to say that You’re my God; You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy altogether wonderful to me.” The impact of those words to God troubled her, and she responded.

Lord I mean every word. But how can I really worship You? Show me Lord, I want to please You. In a low tone, familiar to the sweet presence, He answered.

The Samaritan woman would be a great start, My child, search My Words, you will find how to worship Me. You know Christina if My people would spend more time worshipping Me instead of worshipping themselves they would attract the lost and dying. Worship is contagious; it reflects My glory and beauty. All creations are made to worship, both visible and invisible. Take a look at the birds, the trees, the flowers and the mighty waters, the creatures on land and sea; the angels bowed down before Me in worship night and day.

Christina picked up her Bible, and flicked through the Scriptures and stopped at John 4: selectively (she began at 3, 4, 6,13, 14, 21-24,26). Great! She thought; she reflected on the Samaritan Woman, as she re-read the story from the selected verses, driven with unspecified thoughts about the well, the time and the dialogue between the woman and Jesus; she thought about their relationship and then decided there was a specific patterns highlighted in the text. She suddenly remembered that her assignment was on worship. She read verse twenty-four again and found there was definitely a purpose in Jesus stopping at the well.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth,

Purpose:

As she decided to sift out the text and come to a conclusion why Jesus had to go through Samaria, a mental inquisition began; ‘Em, purpose, Jesus left Judea and returned to Galilee,’ this weighted heavily on her mind. The Bible said, ‘He needed to through Samaria, but the Jews and Samaritans don’t mix, so why go through there? Jesus must have had many reasons why He should not take that route; certainly. Jews and Samaritan doesn’t mix; they were very superstitious so the Samaritans was a no, no when it comes to the Jews.

As Christina examined the verses in John, she was very decisive that Jesus must have had a strategy, why He went through Samaria. Grappling with the text and trying to make sense of the topic - true worship, Christina decided to look at other references on worship. It came to her forcibly, it must have been a revelation; ‘I believe Jesus had only one reason to go through Samaria; it’s obvious, to meet that woman and fulfilled the purposes of God,’ Christina inaudible muttered to herself. She knew that Jesus only lived to please His Father; He said, I only do the things My Father told Me to do.

And at the same time Jesus wanted to show His humanity and to reveal Himself as the Messiah to her.

After all, she deliberated, He was tired, He rested at the well (that well, Jacob’s well was at the heart of controversy). He was thirsty and asked the woman for a drink. He also revealed to her His divinity because He knew all about her. Christina was inspired, but desperately tried to make sense of the whole scenario she dissect the spiritual implication afresh, although she was acquainted with the story.

The well had natural water and this thirsty woman had to come to the well alone at a particular time. Why? Because of her lifestyle, she mused. Jesus had stopped there to meet her spiritual thirst; Yes! He’s very good at that, He quenches our thirst and He was there to take the Samaritan woman out of her darkness to bring her into light and revealed to her true worship in order to shatter her preconceived ideas and religious traditions. Christina focussed on the scene at the well as a playwright

Give Me a drink,”
How can a Jew ask me a Samaritan woman for a drink?
If you only you knew Who is asking you for a drink, you would give Me that drink, in fact you would be asking Him for water, and He would give you living water.

Christiana mentally role played the scene, and decided that a new chapter had began for this woman, deep in her soul something began to stir in her heart, but she began to resist and make excuses. How many times we do the same, so familiar, any one can relate to this woman, in fact I’m just like her. She continued her drama.

Sir, the well is deep, you’ve nothing to draw the water (and she went all religious on Jesus), Surely, You’re not greater than our father Jacob who built this well and drank from it, his sons and livestock, and our livestock and us. Recognising the woman’s defence, Jesus looked beyond the words and spoke directly to what was going on in her life; He gave her a lesson from the Spirit when He touched her deepest need.

Christina continued with the text where the woman left off, as Jesus spoke to her.
Woman, water is not your problem your need is much greater, you really need the water that is not of natural resources and I can give it to you, to quench your deep thirst. This water is eternal and it springs up into everlasting life.

Sir, give me this water that I may never ever thirst again, or need to come back to the well to draw water.

Go and call your husband.

Jesus touched the woman’s raw nerve and she became vulnerable and could not hide behind words any longer, she had to confess outright that she had no husband.

Jesus said, You are right to say ‘I have no husband’ you have had five and you are presently living with a man that is not your husband.

What resistance? You couldn’t believe it, this woman should’ve broken down and come clean, and she should’ve confessed her sins to Jesus, but she didn’t. Yes, she acknowledged that Jesus must have been a prophet to reveal her secret, but she pulled out another religious gimmick, different styles and places of worship of Samaritan and Jews. Don’t go there please. How like us today?

Our fathers worshipped on this mountain and you Jews say that Jerusalem is the place to worship.

Believe Me woman, the hour is coming when worshipping in a particular place will not be an issue, right now you are worshipping what you do not know; we know what we worship because salvation is of the Jews. The time is coming, and right now is when the true worshipper will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth; for this is the kind of worship the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

Christina blew a sigh of relief, at last her defence was broken down, and the loving words of Jesus melted her heart and removed her confusion, now she really wants to know the truth. This was genuine, her words reflected her heart, as she questioned about the Messiah. I know that the Messiah who is called the Christ, He is coming and when He comes, He will tell us all things!

I who speak to you am He.

Joy springs in Christina’s heart as she watched the transformation and saw how easy it is to change from one dimension to another. A willingness to admit her needs was all it took to convert the Samaritan woman; she left her water pot at the well, changed. She went into her village worshipping and spreading the good new that the Messiah had come. Overwhelmed with the words of Jesus, Christina continued the theme God is Spirit, not focussing on the woman but on the Spirit behind worship; she traced other references that dealt with Spiritual worship; as she went through other texts on worship and with each clause, to her amazement, she found herself with a mini Bible Study:

God is Spirit
God is looking for Spiritual acts of worship. To be able to really worship, the veil must be lifted from the hearts of men and women (2 Corinthians 3: 12-18) the reference is clear.

For us to know God the veil which blind our eyes must be taken away, and God is the only one who removes the veil and enables us to see Him. Blindness stops true worship. Christina’s meditation deepens as she pours through each Bible texts.

In her discovery she saw that in the Old Testament the priests had to wear a veil when they enter the Holy of Holies; but Christ has taken away the veil so that we are free to enter the Holy of Holies; and this is accessible to any believer in Christ. Thank You God! We can now enter the Holy of Holies and worship You with unveiled faces; hallelujah! We now have a glimpse of the true holiness and the awesomeness of God Almighty.

We share in His grace and mercy which He has extended to us through His Son. No wonder it is our duty to praise and worship our Lord because of Jesus’ sacrifice; we can come to God and worship Him, we don’t need to bring animal sacrifices because Jesus Himself is the final Passover Lamb.

Christina echoed a crescendo of praise as she continued to study about true worship.
Because Jesus went outside the camp we now have access into God’s presence without being consumed. Praises be to the Lord our God! Thank You so much!

It was electrifying. Everything came alive as the Scriptures pinpoint the benefit of true worship. Come before His presence with singing--- and know that the Lord He is God. It is a brilliant way to come into God’s presence; because Christ has redeemed us from every curse and Jesus the last Adam became a life giving Spirit. I am so glad that through Jesus the truth is revealed to us, we are set free,’ bubbles from Christina’s heart in verbal utterances as she reflects what Jesus has become our sacrificial Lamb.

True worship means I can boldly stand in the liberty where Christ sets me free, I don’t need to go back and get entangled with sin because in worship my gaze focus on my awesome Creator, this is true freedom. One thing though, we should not use our liberty to promote our selves, but we must be motivated by love and serve others.

Christiana reflected on what had led her to the theme taken from John 4 and various verses and references, she remembered while praying the two syllabus that drove her to this study on worship, the Lord spoke into her heart.
Worship Me!

In her meditation her discovery resonate that ‘worship is a lifestyle;’ and she also came to believe that every Christian should adopt it, and allows it to encompass every aspect of their lives. Worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth is giving God our all, whether alone or gather together anywhere in His name; it is in His name and for His sake that attracts His presence. Didn’t Jesus say this?

There I am in the midst.

Christina felt that as there are positive ways to worship the scriptures she read she saw some negatives (Hebrews 13:9-14 )in other references and what does it mean, ‘outside the camp?’ She decided that there are lesson worth taking note:

A lesson
(a) reject strange doctrines
(b) let your heart established by grace - not fleshly works
(c) every servant of God should erect an alter to Him (a secret place)
(d) we do not consume what we offer to God for our own pleasure
(e) the offering is taken outside the camp beyond our ourselves
(f) Jesus died outside the camp in order to sanctify the people

Thinking about ‘worship God is Spirit’ Christina thought this is clear we should not seek man’s approval when we offer our worship to God

The topic of worship became intense to Christina, it was not intended to be in depth, but reading the references gave her a broader prospective on worship. As she pondered over the topic, there were so many lessons to be learnt; she wondered at God’s amazing love and many lessons she had to learn; she thought of His overriding ability to give us revelation despite of ourselves. He made it possible for us to commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ and then gives us revelation on true worship. Circumcision played on Christina’s mind what does it mean? The she resolve in her heart that worshipping God is just to live in His presence and to give Him thanks and praises for everything. The Bible says those who seek Me shall find Me.

Christina reflected on her lifestyle; such her thirst for reading books, watching Christian Television, cassettes, tapes, DVDs, listening to CDs, attending meetings or even Crusades; but realise that although these are good aids to assist her, she need to find God alone on a one to one encounter not through these channels alone. She must give God her undivided attention and let Him minister to her.

Yes, God did say to me - “Worship Me!” and sent me to John to hear His to that woman; He showed me that Worshipping God’s requires my whole life every facet of it. He also requires every individual, although He meets us differently because our needs are different, and most likely we are at different stages in our Christian walk. When Jesus was on earth He dealt with all His disciples differently. He met with individuals at different stages and He changed in their lives for good; He met the deep cry of their hearts. He changed the Samaritan Woman at the well, this woman who was an adulteress, He met the lepers, Thomas and Blind Bartemaus and others. Most of those who met with Jesus were transformed by Him; they followed and learnt how to worship from their hearts.
Christina’s cry came from deep within Lord. You know that I want to worship You with all my heart, please show me how to worship You in Spirit and truth; I really want to Lord.

An instant reply came,
This is a good place to begin. God will show you through His Word, and His Word is Spirit and it is life itself. Remember, true worshippers must worship Me in Spirit and truth. To worship in Spirit and in Truth is like this, your spirit must be in subjection to My Spirit, and “I” in you, no longer dominates the show; when Christ reigns and your spirit takes the back seat this is true worship.

Yes Lord, Pilot did ask You ‘What is truth?’

That’s a good question which needs to be defined. Firstly, truth is the opposite of lie; when any action (work) is done to impress that’s a lie manifest. Did I not say, ‘You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free?’ When My people are living in bondage they are not living in the truth; to worship Me in Spirit and truth brings freedom, but when your worship to God is not in truth – you are offering false worship. True worship to God is out of the abundance of your hearts, this is when your heart, mind, body, soul and spirit are connected to My Spirit. Then and only then, with true worship and pure motive, you are drawn into the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Lord I see.

You can do it, it is so easy, I have made it easy, did not I say ‘My yoke and My burden is light? Everyone can do what I have commanded, but you must want to come before My presence with no other motives or duplicity but to honour and reverence Me. I Am worthy.”

Christina’s heart reflected on the Church family, she heard many testimonies of various individuals ‘what God had done for them and how He had saved them, she thought about how unworthy she way yet the Lord placed eternity in their hearts enabling them to join in the everlasting songs of the redeemed singing, a song came into her head it was from the book or Revelation “Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb---
God gave this revelation to Jesus --- John had to pay the sacrifice for that revelation; he was banished to the Island of Patmos (to live a life of sacrifice and of worship). John did not bemoan his fate although he might have been alone in the Spirit when he received the revelation. Segregation, isolation and aloneness can be a blessing in disguise depending on our attitudes, Lord, thank You for this revelation.

Christina’s eyes were enlightened to the benefits of living a life of separation, yes, ‘there’s no gain without pain when we are alone in the Spirit we are in the right place for God to reveal His secrets to us, through the revelation of His Word which might not be revealed in a crowd; she reasoned. So let us seek to develop a lifestyle of worship by being a worshipper in everything we do.

Lord, now I understand what You meant by ‘The time has come when true worshippers must worship the Father in Spirit and in truth because the Father seek such kind of worshippers’ (John 4:23).
The book of Revelation captured her imagination and she lingered on a few verses from selected chapters as she sang praises to her heavenly Father:
“Blessing and honour and glory and power, be to Him who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
“Amen! Blessing and honour and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honour and power and might, Be to our God for ever and ever, Amen. ”
I will end with the song of Moses and the Lamb
“Great and marvellous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name?
For You alone are holy,
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested!
It is to God, the Everlasting God, Yesterday, Today and Forever, we give all the glory and worship. He alone is worthy of all our praises so let’s turn our focus on Him.

Caught up in praise and worship Christina had almost forgotten what had led her to search the Word of God on Worship. Her heart was now opened to God in prayer and her new found freedom to worship God; in fact, she had been led through winding paths of everlasting life flowing through His Word. She was lifted into a realm she has never been before and she concludes in contemplation-
‘When God wants to deal with us He allows us to revisit places in life we thought we have left behind or overcame; this is always an irritation to us and inevitable option is to send us crying out to God.’

Within an hour of her experience Christina had an urge to buy CDs with old worship songs and returned home to play them ceaselessly that week night and day. The songs were: Light of the world You stepped down into darkness open my eyes let me see---by Tim Hughes: Come now is the time to worship by Brian Doerksen & Wendy O’Connel and many others. She allowed these songs to wash over her being without realising, that God would sealed this new found experience to write her experience on worship. It is obvious that our all knowing God do not make mistakes, He always have a plan, a purpose and a place to fulfil these plans and purposes. So on behalf of Christina, documenting her story is as one beggar pointing to a fellow beggar where to find bread:
Thank You Lord, and thanks to everyone who reads Christina’s story.

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