Monthly Devotion - March 2024
CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE (PRAYER, PRAISE & WORSHIP
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NIV)
Starting and maintaining a Christ-centered life through worship (prayer, praise & worship) is our first goal as His church and also in our daily lives. If every believer fully understands this truth and can carry out prayer, praise & worship that is pleasing and centered on Christ, then God will be willing to accept it and the possibility of changes in cities and nations like what happened in Samaria will not be ruled out. The changes that occurred with the Samaritan woman paved the way for Jesus to bring about changes in the city and nation in Samaria (Read John 4:23-24, 39). God desires that we as His people become true worshipers who worship the Father in spirit and truth. This is most clearly expressed in maintaining our relationship with God, namely through our daily life of prayer, praise and worship. By becoming true worshipers by praying, praising and worshiping God in spirit and truth, we will be able to bring joy to the Father's heart more than anything else, because the Father really wants such worshipers. The time has come now, where the Father is gathering true worshipers who He are pleased with, to be sent to complete His great work in the last days. A church that grows and is missionary in these end times is a church that prays, praises and worships God in spirit and truth. True worship through prayer, praise and worship is the driving force for church growth and mission success in the task of harvesting souls. The transformation that occurred in the city of Samaria was the result of the true worship of a Samaritan woman who had experienced a transformation of her moral life and a transformation of old religious concepts that had lost their power. Unfortunately, there are still quite a lot of Christians today who have not experienced real moral changes or changes from old religious concepts. This is what can hinder the progress of the church. Last January and February we studied and reflected together on how we can be a church that is ready and alert in waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus at the end of this age. In these last days, it seems that many people outwardly worship, but in essence they deny their power (2 Timothy 3:5) and focus on themselves. They do not maintain a Christ-centered relationship. Many Christians pray, praise and worship about God, but do not do so to God. This challenges us as His church to increasingly realize how important it is for us to be true worshipers, namely worship that is centered on Christ. The Lord Jesus is looking for "those who will build walls or defend the land" (Ezekiel 22:30), namely intercessors, praisers and true worshipers who are able to tear down "the doors and chains of prison" through the power of prayer , praise & worship (cf. Acts 16:25-26). Prayer, Praise and Worship are not for personal interests, but for God's interests which through His power can be revealed for the glory of His name. Amen!
By Pastor Silwanus Obadja M.Th.
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Devotion - February 2024
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Devotion - April 2024