October 1, 2004
PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:06 pm
Worship Regardless
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
Psalms 95:6-7
When you arrive at God's house this Sunday, you may be warring with the world. Spiritual forces may be attacking you. Regardless of what you face in life, turn your attention to God, worship Him, and allow the Lord to deliver you from the forces that oppose you.
The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us."
The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you shut out the world and focus on Him in your time of worship.
"The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men. ... We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence."
~A. W. Tozer.
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care."
Psalms 95:6-7
When you arrive at God's house this Sunday, you may be warring with the world. Spiritual forces may be attacking you. Regardless of what you face in life, turn your attention to God, worship Him, and allow the Lord to deliver you from the forces that oppose you.
The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us."
The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to help you shut out the world and focus on Him in your time of worship.
"The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men. ... We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence."
~A. W. Tozer.