Old Dog V
True Worship
Bob Neumann, May 22, 2008
When I was given TRUE WORSHIP to address next I knew what the main point of this topic would evolve around. Only I was directed to go first to the issue of the division between OLD TESTAMENT and NEW TESTAMENT. Many teach that with HIS BIRTH, DEATH, and RESURRECTION there supposedly is an ending of whatever THE OLD TESTAMENT established. Whatever “types and shadows” were prophesied of MESSIAH had been completed. Upon completion of THE FEAR OF THE LORD, THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT revealed to me that once the topic of TRUE WORSHIP is established, certain errors of the APOSTATE CHURCH would be dealt with. Again, THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT began this in THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
First there is the modern demarcation between what many call THE NEW TESTEMENT PROPHET and THE OLD TESTEMENT PROPHET. Most who read this will be happy to know that this heresy is not very widespread today. It seems to be only found among those who define themselves as pentecostal, charismatic, apostolic/prophetic, independent, and the like. Not really much to be happy with seeing that there are many whole denominations that openly deny that GOD HAS or USES any prophets today. That many refute the fact that GOD STILL SPEAKS TODAY. Many modern theologians and scholars teach that JESUS was never born, or was not GOD MADE FLESH, or was CRUCIFIED, DIED, RESURRECTED IN GLORY and COMING AGAIN. Quite frankly these abominations make the issue between OLD TESTAMENT and NEW TESTEMENT PROPHETS seem to be a minor point of issue.
The MOST HOLY SPIRIT has different priorities than you and me. In the OLD TESTAMENT we find the “first mention”, according to the KJV, in Genesis. GOD IS SPEAKING TO a man in a dream. His name is Abimelech. Funny thing about this verse, it is also the “first mention” of the term DREAM, as in the concept of dreams and visions.
Gen 20:7 Now therefore restore the man [his] wife; for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore [her] not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that [are] thine
Now GOD has acted to prevent a man from sinning. In this dream GOD gives clear directions on what to do and why. The why is because GOD says this man Abram is a PROPHET. Here the HEBREW term is NABI. But look at how the scripture is worded describing what Abimelech does after GOD SPEAKS.
Gen 20:8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid
Notice the “afraid” part? It is THE HEBREW TERM “YARA”. Dr STRONG tells us it means:
1) to fear, be afraid
2) to stand in awe of, be awed
3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect
It is the root word for most of the times KJV says “fear”, or “afraid”. Sometimes David would use PAKKAD, as in PSALM 27:1 where YARA and PAKKAD both appear. The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? PAKKAR, “afraid” means:
1) to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread.
Abimelech and his men were scared. So they obeyed out of DREAD. I would have done the same if that was how my first encounter with GOD took place. The funny thing is that “rose early/rising early” would become a “buzz phrase” in a BOOK written by a guy named JEREMIAH. A guy experienced at both “hearing GOD” and “being sent”. But really it was not JEREMIAH who says it. But it is GOD explaining how HE SENT his SERVANTS the PROPHETS. Six times, check it out. So to GOD a PROPHET is basically a servant sent to address “issues” between GOD and HIS PEOPLE, and OTHER NATIONS. They were usually “sent” concerning “sin”, “rebellion”, and “disobedience”. Usually to “confront” them, to “warn” them of the price their “sin”, “rebellion”, and “disobedience” will cost them.
Another funny thing is that I can find no where in the GOSPELS where JESUS changes this method of operation. Yet in the “modern” church, the PROPHETIC VOICE is required to “comfort”, “exhort”, “confirm”, “edify”, and all too often “entertain”. For some reason they have removed the actions of “admonishing”, “correcting”, “provoking”, or “contending”, which Paul used a lot. The reason for this is the fulfillment of scripture, for a second time:
Isa 30:9 That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the LORD:
Isa 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits
Isa 30:11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us
In other words, man changed things to please themselves.
The SECOND DIVISION is a little convoluted. Twisted is a good term for it. In all of the GOSPELS, JESUS makes only three specific changes in “THE WAY WE ARE TO DO” certain things. And they appear in Matthew 6. First is “ALMS”, second is “PRAYER” and the third is “FASTING”. The MODERN CHURCH has altered each of these. Today I am to address “TITHING”. JESUS never uses the term, which is very OLD TESTEMENT. Here HE uses “ALMS”. ALMS and TITHING are far different creatures. ALMS, according to Dr STRONG are
1) mercy, pity
a) esp. as exhibited in giving alms, charity
2) the benefaction itself, a donation to the poor, alms
Now almost every denomination and church out there in AMERICA today “preach the 10%” Tithe. What is amazing to me is that these same people who want to cut almost every other tie to THE OLD TESTEMNT LAW and COVENANT dig out “part” of the TITHES (notice the plural here) and defend it from OLD TESTEMENT verses. Frankly I am a little tired at seeing Malachi 3:8 stretched to fit.
In Acts it says
Act 4:34
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold
Act 4:35 And laid [them] down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
In Acts 5 there is an incident which many contemporary church leaders use at least yearly. I have actually heard men preach that this “JUDGMENT” may/might/would happen to those who held back there 10%.
Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2 And kept back [part] of the price, his wife also being privy [to it], and brought a certain part, and laid [it] at the apostles’ feet.
Act 5:3
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land
Act 5:4
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God
It does not say whether Ananias and Sapphira actually pledged all of the proceeds of the sale of there possession. It need not be they did. What is important was that they were in agreement to “keep back” part of what they had promised. Immediately I recall how many times people at the pulpit issued to the congregation to stand up and declare what their offering, donation would be… for whatever reason. It goes to figure if Ananias and Sapphira are struck dead for “LYING TO GOD ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY WOULD GIVE”, so it should be with anyone. I wonder why JESUS forgot to teach that. I also wonder why JESUS seems to always ask for all, like here with THE RICH YOUNG MAN/RULER:
Mar 10:21
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me
Which is where we turn into deal with the TRUE WORSHIP area.
I began this journey which THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT is directing through an editorial by a man who recently went to LAKELAND. In his opening comments he said, “I was blessed by ******* ******* music and the audience’s exuberant worship.
Here is where THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT stepped in and asked me, “WAS EXHUBERANT WORSHIP TRUE WORSHIP?” Now TRUE WORSHIP is an interesting concept. Often in the churches today we hear “PRAISE AND WORSHIP” coupled together. It is an OLD TESTEMNT thing…
First Mention, PRAISE….
Gen 29
35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing
Here PRAISE is the HEBREW term “YADA”, literally meaning to “throw up”, “cast”, “shoot”. Sort of strange….. It is the root word for the name JUDAH.
Lev 19
24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD
This next is my favorite…
Deu 10:21 He [is] thy praise, and he [is] thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.
“TEHILLAH”, in HEBREW it means all 7 terms for PRAISE in HEBREW. Dr STRONG says:
1) praise, song or hymn of praise
a) praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God)
b) act of general or public praise
c) praise-song (as title)
d) praise (demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God)
e) renown, fame, glory
In scripture WORSHIP actually precedes PRAISE…. and it’s first mention is a dilly.
Gen 22
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you
Here we find the term “SHAKHAH”, to BOW DOWN, PROSTRATE ONESELF, and SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY. Interesting that ABRAHAM tells his servants this term when he plans to go up and make an “OLAH”. The King James guys call it a “burnt offering”. Wonder why Abraham would substitute “SHAKHAH” for the act of “slaughtering” his son and burning his body? Because in performing OLAH with his SON FREELY OFFERED, it is the ULTIMATE SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY. It is also WHAT GOD ASKED FOR.
OLAH is more than “burnt offering”. Even Dr STRONG shares it….
1) whole burnt offering
2) ascent, stairway, steps OLAH is how we ascend, to GO UP.
We all know this story and THE RAM are shades and images of MESSIAH. We all have said, “JESUS GAVE ALL”. It is TRUE WORSHIP.
So it is time to go to JESUS and see what HE has to SAY about WORSHIP. First time JESUS says “worship”…
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve
JESUS says SHALT TWICE, did you notice?
But remember HIS encounter with “THE WOMAN AT THE WELL”…
Jhn 4:20
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship
Jhn 4:21
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father
Jhn 4:22
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews
Jhn 4:23
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
PLEASE NOTICE… The woman uses both worship and worshiped. JESUS uses WORSHIP and WORSHIPERS. In total the same Greek root is used in all 9 times “WORSHIP/ED/ERS” is used. It is the same term used in Matthew 4:10, so that comes out to a mere 10 times used by THE LOGOS in only these two events..
In GREEK the term is PROSKUNEO… probably my favorite GREEK TERM ever. Now DR STRONG has a nice list of “meanings” ascribed to the term. Me I just take it literally. To JESUS and ABBA FATHER, worship is to be “as a dog licking his MASTER’S HAND”. Now if that fails to give you an image, I do not know whatever will. A dog is a creature that shows unconditional love. There is no guile or forethought. All devotion, all affection, all joy is at THE MASTER’S HAND, WALKING WITH THE MASTER, at being HIS PROPERTY.
Yes, I do take this very personally…
In Matthew 4:10, JESUS says IT IS WRITTEN… in other words… IT IS ESTABLISHED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. Worship and Service always go together. Remember back in EXODUS with GOD’S SIGNS and WONDERS, GOD gives MOSES a reason for all what HE IS ABOUT TO DO. HE IS KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC, and TO JACOB. But when MOSES first goes to PHAROAH, MOSES is told to say:
Exd 4:22
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel [is] my son, [even] my firstborn
Exd 4:23
23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, [even] thy firstborn
LET MY SON GO, THAT HE MAY SERVE ME.
So worship is a whole lot more than music, songs, dancing, and shouting. It goes far beyond what the MODERN CHURCH teaches.
JESUS wants us to SERVE LOVINGLY, JOYOUSLY, WITHOUT RESERVATION, WITHOUT LIMITATIONS, FOR ETERNITY. To GOD, that is TRUE WORSHIP.
Praise has it’s place, but without TRUE WORSHIP, TRUE FAITH, what is it but some “exuberant exercise”?.
This is a hard Selah for many.
Olddog
Up Next: Immediacy of Judgment