Before the Throne

He Wants it ALL!

Here is a song by Foever Jones, performed by myself.

What does this mean for our worship?
It is about giving God everything, every last piece of our hearts. Sometimes we try to hold on to our old lives, our idols, and they drag us down. If we confess them to God and repent, we will know true freedom from sin, and intimacy with God.

Leviticus 19:4
“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God."

Should Worship be Comfortable?

Lately i have been pondering our comfort levels in worship times. In general people like to be comfortable and feel welcome, when i read comfort in the bible it seems to take on a different form or meaning. But before we go there, here is some comic relief...

I don’t recall God ever saying, “repent and be comfortable!” or “Blessed are the comfortable, for they have squishy seats.” How about, “A day is coming when the True worshipers will worship me in snuggies while drinking hot coffee (2 sugars and 1 cream, with a dash of cinnamon).”

Now His Word says,

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.

Luke 6:24
"But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

Acts 9:31
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

What does this mean for our Worship?
Do you get the feeling that comfort happens as a response, not as a goal of it self. We can seek comfort at all times, which is why awkward comedy is funny in our culture. Without great affliction, without persecution, without fear, without sufferings, we still seek comfort. We should be careful to aim for comfort, look at what is attached to it in those scriptures. Sometimes we worship comfort, without even realizing it, it just feels good.
We need to instead seek the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit will give you peace, but don’t mistake the aim of your affection from Spirit to comfort (small c.)

I know it can be difficult for us to participate when we are uncomfortable. I know it can be very hard for me to get out of my comfort zone, and even harder to want to be uncomfortable. The thing im trying to convey is that discomfort, is about us. Worship is about God, and when we surrender there is usually a barrier holding us back. Our voice saying, it would be easier not to sing, easier not to subject my heart to the refiners fire. Not many of us desire the discomfort of letting God refine us, but it is for our good, and we all want the end result of being refined. Purity and Holiness, after God has tried us through the fire and cleansed us of unrighteousness.

Malachi 3:3
"He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

Comments of comfort or dis?