What would you give in exchange for your soul?
Just as material sacrifices lead to material blessings, spiritual sacrifices lead to spiritual blessings.
God invites those who believe to test Him in tithes and offerings. In return, He promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out such blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it, in addition to rebuking the devourer. Malachi 3:10
Likewise, Jesus promised eternal life to those who would deny themselves, take up their crosses and daily follow Him. Matthew 16:24
In both cases, there is a need for sacrifice. However, the Apostle Paul takes it further when, directed by the Spirit, he pleads:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
This means that when there are no living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, there is no spiritual act of worship (remember: spiritual = rational). On the other hand, though many songs of worship are filled with messages of love, an emotional act of worship only floods people with feelings of excitement.
Some profess to feel God's presence, others 'speak in tongues' and even 'prophesy'. Let's not even mention those who twirl around, fall to the ground and walk on all fours. If they had wonderful testimonies, this would not be so significant. But, they don’t! Much to the contrary, their lives are total failures: broken homes, adultery, paedophilia, sexual immorality, grudges towards one another, divisions—in short, a true kingdom of darkness.
Why is this? It's because their spiritual act of worship is not rational, intelligent or conscious. How can the Creator be pleased with an emotional act of worship when He is Reason, Intelligence and Wisdom?
An emotional act of worship is similar to a decadent masquerade ball. Its participants wear costumes and masks to camouflage their hypocrisy and the works of their flesh. Who can preside over this spiritual farce?
The truth is, in the absence of spiritual (rational) acts of worship there will be emotional and fleshly acts of worship.
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."Galatians 5:19-21
It is interesting that Paul asks, pleads and begs the followers of the Lord Jesus to worship in a spiritual or rational manner, which requires that our bodies be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. That is, when we praise, worship and contemplate on the Lord it must be done in a thoughtful way.
This kind of worship is not restricted to church. If we are Temples of the Holy Spirit, there will be praise, worship and contemplation wherever we are.
Ideally, everyone in the church has the same faith and Spirit. There, our spiritual (rational) act of worship is united. There are appropriate hymns, songs of praise and individual declarations that exalt our Lord and Saviour.
While some praise, others worship, and still others contemplate the face of the Almighty. Everything is in perfect order and discipline.
Wherever there is this freedom, the Holy Spirit instructs, inspires and directs the praise, worship and contemplation of His Son in a generous, spontaneous and healthy manner.
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