What is worship?

This Sunday(3rd May 2009), Rev.Samuelkutty(Bethel Bible College, Punalur, Kerala) was our main speaker. His sermon was about Worship, which itself was Bible study about that topic

Key Reference : 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
1 And when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3 And when all the sons of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the house, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.

1. Worship is : Glorifying God or Praising God for who He is.
This can happen only when we understand the power of God and know Him fully.

Why we need to Praise?
Psalms 71:22-23 - He redeemed us
Rev 5:9-10
2 Chron 20:22
Acts 16:25-26

2. Worship is : Giving thanks to God for His mercies
Psalms 103:2-3

3. Worship is : Giving ourselves unto God
As a holy sacrifice and offering
Romans 12:1
Sacrifice must be
- Holy
- Live
-Pleasing or Acceptable
Malachi 1:13-14

When God is pleased, God will send His fire from heaven

4. Worship is : Prostrating before the God
Worship starts with praise and ends with prostration

Rev 1:17
Rev 5:9

Put down all your crowns and prostrate before God.

Worshiping God becomes meaningful only when all the above four points come together.

You are the Salt of the Earth

Continuing our fasting prayer on the 10th day, today Br:A.G.Vinayakumar exhorted from the Word, specifically from Mathew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

To understand this particular verse or passage of Jesus, we need to understand the qualities of Salt
Why he compared His children to Salt?
What Lord expects from us when we read this?

Qualities of Salt

1. It is pure. This shows holiness of self.
Every believer needs to be holy always himself/herself

2. It is a cleansing agent. It can make things clean
After we become holy, it is our responsibility to help our neighbors to become holy. God want us to become the cleansing agents of our society.

3. It gives taste when added with food
"Is tasteless food eaten without salt"(Job 6:6)
God want believers also become the taste agents, who can bring taste to the society and other people's lives.

4.It helps plants in their growth. it can be used as a fertilizer
Every believer should help others to grow further in their lives

5.It has preserving power
Believers should act as preserving agents in this society. We should stand in the gap and pray.

6. It has healing power
Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.' ".And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken. 2 Kings 2:21,22
In this world, we should act as healing agent.

7. It is used in sacrifices
Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings.Leviticus 2:13

8.It is used as a covenant which lasts for ever
Don't you know that the LORD, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt? 2 Chronicles 13:5

When to operate your faith

This Sunday(September 7, 2008) Br:Samuel Varghese(Geno) gave an inspiring message to the malayalam congregation in Fathe Nagar.
He concentrated on areas like

1. What is the difference between Belief and Faith?
Belief means you are telling that you believe in an idea, but unless and until you see or you confirm you will not really believe it. But Faith is you believe it 100% eventhough there is no sign of it happening and your actions are based on thet balief.

2.When to operate your faith
a. Operate your faith on Promises of God
b. Operate Your Faith on Warnings given by God
c. Operate Your faith when you are under burden