Songs of Worship Vol. I

 

         Enter into His Gates with thanksgiving,

         and into His courts with praise:

         be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.  

 

        Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?

        Or who may stand in His holy place?

         He who has clean hands and a pure heart ...

                  

                                            

                                          Psalm 100:4; 24:3-4 

 

 

 

               he Olde Kingdom

 

                               

 

                         Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the Old paths,

                         where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.

                                                 

                                                                                                                                            Jeremiah 6:16

 

 

 

The artful painting left enough for me to imagine for sure.  It was timeless in beauty and nothing short of legendary.

 

So maybe this painting was trying to tell me of an ancient pathway which would lead to an old and noble kingdom of love, prosperity and peace?  That if I chose this path, at the end of the old road would be a safe place of refuge where a weary wayfarer could find rest and prosper -- where all the soul's hopes and dreams could be truly realized. These were the spiritual impressions I was getting. Or some might say wishful thinking? But the Bible promises every believer a destined place for the soul  - a safe harbor of bliss and love in God's Kingdom. Maybe this artist was was using paint and colors of light to illustrate some long neglected path to a lovely dimension of paradise in a realm more real than this world we now call home.

 

Lost Path, Lost Kingdom

 

Jesus said in the last days many people's hearts would grow cold because sin and iniquity would be everywhere. He warned that people would have unbelief and be skeptics about a personal God who cares because they see mean and evil people everywhere, wars and accidents. "Life is tough" and so they give up on faith and hope and do not thank God. Their vision of being a thankful, joyous and faith-filled worshipper is clouded.

 

Many today are searching for peace and wholeness. They instinctively know there is something more and search in many different places to find it. But the old path to life is often obscured by all the "overgrowth," i.e. the gnarly vines of lack of vision, fallen leaves of unbelief and the overall loss of child-like innocence and the wonder of the Creator and His creation.  They survey the world with all its troubles and lose sight of God's presence. Oftentimes painful experiences and memories in their hearts obscure the lightrays and beams of God's glory and darken His path to peace and life. 

 

Many souls have lost simple faith and innocence and seem to be continually distracted by their own particular everyday wants and needs. They don't "have time" to pray or sing a spontaneous love song to the Lord any longer. They have become cold of heart.

 

Others have been hurt and frustrated by mean and selfish people. Bitterness and unforgiveness make them spiritually myopic.  The general malaise and vicissitudes of life cause many more to get cynical and unbelieving and so many never even begin to search for a better pathway of life. It's sad when so many have completely given up on believing in a loving God who personally cares for them. They have begun to think that love and hope are all illusions. But the devil has lied to them.

 

The Quest

 

I pray that my music and message will spark a renewed hunger for some to begin their own quest to find God.  Too many are spendimg most of their allotted time trying to soothe their sense of inner emptiness, preoccupying themselves with materialism.  Or they try to find solace by constant partying, binge drinking, taking drugs, having illicit sex or some other self-destructive addictions.

But when the psychotropic drug, pain reliever or anti-depressant wears off, when lights go out and the party is over, they are still the same.

 

A fork in the road

 

Aside from babies and certain handicapped people, 

every soul who has ever been born into this world has choice.

Moses once asked the people of Israel, "Choose this day whom you will serve ..."

 

God longs to bless us all.  He loves us!  The path He wants us to travel will lead to love,

joy, prosperity and peace.

 

He wants us to choose LIFE.  It is the path less traveled that we need to take

If we truly want to find life eternal.

 

The Bible says that sin brings pleasure for a season but it also warns us it is a

sweet poison and a siren's song which will lead to inevitable self-destruction.

 

However glittery choices may appear at first, unless we choose to love and worship God, the momentary happiness we think we find apart from Him will be fleeting. But God wants our happiness and joy to endure and as the master manufacturer knows what we must do to achieve that.  It's true.  If you want to be fixed, all damaged goods are to be returned our Maker!

 

THE VOID 

 

Some people are always trying to fill their vacuity with things that don't really satisfy. You see, there is a God-shaped vacuum in every person's heart. It is a void that only God's presence can fill. He is the Creator. We are His creation. Only our heavenly Father can satisfy.  Only His uncondtional love can save, heal and make us whole.

 

Ever since Eden's fall, countless generations have lived and died without ever calling out to God by faith.  They have never even so much have as offered to Him song of praise or worship. Myriads of souls have traversed this planet for a short while never seeking the Lord

and never finding the old pathway to life. They never even thought to find Him.  Very Sad.

 

But God is just. God is very loving and merciful. He sent His divine Son 

to tell the whole world that there is a path, a way to LIFE eternal. He even went to the

peoples of the past to share the good news with them! 

 

 

     When he ascended on high he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 

     (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower,

     earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than

     all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.  

                                                                                            Ephesians 4:8-11

 

 

 

In John 14:6,  Jesus told them of a path that is older than the hills –

a way of peace and life. That only God's presence can satisfy.

 

Jesus said "I am the Way, the truth and the life ..."

 

With His advent, a great light began to shine on the lost way...

The old pathway that artist painted really got me thinking.

But there was a time in my life I could not see the Kingdom - the old path was buried.

Later in my life, the words of the Savior came to me with precise clarity ...

 

                                                     

                                             I am The WAY .... the Truth, and the LIFE ...

 

                                                                                               - JESUS

                                                                                                          

 

THE GOOD NEWS

 

                                             The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand . . .

                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                Mark 1:15

 

 

                    ne day, long ago, a Savior King from another world opened wide the Ancient Gates to a bright and sparkling Holy Kingdom.   Out of jealousy and crazy rage and in a vain attempt to get back at the Creator, the fallen archangel Lucifer attacked all of God's creation. He blinded men through original sin and concealed the Celestial City from the children of Adam for eons. Lucifer went from being Michael's angelic brother and the chief worshipper of Heaven to a wicked curser of God and a destroyer.  How great was  His fall!

 

​

            You were in Eden, the garden of God;
           Every precious stone was your covering:
           The ruby, the topaz and the diamond;
           The beryl, the onyx and the jasper;
           The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald;
           And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets,
           Was in you.
           On the day that you were created
           They were prepared.

           “You were the anointed cherub who covers,
           And I placed you there
           You were on the holy mountain of God;
           You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.

            “You were blameless in your ways
           From the day you were created
           Until unrighteousness was found in you.

            “By the abundance of your trade
           You were internally filled with violence,
           And you sinned;
           Therefore I have cast you as profane
           From the mountain of God.
           And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
           From the midst of the stones of fire.

             Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
           You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
           I cast you to the ground ...

  

 

                                                            Ezekiel 28:13-17

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

Strange Incense

 

God prescribes that we offer sweet praise and acceptable Golden Altar incense through the Lord Jesus and in His blood sacrifice on the cross. Many have taken what they believe the is the easier and broader path only to approach God in their own style of worship and in unholy, strange ways not ordered by the Lord in His unchanging, immutable Word.

 

                   Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them,

                   placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

                  And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.…

 

                                                                                                                                                                                          Leviticus 10:1

 

Since Satan used to be Heaven's numero uno worshipper, out of rage and envy, his primary perverted mission is to make God's creation worship-less -or even worse, he tries to have men worship him. Many have allied with the prince of darkeness and made thier pagan offerings of worship and criminal sacrifices. They offer up strange fire and polluted incense that God will judge.  It's Jezebel and Ashteroth idol worship. It's immoral worship.  But God in His mercy is the divine revelator. He sent His own Son to shine a light on the path darkened by Lucifer. 

 

Now, entrance onto the righteous path of the Lord's Kingdom could not be earned by His subjects. It would be simply a superb gift of God's grace. And this resplendent Kingdom will never be solely a regal gift laid up in Heaven for future enjoyment by its stately citizens.  No, it is a real-time,  present gift given to all believers who are willing to renounce all else, forsake the world and carnal nature and cast themselves at the King’s feet. There, in that tranquil place of surrender they will be able to partake of the divine inheritance of His great love, joy, peace, abundant life, wealth and grace. 

 

 

                                                   

                                                      When he ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

                                                      Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first . . . to the earth? 

                                                                                            

                                                                                                                                                              Ephesians 4:8-10

 

Way over the rainbow

 

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal

pleasures at your right hand.

 

           

                                                                              Psalm 16:11

 

  

 

 In His goodness, God has created for us a reality of the Spirit realm

 that far surpasses even the greatest of human imaginations . . .

 

                                         

       Now to Him who is able to do more than all we ask or even imagine,

                                                  

          according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory . . .

                                                                                                 

               

                                                                             Ephesians 3:20-21

 Light through the keyhole 

 

                                                              

                           

 

          Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the DOOR  . .

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                        John 10:7a

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout history, many have caught a glimpse of the brilliant light of His glory radiating through the keyhole of the Gate of Heaven. But for whatever reason, they did not open the door to God's Kingdom. The key was in their hand. All they had to do was to open the door with child-like faith and call upon the name of the Lord.  All that was necessary was for them to sincerely ask the King of Heaven to enter their hearts and praise Him for His goodness and power. Then He would gladly come and dwell in them.

 

                                                  But you are holy, O you that inhabits the praises of your people Israel .       

 

                                                                                                                                                                   Psalm 22:3

 

 

 THE KEY IS WORSHIP

 

  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God   - this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -- His good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                Romans 12:1-2

 

You see worship is far more than just singing a slow song at church on a Sunday morning, Worship has to do with intimacy and relationship with our loving Savior. It has everything to do with ardent love for God on a continual basis while living a surrendered and consecrated life . Worship is the highest form of prayer.  Worship is prayer on spiritual steroids.  Worship arises out a life of devoted obedience fueled by His fiery love.  And if you have never done so, it all begins with you asking  Jesus to come into your heart as Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10

 

Principle: Worship is far more then singing a relgious song. Worship is a lifestyle. It is all about genuine relationship. Worship is a constant abiding in the sweet Presence of God. Worship is the highest form of intercession. It's our most intimate love language to our Creator. The key to becoming a worshipper is to have child-like awe, love, wonder and worship of Jesus . It all starts when we get in the private place and simply begin to tell Him we love Him. When we do that simple act out of sincerity, He will visit us with His sweet presence. But it all starts with our words of faith.

 

The Bricks are more than yellow

 

To some of you the Kingdom of God may seem like an unrealized, distant dream. It is all but lost to you. For others it is like a ‘yellow brick’ fantasy.  They know no more about it than then they know about the legendary city of Atlantis, Narnia, Mordor, or the Land of Oz! 

 

But the bricks of this paradaisical Kingdom are far more than a fantasy writer's yellow brick road.  You see, Heaven's path to LIFE is paved in the purest gold!

 

God intends each of His children to experience the full benefits of His Kingdom in this life -- literally .  The Kingdom is at hand. The Kingdom of "Oraunos"  awaits every true worshipper and lover of God. The Olde Kingdom benefits are also for  here and now and we gain access to all through worship. 

 

Jesus declared ...

  

               I have come that you might have life and life more abundantly ...

              Peace I leave you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world gives, give I to you ...

 

                                                                                                                        John 10:10; 14:27

 

 You see Jesus taught that the path to peace and joy was right before our eyes ...

 

                                 The Kingdom of God is within you - in the midst of you!

 

                                                                                                               Luke17:21  

 

People are simply looking in all the wrong places for love and for inner peace when the path is was right before them. All they have to do is ask JESUS, the King of this Kingdom, to come into their hearts.

 

              For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit ...

 

                                                                                                                                                                       Romans  14:17

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Worship is the pathway, the portal by which we travel to the Heavenly Kingdom. It is and always has been the ascent of worship which brings us into the very supernatural presence of the King … In Genesis 28 Jacob worshipped God in the desert night and a lighted stair port from Heaven descended bidding him to ascend to "God's place.  This is where the angels ascend and descend. The prophet Isaiah ascended on the Lord's day in worship to see God's Throne in Heaven in the temple  … (Isaiah 6:1-8)

 

The thrill of ascent

 

David asks all of us the question in Pslam 24 - Who shall ascend to the Hill of the Lord?

 

Like scaling Mount Everest or K2, mankind as always found thrill in the ascent. God has put in every person a heart and spirit that was made to be an ascender to the heights …

 

To enter this paradisiacal Kingdom is as simple – all that is required is child like faith .

 

Entering the ancient gates through Worship

 

  We can ascend into that Kingdom through Holy Spirit inspired worship …

 

                                              But  now they desire a better country,

                                              that is, a heavenly: and God is not ashamed to be

                                                 called their God: for he has prepared for them a City.

                                                                                      

                                                                                                             Hebrews 11:16

 

 

Our divine Benefactor has prepared for us a Crystal City. He has given us a glorious present and most blessed future.  Through faith in His death, burial and resurrection we have been made His royal children. We can receive the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father! He has left  His entire Kingdom as an inheritance!  This is His covenant and His testament with us, sealed by His own Blood that was shed on the Cross. 

 

 

  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have       access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                               Romans 5:1

 

 

Now that is plenty to worship God for!  We have so much to thank Him for ...

 

Through the Ancient Gates

 

Since Jesus has extended an open invitation for all to ‘come and dine’ there is no longer any reason for anyone to feel “locked” out of God’s  victorious Kingdom of peace, joy and righteousness.  The Ancient Gates are wide open. 

 

Jesus Seeks Worshippers

 

Jesus told the woman at the well that He was a very deep well and to plumb the depths

of the waters of life she must learn to worship ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus says Come all you who are thirsty!

 

Come and worship the lover of your soul. He will give you His cool & refreshing river of life.

 

Come and adore your benevolent King and Creator.

 

Come,now is the time to worship

 

 

Now is the time to experience a new season of refreshing in His transforming presence …

 

Opening the gate to the Kingdom  

 

 

Open now the gate of your heart and let the King come in! All He wants to do is bless you!

 

There are so many tangible resources available to us in God’s happy Kingdom [John 10:10a].

 

These blessings are available to all of us at this very moment. Jesus has promised

 

wide open access to His people to all the vast regions and realms of His heavenly estate.

 

Don't be anxious or fearful.  Just look up to Heaven right now and ask Him to open the Gates to it  and He will . . .

 

                          So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 

                          For the unbelievers run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

                           But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.      

     

                                                                                                                                                       Matthew 6:33-33

              

Jesus has paid the price on the cross for us to have open admittance to all of it.

 

 

Practicing His Presence

 

There was a little monk who lived many centuries ago named Brother Lawrence.  He taught beleivers that the only way to find peace in this life was for them to abide in Christ and to continually recall thier soul to God throughout the day. Whether at work or simply washing dishes at the sink, or doing any small task, a beleiver was to worship God and constantly recall thier soul to God. They were to gently tell the Lord thier love for Him and if there was any fault=simply ask forgivenss and worship Him untill they felt the strange and wondeful peaceful feelimg of His divine Presence. In short, they were to contually "practice His presence and walk in His peace and love.

 

                                            Come near to God and he will come near to you …

 

   

                                                                                                         James 4:8

 

  How to enter through Praise

 

 

                               Open to me the Gates of Righteousness;
                               I will go through them,
                              and I will praise the Lord
                              This is the Gate of the Lord   
                             through which the righteous shall enter.

                             I will praise You,

                               

                                             Psalms 118:19-21

 

  

A Royal perspective

 

But you are a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood, a holy Nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light . . .

                                                                                                            1 Peter 2:9

Seers (See-ers)

 

For Abraham looked for a City which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God. . .  but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

                                                                                                                                                                                Hebrews 11:10, 13-14