Worship & the Spirit World
Lesson
Text:
Jeremiah 31:7-12 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among
the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save
thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8Behold,
I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts
of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and
her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9They shall come with weeping,
and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the
rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I
am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and
declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather
him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed
him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12Therefore they shall come and sing in the
height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat,
and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd:
and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any
more at all.
1. More is happening of significance in the
spirit world than in the flesh, but the wiles of the devil seduces humanity
into concentrating on the world of flesh, opposed to spirit.
·
1 Peter 3:18-19 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also
he went and preached unto the spirits in prison
·
Job 2:1-2 Again there was a day when the sons of God
came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to
present himself before the LORD. 2And the LORD said unto
Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From
going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
·
John
17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me,
be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me:
for thou lovedst me before the foundation
of the world.
·
Ephesians 1:3-5 Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he
hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
according to the good pleasure of his will
2. The
concept of the Old Testament Pastor: His role and purpose in worship and
connection to the spirit world. His role is about more than just preaching the
Word, he must live and exemplify it. The preacher sets to tone for the
congregational disposition.
·
Jeremiah 3:14-16 Turn, O
backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will
take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15And I will give you
pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and
understanding. 16And it shall come to pass, when ye
be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they
shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come
to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither
shall that be done any more.
·
Jeremiah
17:16 As for me, I have
not hastened from being a pastor
to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that
which came out of my lips was right before thee.
The partial cause &
result of the destruction
·
Jeremiah
12:10--Many pastors
have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made
my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Jeremiah
23:1-2 1Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith
the LORD. 2Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have
scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I
will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3. Worship is a
process that allows us to connect to the joy and freedom of the spirit world. Sports is to the male human race, what worship is to the
child of God.
Jeremiah 31:7-12 For thus saith the LORD; Sing
with gladness for Jacob, and shout among
the chief of the nations: publish ye,
praise ye, and say, O LORD, save
thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8Behold,
I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of
the earth, and with them the blind and
the lame, the woman with child and her
that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9They shall come with
weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by
the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I
am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. 10Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations,
and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will
gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and
ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12Therefore they shall come and sing in the
height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for
wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the
herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow
any more at all.
·
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 For if I pray in
an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will
pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing
with the understanding also.
·
Ephesians 5:18-21 And be not drunk
with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking
to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always
for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
·
Romans 15:8-10 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of
the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the
fathers: 9And that the Gentiles might glorify God for
his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the
Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10And again he saith,
Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.