Noah had just witnessed the drown-ing of all mankind save him and his fam-ily. Yet he was still obedient to God’sinstruction to offer a sacrifice of praisewhen they were on dry land again.

When the Lord smelled the pleasingaroma of Noah’s sacrifice, He gave us acovenant promise that He would not everdestroy all livingcreatures againbecause of oneman who offerede x t r a v a g a n t ,o v e r g e n e r ou sworship in obedi-ence to God’scommand. Noahlived throughextreme circum-stances, but hestill praised Godin the midst ofthem.

L i k e w i s e ,when God testedAbraham, Hesaid, “‘Take yourson, your onlyson, Isaac, whomyou love, and goto the region ofMoriah. Sacrificehim there as aburnt offering onone of the mountains I will tell you about’”(Gen. 22:2).

Abraham built the altar and then boundhis son and laid him on it. But when he tookup his knife to slay his precious boy, “Theangel of the Lord called out to him fromheaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’

“‘Here I am,’ he replied.“‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he

said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now Iknow that you fear God, because you have

not withheld from me your son, your onlyson’ ” (vv. 11-12).

Abraham was excessive in his act ofworship. He was prepared to give to theLord the thing he loved the most.

David wanted to offer a sacrifice to theLord to stop a plague on the Lord’s people.So he asked Araunah to sell him a place on

his threshingfloor to build analtar (see 1 Chr.21:18-22).

A r a u n a hwanted to givethe area and live-stock needed forDavid’s sacrificeat no charge. ButDavid said, “‘No,I insist on payingthe full price. Iwill not take forthe Lord what isyours, or sacrificea burnt offeringthat costs menothing’” (see vv.23-24).

When Pauland Silas were injail, even thoughthey had beenflogged forpreaching the

gospel and now had their feet in stocks,they prayed and sang to God. Suddenly,while they were worshiping, a violent earth-quake opened all the doors of the prison.

Thinking his prisoners had escaped, thejailer was so distraught that he was about tokill himself, but Paul and Silas stopped himand led him to salvation before they werereleased. God supernaturally deliveredthem from that prison (see Acts 16:23-39).

Throughout the Bible, whenever

Worshiping our Savior, Jesus Christ,is fundamental to living a faith-

filled, Spirit-led Christian life. There aremultiple worship methods, plans andstyles that vary among cultures and geo-graphic boundaries.

The Lord enjoys the diversity of sin-cere worship when expressed through HisSpirit and in truth. Worshipshould be a way of life, with manyfacets of expression.

Some worship leaders declarethat a certain defining style of wor-ship is the only correct way to wor-ship the Lord, but that is a narrowview of His inexhaustible riches.Music and song are ways we canpraise God’s name, but the Wordsays we can worship God withfeasting (see Ps. 22:29) and withsacrifices and offerings (see Is.19:21), among other means.

Regardless of the method, theact of worship must be in spiritand truth—from our rational conscious-ness and consistent with the rest of ourlives (see John 4:24). We don’t have to begreat singers or musicians to worshipGod. But we do need to be in a personalrelationship with Him and live with the

truth of His greatness reflecting throughall we are becoming and all we do.

I have lived under the weight of manyunhealthy labels in my life. But I have alonging in me for the King of heaven tolabel me, along with Mary of Bethany, as an“extravagant worshiper” (see John 12:3).

Extravagant worship is not achieved bytaking shortcuts. I have triedshortcuts to worship, and I havetried to do things my way, but Iended up frustrated and fartheraway from my goal.

Worship involves the giving ofourselves totally to the Lord. It isneither a ritualistic activity nor amusical emotion. It reflects the self-less generosity of Christ.

Worship is a movement of ourhearts, our thoughts, and our willstoward God’s heart, thoughts,and will. To practice extravagantworship, you’ll need to get goodat saying, “I lay down my life.”

S A C R I F I C I A L W O R S H I P P L E A S E S G O D Inthe Old Testament, Noah was an extrava-gant worshiper. Genesis 8:20-21 tellsabout his building an altar to the Lord afterthe flood and sacrificing offerings on it.

H o w W e P r a i s e H i mBY DARLENE ZSCHECH

IS MORE THAN A SONG

Worship is a

movement

of our hearts, our

thoughts, and

our

wills toward

God’s heart,

thoughts,

and will.

WE DON’ T HAVE TO BE GREAT SINGERS TO WORSHIP

GOD; WE JUST HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES TOTALLY TO

HIM.

WORSHIP

Photo-Illustration: Tatia M. Lockridge for SpiritLed Woman

Noah had just witnessed the drown-ing of all mankind save him and his fam-ily. Yet he was still obedient to God’sinstruction to offer a sacrifice of praisewhen they were on dry land again.

When the Lord smelled the pleasingaroma of Noah’s sacrifice, He gave us acovenant promise that He would not everdestroy all livingcreatures againbecause of oneman who offerede x t r a v a g a n t ,o v e r g e n e r ou sworship in obedi-ence to God’scommand. Noahlived throughextreme circum-stances, but hestill praised Godin the midst ofthem.

L i k e w i s e ,when God testedAbraham, Hesaid, “‘Take yourson, your onlyson, Isaac, whomyou love, and goto the region ofMoriah. Sacrificehim there as aburnt offering onone of the mountains I will tell you about’”(Gen. 22:2).

Abraham built the altar and then boundhis son and laid him on it. But when he tookup his knife to slay his precious boy, “Theangel of the Lord called out to him fromheaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’

“‘Here I am,’ he replied.“‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he

said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now Iknow that you fear God, because you have

not withheld from me your son, your onlyson’ ” (vv. 11-12).

Abraham was excessive in his act ofworship. He was prepared to give to theLord the thing he loved the most.

David wanted to offer a sacrifice to theLord to stop a plague on the Lord’s people.So he asked Araunah to sell him a place on

his threshingfloor to build analtar (see 1 Chr.21:18-22).

A r a u n a hwanted to givethe area and live-stock needed forDavid’s sacrificeat no charge. ButDavid said, “‘No,I insist on payingthe full price. Iwill not take forthe Lord what isyours, or sacrificea burnt offeringthat costs menothing’” (see vv.23-24).

When Pauland Silas were injail, even thoughthey had beenflogged forpreaching the

gospel and now had their feet in stocks,they prayed and sang to God. Suddenly,while they were worshiping, a violent earth-quake opened all the doors of the prison.

Thinking his prisoners had escaped, thejailer was so distraught that he was about tokill himself, but Paul and Silas stopped himand led him to salvation before they werereleased. God supernaturally deliveredthem from that prison (see Acts 16:23-39).

Throughout the Bible, whenever

Worshiping our Savior, Jesus Christ,is fundamental to living a faith-

filled, Spirit-led Christian life. There aremultiple worship methods, plans andstyles that vary among cultures and geo-graphic boundaries.

The Lord enjoys the diversity of sin-cere worship when expressed through HisSpirit and in truth. Worshipshould be a way of life, with manyfacets of expression.

Some worship leaders declarethat a certain defining style of wor-ship is the only correct way to wor-ship the Lord, but that is a narrowview of His inexhaustible riches.Music and song are ways we canpraise God’s name, but the Wordsays we can worship God withfeasting (see Ps. 22:29) and withsacrifices and offerings (see Is.19:21), among other means.

Regardless of the method, theact of worship must be in spiritand truth—from our rational conscious-ness and consistent with the rest of ourlives (see John 4:24). We don’t have to begreat singers or musicians to worshipGod. But we do need to be in a personalrelationship with Him and live with the

truth of His greatness reflecting throughall we are becoming and all we do.

I have lived under the weight of manyunhealthy labels in my life. But I have alonging in me for the King of heaven tolabel me, along with Mary of Bethany, as an“extravagant worshiper” (see John 12:3).

Extravagant worship is not achieved bytaking shortcuts. I have triedshortcuts to worship, and I havetried to do things my way, but Iended up frustrated and fartheraway from my goal.

Worship involves the giving ofourselves totally to the Lord. It isneither a ritualistic activity nor amusical emotion. It reflects the self-less generosity of Christ.

Worship is a movement of ourhearts, our thoughts, and our willstoward God’s heart, thoughts,and will. To practice extravagantworship, you’ll need to get goodat saying, “I lay down my life.”

S A C R I F I C I A L W O R S H I P P L E A S E S G O D Inthe Old Testament, Noah was an extrava-gant worshiper. Genesis 8:20-21 tellsabout his building an altar to the Lord afterthe flood and sacrificing offerings on it.

H o w W e P r a i s e H i mBY DARLENE ZSCHECH

IS MORE THAN A SONG

Worship is a

movement

of our hearts, our

thoughts, and

our

wills toward

God’s heart,

thoughts,

and will.

WE DON’ T HAVE TO BE GREAT SINGERS TO WORSHIP

GOD; WE JUST HAVE TO GIVE OURSELVES TOTALLY TO

HIM.

WORSHIP

Photo-Illustration: Tatia M. Lockridge for SpiritLed Woman

someone demonstrated extravagant worship, God reacted with extravagantblessing. What makes worship extravagant?It must cost us something.

Worship is an act of obedient faith,even when circumstances offer opportu-nities to fear. It is also a life of extrava-gant love for God. Worship, love andobedience are tied together.

As you seek first the kingdom of Godand obey the Spirit of God, He calls you onto a deeper knowledge of Himself. The firstcommandment is to love the Lord yourGod with all your heart, with all your soul,and with all your mind (see John 14:21-24;Matt. 22:37).

David prayed, “Give me anundivided heart, that I may fearyour name” (Ps. 86:11). Make thisyour prayer as you serve God pas-sionately with your life. This willcause the blessings of heaven topour out upon your world.

L O V E E X P R E S S E S W O R S H I P To bea worshiper is to fall in love withGod, the Author of love, andaccept the love He has for you.God gave you His Word as a livinglove letter that contains every-thing you will ever need to getthrough this life and beyond.

His love is at work within us, filling usto the measure with the fullness of God.If we could understand even an inkling ofthis love Christ has for us, our heartswould be full of extravagant worship forthe One who loves us so much.

The many songs I’ve written toexpress my love for God don’t comeclose to what I’m trying to say. But I can

demonstrate my love for God by livingout my part of the Great Commission andbringing the Author of love to our love-starved planet. I can determine to loveothers as He loves.

When I was saved I cried and cried inthe presence of God. Tears of gratitudeflowed easily as He restored my heartand filled me with His unconditionallove. Now all I want to do is sing of Hisawesome, healing love forever.

One of the biggest challenges in life forthe mind and soul is simply to acceptGod’s love for you as a gift. It is the great-est absolute in your life.

John 3:16 states, “For God sogreatly loved and dearly prized theworld that He gave His onlybegotten Son” (The AmplifiedBible). Because His love is in ourhearts, we have the power to loveothers (see 1 John 4:7-13).

Loving others is an act of wor-ship toward the Author of love.But until you know through per-sonal experience who God is, youwill never know the depth of Hislove for you. And until you knowthat you are loved, you can neverlove others as you love yourself(see Matt. 22:39).

K N O W Y O U R W O R T H T O G O D Many peo-ple, including myself, have battled withinsecurity, inadequacy and intimidation.It is difficult to carry the weight of inferi-ority into our time of worship.

Worship is a time to focus on who Godis. It is a time to enjoy the awesome author-ity and anointing that He puts on His peo-ple who come into His presence withpraise. Sometimes the enemy works veryhard to keep us from worshiping freely,but sometimes we simply lack disciplinein our thought life.

Adapted from Extravagant Worship by Darlene Zschech,

copyright © 2002. Published by Bethany House. Used by

permission.

To be a

worshiper is

to fall in

love with

God, the Author

of love, and

accept

the love

He has

for you.

If we read the Word and keep God’struth in our hearts, we will focus ourattention on His greatness and on thevalue that He places on us. God sees allour inadequacies through the blood ofChrist. Because of Jesus, our heavenlyFather sees us just as He sees His Son—beautiful and perfect.

God looks at us just as a loving parentlooks at his children. My three daughterscould be naughty, but I look at them, andI think they are perfect.

Unapologetically, I think they aremagnificent. That is the heart of a par-ent. How much more does God look atus and say, “Oh, they are My precious,beloved children.”

When you understand who you are inChrist, a rest enters your soul that cannotcoexist with striving and struggling. Just asdarkness cannot coexist with light, striv-ing for approval does not coexist withconfidence in His grace. And who you arein Christ matters more than what you do.

I was the girl “least likely to succeed.”But my future has never relied on anyoneelse’s opinion of my ability.

I’m a testimony of God’s grace. The veryleast we can do is give God our lives and letHim show us the great things He can dothrough our yielded hearts and hands.

We have been created with the divinepurpose of having Jesus as the center ofour existence. We were created to worshipHim in all we do (see Heb. 10:19-23).

Through worship we put Christ as thechief cornerstone of our lives, and thepower we have access to in His presence isreal. He longs for us to draw closer to Him.

God has cleansed our hearts and madethem pure so that we can stand in Hispresence. We can continue to praise ourmighty Lord—to sing, clap, dance, cele-brate, get soaked in His presence and beoverwhelmed by His grace.

O F F E R H I M Y O U R H E A R T One thing thatcan stop us from being truthful wor-shipers is feeling as if we have nothing tooffer to God. Feeling empty-handed withnothing to contribute to the relationshipwith God can stop us from plungingboldly into worship.

God says, “I don’t need your talent. Idon’t need your gift. I don’t want all thestuff that you can do. I just want you. I wantyour heart.”

God doesn’t want what you are goingto be or what you would like to be. Hewants all that you are today.

When we worship Him, He is exalted,and our problems shrivel in His presence.Everything about us—the good, the bad andthe ugly—is decreased as we focus on Him.

Offer yourself to God in worship. Letthat explosion of faith force you to praiseHis name and offer your attention to blessHim. Through your worship, love andobedience, you will bless God because Helooks past all the stuff of life and looksstraight at the heart.❧

DARLENE ZSCHECH has been part of theHillsong Church praise team since 1986and is the co-producer of Hillsong MusicAustralia’s highly successful albums. Formore on Zschech’s ministry, see “MeetOur Authors” (p.7).

G O I N G D E E P E R

For further study on this topic:

Kissing the Face of God

by Sam Hinn (Charisma House)

A Seeking Heart

by Alicia Williamson and Sarah Groves (New Hope)

The Secret Place of Joy

by Lindell Cooley (Regal)

To get connected with us and to purchase these and

other resources, visit SpiritLed Woman online at

www.spiritledwoman.com\goingdeeper.

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