God Deserves A Greater Worship

By Pastor E.A. Deckard
Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward Times

“He WANTS your fellowship, and He has done everything possible to make it a reality. He has forgiven your sins, at the cost of His own dear Son. He has given you His Word, and the priceless privilege of prayer and worship.” ― Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith

“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.” ― A.W. Tozer

Forward Thinkers let’s begin this week with the lyrics to a very popular song titled GREATER by the group Elevation Worship. “God our strength, God our Savior, God our hope, Yours forever is the glory, the honor, God our shield, God our shelter, God our rock, Yours forever is the glory, the honor, The victory and power, You’re greater, greater, There’s no one like our God, You alone are worthy, God You are greater, greater, There’s no one like our King, All the earth is singing, God you are greater, You are, you are, God you are greater, You are, You are.”

Forward Thinkers, a God like this deserves for us to release a greater worship in His honor. Let’s examine the life of King David and the role his worship to God played in his life.

Acts 13:22 New International Version (NIV)

22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’

Forward Thinkers, we know David was not perfect so how could David be a man after God’s own heart?

Forward Thinkers, I believe God called David, a man after his own heart because David tapped into Greater Worship rendered toward the presence of God.

Forward Thinkers, often we let our egos get in the way of our worship to God. Do you realize EGO means “Edging God Out”. I don’t know about you but I can’t afford to edge God out. I have to tap into “Greater Worship” just to make through the day.

Forward Thinkers, it’s time we tapped into a “Greater Worship” and lead our church, our family, and our community back to God.

Forward Thinkers, “Greater Worship” is not just for women and soft men but it takes a real believer to be daring enough to enter into “Greater Worship” in the presence of God and others.

Forward Thinkers, David was a real man He killed lions, bears, and giants plus he lead the military with great force; however, we must also remember while he was competing on the battlefield he continued to worship God at a Greater Level.

Forward Thinkers, David says when the bear and lion came God gave him the victory: Forward Thinkers your testimony should push you into a “Greater Worship“. Forward Thinkers is there anybody out there bold enough to declare that God gave them the victory? Forward Thinkers your worship should reflect your victory and the greater the victory the Greater the Worship should be.

Forward Thinkers how would you grade your current level of worship?

1 Samuel 17:45-47

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Forward Thinkers, remember when the Prophet came to Jesse house looking for a new king, they did not invite David in but, we all know how the story ends. David is an anointed king because, man looks on the outside and God anoints form the inside. Forward Thinkers if God has pulled you from the back of the line to the front of the line, your Worship should be at a Greater level.

Forward Thinkers, a couple weeks ago I watched Mike Fiers pitch a no hitter for the Astros and he thanked everybody who stuck by him, when everybody else had given up on him. Like David and Mike many of us were skipped over by man by chosen by God. Forward Thinkers if that’s your story you have to turn up your worship.

1 Samuel 16:10-13

10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Forward Thinkers, when Goliath came up against David he declared the Lord would give him the victory and after defeating Goliath David marched around town with Goliath’s head worshipping God for all he had done. Forward Thinkers, ask yourself, “does my worship really reflect all that God has done for me”?

Forward Thinkers, I told you David was not perfect and we all know about David messing up but in Psalm 51 David cried out, “Lord renew me and restore me and I will open my mouth and praise you”. If you’ve been renewed or restored, its time you open your mouth and give God some “Greater Worship“.

Forward Thinkers, if you don’t look like what you been through, that deserves the release of a “Greater Worship“.

Psalm 51 New International Version (NIV)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

² Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. ⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. ⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. ⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. ⁹ Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. ¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. ¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. ¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Forward Thinkers, it’s now football season, and no one would look strange if we were all on a football team together and our team was down in the fourth quarter with time running out; I picked off the ball and ran it in for winning TD and the whole team would go crazy celebrating what had just happened. Well, Forward Thinkers we were all on the losing side before Jesus picked off Satan and gave us new life. Now it’s time we give Jesus a “Greater Worship”

Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church now located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website http://www.ghic.net