Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #41. (Worship) June 29, 2014

Hello my dear friends! Much grace to you today. Is is possible that we can worship God but do it for all of the wrong reasons? I believe it is not only possible but very likely IF we worship Him for the wrong reasons.

Today's reminder from Psalms of Discipleship is to make certain that our worship is authentic, not artificial.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #41

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: Exalt the LORD our God, And worship at His holy hill; For holy is the LORD our God. Psalm 99:9

Core Value: Worship

Worship is more than an action. It is also an emotion. Some people believe that “just doing it” will appease God and add another point to their ever-growing list of brownie points. It is entirely possible to worship God and yet have your heart far from Him.

The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men. Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)

6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ 8 For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” Mark 7:6-8 (NLT)

The kind of worship Jesus is after comes from the heart. It is a worship of love and adoration of Him.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 (NLT)

May our worship be authentic and not artificial.

Principle #41 & Personal Application: Quality disciples exalt the Lord our God.

• We worship the LORD

• We worship the LORD our God

• We worship the LORD, a holy God

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

God would never require me to do something I could not do. What does it mean to exalt Him?

In what ways does His holiness impact the way I worship God?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, it is by faith that I exalt You, the Lord my God. May my worship of You be received as an act of reverence and awe for Who You are: for You are holy and my God
.
You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com
 
Do you like to read? Here is a list of my favorite books on leadership and discipleship. Check it out on the link below:
http://www.dennybates.com/#!great-reads-for-the-leader/cq20

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #36 (Worship) January 5, 2014

Hello my dear friends! One of the greatest gifts given to the disciple of Jesus is the ability to offer to the Lord our worship to Him. The Psalmist shows us that worship is not an activity void of personal involvement. Worship is a verb.

Learning with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #36

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre; With the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. Psalm 98:4-6

Core Value: Worship

We live in a world where we are stimulated by many things such as sporting events, high-energy concerts, and a multitude of different varieties of media. There is an on-going competition within each one of us for our focused attention. Here is the irony: not everything that pulls on our senses is a bad thing. Many things are good and should be enjoyed. The challenge before each disciple of Jesus is this: is there anything in our lives that is more exciting for us than Jesus?

The Psalmist shared his experience of what His relationship with the Lord looked like: He had an enthusiastic love for the Shepherd of the Psalms. May we learn how to grow in our worship of the Lord.

Principle #36 & Personal Application: Quality disciples joyfully express their enthusiastic love for the Lord.

• We express an enthusiastic love for the Lord when we shout joyfully to Him
• We express an enthusiastic love for the Lord when we break forth and sing for joy

• We express an enthusiastic love for the Lord when we sing praises to the Lord with instruments

• We express an enthusiastic love for the Lord we direct our worship to the King, our Lord

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

In what ways can this passage of Scripture enhance the depth of my spiritual growth?

For me, what does it look like when I direct my worship to the King, my Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may my worship for You be an enthusiastic experience. May You fill my heart with joyous songs of worship and praise. May my life be like a musical instrument, composed with songs of mercy and grace. May my love for You be an offering of praise to my King and my Lord.

You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

Here's a New Year's Resolution That Every Leader Needs To Make in 2014: To Live Above The Fray. Learn how to purchase your copy on Amazon.

http://www.dennybates.com/#!living-above-the-fray/c35l

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #34 (Worship) October 27, 2013

Hello dear friends! We are bombarded every day with messages that hinder our need to have a closer relationship with Jesus. Often these competing messages can be very subtle and yet cause severe damage to our spiritual growth.

In today's Psalms of Discipleship the Psalmist reminds us of how great our God really is. He is the LORD Most High over all the earth. And because of grace, He is our Lord.

Learning to worship Him,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #34

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 9 For Thou art the LORD Most High over all the earth; Thou art exalted far above all gods. Psalm 97:9

Core Value: Worship

We live in a time where there is intense competition for our attention. Those who are experts in marketing research claim that we are exposed to hundreds and even thousands of visual and audio messages every day. The “winner” in this marketing blast is the one who persuades us to use their product or services. The influence of intentional marketing works.

In a similar way, the influence of false gods, idols, works all to well. The false gods broadcast messages of consumerism, pride, greed, jealousy, and wrong priorities, (just to name a few). They send thousands of unsolicited messages our way every day. “Pick me. Choose me. Follow me. Desire me . . . not Him.” For the disciple of Jesus, we must resist their message. Our call, our confession must be “for You are the LORD Most High over all the earth. You are exalted far above all gods, even our own idols.”

May we learn to tune out the wrong messages and carefully listen to the message of His great love for us and follow Him.

Principle #34 & Personal Application: Quality disciples bend their knee to the LORD Most High.

• We confess that Jesus is the LORD

• We confess that Jesus is the LORD Most High over all the earth

• We confess that Jesus is the LORD, far exalted above all gods

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I fix my eyes upon Jesus I am more prone to worship Him. What can I worship and praise Him for today?

What does it mean in my life for the LORD Most High to be exalted far above all gods? What “gods” in life seek to compete against Him for my love and devotion?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, It is my confession that You are the LORD Most High over all the earth, even the false gods who seek to draw my love and affection away from You. May my worship be upon You and upon You alone.

You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #24 (Worship) July 7, 2013

Hello my dear friends, today's Psalms of Discipleship is a Psalm of Worship. I have learned (well, it is more accurate to say, I am learning) how to make the connection of my great needs to my view of a much greater God.

Learning, still learning, to worship Him,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #24

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, The floods have lifted up their voice, The floods lift up their pounding waves. 4 More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty. 5 Your testimonies are fully confirmed; Holiness befits Your house, O LORD, forevermore. Psalm 93:1-5

Core Value: Worship

“Is God bigger than my dreams?” “Will I ever figure out my place in this world?”

These are the kinds of questions I often default to when life is not going the way I have intended. My plans have gone from Plan A to Plan B to a downward spiral of Plan Z and beyond. It is when nothing is going my way that I need to step back and then lean forward and embrace the character of God. He is in control. He reigns. He is Lord . . . and I am not.

Feeling stuck in your career? Feeling out of control in your personal life? Become paralyzed in your spiritual life? Like the Psalmist, take a closer look to the Lord who reigns. Gaze into His Word and worship Him now. A focused worship of God will produce a clearer path to walk, a path where His Spirit leads us to go.

Principle #24 & Personal Application: Quality disciples lift up the name of the Lord and praise Him for His great and awesome power.

• When we worship God we acknowledge that the Lord reigns and is clothed with majesty

• When we worship God we acknowledge that the Lord has clothed Himself with strength

• When we worship God we acknowledge that the Lord’s throne of rule is firmly established

• When we worship God we acknowledge that even the waters of the sea testify of His majesty

• When we worship God we acknowledge that the Lord is a holy and awesome God

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Is there anything “trite” in my approach to God when I typically pray? In other words, do I treat Him like some cosmic bellhop whose sole purpose is to run and fetch for me when I pray OR do I approach His throne with a reverent fear and respect?

What benefit is there to me when I begin to pray God’s Word back to Him? (Using this psalm as an example)

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there is no one like You. You reign and are clothed in majesty. You had no beginning and You have no end. You are from everlasting. I join in with Your creation and worship Your holy and great name.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…

Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://www.dennybates.com/#!blog/c1a4e

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #31 (Worship). August 25, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Back to you again after spending last weekend in West Palm Beach, Florida with the John Maxwell Team. I learned a lot and experienced a lot along with 500 other friends from around the world. My experience reminded me again of how wide and broad is the family of God. Many stories to share with you one day of some of the great truths I learned.

Today's Psalms of Discipleship is a great reminder of how awesome our Lord really is. The challenge for us is quite simple: do we live like He is awesome and do others around us know how we feel about our great God?

Amazed by His awesome strength, majesty, and power.

Denny Bates

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #31

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 34 Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies. 35 O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:34-35

Core Value: Worship

When was the last time you bragged on God? I mean, when have you told someone who God is and how much He has done for you? Lets frame the question with even more precision: how large is your view of God? Is He greater than your circumstances? Is He bigger than your wildest dreams? Is He God in your box or is He majestic and awesome and doing great things in your life?

Want to have a greater view of a great God? Worship Him greatly by focusing upon His character and power.

Principle #31 & Personal Application: Quality disciples focus their worship upon the majestic character of God.

• We worship God by ascribing (to give) strength to Him. [The NLT reads, “tell everyone about God’s power.”]: Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel And His strength is in the skies.

• We worship God by declaring His awesomeness: O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.

• We worship God by thanking Him for the strength and power He gives to His people: The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Do I tell others about God’s strength or power? How would my Christian walk be impacted if I made it a habit to live in God’s power and not in mine?

When am I most likely to be reminded of God’s awesomeness?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, by faith I ascribe, I give strength to you, I desire to tell everyone about Your power. I declare how awesome You are from Your sanctuary. I worship You and thank You for granting me Your strength and power as I live my life for You and for Your glory.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #21 (Worship) June 3, 2012

Hello my dear friends! Grace to you this day. Are you "thirsty" and where do you go to quench that thirst? The Psalmist allows us to listen in on his conversation with the only One who has the power to quench his thirst. Listen carefully as we discover the "how."

Refreshed by Living Water,

Denny

P.S. At the end of this week's devotional, is a prayer update. Thanks for taking the time to read it.

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #21

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. Psalm 63:1-4

Core Value: Worship

Eleven times in these four verses the word “You” or “Your” is mentioned. It is pretty apparent that the Psalmist has His focus upon the Lord. This is an ultimate, unchanging principle of worship in the most simplest of terms: what I choose to focus my mind upon is what I am going to worship.

Conversely, eight times the Psalmist refers to himself with the words, “my” or “I.” Now, be sure to catch this: Each time he refers to himself, it is always in the context of submission to God. This is the beauty of worship. The Lord did not create us as mindless robots with no will. God took the risk and gave us “free will” to love and worship Him freely.

And this is what God’s love does to us: His love has overcome our hearts with spiritual thirst. And we, with gratitude, freely worship Him.

Principle #21 & Personal Application: Quality disciples cultivate a spiritual thirst that only the Lord can satisfy.

A heart that is thirsty for the Lord will experience several things:

• A thirsty heart will seek God earnestly.

• A thirsty heart will have a soul that yearns for the Lord.

• A thirsty heart will be aware of God’s power and glory.

• A thirsty heart will be satisfied because of God’s lovingkindness and mercy.

• A thirsty heart will worship and praise God with one’s lips and with one’s hands.

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

When I am spiritually thirsty, where do I go to quench my thirst?

What practical things can I do that will enhance my thirst for the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are my God! By Your grace, I desire to seek You earnestly. May my soul always thirst for You and for You alone. May I experience Your power and glory. May I be the recipient of your mercy. May I always offer you praise and worship with my lips and with my hands.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2012 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

One Week Later on the Journey:

I want to thank all of my Psalms of Discipleship friends for your kind words and heart-felt encouragement. I have been overwhelmed by many friends like you with inspirational notes, phone calls, text messages, and occasional hugs this past week. The best way I can compare the experience of this week is living long enough to hear all of the testimonials of my funeral before I die. Your love and encouragement have taken away the sting of last week’s announcement. I really am doing okay and at peace, knowing that my Father will not only give me direction but also provide for my every need.

I am genuinely excited for the opportunity of doing things that I have only dreamed about previously. By God’s grace I hope to build a leadership coaching and speaking business and impact the market place for Jesus. My business is a RELATIONSHIP business, so as you pray for me ask the Lord for KEY contacts that will lead me to KEY people in KEY organizations. In your own circle of influence, do you know anyone who desires to grow in leadership? I’d love to meet them.

In order to gain a better understanding of what I am offering, you can check out my website at

http://www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/dennybates

The Lord has a good plan in all of this. He is amazing in how He takes the hard things and brings good things to His kids (Romans 8:28). As you pray for me, I am also praying for you. May He grant each one of us a renewed sense of our love for Him and love for each other.

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny Bates

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #45--Worship--November 19, 2011

Hello my dear friends! As we approach the holiday season, we will be exposed to busier than usual schedules, messages from the media that do not mention Christ, and an inner pressure to conform to the materialism that defines Christmas. What better time of the year than to "reboot" our inner life and once again consider how great is our God. This is the message of today's Psalms of Discipleship: the majestic greatness of the Lord.

Jesus so adores us. O come let us adore Him!

Denny


Need some encouragement on how to set in place a heart of worship and thanksgiving this holiday season? At the end of today's devotion is a link to a resource called "Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration."

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #45

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 9 We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Your temple. 10 As is Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Psalm 48:9-10

Core Value: Worship

Is God great? Sure He is. But is He greater than our biggest problems? Therein lies the great challenge. Do we live like God is great or do we accept a mediocre faith that never experiences the supernatural work of daily grace that grows our faith to believe God for “greater things?” Do we pray great prayers to a great God expecting great blessing or do we live in spiritual defeat? How does one gain a greater view of a great God? We look to His Word and observe what it says about Him. We think about His lovingkindness (His mercy), just as the Psalmist did.

Principle #45 & Personal Application: The quality disciple is overwhelmed by the majestic greatness of God.

• The quality disciple experiences God’s unfailing love. “We have thought on Your lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Your temple.”

• The quality disciple experiences God’s unending praise. “As is Your name, O God, So is Your praise to the ends of the earth.”

• The quality disciple experiences God’s perfect power and righteousness. “Your right hand is full of righteousness.”

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

Have I ever taken the time to think, ponder, contemplate, how much God really does love me?

What are some of the things that I can praise God for today?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the reminder to take the time to consider how much You do love me. May I keep my mind on Your lovingkindness, Your unfailing love for me. Fill my heart with praise for You that I may join in with all of creation’s choir who worship You. Finally, I worship You for Your great power and Your perfect righteousness. Lord, there is no one like You.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

Ready or Not! Here comes the Christmas Rush!!!

Need some encouragement on how to set in place a heart of worship and thanksgiving this holiday season? Check out a resource called "Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration." This four week, interactive study is a great tool for individual and group study.

"Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration."

Sights. Smells. Sounds. Sales.

For many people, Christmas is nothing more than a materialistic exercise in futility. The hectic pace of the holiday season often depletes more than it fills, and the craziness of the season is normalized, causing many believers to settle for a “Christ-less” Christmas.

Reflection upon the first Advent is the first step towards regaining the reason believers celebrate Christmas: worship of Jesus Christ. You are invited to back away from the edge of Christmas season sanity and begin a four-week journey of reading, reflection, prayer, journaling, singing and serving that will give you the merriest Christmas of all.

Available in print ($10.00 includes shipping) and e-book ($5.00 pdf download) formats. Click this link to begin placing your order:

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/Advent.html

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/