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 (Worship) Principle #29. August 18, 2013

Hello my dear friends. Much love to you. Today's Psalms of Discipleship reminds us of the great value of making good choices to worship. To create a lifestyle of worship it requires a daily decision to take the right path.

On the path with you,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #29

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

Key Scripture: 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Psalm 96:4-5

Core Value: Worship

Life is filled with choices. Sometimes we make good ones and sometimes we experience the consequences of bad decisions. For the disciple of Jesus it is critically important to make good choices when it comes to our worship of Him. The best way to cultivate a lifestyle of worship is to be consistent. It is best done when we make daily habits (or choices) to worship God. A life filled good choices makes all the difference in the world.

Poet Robert Frost said it well:

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Principle #29 & Personal Application: Quality disciples love a great God with a great worship.

• We love a great God and greatly praise Him

• We love a great God who is greater than any idol in our life

• We love a great God who is a great and mighty Creator

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

In what ways does the Lord make Himself great in my life?

Are there any idols in my heart that hinder my worship of the Lord?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I love, worship, and adore You. You are a Great God and deserve my greatest praise. There is no one like You. May my heart always be filled with fidelity for You. May no idol, within or outside of me, ever steal my devotion for You.

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 #4 (Worship). February 4, 2013

Hello my dear friends! In today's Psalms of Discipleship we will learn about the dangers of exchanging our love and devotion for God to other people and other things. No disciple of Jesus ever makes it a personal goal to live a life dedicated to idolatry. But it can, and it does happen. May it not happen to us.

Learning to focus my worship, all of it, upon Jesus,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #4

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

Key Scripture: 8 "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me! 9 "Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. 10 "I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 11 "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. 12 "So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. Psalm 81:8-12

Core Value: Worship

There is nothing that is more heart breaking to Jesus than when His children share their affections with someone or something else. True, we do live in a culture where we are exposed to many “good” things that appeal to our natural passions. And yes, it is true that we still struggle with the inner man that wants its way. But it is also true that we are forced to make daily choices of allegiance to Jesus. We have to choose to make Him Lord of all. When we do not keep our worship focused upon Jesus, we open up the very real possibility of drifting away into false worship. We become idolaters. Yes, even disciples of Jesus can embrace “strange and foreign gods.”

Is there a solution for this awful outcome? Yes, there is a solution. It is our love for God and His perfect love for us that will motivate us to obey Him.

Principle #4 & Personal Application: Quality disciples seek not to only obey God but to love Him too.

• A true worship of God will lead to a heart that will listen to the Lord

• A true worship of God will protect us from the snare of a false worship

• A true worship of God will protect us from the stubbornness of our own heart

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What are some of the things (or people) that are potential (or even real) idols that tempt me?

What are some practical ways that I can protect my heart from worshipping other gods?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may my heart always be soft and willing to submit to Your Lordship. May I not succumb to the idols that pull at my heart. May I always be not only willing to listen to Your voice, but to obey You completely.

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.

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