Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1446192
covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." [Authentic worship reveals to us the priority of Heaven even now! Every passage of scripture that gives us a peak into heaven reveals worship in action. If it's the priority of heaven, should it not be prioritized in our lives as well?] 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke. [Authentic worship causes powerful things to happen.] 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." [Authentic worship\reveals and convicts us of our own sinfulness.] 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." [Authentic worship brings healing and grace and restoration.] 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" [And finally, authentic worship compels us to go.] So, what does any of this have to do with motorcycle ministry? Personally, the same Spirit that called me into youth ministry and later into church planting, called me into motorcycle ministry in 1999. Why would a pastor leave their growing church they had started, their source of employment and benefits, to start a….[gulp] motorcycle ministry? Because like Isaiah, God called me to "go" and it happened in the context of my growing understanding of authentic worship. So, what's your worship life look like? • Do you attend your church most weeks? • Do you get there on time, awake, and ready to engage in worship? • Do you engage in the service, or do you endure it? • Do you prefer the didactic teaching to the "silly songs?" • Do you tithe 10% or more of your income to your church? • Are you yourself involved in the ministry of your church? • What does your prayer life at home look like? • Are you systematically reading the scriptures? • Do you ever include music in your home worship? • What are your physical postures in worship? • Do you ever kneel or lay face down and pray? • Do you allow your phone to dictate your prayer time? • Have you ever been driven to tears in a time of worship? • Have you ever felt led to lift your hands or SHOUT? • Do you embrace opportunities to give financially? • Do you embrace opportunities to serve? • Does your language reflect a holy God? "…authentic worship has NOTHING to do with style. Authentic worship happens in traditional churches with their choir robes, hymns, and pipe organs as much as it does in animated, charismatic/Pentecostal churches with their guitars and tambourines. It's not about the songs, the musical style or how loud your drummer is. It's a matter of the heart!" These questions are not meant to be a litmus test. Checking these questions off one by one may mean something or nothing to you. Only you will know. They are, however, the kind of questions that may get us to thinking, "Do I really worship God regularly, authentically, passionately? Am I living in awe and reverence of God, obedient to the Holy Spirit and reading His Word?" No judgement…this is between you and God. And by the way… authentic worship has NOTHING to do with style. Authentic worship happens in traditional churches with their choir robes, hymns, and pipe organs as much as it does in animated, charismatic/Pentecostal churches with their guitars and tambourines. It's not about the songs, the musical style or how loud your drummer is. It's a matter of the heart! It's a matter of authenticity. Authentic worship cannot be limited to 15 minutes of singing before the Sunday morning sermon. Authentic worship is developed over time, woven into our heart, mind and schedules through obedience, sacrifice, and purposeful action. Authentic worship realized will transform you from a Vespa to a powerful V- twin! Authentic worship will sharpen your skills for motorcycle ministry. a