Our journey this advent season is a return to the Heart of Worship. This journey involves waiting on God. Sadly many people have gone with the saying God helps those who help themselves. Scripture says the opposite. Saul found out that doing it his way lost him the kingdom. Since Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”, this is the rock we stand on. Many will not wait and go ahead and help themselves and build their own churches and kingdoms because they will not wait on the Lord but in the end we know that those will fall when the waters rise. Psalm 33:20 “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”  By waiting on the Lord we have protection. By waiting on the Lord we have the plan. By waiting on the Lord we know what he wants and it will be accomplished. When building the tabernacle and temple there was a plan just as there is a plan in our day, not for a building but the kingdom of God. Many men and women are building their own kingdoms and have confused them with the true kingdom.

            In our return to the heart of worship we must wait for the master builder. Just so you are clear I am not talking about waiting for Jesus to return to show us what to do but waiting for his power to fall on us so we can do what he wants us to do. Waiting takes time. Psalm 119:81 says, “My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” The good news is God always answers those who wait on him. Those who seek him find him. I believe in our day there has been bad teaching that says because the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost we have everything we need. Before you label me a heretic, I do agree with that but I believe there is more. That same power should fall again and again as we build the kingdom not just the one time. This same power is available to all who believe. Since it is not happening, we must repent of our wicked ways and turn to back to God, not create new theology and say it no longer happens. Dare I say that is ludicrous? So many across the church have settled with this terrible theology and have stopped looking for the narrow gate.  Isaiah 59:20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the Lord.” Just because Jesus came the one time does not cover you without repentance and obedience to His word. You must do the same as the disciples were taught and believe that we will have the same power to continue building the Kingdom of God. Just as Israel fell away from the word of God the North American Church has also. But there is hope. Isaiah 35:1 “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendour of our God. “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  We must be careful to follow the right way which is the way the truth and the life. Many are following man’s way and have confused the truth with man’s ideas about the truth. As we return to the way, the heart of worship, we must get back on the highway of holiness. This involves repentance and sincerely following the word of God.

Prayer:  Psalm 80:19 “Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved. 14 Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Revive us, and we will call on your name.” Psalm 51:10  “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.”