The (Not-So) Secret Diary of a Worship Leader #3
Coming Prepared to Worship – Lessons from Noah
Genesis 6-9 tells us the story of Noah and the flood that God brought on the world.
Do you remember the song? …
“The animals went in two by two, hurrah! hurrah!
The animals went in two by two, hurrah! hurrah!
The animals went in two by two, the elephant and the kangaroo
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain…”
The animals went in two by two, hurrah! hurrah!
The animals went in two by two, the elephant and the kangaroo
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain…”
Now it is true, as in the song, that God told Noah to take two of every kind of unclean animal onto the ark. However he also specified seven of every clean animal. If two of every unclean animal was enough to continue their existence, then why the surplus of clean animals?
Well, we can see that later in their history, God’s people were only allowed to eat clean animals and these animals also formed a large part of their worship offerings. Noah might not have realised it at the time but God was giving him more animals than he needed, so that he might provide for himself but also have something to offer back to God.
As for ourselves, God regularly gives us more than we need in order that we can use our surplus to give to Him; whether that is our time, our money, our spiritual gifts or our musical talents.
Noah came out of the ark prepared to worship. He could have kept the extra animals for himself but he chose to give them in worship to God, and because of this God was pleased. God’s pleasure rests on any worshipper who comes to God ready to give.
Definition of worship #3: Coming to God, ready and prepared to give.
Challenge #3: 1 Corinthians 14:26 - When you come together, everyone has a hymn or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.
When you meet together with other Christians do you come ready to give to God or do you come waiting to be lead into worship by someone else? Do you spend time with God before a worship service receiving from him personally so that when you come together you have something to share corporately? I challenge you, before you next get together with other Christians, to seek God for yourself, and then to bring your surplus with you to share with God and those around you.
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