The Heart of a Worshiper

In today's culture, the worship experience includes lights and technology and almost feels like a show. But what if there are no instruments or lights and all you have is your voice and the presence of the Lord? How do you worship God then?

When you go to God, what do you expect of Him? God hears your heart and He wants to give you good gifts. Do you ask? Jacob wrestled with the angel, looking for a blessing. David said that He will continue to praise God, knowing He will receive a blessing. 

In Matthew 8:1-4, we see that great multitudes followed Jesus. They were looking to Him for something. We also see a leper, someone who was alienated from society, went to Jesus, worshipping with expectations. 

1. Don't allow your condition to cause you to stay in the same position. The leper could have allowed himself to stay away and feel sorry for himself because of his disease. Do you have a condition that is causing you to feel sorry for yourself? Causing you to be stuck?
   1. The scripture says "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world", "you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you", "he is bringing us from glory to glory". Do you believe that God can do great things in you and your situation?
   2. The leper understood that Jesus had authority and that's why he went to Him. He wanted to change his circumstance and so he chose to do something different and be around different people so that he might experience change.
   3. The leper lost a lot but he didn't allow that to keep him in the same position. His condition could have caused him to stay in the same position because of opposition, but He believed God would give him the ability to experience change. We need God. We can't make it by ourselves. 
2.  Don't allow other people to control your actions. Go get what God has for you.
   1. The leper didn't allow the opposition of others to block him from getting his healing and his blessing. Instead, he sought out transition. He went to Jesus and worshiped Him, believing that He could heal him if He wanted.
      1. This type of worship means to fall prostrate and empty oneself. 
      2. The heart of a worshiper doesn't allow opposition to block them from getting to God and receiving their blessing. 
      3. David danced for the Lord and even came out of His clothes. He didn't allow others to influence the way that he worshiped. 
3. Receive what God has for you. In the story of the leper, Jesus put forth His hand. If we don't receive what Jesus is offering, then we don't actually have it.
   1. We have to receive in faith what God has for us. Faith says I have it even though my natural senses don't see or feel it. Isaiah 53:5 says that we are healed - present tense.
   2. 1 Peter 2:24 says we have been healed - past tense. At the cross is where we were given healing, redemption, freedom, and joy - all we have to do is believe Him for it and receive it.
   3. In Matthew 8:3, it says Jesus touched Him and said "I will. Be thou clean." The leper was immediately healed when Jesus touched Him and declared that it was His will to heal Him.
4. Go to the right people with your story, sharing how God has blessed you. In Matthew 8:4, Jesus tells the leper not to tell everybody. Some people can't handle your healing or blessing. Share what God is doing in your life, but be sure to share it with the right people. 

Do you worship Him for who He is? Do you go to Him for healing and blessing alone or do you go to Him to receive more of Him? What are you expecting from God today?