Day 1 - Week 1 Pure Praise Study

[russhutto]

Welcome to DAY 1!
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Glad you could join us for this online study on worship! Before we begin I'd like to set the mood for us for the next 9 weeks!

Imagine we're all gathered together in a comfy living room. You're in your favorite chair and the lights are low. We've all joined in and belted out our favorite worship hymn or chorus and we're just settling in for a challenging and enriching discussion.

I'll be your facilitator for our discussions. I'll do a little moderating along the way, but will do my best to spur on the discussion and to encourage you to share your heart!

Let's have a great time and ask the Lord to stretch our horizons and to enrich our hearts and minds through this study. Let's also ask that God would bring us close together and build supernatural community even though we're not face to face!

Who's ready?!

Feel free to respond in any format you like but don't forget to discuss the elements of the day specifically!

1) Central Passage
2) My Daily Praise
3) My Daily Surrender

It would be helpful if you numbered each accordingly in your response!

God Bless!
Russ

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

In the pages before the Day 1 lesson, Dwayne made reference to this study being like a climb up a high mountain. The first few days will be spent in preparation for the climb, so much of the early material is something we already know. But rather than being irritated with the slow start, we need to use these days to re-look at the basics of our relationship with God; that stuff we tend to take for granted. We will get to the steep climb soon, and if our shoes aren't on correctly, or our backpack is loose, we will falter and fall behind. So my encouragement to all of you, from one who has made this climb before, is to use these early days making sure you are ready for the climb.

Now to today's lesson.
1.What a fascinating and amazing story we read today. When trouble was coming, the response was worship, rather than a planning session. How many times in my life have I faced trouble the wrong way? How different would my life be today if I had followed this biblical pattern rather than my own way?

2.
How beautiful and clear is the picture of God's magnificent love and power being played out in this passage. How faithful and good! And God, you have not changed. You still want to do mighty things, good things, for your children.

3.
God, I confess that I have rarely responded to trouble in my life by coming to you in worship. I generally try to handle trouble in my own strength, and only cry out to you when I have fallen victim to the trouble. Help me today, to begin culturing a better response to trouble. Let the first and only words from my lips be a song of praise to you.
Tom

[russhutto]

In the pages before the Day 1 lesson, Dwayne made reference to this study being like a climb up a high mountain. The first few days will be spent in preparation for the climb, so much of the early material is something we already know. But rather than being irritated with the slow start, we need to use these days to re-look at the basics of our relationship with God; that stuff we tend to take for granted. We will get to the steep climb soon, and if our shoes aren't on correctly, or our backpack is loose, we will falter and fall behind. So my encouragement to all of you, from one who has made this climb before, is to use these early days making sure you are ready for the climb.

Great advice, Tom! Thanks for sharing!

[efrisch]

First of all, I agree completely with Tom - when we started this study the first time (In January 2009), I know I sometimes got frustrated with the pace of the opening weeks, as did others. By the end of the study, though, I was very thankful for that time of preparation. I'm approaching it differently this time, because of that.

The biggest thing that struck me as I returned to this passage today is that the people of Judah were not only willing to worship, but were also incredibly sensitive to God's prompting. When the Spirit came upon Jahaziel, he was sensitive to what it had to say, and when he delivered that message to Jehoshaphat and the rest of the people, they were open to the message that he had been given. I think that says a lot.
As I thought about the questions that Dwayne asks about worship in everyday life, I came back to that sensitivity. If I want to worship through my daily life by acting in a way pleasing to God, the most important thing I can do is be sensitive to the leading of His Spirit. Dwayne references 1 Corinthians 10:31, which talks about eating and drinking to the glory of God. In the larger context of that passage, Paul is talking about being sensitive not only to the Spirit, but to the needs of the unbelievers around us. If I want to live my life in such a way that even my "simplest and most common tasks bring honor and worship to God", then I need to be sensitive to His leading in those common tasks, as God's people were in the 2 Chronicles passage.

[russhutto]

1) Central Passage: I'm inspired by the leadership displayed in this passage. Jehoshaphat calls a fast and everyone responds. That, to me, denotes that (even though he was king) that people were ready to follow him. Then when the prophecy was spoken, everyone responded. The king first. Seems like Jehoshophat made a fine worship leader!

2) My Daily Praise: I'm thankful for this season of life. For the last year God has been refreshing my family. Through great friendships and family relationships I've been given unique opportunities to "lead" outside of the traditional (and familiar!) full-time staff ministry position that I've known for most of my adult life. I've been learning a lot the last half year physically and spiritually.

3) My Daily Surrender: In coming out of a (potentially burnout) ministry situation and seeing some people very close to me get really burned by a church for no good reason, I'd been tempted to kick the dust off of my feet and never enter the doors of a "church building" again. Of course, I love God's Church, and it's the very people that make up the Church that keep me coming back for more. But honestly, I still struggle with the lack of maturity I see in the church as a whole. Not that I'm some fount of wisdom and experience, but my struggle (and what I want to surrender) is with the notion that I can somehow do it in my own power. I can't change people's hearts. God can. I surrender my desire to control. My desire to manufacture. My desire to hold on too tightly.

Blessings!

[matreames]

Central Passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30
- The Word of the Lord came to a Levite (Not High Priest) v.15
The Lord seeks to use many, and not just your pastor. He is called, but so are you
- "The Battle Is The Lords" v.15
You should trust the Lord to bless you take care for you
- Believe God, and be Established. Believe His Prophets and Prosper V. 20
If you want success and not just survival, Believe God, and Trust what he leads you to do. He will speak clearly to you weather through your prayers or another believer or prophet
- The Army went forth in Praise v.21
Praise is a key. God will handle the battle, and you should worship him at all times, not just in the times that you have already seen the victory.
- The Enemies killed each other and none were spared v.23-24
Sometimes God's methods seem like madness
- Judah's Armies took with 3 days load of Spoil v.25
When God blesses you and takes you through warfare, there is always a rich reward to be had after.
- All Judah Praised God in victory v.26
Praise Before, Praise After
-They Praised their way back into Jerusalem v.28
CELEBRATE HIM! not just some songs, but we need to party for his Glory. Really honor him with everything we have got.
- The Fear of The Lord came on all the enemies v.29
When people see the power of God in your midst they know. Its not something that only you see. Your church, churches in the community, and people in the city will see God at work in you and it will be a testimony for his goodness

1st Corinthians 10:31
- How can our simplest activities bring honor and praise to god?
- Doing it with Excellence
- Doing it With JOY
- Be Prompt, do not delay or procrastinate in your assignments
- Sing to him while you do simple things

My Daily Praise
How Has God recently shown himself to be Gracious, Merciful, or Powerful?
Gracious
- He is giving me an opportunity to learn to lead people in worship
- He is making an opportunity for me to teach my peers in my community the truths of his word
- He lets me have food to eat
Merciful
- He has chosen to bless me rather than give me the curses that I deserve.
- He encourages me and helps me to better myself.
Powerful
- He answers my prayers. The fact that he even listened, let alone answering is pretty great.

My Daily Surrender
What activities and attitudes are not honoring to God?
- Imperfect Thought life (not just in terms of lust but even opinions and judgments)
- Abrasive, sometimes Abusive Tongue
- Not always walking in excellence
- Struggling with myself and not fully trusting God

LORD I repent for the things I listed above, Cleanse my heart, my attitudes, and my actions. Continue to mold me and make me more in the image of you, and Your Son Jesus who gave the perfect example. I desire to be more like you and less like me, and truth be told some days a lot less like me. Forgive me, cleanse me, and purify me. Come like you did to Isaiah when you touched his mouth and made him pure so he could go out and speak your word with clarity and purity. Make me a servant to your kingdom. I love you, and I love your Name. I praise you for your holiness, and you are great. Lord you are awesome and I am passionately in love with you. I bless you, honor you, and praise you.
With All the Love that is in my heart to give you. AMEN

[WorshipVanguard]

1. Central Passage:
This passage simply amazes me for multiple reasons! Verse 12 jumped off the page because it is a great reminder of looking to God in all our situations. “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” It’s the simple “watch and pray” we read often in scripture. Verse 21 speaks volumes to me because it’s the verse behind my blog name, “Worship Vanguard.” Jehoshephat consulted the people, and appointed singers to praise God while leading the army into battle. What an image for modern day worship leaders! The singers, ahead of the army, praised God for “the splendor of his holiness” not knowing the result of the battle, but they did know God was ahead of them. “Give thanks to the Lord, his love endures forever.” Because Jehoshephat’s army allowed God to do the work, they were free to plunder the treasures from THREE armies, which took three days to collect. Plus, I love the very last verse, “And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.” When we allow the Lord to fight our battles, we may be at peace and enter His rest!

2. Daily Praise:
Lord, thank you for pouring your spirit into someone like me. Who am I that you would favor? Thank you for hearing my cries, and always being with me as I wrestle in the spiritual realm regarding your church. You always remind me, I’m not alone.

3. Daily Surrender:
Lord, forgive me for attempting to take matters into my own hands. Even when you give me visions, your grace is patient with me as I try to understand your instructions. I’m still in need of wisdom as I explain to others what you have revealed to me. I truly desire your Spirit to convict the hearts of those I come into contact with, but I also realize I get impatient (and frustrated) when they just don’t get it. Although I seek repentance from those I have relationships with, all you ask of me is to speak the truth of your kingdom. Thank you, Lord, for your grace.

[bkwestman]

1. Central Passage
- What stood out to me was Jehoshaphat's immediate dependence on the Lord for help. His first reaction to the news of approaching armies was to turn to the Lord for help. He had a real and obvious fear of the Lord, and knew that only He could save them. (v.9) He also believed God when He told him that "the battle is not yours, but God's." I heard Rick Warren say once that when you're faced with trouble, you can either worry or worship. It's clear that Jehoshaphat's response was to worship (v. 18). When the people began to worship, that's the moment that God chose to cause the armies to begin fighting each other. Worship is warfare.

2. My Daily Praise
- Lord, I thank You for Your faithfulness! You know how we have trusted You with our finances recently, and You have continually proven to be faithful in all areas. I thank you for my family, and for good health and place to live - things we can easily take for granted. Lord, thank You that You would trust me enough to put me in this position of leadership at church, and thank You for giving me the strength to carry on.

3. My Daily Surrender
- Lord, where do I start? You know there are so many areas where I fail - lack of faith seems to be at the root of many, and it comes out in trying to handle things on my own. Lord, please forgive me for this, and help me be a worshiper in everything that I do today - not only in my songs, but in the way I live my life!

[PraiseMyLord]

Central Passage:
I'm amazed that after the Word of God was delivered that the record shows that no one said: "Yeah, Right! Come on God, we have a gazillion enemies coming after us and this is what you give us?" They displayed absolute obedience and belief that their God was going to do something outstanding, and as a result was able to worship and give Him praise. Man, I wish I was that type of believer.

My Daily Praise:
Thank you, Lord for taking care of my needs, even when I don't acknowledge that you are doing so. After 30 years in So. Cal, we moved to Idaho. God has given us such peace about the move and has led us to so many wonderful people, we just feel blessed.

My Daily Surrender:
Forgive me when I don't believe You. This is a constant struggle with me. I am the type of person that follows my head, not my heart.

[Nancy]

I want to be a part of this study, but I'm new to this whole deal. So what are we doing, reading the book and doing the daily study, then checking in once a week?