Old Time Religion

As long as we are willing to open our hearts with no measure of untruthfulness, God is ready to hear our praise and extend his love as we worship.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God.  Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God.  Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God.  Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided.  These songs were carefully chosen.  Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord.  Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression.  Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study.  May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Heavenly Father, we stand in your presence in awe of your awesome power and love.  We seek that which is your will in our lives and look forward to the return of your Son Jesus Christ.  Please Father, wrap your arms around each of us and provide for us all of our needs.  Forgive us Father, for all of our mistakes and failures in our pursuit of righteousness.  Develop in us the ability to also forgive those who disrupt our lives.  Open our eyes Father, to the enemy who is in pursuit of our souls.  Let us see clearly the evil trying to control our lives so that we can avoid destruction.  We offer this prayer in the Holy name of Jesus.  Amen.

Old Time Religion

Most of us who have been followers of Jesus for many years have a specific style of worship for which we have fond memories.  For some, it may be the style of worship you currently enjoy.  Generally speaking, we probably feel the most comfortable worshiping in the way we did when we were new-born believers.

“Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling.”  Psalm 2:11 (NASB)

In any worship service, the most important ingredient is sincerity and genuine respect for our Creator.  Keep in mind, God is not confined to any single space and is available to us wherever we happen to be.  As long as we are willing to open our hearts with no measure of untruthfulness, God is ready to hear our praise and extend his love as we worship.

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  John 4:24 (NASB)

For many older believers, their first experience worshiping God included a church choir.  That sound can, therefore, be a powerful connection to God.  For all believers, the feeling of the Holy Spirit prompting praise and worship triggers deep feelings of connectedness to God.  The wonderful gift of salvation, the never-ending love of God, and the joy that he provides are cherished gifts that every believer perceives as an old church choir.

Allow this music to fill your spirit:

Old Church Choir – Zach Williams

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul

I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful

There’s revival, and it’s spreading

Like a wildfire in my heart

Sunday morning, Hallelujah

And it’s lasting all week long

Can you hear it?

Can you feel it?

It’s the rhythm of a gospel song

Oh, once you choose it, you can lose it

There ain’t nothing, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul

I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful

I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored

There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

No, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

When the valleys that I wander

Turn to mountains that I can climb

Oh, you are with me, never leave me

Oh, ’cause there ain’t nothing, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul

I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful

I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored

There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

No, there ain’t nothing gonna steel my joy

Clap your hands and stomp your feet

Till you find that gospel beat

‘Cause it’s all you’ll ever need, all you’ll ever need

Clap your hands and stomp your feet

Till you find that gospel beat

‘Cause it’s all you’ll ever need

All you’ll ever need

I’ve got an old church choir, singing in my soul

I got a sweet salvation, and it’s beautiful

I got an Old Church Choir singing in my soul

I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful

I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored

There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

No, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

Oh, there ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy

Perfect Religion

Memories of spirit-filled worship services are cherished moments; however, there is more to our walk with the Lord than worship.  Our religion, no matter what the denomination, is our duty to a pursuit of Godly interest.  To that end, we are to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  James 1:27 (NASB)

Beyond the ceremonial side of our religious experience is the practical side which is our commitment to God.  There are essentially three aspects to our practical religious duties:  Our highest calling is to honor God, then we do what we can to help others, and finally we are to manage our personal needs.  In a perfect religion, all three of these aspects would happen simultaneously.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB)

We have the freedom to plant seeds of woe or seeds of joy.  Our natural desire is to please ourselves, but as believers we push the natural self aside and seek to please God.  When we focus on growing our spiritual life rather than our worldly extravagance, God will bestow upon us spiritual blessings.

“Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”  Luke 6:38 (NASB)

When we give of ourselves, God takes notice and provides an appropriate reward.  We reap what we sow.  For this reason there is nothing better than giving.

Allow this music to fill your spirit:

Give It Away – Gaither Vocal Band

He was workin’ in his garden when I happened by

He waved me over with that look in his eye

And he started breakin’ off some ears of corn

Here boy, today this corn is just right

Just boil it up for your supper tonight

I’ve learned it’s true what my pappy used to say

Nothing’s quite as good ’til you give it away

If you want more happy than your heart will hold

If you want to stand taller if the truth were told

Take whatever you have, and give it away

If you want less lonely and a lot more fun

And deep satisfaction when the day is done

Then throw your heart wide open and give it away

There’s been a lotta water go over the dam

Since the day in the garden with my Uncle Sam

So I hope you’ll hear these words I have to say

There are two kinds of folks-takers and givers

There’s gripers and complainers and big hearted livers

It depends on how we choose to spend our days

We can hoard up all we’ve got, or give it all away

If you want more happy than your heart will hold

If you want to stand taller if the truth were told

Take whatever you have, and give it away

If you want less lonely and a lot more fun

And deep satisfaction when the day is done

Then throw your heart wide open and give it away

If you want more happy than your heart will hold

If you want to stand taller if the truth were told

Take whatever you have, and give it away

If you want less lonely and a lot more fun

And deep satisfaction when the day is done

Then throw your heart wide open and give it away

Give it away, Give it away, Give it Away, Give it away

If you want more happy than your heart will hold

If you want to stand taller if the truth were told

Take whatever you have, and give it away

If you want less lonely and a lot more fun

And deep satisfaction when the day is done

Then throw your heart wide open and give it away

If you want more happy than your heart will hold

If you want to stand taller if the truth were told

Take whatever you have, and give it away

One with God

Jesus spent his life serving others by giving, not taking.  As his followers, we are to emulate that behavior.  When we received the gift of salvation we became united with God in spirit.  That union is unbreakable and contributes to our life every minute of every day.

“The one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”  1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)

Our religion should not be a set of man-made doctrines, but a commitment to serving God by serving others.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome this world and rise to the occasion.  It is our duty to take hold of that calling and perform in a way that shines the light of Jesus on the world.

Jesus himself offered this prayer to God the Father on our behalf:

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.  The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”  John 17:20-23 (NASB)

We need to keep our eye on God and allow his spirit to work through us in all circumstance.  This has been God’s design from the beginning as illustrated in the lyric of this old time religious song from a few hundred years ago:

Allow this music to fill your spirit:

Be Thou My Vision – Nathan Pacheco

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Amen

Thank you for spending this time worshiping God.

His door is now open to you.  You are in God’s presence.  Don’t leave without Him.  Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context.  Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations.  In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon.  Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.

God in Your Life