by Louie Giglio
Worship also matters because every day there’s a battle for your worship.
There’s a war raging for our worship, and it’s been raging since before there was time.
Even before the earth was formed, one of God’s highest angels bolted from His presence, refusing to join the ranks of the true worshipers, refusing to exalt God above all. The account records that in a flash Satan fell like lightning from heaven. Exalting himself more than God, Satan was banned from His presence (Luke 10:18).
Yet, having been in God’s presence, Satan knows God is central and worthy of all praise. He’s heard the anthem. He’s seen the glory.
But because of pride, he couldn’t bow. Spurred on by self, he leads a band of fallen brothers, spreading his mutiny to as many as he can.
That’s where we come in.
How does Satan advance his rebellion against God today? By contesting His supremacy throughout the earth, leading a traitor race to exchange “the truth of God for a lfe,” and to worship and serve “the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever” (Romans 1:25). Satan can’t stop worship from happening, but he’ll deceive anyone who lets him, leading them to empty wells and puny gods.
Let’s check back in with Paul. Remember his message to the men of Athens? Remember his audience? The council Paul addressed that day was called the Areopagus, named after Ares, the Greek god of war. Isn’t it interesting that this is the setting God chose for Paul to give this address on the real meaning of life? God’s word of truth landed in the very arena where opinions battled.
In the same way, the very fallen angel who challenged Him will challenge what God is saying to you. That challenge is called temptation. Deception. Falsehood. Lies. Theft.
Do you know what God desires most from you? It’s the one thing no other person on earth can give Him–your affection. Although a thousand other people can do the work, give the bucks, fill the gap…no one else can give God the unique affection that onoy you and He can share.
But just as much as God longs for your love, there’s an enemy who seeks to steal it.
At this point, you may be saying, “I didn’t start this war of worship–and I don’t care to be in it. I just want to live my life, make my own choices, and do my own thing.
That, however, is not an option. Our lives are on loan from God, a sacred trust of opportunities and decisions. And every one of our choices is made on a battlefield with heavenly ramifications.
Even Jesus faced the same fate.
Before going public with His ministry, Jesus was led by God’s Spirit into a wilderness challenge. At thirty years old, Jesus was preparing for all that was ahead by fasting for forty days and nights. He was learning how to depend on His Father, clinging to Him for life itself.
As His fast was coming to a close, Jesus was physically drained but spriritually sharp. The enemy, no doubt seeing that Jesus looked weary, closed in with three potent temptations.
You remember the first: “If You’re so hungry, turn these rocks into bread.”
And the second: “If You’re the Son of God, leap from the height of the temple. Surely Your Father will catch You long before You hit the ground.”
But notice the last temptation. With this one Satan tried to hijack Christ’s worship.
The offer: all the world’s kingdoms if Jesus would bow down and worship him. What on earth was Satan thinking? To ask the Son of God to bow down and worship a foolish exile of heaven, someone doomed to die, someone banished to an eternal future void of the beauty of the angel’s sounds–talk about being deceived!
Jesus’ reply was clear. “It has already been written: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:1-11).
Your worship matters to God. If it didn’t, Satan wouldn’t care about trying to steal it from God…and from you.
Excerpted from Wired for a Life of Worship © 2006 by Louie Giglio. Used by permission of Multnomah Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. Excerpt may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of Multnomah Publishers.
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Wired: For a Life of Worship
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