Worship God As U Are

Ephesians 5:27 - .. that He might present her 2 Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Have u been 2 a worship service where u stood with your hands raised, ready 2 worship God, only 2 hear the worship leader say, “Before we worship God, let’s all search our hearts”? Then, as u search your heart, b4 long, u dig up something that u don’t like. The next thing u know, your hands are no longer raised and soon, u find yourself sitting down — u don’t feel good worshiping God any more.

My friend, I have good news for u. Come and worship Him as u are. Come into God’s presence Jesus-conscious, forgiveness-conscious and grace-conscious! Come into God’s presence bringing only Jesus the spotless Lamb of God as your offering.

Your worshiping God is like the times God’s people in the Old Testament brought their offerings 2 the priest. The priest examined the animal sacrifice 2 ensure that it was without blemish. The priest did not examine the sinner. If the animal was without blemish, God accepted the animal sacrifice as well as the offerer who brought the animal.

So when u come into God’s presence, don’t do any self-examination and be discouraged when u find faults in your life. God does not examine u. He sees u through the full value, and all the loveliness and acceptance of His Son. (Ephesians 1:6) He sees u holy and without blemish!

Remember the woman who was referred 2 as a sinner, possibly a prostitute? She went 2 the house of the Pharisee who was hosting Jesus and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. (Luke 7:36–50) That was her act of worship.

She came 2 Him as she was. Yes, she knew that she had sinned, but she worshiped Jesus first bcoz of who He is. She was Jesus-conscious. Then, she heard Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48) She received the forgiveness she needed from Him.

Whatever u need from the Savior, come 2 Him as u are. Worship Him for who He is and then u will hear Him say, “Go your way. Your restoration has come. Your prosperity is here. You are healed. You have been made whole!”

Joseph Prince Ministries

All That Jesus Is B4 God; U Are

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin 2b sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When an Israelite brings an animal as his sin offering, he lays his hand on it b4 killing it. (Leviticus 4:1–4) By laying his hand on the sin offering, his sins are transferred 2 the innocent animal. The animal dies for his sins and he goes free.

In contrast, during the burnt offering, when the Israelite lays his hand on the animal (Leviticus 1:3–4), the beauty, worthiness and acceptance of the unblemished animal are transferred 2 him. God accepts the perfection of the animal sacrifice on his behalf 2 make atonement for him. Bcoz God accepts the unblemished burnt offering, the offerer now has right standing b4 God.

Do u know that the two offerings speak of Jesus’ one offering of Himself when He hung on the cross? He is both our sin offering and burnt offering — “For He made Him who knew no sin 2b sin for us [as our sin offering], that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [as our burnt offering]”. The moment u put your faith in Him, just by His one sacrifice, your sins were transferred 2 Him, and His righteousness was transferred 2 u. That is the grace of God toward u! 

As our sin offering, He offered Himself once and for all. (Romans 6:10) The sin offering was never a daily offering because God does not want His people 2b sin-conscious. However, the burnt offering was both a morning and evening sacrifice (2 Chronicles 13:11) bcoz God wants His people 2b righteousness-conscious.

Beloved, God wants u 2 lay claim daily 2 Jesus as your burnt offering and say, “Father, I thank You that Jesus is my burnt offering. All that Jesus is b4 You — His righteousness, Excellence, Beauty and Perfection — has been transferred 2 me. Jesus has Your unclouded favor, so I enjoy Your unclouded favor in my life. Jesus is the righteousness of God, so I am the righteousness of God in Christ. As He is b4 You, so am I.”

Bcoz Jesus became your burnt offering, what He is 2 the Father today, u are! That is what it means 2b in Christ.

Joseph Prince Ministries

The Reason 4 The Resurrection

Romans 4:25

25 ..who [Jesus] was delivered up bcoz of our offenses, and was raised bcoz of our justification.

The Bible tells us that Christ was delivered up for our sins and raised from the dead for our justification. You may already know why Jesus died for our sins, but do u know the significance of God raising Him from the dead?

Let me give u an illustration to help u understand the significance of Jesus’ resurrection.

Let’s say that u are living in a foreign country. One day, u happen to break a major rule of the land. You appeal to the king for mercy. He says, “A rule is a rule. I cannot bend the rule for u. What will others say about my integrity? However, if u can find a substitute to take your punishment — 3 months in jail — I will allow it.”

By God’s grace, u find a willing substitute. He goes to prison on your behalf and u don’t see him for some time. Days, weeks and months pass by.

Now, how or when will u know that your crime has been fully paid for? When will u be able 2 rest easy regarding your crime? It is when u see your substitute walking free again! When u see him out of prison, u will know that the sentence has been fully served. You will know that u are now justified and no one can bring a charge against u for your old crime. No longer will u be afraid of the king or his guards coming after u bcoz u know that the one who was punished in your place is now walking free.

Beloved, Jesus, your substitute, paid the debt u could not pay. On the cross, He bore the sins of your entire life. God put it all on Jesus and then He punished Jesus for every single one of those sins until He was fully satisfied. And bcoz He was so pleased with what Jesus had done, He raised Him from the dead.

Today, Jesus’ tomb remains empty. He is not there for He has risen! His resurrection and empty tomb will forever be our assurance that we have been fully justified. You no longer have 2b afraid of God judging u for your sins. His justice is on your side today!

Joseph Prince Ministries