Worship: Forever

Sometimes, I find compound interest interesting. I believe that these weeks have been building on themselves like compound interest. Or even like a house. A foundation is poured out and hardens. Then the frame is put up, and then the walls eat the frame while you also get all the other "invisible" aspects (like plumbing and electricity) put into place. It's like that. We had the foundation laid: Who God is, and the framework of Who Jesus is. Now the walls have been eating up the framework, as the Holy Spirit becomes the focus. Now, hearing the voice of God is like the invisible inner aspects trucked away beyond sight into the very walls. That was the focus of this last week: Hearing the Voice of God and Intimacy with Him.

But first, we celebrated Hero's Day! Hero's Day is (as far as I'm concerned) the Jamaican version of Labor day. Everyone sleeps in and goes to the beach. And they are supposed to remember various Heroes who brought them out of slavery. It was also Angelisa's birthday! (She is one of the students) We went to pizza hut. I do not think you realize the extent of how much I missed pizza. Pizza, out of all food from home, is what I have missed with great distress.... okay, I missed pizza a lot. So it was beyond delightful to have pizza. And we also had the day off of classes and work duty. So the rest was nice. I approve of rest and pizza. 

The teachers this week were from the Jamaica House Of Prayer (more commonly know as JaHOP). They helped me to understand that to become a voice for God, you need to hear His voice. Otherwise you are just an echo. Need I explain the power of a voice against an echo? I do not believe so. Honestly, without the intimacy of hearing God's voice, being a Christian is difficult. God clarifies His Logos (the Bible) to us via His Rhema (spoken words). But let's not get into the greek right now. I got some clarity on what God's voice really is and how to be open to reconize it. Hearing God's voice is stellar. Hands down. It is rather intense to think we can have intimacy with the very God Who created us.

They speakers also talked about end times. They talked about how Christ is preparing His bride to be spotless. They also talked about how the church must become unified as part of Christ's return. They even talked about an "Enoch generation" rising up. (Enoch is a Biblical character who never died. God simply took him up to heaven. So an Enoch generation is a generation who will not taste death because God will return and death will become eradicated for Christians... but enough theology and end times awesomeness... back to me) All this to say that the teaching stirred up many dreams in my heart. I'm excited to be a part of the Bride of Christ becoming spotless and zealous for His return.

We also studied the book Song of Solomon. It was cool to see it as a love story between Christ and me. It's honestly awe inspiring to think God is passionately pursuing me. He loves me with an extravagant love. He loved me to the point of dying for me. And these are not just words on the internet, they are beginning to form a melody within my heart. God is love. God is enough. He is worth it all.

Also, God has been using the book Simple Obsession to shake me up. It is written by Jamie Zumwalt. It is about making God our simple obsession. Jamie is a part of Heart of God Ministries and equipping Christians in the States to become missionaries. So the book was very missions oriented. God just used that book to show me just how real spiritual ignorance is. There is idol worship where, to appease their "god," men and women sacrifice people to demons. This is a reality in the world today. And I just cannot stand idly by as this continues. This ought not be. I believe God is giving me a passion for those who have NEVER had any exposure to Christ or His love. So many people simply need to love of Christ. And they have never considered that there is any other God than the demon they are worshiping.

"Missions exists because worship doesn't" - John Piper

We bring the gospel to those who do not know Christ so that they may worship Him. I believe God has given me a passion for worship and missions just so that I could have the full picture. I want idol worship to change. I want God to use me to make that change.

I'm not sure how that will happen. But I belive it is where I get the privilage of serving God. Soli Deo Gloria!

Speaking of worship, evangelism was unique this week. We went down into town and brought the guitar and simply worshiped in the midst of people bustling about. The after some worship some of us stayed back while others went about and just talked to the people there. It was cool to just worship in public. Some people just stared, some pretended not to notice, and one danced and clapped from across the street. I'm not sure if he even heard the words we were singing. He just liked the beat. But it was a very good time of worship and evangelism.

Last night (Friday) we had a night of worship which we called 'Facedown.' Some of us in the DTS lead worship for about 45 minutes. Then others lead worship. A noticeable amount of people came to simply worship God. It was a glorious time to simple enjoy God's presence and lead others in worship. In light of that, we had a lot of worship this week. It was a good week!

I ask that you continue to pray for me. Pray that I am able to get rest. I have been extremely tired lately and that has been hard. Also just pray that I am open to what God speaks to my heart while I am here. I need to allow Him to work His change in me. Amen.

In Christ,

Timothy David