DON'T LET THE DEVIL STEAL YOUR WORSHIP

Worship is to the soul what rain is to the parched land. When we worship, it’s like rain on the dry ground and water to the thirsty. Worship makes us spiritually strong and without it we become weak and anemic. It’s no wonder Satan tries to steal our worship away from God. We sing the little chorus: “We have come into His house and gathered in His name to worship Him”.  That’s the way it should be but often it’s not. Worship doesn’t just happen; we can’t just show up for church and think that worship will take place while our minds are somewhere else. We have an adversary that will do everything that he can to steal our worship to God. 

 John Wesley conducted an open-air meeting in a little village in Cornwall two hundred years ago. He said, "I preached Christ our 'wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' I could not conclude till it was so dark that we could scarce see one another. And there was on all sides the deepest attention: none speaking, stirring, or scarce looking aside. Surely here, though in a temple not made with hands, was God worshiped in the beauty of holiness." 

 On the day of Pentecost, they were all in ONE PLACE and in one accord. We have a hard time getting everyone in one place because people are all over the place! Pastors are trying everything to get people to church... Drive-by, drive thru and drive in churches where you don't have to get out of your car. Drive-by prayers and blessings, a "fast-food" service. Early services for those who want to hurry and get it over with and then go on about their business. Later services for those that want to sleep late. Contemporary services for the young and traditional services for the old. Fluff Services, an hour of singing a ten-minute devotional. Media Church, which is great for shut-ins, but it will never take the place of assembling in the house of God if you are able. When you are in need of a pastor, those you watch on TV aren’t going to help you. 

 There is no substitute for church! There’s healing in the house of God; there’s balm in Gilead. God has given you the local assembly and there's no substitute for it! Some claim that they can get close to God on a deer stand, on the golf course or at the lake fishing, but don't kid yourself! Get yourself to the house of God and worship with fellow believers because it's not just about you. 

 Shortly after Scott Hamilton won the gold metal as an Olympic skater, he said, “Someone asked me why I was looking at the metal so intently. What I was doing was looking at 16 years of my life.” 

 We’ve got too much invested in this race to quit now! Too many years and too many miles behind us to give up now! Don’t let Satan steal your worship or your crown.