PREACHING OF NOVEMBER 03, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

ADORATION THAT BRINGS GLORY

Last week, we covered a fundamental theme for our lives related to praise and worship, beginning a new series of teachings that will deepen this topic. So, let us prepare to enter a deeper understanding of authentic worship that leads us to a more intimate relationship with God. The Pastor began by recounting that during the Revival 2024 in Monza, Apostle Lirio Porrello shared a message that resonated with what was discussed in October: a call to a "transition to the final glory." This is a spiritual transition that prepares us for an awakening characterized by the glory of God, an awakening that will not depend on a single leader or prophet, but will be carried forward by the entire Church, called to manifest God's glory in all its fullness. We desire to be ready so that, when God moves, we can respond without hesitation, with hearts aligned to His will.

Psalm 37:4; 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

One of the gravest risks for today's Church is the tendency to turn worship into mere entertainment. Many congregations, perhaps in an effort to attract people or keep their attention, are focusing on shows and programs rather than true worship. However, God has not called us to entertain, but to be true worshipers, who honor Him in spirit and truth, as authentic worship is based not only on musical talent but on divine anointing.

Isaiah 10:27; 27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

The anointing of God breaks the yoke and transforms people profoundly, leading them to authentic communion with Him. Without anointing, even the best talent remains barren, incapable of producing real changes in people's hearts. However, when the anointing is present, even the simplest of songs can become a channel of transformation and liberation for those who listen. The anointing is what brings God's presence into our worship, and it is what makes the difference between a performance and worship that touches the heart of God. Another common mistake is turning worship into a moment dedicated to our personal needs. While it is natural to have times of prayer in which we bring our needs to God, true worship should always be centered on God Himself, not on us. Some songs may touch the heart emotionally, but they do not directly praise God. True worship should put God at the center, not our requests or emotions. For example, some songs may evoke strong feelings and touch our hearts, but God desires that we worship Him for Who He is, not just for what He can do for us. In Scripture, we find a warning about the importance of worship that is established and ordered by God Himself. The story of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, told in Leviticus, is an example of what happens when acts of worship are offered that God did not command.

Leviticus 10:1; 1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.

This episode warns the Church to base every act of worship on God’s commands, thus avoiding offering "strange fire" that is not pleasing and maintaining authentic worship that reflects a truly consecrated life. God Himself, through Moses, emphasizes that those who approach Him must do so in holiness and obedience, so that He may be glorified before His people. Indeed, this concept of “strange fire” is further explained as representing a type of worship devoid of holiness and obedience, based solely on performance or emotions. Additionally, the absence of God’s power is a characteristic of strange fire; in fact, worship that relies only on human talent, without being accompanied by the power of the Spirit, can touch only the emotions of those present but cannot transform them. Jesus taught us that God seeks people who don’t just perform outward actions but worship in spirit and in truth, with sincerity and authenticity. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus quotes Isaiah to highlight the importance of having a sincere heart in praise.

Matthew 15:7-8; 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

True worship arises from a pure heart and a desire to know God, because it is not enough to sing or speak about Him; it is essential that our praise reflects our faith and love for Him, expressing our deep desire to draw closer to God. In the Book of Revelation, we learn that God’s purpose is for true, continuous worship, expressed through praise that is entirely centered on Him.

Revelation 4:8; 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

In this passage, the heavenly beings worship God without ceasing, showing that worship must be entirely directed toward Him, without distractions or compromises. In heaven, worship is exclusively centered on God’s holiness and majesty, with no regard for the individual needs of the heavenly beings; we too are called to do the same, praising and glorifying Him with all our hearts. God has given many of us talents to use for His praise, but it is the anointing that transforms praise into something powerful, capable of breaking yokes, healing, and setting souls free. In Revelation, God is described as the Creator who deserves all glory and honor:

Revelation 4:11; 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Living to give glory to God allows us to worship Him authentically and to experience His power, because genuine worship means giving glory to God with our lives and maintaining a constant attitude of reverence and honor toward Him. Another fundamental theme at play today is the transition of the Church from a simple temple that serves to the bride of Christ that worships. This change in identity is described as a crucial step for the Christian community, which must learn to live its relationship with God with a loving and faithful heart. The Church is called not only to be a physical place where worship activities are held but to become the loving bride of Christ, living in His presence and awaiting His return. This transformation implies a change in mindset: it’s not only about fulfilling religious duties but about living every day in worship and intimacy with God. This will lead to a spontaneous desire to praise God in our daily activities, a sign that the Holy Spirit is drawing us into His presence. Being the bride of Christ means having a heart that moves toward God, ready to respond to His call at any moment. There is power in worship that God has placed in the sound of our voice; in fact, another sign of this transition is the release of a new song, a sound that glorifies God and awakens the heart of the bride. The story of the fall of the walls of Jericho is a perfect example of how sound, when guided by God, can transform an impossible situation. Israel walked in silence around the walls of Jericho for six days, but on the seventh day, at the sound of the shofar and the people's shout, the walls fell, demonstrating that there is power in praise expressed with faith and obedience. Every time we worship with sincerity, God moves and changes the spiritual atmosphere around us, as our voice, anointed by the Holy Spirit, becomes a vehicle of power capable of breaking down spiritual walls and opening new doors. In the Bible, we find three main archangels: Michael, the leader of the heavenly army; Gabriel, the messenger; and Lucifer, who was originally the worshiper. Although Lucifer initially had a sacred role, when he rebelled, he became Satan, losing his purpose and his role. This reminds us of the importance of worship and faithfulness to the purpose God has for us, because otherwise, we risk losing our true identity. In the Psalms, there is a passage that exhorts us to sing a new song to the Lord:

Psalm 40:3; 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

God desires to give us new songs, a sign of an awakened Church ready to live in communion with Him, songs that have the power to drive away darkness and awaken the people. You know, among the ministries of the Church, the worship team is the most attacked by the enemy because the devil is aware of the power of music in leading hearts toward God. For this reason, it is essential that the worship team remains pure and united, avoiding personal ambitions or desires for performance, because worship must be a sincere response to God, not a pursuit of human approval. When the worship team remains faithful to its calling, the presence of God manifests tangibly in the community, bringing healing, deliverance, and miracles. God calls the Church not to remain static; therefore, we must understand that His spiritual awakening is based on three fundamental elements: “revelation,” “worship,” and “continuous prayer.” Without a constant revelation of God, the Church’s spiritual growth is limited, because He cannot manifest in a community that does not receive revelation, as His presence is tied to a constant openness to the newness of the Spirit. When the Church worships God sincerely, it is able to receive new revelations about Him, and this allows the community to experience deeper levels of knowledge and intimacy with God. In other words, the level of revelation of a Church determines the degree of manifestation of divine power. A community that knows God only as Savior will experience a limited aspect of His presence, but a Church that knows the various aspects of God can live in more complete communion with Him. The Bible uses around 300 names to describe God, each representing an aspect of His character and His works, and we know only 7; to know them means discovering who He is and what He does, as each name reveals a part of His nature. Let us remember Jacob: from "deceiver," God transformed him into "Israel," meaning "prince of God," thus changing his character. The same happened with Peter, whose original name, Simon, meant "reed" and represented instability, but God renamed him Peter, meaning "rock," as a symbol of stability. Deep and authentic worship will allow us to understand who God is through His names, enabling us to enter into a more intimate relationship with Him and embrace the different dimensions of His essence. Jesus Himself taught the importance of approaching God with the heart of a child.

Matthew 21:16; 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Children represent a model of pure worship, untainted by carnal thoughts or human ambitions. God seeks simple and sincere worship, born from a grateful heart, free from worries, and being like children means abandoning the complexity of worldly thoughts to present ourselves to Him with a pure and transparent heart. The Bible teaches that God values spontaneous and genuine praise, which flows from simplicity, because this type of worship allows us to enter into deep communion with Him, experiencing His presence in a tangible way.

John 4:22; 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

Jesus spoke these words to the Samaritan woman to remind us that many people worship what they do not know, and this happens because within us there is an innate desire to worship. The word "worship" is connected to the concept of valuing; therefore, what we consider valuable is what we worship. We must give God the value He deserves and worship Him, avoiding attributing our worship to things like money, work, and material possessions, which do not deserve our veneration. In the following verse of John, Jesus reveals the essence of authentic worship when He says:

Verse 23; 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

This passage emphasizes that God seeks worshipers who are not focused on themselves but who place the Father at the center of their worship. Worshiping in "spirit and truth" is pure, not influenced by personal desires, and invites living a transparent relationship with God, without hiding anything. Worshiping in spirit means making room for God in every aspect of one's life, allowing His Spirit to operate without obstacles. Jesus clarifies that worship cannot be based solely on emotions or personal needs, but an authentic worshiper approaches God with sincerity and humility, putting aside all pretension. When we adopt this mindset, we become more and more conformed to the image of God, drawing closer to His character and virtues; in fact, the more our worship grows, the more we reflect Christ's love, compassion, and patience. A transformed Church is directly related to the level of worship of its members, influencing their very nature.

2°Corinthians 3:18; 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This principle highlights that we become like what we worship, because worshiping God leads us to greater conformity with His character and glory. God is not simply looking for musicians or singers, but worshipers who, reflecting the heart of Christ, become ambassadors of His presence. When we worship God sincerely, we draw closer to His heart and develop divine qualities, such as love and compassion, which enable us to testify His message to the world. God desires His people to immerse themselves in this transformation, becoming a visible testimony of His nature and living a relationship founded on love and faithfulness.