The Master's Worship (Part 4)

Worship and love are interwoven. Worship can only be pronounced on the outside when it is deepened on the inside. Worship is an attitude; therefore the sacrifices are no longer dire. Are you a worshipper of God yourself as a worship leader?   Is worship leading a ministry for you or is it a self-motivated task?

The Tent of Meeting in the Old Covenant signified the place of the presence of God. It was the place of communing with God.  Moses and Aaron were unable to be a blessing to the people of Israel ordinarily but we see here that after they went in they came out full of God’s spirit and presence and were able to bless the people.  The scripture did not end there.  It says “and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people”.

To lead in worship is to take God’s people to a place where they will experience the glory of God and be filled with His awesome presence.  However, just like Moses and Aaron there is an entering in that the Leader must do.  Oftentimes, it is assumed that to lead worship, one learns as many songs as possible, understands the technique of putting songs together and puts on some superficial boldness that is far from being dependent on the spirit of God but rather rests completely in the flesh.  Far more than that, leading in worship is a spiritual duty that can only be effective if dependent on God’s spirit to guide as we lead His people to worship Him.  We must recognize that worship is a journey.  There is a destination.  Otherwise we would end up being an actual representation of a ‘noisy gong and clanging cymbal’. We would go through the motions and yet have no reckoning with heaven neither would there be an impact on the lives of the people. 

As seen in the scripture in Leviticus, Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting to commune with God.  The very first step in preparing to lead worship is to commune with the Lord, seek His face through His Word and His Spirit to know His mind.  Our God is a God of the now and always has a word, a direction and an instruction for every moment and hour.  When we seek His face, He directs our spirits to His intention and desire for that moment.  Let’s take for instance, in the last service probably you began the worship session with a particular song, the fact that the congregation was greatly moved as you raised the song does not mean that for the next service, the same song would be sung.  Probably God’s idea for the next service would be that the people should start by lifting up holy hands and blessing His name in the spirit.  Our past experience is not a yardstick for the present.  God, His Word and His Spirit are the yardstick for our every experience with Him. 

When there is an entering into God’s presence and a sincere seeking that we might do His will and fulfill His purpose, it is inevitable that God Himself would meet us, for every one that asks receives, everyone that seeks finds and everyone that knocks receives an open door. (Matt 7:7).  We like Moses and Aaron would come out and become a blessing to God’s people.  It is a common adage that ‘You cannot give what you do not have’.

God’s Vessel Of Honour

“In a large house there are articles

not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay;

some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 

If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument

 for noble purposes, made  holy, useful to the Master

 and prepared to do any good work. 

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness,  faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

2Tim 2:20-22

One of the missing ingredients though not non-existent in the Church today, are true vessels of honor.  There are so many in the ministry of the LORD yet how many are truly honorable vessels in the hands of the Master?  From scripture, we understand that God reaches men through men.  We are His ambassadors created unto good works that he had prepared in advance for us to do.  We are His and created for His pleasure.  Although each one of us is a vessel not all vessels are accorded the same honor.  There are vessels of gold, silver, wood and clay as seen in the scripture.  We discover that there are two basic types of vessels – Vessels for Noble purposes and Vessels for Ignoble purposes.  There are vessels that bring joy to the Master and vessels that dishonor Him.  However, it is the believer that determines what kind of vessel he is.  It is the responsibility of the believer to present himself unto God as a vessel of gold, silver, wood or clay.  Whatever he presents, that is what he would be regarded as.

Glory be to God for further on in that scripture, the Bible says that “If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master…”.  As leaders of worship, we must cleanse ourselves of everything that would make us vessels for ignoble purposes. One of the greatest dynamics of leading in worship is availing and presenting ourselves as vessels of honor unto the LORD. ...to be continued

Many Blessings!!

(c) Chinelo Dillimono 2016

Follow on Twitter: @chinelodilimono

The Master's Worship (Part 2)

Download the Album NEW DAWN here

In his book “Worshipping God – Rediscovering the Full Dimension of Worship”, R. T. Kendall quotes George Watson to have said two levels of worship attainable are Gratitude and Excellence.  Worship of God at the level of gratitude is worship in thanksgiving for His loving kindness, favour and mercy towards us.  Worship at the level of excellence on the other hand means to worship Him for His transcendent glory; for His magnificence. 

 

In true worship, the triune entity of man; spirit, soul and body are involved.  Worship is in two facets: Physical and Spiritual. It releases an outpouring of great wisdom that enhances creativity and productivity. With consistent worship, low capacity and low prosperity will be completely eradicated. Heart application is a necessity in worship expression.

Worship is a reflection of your heart’s attitude; it produces a high effect in the life of the worshipper when it flows from a clean spirit.  Signs, miracles, grace, empowerment, boldness endowments and dominion become your take away pack even in excesses. True worship is an addictive involvement that expedites God’s action. Stephen was an intense worshipper whose depth of love for Christ elicited Jesus standing up from His throne even though the Bible declares that when He ascended He was ‘seated’ at the right hand of the Father. (Acts 7:55)

What about the worship that shakes heaven? It will require a level of secret and public involvement of your heart to produce the kind of worship that can shake heaven. When your heart and life become a living sacrifice, which is your spiritual act of worship, then your worship has taken the divine tone that moves the heavens.

In true worship, the totality of our being is filled with awe and wonder and like the Psalmist we declare “Bless the LORD oh my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name”. 

In the words of A. W. Tozer, worship means to “feel in the heart”.  In other words, worship is a heart posture. Tempo and solemnity do not define worship. Worship that is not felt in the heart cannot be worship because worship is an expression of the stirrings of the heart of the worshipper towards God.  Going through the forms of worship without any impact on the heart is not worship at all. ...to be continued

Jesus Be Exalted!!

(c) Chinelo Dillimono 2016
Follow on Twitter: @chinelodilimono

Encouragement Series

BE ENCOURAGED Series
(Flip Side)
Sometimes the reason you have 'bumps' with others as you travel life's journey is that unknown to you, YOUR insecurities may also be playing out. Try doing a self check but be patient with you too. We all change with time!

Halleluyah Amen by Chinelo Dillimono

He died and He Rose to give us Victory! The price He paid has indeed opened a new and living way for us all.  So in this season of Easter enjoy this New Song from the ministry of Pastor Chinelo Dillimono!  Christ is indeed Risen!!

https://soundcloud.com/chinelodillimono/halleluyah-amen?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=email

MOTHERS OF GRACE

Motherhood is a privilege and a great opportunity to make your own contribution in this life. Motherhood is not a position but a function. Not everyone who bears a child is a Mother. Motherhood is an office occupied by one who deliberately takes on the responsibilities and functions with the prerequisite anointing. There is an anointing to be a MOM!

Every generation is a reflection of the kinds of mothers in that generation. 

Prov 1:8, 6:20-23
Mothers are TEACHERS, NURTURERS and INFLUENCERS!
-Herodias Mk6:21-24
- Rebecca Gen27:3-13
- King Lemuel's Mother Prov31:1

Teachers are instructors, explainers, encouragers, trainers, coaches
Nurturers are gardeners, groomers, tenderers
Influences are mentors, coaches, examples and inspirations

As a mother catch God's vision for your children and train them in line with what God showed you. Remember Rebecca (Gen25), Mary ( Lk1) and Samson's mother (Judges13). 

SPIRITUALLY
Teach your children 
- to love God, fear God and serve God
- to pray and read scriptures
- Tell them about eternal destinies (Heaven and Hell)
- Preach the Gospel to them
- to honour God's people and servants

PHYSICALLY
Teach them 
- to respect people, things and boundaries
- to keep their hands to themselves
- to be generous 
- about balance in life
- to make right choices
- to be honest and sincere no matter what
- to fear none but God
- to say NO when necessary
- to be contented and NEVER you cater to their covetousness

EMOTIONALLY
- Give them enough love and hugs so they are secure
- Apologise when you offend them
- Be their friend yet be their coach. Let them know you are in charge
- teach them to love their siblings and kill every jot of sibling rivalry with prayer and use every available arsenal
- teach boys NEVER to beat girls and teach girls to have tongues of grace

NATIONALLY
Teach them
- to love their country and be proud of their nation
- your language which is your national identity
- to respect national laws and obey them
- your culture

Dr Phil McGraw says
"The most important things you should feel compelled to give your children are protection, preparation for the world and love. Everything else is a luxury. "


This message is available in both Audio and Video Formats. For enquiries call our office 08065690650

DIVINE INSURANCE POLICY

Being a Christian doesn't make us spooky nor prophets of doom. Christ came to liberate us from fear and all its appendages. Unfortunately, many seem to be looking out for the spooky and that confirms the words of St Paul to his son Timothy that in the last days many will gather teachers to tell them what they 'want' to hear! People are 'prophelying' in the Name of the LORD and getting God's people bound in fear. Fear has torment and produces irrational actions. Many of God's people rather than walk in true faith today are living in perpetual fear from which Christ came to ransom us all. The truth is that any vision, prophecy etc that builds fear in you, annoys you rather than cause you to love Christ more is just manipulation of the mind and taking advantage of your ignorance. Visions, prophecies and insights are to tell us God's mind concerning us and its always to draw us to repent in such a loving way or his judgement over evil in our life or around us. Its never to announce the devil's activities. When did the LORD become Satan's broadcaster. Jesus said to Peter 'The devil sought to sift you like wheat but I have prayed for you'. Jesus is a solution giver not and announcer of evil plots, ploys and activities! How great is our God! That is why its important to hide yourself in the Name of Jesus. In the spiritual realm there are myriads of activities against you but when you are hidden in Christ they will plot, plan and forge but it can't harm you. Do you know how many wars are currently over your life or the ones past that God has delivered you from? Do you know how many times Satan has sought to kill you? Do you know how many people who hate you without cause or have cursed you when you didn't know and God averted it? ‎​We don't know these things so the only assurance we have that no matter the evil that comes known or unknown, is to have your life hid in Christ and daily ask Him to order your steps. With that you can stay calm and declare 'evn though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (knowingly or unknowingly) I will FEAR NO EVIL'. Why? Because the LORD IS with me. That's a higher life than getting info about some coven activities. Satan, his people and his activities are not bigger than our God! God is not an irresponsible Father that until you go into days of Fasting and vigorous gyration before he hears your prayer! Come on! Before we even get to call, He promises to answer! He promised to watch over his own DAY and NIGHT! He even watches over the wicked and tries to woo them to repent! Beloved, we are in what Jesus told us is the last days where by our traditions we make God's word ineffective. Because we are Africans and have a penchant for spiritual things we have married the two-the gospel and our traditional religion. It takes true students of the Bible to tell the difference They look alike because the Bible makes many spiritual issues clear but they are different ‎​God is a RESPONSIBLE Father. ‎​He takes care of His own and especially those who come to Him like kids and hide under His shadow! Love you my dear friend. Kick the devil in the butt, give him a bloody nose in the Name of Jesus Christ then lift up your hands and give your God some good praise. Your only guarantee is to accept the Lordship of Christ, love God deeply, fear Him ALONE and do good to ALL men when it is in your power to do it. Not goodness to win their favor but as a human who knows your every action is seen will be judged by God. That way you have a divine life insurance policy. SELAH! See you next time

I CAN'T PROMISE TO BE PERFECT

I'll be totally straight with you . . . I don't like it when someone tells me that I'm making a mistake or that am wrong. Call it foolish pride I suppose. Can you relate with that too? After all, no one's perfect and I know I make mistakes. There are things I have done that only God knows and I sure thank Him for His mercies that endure forever! I have found myself in places and positions I never in my wildest dreams would have contemplated. There are also things I have failed to do and many times I wonder if I will ever have another opportunity to make amends. Anyways, truth be told no one's perfect living here. This goes for many of us Christians who want to see life through perfect spectacles! Amazing teaching from the Master himself that there are two different kinds of houses-the one built on sand and the one built on the rock. When the rains, winds, waves and storms (4 different categories of trials and temptations) come, only those founded on the Rock will stand. Brings me to a simple conclusion. I can't determine what nor when the storms will come. Its not in my power to decide when a trial or a temptation comes. They may come at weak moments and I find myself making some gross mistakes. So I can't promise to be perfect but you know what? I sure can promise to love Him with a perfect heart. I can promise to run to Him even after the mistakes I make. His love and mercies (notice its in plural) endures (is longlasting) forever! O la la! That's a spot for a Faith Shout!!! No wonder our Blessed Savior when asked what the greatest commandment is; without equivocation said, its two of a kind- Love the LORD thy God with ALL thy heart... and Love thy neighbour as thyself. I can promise to do that!!!!! SELAH!! See you next time. (c) 2011 Chinelo Dillimono

I CAN BEGIN AGAIN

Life is truly amazing. My recent mantra has been "I can begin again with the passion of a child!" and I truly believe it. God always gives us new opportunities to start again. The Prophet Isaiah spoke about God doing a new thing. Jesus through John the Revelator says "Behold I make ALL things new". I can give a Faith Shout for that! Failure, it is said, is never final. The battle is not over until you win. Most often it seems we are at the end of the road and we tend to put a closure on it but its usually a bend. The end of one road is the beginning of a new one! If there happens to be a mountain on my way, then I bore a hole through it. I won't give up now because its not working. I won't throw in the towel because I made a mistake; or putting it succintly, I sinned. I will not let the enemy have a field day because I have messed up my last opportunity. I won't stop dreaming because I have hit the big 4 and looks like I'm stepping into the evening of life! I won't give up on friendships because one went sour! I won't stop being a blessing because someone didn't appreciate my last sacrifice. I can't stop loving because I have been hurt by someone who probably didn't deserve my love (I wonder if there's really anyone undeserving of love). That I failed at something doesn't mean I can't win at something else. Truth is; I CAN BEGIN AGAIN! I can be renewed and ready for a fresh start. Yes I can! I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. I can begin with a new passion and make a success of whatever I have set my heart to. So what do I do then? I will wake up from my slumber; look myself in the mirror and tell myself one more time: I CAN BEGIN AGAIN! SELAH! See you next time!

ONE DAY AT A TIME!!

I used to be a non-conforming idealist who saw life through what I believed was Ideal! I mean if something is black why say its got a shade of grey or worse still try to convince me that it is actually white, being reflected as black or something as crazy as that? I saw life as one straight road and of course with my scientific mind I believed that, as is seen in all mathematical equations, 1 + 1 should invariably be 2! No matter the proposed hypothesis tomorrow if there ever should be, at least to the best of my knowledge, I don't think another theory would be proposed tomorrow that 1 + 1 is now 8 or something as preposterous as that! I couldn't see why certain people fall for certain things! Now in hindsight I wonder what shade of spectacles I really wore! Anyways, I think many live in that ideal world where for example Jack meets Jill, they fall in love and they live happily ever after or brother X marries sister Y and never have marital storms that threaten the foundation of their marital experience or one gets born-again and after their salvation experience, never fall into temptation because its all a smooth ride or probably never have some habits or stuff to deal with! In this 'Ideal World', nothing SHOULD go wrong for crying out loud! I mean once you get saved everything should be alright, right? WRONG!!! The 'younger' I get the more I see the truth about this life and walking with the LORD. When we read the words of the Psalmist, he says '...even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...".. Hmm! So there are moments when the one whom the LORD shepherds actually could walk through such a valley? Don't we all wish it doesn't have to be so? However in the real world where I now belong, it is a daily walk! It is a daily cry 'Precious LORD take my hand and lead me on". When am up on the mountain or down in the valley of life I must always remember, He loves me with a love that will never let me go. I should never judge another through the spectacles for my vision as He knows the way we all take and sometimes He may take Daniel through the lion's den in order to show the kings of the earth in our lives that He is the King of kings! He may take a young innocent Joseph through various stages only to to have him end up in a dungeon, in order to show the world that He can take a man from the dunghills and place him to sit with kings and princes! He may choose to elect a Solomon, born out of a relationship whose genesis is adulterous and tainted with murder of the 1st degree (my judgement) yet place him on the throne of Israel and give him rest on every side! No wonder Paul daring or should I say with a slip of his pen began to say that now we have come to know God, corrected himself and stated that God has come to know us because we really do not know Him. He is a mystery that is only unfolded in our daily walk with His Spirit. So what is the conclusion of this matter? Simply, ONE DAY AT A TIME! Putting my hands in His hands and trusting Him to lead me all the way. Never pretending or should I say presupposing I have all the answers to all the stuff that's going on in my life. Never thinking that I understand all mysteries about Him and know the way my life should take because in the words of Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest), He sometimes may pass me through uncertain waters which have nothing to do with me but the lives that He wants to send my way. SELAH! See you next time!!!

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE

There is such a craze to have, to be and to show! Many struggle to be like or to be more than! Others strive to have as much as or if possible have more than other! There is such a blind competition that is tearing God's people apart rather than unify as the Spirit of Christ desires. For instance every Saturday there is a wedding and many seek to 'out-dress' the others if possible be the silent star of the day or probably the one to make the fashion statement of that day. Many-a-singer (that's my department), wants to 'out-sing' the others who went upstage so they get the loudest applause and the list goes on and on. Paul speaking to the Corinthian church taught us all a blessed way to live where each one simply lives to their optimum comparing themselves with whom they see themselves to be through the eyes of the scriptures and with no other mortal. When we compare ourselves with ourselves, we are not wise he says! You cannot be running a race and looking backwards for who is closest to you, catching up with you or even about to outrun you! That will certainly slow you down! He gives the best prescription to the Hebrews when He says to each one of us, 'Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith'! Each one of us needs to keep our eyes on the mark for the prize of our HIGHCALLING in Christ Jesus! I feel like shouting a big HALLELUYAH!! When I cease from comparing myself with anyone, then I begin to see the uniqueness and beauty in others and strive to encourage them to be their best. I will see that I do not have everything but a portion of the divine nature that needs absolute expression on earth and everyone created by God has a unique portion of the Divine that needs full manifestation and interestingly we are all interlinked and cannot get to the apex of our purpose without others. So, when all is said an done, truly LIFE IS A STAGE and each has a part to play, when your part is done, you leave the stage for someone else to play their part. In His eyes though, even when you are not one the centre stage but either are waiting to play your part, have played your part or are right now on the centre stage, each one is a STAR in His eyes if we walk with Him and do His will!! Hmm! Here's a thought. How would it be when each STAR learns to celebrate every other STAR? When you are offstage you stand in high applause for the one onstage and celebrate the courage of the ones who are now offstage. Hmm! I really wonder!! SELAH!! See you next time!! (c) 2011 Chinelo Dillimono

THE FAITH SHOUT!!

Loving Christ is one of the greatest things and profits that can ever be made! He is most real. Many times in our lives, possibly because of the picture painted by the 21st Century Church that it will always be well, smooth-riding, fine, no troubles, no struggles, no problems type of Christianity, we get lost when the boat of our lives seem to rock.Amazingly, it is when our boats are rocking that we really see the power of God in operation!

Recently I was on a flight with my kids going home after a few days away from home! The weather was so bad and the flight was quite rough and turbulent. Like everybody else, I was pretty scared! Hey! I was with both my kids!!! My destiny is still unfolding before me, my beloved husband was waiting at the airport to pick us up and here I was in an uncertain flight with my 'generations'!

Somewhere in my spirit, God's word and promises of protection began to roll into my spirit and I spoke them into the air! Of course I had to encourage my son with same scriptures to boost his faith! At some point here was my son speaking God's word and praying to the one whom he has learned is the only one who holds the whole world in his hands! Did I mention that at some point my kids began to sing 'He's got the whole world, in His hands'? Oh sure they did and I knew that song came from their spirit! Guess who joined in the song!!

Now I had to give a FAITH SHOUT! Why? Not because I wasn't scared, after all who wants to die before time or even in a plane crash anyway. I understood that my life is in the hands of one greater than all! Not only did I trust Him with my life or had I entrusted Him with the lives of my kids and of course the lives of everyone on that flight. I began to see that this situation was building in my kids a faith I cannot build in them myself! I saw the fact that this was a moment where God Himself was teaching my son Himself, through his situation that the only one to trust in is God. I began to see that it is in the midst of our troubles that faith is built! We see God move in tremendous ways that we cannot see Him when there are no storms to deal with!

Faith doesn't say that everything will be alright all the time,but faith says that in the midst of my troubles, trials, temptations, weaknesses, uncertainties, I will still recognize who has my life in His hands, bow before Him and give Him a praise!

Shout to the LORD, All the earth let us sing! Power and majesty, praise to our King! Hey, you don't need to FEEL like shouting to SHOUT His praise! Our God works by principles not by feelings. Besides the just lives by faith! Can someone give a FAITH SHOUT! Watch those mountains come down!!!!

See you next time!!