Restoration Through Worship

As we traveled to the Patagonia of Argentina, we came across a beautiful hotel that had been destroyed by fire and vandalism.   At one time people came from all over the world to this very well known hotel with their families for vacation.  It was a place where many came to rest and enjoy the beauty that surrounds that area of the country.  But today, it remains a symbol of ruins of what "USED TO BE". A place NEGLECTED, ABANDONED and in RUINS.

However, there is good news...

Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

God is in the business of restoration.  Preventative maintenance can save us lots of time, money and unwanted suffering.  We all need routine preventative maintenance in our lives.  If not taken care of  in a timely manner, neglect sets in, causing deterioration. We must begin taking care of our spiritual lives before eternal damage begins.

The bible tells us in James 4:8 – “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...”  Notice that the process begins with us taking the first step of action.

The christian life requires routine daily maintenance.  You've probably heard said that in a plumbers own home you can usually find leaky pipes.  A plumber is often concerned with taking care of others, that his own house is found neglected.   Many times we are like that plumber... we are so busy serving and helping others that we can easily neglect our own personal lives.

We must take the time to seek the Lord through worship.  When we worship, we are acknowledging the presence of the TRUE REAL EXPERT to provide us with the necessary routine maintenance needed in our lives.  I'm not talking about just putting a quick coat of new paint on the inside and outside or using some duct tape to seal up the leak, but rather calling in THE REAL EXPERT to fix the areas in our spiritual lives that need attention.

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THE STORY OF AN EXPERT PLUMBER...

One day a young couple was having problems with their plumbing. Not knowing what to do, they decided that they needed to call in a professional plumber.  The plumber got under the sink, looked around, and after a few minutes of examination hit an elbow joint as hard as he could with a hammer, and the problem was solved.

The couple was overjoyed and asked how much they owed him. The plumber said $75.25.

The couple said, "That's ridiculous. All you did was hit a pipe with a hammer. We want an itemized bill."

So the plumber took out a piece of paper and wrote out $75.25.

.25 cents for wear and tear on the hammer and $75.00 for knowing where to hit the pipe.

Author Unknown

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Now, here are a few practical tips we can apply to our lives beginning today...

PRACTICAL APPLICATION...

1. Don't COVER UP or IGNORE the problem.
2. ADMIT you need help.
3. Start today by calling in the help of the REAL EXPERT.
4. Give Him COMPLETE ACCESS to make a thorough examination.
5. If needed, let him HIT the pipes and make the necessary adjustments.
6. Finally, don't complain about the price. Remember... HE IS THE EXPERT!

"Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped"
Jack Hayford

Sincerely,
Pastor Christopher Goins
Worshipers Network / Supernatural Worship