One of the most compelling testimonies of true and spiritual worship from the heart of a new testament believer is found in Philippians 1:20-21. In these verses Paul declares, “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul is declaring that the only valuable and meaningful life is found in knowing Jesus Christ and responding to Him with a life of authentic worship, by following Christ; serving Christ; and sharing Christ! I believe Paul is teaching us the nature of true and acceptable worship in these awesome verses! He testifies of his personal desire and determination to live the totality of his life for the glory of God and the magnification of Jesus Christ! Genuine worship is far more than an hour of singing and listening to a sermon on Sunday morning. Authentic worship is a lifestyle which includes all of the multifaceted colors of the spectrum encompassed throughout our daily living.

Whatever we do, we are told to do it all for the glory of God! So, genuine worship then becomes a reality, when we are living the totality of our lives with a passion and purpose for the glory of God! True worship is to live our lives in such a manner, that we are clearly demonstrating that Jesus Christ is our most satisfying treasure and supreme pleasure! We are to daily manifest, through our lifestyle, that Jesus Christ is the center of our universe; and that He is the One who satisfies our souls! Paul goes on to testify, “So now also, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” He could honestly proclaim that the Holy Spirit was reigning in his life in such a way, that Jesus was being magnified as the focal point of his existence!

The word “magnify” is the word that we would use in relation to a magnifying glass. A person would use the instrument to increase the significance of a particular object. Brothers and sisters, when others watch you as you walk through the successes of life, as well as, the difficulties, distresses and disasters of life, and yet, observe you continuing to embrace Jesus in true and acceptable worship, this magnifies the reality of Jesus Christ in a powerful way! The Lord Jesus may appear to be very small and distant to unbelievers; but when someone is living a life of worship before them, by living a life for the glory of God, in the mountain tops and the valleys of life, this makes the reality of Jesus Christ very close, very real, and very visible to them! Friends, God has redeemed us to be true and spiritual worshippers, by living our lives with a genuine zeal in our hearts for the supremacy of Jesus, and the glory of God IN ALL THINGS! Oh brothers and sisters, may each of us be found in 2010, worshipping our Lord and God, in spirit and in truth!