Chaos to Calm: Fulfilling Life's Purpose Through True Worship

By Lisa S. Arnold

Chaos to Calm . . . Fulfilling Life’s Purpose Through Worship is a guiding light for those who are searching and disillusioned in their lack of fulfillment and purpose in life. It seeks to lead the discontented, dissatisfied, and unfulfilled down the only life-fulfilling passageway. A passageway leading to the only true Light and Giver of contentment and purpose—Jesus Christ—the One our hearts were created to worship. Before true worship can occur, we must first understand what worship is and to whom it is to be offered. Worship is not exclusively a Sunday morning activity. True worship encompasses every aspect of our lives: work, play, and church. Everything we say and do, every minute of every day, is to be offered as our worship. We must also realize that we do not come before a gentle Shepherd, but before the mighty terrifying King of Ezekiel and Revelation. As we see Jesus for who He truly is, we will then begin to “walk in the fear of the Lord.” Only as we see Jesus in His rightful state and walk in the fear of the Lord will we be able to express true worship and experience the fulfillment and purpose our hearts desire. For the believer, who in the midst of all his service and church related activities can find no relief from the discontentment of life, Chaos to Calm offers enlightenment in the knowledge that true contentment will never be ours until we fill the emptiness of our lives with Jesus Christ. Through Him alone were we created to be satisfied. Through Him alone all worship belongs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Release date: Nov 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781620204320

Book preview

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

—Hebrews 13:15 NIV

Lisa S. Arnold so eloquently offers a sacrifice of praise in her new book Chaos to Calm. Chaos to Calm teaches us 11 directives in how to worship God in word and action. Chaos to Calm is filled with biblical examples, as a synopsis of God’s Word, which will enrich every believer’s life—whether just starting on your God-filled journey of worship or needing a refresher course in true worship. You’ll be blessed, as I am . . . and your being blessed will bless others as well.

—Judy Janowski

Author of Life Is a Garden Party, Vol. I and II

In Chaos to Calm: Fulfilling Life’s Purpose through True Worship the essence of authentic worship is brought front and center! I love this most recent offering of Lisa S. Arnold! From beginning to end she draws the attention of the reader to true worship! This is a much needed focus upon the outpouring of Christ’s Love which brings true worship into individual lives. I hope for God to touch your life as He is touching mine through this call to true worship.

—Dr. Terry M. Robertson

Executive Director/Treasurer

Baptist Convention of New York

Chaos to Calm

Fulfilling Life’s Purpose Through True Worship

© 2016 by Lisa S. Arnold

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-62020-525-9

eISBN: 978-1-62020-432-0

Unless otherwise marked, Scripture taken from The King James Version, The Authorized Version.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture taken from the American Standard Version, public domain. Biblegateway.com

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Cover Design & Typesetting by Hannah Nichols

Ebook Conversion by Anna Riebe Raats

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This book is dedicated to my beloved son, Carl. In our flawed humanity we can only offer God imperfect praise. But Carl sings with the saints and angels in glory now. Perfect true worship—perfect praise. Someday I will stand with him, but for now I will worship the King of Kings—here—until I see Jesus—and my son—over there.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Endorsements

Title Page

Copyright Information

Dedication

Introduction: Precious

Chapter One: True Worship Is . . . What Every Man’s Heart Was Created to Express

Chapter Two: True Worship Is . . . Seeing God for Who He Truly Is

Chapter Three: True Worship Is . . . An Outpouring of Christ’s Love Within Us for Him

Chapter Four: True Worship Is . . . An Outpouring of Christ’s Love Within Us for Others

Chapter Five: True Worship Is . . . An Outpouring of Christ’s Love Within Us Through Service

Chapter Six: True Worship Is . . . An Outpouring of Christ’s Love Within Us Through Sacrifice

Chapter Seven: True Worship Is . . . Bringing Forth Praises to Our King from an Overflowing of God’s Spirit Bursting Forth Within Us

Chapter Eight: True Worship Is . . . Communing With God Through Prayer

Chapter Nine: True Worship Is . . . Abiding in the Word

Chapter Ten: True Worship Is . . . Enhanced by Our Longing for What Is to Come

Chapter Eleven: True Worship Is . . . Choosing God All the Time

Conclusion

Study Guide

Lesson One: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson One: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Two: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Two: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Three: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Three: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Four: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Four: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Five: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Five: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Six: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Six: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Seven: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Seven: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Eight: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Eight: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Nine: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Nine: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Ten: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Ten: Group Study Handout Sheet

Lesson Eleven: Group Leader Instructions

Lesson Eleven: Group Study Handout sheet

Conclusion: Group Leader Instructions

Conclusion: Group Study Handout Sheet

Endnotes

Acknowledgments

Also by Lisa S. Arnold

Contact Information

INTRODUCTION

PRECIOUS

All eyes were turned to the boy as he slowly progressed forward, cuddling the little lamb lying quietly in his arms. His mother watched from afar, her heart broken over the pain in her son’s deepest being that she could never kiss and make go away. His father walked beside him—stone faced. He could not betray his inner emotions, the turmoil welling up inside of him. How well he remembered his first sacrifice and the conflicting emotions that warred within him.

For weeks his son loved and cherished this innocent creature, this spotless lamb. For weeks this lamb named Precious—for he was truly precious to the boy—grew to love and trust the boy, even curling at his feet during the long cold nights. Surely the boy would do nothing to harm him. This was his boy and he was his Precious.

Forward the boy continued, each step feeling as if it weighed a ton, forcibly placing one foot in front of the other. He knew this day would come. He prepared for it as best he could. But how do you prepare for your heart being wrenched from the very depths of your soul?

Tears welled up in the back of his eyes, but no sound did he make. He was thirteen now. He was a man. He would show no weakness.

Very gently he placed his Precious on the altar before the priest. Lovingly, the boy placed his hand atop his Precious’ head. Precious looked up with sweet inquiring eyes as if to say, I trust you, then obediently laid his head upon the altar.

In the flash of an instant, down slashed the knife through the throat of Precious. The boy was sure he saw that look of love in Precious’ eyes even as his life force seeped out and ebbed away.

The boy stood very still. Good-bye, my Precious, he whispered.

Precious willingly gave up his life for the boy. The boy willingly sacrificed his Precious, the one nearest and dearest to his heart, for his God.

Thus did the boy experience his first true act of worship! In sacrificing that which was precious to him, he consecrated his allegiance to Him who is most precious of all!

Worship in its truest form: total disregard for oneself, coupled with total regard for the One who is most precious of all. In this story we come face to face with outward worship, the act of complete submission. We are also confronted with inward worship, which comes from a heart wholly devoted to God, even in the midst of pain.

From the very beginning, man was created to exhibit both forms of worship. But man’s outward worship became nothing more than a show, not of submission but of piousness and legalism, transforming it from an act of devotion and submission into nothing more than cold-hearted selfishness. It was proof to all around, including himself, that he was religious and God must accept him. This was never meant to be.

Animal sacrifice is no longer required. Christ’s death fulfilled the need for blood atonement. His blood was sufficient for all. Yet, sacrifice was to remain an integral part of worship. What is the difference between then and now? Instead of laying an animal on the altar, we present ourselves as the sacrifice, a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), totally submitted to God.

Still, for many of us, we prefer to offer the animal sacrifice. A deed completed, easily forgotten, until the next day of sacrifice. Animal sacrifice was never intended to turn worship into a cold, mechanical act. It was meant to pierce deep into the soul. It was an act of love, bringing the eyes of all who participated to the Messiah—the one true Lamb—who shed His blood for all.

CHAPTER ONE

TRUE WORSHIP IS . . . WHAT EVERY MAN’S HEART WAS CREATED TO EXPRESS

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WORSHIP was created as an inner, submissive act of the heart, expressed by the outward acts of obedience. But it wasn’t long before this inward to outward act of obedience turned from something God created as pure and holy into an unholy act of man, brought about by selfish and prideful hearts.

God was not caught unaware by the sinful actions of man. What Satan relished as victory was nothing more than a part of God’s perfect redemptive plan. What looked like defeat turned into glorious victory as God allowed His plan to unfold. What had become nothing more than man’s outward rituals would again flow from an inward change of the heart. This inward change—a fully submissive heart—brought on by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, manifested itself in outward actions of selfless sacrifice brought about by man’s love and devotion to Jesus Christ, the true sacrificial Lamb.

To understand the full impact of God’s perfect plan, let us start where the inward act of worship was first displayed within the realms of mankind.

All of creation was complete. All, that is, except for God’s final and most triumphant masterpiece: man! This creation would be different. God would not speak man into being. With His own divine hands, He would form His final and greatest achievement.

He reached to the ground, scooped up the red clay, and very carefully began to sculpt. With feverish intensity He worked, unaware of the glorious angels hovering over Him or the creatures round about Him. He let nothing divert His attention from this perfect creation He was forming within His hands. For this creature would be as He, in His image, different from all that had come before Him. Finally, His hands stopped their feverish pace. The Lord God carefully inspected His creation one last time and then stepped away from his beloved masterpiece.

The angels marveled at such a creation. They began to shout with magnificent praise. The Lord God raised His mighty hand. He was not finished. Silence followed. Slowly He began to bend over His creation. It was time for the finishing touch. The Almighty breathed a mighty breath into the nostrils of His greatest work. Man became a living being.

A hush came over the heavenly beings; they had never seen such a creature. Instinctively they knew that this creature would experience the Lord God like they never could. Gradually, the angelic voices lifted until nothing but their heavenly praises magnified throughout all creation. Even the lowly creatures, those not created in His image, understood that something phenomenal had occurred.

Again the Lord lifted His mighty hand. It is not good, He thundered, that man should be alone; I shall make for him a counterpart.

As if on cue, man’s eyelids became heavy, and his body slumped with weariness as a deep sleep fell over him.

Meticulously the Lord God began to work. But something was very different. He did not bend over and scoop up from the red clay like he had before. No, he opened up the very being of man. He was making a creature from the man who already was. He had created multitudes of animals, male and female, but none had He done as man. He was removing something; what it was, the heavenly hosts could not tell.

The Lord God stood, lifted his hands, and thus proclaimed, From this rib, I shall create a helpmeet for man, bone of his bones, and flesh of his flesh. She shall be separate from man; yet they shall become one.

He again began to sculpt. God’s creation of man had exceeded far beyond the heavenly hosts’ greatest expectations. This creature was as man, yet strangely different. When the Lord God completed His sculpting, He stepped back so all could view this second masterpiece. A great gasp thundered throughout all the heavens. Man had surpassed all imagination. But woman! Words could not express the awe that filled the majestic beings as they gazed upon her beauty. Something spectacular had happened this day. They knew deep within that these two creatures—man and woman—would be the Lord God’s most cherished creations. Created in the image of God Himself. Made alive by the Spirit of the Living God. Made to love each other for all eternity. But most importantly, the Lord God had put an unquenchable desire in their hearts for Him. A desire that nothing, not even their love for one another, could satisfy. Only the Lord God Himself could fill this desire. A desire to worship Him who was their all and all, their Creator, their giver and sustainer of life.

The Lord God created a perfect abode for the man and woman. He called it the Garden of Eden, an exquisite paradise, serene and beautiful, filled with all the great wonders of His creation. Here they could walk in perfect communion with their Lord.

So it was for a long time. Man, woman, and their Lord God walked in sweet communion, experiencing deep, satisfying love and worship in its purest form. All was as it should be. Worship in the realm of this man and woman was not an act that needed thought or contemplation, it was a natural part of their being, all they knew. For God’s greatest masterpiece, worship was in all they did, in every place they occupied, in every moment they lived and breathed. In them was everything pure and holy. They worshipped in their perfect love for one another. They worshipped in every aspect of their life. The Lord God was responsible for their extraordinary existence, and for this they worshipped Him.

Then the unthinkable happened! That one horrific incident that forever changed history. Sin entered into man!

The woman did not begin her day with the intention of changing all of history. She admired the exquisite beauty of God’s garden, as she often did. The many creatures watched her with eyes of admiration and devotion, for all lived in unity. She sang a sweet hello to the she-tiger, waved her long slim fingers in the air to catch the attention of the doves singing sweetly in the trees. Lazily she sat herself next to the rippling brook that ran through the garden and breathed in the perfectly fresh morning air. The fragrance of the roses, lilies, and daffodils ascended to greet her nostrils. Each flower was arrayed in magnificent splendor; only the Lord God could design such beauty.

What’s that? Across the rippling brook she caught a glimpse of something moving amidst the trees. She couldn’t be sure, but it seemed unfamiliar. That puzzled her; she was intimately aware of every living creature in the garden. She hesitated to go investigate; it looked as if the creature had rested itself in the branches of the forbidden tree. Curiosity overcame her; she cautiously neared the tree the Lord God forbade them to eat from—the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

It was at this tree, on this fateful day, that the world forever changed. Beguiled by the deceitful serpent, the woman bit into an evil she could never overcome. Not to be separated from this woman he loved, the man took that same fateful plunge. All of humanity would forever suffer the effects of sin that only Jesus would one day overcome. Worship as they knew it ceased to exist. They opened the door of their hearts to the knowledge of good and evil and severed the communion they enjoyed for so long. Shame, fear, and guilt never experienced before overwhelmed them.

The Lord their God’s unconditional love never wavered. Yet, brokenhearted, He knew that He, the Father, must chasten His errant children.

They were cast out of the Garden of Eden. Life as they knew it would never be the same. Adam and Eve were their names. They would spend the rest of their lives toiling over the ground; only by the sweat of their brow would they continue to exist. They also experienced spiritual death, forever separated from their God. Never again to experience the pure, holy communion, the perfect worship they previously knew. They would eventually experience physical death. From the dust of the ground they came, and to the dust of the ground they would return. Because of their sin, life in their now mortal bodies would eventually come to an end. All that was born would also die.

Why did Adam and Eve choose the forbidden fruit over their God? As deceitful as he was, can we place the blame on the serpent? Satan took a gamble in the garden that day. He knew what drove him to rebellion, the desire to be the worshipped instead of the worshipper. He knew that God gave the man and woman the ability to choose their fate. He decided to dangle the worm, offering them the opportunity to be as gods, knowing good and evil. Just as his heart succumbed to the sin of rebellion, so had theirs; with one bite, the choice was made. Satan may have dangled the worm, but Adam and Eve pounced on the bait. The chance to be the worshipped, not the worshippers, was too great a temptation to resist. They chose to worship themselves instead of their Lord. Ever since that fateful day, man has distorted God’s true design for worship, choosing to do what is right in his own eyes.

God in His graciousness did not leave Adam and Eve in a state of hopelessness. He wanted it clearly understood that through Him there was always hope. By supplying His two errant children with skins to use as clothing, God introduced them to a foreign concept, soon to become all too familiar. Death entered into the picture. With death came the way to redemption and renewed fellowship. With renewed fellowship came the familiar desire to worship. It was not as it used to be, but pining over their lost relationship with their God, they grasped at whatever He offered. If providing a sacrifice was what He required, that is what they would do. They would not tempt fate again. Adam and Eve loved their Lord God, and although they now had to war against the sin that reigned in their bodies, they again were able to enjoy fellowship with Him, albeit, not as before.

Sin—as Adam and Eve were to discover—had far-reaching consequences, not only in their personal lives but in the lives of their descendants. This truth was revealed to them through the actions of their sons, Cain and Abel.

Cain, a tiller of the ground, found his talents and pleasures in husbandry. He prided himself in his ability to grow the luscious fruits and vegetables that were needed to provide for his family.

Abel, a shepherd, viewed his position as a God-given responsibility. He realized that he was blessed, not because of his own greatness, but because of God’s graciousness.

Cain knew that God blessed his efforts but was desirous of receiving some of the credit. Cain’s attitude is shown in his actions.

As was their custom, when the appropriate time arrived, they brought their sacrifices to the Lord their God for an offering.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering: But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

—Genesis 4:3–5

What was it that separated Abel’s sacrifice from Cain’s? Upon first glance it appears that God was showing partiality. But the truth is that God sees the heart. He is the discerner of hearts; nothing can be hidden from the Almighty. God’s all-seeing eyes penetrated into the depths of Cain’s heart, and what He saw was not submission and love but rebellion and self-absorbency. God required a blood sacrifice, a spotless lamb to represent the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. Abel honored God in his sacrifice. He understood the deeper significance of the blood atonement. He knew who his God was, and he loved Him. His sacrifice exhibited a love relationship that he shared with his God. Cain, on the other hand, chose to do it his way. He focused on himself and offered a sacrifice of his choosing, assuming God would honor his decision. He was wrong. Cain disregarded God’s chosen way. Doing it his way revealed the rebellion deeply set within his heart. He acknowledged God for His goodness and as his source of blessings; yet, in refusing to submit to God’s chosen mode of sacrifice, he denied his acceptance of who God was—Creator and ultimately Savior of the world—and his need of a blood atonement. In so doing, Cain denied he was a sinner before a holy God.

Cain had a love problem. He loved himself more than he loved God. The apple had not fallen far from the tree. As Adam and Eve chose to worship themselves above God, so Cain repeated that very same sin. It is this attitude of love for self that draws man farther and farther from God. Man, whose heart was created to express worship, found what he thought was a greater and more fulfilling substitute. Himself!

Satan once again reveled in