Created, Commanded, and Called

By Greg Lemley

One of the issues we have in life these days is finding our purpose. We usually search all the wrong places and find the wrong people. This book is not designed to be a book of specifics, but a general book of purpose. In the Bible, we can find our ultimate purpose in Christ. In Created, Commanded and Called, we will walk you through the Bib

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greg Lemley
• Release date: May 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987944219

Book preview

Created, Commanded, and Called

Created, Commanded, and Called

Created, Commanded, and Called

Greg Lemley

Greg Lemley

BOOK INFORMATION

Printed in the United States of America

2023 - 1st Edition

ISBN: 979-8-9879442-02

Copyright 2023, G & G Publishing

Scripture quotations are taken from New King James Version (NKJV), King James Version (KJV), The Amplified (Amp), the English Standard Version (ESV) and the Message.

For booking information:  615.542.7148 or 615.542..5872

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DEDICATION

I want to dedicate this book to my family.

To my wife, Gwen, who has been so supportive through

the good times and the bad.  I simply say, 

I LOVE YOU!

You are the "wind beneath my wings.'

To my two biological children: Benjamin and Ashlea.

You are my pride and joy.

To my five adopted children: Kim, Mark, Jayson, Eve and Weston.

Thank you for allowing me into your lives.

But most of all, to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I dedicate this book to you for all that you have done

and will ever do for me.

You are my source, my strength and my song.

You are my Savior and you are my friend!

FORWARD

In worship we can find purpose, perspective and identity.  Worship is not just about what we can find, but the One we are worshipping.  As individuals and churches, robotic worship can sneak into our worlds, and over-take a genuine encounter with our Creator.  God desires for us to live a life of worship and to be worshippers out of a heart that is in awe of Him.  Greg Lemley will take you on a  journey from the motions of worship to the reality and joy of worship.  His holistic dissection of worship will not only clear any misconceptions, it will pierce the core of your heart to re-evaluate your definition of the word, worship.  If you have ever had questions on worship, this is the book for you.  If you have never questioned it, this is a must read for you.  If we were created to worship we must understand God's heart for worship.  Lemley makes it clear that if we do not understand God's heart for worship, music could replace worship, churches could create secret Christians and we could completely miss our purpose.  Let us be the worshippers God intended.

Dino Rizzo - Founding Pastor of Healing Place Church  in Baton Rouge, LA; Executive Director of ARC and author of Servolution.

I have known Greg Lemley for many years.  He is a man of God and a man of worship.  Greg not only addresses some critical issues concerning worship and the contemporary church, he also provides Biblical and down to earth instruction on worship.  As I read the book I found myself wanting to jump up and shout praise the Lord.  I wanted to dance before the Lord, then I cried as I read the testimonies of what it means to serve the Lord by serving people.  This is a must read for anyone who is serious about true worship.

Cecil Culbreth - Arkansas Assemblies of God District Secretary/Missions Director; also former A/G Youth Director.

I have known Greg Lemley most of his life.  He was in my youth choir in Russellville, AR when he was called into the ministry.  This book is about what it means to be a true Christian through worship, praise and service.  It will challenge you to more faithfully serve God.

John Miller - Retired Pastor and Worship Leader from Greenwood, AR.

When God places a gift within you, he puts within your soul the clarity to develop, cultivate and to release that gift.  Greg Lemley was given more than a gift.  His soul personifies worship.  He not only hears but obeys the distinct rhythm of the Holy Spirit.  He is a skillful psalmist, a modern day David.  His insights on worship have been masterfully written.  I believe, everyone who is exposed to this poets world, will understand why God chose worship as the ultimate form of communication.

Evangelist/Author Tracey Mitchell - Tracey Mitchell Ministries from Dallas, Texas.

Contents

BOOK INFORMATION

DEDICATION

FORWARD

One WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Two THE PURPOSE OF WORSHIP

Three WE DO WORSHIP, DON'T WE?

Four WHERE ARE THE WORSHIPPERS?

Five WORSHIP IS CHANGE

Six PSALM 150

Seven PRAISE IS VOCAL

Eight PRAISE IS AUDIBLE

Nine PRAISE IS VISIBLE

Ten PRAISE IS VITAL

Eleven SERVANT, SURRENDER & SACRIFICE

Twelve THE FELLAR IN THE CELLAR

Thirteen TWO WEEKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

Fourteen CHURCH ON THE STREET

Fifteen KING'S KIDS

Sixteen WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

One

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Have you ever been asked a question and you didn’t know the answer? Sure, you have, we all have before. Well, let me put it this way, have you ever asked a question and you didn’t know the answer to your own question? I believe that is what I have just done. You see, when you dive into the arena of worship and try to explain or define something so wonderful, something so exhilarating, sometimes it even defies a definition. Morris Smith said, Real worship defies definition, it can only be experienced. Worship was never intended to be the focal point of so many books (this one included) and of so many discussions, but its intention is simply the relationship between a Holy God and mankind.

I’m not coming to you as a guru in my knowledge of worship. My knowledge has come through my own reading and studying, as well as the input of many Godly men and women throughout the years who have deposited their knowledge into my life. It seems as though; we throw the term around like a racquetball in our churches and Christian schools. Worship is not something that is determined by the events of the day or the type of service we have in our churches. Worship is all about a relationship with God that began in the Garden of Eden and continues to grow in our minds and hearts today.

Worship (as we know it) is derived from an Old English word, "worthship." See worship is looking past what God has done and is seeing God for who He is. Worship is moving past the hand of God and seeking and finding his face. We worship that which is worthy.

Revelation 4:8, 10-11

"And the four beasts had each of them

six wings about him, and they were full

of eyes within, and they rest not day

or night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord

God Almighty, which was and is, and is

to come. The four and twenty elders fall

down before him that sat on the throne,

and worship him that lives forever and

ever, and cast their crowns before the

throne saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord,

to receive glory and honor and power:

For thou hast created all things, and for thy

pleasure they are created.

Man is not worthy of worship. Only God is worthy of our worship. What a person worships is a good indicator of what is really valuable to him or her.

In this pursuit of defining worship, what are some of the Christian music artists saying about worship. Here’s what some of them have to say about worship.

Jon Foreman from Switchfoot says, Worship is what our lives are to be here on earth. It represents the kingdom of heaven because worshiping our Creator is what we were created for. Whether it’s by singing or living in the truth, worship is when our hearts are aligned with His truth.¹

Jaci Velasquez says, Worship isn’t just something you do once a week – it is something that you do all the time, all of your life, at all points and places.²

I define worship as adoration of and surrender to the Lord. It’s the physical act of laying my life down for who I believe in and want to serve. - Matt Butler from Newsong³

Bart Millard of MercyMe says, We exist for the sole purpose of glorifying God; therefore, if the definition of worship is to glorify God through every aspect of our lives, then worship is the most important thing we can do as Christians. The only thing we can take with us when we leave this world is the ability to worship.⁴

WOW! That puts it in a nutshell and yet, does it answer the question, What is worship? Evelyn Underhill has defined worship as "the total adoring response of man to the one Eternal