Worship God through your Actions

Worship God through Actions

Brothers, I woke up with some thoughts of Worshipping God one morning and I wanted to share with you the impact it can make in all of our lives. It was the idea of strange fire and worship.

Leviticus 10:1-3: “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.”

Here is a story of two brothers, sons of Aaron, that simply looks like they decided to offer what the ESV version of the Bible calls “unauthorized fire” to God’s altar. It looked quite innocent, but it is evident God saw it as an offence and He had not called them to do this thing.

This drew me to thinking about worship and its purpose in our lives. Worship is living as God calls us to do each day. It is the act of laying down our lives at His altar. Yet a lot of folks see worship as an act on Sunday or something we do such as singing, praising him etc. I am thinking that the idea “worship on Sunday only” mentality is “strange Fire” or unauthorized fire”.

That idea leads us out of God’s will and is quite dead to His ways in our lives since we have taken it upon ourselves to run to the altar with some fire every now and then verses the daily worship through the way we live out our lives.

This is the message I wish to convey to my own heart as well to yours. Worshipping God daily through the way we live verses thinking of worship as an appointed time or something we do through singing, praising, etc. is radical thinking. Why? It causes us to think about our actions as acts of worship toward God through the interaction of our lives and the lives of others. It is much easier to read the Bible, pray, sing, etc.

There is nothing that kicks back to challenge the way we live our lives. In essence, we might be offering strange fire because we have not followed His way in our lives and think that if we just offer a little fire on Sunday or through acts of Bible study, singing, etc., as the way to correct ourselves, then we will be okay with the Father but will be missing the whole point of worshipping the Father.


Makes me think that my actions toward others are where real worship is. My actions show how I believe, how I worship. It is living worship toward the Father through my obedience through my daily actions that show that I am truly a worshipper of God. Remember the Good Samaritan story….who was the real worshipper of God? It was the one who did the will of the father toward the person in their lives at that moment.

True Worship is in Actions, not in words alone. I am hoping to put this in to practice myself, by doing worship toward the Father through my actions and reactions to those around me that I struggle with. How I treat others regardless of their actions toward me, speaks volumes of my attitude toward Worshipping the Father. This could be a challenge for all of us. Do the actions we have in our lives toward others show us as True Worshippers or do we by pass those opportunities because it is very hard to worship His way and easier to do the Sunday Worship?

“Father, challenge us each moment in our lives to live Worship through our actions toward others as signs of us being true Worshippers. John 4:23: "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.

My Brothers may you truly be found worshipping the Father by the actions of your lives.

In His Grace and Mercy over our lives…….Brother James Ulmer

Fishers of Men

“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19


“Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.) Luke 5:10b


What wonderful and reassuring statements that our Lord proclaimed to his disciples. It was not, I hope you become or perhaps with lots of work you will become, rather it was “you will”.

Here we are as men of God perhaps at times wondering if we are really “Fishers of Men”. We have those moments of what seem to be lack of fish (the lost) or perhaps times of simply not wanting to fish for men. Such times come to us when our spiritual nets seem to have become worn out from time or even the lack of dipping them in the spiritual waters where Christ has prepared a catch. We simply do not acknowledge His hand at those moments.

We can berate ourselves or even speak of the lack of enthusiasm among others when we are judging the spiritual fishing abilities of ourselves or others. Yet, when it comes to our own lack of fishing for the lost, it might be a great time to remember that Jesus said “I will make”, “from now on you will”.

We should begin to think about how one learns to fish. For most of those who have learned to fish, someone taught them. I am not for sure who taught me, but I do remember a scene from when I was a little boy. An older man would get out a small shallow boat and paddle with one hand up and under the over- hanging front bow of a very large boat. Then he would show me the dirt dauber wasp mud homes that housed the little larvae. He would reach up and scrap them off and we would have our bait.

Someone else taught me how to look for an old willow tree near the bank’s edge along an old pond or lake. There I would toss my line close to that tree and wait till the red and white bobber would dip down under the water and I would jerk that line and set the hook in the fish’s mouth. Then it was a fight to the finish.

Did I paint a picture for you? Does this little example draw memories? Perhaps some of you have not fished. But you just got a mind’s eye view of what I had learned. And I am thinking how each of us has those moments when the Holy Spirit teaches us how to “Fish for Men”. You can look back and relive those moments when a man of God or a woman of God taught you how to “Fish for Men’.
Those were times of learning and growing in the knowledge of the Lord’s intention in calling you to become “Fishers of Men”.

I wanted to jog your memories and refresh you with the truth that each of you need to hear. “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And as well to know this promise: “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

Trusting in His Promises, my Brothers, will set you free to be “Fishers of Men”. Brother James

“Then He Opened their Minds to Understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45

The experience of the two believers on the road to Emmaus, after the resurrection of Jesus, speaks volumes to those who lead churches today. Though we may know much about the things of God, we must allow God to open the minds of those around us to the truths of the Word of God.

I Thessalonians 2:13: “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe”

If we as leaders in the Body of Christ are seeking to release those under our teachings to go forth in their daily lives empowered to do God’s will, we must do so by teaching them to allow the Holy Spirit to “open their minds to understand the Scriptures” and to allow it to perform its works in them.

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The writer of Hebrews knew well the power of the written Word and as well that Word becoming alive in the hearts of those that seek it. Christ is the Living Word according to John 1:1. And as we expound upon the written Word, the Holy Scriptures, the Living Word will “open their minds to the Scriptures through the illumination of the Holy Spirit”. It is here, that we as pastors, teachers, leaders have a wonderful responsibility, that of revealing the Scriptures to those around us.

What a great privilege we have in joining in with God’s work in the lives of those in our congregations and those that allow us to speak into their lives. With this privilege comes a great responsibility: that we too must be in the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."

As servants of God we must be so diligent in reading the Scriptures and allowing Him to open them to our minds. Then in turn we will be able to expound upon them with authority of knowing them because we have sat at the feet of Christ ourselves studying them and listening to the Holy Spirit illuminate the truths to us. This is the beginning point for all of God’s servants of the Word. Be in the Word yourselves.

I pray that this week will be an Emmaus Road Awakening for you. That you would experience that same encounter those disciples of Christ did. “Then He Opened their Minds to Understand the Scriptures.” And from that experience you will lead others to experience such a walk in their lives as well. "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

The Aroma of Life

Leviticus 6:15 "Then one of them shall lift up from it a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering, with its oil and all the incense that is on the grain offering, and he shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, a soothing aroma, as its memorial offering to the LORD. " (New American Standard Version)

Imagine that soothing aroma before God. Imagine meeting the priest and smelling the aroma that clung to his garment after a day's offering to God. The people of Israel would have known that aroma came from being before the Lord, almighty God. It was the "Aroma of Life" for them.

Paul spoke of a similar "Aroma of Life". It was the act of support for his ministry. Yet, he declared it "... a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God." This gift they offered was not just for Paul's benefit, but one that Paul said would profit them because it would be seen and received by God.

The Holy Scriptures speak of such an "Aroma of Life". 1 Pet. 2:5: ..."you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:18 "But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God."

As men of God, pastors, a holy priesthood, what is your "Aroma of Life"? What is that spiritual smell that clings to you as you walk among the believers and non- believers?

Paul speaks of this, ”Aroma of Life”, to the church at Corinth (Cor. II 2:14,15): "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

Paul knew what the lives of these believers were to be like and why it was to be an "Aroma of Life". It was the proof of God's presence through Christ. It was truly the "Aroma of Life", the ultimate sacrifice, that was pleasing to God that of "Christ in them, the Hope of Glory".

As men of God, your lives and the lives of those under your leadership should have an "Aroma of Life" that believers and unbelievers will want to know about. This spiritual "Aroma of Life" will always be upon God's people. The Scriptures say that it will manifest through you. It will be the knowledge of Him in every place that you set your feet. It is not knowledge about, but the actual knowing of Him. This is the sweet aroma, the fragrance of Christ that goes before us to the throne of God. For it is to God that this fragrance and aroma goes.


Just like the priest of the Old Testament, as men of God today, you must give yourselves to God's directive of what is to be offered, it then becomes the work of Christ. God wants His people to know where you have been and that is at the place of spiritual sacrifice before Christ. Here is the real "Aroma of Life" that must precede you so others can find salvation and assurance of God's presence in their lives.

This is the message of God to you, “Be that Aroma of Life" as you serve Him before others. This will truly be thanks to God who will lead you in triumph in Christ and will manifest through you the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place you go.

My prayer is: Father fill these men of God, your servants, with the Aroma of Christ, that where ever they set their feet they will have those around them ask; “What is this that we sense about you?”. May this spiritual aroma be in their lives in all things they do before you and may it touch those who are being saved and even those that are perishing. In Jesus's Name, Amen!

Brother James Ulmer

Worldly Wisdom or Spiritual Power

“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” I Corinthians 2:3-5


These are powerful words, intertwined with what may seem to be negatives and positives of the human language. Mankind does not like the idea of weakness, fear, and a trembling spirit. This world prefers to hear many words, mistakenly considered as wisdom, or to hear a great orator speak, mistakenly considered as the strength of power.




Paul, one of the most educated men in the New Testament, counted most of his worldly experience as rubbish to be underneath one’s feet. It was not because he believed one should not study for he said, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” II Timothy 2:15


It is not the absence of Truth that we are to avoid, but that which puffs one up with the accumulation of much learning, mistakenly believing that such knowledge will give one the ability to speak with power. I can read, study, and see the diagram of a bike, but until I get up on that bike and feel the wind blowing over me as I pedal, only then will I have knowledge and know experientially what it means to ride a bike.


The Law, the knowledge of God’s will, taught sinners their need of God. But the letter of the Law killed because there was no Spirit to bring its hearers redemption. Paul knew and taught that the Spirit was given into the hearts of receptive hearers and not simply written down. 2 Corinthians 3:8 says: “how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?” Paul knew and promising that it was in the Spirit’s power that we would experience the mighty work of God and it would bring glory to God.


Ultimately this is why we need to remember that it is not in our means and ways that God will be glorified but rather by His Spirit’s work in and through us. It is not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom that we try to bring the lost to Christ, but rather through the demonstration and power of the Spirit. It is not in intellectual comprehension of the Bible that man and women are saved. It is in the work of the Holy Spirit as Jesus told Nicodemus … "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8


Paul knew that just espousing truths does not save a person. If that was true, then the religious leaders would have understood the prophecies and received Christ, because they knew the written scriptures up till then. They refuse the power of God’s Spirit through Christ, who was the revealer of God’s redemptive grace for them.


Christ said: “You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:48-49. Paul said: “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:25-27

It was the wisdom from on high, not man’s ability here below, but the ability of Christ in us, through the residing Holy Spirit that brings people to encounter God’s work and his Glory.


My Brothers, beware of much learning, accumulating much knowledge for the sake of being seen as full of wisdom. Instead allow God’s Spirit to empower you to speak forth in demonstration and power so that those that hear will be moved by God’s hand. Then you will be under true Wisdom and Knowledge for your ministry.


It is my desire to hear of the demonstration of His Power and Wisdom in you all. In His Grace to you all! Brother James Ulmer