May 2026 – Worship – Part 2

WORSHIP — PART TWO
Dear Friend in Christ:
I hope you are well this month and enjoying God’s favor. Here in the United States, we are celebrating, honoring, and praying for our school graduates. For our grads and their loved ones, let me just give my most sincere congratulations. If there is ever a way we can stand with you in prayer and encouragement, please let me know.

By the time you read this letter, I will have received a kidney transplant, after many years of battling Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). I am so thankful to my longtime dear friend Grant Simpson for volunteering to donate a kidney to me. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

For the next few weeks, I will be a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, as I recover from the surgery and my body learns how to receive a new kidney; over time, I pray to regain strength in my immune system and resume my full ministry responsibilities. There are so many wonderful opportunities ahead!

During this season, I must stay near the transplant hospital and my wonderful kidney team. We will try to keep you updated via social media and e-mail (please make sure we have a good e-mail contact for you—you can send to customer.service@csmpublishing.org).

WHO DO WE WORSHIP AND WHY?
Last month, I began a series of Pastoral Letters on Worship, Fellowship, and Discipleship … “three ships of Kingdom living.” (Read here) I initially thought it would be just three letters, but I realize now it will require a bit more of our studying and meditating on God’s Word together. So, let us pick up where we ended last month regarding Worship.

I want to begin by stating a simple, but profound truth: Worship begins by recognizing Who we are worshipping. To be honest, we cannot behold Him until He opens the eyes of our hearts. Our worship is initiated and activated by God’s goodness and mercy. The Lord gives us signs and wonders every day that point to Him, even in nature itself. I love the old hymn, “How Great Thou Art,” which attempts to describe the majesty of the Creator and His Creation:

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made 

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder;

Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”
— Carl Boberg (Translated by Stuart K. Hine)

Some years ago, a friend of mine referenced this song and said, “I’m seeking for something that will make my soul sing.” I agreed with her and I am still seeking Him daily. Throughout Scripture, we see people who have had personal encounters with God. I believe God still personally encounters people worldwide every day.

Have you ever sensed God’s presence near you? Does your soul ever sing?

A true encounter with God will immediately provoke a worshipful response from the person who encounters Him. A true encounter with God not only causes us to be overwhelmed by a sense of awe, love, acceptance, reverence, and praise, but it opens our ears to hear His Word; worship not only blesses the heart of God, but it equips and encourages us; worship puts a desire in our hearts to carry out His mission.

Moses encountered God and took off His shoes … and delivered a nation from slavery. David encountered God and worshipped … and overcame a murderous giant. Worship is not only an offering of praise to God—of which He is worthy—but it positions us to hear His voice; worship equips and empowers us for victory.

ISAIAH
Isaiah the prophet had a powerful and undeniable anointing from God. Isaiah not only called the people of Israel back to God, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah saw and prophesied many truths about the coming Messiah … more than 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. As Isaiah was seeking God, he had an awe-inspiring vision, which he describes here…

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:1-4).

This vision that Isaiah had is remarkably similar to the one that John the disciple had and wrote about in the book of Revelation. It’s an overwhelming picture of God, in His glory and majesty, seated upon a radiant throne … the King of kings and Lord of lords! Everything is trembling before His presence. Here is Isaiah’s response …

“So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’ (Isaiah 6:5-8).

This encounter with God provoked three immediate actions in Isaiah’s life:
• In the light of God’s holiness, majesty, and authority, Isaiah saw his own sin and unworthiness
• He received the cleansing and forgiveness of God
• He heard and responded to the call of God

This is a brilliant model for what happens when we worship the Lord in spirit and truth:
• Thanksgiving, praise, adoration
• Humility, reverence, repentance, cleansing
• Hearing and listening
• Sending and obedience

Remember, last month, we discussed Romans 12, where Paul calls us to worship in light of God’s goodness, His mercy, His power, and His mighty acts in our lives. Paul says that presenting our lives to God—in light of Who God is, and what God has done—is our only reasonable, rational response.

SEND ME
And from Isaiah, we see what the response of a true worshipper is: “Here am I! Send me!” Worship is not just singing to God or talking to God. It’s allowing His Spirit to take us on a journey to a place where we can behold Him and hear His voice. Psalm 95 shows this pattern as well: worship and adoration leading to hearing His voice. Worship is not only about His worthiness to be praised, but also about us being changed in His presence and prepared to do His will. True worship transforms us into Father’s likeness and sends us into Father’s will. True worship provokes change in our hearts and minds.

• If you go out of a church service just the same as when you went in, then you haven’t truly worshipped the Lord.
• If you can leave your church on Sunday and go right back to your same old ways of thinking, talking, and acting, then you haven’t truly worshipped.
• If you can leave church without a sense of mission and going out in God’s purpose, then you haven’t truly worshipped.

The message of Isaiah is clear: God is looking for those who are willing to live for Him. You don’t even have to think you are able or qualified; if you can just be willing, then God will make you able. He will cleanse you and purify you; He will equip you with wisdom and power.

The issue: Are you willing to go when He says “Go!”

“Here am I, send me!” is the response of the true worshipper.

When my kidneys failed last year—after many years of struggle—doctors told me I needed to start dialysis immediately. My wife and I had already dealt with her breast cancer battles and surgeries; I was still recovering from two heart stents and preparing for a carotid artery stent. I was frustrated and sharing my complaints with God. “Why have You called and sent me into ministry only to sideline me? Now I’m going to be stuck in the dialysis center every day!” Almost immediately, I sensed the voice of the Lord say to me, “Who says I am not sending you to the dialysis center as My witness? Who says I cannot work in and through you there?”

I had to repent and change my attitude. Sure enough, I had many Divine appointments and conversations over the months I was at the dialysis center. So many people I’ve met since early August have heard my testimony and commiserated with me in the midst of their own difficulties. When we make room for the Holy Spirit, no matter the circumstances, there is no limit to when, where, or how He can work. We simply must be willing.

RE-TOOLING
My pastor, Robert Grant, has been a tremendous encouragement and example to me. Our CSM Board (Tim Parish, Jim Pellerin, Matt Sartor) have provided great wisdom to me regarding the future direction of CSM. Pastor A.J. Vennatta and the Elders of Covenant Church of Mobile have welcomed Susanne and me with open arms and hearts. We are blessed.

They have all infused me with fresh hope and vision, and helped me see this long, difficult season as a time of re-tooling and re-fueling for the mission ahead. CSM has a “plethora” of amazing opportunities ahead (tip of the hat to El Guapo). Our “Covenant and Kingdom” app currently in development is a true game changer in getting our systematic Bible Study Curriculum (126 Lessons) into the hands of active believers worldwide.

We have our own Spotify and YouTube Channels which are continually being updated with new material as well as Legacy resources from Charles Simpson. And we have an active presence across numerous social media platforms. I’ve been reading our Pastoral Letters for audio availability, which can be accessed on our csmpublishing.org website and other platforms.

Now is not the time for any of us to draw back from the purpose of God. The opportunities are endless. The opposition is fierce. The needs are great. Will you continue to stand with us in prayer and in giving? Together, we are “Restoring the Generational Bridge.”

In Jesus,

Stephen Simpson