In Meditation 63 we started to reflect on the question: What characterises that Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first and greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
(Matthew 22:37)
We mentioned as a first characteristic:
a.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to them in prayer.
(See Meditations 66-73)
Today we want to look into a second characteristic:
b.) To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to obey them unconditionally. (See Meditations 66-73)
In Jesus’ last discourse to his disciples on the evening before his suffering, He shows his friends the indestructible link among our love for God, the imperative of obeying God’s Word, and the work of God’s Spirit in us.
Jesus starts this passage by saying: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).
He finishes it with the words: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21a).
Then follows a promise: “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
(John 14:21b).
That promise is repeated in verse 23: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Without doubt these words of Jesus show us another characteristic of a mature church: Its wholehearted love for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which manifests itself in unconditional obedience to God’s Word [the Bible].
Jesus repeatedly promises that the triune God will reveal Himself to those Christians and those churches who love Him and obey Him. Yet, how could we love God wholeheartedly and obey His Word unconditionally if selfish pride and disobedience rules our hearts by nature? (see Meditation 19).
The answer to that question is found in the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. (see Meditations 27-34).
Sandwiched between Jesus’ two calls to love Him and obey his Word, he speaks about the empowering work of God’s Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you [from Pentecost onwards].” (John 14:16-17)
The apostle Paul rejoices about the fact that it is God’s Spirit who fills our hearts with God’s love: “...We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5)
And as we just read, the Lord Jesus shows that it is God’s Spirit who will be with us. He will give us the understanding of God’s Word and the strength to obey it: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever-- the Spirit of truth.” ( John 14:17a)
When we talk about the indestructible link between loving God and obeying God’s Word, I think that we touch on one of the greatest problems in the lives of many Christians as well as in the conduct of many local churches today.
We might know God’s Word, we might even preach it but still not put it into practice. Jesus says that this is the surest way to deceive ourselves and others:
“Not everyone who says to me,`Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day,`Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
Then I will tell them plainly,`I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
(Matthew 7:21-27)
Earlier in this Meditation we read that the Lord Jesus has promised that God – Father, Son and Spirit – will reveal himself to all those who love Him and obey His Word (John 14:21b and 23).
Therefore, it is most important that we pause for a moment and see how God’s Word secures the link between loving God and obeying His commands. I can only choose a small selection out of a nearly unlimited range of Biblical texts:
In the 14th century B.C., Israel’s leader Joshua urges on the tribal leaders of Ruben, Gad and Manasseh by saying: “Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)
About 900 years later the statesman Daniel pleads with God and acknowledges the strong link between loving Him and obeying His Word: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands.” (Daniel 9:4)
Nehemiah, the cupbearer of the Persian king, lived shortly after Daniel. He starts his rueful prayer with the same acknowledgment: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands...” (Nehemiah 1:5).
After one of his discourses, Jesus announces: “My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.” (Luke 8:21)
Later on Jesus proclaims: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:28)
In this Meditation we have already mentioned Jesus’ words: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). And again in verse 23 Jesus warns: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”
That same evening before his death, Jesus explained to his disciples: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10). Christlike love reveals itself in obeying the commands of Jesus and his heavenly Father!
Years later the apostle John reminds us of Jesus’ teaching: “Loving God means keeping his commandments, and really, that isn't difficult.” (1 John 5:3).
In the context of Jesus’ teaching, John is right: If we have not capitulated to the authority of God’s Spirit and God’s Word in our lives and in our churches, then obeying His Word is impossible!
Yet, if God’s Spirit and His Word truly rule our lives and our churches, then obeying God’s Word is really not difficult!
These days many Christians and churches search after the experience of God’s presence and power. Yet, unconditional obedience to God’s Word [the Bible] is a problematic theme in many lives and churches with all the calamitous consequences that that brings about.
How about you and your church?
(to be continued)
Romans 5:5, Daniel 9:4, Nehemiah 1:5, Luke 8:21, 1 John 5:3 are quoted from the New Living Translation. All other quotes are from the New International Version.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
73. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( k ) : A fictitious worship meeting.
In this meditation I would like to invite you to a fictitious church meeting, specially called together to express its love for God by offering sacrifices of praise to Him. In this worship meeting you will find components of which we spoke in Meditations 63 to 72.
Colin, one of the leaders of the church will lead this meeting. You are most welcome to take place in this gathering of God’s family as we prepare ourselves for worship:
Colin, the leader of this meeting: Dear heavenly Father, today we gather again before Your throne to bring our sacrifice of praise to You and to Your beloved Son, Jesus the Messiah.
This day we want to acknowledge You again as the God of creation and the God of history. We want to bless You especially as the God who birthed Your people and has guided it faithfully from its early beginnings until this very day.
Yet, we know that we are not worthy to come before You. Therefore, we want to begin this service with confessing our sins. Inspired by the words of Your servant Daniel, we want to say to You: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps Your covenant of love with all who love You and obey Your commands, every day we sin and do wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled.
So often we have turned away from Your commands and laws. We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your Name to us. Lord, you are righteous, but today again we are covered with shame because of our unfaithfulness to You.
O Lord our God, who brought long ago Your people of old out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for Yourself a Name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.
O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from Your church. Our sins have often made us an object of scorn to all those around us.
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servants. For Your sake, O Lord, look with favour on us. Give ear, O God, and hear.
We do not seek Your face because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, since we bear Your Name.
Mary: Holy Father, with great gratitude we remember the words of the apostle John. He comforts us by saying that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
David: Dear Lord Jesus, Your servant John, also wrote that if we sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defence. That is You! You are that Righteous One! You are the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We have no words to thank You for the wonderful gift of Your precious life and for the shedding of Your blood that purifies us from all sin.
Lesley with her flute and Nicholas with his guitar play a piece of music for the Lord.
Elizabeth: Dear Father, with Your servant Moses we want to acknowledge You as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It was Your Spirit hovering over the waters and Your living Word that brought light and life. And as You explained to us by the apostle John, Your beloved Son Jesus is that living Word through whom all things are made.
Frank: Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We are here to extol You as we recount the words of Your servant Paul:
Yes indeed, You are your Father's true image. You are the first-born over all creation. You made all the things we can see and all the things we can’t see – kings and presidents, kingdoms, empires and democracies, all rulers and authorities.
Everything has been created through You and for You. You existed before everything else began, and You hold everything in all creation together.
Carl: Yes, Lord Jesus, You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant the apostle Paul when You revealed that You are the head of the Body, Your church;
You are the beginning and the first-born from among the dead, so that You might have supremacy in everything.
Today we stand before You to honour You for all You are, for all You have done, for all You do, and for all You will do.
The congregation sings: “Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son...” (Mission Praise 689)
Colin, the leader of the meeting: Dear God, we are here today not only to confess that You are the God of all creation, we also want to praise You for the fact that You have birthed Your people as offspring from our father Abraham.
Evelyn: Yes Lord, we remember Paul’s words when he rejoiced and said: It is through faith that Abraham is the father of us all. You promised that You would make him not only the father of your ancient people Israel, but also the father of many nations.
The apostle Paul acclaims that You are the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
Without weakening in his faith, our father Abraham faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
Yet Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding Your promise, but he was strengthened in his faith and gave You glory. He was fully persuaded that You had the power to do what You had promised to him.
Nicholas: Dear heavenly Father, You promised that in Abraham's seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. And by Your Spirit, the apostle Paul explains to us that this seed would be Your beloved Son, Jesus the Messiah.
We know that all who believe in You, Lord Jesus, are the true children of Abraham. How could we ever praise You enough for such a great privilege.
Joyce plays on her harp to make music to the Lord.
Anthony: Lord Jesus, we know how You have become the seed of Abraham through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Your Spirit has revealed that to us by Your servant Paul:
You are in very nature God. Yet, You did not consider equality with Your heavenly Father something to be grasped. You made Yourself nothing.
You took the very nature of a servant. You became a man. You became one of us, but without sin.
Indeed, You were the seed of Abraham. Yet, in order to become the blessing for all the nations of the world, You had to humble Yourself even more.
You have revealed that to us by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant Paul. You humbled Yourself and became obedient to the point of death--even through death on the cross!
But because of Your obedience to death, the Father exalted You to the highest place.
He gave You the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and so that every tongue should confess that You are God the Son and Lord over everyone and everything.
The congregation sings: “Hail, Thou once despisèd Jesus...”
(Mission Praise 203)
Colin, the leader of the meeting: Dear Lord, today we don't only want to thank you for birthing Your people through Your faithful friend Abraham. We also stand in awe for the way You have guided Your people right from the beginning.
We thank You for Joseph and Moses. We thank You for Joshua and David and for all Your faithful prophets in Old Testament times.
How could we ever thank You enough for Mary and Joseph, for Peter and James, for John and Paul and all Your other loyal servants in New Testament times too.
We thank You for the multitude of men and women over the centuries who have faithfully served You all over the world until the present day.
We thank You for the myriad of people - throughout the history of Your church until this very day - who have denied themselves totally as they love You, taking up their cross and following You, even until death....
At this moment in the meeting many in the congregation start to thank God for men and women who have served God faithfully all over the world throughout human history. (It would go far beyond this meditation to mention all their prayers of praise and thanksgiving).
The congregation sings: “For all the saints who from their labour rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest. Alleluia!...” (Mission Praise 148)
Now follows a time of petitions and supplications for those in need. God is asked for wisdom and guidance in the daily life of the congregation.
This meeting expects God’s Spirit to speak. It waits for His direction in their church’s life and service.
Colin, the leader of this worship meeting closes with the words from Ephesians 3:20-21 : “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
* * *
Some final remarks:
-- This kind of worship meeting is not restricted to an hour or two. This fictitious congregation seeks the Lord’s presence through prayer and fasting and might forget any time limit.
-- From their sacrifice of praise it is clear that the members of this fictitious congregation know God’s Word [the Bible]. They use it as a source to bless God – Father and Son – under the guidance of His Spirit. In our next meditation we will reflect on the use of God’s Word as a source of worship.
-- This congregation has some knowledge of church- and mission history, so that they are able to bless God for His work in the church and in the world.
-- The children of this fictitious congregation are already introduced to the use of God’s Word for the sacrifice of praise.
To be able to bless God for His work throughout the history of church and mission, this congregation organises courses and seminars to motivate its members for taking part in the sacrifice of praise.
-- This specific worship meeting had as theme “God’s work in creation and in the history of His church”. The following worship meeting might have a different theme to bless God.
-- Although this congregation and this worship meeting are only existing in my dreams, this sacrifice of praise is inspired by a true experience in my life.
* * *
In Meditation 66 we started to reflect on the question: How could we describe that Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment? (Matthew 22:37) The first indication we mentioned was:
To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to our triune God in prayer.
(See Meditations 66-73)
Another indication of my church’s wholehearted love for God has to do with the place of God’s Word in the life of my church. That will be the theme for our next meditations.
Colin, one of the leaders of the church will lead this meeting. You are most welcome to take place in this gathering of God’s family as we prepare ourselves for worship:
Colin, the leader of this meeting: Dear heavenly Father, today we gather again before Your throne to bring our sacrifice of praise to You and to Your beloved Son, Jesus the Messiah.
This day we want to acknowledge You again as the God of creation and the God of history. We want to bless You especially as the God who birthed Your people and has guided it faithfully from its early beginnings until this very day.
Yet, we know that we are not worthy to come before You. Therefore, we want to begin this service with confessing our sins. Inspired by the words of Your servant Daniel, we want to say to You: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps Your covenant of love with all who love You and obey Your commands, every day we sin and do wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled.
So often we have turned away from Your commands and laws. We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your Name to us. Lord, you are righteous, but today again we are covered with shame because of our unfaithfulness to You.
O Lord our God, who brought long ago Your people of old out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for Yourself a Name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong.
O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from Your church. Our sins have often made us an object of scorn to all those around us.
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servants. For Your sake, O Lord, look with favour on us. Give ear, O God, and hear.
We do not seek Your face because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, since we bear Your Name.
Mary: Holy Father, with great gratitude we remember the words of the apostle John. He comforts us by saying that if we confess our sins, You are faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
David: Dear Lord Jesus, Your servant John, also wrote that if we sin, we have One who speaks to the Father in our defence. That is You! You are that Righteous One! You are the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We have no words to thank You for the wonderful gift of Your precious life and for the shedding of Your blood that purifies us from all sin.
Lesley with her flute and Nicholas with his guitar play a piece of music for the Lord.
Elizabeth: Dear Father, with Your servant Moses we want to acknowledge You as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It was Your Spirit hovering over the waters and Your living Word that brought light and life. And as You explained to us by the apostle John, Your beloved Son Jesus is that living Word through whom all things are made.
Frank: Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. We are here to extol You as we recount the words of Your servant Paul:
Yes indeed, You are your Father's true image. You are the first-born over all creation. You made all the things we can see and all the things we can’t see – kings and presidents, kingdoms, empires and democracies, all rulers and authorities.
Everything has been created through You and for You. You existed before everything else began, and You hold everything in all creation together.
Carl: Yes, Lord Jesus, You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant the apostle Paul when You revealed that You are the head of the Body, Your church;
You are the beginning and the first-born from among the dead, so that You might have supremacy in everything.
Today we stand before You to honour You for all You are, for all You have done, for all You do, and for all You will do.
The congregation sings: “Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son...” (Mission Praise 689)
Colin, the leader of the meeting: Dear God, we are here today not only to confess that You are the God of all creation, we also want to praise You for the fact that You have birthed Your people as offspring from our father Abraham.
Evelyn: Yes Lord, we remember Paul’s words when he rejoiced and said: It is through faith that Abraham is the father of us all. You promised that You would make him not only the father of your ancient people Israel, but also the father of many nations.
The apostle Paul acclaims that You are the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
Without weakening in his faith, our father Abraham faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
Yet Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding Your promise, but he was strengthened in his faith and gave You glory. He was fully persuaded that You had the power to do what You had promised to him.
Nicholas: Dear heavenly Father, You promised that in Abraham's seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. And by Your Spirit, the apostle Paul explains to us that this seed would be Your beloved Son, Jesus the Messiah.
We know that all who believe in You, Lord Jesus, are the true children of Abraham. How could we ever praise You enough for such a great privilege.
Joyce plays on her harp to make music to the Lord.
Anthony: Lord Jesus, we know how You have become the seed of Abraham through whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Your Spirit has revealed that to us by Your servant Paul:
You are in very nature God. Yet, You did not consider equality with Your heavenly Father something to be grasped. You made Yourself nothing.
You took the very nature of a servant. You became a man. You became one of us, but without sin.
Indeed, You were the seed of Abraham. Yet, in order to become the blessing for all the nations of the world, You had to humble Yourself even more.
You have revealed that to us by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant Paul. You humbled Yourself and became obedient to the point of death--even through death on the cross!
But because of Your obedience to death, the Father exalted You to the highest place.
He gave You the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and so that every tongue should confess that You are God the Son and Lord over everyone and everything.
The congregation sings: “Hail, Thou once despisèd Jesus...”
(Mission Praise 203)
Colin, the leader of the meeting: Dear Lord, today we don't only want to thank you for birthing Your people through Your faithful friend Abraham. We also stand in awe for the way You have guided Your people right from the beginning.
We thank You for Joseph and Moses. We thank You for Joshua and David and for all Your faithful prophets in Old Testament times.
How could we ever thank You enough for Mary and Joseph, for Peter and James, for John and Paul and all Your other loyal servants in New Testament times too.
We thank You for the multitude of men and women over the centuries who have faithfully served You all over the world until the present day.
We thank You for the myriad of people - throughout the history of Your church until this very day - who have denied themselves totally as they love You, taking up their cross and following You, even until death....
At this moment in the meeting many in the congregation start to thank God for men and women who have served God faithfully all over the world throughout human history. (It would go far beyond this meditation to mention all their prayers of praise and thanksgiving).
The congregation sings: “For all the saints who from their labour rest, who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest. Alleluia!...” (Mission Praise 148)
Now follows a time of petitions and supplications for those in need. God is asked for wisdom and guidance in the daily life of the congregation.
This meeting expects God’s Spirit to speak. It waits for His direction in their church’s life and service.
Colin, the leader of this worship meeting closes with the words from Ephesians 3:20-21 : “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
* * *
Some final remarks:
-- This kind of worship meeting is not restricted to an hour or two. This fictitious congregation seeks the Lord’s presence through prayer and fasting and might forget any time limit.
-- From their sacrifice of praise it is clear that the members of this fictitious congregation know God’s Word [the Bible]. They use it as a source to bless God – Father and Son – under the guidance of His Spirit. In our next meditation we will reflect on the use of God’s Word as a source of worship.
-- This congregation has some knowledge of church- and mission history, so that they are able to bless God for His work in the church and in the world.
-- The children of this fictitious congregation are already introduced to the use of God’s Word for the sacrifice of praise.
To be able to bless God for His work throughout the history of church and mission, this congregation organises courses and seminars to motivate its members for taking part in the sacrifice of praise.
-- This specific worship meeting had as theme “God’s work in creation and in the history of His church”. The following worship meeting might have a different theme to bless God.
-- Although this congregation and this worship meeting are only existing in my dreams, this sacrifice of praise is inspired by a true experience in my life.
* * *
In Meditation 66 we started to reflect on the question: How could we describe that Spirit-given sacrificial love of my church for God the Father and for His Son Jesus Christ which fulfills the first commandment? (Matthew 22:37) The first indication we mentioned was:
To love God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ whole-
heartedly as a church, means to be unconditionally and persistently devoted to our triune God in prayer.
(See Meditations 66-73)
Another indication of my church’s wholehearted love for God has to do with the place of God’s Word in the life of my church. That will be the theme for our next meditations.
Friday, January 13, 2012
72. CORPORATE, CHRISTLIKE LOVE FOR THE FATHER AND HIS SON ( j ) : Biblical components of Christlike worship (a summary).
In meditations 63 to 72 we saw that God’s Spirit wants to empower my church for mature, Christlike worship of God. We realised that the Holy Spirit wants to do that in such a way that my church fulfills God’s first and greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
Let’s summarise the biblical components which are essential for my church’s growth in corporate Christlike worship:
• A ‘corporate personality’
In God’s eyes my church is more than a gathering of individual believers. He desires that my church begins to see itself as a ‘corporate personality’. God looks at my church as the ‘Temple of His Holy Spirit’, as the ‘Body of His dear Son’, as ‘His precious People and His cherished Family’, as the ‘beloved Bride of His Messiah’. (see meditation 63)
• A shared vision of worship
We need to pray that God gives our churches a shared vision of Christlike worship of Himself. Naturally, such divine vision will be firmly based on the knowledge of God’s Word [i.e., the Bible].
(see meditation 64)
• Bearers of that vision
In meditation 65 we saw that God’s Spirit wants to appoint in my church people who bear that vision of Christlike worship. In all likelihood they will belong to the leadership of my church: the pastor, one or more elders, the worship leader, etc. However, it is also possible that God calls an ‘average church member’ to this ministry. In that case the church leadership needs the humility to acknowledge that calling.
• Sustained devotion to worship
My church needs to receive Christ’s desire for unconditional and persistent devotion to worship. Therefore, it needs Jesus’ teaching on persistent prayer and follow His example. Actually, I wonder how many of our churches in the West are profoundly lacking in the sacrificial ministry of Christlike worship. It might be that God’s Spirit truly needs to do a divine miracle in many churches. Are we open to Christ’s teaching on worship and to Christlike transforma-
tion by God’s Spirit? (see meditation 66)
• The essence of true worship
However important prayers of supplication and intercession may be, God seeks first of all true worshippers and true worshipping communities. God’s Spirit needs to show my church the overall importance of true worship from the heart. Such worship is empowered by God’s Spirit and based on the truth of God’s Word. (see meditation 67)
• My church, a community of priests
This priestly ministry of the entire church and its leadership aims at meeting with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. During such times of fellowship with God, the church offers to God Spirit-empowered sacrifices of praise. Such a sacrifice might contain humble confessions of sin. It certainly will overflow in gratitude for Christ’s redeeming love. Above all, such a sacrifice of praise will acknowledge God’s all-embracing love and compassion, His holiness and righteousness, His judgment and mercy, His saving grace, His awesome power in creation and final restoration, His control of world history, and the faithful guidance of His people throughout all the storms of life. (see meditations 68 to 71)
Finally, such times of corporate worship might include elements which I have not yet mentioned in earlier meditations.
The apostle Paul encourages the church in Colosse, saying: “Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Colossians 3:16) In general Bible scholars are not sure what the exact meaning of these different types of songs was.
• “Sing psalms...” might point to the singing of Old Testament psalms during Christian worship. We are not able any more to sing those psalms with their original melodies as they are unknown to us. Yet, reciting and praying parts of Old Testament psalms surely help us to enrich our worship.
In meditation 72, I also quoted other texts from the Bible in which God is addressed personally. Those kinds of Bible verses might widen our horizon as we seek ever new reasons for extolling the Lord in our worship.
• The actual Greek term for ‘psalm’ might also signify “the playing of a stringed instrument”. In Psalm 71:22 and many other psalms David worships God by playing a stringed instrument: “I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God...”
(Psalm 71:22). In our worship services we normally play instruments to accompany congregational singing or to play a piece of music for the congregation. God’s people in biblical times often played for God on their musical instruments. As God is in our midst, we might well learn anew to take the time to play for Him.
• “Sing ... hymns...” might refer to Christian songs written and sung or recited in the early churches. Also in our time songs directed to God the Father and to Jesus Christ are great ways to lift our hearts in worship. Here is one of the countless modern worship songs which address the Lord personally: “Lord, the light of Your love is shining...” And what about the rich storehouse of classical hymns like: “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son...”
• “Sing ... spiritual songs” might mean “singing songs produced by God’s Spirit”. These Spirit-empowered songs seem not so much to be an indication that the early church publicly practised glossolalia [i.e. singing and speaking in tongues]. The apostle Paul does not encourage its use in public (see 1 Corinthians 14:2-25). The ‘spiritual songs’ of Colossians 3:16 are probably spontaneous songs of praise to God under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Today we might find this kind of spontaneous worship more often in African churches than here in the West.
One thing is clear. Jesus said: “... the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:23).
In our recent meditations we saw that the Holy Spirit wants to empower my church to worship God in such a way that it will fulfill His first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). What is the sustained sacrifice of praise more than a unique expression of my church’s unconditional love for God? It lifts my church up to the worshipping congregation in heaven. It also teaches my church to focus on God instead of circling around its own needs and desires. Therefore, let our churches reconsider carefully if the continuous priestly sacrifice of praise is indeed our pre-eminent practice in meeting with God. And let us not forget David’s statement in Psalm 22:3 : “You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.”
Is the continuous sacrifice of praise to God indeed the pre-eminent ministry of my church?
Next time I would like to invite you to a fictitious church meeting, specially called together to offer sacrifices of praise to God.
Matthew 22:37 and Psalm 71:22 are quotes from the New International Version. John 4:23 and Psalm 22:3 are quoted from the New King James Version, Colossians 3:16 is a quote from the New Living Translation.
Let’s summarise the biblical components which are essential for my church’s growth in corporate Christlike worship:
• A ‘corporate personality’
In God’s eyes my church is more than a gathering of individual believers. He desires that my church begins to see itself as a ‘corporate personality’. God looks at my church as the ‘Temple of His Holy Spirit’, as the ‘Body of His dear Son’, as ‘His precious People and His cherished Family’, as the ‘beloved Bride of His Messiah’. (see meditation 63)
• A shared vision of worship
We need to pray that God gives our churches a shared vision of Christlike worship of Himself. Naturally, such divine vision will be firmly based on the knowledge of God’s Word [i.e., the Bible].
(see meditation 64)
• Bearers of that vision
In meditation 65 we saw that God’s Spirit wants to appoint in my church people who bear that vision of Christlike worship. In all likelihood they will belong to the leadership of my church: the pastor, one or more elders, the worship leader, etc. However, it is also possible that God calls an ‘average church member’ to this ministry. In that case the church leadership needs the humility to acknowledge that calling.
• Sustained devotion to worship
My church needs to receive Christ’s desire for unconditional and persistent devotion to worship. Therefore, it needs Jesus’ teaching on persistent prayer and follow His example. Actually, I wonder how many of our churches in the West are profoundly lacking in the sacrificial ministry of Christlike worship. It might be that God’s Spirit truly needs to do a divine miracle in many churches. Are we open to Christ’s teaching on worship and to Christlike transforma-
tion by God’s Spirit? (see meditation 66)
• The essence of true worship
However important prayers of supplication and intercession may be, God seeks first of all true worshippers and true worshipping communities. God’s Spirit needs to show my church the overall importance of true worship from the heart. Such worship is empowered by God’s Spirit and based on the truth of God’s Word. (see meditation 67)
• My church, a community of priests
This priestly ministry of the entire church and its leadership aims at meeting with God the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. During such times of fellowship with God, the church offers to God Spirit-empowered sacrifices of praise. Such a sacrifice might contain humble confessions of sin. It certainly will overflow in gratitude for Christ’s redeeming love. Above all, such a sacrifice of praise will acknowledge God’s all-embracing love and compassion, His holiness and righteousness, His judgment and mercy, His saving grace, His awesome power in creation and final restoration, His control of world history, and the faithful guidance of His people throughout all the storms of life. (see meditations 68 to 71)
Finally, such times of corporate worship might include elements which I have not yet mentioned in earlier meditations.
The apostle Paul encourages the church in Colosse, saying: “Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Colossians 3:16) In general Bible scholars are not sure what the exact meaning of these different types of songs was.
• “Sing psalms...” might point to the singing of Old Testament psalms during Christian worship. We are not able any more to sing those psalms with their original melodies as they are unknown to us. Yet, reciting and praying parts of Old Testament psalms surely help us to enrich our worship.
In meditation 72, I also quoted other texts from the Bible in which God is addressed personally. Those kinds of Bible verses might widen our horizon as we seek ever new reasons for extolling the Lord in our worship.
• The actual Greek term for ‘psalm’ might also signify “the playing of a stringed instrument”. In Psalm 71:22 and many other psalms David worships God by playing a stringed instrument: “I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God...”
(Psalm 71:22). In our worship services we normally play instruments to accompany congregational singing or to play a piece of music for the congregation. God’s people in biblical times often played for God on their musical instruments. As God is in our midst, we might well learn anew to take the time to play for Him.
• “Sing ... hymns...” might refer to Christian songs written and sung or recited in the early churches. Also in our time songs directed to God the Father and to Jesus Christ are great ways to lift our hearts in worship. Here is one of the countless modern worship songs which address the Lord personally: “Lord, the light of Your love is shining...” And what about the rich storehouse of classical hymns like: “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son...”
• “Sing ... spiritual songs” might mean “singing songs produced by God’s Spirit”. These Spirit-empowered songs seem not so much to be an indication that the early church publicly practised glossolalia [i.e. singing and speaking in tongues]. The apostle Paul does not encourage its use in public (see 1 Corinthians 14:2-25). The ‘spiritual songs’ of Colossians 3:16 are probably spontaneous songs of praise to God under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Today we might find this kind of spontaneous worship more often in African churches than here in the West.
One thing is clear. Jesus said: “... the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (John 4:23).
In our recent meditations we saw that the Holy Spirit wants to empower my church to worship God in such a way that it will fulfill His first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37). What is the sustained sacrifice of praise more than a unique expression of my church’s unconditional love for God? It lifts my church up to the worshipping congregation in heaven. It also teaches my church to focus on God instead of circling around its own needs and desires. Therefore, let our churches reconsider carefully if the continuous priestly sacrifice of praise is indeed our pre-eminent practice in meeting with God. And let us not forget David’s statement in Psalm 22:3 : “You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.”
Is the continuous sacrifice of praise to God indeed the pre-eminent ministry of my church?
Next time I would like to invite you to a fictitious church meeting, specially called together to offer sacrifices of praise to God.
Matthew 22:37 and Psalm 71:22 are quotes from the New International Version. John 4:23 and Psalm 22:3 are quoted from the New King James Version, Colossians 3:16 is a quote from the New Living Translation.
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