"Worship"

Bear with me in this blog today. It might be a little lengthy. True God centered worship is about the holiness of God. It is a reverence and awe of His holiness and love. It's called "fear of the Lord." "Therefore, since we received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:28-29) Worship is about acceptable service, showing gratitude with reverence and awe. To many today are making worship something that stirs their personal likes or some feel good style. A sincere faith offers acceptable worship to God, what is pleasing to Him with reverence and awe.

When people take upon themselves to approach God as they want or what they think, God does not honor that worship. God's holiness decides what is acceptable and unacceptable. Too many are taking upon themselves as what they think is acceptable. Worship is promoted that "different styles" of worship are alright to pursue and many brethren are buying into it. Have you ever heard anyone who is pushing all the "new" worship ideas say, "Let's go to God and ask Him if this is acceptable?" But verses are used and misused for pursuing personal likings. Every time man has taken upon themselves to "improve" something God wants, we end up corrupting it because man tends to glory in man!!! God warned Israel about the altars they used in worship of His name: "And if you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield you tool on it, you will profane it." (Ex. 20:25) Worship is about God's holiness and it must come from a heart that's cleansed and made holy by the blood of Christ. It is a pure worship, with no attention on man, undefiled by thinking we add some "flavor" to it while realizing we are as one body standing in the presence of a holy God. The songs of praise are genuine words spoken from the heart. They are offered out of reverence and awe. God knows the difference of those lifeless pretenders and the sincere worshiper. The prayers are from a sincere faith that expresses our dependence on God. The Supper is a genuine reminder of the cost and love of the new covenant, not some drama skit from man's idea of "wielding their tools on it!" Thankful hearts bow in reverence to worship our loving Father and His holiness.

The Corinthian brethren were destroying themselves spiritually with their fleshly acting as mere men (I Cor. 3:3). They should have a higher standard than the world around but their own fleshliness had corrupted them. We don't seem to learn from this. What did it lead them to in their worship? They were using the assembly of the saints for self expression! Brethren with spiritual gifts were running over the top of those without spiritual gifts. Those with the spiritual gifts wanted to "perform" (I Cor. 12-14). Just read those chapters carefully. Their services were lively and a lot of commotion was taking place (I Cor. 14). There were those who felt like speaking so they spoke out with no regard for others. Who determined if they were acceptable or unacceptable? GOD! They thought they were doing right until God sent them a letter through the apostle Paul. It was God who placed each member where He wanted them (I Cor. 12:18). It is God who gives more honor to the one lacking and the weak were necessary (I Cor. 12:22-24). God gave spiritual gifts to build up the body according to His way and never used for self proclamation or promotion. Worship of God is not a stage show!!! Worship is always about "offering to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe!" Worship is never about us. When one worships, they reflect their knowledge of God (I Cor. 14:24-25). Paul ends by stating that God is not a God of confusion but of peace and there needs to be self control in worship (I Cor. 14:31-33).

The world is tainting our thinking. Real worship takes place in the heart of a worshiper. It's UN-ORCHESTRATED by external means. When worship is spoken of as dull or dead, we need to examine our hearts and see if the death of Jesus is the motivation in our lives. If He is our life, then we need to "show gratitude with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire."

"Growing Spiritually"

Do you really want to grow spiritually? I pray you do. Where does one start and how do you go about it? In order to grow spiritually, you must realize that the door is open for you to grow which means the only thing holding us back is us!

Look carefully at II Peter 1: 1-11. In verse 3 we find God's divine power has already granted to us everything that pertains to life and godliness. It is like being given a blank check that is signed by a millionaire telling you to fill in the amount needed. God has already granted everything we need to grow and be faithful. True spiritual growth is always based on His promises (v.4). God always keeps His word. Spiritual growth is gaining the nature of God and sharing in His nature!

If God has already granted us everything for life and godliness (and He has), what are we going to do with His promises? Let's look at verse 5: "Applying all diligence..." that's our part! If we have faith, we will be more diligent in our lives but it doesn't end there. "...in your faith supply moral excellence." Some versions use "virtue" or "goodness". We are talking about in your faith you must deal with your sins and become morally excellent. Many times we are faced with difficult situations of right and wrong. Moral excellence means you don't justify doing what is wrong. We have to do what is right because God is morally excellent! He always does the right thing and we have to apply that same diligence in our faith. One can't sweep sin under the rug and draw closer to God. It is impossible! This is the first step in spiritual growth.

"And in your moral excellence, knowledge..." Whenever we supply moral excellence to our faith, you begin to gain knowledge of who God is, what He is like. Your understanding begins to increase. The reason some have little knowledge is because they never deal with moral excellence. Each of the things listed in verses 5-7 are progressions working off of each other. Knowledge is only gained after moral excellence.

"And in your knowledge, self control..." Doing what is right, you gain knowledge of God and self control starts taking hold in your being. There are no "behavior modification" programs involved like the world offers. This is from God. Your life starts coming under control only when you gain knowledge of what God is like.

"And in your self control, perseverance..." Perseverance is the ability to endure difficult people and circumstances. One can't persevere until they have some self control and you can't gain self control until you have some knowledge of God. Knowledge of God can't be gained until we deal rightly with things in our lives.

"And in your perseverance, godliness..." Being more like God in your behavior and attitudes. A love for doing His will.

"And in your godliness, brotherly kindness..." Have you ever wondered why some have no love or little for the brethren? Here's your answer. One can't have some brotherly kindness until they have some godliness and it goes right back up the ladder.

"And in your brotherly kindness, love." This love is a sacrificial love, looking out for the best of others. It has nothing to do with how you feel and everything about seeing the need to help. Isn't that what the cross teaches us? Didn't Jesus put our needs above His own? That's love!

The opportunity to grow is before us. The only question left is do we really want to grow spiritually? Do we really have faith? Take a look at the list and find out where you are spiritually. It might surprise you!

"Death, Burial and Resurrection"

I've debated over writing this. I will go ahead and say it here, at this time for us to think about. This is in no way to put others down or create a controversy. People need to think with some spiritual insight instead of following everyone else. We are coming upon a time of year when the religious world will be calling attention to the birth of Jesus. His birth will be in song, in visible ornaments, pageants and plays, dramatized and worshiped. Many sincere and religious people will focus on the birth of Jesus.

The birth of Jesus was not what Jesus asked His disciples (followers) to remember about Him. As Jesus sat with His own apostles, He told them to remember His death (Luke 22:17-20). It is the death of Jesus we assemble together on the first day of each week to remember.

The Old Testament prophets prophesied over and over of His death. Yes, they mentioned His birth here and there but the emphasis was on His dying for the lost. God planned the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus from the beginning of time. It was no accident..."...at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." (Rom. 5:6) "This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph. 3:11) Peter preached to the Jews that "this Man, delivered up by that predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death." (Acts 2:23) All of creation was pointing to this one event as man's spiritual well being would depend on the death, burial and resurrected Christ.

When the apostles were sent into all the world, they were to preach the gospel (good news) that Jesus had died, was buried and arose on the third day. Not once do we find them speaking and glorifying the birth of Jesus. Paul reminded the Corinthian church about where their salvation came from: the death, burial and resurrection (I Cor. 15:1-4). It was the dying of Jesus for my transgressions and His resurrection for my justification (declared not guilty) (Rom. 4:25). Paul's life was lived daily around the resurrected Christ (Gal. 2:20), not His birth.

The churches of Galatia were being led back into following the Jewish customs of feasts and seasons as set by God under the Law. In Christ, here is God's response to that: "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain." (Gal. 4:9-11)

God never intended our lives to be broken down into seasons. Our worship and adoration of the Lord is not seasonal because man makes it up. Jesus left us a life-giving proclamation to unite His people every first day of the week called the Lord's Supper. I realize Matthew and Luke record the birth of Jesus but there is very little that deals with His birth compared to the chapters describing His death, burial and resurrection. People aren't saved by His birth but His death, burial and resurrection.

To use seasons for family, friends and enjoyment, that is a privilege we have been given in Christ Jesus (Rom. 14). Enjoy the time. But our worship and adoration of our Lord is not to be seasonal but daily because He raised for our sins. "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Col. 2:8)

"Interesting Facts"

Do you believe God will take care of you and your every need? That's easy for all of us to say but worries hit our lives and show something different than what we say. I was recently reading an article that was very interesting that had some facts and figures. It should help us see the awesome power of God.

When God rescued His people from Egyptian bondage, it is estimated that there were between 3-3 1/2 million people to be led across that desert. How was Moses going to take care of that many people?

According to the Quarter-Master General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to provide 1500 tons of food each day. Do you realize to bring that much food each day would require two freight trains, each one being a mile long? Remember, they were in the desert.

What about their water requirements? The Quarter-Master General estimated it would take about 11,000,000 gallons each day. To deliver that much water daily would take a freight train with tank cars 1800 miles long!

They had to cross the Red Sea in one night (Ex. 14:20-24). If they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and require 35 days and nights to arrive safely. That means there had to be a space in the Red Sea 3 miles wide so they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night!

That leads to another problem. Every time they camped at the end of each day, a campground 2/3 the size of Rhode Island, or a total of 750 square miles, would be needed. This comprises an area of 25 miles wide and 130 miles long just for night camping.

Again, these are figures that were taken from the Quarter-Master General in the Army. Let me ask you, do you think Moses figured all this out before he led God's people into this wilderness? Yet God provided the necessary food, the water flowing from rocks and the ability to cross the sea while drowning the Egyptian army before their eyes. This Almighty, Eternal God is the very same God we have today! We think our problems are so great yet we lose sight of what God did and can do. We are on a journey and God is trying to bring us all safely to Him and He will take care of us if we will simply put Him first and seek Him with all our heart!

"The Church"

When you hear the term "church" what do you think about? What comes to your mind? Just ponder that for a moment. Many think of denominations or even 'nondenominational' which in reality has become a denomination. It seems every time we turn around, there is some 'new church' springing up and people flock to them. Why? Because people tire of religion as it is known and want something different, something new.

But what about God? What does the term "church" mean to God? Have you ever heard anyone ask that question? Many know what the church is as defined in God's word. It is the people, the body of Christ, the saved and redeemed. Yet why do so many wander off looking for something new, something different that will challenge them? We hear often people "leaving the church" because of someone hurt their feelings or they hear of a deacon or elder embezzling money. We hear of preachers having affairs with someone in the congregation or the church is supporting a work that someone doesn't approve of. When people leave, sometimes they get our approval! We "understand" them! Why would they stay when such bad things are going on or have occurred? They are spoken of as good people and they must move on to some other church (presumably until they discover something bad has happened there). Our sadness, gladness, anger or pleasure are all reasons to stay to help. The real truth behind such moving on without trying to help is sinister!

Which New Testament congregation would you like to have been part of? The Corinthians who were arguing over the best preacher, having law suits with one another, fighting and quarrels and misteachings? Or maybe perhaps the congregation at Thyatira where some lady was leading the bond-servants of Christ away from Him and others were following her lead? How about Sardis where they were alive by name only but not in heart? Maybe perhaps the Laodicean's that were lukewarm at best? What about the Galatian churches that were being pulled in directions with those teaching the Law of Moses along side of the gospel of Christ?

We don't need to leave the church to find the life of Christ! We need brethren dedicated to the cause of Christ trying to help rather than offended and find another place they can comfortably sit and offer up what little is in the heart. We need lovers of Christ, dedicated to His cause, His church trying to help people see the glory of God. Was it not Jesus who told each congregation in Revelation about those who were holding faithful to His name to hold on and help? Was it not the apostle John that who wrote and encouraged Gaius and Demetrius to imitate good because of fellow by the name of Diotrephes was kicking people out? They weren't instructed to leave!

Doesn't it just gut you when you hear people say, "I just love this church" and then sulk off when someone disappoints them?

"Inward Nature"

Life is difficult at times. There are disappointments, heartaches and struggles that sometime can seem overwhelming. When we are faced with one of these times in our lives, it should remind us the cost of sin in this world. That should take us to reaching to our heavenly Father.

Our walk with the Lord isn't about just saying we believe in Him. It is an inward nature that knows and reaches. Let's listen carefully: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (Jam. 1:2-3) We have read this but what we need is to look carefully at this because of life's disappointments and struggles. When we encounter various trials, there is something suppose to be happening in us, within our heart. What is it? An attitude of knowing what God is doing when you hurt by taking on a right attitude. "Consider it all joy" is an internal attitude of the heart. How can we take such attitudes? Because the difficulty is going to be to your spiritual benefit. It will help your faith and endurance. Those are the two things needed in order to make it to the end. If anyone is going to be saved, it will be because of our trust (faith) in the Lord and enduring the hardship with a proper attitude. It is easy to feel sorry for yourself when you hurt but that's not the right move. It's easy to withdraw into self pity and avoidance of people because we hurt but that's not the right move. The real, inward nature of Christianity is when we encounter difficult situations, there is something suppose to be going on in the heart that reaches to the presence of God and that's our trust and attitude.

I will never make light of someones struggles. What I will do is direct them to the source of real comfort and strength. Once we can see what God is doing, we have a choice to make within our being: Are we going to count things as all misery or all joy? It depends on what is happening on your spiritual side!

"Sincerity"

Peter was convinced that those brethren who read his God inspired letter were of sincere minds. As he wrote his second letter, he was reminding them of some things they could attach themselves to for their spiritual health. "This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder." (II Pet. 3:1)

A person with a "sincere mind" wants to know, grasp hold and do something with God's word they hear. A "sincere mind" desires purity and wanting to please the Lord in all aspects of their lives. Listen carefully: "To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed." (Titus 1:15-16) Those without a "sincere mind" are defiled and unbelieving. They can talk about God but they have their own mind set leading them downward.

A "sincere mind" produces a "sincere faith." A faith that is pure and unmixed. A faith that is genuine and real. It is a faith that looks honestly at the word of God and allows God to lead them forward. "Now examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." (I Thes. 5:21-22) A person with a "sincere faith" examines things before they become involved and avoids anything that might deteriorate them spiritually. They are concerned about purity!

"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." (I Tim. 1:5) The goal of all preaching and teaching should be focused right here. Instead of looking for something to waste time, or make people laugh and entertain them, a "sincere mind" and a "sincere faith" from a preacher/teacher realizes what is at stake and what God is trying to produce in others through their teaching. "For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussions." (I Tim. 1:6) Fruitless discussions are the best way to destroy the sincerity in the hearers. To teach things that yield nothing, about nothing other than worldly topics will ruin the brethren! "For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God." (II Cor. 2:17) Paul saw himself as one not just peddling wares, taking up time and space but realized his teaching/preaching was in the presence of God and Christ which created a sincerity in him. A "sincere mind" and a "sincere faith" keeps true to God and His word at all cost!

Peter wrote to stir up the brethren's "sincere mind." Paul told the preacher Timothy to preach the things that created sincerity and purity. We need to be a people with a "sincere mind and faith." How sincere are you?