|
One Family in the Worship of God
It was late in the decade
of the 1990s. The Soul Survivor Church was experiencing a lack of
spiritual vitality in its worship. Pastor Mike Pilavachi decided to
challenge his church family to stop being consumers in worship, and to
become producers in worship. He turned off the sound system. He eliminated
the instrumentation. And, asked his people, “When you come through the
doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”1
This approach led to some long embarrassing moments of silence, but
eventually people began to offer heartfelt prayers and a-cappella songs in
the worship of God. Christ was restored to His proper place in worship and
the song, “The Heart of Worship,” tells the story.
When the music fades,
all is stripped away, and I simply come
Longing just to bring something that’s of worth that will bless your
heart…
I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, Jesus.2
Only when we restore God to
His proper place in worship, will we be able to worship as one family. We
would do well to ask ourselves some telling questions.
-
Not, what do I enjoy?
But, what does God enjoy?
-
Not, what are my
preferences? But, what are God’s desires?
-
Not, did I enjoy the
songs of praise? But, did God enjoy the songs of praise?
-
Not, did I feel God’s
presence? But, was I fully present before Him?
-
Not, was I wowed by the
worship? But, was God wowed by the worship?
-
Not, was I served by the
worship? But, was God worshipped by my service?
-
Not, what did I receive
today? But, what did I give today?
-
Not, was my presence
honored? But, was God’s presence honored?
Worship matters. But, it
matters most to God.
There is a worship war taking place in the body of Christ, but it is not
essentially one of preferences. The battle is not about music styles,
instrumentation, or personal preferences. The real battle is for our
heart. I am convinced that our greatest sin is neglect. We neglect to
prepare our hearts for the worship of our LORD. We come unprepared to
offer God sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving with clean hearts and
clean hands.
How do we restore God to His proper place in worship?
Perhaps we should take our cues from the example of King Hezekiah in 2
Chronicles 29:1-36. King Hezekiah acted to restore the worship of God at
the temple in Jerusalem after decades of neglect. He opened the doors of
the house of the Lord and repaired them (29:3). He mobilized the Levites
to cleanse the holy place of every unclean thing (29:5-16). He mobilized
the Levites to consecrate (i.e. set apart as holy) themselves, the place
and the vessels for worship. And, then the whole assembly gathered to
worship the Lord with songs of praise, bringing sacrifices and thank
offerings to the Lord (29:31). I believe that we can learn from His
example how to restore God to His proper place in worship.
The door has been opened
and God says, “Come into my presence” (Hebrews 10:19-22). The way into the
presence of God has been opened for us by God through the all-sufficient
sacrifice of Christ. Let us draw near in full assurance of faith.
What selfish and unclean
attitudes, thoughts, and desires need to be recognized and
removed by the cleansing power of Christ’s blood? 3
What idolatrous things need to be removed from our worship? Have we made
any worship forms, music styles, instruments, furniture, or people sacred?
Hear and obey the commands of Romans 12:1-2.
Declare this truth aloud on regularly basis, “I am not my own. I have been
bought with a price. I will glorify God with my body.” 4
What will you bring as an
offering to God in the weeks to come? Come with a song of praise in your
heart. Come with a testimony of thanksgiving. Come to offer your heart and
hands to the service of the LORD our God. 5
God is working out His eternal purpose of redeeming a people for His own
possession. God is calling out and establishing local bodies of believers
to exist in their time and place for the praise of His glory (Ephesians
1:3-14). Like the church at Ephesus, First Free is composed of saints
chosen and called by God to live and labor for the praise of His glory.
Let’s give ourselves to being one family in the worship of God.
For the Praise of His Glory,
Tom Aubrey
1 http://www.crosswalk.com/1253122/
2 Matt Redman. “The Heart of Worship”© 1999 Thankyou
Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music
Publishing).
3 1 John 1:6-9
4 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
5 Ephesians 5:18-21
|