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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.

• Opening the doors and repairing them.

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.

• Remove every unclean and idolatrous thing.

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?

• Consecrate yourself to God for His use only.

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

• Come with an offering to give.

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