THE VITAL SIGNS OF A LIVING CHURCH -IV

A WORSHIPPING CHURCH-Part 2

In the back of a frequently visited church in a bustling part of the city there was a sign that read How to Worship:Be silent.Be thoughtful.Be reverent, for this is the House of the Lord.Before the service, speak to God.During the service, let God speak to you.After the service, speak to one another.[1]

This is certainly one way to keep people quiet during the service. But worship is not just being silent and thoughtful; there are many expressions to it. We have been studying about the early Church in the first century to understand the vital signs of a Living Church. Why worship is important? What happens when we worship God? How to Worship Him?

I. WHY WORSHIP IS IMPORTANT?

Have you ever wondered why on earth you are here? The Bible does not give explicit answer to why God created us, all it says is that He created us but when we read certain scriptures we can understand God’s intentions for creating us: Colossians 1:16 “Everything in the world both the visible and the invisible including the human beings have been created by God and for God.” Acts 17:28, reads 'For in him we live and move and have our being.” These scriptures indicate that we are from him, we live because of him and we live for him.

Five reasons, why worship is important? Firstly, we have been created by him and we belong to Him. Secondly, we have been redeemed to worship him. When the Israelites cried out from their misery in Egypt God sent Moses with one message to Pharaoh, “LET MY PEOPLE GO SO THAT THEY MAY WORSHIP ME” (Ex 8:20). Peter uses the same language to remind the believers why they were redeemed by Jesus, 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Thirdly, Worship is not optional but a command from God. He commands us to worship him only and nothing else. (Exodus 20:5) “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him; all the earth.” Graham Kendrick, a well known worship leader in the 80’s and 90’s says "Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving Him pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become our richest and most wholesome experience in life.”

Fourthly, God is worthy of worship. “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.” (Psalm 96:4). We worship God because as A.W Tozer says “without worship we go about miserable.”

Fifthly, Worship is important because that is the only thing that endures forever. All our good programs, evangelistic efforts, the preaching, discipleship, small groups, men’s breakfast you name it any thing we do under the Sun in the name of God will come to an end one day but worship of God will remain forever. Several scriptures in the book of Revelation alludes to the fact that Worship will endure for ever, “Holy holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is and is to come.” Upon hearing that the elders fell down on their faces, laid down their crowns before God who sits on the throne and worshiped him forever and ever.( Rev 4:10; 5:14; 11:16; 19:4).

If you don’t enjoy worship here on earth you may want to start enjoying it otherwise you may get bored in heaven because that’s what you will be doing forever.

II. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WORSHIP?

Is there any thing happens when we worship God in the service? Or it just an emotional high or is it merely a church tradition? We are familiar with the natural law: Cause and Effect: Which is the concept that an action or event will produce a certain response to the action in the form of another event”[2] For example when I turn the switch on “the Light comes on” When the light comes on, the darkness disappears.” What happens when we worship? We may not see spectacular signs but a lot is happening in the spiritual realms, certainly we feel the impact of God when we worship him because worship changes us into His likeness.

A) WORSHIP BRINGS DOWN GOD’S PRESENCE:

In the OT we read a spectacular worship event where God showed up. “The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang “He is good and; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.”(2 Chronicles 5:13-14)

It is neither the musical instruments nor the loud signing brings God’s presence into our worship service; rather it is the unity in the spirit. That is why it is imperative that there is UNITY among those who are leading the services. When we are united, we will see the full release of God’s Spirit in our services.

B) WHEN ALL SEEMS HOPELESS, WORSHIP GIVES US HOPE

When you face situations that are beyond your control, when all your strength is gone and you can not cope any longer, the situation seems rather hopeless and you feel like giving up, the last thing in your mind at that time is to worship. The Prophet Jeremiah certainly felt abandoned, he was depressed, listen to him what he is saying, “Why did I ever come out of the womb to see the trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” (Jeremiah 20: 18) but yet he continued to hope in God. Not only had he kept up his hope but also declared hope to the discouraged exiles saying, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

The popular Hymn “It is well with my soul” is often sung during the funerals. It is written by Chicago Lawyer by name (Horatio Gates Spafford 1828-1888). This song was not written during the happiest times of Spafford’s rather, after a series of tragedies one after the other struck this family. First, the loss of their only son to scarlet fever, secondly the loss of all his real estate property to the great Chicago fire in 1870. Thirdly, during a ship’s collision only his wife was survived while 216 passengers on board faced the watery grave including their four daughters. Spafford on his way now travelling in another ship to meet his bereaved wife wrote this most powerful yet comforting Hymn, “It is well with my soul.” Let’s listen to these words.

“Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,Let this blest assurance control,That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.It is well, with my soul,It is well, with my soul,It is well, it is well, with my soul.”[3]

The Stafford’s could not have gone on with life if it was not the strength and hope they found in worshipping God because worship releases hope in a hopeless situation.

Job shows us similar grit in the face of excruciating loss and pain. God had allowed Satan to ruin Job’s life even though Job was an upright and god fearing man. What was Job’s response to the loss of his children and his property? Oh how I hope I would be able to respond like this to tragedy. After hearing about his devastating loss we read in Job 1:20,21 At this Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing………………pause.

What is our hearts attitude when things go wrong in our life?...do we sin by charging God with wrongdoing? Do we shift the blame? Or do we like Job fall down in worship realizing that God doesn’t owe us anything and that no matter what happens he is still worthy to be praised even in our pain and brokenness.

C. WORSHIP RELEASES GOD’S POWER :( WORSHIP AS WARFARE)

God wants us to recognize that worship is an aggressive act in the spirit. Whether you know it or not every sincere Christian is involved in Spiritual Warfare. Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Have you noticed, when you decide to come to worship on Sunday morning, something or the other goes wrong, you, or one of your children get sick, your car wouldn’t start, or have a fight with your spouse over burned toast, which upsets your mood. If you are a part of the worship team the attack can be even more severe because the enemy can try any and everything possible to prevent us from worshipping God in Spirit and Truth.

Many in the western world have no clue about how the evil spirits work infact they down play it by saying there are no demons. Un-knowingly and some knowingly expose themselves to demonic attacks by watching horror movies, getting involved with ghosts, witches, dressing up like spooky characters especially during the Halloween season. Let me warn you, however innocent they may look in the beginning in the end you are trapped by the powers of darkness.

Watch out when we play with the fire we get burnt. We don’t play with the demonic powers; at the same time we don’t have to be afraid of them either. John reminds us, 1 John 4: 4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Jesus came into this world to destroy the works of the Devil and he succeeded, he disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, he over powered them when he died on the cross and rose again after three days.

When we exalt Jesus in our praise and worship, and call upon His name, he is still be able to come and deliver us from the oppression and the attacks of the demonic forces, because Praise drives back the forces of darkness. During my ministry in India, I was often involved in praying for people to experience freedom from the demonic forces. When we used to sing praises and worship Jesus even the toughest demons would leave. There is power in the name of Jesus, demons will recognize his name. 1 Peter 3:22 “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” When we use worship as a weapon in Spiritual warfare, remember singing spiritual songs is not a magic trick to defeat the enemy. We worship God and he defeats the enemy.

III. HOW DO WE WORSHIP HIM?

David prayed, that “All the nations you have made will come and worship, before you, O Lord” This gives us the scope of our worship. We come from distinct cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and we bring our rich cultural expressions with us, therefore there is no one form or set style of worship there could be wide range of expressions when it comes to worship. Some clap, dance, wave hands or flags, burn incense, lift up hands, dance, shout praises, sing hymns and use liturgy, be quiet in his presence and many more all these are acceptable forms if they are done in an orderly and reverential way. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we incorporate African, Chinese, Brazilian, Asian songs and instruments in worship in addition to our already existing western style?

Let me recapture my thoughts on this vital sign of a living Church: Worship. Worship is important because, He is our creator, he has redeemed us, he commanded us, and it lasts forever. Three things happen when we truly worship him: 1. Worship brings down God’s presence, 2. when all seems hopeless, worship gives hope. 3. Worship releases the power of God. 4. God is worthy of our worship. 5. Worship endures forever. In the end we also looked at How to worship God, while much can be said about the methods, forms and styles of Worship but just like anything else we can only learn to worship God by simply beginning to Worship Him.

[1] http://www.funnysermons.com/illustrations/worship/how-to-worship.html
[2] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cause+and+effect
[3] http://biblestudycharts.com/A_Daily_Hymn.html