Because each one of us are human and have great tendency to move in and out of responding in the Spirit then the flesh, we must be diligent in keep the right focus. Please always remember whom you serve in ministry. There are human and practical ways in which it might said that we serve one another, or we serve the leaders God has given us, or we serve those in the congregation, or we serve the community. However, if that is our main focus, we become distracted by any comment that might be considered critical or negative. We also become distracted to trust our flesh through positive comments we receive. Ultimately, as lead worshipers in a Worship Ministry, we worship to an Audience of One. God Almighty is the One on whom we should focus. We often ask questions like, "Did we sound good today? Did the congregation respond to the music we presented? Was the pastor blessed by what we shared today?" All these questions are good and valid, but only when they are kept in perspective. The ultimate question we should ask first is, "Was God pleased with my/our worship today?" I know that question may have an ambiguous answer for us. God doesn't speak audibly to any of us with an answer (At least He doesn't to me; if He does to you, let me know about it! :) ). However, we can evaluate an answer by asking/answering some important questions in our spirits (and in the quietness of our time with God):
1. Was the music presented focused on the truth of scripture?
2. Did it reveal truth about God (as Trinity - Father, Son, Holy Spirit)?
3. Did God teach me something new & fresh about Him today?
4. Did worship cause me to repent of sin in my life, as God revealed that sin to me?
5. Did worship cause me to respond in surrender of some area of my life to God?
6. Did worship give me a desire for a deeper love relationship with God?
7. Did worship prompt me to thanksgiving or praise for what God has done in my life this past week?
8. Did worship give me a burden to reach someone with good news of salvation in Christ?
9. Did we truly lift up Jesus?
10. Did I take credit for anything myself?
11. Was I distracted during worship today?
12. Did I do anything that might have been a distraction to others?
13. Did I give God my best today in worship?
14. Did worship prompt me to pray?
15. Did we enable the body of Christ to worship today?
16. Did I bless the heart of God in my worship today?
17. Was I fully prepared spiritually, emotionally, physically, musically as a lead worshiper today?
Answering these questions will give spiritual evaluation to worship, rather than focusing on the opinions of man as those opinions are expressed to us. Take these to heart as you prepare for worship this week and evaluate your worship each week.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Focus On the Cross
There are many things we can focus our thoughts upon in worship. We can think about attributes of God (love, holiness, grace, mercy, long-suffering, sovereignty, omnipotence, etc.). We can focus on the works of God (creation, protection, defeating tyrants of the world, etc.). We can even focus on the good things men do (service, ministry, love & care, friendship, worship, etc.). I believe the supreme or ultimate focus of our worship should be to focus on the cross, which is the center of the message of the gospel, coupled with the resurrection!
I Corinthians 1:17-18 gives this focus, “For Christ did not send me (the Apostle Paul) to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.:”
The work of the cross is payment for our sins before a Holy God. No other faith system in the world has this ethic, because they don’t understand the holiness of God. The Old Testament sacrificial system clearly pictures the price that had to be paid for the sins of man. Once a year, the high priest would find a perfect lamb without spot or blemish. He would tie up the lamb and take it to the altar for sacrifice. Slitting its throat, he killed that lamb, sprinkling its blood on the altar in the temple area called the "holy of holies", where he entered in to sacrifice atonement for his own sins and the sins of the entire nation. The holy of holies was a very serious place (behind a huge veil in the temple) where no one could go, except the high priest. They took this so seriously that a tradition began where they fixed a rope with a bell on it which they tied to the leg of the high priest. In case God struck the high priest dead in the holy of holies, they wanted to be able to pull his body out without entering behind the veil and being struck dead themselves.
Jesus Christ was/is the spotless Lamb of God, sacrificed for our sins before a Holy and Righteous God. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice before God. Any and every other sacrifice of man was unholy (sin born in him/her), so they are unacceptable before a Holy God. God the Father so perfectly orchestrated the sacrifice of His Son that His trial and crucifixion took place during the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem, the Holy City to the Jews. The Feast of the Passover celebrated God's deliverance of His people from Egypt when Moses led them to sacrifice a spotless Lamb and apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes. When the death angel came through Egypt that night to take the lives of every first-born son (the final plague upon Egypt to force Pharaoh to let God's people go), he would pass over the homes where the blood had been applied to the doorposts.
As we consider the cross, it is so easy to focus on the method of crucifixion, the unlawful trials of Jesus Christ held by Jewish leaders, the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Simon Peter - all human reasoning; and think that Jesus' death was the result of being treated unfairly. We must remember His words in John 10, "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so I may take it again. No one has taken it away from me, but I lay it down on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." No man took Jesus' life from Him. He laid it down by an act of His will. The agony He experienced in the Garden was not the physical pain of crucifixion, but taking on the sin of the world (One who was completely holy) and being separated from His Father. Literally, the Father could not look on His Son on the cross because He became the embodiment of sin FOR US!
THIS IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS. The cross, a symbol of Roman torture for unspeakable crimes, became a picture of beauty because of the redemption all of us may receive through the price for sin Jesus Christ paid for us (us, being all men). If it were not for the cross, we would have no access to God. We would still be going through an earthly high priest. Allow the truth of a powerful cross sink into your heart in your personal times of worship. Enable others to make the cross their focus in corporate worship!
I Corinthians 1:17-18 gives this focus, “For Christ did not send me (the Apostle Paul) to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.:”
The work of the cross is payment for our sins before a Holy God. No other faith system in the world has this ethic, because they don’t understand the holiness of God. The Old Testament sacrificial system clearly pictures the price that had to be paid for the sins of man. Once a year, the high priest would find a perfect lamb without spot or blemish. He would tie up the lamb and take it to the altar for sacrifice. Slitting its throat, he killed that lamb, sprinkling its blood on the altar in the temple area called the "holy of holies", where he entered in to sacrifice atonement for his own sins and the sins of the entire nation. The holy of holies was a very serious place (behind a huge veil in the temple) where no one could go, except the high priest. They took this so seriously that a tradition began where they fixed a rope with a bell on it which they tied to the leg of the high priest. In case God struck the high priest dead in the holy of holies, they wanted to be able to pull his body out without entering behind the veil and being struck dead themselves.
Jesus Christ was/is the spotless Lamb of God, sacrificed for our sins before a Holy and Righteous God. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice before God. Any and every other sacrifice of man was unholy (sin born in him/her), so they are unacceptable before a Holy God. God the Father so perfectly orchestrated the sacrifice of His Son that His trial and crucifixion took place during the Feast of the Passover in Jerusalem, the Holy City to the Jews. The Feast of the Passover celebrated God's deliverance of His people from Egypt when Moses led them to sacrifice a spotless Lamb and apply the blood to the doorposts of their homes. When the death angel came through Egypt that night to take the lives of every first-born son (the final plague upon Egypt to force Pharaoh to let God's people go), he would pass over the homes where the blood had been applied to the doorposts.
As we consider the cross, it is so easy to focus on the method of crucifixion, the unlawful trials of Jesus Christ held by Jewish leaders, the betrayal of Judas and the denial of Simon Peter - all human reasoning; and think that Jesus' death was the result of being treated unfairly. We must remember His words in John 10, "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so I may take it again. No one has taken it away from me, but I lay it down on my own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again." No man took Jesus' life from Him. He laid it down by an act of His will. The agony He experienced in the Garden was not the physical pain of crucifixion, but taking on the sin of the world (One who was completely holy) and being separated from His Father. Literally, the Father could not look on His Son on the cross because He became the embodiment of sin FOR US!
THIS IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS. The cross, a symbol of Roman torture for unspeakable crimes, became a picture of beauty because of the redemption all of us may receive through the price for sin Jesus Christ paid for us (us, being all men). If it were not for the cross, we would have no access to God. We would still be going through an earthly high priest. Allow the truth of a powerful cross sink into your heart in your personal times of worship. Enable others to make the cross their focus in corporate worship!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Hope in God
Psalm 42:1-5, 11 reads "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, with the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."
Life surely brings us disappointments and moments (even seasons) of discouragement. Financial trouble, job loss, family illness or death, personal illness, family turmoil with our children/parents, government intrusion, bad traffic, fights with our boss or co-workers, trouble in the church . . . there are so many distractions that are laid before us. Though they don't look like it on the surface, these things are ultimately only distractions that deter us from following our Lord with passion. They are pieces and moments of spiritual warfare that take our focus from the most important thing - our personal relationship with God.
The psalmist speaks of his soul "panting after God". This is a picture of a wild deer in the woods who has run and run and run and run, panting profusely. It is near the point of collapsing on the ground for need of water. Just in time, it finally reaches a small stream, where it fully drinks in the nourishment and healing of fresh water.
When we face moments of despair in life, moments where we can't make sense of it all, moments we wonder where God is, moments when we don't know what to do - we need to run to the Fountain, the River of Life, the Source of everything for us. Jesus declared Himself to be "Living Water". When our inside fountain is dried up, we can run to the One who can fill us and cause a fountain of Living Water to spring up within us (John 7:38).
Notice in this passage is Psalm 42, when we pour out our souls before God, He calls us to HOPE IN GOD! You must remember how God has never left you nor forsaken you. Remember that His love is everlasting toward you. You may not want to praise Him during this time, but you will. His presence is always in you. He will help your countenance to reflect His glory once again. Place your HOPE IN GOD for He is worthy, and He is able to lift you up.
I love the words (and music) of this chorus by Dennis Jernigan:
"There is a Fountain, Who is the King; Victorious Warrior and Lord
of everything; My Rock, my shelter, my very own; Blessed Redeemer
Who reigns upon the throne." (from "Who Can Satisfy My Soul Like You?"
(c) 1989 Shepherd's Heart Music, Inc.)
God is Sovereign, He still reigns upon the throne, whether we recognize it every moment or not. He has a plan of victory for each one of His children. Run to Him to be filled with His presence, His joy, and His hope!
Life surely brings us disappointments and moments (even seasons) of discouragement. Financial trouble, job loss, family illness or death, personal illness, family turmoil with our children/parents, government intrusion, bad traffic, fights with our boss or co-workers, trouble in the church . . . there are so many distractions that are laid before us. Though they don't look like it on the surface, these things are ultimately only distractions that deter us from following our Lord with passion. They are pieces and moments of spiritual warfare that take our focus from the most important thing - our personal relationship with God.
The psalmist speaks of his soul "panting after God". This is a picture of a wild deer in the woods who has run and run and run and run, panting profusely. It is near the point of collapsing on the ground for need of water. Just in time, it finally reaches a small stream, where it fully drinks in the nourishment and healing of fresh water.
When we face moments of despair in life, moments where we can't make sense of it all, moments we wonder where God is, moments when we don't know what to do - we need to run to the Fountain, the River of Life, the Source of everything for us. Jesus declared Himself to be "Living Water". When our inside fountain is dried up, we can run to the One who can fill us and cause a fountain of Living Water to spring up within us (John 7:38).
Notice in this passage is Psalm 42, when we pour out our souls before God, He calls us to HOPE IN GOD! You must remember how God has never left you nor forsaken you. Remember that His love is everlasting toward you. You may not want to praise Him during this time, but you will. His presence is always in you. He will help your countenance to reflect His glory once again. Place your HOPE IN GOD for He is worthy, and He is able to lift you up.
I love the words (and music) of this chorus by Dennis Jernigan:
"There is a Fountain, Who is the King; Victorious Warrior and Lord
of everything; My Rock, my shelter, my very own; Blessed Redeemer
Who reigns upon the throne." (from "Who Can Satisfy My Soul Like You?"
(c) 1989 Shepherd's Heart Music, Inc.)
God is Sovereign, He still reigns upon the throne, whether we recognize it every moment or not. He has a plan of victory for each one of His children. Run to Him to be filled with His presence, His joy, and His hope!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Re-Orienting Worship
"Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.'" - John 4:21-23
I don't know if we can truly appreciate how revolutionary this statement was/is from the lips of Jesus. Rather than worshiping at a temple, which both Jews and Samaritans did (they each had their own temple), they would now worship in Christ as the temple. No building or form is emphasized in the New Testament church, only that the Lord Jesus Christ must be the center of our worship. They no longer needed priests, a holy of holies (the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, Hallelujah!), no more sacrifices were necessary. It is no "stretch" to point out that Christ proclaimed Himself as "the way, the TRUTH, and the life."
D.A. Carson says,
To worship God "in spirit and in truth" is first and foremost a way of
saying that we must worship God by means of Christ. In him the reality
has dawned and the shadows are being swept away (cf. Hebrews 8:13).
Christian worship is new covenant worship; it is gospel-inspired
worship; it is Christ-centered worship; it is cross-focused worship.
("Worship Under the Word," in "Worship By the Book, ed. D.A.
Carson - Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002)
We may need a re-orienting of our worship today just as badly as did the early church! We so often believe that real worship takes place when we come to a
certain building or hear certain music there or are led by a certain staff member or
praise team. Though all those things may be good for corporate worship, they should never become the focus of our worship. The sole focus of our worship must be Jesus Christ alone as "the temple". He is our temple and He is in us. Only Christ Himself, as He is exalted to the highest place, will draw all men to Himself. We dare not allow people to be drawn to us as lead worshipers. We must continually point them to the only One who can call them into true worship.
I don't know if we can truly appreciate how revolutionary this statement was/is from the lips of Jesus. Rather than worshiping at a temple, which both Jews and Samaritans did (they each had their own temple), they would now worship in Christ as the temple. No building or form is emphasized in the New Testament church, only that the Lord Jesus Christ must be the center of our worship. They no longer needed priests, a holy of holies (the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, Hallelujah!), no more sacrifices were necessary. It is no "stretch" to point out that Christ proclaimed Himself as "the way, the TRUTH, and the life."
D.A. Carson says,
To worship God "in spirit and in truth" is first and foremost a way of
saying that we must worship God by means of Christ. In him the reality
has dawned and the shadows are being swept away (cf. Hebrews 8:13).
Christian worship is new covenant worship; it is gospel-inspired
worship; it is Christ-centered worship; it is cross-focused worship.
("Worship Under the Word," in "Worship By the Book, ed. D.A.
Carson - Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002)
We may need a re-orienting of our worship today just as badly as did the early church! We so often believe that real worship takes place when we come to a
certain building or hear certain music there or are led by a certain staff member or
praise team. Though all those things may be good for corporate worship, they should never become the focus of our worship. The sole focus of our worship must be Jesus Christ alone as "the temple". He is our temple and He is in us. Only Christ Himself, as He is exalted to the highest place, will draw all men to Himself. We dare not allow people to be drawn to us as lead worshipers. We must continually point them to the only One who can call them into true worship.
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