At the foot of the Cross

At the foot of the Cross

Monday, June 27, 2011

NUMBER 5 - Summer Thoughts: MY CALLING

GOD CALLS:

This is a study of our calling in Christ Jesus, when, why, how. I hope you will study the passages and relate them to your own calling in Christ.

God Calls us:

Through the Gospel:
God calls us through the Holy Spirit’s work on our heart through the Gospel.

Though God may use us as a tool to speak about His great plan for man, it is the work of God’s Spirit on the heart that brings man to respond to the Gospel. Never let a man take credit for “winning” a soul to Christ. It is God who wins the soul of a tender heart to His message. (Titus 3:5)

Through His Word:

When we have been called out of Darkness into His marvelous Light, we begin a relationship with God that endows us with the power to hear and to heed His daily call.

Ephesians 1:19

and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might

Through His Spirit:

God calls us daily into relationship with Him, not as a church (body of believers), but as an individual. Each individual must remain sensitive to the call of God.

John 16:8
And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Ephesians 3:16
that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

Faith is the basis of our walk with God. It is not the kind of faith that makes a singular statement that “Jesus is the Christ”, it the kind of faith that takes us daily out of our comfort zone to walk into the” valley of the shadow of death” with our Lord and Savior.

The Spirit circumcises our fleshly hearts removing the callousness of earthly desires. This circumscion is painful, the cutting away of cultural and materialistic desires. This circumcision requires a dedicated sensitivity to the calling of God in each step that we take.

Philippians 3:3
for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:

Colossians 2:11
in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;

Eph 4: 17-19 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

Through Supernatural Power:

Walking with God becomes a supernatural event when we walk in deep abiding faith confident that God will direct each of our steps.

We must be in the “last days” according to 2 Timothy 3:

1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

This word “power” is the Greek word for supernatural, miraculous power (dunamis). Paul writing to Timothy was not talking about signs and wonders (terras and semions) that were performed through the apostles' hands, but rather the power (dunamis) that abides with each Christian if they believe. Romans 1:16 tells us that this dunamis/power is in the Gospel. If we truly believed in the miraculous power of God to turn souls to accept the Gospel, we would not hesitate to share it more often.

Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

2 Peter 1:3
seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;

Having a “form of godliness” simply means that in the last days folks will practice religiosity, rituals, and religious acts, but have no faith in the working of God in the hearts of men. Their lives will demonstrate this lack of faith by the way they live in fear of being unique, peculiar, believers in the power of the Living God.

God calls us to believe in His power. God calls us to respond to His power.

• Eph 3: 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

The “goal” of Paul’s prayer for the saints was that they be filled to “the fullness of God” by having faith in the power of the Spirit in their inner being. Oh! What a faith that would be! Lord, give us the ability to hear your call to faith and to believe in your power that can strengthen us in these “last days”. May we never practice religiosity devoid of power. May we never stop listening to your call to relationship.


2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

Have we stumbled? Have we closed our ears to the daily calling of God?


He calls us into relationship, day by day, minute by minute. Do we hear that call?

Those of you with small children know what is like to keep up with a child in the mall or at an amusement park. We are constantly checking, watching, calling and holding hands to keep our children within reach. This is the exact same relationship God wants with His saints. He wants us to keep checking, watching, holding hands with Him as He calls us to the work that He has in mind for us (individually) to do. Only the Spirit of God can fill your heart with such a message. The words on the page do not move us, only God’s Spirit can do this.

The story is told of the Russian leader, Lenin, as a young boy. His priest saw the ability of the boy to memorize and taught him (or bribed him, some say, with a rubel) to memorize the 4 Gospels. With such words committed to memory, one would hope the words would take hold in the boy’s heart. Lenin grew to be one of the most notorious murderers Russia had ever known. Being a Biblical scholar does not make us empowered. Only a tender, sensitive heart, humbled as a slave, can be filled by the transforming Spirit of God (2 Corinthians 3:18).

1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

God has plans for you:

2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

Walking with God requires a Power-Filled Relationship:

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge (epignosis – above knowledge, relationship) of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Individual Calling:

I just completed a book which I highly recommend, Terry Rush’s “Afraid God Works, Afraid He Doesn’t”. In his chapter “Where Do We Go from Prayer?”, there is a paragraph entitled: Let Him Lead Us Out of Ourselves. In this paragraph he quotes the writer, Cho:

          "Once I fell in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit started directing the love of  God towards His people, I could no longer hide within myself. I had to step out in faith and believe God for greater things.”

Pride (love of self) and self-pity (self-consumption) become the “decaying things” that can destroy our chances of growing more and more into the glory of God’s presence.”

God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous Light (1 Peter 2:9). God continues to call us to higher ground. Let us seek the unsearchable greatness of God’s power. Let us believe with our hearts that God will bring the “hidden wisdom” of His mercy and grace into our lives. Let us treasure the unfathomable riches of His glory, the mystery, the non-seeable, the immeasurable, the abundant life. Let our AIM in live be to hear God’s calling and to respond by checking, listening, hearing, and ever moving closer to Him in a trusting relationship.

We are hardly able to say that we have succeeded in letting God escape from the “box” we have placed Him in. Let us get over the fear of letting God roam where we cannot explain and taking us along with Him as we hear His calling, hold His hand, and take each step in absolute surrender and unfailing faith.

REVIEW:

God has called you through the Gospel.


2 Thessalonians 2:14
whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


God Continues to Call:

1 Corinthians 7:20
Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.


Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called


There is a General Calling (Higher Calling):

Romans 1:6
among whom are ye also called to be Jesus Christ's:

Romans 1:7
To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, even Jesus;

Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;

1 Corinthians 1:2
unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours:

1 Corinthians 1:9
God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship (relationship) of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 5:13
For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.

Ephesians 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. (See Sanctification Process)

2 Timothy 1:9
who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

1 Peter 1:15
but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

1 Peter 2:21
For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 3:9
not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Jude 1:1
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

There is an individual Calling:

Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.

1 Corinthians 7:17
Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

1 Corinthians 7:20
Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

2 Thessalonians 1:11
To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power;

2 Timothy 1:9
who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,

2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never st

What has God called you to today?

Are you Listening?
If you have not watched this video, please watch it all the way through.  Do you hear something?

The Opposite of Hearing God's Call

Psalm 135:17

They have ears, but they hear not;

Isaiah 6:10

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Number 4 Summer Thoughts: "Have Fun!" A Sad Western Expression

A dear friend from Russia once told me that she did not understand the expressions, "Have fun!" This seemed to be the expression always thrown at her when she left homes in America. She asked me, "Why does everyone say, 'Have fun'" as you go to leave?" Though I tried to explain it was "just an expression", she demanded to know why Americans thought the only thing you were going to do in life would be to have "fun".

• "Gowing up as a Russian, I have always had a sense of duty, of meaningful life experiences, and service to the Lord. My life is not determined by what is "fun", but rather by my love of God and what He wants me to do. No, really!”, she would exclaim as I smiled at her.


Have we as Ameicans bought into a lifestyle that is detrimental to our spiritual growth? Have our lives too often been defined by what is "fun" instead of what is eternally meaningful? Perhaps only in recent decades has "fun" become as important to us as it had become to those notoriously decadent Romans.


I have just finished reading the Book, "Alexander the Corrector" (by Julia Keay) about the life of Alexander Cruden. His famous work, Cruden's Concordance of over 200,000 entries of both Greek and Hebrew words has been a life-long favorite tool of mine for studying God's Word. This book was written while Alexander was in his twenties, in the early 1700's obviously without a computer. His book took him over 10 years to compile with over 1/2 million pieces of paper which he organized by hand in a room as small as some of our American closets.


Most historians and biographers cannot figure out how he actually accomplished the task. He not only wrote definitions for each of the terms but he gave every Scripture where that word was found. If he found the word in a new location, he would have to sort through 40 stacks of 5,000 pieces of paper to add that Scripture to his notes. He not only identified all the Greek and Hebrew words in the Bible, he gave their definitions and where they could be found in both New and Old Testament. He then learned type setting so that he could personally type set, printed, and published the work himself.


He was a true believer and lover of God's Word. He cherished his work on his concordance. He worked fulltime as an editor (corrector) in publishing houses and then worked on his concordance late at night. If you have never seen his published work, I recommend that you find one, not the condensed version, but a full-blown Cruden's Concordance. It has more words in it that the Thompson English Dictionary had in 1700 which took teams of writers, editors, and printers to publish.


Is this type of dedication and accomplishment for God's people and the world a thing of the past? Are we raising a generation of young people who will serve the Lord in favorable and extremely unfavorable circumstances? Learning to serve and humbling ourselves to all kinds of trials, is one way a Christian finds true joy.


Alexander was considered a religious "enthusiast" which in His day resulted in people thinking he was out of his mind. Enthusiasm for religion was discouraged and often resulted in being placed in a madhouse. Alexander was placed into such horrible institutions many times during his life. Once by his family, once by a competing suitor for a lady's hand, once by his sister, once by a hypocritical minister, and other times which he refused to write about.


The conditions of the madhouses in the early 1700's were dark, dirty, crowded, repulsive, abusive, and the treatment was even worse. Madhouse doctors did not know what to do for the "insane" so they gave them tonics to make them throw up and lose control of all bodily functions, strapped them in straight jackets, and chained them to their beds. You did not need a court order to send someone to the madhouse. Cruden was kidnapped on several occasions and taken to be locked up. As long as the kidnapper paid, the inmate was kept in the madhouse.



Through all his struggles, he never wavered in his faith to God. He never wavered from his work on the concordance, and he never retaliated or took revenge on his persecutors. He never made very much money from his book, even though after his death it was declared the most astounding publication for the next 300 years. Only recently, since the computer, has anyone attempted such a task.


Alexander died a poor man, but an "enthusiast" for the spiritual life. He loved God with all his heart, mind, and soul. I don't think "fun" was in Alexander's vocabulary, but faith, service, steadfastness, and spiritual maturity reigned in his heart.


This story is not told in opposition to having "fun", even Christ attended a wedding feast. But our lives need not revolve around empty activities nor should our salutations and expressions adopt the triteness of our culture.


Since it is vacation time for many, this is just a note to remind us that we need to not vacation away from spiritual regeneration, prayer, service, and praise. As a child, my dad would always carry the Lord's Supper emblems, hymnals, and Bibles with us on our vacations. We never missed giving Christ our first fruits of praise and worship for any reason. I thought it was a bit over-the-top as a child...but as I grow older, I see what my dad was sharing with his 5 children --the "enthusiasm" for always serving the One who Reigns.


Let us teach children to serve Christ in all environments so they can gain spiritual identity through a meaningful relationship with Him. Help them to learn not to chase the "dog's tail" of mere fun which can never quench the craving for more. The shallow expression, "Have fun!" could easily be replaced by a more meaningful expression, "Go with God!"

Monday, June 13, 2011

Number 3: Summer Thoughts --Proclaim Him in the Assembly? Among the Nations?

As children of God, we crave our Father's presence in our lives. His power is best realized in our weakest hour. When we humble ourselves to the God of the Universe, we learn our true position in the scheme of things.


First rule of good writing, according to my 7th grade English teacher, is to never begin a paragraph or sentence with the word "I". Only egocentric folks, according to my teacher, begin each sentence and paragraph with "I". Our speech reflects our understanding of who we knowingly or unknowingly wish to promote. If we only talk about "we", "I", "us", then we fail to recognize our "nothingness" and Christ's "completeness". He is everything. He is the beginning and the end (Alpha and Omega). What are we? We are His bond servants, slaves.


Our speech patterns reflect who we "think" we are. If we give honor to Christ and "acknowledge Him in all our ways", then we are truly His disciples. If we depend upon our own talents, thinking, wisdom, and power, then we are foolish. God's plan for us is that in our weakness, He will demonstrate His power.


Only through God's plan for man and His Son can salvation be obtained! Letting God work through us to accomplish His will is a spiritual blessing. How blessed we are that God is willing to work in us. If we give Him glory in ALL things, He will direct our paths.

Our challenge is to practice giving God glory in areas of our lives where we have never promoted Him. We accomplish this by humbling ourselves and raising His name up for praise and acknowledgement.


Growing in Praise: Practice praising His name among believers. Then practice praising His name among friends and family. Finally, pracitice praising His name among the nations (strangers).


Helen Keller is attributed with this very powerful observation: "Humans live to express themselves." Never so true as in today's world. "Freedom of expression" has become a motto for groups and individuals throughout this age.


HOWEVER, it maybe that we have failed in this respect. We have failed in mentoring seekers and new believers in Christ and we have failed in edifying each other through personal testimonies.


(1) Mentoring seekers and new believers in Christ: Please take this admonishment in the tone in which God instructs us to share...with love and grace. We have become a very verbal society. Our TVs, Internet, emails, etc. allow us to communicate in all different forms, styles, and modes. But as Christians we have become VERY silent, quiet, passive, and inane. The first place we see this lack of commitment to Christian expression is often just prior to baptism.

Nowhere in the New Testament is the "good confession" inscribed as a timid, "yes" after hearing the question, "Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?" If we don't encourage new believers to proclaim, "I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (Acts 8:37)  as demonstrated in Scripture, WHERE do you think they will feel comfortable proclaiming it? When will they proclaim it? How often will they proclaim it? Are we doing these dear souls a disservice by not encouraging them to make the "good confession"?

Perhaps if they are not ready to proclaim Him among the saints, they are not ready to accept Him as Lord?


Paul said he made the "good confession" in the presence of many witnesses. Do you think Paul merely said, "yes"? (1 Timothy 6:12-13)


If we are bashful and timid at the point of accepting Christ as Lord, but not at a football game or when watching the "MAVS", how will the world understand or know who we are promoting? Perhaps we ARE only promoting the "MAVS".


Lord, empower us to raise our voices and proclaim your name not only in the assembly of the saints, but teach us to not have a spirit of timidity among the lost (2 Timothy 1:7).


(2) Expressing our Faith through Witnessing: Our society often expresses itself profusely concerning things which have absolutely no merit. We have opinions on all subjects except perhaps those very things which could make a difference in someone's unhappy and hopeless life. It seems that we are shy and restrained about talking about things that really matter because we have not been nurtured in the process. Jesus mentored His disciples in verbalizing their faith, "Who do men say that I am? Who do you say that I am? (Mark 8: 27-29) 

and Luke 12:8 “And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;"

We have minimized the ability of the church to glorify Christ by allowing, "Yes" to substitute for "confessing Christ with your lips, before many witnesses".  "Yes," is a confession? "Yes", does not convict sinners or saints that our Lord reigns.
  • It does not prepare the seeker for confessing Christ with the mouth among many witnesses (Romans 10:9)
  • It does not reflect the praise required in the Kingdom of God (Revelation 4:8-11)
  • It does not glorify God  (Philippians 2:11- every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. or Romans 15:6 -that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ)
  • It does not start us on the road to bravely and graciously giving an answer to everyone who asks: (1 Peter 3:15, but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:")
  • It does not show evidence of the Spirit of God working on the heart (1 Corinthians 12:3 - "Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit")
How and where should the saints be nurtured in confessing their Lord, in talking about spiritual matters, or in sharing the evidences of God's power working in their lives? Where should saints learn to share their faith, their experiences, and their testimonies?

So many Christians want to share their faith, but just don't know how to make a passionate statement about their convictions without seeming harsh or ungracious. The problem is, they have never been able to share in the presence of those who understand and who can nurture them into expressing themselves with love and understanding.

Christ nurtured His disciples and if we are followers of Christ, we will look to the Master Teacher to see how He changed coarse fishermen into powerful witnesses for His Good News.

We have explored the "One to Another" passages before, but this time let us look, with the help of the Spirit, to see how testifying or witnessing may nurture faith among God's people.

If I know that God is working in your life, it will build me up to the possibility that He can work in mine. If I hear your testimony and how you share what God has done for you, then I have a model which I can draw from to help me share my faith with others. 


(1) Building up can take place through the testimony of saints witnessing about what God is doing in their lives. We each have a story which involves God's power and mercy.


1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.


(2) Increasing Faith is not always evident until one testifies to others.


2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;


Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
 
(3) Stimulating to love and good deeds is best done by exemplifying and modeling. You can tell me to go and do "good" or you can tell me, as Paul did, what had worked in your life.


Hebrews 10:24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
 
(4) Help me understand how the power of God has comforted you in your time of trials.


2 Timothy 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,


(5) Remind me of how simple the Good News can be proclaimed.


1 John 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
 
(6) We have Biblical examples of how brethren testified one to another to build up each other and to admonish each other.


3 John 1:3-12 For I was very glad when brethren came and testified to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.




5 Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers; 6 and they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7 For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. 8 Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.


12 Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.


(7) Help me be accountable for being able to witness for Christ.
 


1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.


Romans 15:14 concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.


1 Corinthians 12:8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;


Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.


If humans live to express themselves, then, Lord,  help us in the church to nurture Holy expression among the saints, with our family and friends, and in the world. Help us express our testimonies about what Christ has done and is doing for us. Help us to glorify Christ in our bodies: face, mouths, hands, feet, etc (1 Corinthians 6:20-  for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body)


In word and deed, do all in the Name of the Lord. Amen.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Number 2: Summer Thoughts -- Acts of Worship do they exist and are they "Separate and Apart?"

Learning More About Worship

Where did the idea of "separate and apart" with reference to "acts of worship" come from? 

After 350 AD, churches began to separate acts of worship (Masses) into segments or "sacraments", the Lord's Supper being one of those segments. This practice did NOT originate with either Christ or the Apostles.

This Blog Post will attempt to answer the following questions: 

(1) Has there ever been a Scriptural basis for lists of worship items that were "separate and apart"? 

(2) Are there Biblical texts that designate separate acts of worship? 

Only ONE verse speaks to "act of worship" and this verse is Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your supreme spiritual act of worship.

NO OTHER verse separates worship into "acts". Why not? Keep reading.....

(3) Are acts of worship "separate and apart" from other acts of worship? 

(4) Did human tradition create a check list for "acts of worship" because we felt a need to accomplish certain tasks in order to be pleasing to God? 

(5) Did God ever separate worship into a list of  "acts"? 

If we are truly honest, *list checking* has never been what God intended from us in place of first fruits of praise and worship.


(6) Is the Lord Supper separate from prayer, singing, giving, serving, or admonishment? 

If your answer is "yes", then we need to take a walk through Scripture. Because we are going to find that Christ instituted the Lord's Supper with prayer, singing, giving, and admonishment!  Let's look at God's Word.


Historical Context

In Exodus 12:15-27, the Passover, which the Lord rededicated in His new Kingdom, was instituted with unleavened bread, bidder herbs, and Holy Assemblies which included tefilahs (prayers), singing, bowing low in worship, words of remembrance, and offerings (Exodus 23:15). In fact, a man was not to approach Passover "empty handed" or without an offering to God. 

In Deuteronomy 16, God commands men to appear before the Lord 3 times a year: during the Feast of Passover, Feast of Weeks, and Feast of Booths. In all three of these feasts men were to "rejoice" and "every man was to give as he was able according to the blessing of the Lord..." (Deut 16:1617).

In Deuteronomy 12:1-12, during re-dedication and worship to God, the feasts were celebrated with burnt offerings, tithes, and contributions from their hands. They were to rejoice fully before the Lord. This is a holistic worship...whole-hearted, whole-body, whole-spirit, all in or nothing-at-all worship. God has never accepted less. He deserves nothing less than fully integrated, fully sacrificial, fully dedicated worship. 

In Leviticus 23:5-15, families where to bring their first fruits, offerings, to the Lord during the Passover celebration. 

Passover was a feast of integrated celebration which included all these expressions of honor: assembling, giving, rejoicing, singing, praying, and admonishment.


We see that Jesus maintained the integration of the Passover Feast with prayers, hymns, admonishment, service, and giving (Matthew 26:25-30). In John 13:26-29, giving was still a part of the Passover (instituted as the Lord's Supper). This is apparent as the disciples clearly "assumed" Judas was sent by Jesus to distribute their offerings to the poor. They did not suspect him of betrayal because he held their offerings. 

The "last supper" gathering included Jesus serving his disciples in the washing of feet, praying, feasting, singing, and giving. None of these were cited as "separate acts" of worship. This phrase is clearly not a part of Scripture.

The New Testament never sectioned off "acts of worship". This practice began in the apostate church sometime after 350 A.D. Do we want to follow Christ or follow traditions of men?


Instead of trying to dissect the worship by extracting certain acts as "separate and apart", let us strive to unify the worship as a total experience of praise, honor, sharing, admonishing, communing, and service while remembering the sacrifice of Christ during the Lord's celebration feast. This integrated worship experience is a response to the Grace that has been shown us through His sacrifice. Let us not approach this feast "empty handed". Let us bring our hearts, minds, bodies, souls, spirits, emotions, talents, supplications, praise, and resources to the throne of God by giving Him honor in all these things.

To separate the Lord's Supper from other so called "acts of worship" (non-Biblical term) has no basis in Scripture. To separate is to lose the holistic nature of worship. Since it is not Biblical to separate worship into irrelevant and relevant parts, this practice has a tendency to convey erroneous messages to the worshiper. 

For instance:

Are we "finished communing with The Lord" once the last cup is passed? Really? Finished? Is that why some folks feel like they MUST come for the Lord's Supper, but can forsake the rest?

Vain worship is exemplified by a set of rites, ritualistic acts, and/or ceremonies checked off as if the very act of accomplishing them is enough. True worship, in spirit and in truth, requires the totality of heart, mind, and soul dedicated to adoring God throughout the entirety of our assemblies and our daily living. Is God satisfied with anything less?


To better understand that the assembled worship experience is not a set of isolated "acts" but instead a forum to present ourselves wholly and completely to sacrifice and service, we should look more deeply into the Greek words for worship.  


Since the English Bible has only 10,000 words and the original Greek text incorporates over 50,000 words, it improves our understanding when we search Scripture using the original text. Instead of seeing the Scriptures like a black & white TV-- in low resolution, we are able to see the Scriptures in High Definition with bold colors when we examine a few Greek words.





SIDE NOTE: The bitter herbs which was the "sop" Judas dipped his bread in with Christ (Matthew 26:23 ) represented the bitterness of bondage and betrayal. This was the last time bitter herbs were used. Christ did not give the bitter herbs a place in His new Kingdom. Once the betrayal was accomplished by Judas, the bitter herbs were no longer included or relevant. Christ went to the cross "joyfully" (Hebrews 12:2 ) so that  His Supper became a Thanksgiving Feast (Eucharist - 1 Cor 10).


Let us look at "Worship" in the Original Greek so we can better understand the enormity, the all-inclusiveness of worship instead of the exclusiveness (separate and apart issue). To do this, we need to become familiar with the Greek words used for Worship in our New Testament. 


NOTE: We will NOT look at words for worship which were used in the "negative" sense. Such as:

 threskos thrace'-kos probably from the base of 2360; ceremonious in worship (as demonstrative), i.e. pious:--religious



This term was used to chastise hypocrites for their vain ceremonies and rituals (Acts 18:13) . God is not interested in ceremony and ritual. He has called us into relationship.




True Worship includes:

(1) communion with God. Communion does not end when the last cup is collected into the Lord's Supper trays. Communion means to "drawing near" to God. This is the "spirit" of worship.


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): proserchomai pros-er'-khom-ahee from 4314 and 2064 (including its alternate); to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to:--(as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto). This is the heart of worship.


(2) a celebration, a feast, a joyful expression of our appreciation to God. "Eucharist" is the Greek word for "Thanksgiving Feast". This is the attitude of worship.


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): eucharistia yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah from 2170; gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship):--thankfulness, (giving of) thanks(-giving).


(3) praise, honor, glory, and whole-hearted sincere dedication of your time, energy, resources, heart, mind, body, spirit, & soul, (self) to the Lord. This is the holistic nature of worship


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): doxa dox'-ah from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship. This is the response in worship.

(4) applaud, adore, praise, bowing down, prostrating, humbling self

In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): proskuneo pros-koo-neh'-o from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):--worship. This is the position of worship
 
In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): therapeuo ther-ap-yoo'-o from the same as 2324; to wait upon menially, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God),  
 
In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): sebasma seb'-as-mah from 4573; something adored, i.e. an object of worship (god, altar, etc):--devotion, that is worshipped. This is why we worship.
 
In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): psallo psal'-lo probably strengthened from psao (to rub or touch the surface; compare 5597); to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument (celebrate the divine worship with music and accompanying odes):--make melody, sing (psalms). This is expression in worship.


(5) Voluntary and unrestrained 
 
In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon):  ethelothreskeia eth-el-oth-race-ki'-ah from 2309 and 2356; voluntary; will worship. This is the motive in worship. 
 
(7) seeking God because of a desire and craving
 
In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): ekzeteo ek-zay-teh'-o from 1537 and 2212; to search out, i.e. (figuratively)investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebraism) worship:--en- (re-)quire, seek after (carefully, diligently). This is the emotion of worship.
 
In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): zeteo dzay-teh'-o of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God),


(8) testimony and witnessing about what God has done for you and calling upon Him in prayer


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): epikaleomai ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee middle voice from 1909 and 2564; to entitle; by implication, to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.):--appeal (unto), call (on, upon) This is exemplified in worship.


(9) an assembly.


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): episunagoge ep-ee-soon-ag-o-gay' from 1996; a complete collection; especially a Christian meeting (for worship):--assembling (gathering) together. This is the community in worship.


(10) showing respect, honor


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): eusebeo yoo-seb-eh'-o from 2152; to be pious, i.e. (towards God) to worship, or (towards parents) to respect (support):--show piety, worship This is the result of worship.


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): latreia lat-ri'-ah from 3000; ministration of God, i.e. worship:--(divine) service


(11) showing charity through service


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): leitourgeo li-toorg-eh'-o from 3011; to be a public servant, i.e. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve):--minister. This is the result of worship.


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): latreuo lat-ryoo'-o from latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage:--serve, do the service, worship(-per).


(12) communicating, praying, supplication


In GREEK (Strong's Lexicon): proseuchomai pros-yoo'-khom-ahee from 4314 and 2172; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship:--pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer. This is the privilege in worship.

When we take all these definitions together we see that communion and assembly worship entail praise, prayer, giving, service, charity, and much more. 


ARE THERE Really ONLY 5 ACTS OF WORSHIP?

5-FINGER SERMONS

How & why did 5-Finger Sermons originate?


Back in the day when folks did not own their own Bible, were not Bible literate, in fact, not literate at all, circuit-riding preachers came around occasionally to deliver the Word of God. To help these folks remember God's word, they created the 5-finger sermon; easy to remember and easy to follow.


The 5-finger sermons were NOT the whole truth. We don't just have to "hear, believe, repent, give a singular confession, and be baptized".  We don't just have to "sing, pray, give, partake of the Lord's Supper, and hear a sermon". We can do all these things and NOT be pleasing to God.  These sermons were merely "aids" to the truth.


It is true that if we were the circuit-riding preachers we might have come up with the same sermon ideas when considering our audience. However,  these messages should not become catechisms. The 5-finger sermons were not preached by the Apostles and they should not be held onto as "all truth".  As literate Christians, we should long for more substantial studies in God's Word.


21st CENTURY: "To whom much is given, much will be required."


In a day and time when just about everyone is literate; when multiple Bibles are in our homes; when online lexicons, concordances, Bible references and Bible study materials are available to us at the click of mouse; when our world has become so complicated and stressful; and our spiritual lives are under constant and increasing attack, it is not possible to think that the 5-finger sermons will satisfy the spiritual cravings of this generation.


It is time for the church to chew on the "meat" of the Word and grow in knowledge and understanding beyond sermons designed to assist those who were much less informed. It is time for the church to GROW in wisdom and relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is time for the church to be much better equipped for the times in which we now live.


When we come together in assembly here are just a few of the One Another "acts" we are charged to do: (Note that these are not "One-to-all-others" acts.)

• Romans 15:14  And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.


• Romans 16:16  Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.


• 1 Corinthians 14:25  as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

• Galatians 5:13  For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.


• Ephesians 4:32  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you


• Galatians 6:2  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.


• Ephesians 5:19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;


• Colossians 3:13  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.


• Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.


• 1 Thessalonians 4:9  Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;


• 1 Thessalonians 4:18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.


• 1 Thessalonians 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.


• 2 Thessalonians 1:3  We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;


• Hebrews 10:24  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,


• James 5:16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.


• 1 Peter 1:22  Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,


• 1 Peter 4:9  Be hospitable to one another without complaint.


• 1 Peter 4:10  As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.


• 1 John 1:7  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.


• 1 John 4:7   Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.


• Romans 15:30  Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,


James 5:13  Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.


These "one another" Scriptures refer to each Christian one to another. They do not refer to what is done by a single member, but all members. Do WE give opportunity each time we come together for each Christian to follow these commands?

On a Side Note: The early church fathers wrote that the assembly of the saints was for the primary purpose of remembering the Lord through His Feast. All "acts of worship" were expressions of thanksgiving during this Feast. That WAS the purpose of the service according to the Didache (writings of early fathers). We have slowly moved away from that priority. The modern-day priority has become more about a focus on who and what the preacher is all about. This was never intended by Christ. 

We find the Apostle Paul staying 7 days with church folk in places such as Troas, Tyre, and Puteoli in order to worship with them by the breaking bread.

If, indeed, the Lord's Supper is the main reason we assemble for worship, is there any reason to separate it or to "end it" as in the statement, "we have now completed the Lord's Supper"? Our worship and communion with God should be integrated into the entire worship assembly of praise and remembrance as exemplified in the New Testament.  

Let us grow up and mature in our understanding of God's integrated worship assembly and help us all to grow up in integrating worship into our daily lives.