Got Joy?

Do these words of Jesus seem to apply to everyone except you?

• John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
• John 17:13 “But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

Jesus says that His followers could experience His joy. He said that they not only should have His joy but also that they would experience His full joy. How are you doing? Does your joy seem to come and go? Do the worries of tomorrow rob you of your joy today? With the tough economic times and the social upheaval it is not really unexpected that most people would find it tough to live a life full of rejoicing. But this is in fact the command of God to His children.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always;

Can this be possible? As hard as it is to believe, it is possible to rejoice even in the toughest of times. From the beginning of Creation God has given men the option of finding a joy that transcends financial hardship and other distresses.

• 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

• 1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

In the next few weeks let us look into this joy and begin to make it our own. If you spend any time talking to Christians it is obvious that this kind of joy is elusive but even so, the important thing is to realize that it is possible to have the joy of Jesus in its fullness. Not only is it possible but it is promised to His followers. In order to realize Christ’s joy in our lives it is necessary to understand a few things about the promise of joy and also a few things about ourselves. Let us begin.

Why is a lasting joy so hard to find?

 The American College Dictionary defines joy as, “an emotion of keen or lively pleasure arising from present or expected good; exultant satisfaction; delight.” All people have an innate desire to be happy, to find joy in this life. We live in a world that takes this natural desire for joy in life and funnels it towards the pursuit of things which only give a passing joy or happiness. The Bible warns us against looking for joy in the things of this world.

• 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Even in the United States, a Christian nation, there is a concerted effort to remove God from all segments of society further removing from its people the source of lasting joy leaving only the transient joy given by the things of this world. The world offers many types of temporary joys. People find their joy in things they eat and drink. They find joy in their job or in their success. People even find their joy in entertainment, or material possessions.

What is wrong in finding joy in these temporary things? The problem is that people were created to enjoy God.

• Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

God is not a temporary source of joy. He does not change; the gifts that He gives are always good and perfect and He will always be there for us.

• James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

He is the Northern star for our joy. Since our joy was built to be placed in a constant source, when our joy is placed in a temporary source and we begin to rely on it, when it disappears our joy goes with it. We experience feelings of depression, of helplessness, and of isolation which for us becomes intense wiping out any joy we had just a moment ago.

Wonder why it is so tough to find a lasting joy? Are you placing your joy in the things of this world? Have you made God your joy? If not, it is the place to start. More next week.

Christian Ideals?

Most Christians tend to live their lives with certain ideals in their heads, standards by which they desire to live their lives. When you look up “ideal” in the dictionary this is what you find.

A conception of something in its highest perfection,

an ultimate object or aim of endeavor, one of high or noble character.

Is this tendency for Christians to live for an ideal a good thing?  Should Christians have ideals that they aspire to?  For example, is it an ideal for the Christian to love God more than anything? Is it a Christian ideal that our love towards our neighbor should be like our love for ourselves? It is true that these things should be true of Christians. But are they ideals?  Herein lies the problem. Let me ask you a question. What is the wrong with coming up short of an ideal? Maybe one might feel a disappointment, a sense of weakness or a realization of a lack of discipline. These responses are exactly the problem. These responses come up short of the reaction that God requires because God does not hand down just simply ideals to shoot for, but commandments to obey.

Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment.  “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

Christian love is not an ideal to be lived up to but a commandment to be obeyed. When we come up short it does not call for simply a feeling of disappointment or a commitment to try harder it requires repentance and an asking for forgiveness.

I believe it is this transformation of commandments into ideals that has led to a famine of confession and humility on the part of Christians. Let the Scriptures speak concerning the thing that God looks for in His people.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (If) My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Most of us will continue to live the Christian life as if it consisted merely of ideals to live up to with no real consequences if they fall short instead of commandments to be obeyed needing confession and repentance when disobeyed. Are you one of those or are you ready for God to hear you and forgive you and heal you? The choice is yours.

The way you can interact with others is to follow the blog entry from top to bottom and then post a comment about what you read. Each entry will be a devotional done by one of our pastors.  Here is how each entry is broken down.  Since we are dealing with God's Word we begin by reviewing the possible outcomes of our interaction with God's Word.  We call these our expectations.  After we meditate on the various expectations we should have as we approach God's Word we then pray to God using the IOUS format (thanks to desiring God). When we are finished praying we read the passage and then jot down our thoughts. After that we revisit our expectations and see which ones God has fulfilled in us with the particular passage we read. The pastor will post his interaction with the passage and you can contribute through your comments. We look forward to hearing from you!

Date: June 01 2010

:Expectations:
1. Convict me of sin. 2. Call me to serve.
3. Command me to change 4. Cause me to praise
5. Challenge me to sacrifice. 6. Compel me to pray.

:Prayer:

I - (Incline!)

Our souls need an inclination toward God and His Word.
Ask God to take your heart and create desires
that are not normally there (Psalm 119:36).

O - (Open!)
We need to have the eyes of our hearts opened
so that when our inclination leads us to the Word,
we see what is really there, and not just our own ideas (Psalm 119:18).

U - (Unite!)
Our hearts are badly fragmented.
Parts of it are inclined, and parts of it are not.
We long for a united heart where all the parts say a joyful Yes!
to what God reveals in His Word (Psalm 86:11).

S - (Satisfy!)
What we really want from all this engagement
with the Word of God and the work of His Spirit
is for our hearts to be satisfied with God.
(Psalm 90:14)

:Text:

Ephesians 2:1,4-5
You were dead in your tresspasses and sins in which you once walked...
But God... made us alive together with Christ.

:Thoughts:

Talk about rags to riches! There is one difference though, generally rags to riches happens when one pulls himself up by his bootstraps.  Here we are pulled up not by our own bootstraps but by the blood of Christ.  I have always been amazed and humbled by the question, "Why me?"  The only thing I know is that the answer to that question does not involve merit on my part.  Even though the answer to that question may be mysterious the implications of being chosen are glorious!  What a source of praise is the little word, "but" in Ephesians 2:4.

:Expectations Met:

1. These verses brings into focus again, for me, my sinfulness not only before salvation but after.
4.  Praise God for such a gift!  He has saved me.
5. What a mercy!  As Paul exhorted... by the mercies of God present yourselves as living sacrifices!

This is the first post of this sort on our blog. The way you can interact with others is to follow the blog entry from top to bottom and then post a comment about what you read. Each entry will be a devotional done by one of our pastors.  Here is how each entry is broken down.  Since we are dealing with God's Word we begin by reviewing the possible outcomes of our interaction with God's Word.  We call these our expectations.  After we meditate on the various expectations we should have as we approach God's Word we then pray to God using the IOUS format (thanks to desiring God). When we are finished praying we read the passage and then jot down our thoughts. After that we revisit our expectations and see which ones God has fulfilled in us with the particular passage we read. The pastor will post his interaction with the passage and you can contribute through your comments. We look forward to hearing from you!

Date: May 25, 2010

:Expectations:
1. Convict me of sin. 2. Call me to serve.
3. Command me to change 4. Cause me to praise
5. Challenge me to sacrifice. 6. Compel me to pray.

:Prayer:

I - (Incline!)

Our souls need an inclination toward God and His Word.
Ask God to take your heart and create desires
that are not normally there (Psalm 119:36).

O - (Open!)
We need to have the eyes of our hearts opened
so that when our inclination leads us to the Word,
we see what is really there, and not just our own ideas (Psalm 119:18).

U - (Unite!)
Our hearts are badly fragmented.
Parts of it are inclined, and parts of it are not.
We long for a united heart where all the parts say a joyful Yes!
to what God reveals in His Word (Psalm 86:11).

S - (Satisfy!)
What we really want from all this engagement
with the Word of God and the work of His Spirit
is for our hearts to be satisfied with God.
(Psalm 90:14)

:Text:

Ephesians 3:8
To Me the least of saints this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

:Thoughts:

The riches of Christ are certainly unsearchable. As I think on the unsearchable riches of Christ the depth of His mercy and grace seem all the more glorious as I contrast them to myself, the least of all saints. How can I, a servant of such a generous God, any longer content myself with the things of this world? How can I not be about "my Father's business?" To me, and indeed to all those that God has called out of this world, God has given the privilege of preaching the gospel (the unsearchable riches of Christ) to the world. I will try to always have the unsearchable riches of Christ in mind so that I will be more inclined to preach those riches to others.  After all God has been merciful to me, a sinner (Luke 18:13)!

:Expectations Met:

1. Oh Lord forgive us when, by our actions and lusts, we diminish the value of the gospel.
2. Help us to serve by being faithful in passing on what we have received so freely from You.
3. Father as you have shown us our need for change we pray that you give us the strength to fulfill that which you command.
4. Father, we praise you for the gloriously wonderfully unsearchable riches that are ours in Christ.

Are You a Good Person? And Why It's a Good Question

Are You a Good Person?
Why it is an important question.

Are you a good person? Most of us would like to be considered good people. Not only do we desire to be, but we understand that being a good person will tend to pay eternal dividends. We think for instance, that all good people will go to heaven and all bad people will go to that place we would all rather not talk about. With this much at stake shouldn’t we make sure we are in fact good people? Where can we go to find a good standard with which to measure ourselves? Well it stands to reason that if there is a heaven and hell, and if hell is as unpleasant as it is reputed to be (and I am sure it is) and those who are there would rather not be, there must be an omnipotent judge who will determine, with authority, who will go to which place. What would the judge’s standard be and what verdict would he hand down on our lives? Are we in fact good or bad people?
In the Scriptures (Bible) we read these words…

Romans 3:12
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

So the verdict is in, at least from the one who matters, the one who has the ability to determine where we go regardless of what we think, and with no appeals. If you are like most people you will be tempted to say, “Wait a minute I think I am a good person, what standard does God use?” That is a good question, let’s take a look.
Let’s look at a few of the Ten Commandments which most consider a “good” place to start (pun intended).

• Thou shall not steal…
Have you ever stolen (taken something that did not belong to you) anything, no matter how insignificant? If you have what would that make you…. A thief.

• Thou shall not commit adultery…
Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus said that if you look upon another with lust you have committed adultery already in your heart. If you have lusted upon another you are an adulterer.

• Thou shall not bear false witness (lie)…
Have you ever lied? If you have what does that make you? A liar.

Can someone who is a lying, thieving adulterer claim to be a good person? No not really, but I can hear the complaints… “I only did these things a couple of times and I do not do them now, I am trying to be better!” Have you ever stopped to consider where those bad things came from? What was it in you that would allow you to be a liar or an adulterer or a thief in any given circumstance? Even if you only stole one time, what was it about you that would allow you to even contemplate stealing once? The Bible tells us that the ability or inclination to do evil comes from within us. Sure our environment, our circumstances may be an enticement, but ultimately it is our own lusts that bring forth evil.

James 1:13-16
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

When we realize that we have not measured up to God’s standard and when we understand the reason for this is that on the inside, we have lusts that cause us to violate God’s law almost continually, then we can be helped.

Romans 8:6-7
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;

We cannot merit heaven on our own; we are sinners, evil people who have gathered to ourselves the just deserts for our sins. We have earned death and separation from God forever in Hell.

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death…

We, however, are not without hope because even though our sins earn us death, God has made away to make sinful, evil people acceptable in heaven.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The law of God which tells us that we are evil people drives us to find an escape in someone else and that someone else is Christ.

Galatians 3:23-27
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

When we confess our sins, when we say the same thing that God says about them, and place our faith in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection on our behalf then we can be made acceptable in Him. You see Christ was good, he lived a perfect life. Christ died as a sacrifice to satisfy the Father’s wrath upon sinners who come to Christ in faith. He took upon Himself the sin of us all. Through Christ our sins have been punished; through Christ we can find rest and righteousness. We cannot claim to be good ourselves, but we can claim the goodness (righteousness) of Christ.

Philippians 3:8-9
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

So I hope you can see how important your view of yourself is. Are you a good person? If you think so there is no hope for you. You will continue to try to get to heaven on your own merit and you will fail. You will be cast into hell to pay for your own sins. If you understand your sinfulness before a Holy God you are not far from the kingdom of heaven. You must then…

Romans 10:9-10
confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 10 for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

If we can be of any service to you please contact us.

Pastor Jeff

How can you tell that you are headed for Spiritual Trouble?

From time to time I have been asked if there were spiritual symptoms that could be relied on to foretell impending spiritual trouble. A Christian’s spiritual health is not unlike his physical health in that there are warning signs of impending spiritual trouble. In the physical world a person can usually tell when he is coming down with a cold. He will experience a “tickle” in his throat (or something similar) which is a warning sign of an impending “full blown” cold. Just so, in the spiritual realm a Christian can tell when he is “coming down with something,” when he has begun to go down a path that will lead to open sin and rebellion. He can know that he is heading for spiritual trouble. Unlike the physical realm however, where once the preliminary symptoms are felt the illness will invariably manifest itself, in the spiritual realm a preliminary spiritual symptom does not mean a “full-blown” spiritual meltdown is inevitable, it is always avoidable.

The spiritual symptoms that are easiest to see and most people point to as symptoms of spiritual trouble are actually symptoms of the end result of spiritual neglect, they are like those that show up when a physical illness is “full-blown.” Most people can tell if someone has succumbed to the flu because the symptoms are easy to see. The spiritual signs most people recognize and take notice of are those symptoms which appear only after the spiritual crisis is ignored and the situation has become critical. For example unrepentant sins such as lying, cheating, swearing, fornication, adultery, gossip, anger, pride and bitterness are symptoms of a spiritual condition that has been ignored to such an extent that it manifests itself for everyone to see. People can see when you have the flu, and people can see when your spiritual troubles have become publically recognizable.

What is needed is to identify that symptom which precedes the ones associated with the onset of a “full-blown” spiritual crisis or failure. If a person can do that he will not get to the point where his life openly manifests the symptoms of spiritual failure. There is a symptom that warns us all is not well with our spiritual health. What is this symptom? It is our love for God growing cold. The things that nourish and guide our relationship with Him become a chore. When a person’s relationship with God becomes burdensome he is “coming down with something.” How can a person tell if his relationship with God is growing cold? A person’s relationship with God is dependent on two things to keep it vibrant and alive. Those two things are reading God’s Word and prayer.

Psalm 119:47 And I shall delight in Thy commandments, Which I love.

Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

If these two things have become a grind then we are in trouble. When Bible reading and study along with prayer become a chore we can be sure that our love for God is growing cold. If our love for God becomes cold which is a sin, a further slide into sinfulness is not far behind. It was Joseph’s relationship with God that kept him pure.

Genesis 39:9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil, and sin against God?”

David also saw his sin in relationship to God and Him alone.

Psalm 51:4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge.

This correlation between spiritual health and our relationship with God can also be seen in the greatest commandment.

Mark 12:29-30 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

I hope all of us will also take into consideration to the words of Jesus to the church of the Ephesians.

Revelation 2:1-5 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ‘Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

The church was doing great things, at least on the outside, persevering against evil men, exposed false apostles, but their relationship with God had begun to grow cold. Jesus considers this of the utmost importance. Repentance was required and if it was not forth coming Christ would dissolve that church. A red hot love for God is obviously important.
Our relationship with God is the place where our spiritual vitality is anchored. If your love for God grows cold your spiritual vitality begins to wane. Here are more thoughts from the Scripture along the same lines.

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

Those who are God’s love Him and keep His commandments willingly for they are not burdensome to them. And yet they also can hold a warning about maintaining our day to day love for God. We must not let our love grow cold, we must not let anything else come between us and the Lord, not even things generally thought of as good. Things such as, Sweethearts, spouses, jobs, possessions, hobbies, vacation, and money, all of which are not evil in themselves but can become and an evil influence when they begin to replace God as our priority and our first love.

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

If you begin to find your love and joy in things other than God and His Kingdom then you are coming down with a spiritual crisis. You have been warned.

One of the easiest ways to tell if your love is slipping and your priorities are skewed is to examine how you feel about reading His Word and prayer. If your love is warm and alive you will delight in His Word and you will have a habit of secret extended prayer. These will be your priority and delight. You may say, “But these two things have always been a grind and a chore for me!” Then I would say that you have always had a low-grade fever (spiritually speaking) and you are probably always struggling against sins that others have overcome and have never been satisfied with your relationship with God.
Most Christians spend their lives masking this shallow, cold relationship with God by appealing to the flesh. What do I mean by that? Well, they will go to churches that have a “great praise band” or a “killer youth group” or some similarly appealing and emotionally engaging service. The sense of “worship” and “praise” is relieving. It is like swallowing a spoonful of honey when you have a sore throat. It takes away the pain for a moment but the sore throat is still there.
Christian concerts are also very popular for the relief of a cold spiritual relationship with God. Many Christians who are lukewarm or cold in their spiritual walk with God report amazing feelings of worship during the concerts, but their day to day walk never changes. Those who have a vibrant love life with God require little in the way of external props to gush forth in heart-felt praise. Those who go to a church and judge it as “dead” because it does not help them by ushering them into a worship experience are saying more about themselves than they are about the church they condemned.

The only way to have a vibrant walk with God when it has grown cold or lukewarm is to acknowledge the sin, repent and open the door to Jesus.

Revelation 3:15-21 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. 16 ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

It is interesting that many Christians think verse twenty is an evangelistic appeal, but it is an appeal to a church to return to be hot for God. They had grown cold in their love for God and yet still thought all was fine. Some how we think God will accept less than our hot fervent love. We live as though a lukewarm love is more than enough. Is there any wonder our Christian lives do not measure up to what we know they should.

Is there a quick fix? Nope. Paul said maintaining our love is tough and a struggle that will go on till we are finally cleansed from all fleshly influence.

1 Corinthians 9:23-27 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it. 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.

If we have been born again our heart will cry out “Abba Father,” and we will not be satisfied with a less than stellar Christian walk. How can we tell if our walk is starting to be a stumble? How can we tell if we are walking in God’s will? Answer these two questions.

1. Do we DELIGHT in reading, understanding and applying God’s Word?
2. Do we have a CONSISTANT and FERVANT time of prayer?

An honest “yes” to these means we are on the right track and are probably spiritually healthy. A “no” to these two questions means our spiritual health is failing. We need to take action to avert a spiritual crisis. Remember Jesus does see this as a crisis, something in need of repentance (Rev. 3:15-21).
One further word of warning, failure to change a “no” answer to question 1 & 2 into a “yes” may give evidence that such a person is not a Christian. We should also notice in Revelation 3 above, that Jesus expects the church to respond and overcome!

If I can be of service let me know.

For You …
Pastor Jeff

What is Worship?

Have you ever left a Sunday service and felt empty? Have you ever felt as though you were just going through the motions during a worship service? You are not alone, and you are right to be concerned. Jesus had no patience with those who were not intimately involved in their worship.

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

‘This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far away from Me."

Matthew 15:7-8

The symptom of heartless worship is a sign of a deeper malady namely, misunderstanding what worship is. Worship is not just a Sunday morning experience, although Sunday may well be a time of worship. Worship is not something that is worked up through music or other stirring skits or speeches. Most pagans can work themselves up into a frenzy and come away convinced that they have communed with a diety, but have they? So… what is worship? Unfortunately when most Christians answer this question they equate worship with good soul-stirring music. This definition of worship is wrong but is held by the majority of the evangelistic world. Why do I say that? Well, in most churches what does a worship leader do?

• Does he lead in corporate prayer? No.
• Does he expound the scriptures? No.
• Does he direct a testimony time? No.

All he does is lead the congregation in singing and music. If a man is called a worship leader and all he does is lead in the singing and music ministries what then are we saying about worship?

It also seems by our use of the word that we generally limit worship to something done on Sunday. Most of us go to church to worship. Unfortunately if worship is the reason we go to church it can breed within us a selfish outlook towards church. We go to church wanting to receive something (like good American consumers), namely a worship experience and our church had better deliver the goods or we will move on to a more “spirit filled church.” Am I denying that worship is an important part of going to church? Not at all, but as we will see worship is a vital part of every day of our lives not just Sunday. Christians are by definition people who worship.

“for we are the true circumcision,

who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus

and put no confidence in the flesh,”

Philippians 3:3

Christians get out of bed to worship, eat breakfast to worship, go to work to worship, every moment of every day is an opportunity to worship, so naturally they will worship at church. In everything they do Christians glorify God, giving Him the pre-eminence in their lives, showing Him and the world His infinite worth, thereby worshipping Him.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do,

do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

The problem with limiting our “worship” to Sunday is that Monday through Saturday we live as though God need not be acknowledged through worship. We do not meditate on His word, we do not pray with out ceasing and with fervency, and we do not witness to those around us. Is it any wonder that our “worship” on Sunday seems hollow? You see, in order to worship on Sunday we need to be worshipping God during the week by making ourselves living sacrifices.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice,
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1-2

It is interesting to note that worship is not mentioned as a reason that the early church gathered. The church is mentioned as gathering for very specific reasons.

• To spur one another on to love and good works.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
and let us consider how to stimulate one another
to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own assembling together,
as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;
and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."
Hebrews 10:23-25

" Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are varieties of ministries,
and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects,
but the same God who works all things in all persons.
But to each one is given
the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
1 Corinthians 12:4-7

• To be equipped by the pastor/teachers for the work of the ministry.

"And they were continually devoting themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets,
and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of service,
to the building up of the body of Christ;
until we all attain to the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a mature man, to the measure of the stature
which belongs to the fulness of Christ."
Ephesians 4:11-13

• To fellowship around the Lord’s Table and for a time of prayer.

And they were continually devoting themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42

But what about those verses that speak of awe and wonder and praise, where do they fit in? They (awe, wonder, and praise) fit in when they come, not by great and moving music, or the skills of a fantastic worship leader, but in response to obedience to God’s commands.

"And they were continually devoting themselves
to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe;
and many wonders and signs
were taking place through the apostles.
And all those who had believed were together,
and had all things in common; and they began
selling their property and possessions,
and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house,
they were taking their meals together with gladness
and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day
those who were being saved."
Acts 2:42-47

As you can see in the early church, worship was a byproduct of their obedient lives, and of devoting themselves to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, prayer, having all things in common, and having a sincerity of heart. Can you understand now why your worship might seem hollow? You can do something about it. Do you desire to worship God? Then seek Him with all your heart 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Seek and you will find. You will find your heart ready and able to praise a God whom you have loved all week. Let us offer God our very best at all times.

A son honors his father, and a servant his master.
Then if I am a father, where is My honor?
And if I am a master, where is My respect?’
says the Lord of hosts to you,
O priests who despise My name. But you say,
‘How have we despised Thy name?’
“You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.
But you say, ‘How have we defiled Thee?’
In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’
“But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil?
And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil?
Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you?
Or would he receive you kindly?” says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 1:6-8

"Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the Lord is upright;
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord."
Psalm 33:1-5