After posting yesterday about “worship” from the pen of A. W. Tozer, I want to take you to another man who has deeply inspired me toward a deeper, closer walk with the Lord. Being close to God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit cannot be experienced without worship. There are times in my office in my home that I burst out in praise or tears of joy because of the glory I see from communion with God and study of His Word. Read carefully the words by J. Oswald Sanders: “Both Scripture and experience teach that it is we, not God, who determine the degree of intimacy with Him that we enjoy. We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be. True, there are times when we would like to know a deeper intimacy, but when it comes to the point, we are not prepared to pay the price involved. The qualifying conditions are more stringent and exacting than we are prepared to meet; so we settle for a less demanding level of Christian living.” Enjoying Intimacy with God, Discovery House Publishers, 2000, page 10. This is very challenging because it requires a degree of honesty with ourselves that few of us are willing to exercise. Why let the past dictate your future. Make a conscious decision now to get much closer to God and experience the sweetness of fellowship with Him. Then watch what He will do in and through your life as a result.
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To understand worship, we must go back to the original intent. God placed man (Adam and Eve) in the Garden of Eden for His pleasure. All of His creation was “good”, but after the creation of man and placing “dominion over” His creation in man, “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Out of this divine plan came a relationship of intimacy between God and man that would be the pinnacle of worship. In creating man, God gave him an inherent desire for worship. Sadly, the intrusion of sin caused man to worship other things rather than enjoy the relationship with God in worship. In the next few blogs, we will explore the wonder of intimacy with God and what it looks like. Before I close this blog, I quote from A. W. Tozer on worship: Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and over-powering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the ‘first Cause’, but which we call “Our Father which art in heaven.” (Tozer on Worship and Entertainment, Christian Publications, 1997, page 19). Jesus referred to Himself when He said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). From what does He set us free? The “practice of sin” which makes us “a slave to sin” (8:34). How does He set us free? “Christ died for us” (2 Corinthians 5:15) is the glorious message of the gospel. He became our substitute; dying in our place. For us to be truly free from sin, Jesus had to satisfy God’s holy requirements that sin be punished. That judgment fell solely on Him! Now, let’s take this a step further. In accepting Jesus death for us, we see ourselves as dead with Christ which means we are dead to sin (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:2-4). But He did not remain dead (in the grave) as Paul explains so clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:12-23. WE DO NOT REMAIN DEAD IN SIN AND THE GRAVE!! PRAISE BE TO GOD that in our death with Christ we receive freedom from sin through resurrection with Christ (Romans 6:7, 18, 22). This freedom Paul fought for very early in his ministry. There were some who tried to undermine our freedom in Christ by subjecting us to the law and achieving acceptance with God through our works. Such false teaching destroys the glory and perfection of Christ’s work for us! For this reason, Paul says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Are you living in this freedom? We pick up from where we left off yesterday. Paul’s understanding of the gospel included forgiveness of sins. Those in “darkness” and under the “power of Satan” needed to hear this message to be set free. Yet, freedom from this oppression of darkness and Satan does not come merely in the knowledge that God forgives sins. Freedom from sin (darkness) and the power of sin (Satan) comes from “receiving forgiveness of sins (Acts 26:18). This distinction is so important. In Jesus’ ministry, He proclaimed forgiveness of sins to individuals who came to Him (Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:5; Luke 7:48). The scribes took vehement exception to His granting forgiveness, to which Jesus answered, “That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (9:6). This was the message the Holy Spirit gave to Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). Forgiveness follows repentance! Freedom follows forgiveness! Stay tuned for a look at freedom tomorrow. Often there are convictions that grow over time, become crystal clear, and increase in power so that our lives are totally controlled by their implications. Paul’s conversion was like this. As he reflected over those momentous words from Jesus on the Damascus road years before, the specific details of his commissioning grew in their import. As we study them again, we understand better the passion of Paul’s ministry in the gospel.
“And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’” (Acts 26:15–18). Paul’s conversion made the point of “darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God” very clear to him. His own experience as a “persecutor” bent on harming Christians, was confronted with the light of Christ. This gave leverage to his calling. His life before Damascus was controlled by Satan. Now he was empowered by God, the Holy Spirit so the eyes of nations would be opened by the gospel of grace (the light of Christ). Much more could be said about “forgiveness of sins and [being] sanctified by faith”, but let this blog cause you to reflect on your conversion and ask yourself how God is using that to give meaning to your calling and mission. For the person who carries in their heart a deep passion for missions and fulfilling of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), seeing movements of God in our day is very thrilling. For that reason I want to give you some exciting information from the extensive research done by David Garrison and published in his recent book, A Wind in the House of Islam – How God is drawing Muslims around the world to faith in Jesus Christ, (WIGTake Resources, 2014, page 20, 21). “In 2007, a colleague encouraged me to conduct a study of these Muslim turnings. At the time, we could count at least 25 Muslim movements to Christ that we knew of personally or had heard about through the global grapevine. We had no idea, at the time, that the number of movements was actually much larger. By the time we completed our study six years later, we were able to identify 82 movements to Christ taking place in every corner of the Muslim world.” If nothing else, this should ignite a fire in our hearts to pray far more diligently for the gospel to spread through these indigenous movements of God. Paul would beg us to take our passion even further than prayer. As he spoke of the Jews, he said, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2–3). How deep is your passion for the Muslim world? They may not be our “kinsmen according to the flesh”, but God is going to have from their number, these unreached people groups, those who make up the myriads who “say with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:12). Let’s not allow current events to cloud our vision and detract us from pursuing God’s plan and purpose for them also. Psalm 67:1-3 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, That your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!” Myanmar In Myanmar, I joined my colleague Tim, in training a group of people mostly in their twenties, who are trusting God to impact their entire nation. These have given themselves to three weeks of intensive Scripture study, and I joined them for their last week. Each of these students of Acts and Paul's letters, charted out what they believe is God's Plan for their lives, planting multiple churches into the far reaches of this country. Remember, Myanmar (formerly called Burma) was completely closed to the gospel around 2 or 3 years ago. We are seeing what may be a modern movement of God's word like we see in the book of Acts. Cambodia In Cambodia, I was pleasantly surprised and blessed. In the past couple of trips here, I struggled to make connections and see the training moving people forward. There are times we are faithful even when we don't see things working out, but this time was completely different. In the past, people came and went during the three days of training, making it difficult to establish a foundation of learning and growing. This time however, twenty-two people gave themselves completely to digging into God's Word. May I share with you how amazing this is? Many of the older people who came to the training have had limited education. In the mid to late 1970's, Cambodia was a bloody battleground of genocide and war. Millions of people were killed or displaced into very harsh conditions. All of this means that they and some of their children, received precious little formal education. Leading them in an intensive study of Scripture is a task that many of them are not used to. But praise God they gave themselves fully to the task, and they (and I) believe that God is going to transform Cambodia with new church planting movements. Vietnam In Vietnam, we continue to see a most amazing work of God. Brother B., the key leader for this country, takes God’s Plan for His Church training into new cities and villages. With doors wide open by the people (though by the government), over 50 people were trained to take the gospel throughout the country and even into surrounding countries. And most unexpectedly, we found a brother who has translated our manual into Korean! Pastor L. has a passion to see Koreans living in Vietnam, and those in his home country, return to the simple, but powerful plan that we find in God’s Word. God is doing far beyond all we ask or imagine! Reflections If I could choose words from Scripture to capture my thoughts of this last trip, I would choose Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “…I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor…” (NIV) With every step I sensed the favor of the Lord! When God’s favor rests upon us, He causes His Word to run rapidly and effectively in a people group. This we are seeing. And this is our aim. May God continue to do it! As I reflect on repentance and how it played such a critical role in hearts where God planted the seed of the gospel, my thoughts turn back to the Book of Acts. The first day of the church at Pentecost was remarkable. Not only had the Spirit come and filled the hundred and twenty who had been praying for ten days, but there was another special gathering in Jerusalem. “There were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation [ethnos – people groups] under heaven” (Acts 2:5). I doubt there has ever been before or since a gathering like this.
As these “men from every nation” witness the effect of the Spirit coming and filling individuals who composed the church, they question what is happening. This attitude of curiosity opens the door for Peter to preach his first sermon. Empowered by the Holy Spirit who had just filled him, the effect is clearly the working of God. These “men from every nation…when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (2:5, 37). There is no hesitation with Peter. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38). To “repent” means “to change one’s life, based on complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness” (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages). Three thousand immediately obeyed, were baptized and added to the church. As this message is later preached to Gentiles (Acts 10-11), they also are “granted repentance that leads to life” (11:18). What place does repentance have in our preaching the gospel of grace? Power for life change comes through a “complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness.” This was and is the work of the Holy Spirit. In a culture that is determined to weaken the truth of God’s Word or even remove its influence from the public setting, we are faced with a more dangerous problem. There is a present danger that some in the church “will not endure sound teaching” (2 Timothy 4:3). It is one thing for the world to refuse “truth”; that should be expected. But when those in the church refuse sound teaching and “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth” (4:3-4), then it is possible the Lord, the Head of the church “will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5). I am very concerned that we not be among their number. God’s plan and purpose for His glory and the church will never fail, but my deep care for the church drives me to warn those who are satisfied and complacent with where they are. Paul was never complacent as proven by his attitude in Philippians 3. What then must we do to correct a state of decline and stagnancy in the church? “REPENT” and “hear what the Spirit says to the churches!” (Revelation 2:5, 7). It is very hard for us in the Western Church to believe that God does not need our money. Our whole culture revolves around the earning and giving of money. Yet, when the church began at Pentecost, when the growth of the church was the highest it has ever been, money was not part of the growth. The lame beggar at the temple asked Peter and John for money, no doubt to buy food just to survive. “Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”” (Acts 3:4–6). THE GOSPEL IS A PERSON, NOT MONEY! Paul places the power of the gospel to save in “the word of the cross...God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:20–21). Notice that Paul did not add, ‘and money’. THE WISDOM OF GOD IS IN THE PERSON OF JESUS, NOT MONEY! Please understand the point I am making. I am not saying we cannot use money to support the spread of the gospel. What I am saying is that where we have trained in parts of the world and money has been flowing there before we arrived, hearts are much less interested in the Scriptures and biblical principles. WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL! WHERE DISCIPLING AND TRAINING OF CHURCH LEADERS AND PLANTERS IS TIED TO MONEY, persons are distracted and miss the biblical principles. Their hearts and passion for a Holy Spirit filled model, as in Paul, are severely weakened by the pipeline of money. We must be communicating the right message – Christ and His Word! |
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