The Opportunity of a Lifetime! (pt 4) October 28, 2011
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What is “your spiritual worship?”
This verse (Rom12:1) concludes with the descriptive term, “your spiritual worship.” In other versions it’s called “service of worship” or “reasonable service.” It refers to the act of worship – something I do – not as just an outward act, but an inward response resulting in outward action. It is not blind devotion but a reasonable devotion. We have all the reason in the world to worship God through Jesus Christ. The previous chapters brought us to this conclusion.
This “window on worship” shows us that worship is our response to God – who He is and all that He has revealed to us. The truth of who God is, who we are without Christ and who we are in Christ (the gospel), compels us to offer all that we are to Him in love, adoration and service. Offering ourselves like this is not unnatural or unreasonable. In fact, it is reasonable and the fulfillment of why we were created. As an old song states it, “we were made to worship.”
Whereas the John 4:24 passage uses “proskuneo” to define worship as “to kiss or kiss the ground” (intimacy), this passage uses the word “latreuo” and it has the sense of service or worshipping God by what I do – living out my calling as His servant. Both of these elements are vital to becoming an authentic worshipers!
The challenging question that arises most from this passage is how we will respond!
Paul urges us: “by the mercies of God to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.” Notice:
- By the mercies of God He has now freed you to do this.
- By the mercies of God he has given you this opportunity to invest your life for His eternal purposes.
- By the mercies of God, He has enlightened your heart, washed your sins away, raised you with Christ so you can present your body.
- By the mercies of God, He wants to use the rest of your life for His glory and your good!
Present your life to Him now! This opportunity is available to you now. He’s opened the way. Don’t waste your life on temporal living. Inherent in this plea is the imperative to turn or repent. We must turn from world driven living to worship driven living! And note that on the heels of this verse is verse 2. Paul explains further how to carry out this invitation.
I’ve heard it said that the only problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to crawl off the alter! If that’s the case for you it’s time to change direction (repent) and recommit yourself to the One who made you a new creature. Get back on that alter and continue dedicating your life to God out of love, worship and gratitude for all Christ has done for you, knowing He will provide the grace to serve Him as He’s called you. This is the “Normal Christian life”. (See Watchman Nee’s book on this. ) Oh how we need this vision in the Church. The normal Christian life is the dedicated, crucified, Spirit-filled life!
Lord, it’s easy to write and read these words and agree with them, yet what You are looking for is not just a mental assent but an active response with my heart, mind and soul. I surrender to You, Lord Jesus to live in and through me for Your glory, by Your Spirit. I lay all of my life on the alter, ready to do Your will in every area of my life and relationships. You are my amazing, worthy Lord and God!
The Opportunity of a Lifetime! (pt 3) October 26, 2011
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(more thoughts on Romans 12:1)
How do I present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God?
We’ve already covered that the action here of presenting our bodies is to be a one-time dedication, with many recommitments. But how do we present ourselves as a sacrifice holy and acceptable to God? Do I have to first make myself into a sacrifice? Do I have to make myself holy and somehow acceptable to God? Looking at this verse out of context, it would be easy to think that this is what Paul is saying: I need to make my life an acceptable sacrifice to God, one with which he will be pleased.
Picture an alter with sheep lined up to be sacrificed. The Priest reviews the sheep and gives either a thumbs up or a thumbs down as to its acceptability. Is it good enough? Does it make the grade? “Yes” to this, “no” to that? The problem with this picture is that, one: It would be impossible for you to make yourself into a sacrifice holy and acceptable to God. He only accepts perfect sheep. No amount of “cleaning up your act” or adding good to out weigh the bad would satisfy God’s standards.
Second, this approach ignores all Paul has pointed out in the previous chapters. The fact is that none of us can measure up to God’s standards. Through Christ however, as a believer in Him, you are NOW a sacrifice. You are NOW holy. You are NOW acceptable. You are an acceptable sacrifice! Again, Romans 6 reminds us of this as well as other passages such as Paul’s letter to the Colossians:
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” (Colossians 1:21-22 ESV)
We have been so identified with Jesus that God now sees us with His righteousness, His holiness, His life as ours. So also, we must we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus as a living sacrifice. (Rom 6:11)
It’s worth noting here too that even after you become a Christian, it’s easy to slip into a “performance” mode with God. Acting as if I have to somehow make myself holy, righteous and acceptable to God. God does not save us and then tell us to change our lives to become like Jesus. He saves us and tells us we are now like Jesus and our behavior can become like His – like who we really are – as we walk by faith, in His Spirit.
And this brings me to the answer to this question. How do I present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God? It is clearly by FAITH. It is by faith that I must accept what God says about me in Christ. I present myself as a living sacrifice because that is what I am in Christ! I present myself as a holy sacrifice because that is what I am through Christ! I present myself acceptable to God, because that is what I am because of the blessed grace of Jesus Christ!
At issue here I believe, is that I must meditate on and accept these truths about my identity rather than continue to believe the lies that my mind and heart have believed for so many years. Jesus has changed me! I am a sacrifice. I am holy. I am acceptable to God.
Lord, help me to capture the reality of what Your gospel has done for me. God let me not settle for the lies and performance mentality I am tempted to live by. Help me to see what is true of me and the new person you have created me to be in Christ and to live out my life in worship to You!
The Opportunity of a Lifetime! (Pt. 2) October 22, 2011
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(more thoughts on Romans 12:1)
What does it mean to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”?
This is the act of worship right? It is where we take action and respond not just with the thought in our head but with the working out of it with our body – our actions. Earlier in Romans Paul makes the same point: “just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity…so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” 6:19 (This context here is presenting yourself as a slave. Rom12’s context is presenting yourself as an offering or sacrifice.)
Sacrifices are offered on an alter. In this case though it is not to atone for sins, or any shortcomings. The atonement has already happened because of Jesus’ sacrifice. It is not to get anything from God either! Everything has been given to us by our God: forgiveness, righteousness, holiness, power, life. (See Romans 8:31-39) All of this has been given to us by God’s rich grace ,which we receive by faith.
Again, this offering of myself does nothing toward bringing me salvation, righteousness or relationship with God. It is rather, a response. It is the laying of myself on God’s alter out of gratitude and understanding that I was created and have been “recreated” to be a living sacrifice – to have a relationship and be a worshipper of God. The Greek indicates that this is to be a one-time presentation to Christ as my Lord, giving him all of my future. While it indicates a one-time dedication, it’s good to remember that it also will require many recommitments. While I know I dedicated my life to Jesus in my 20s, (actually when I was baptized) I have also had to make numerous, make that daily, recommitments to live as that sacrifice.
- Being a living sacrifice means I am surrendering my will to God’s will for my life.
- It means choosing God’s agenda and purpose for me rather than the world’s or my old life’s agenda.
- It means choosing to believe what God says about me and His plans for my life.
- It means choosing to live out who I am in Him.
- It means taking Jesus’ yoke (or teaching) as my own: to love the Lord my God, with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and to love my neighbor as myself.
- It means dedicating every part of my body – all I have, my gifts, abilities, my resources, my relationships and my future to the God of the Scriptures and surrendering it all to Him, committed to following and doing all He desires. This is where authenticity starts!
If you haven’t made this type of surrender to Jesus as the Lord of your life what is stopping you? If you have, are you living it out in your daily life? Does your life compel others to know Jesus as Lord? 1Pet3:15
Lord, I surrender all to You. I have given you all of my future and all of my being, my gifts, abilities and relationships. Show me any areas I am not surrendering to You. Let me be a living sacrifice, fully committed to Your agenda, Your will and calling on my life in Jesus’ Name for Your glory and honor – and for the joy and fulfillment of my life’s purpose.
The Opportunity of a Lifetime! (pt 1) October 15, 2011
Posted by jmhaddix in worship.Tags: authenticity, Bible, God, grace, life, love, offering, opporutunity, purpose, study, world view, worship
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Perhaps no passage is seen as the climax of the New Testament more than Romans 8. And Romans 12 is a crescendo from chapters 8 through 11.Paul turns in chapter 12 to what our response should be to the gospel and God’s calling to each of us. This is certainly one of the biggest and brightest windows on worship in the entire Bible! We dare not miss it.
This passage as well as John 4 provide two of the primary pictures of what God has created us for and called us to as His children, His men and women, and His church. The choice is ours however. It’s an opportunity presented every day at our doorstep:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1 ESV)
Meditate on this verse often! Ask God to help you apply it to your life. Here are some questions to help us delve deeper into what God is saying and a few of my answers.
What is the “therefore” there for?
Paul is obviously referring to the previous verses in Chapter 11 and also his whole chain of thought starting in chapter 1. Remember this is a letter – he didn’t write in verses and chapters. To this point he has considered the amazing truths of the gospel and God’s graciousness to reveal it to people throughout history. And now, we of all people, have been presented, even called to this life changing relationship in which we are forgiven and give a new nature, a new power and eternal life with God. All of this is because Jesus came and gave His life for us so that we could receive His forgiveness, righteousness and love as our own before a holy, loving, righteous, awesome God. Read up to this verse again from chapter one and I think you’ll get the sense that this command is not just a suggestion. Nor is it an edict being handed down. It is rather an unstoppable, obvious, incredible invitation for us to respond in worship to our God. There is a huge amount of momentum coming up to this verse! It reminds me of Jesus’ words to the Pharisee, “He who is forgiven little, loves little and he who is forgiven much, loves much.” Here Paul has presented overwhelming evidence of our being lavishly loved and forgiven, so much that we can’t help but love the Giver of such grace!
Lord, give me eyes to see the reality of what You’ve done for me personally and to capture the reality of the grace in which we live. Let me be caught up each day in the flood of response (worship) to You, Your grace now affords me.
The Arts and the Great Commission pt. 3/3 August 7, 2011
Posted by jmhaddix in worship.Tags: authenticity, ministry, missions, organizations, purpose, world view
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Why we should use artistic expression
1. The power and purpose of the arts
As the previous paragraphs point out. The arts have the power to speak to people’s hearts and move them toward the gospel and God himself (by the Holy Spirit.)
This is how God intends for the arts to work, for His glory. His greatest work of art, creation, does just that! (Ps 19:1-6, Rom1:20) The Bible of course, doesn’t include references to all of the creative arts, as we know them today. But it is clear about some of them. Music is a chief example. There are others too. From Moses to Paul we see music, poetry, pros and storytelling. Even some of the prophets used dramatic presentations to express and communicate their critical messages.
Again, we have been created with artistic expression (and appreciation) in our DNA. Artistic expression itself is a powerful, God given gift for expressing our hearts, reaching others and glorifying Him.
2. Cultural Receptivity
Our culture, perhaps now more than ever, is looking for and is more open to “messages to the heart and not just the head.” An example of this is very obvious to me from the college campus. When I was a student in college, one of the most effective triggers to spiritual conversations with people was a discussion about the resurrection of Jesus. For instance we hosted a campus-wide event with author, Josh McDowell called “The Resurrection: Hoax or History?” Thousands of students came out to this and 2 other evening events. This created a buzz on campus that led to many students talking with Christians about Jesus. The way to their hearts was through these rather intellectual discussions.
Today however, those types of events are not found to be very effective. There are many reasons for this, however at the root of them is the post-modern belief that truth is discovered not by just an evaluation of scientific or historical evidence. Students now tend to look for truth through their intuition and by hearing another’s story. There is no longer a societal consensus that “truth” – principles that are true regardless of time or circumstances – exist. Therefore, a discussion to find universal truth through reason is generally unvalued. Of course, that does not change the fact that immutable truth does exist and that in our deepest being, we know it exists. (Romans1:18-20)
Nonetheless, campus ministries have found that students these days are overwhelmingly more open to a discovery based on relationships rather than just information coming from a “talking head” however compelling it may be. That’s not to say however, there’s no place for a talking head. It’s just that people’s hearts and minds take much more massaging before they get to the point of seriously listening to a “preacher.” The arts help to do the massaging. Let me say it again. The arts help to do the massaging. (Actually authentic, loving relationships do the most massaging!) Speakers would do well to consider how they can use artistic means like storytelling, songs, video or other mediums, to help them communicate effectively.
The point here is that the creative arts have a much more powerful potential in today’s culture than an information giving tract, book or broadcast. The arts are all about story telling. They are all about drawing the recipient into the artist’s story. And in fact, Jesus himself used the art of storytelling (parables) to convey his most challenging and revolutionary messages. Perhaps surprisingly, the culture of Jesus’ day was very much like our post-modern, relativistic, self-absorbed and even self-righteous culture.
Remember here too that ministry itself involves these three stages: sowing, watering and reaping. Using arts such as music or storytelling will look differently for the various stages. We have to recognize that sometimes a subtle but real message or even a more entertaining expression may do more to move someone toward Christ than say a song with a “deeper” lyric which the target audience can’t relate to.
So to my question: “What did Jesus have in mind when he gave the Great Commission in regard to the arts?”
I think it’s clear that He expects us to use artistic expression appropriately: in such a way that glorifies Him, engages the audience and is an authentic expression of love.
The early church seemed to understand this at some level. Acts 17 provides an interesting example of Paul’s use of secular poetry to get his audience thinking. Perhaps if that poetry had been put to music, he would have used that too. (I talk more about this in my book also.)
Artists must be developed into authentic arts ministry specialists
Perhaps, most important to artistic expression is the authenticity of the artists themselves. In other words, if someone says they are truly a Christian, then their lives should clearly show it. An artist’s life carries a message just as much as his art and sad to say many artists fail to discover the adventure God has for their lives and their art. Like any believer, they easily can get off course and fail to carry out their calling to be salt and light. With artists in particular, there often has been little help coming from the Church too. (ie. vision, encouragement, mentoring, support or opportunity) This is the main reason I wrote “The Authentic Musician.”
Conclusions
The conclusion from all of this is clear.
First, we must use the arts to help fulfill the Great Commission. It is a tool God has given us and wired us to receive. It must be culturally relevant and authentically expressed.
Second, we must invest in, develop, appreciate and send, artistically gifted servant/leaders into the world.
The world is dying and the church is impoverished without Spirit-filled, God-enthused and believer-supported artists using their gifts to communicate the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!
So, what should we do?
1. Keep the discussion and discovery going – How can we best use the arts such that lives are effectively reached and changed? How can we use the arts as sowing, watering, and reaping tools? Study your culture and discern (prayerfully and scripturally) what artistic forms will speak most effectively to it. Culture changes quickly these days and if we want to reach the non-churched we need to speak their language if possible artistically. Also, how should the arts be used in other cultures?
2. Encourage artists in your arena to pursue spiritual and artistic development, to understand more of their calling and God’s purpose of the arts.
3. Develop a greater openness in your own heart to drink in the artistic expression around you – whether God’s or other artists! Look for what God may be saying to you through a sunset or a painting, etc. This may aid your own spiritual development!
4. Invest in God’s work through artistic ministry as He leads you. As with any ministry endeavors, God uses resources of others to support the free expression of the gospel to communities, countries and the world!
Remember: Nothing compares to the experience God’s grace to you and through you to others. Let us use all gifts from Christ, to bring His life to the world we live and breath in everyday!
As Paul said, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.!” (Col1:28,29)
The Arts and the Great Commission pt. 2 August 6, 2011
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Creativity and Artistic Expression
We all are artistic because we have been created in God’s image. It’s actually part of our DNA. Part of God’s image is artistic. His artistry is a reflection of His creativity. And we humans have the same creative wiring, which is often expressed in artistic terms. (Gen1:26) Now note that I’m not just talking about paintings or music. Being artistic means that we can creatively employ our unique gifts to produce a work that is a reflection of our thoughts or imagination.
Obviously, we employ our creativity every day in a variety of ways, but artistic expression is a very unique way of expressing our creativity. It employs gifts we are given and develop. Artistic creative expression is demonstrated in the gifts of music, visual arts: painting, photography, sculpting, video and a host of other means like storytelling, script writing, poetry, and songwriting. It can be seen in many different environments: even in the way we carry on our conversations. You may be a carpenter, cook, computer engineer, housemaid or film composer – all of these and just about every job description can employ creative, artistic elements. You can even be artistic in how you talk with someone or even text them. 
No doubt, artistic expression is only one avenue of creativity, but I think it’s safe to say that everyone has some artistic intuition and appreciation. They may not know it, understand it, or accept it but all you have to do is look at someone’s childhood to see artistic gifts and expression.
The power of artistic expression
Artistic expression also has a special place when it comes to accessing people’s thought processes and their hearts. That is why it is such an influential and powerful gift we need to understand. Certainly, creative gifts such as music or film don’t overpower someone’s will, but these gifts do go beyond just intellectual stimulation. The arts can engage one’s emotions and challenge one’s convictions and assumptions. They can get someone to consider life from a different perspective. They can, not only engage a person’s intellect, but their emotions and heart.
True artistic expression is intended to speak to people’s hearts. The artistic gifts don’t just speak to the head, they speak to the emotions and even the deepest places of the heart where our deepest emotions, convictions and beliefs reside. Talk to any serious artist an you will find that they are intent on expressing their gifts for their own pleasure and usually for the pleasure or provocation of their audience. Obviously, it’s the job of a Christian artist to understand God’s purpose for artistic expression. I’ve written about this in my book, “The Authentic Musician.” Here’s my summary of what the Bible says about the arts:
The arts are valuable gifts from God, for the expression of our hearts, the encouragement of others, and the pleasure of God.
So when it comes to trying to reach people with a message, should we speak their language and try to engage them as “humanly” and authentically as we possibly can? Of course! I believe artistic expression should be part of our proclamation of the gospel because we’re trying to reach people who are wired to contemplate artistic expression. And, not just any art will do, but culturally relevant artistic expression is necessary if we hope to have an impact. But, given how missions and ministries have sometimes failed to use or value the arts, in both modern times and throughout church history, it is obvious that this is a needed discussion.
Remembering that God has called us to carry out the fulfillment of the Great Commission, and to build His church we must know and understand the tools God has given us. We must also remember that Jesus spent three years training his disciples for ministry and the Holy Spirit came to continue his work. And so, we are still in training and must always be teachable when it comes to ministry. The Spirit is our teacher, our guide, our comforter and power. He ultimately must be the driving source behind all ministry.
Part three will conclude with some practical applications.
The Arts and the Great Commission pt.1 August 5, 2011
Posted by jmhaddix in worship.Tags: artist, Great Commission, kingdom, ministry, missions, musician, purpose, Truth, world view
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The Arts and the Great Commission
Questions:
What did Jesus have in mind in regard to the arts when he gave the Great Commission? What about when he sent the disciples out on ministry ventures during his 3 years on earth? What had God said in the OT when it came to the arts and their role in furthering God’s redemptive work? What can we assume about the arts in ministry today?
The question behind these questions is, “If God has been working to redeem humankind since the fall, has He just wanted to get the word of the gospel out, or has He ordained means besides just giving people the information?”
Could it be that in the previous century (the modern era) we so often packaged the gospel message, that we missed a critical means God has desired for us to use in reaching people for His Kingdom? What can we learn from church history? What means does God really use to bring about transformation in a non-believer and believer’s heart? In short, is God pleased with how we proclaim the gospel?
Those are a lot of questions! In fact it would take a book, or several, to answer those questions. But my reason in asking them is to get you thinking about God’s role for the arts in ministry. Like many things, it isn’t until we question the status quo or realize things aren’t working as well as they could, that we start asking.
How does God change people?
Some of the answers to these questions are answered directly from the Scriptures. We know for instance, that the Holy Spirit transforms people’s hearts. He uses the written Word (2Tim3:16, Heb4:12, Rom12:2), worship of the Living Word, Jesus (2Cor3:18), prayer and many other things to draw us to repentance and to take on His likeness. Transformation starts with our minds – getting us to think differently – to understand God’s grace not just intellectually, but to the core of our being, our hearts. As our thoughts change and the Holy Spirit has more access to our hearts we “put on Christ.” (Eph 4, Col3)
There is nothing about our activity alone that can change someone, however we can pray and ask God to work. And He does! How God works and what He uses is sometimes a mystery. But since He has commissioned us to share and live this Word, we should assume that He will use us as we faithfully obey Him! And this brings me back to the question of how God desires to use us to share this transformational Word.
Show and tell
It’s amazing that God has chosen to proclaim the gospel and disciple the nations through us! He’s given us the privilege of being his messengers! This has been His commandment to believers ever since Jesus ascended to the Father: “Go and be my witnesses, proclaim the gospel, and make disciples of all nations!” (Act1:8, Mark 24:47, Matt28:18-20) And we human beings are artistic. The people we are called to reach are artistic. Plus He’s created many of us with special artistic gifts.
More on this in part 2!
Remember June 9, 2011
Posted by jmhaddix in worship.Tags: authentic, God, offering, remembering, world view, worship
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October 23, October 6, March 28. These are all dates I will remember every year for the rest of my life. Why? They are the birthdays of our two daughters and now our first grandson, Jude! We have the pictures to prove it! What amazing events each of these dates represent. Wouldn’t it be weird though if I never made much of these days or for that matter never took any pictures of our newborn gifts from God? Wouldn’t it even be unnatural to treat these births as nothing special and to forget about them?
It’s hard to imagine. My wife and I want to remember the joy, the miracle, and the wonder of seeing each new life enter our world.
God feels the same way. It’s hard to underestimate the value He places on remembering significant events and people where He moved. Here’s one example.
“When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’”…..that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’….these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” (Joshua 4:2,6,7)
These verses pretty much speak for themselves don’t they? God wanted Israel to remember that dramatic display of His power for generations, when he brought them into the Promised Land by holding back the Jordan River.
Now, we could site many other places where God commanded or led his people to set up remembrance stones (standing stones), or something similar (e.g. the Passover Celebration, The Feast of Booths, etc. Gen28:18-20; 35:14,15, Ex12:14, 24:2-4, Lev23,Jos24:27)This is climaxed with the celebration of Communion in the New Testament. Indeed, large portions of the psalms and prophets are rebukes to man’s unwillingness to remember!
How does this relate to worship? Are there lessons from remembering that will help us be more authentic and bring more pleasure to God in our worship? Think about all of the places you know of in Scripture that exhort us to remember. Is there a reason for this?
The fact is there is power in remembering. Remembering helps us realize that God has moved in the past. It helps us realize the truth of who God is and the security of His word and promises. In order to look up (to God) we have to look back to what He’s revealed about His person and His ways. We have to remember and not just make something up, or wish something is true. Other religions may encourage you to just look within or to seek some type of feeling divorced from anything type of revelation, but not Christianity. To know God, and worship Him, we must remember and receive His word. (John1:1-5,12)
I think it’s obvious that we tend to forget. We tend to water down the significant events in history and even our own lives. In fact, it’s very easy for us to even turn remembering into just something to check off our list rather than to really drink in the miracle of the “God sightings” in our lives and history. Things like: our salvation, our experiences of God’s presence, the significance of Jesus life, death and resurrection, the personal restoration and healing God has worked in our lives, and the many revelations given in the Bible itself.
God knows we need to remember and remember deeply. That’s why he’s commanded it. It affects how we approach God, others and our future. We can’t worship authentically without remembering the story God has placed us in.
Now the question is do we remember and value the right things? Do you have “standing stones” in your life? What are they? What are ways that help you remember and then engage in authentic worship of our Lord?
Next time you have to cross a “River Jordan” remember the standing stones of your past.
No Easy Buttons May 31, 2011
Posted by jmhaddix in worship.Tags: authenticity, Christianity, God, offering, sacrifice, sin sacrifice, worship
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“I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 1Chron21:24
He was finally King. It took countless sleepless nights, countless turns and returns. Someone had been after him from the time his eligibility for King was announced (actually prophesied). He been betrayed, chased and finally vindicated.
As one of his first acts as King, David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He wanted to put God first in the nation. He wanted the ark (a symbol of God’s power and salvation) at the center. He arranged to have the ark brought to Jerusalem as part of a joyous, worshipful event but something went wrong. God had specified that the ark must be carried with poles. When it was brought in on a cart, the oxen pulling it stumbled and the driver Uzzah, steadied it with his hand. That was death for Uzzah and it put an end to the procession.
Fast forward nearly 30 years toward the end of David’s life. Again he is seeking to worship God. This time at the direction of a prophet, David must build an alter. This would stop the pestilence ravaging the land because of his disobedience. Araunah, the owner of the threshing floor where the alter must be built tells David to just have his property and his oxen for the offering – no small gift I’m sure. It would have been EASY for David to just accept it and make the offerings. After all, he was the king right? Plus this would save him, and the kingdom some money right?
David however, was not willing. He’d learned something earlier about worship and God’s heart: “But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”
There are lots of lessons from this story. You may have already picked some up yourself.
One is that WORSHIP IS NEVER FREE. It costs something to worship God. Let that sink in. As a Christian the amazing truth is that our ability to come before God and be accepted by Him, is not based on any offerings we can make. No matter how much we seek to “pay” for this acceptance it’s impossible – it costs too much. Jesus however, paid the price for us with his own life. This is the central message of our faith.
What we must continue to remember is that it costs to be able to worship God. It cost Jesus his life. I’m afraid that in our modern worship culture, sometimes we approach worship as if we are going to a movie, or a game, or something else for our own fulfillment, fun or satisfaction. We want our worship to be easy and we can ignore the price it cost for us to even think about entering God’s presence.
This is one reason we must always keep Jesus’ life and the cross at the center of our understanding when it comes to worship. I get nervous when I’m at a worship event, and amidst all the celebration, there’s no attention or meditation given to the cross.
Another lesson here is that while we don’t worship for acceptance before God, WORSHIP STILL INVOLVES SACRIFICE. Note that David’s sacrifices were also peace offerings – offerings that celebrated peace (acceptance) with God, as opposed to the burnt offerings for sin. Worship by its nature is about putting God first, not ourselves. It’s about honoring God through the “process” as well as the “product” of our worship.
The sacrifices we now offer are for God’s pleasure, to lift Him up above ourselves. Hebrews puts it like this: “ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Heb13:15
How does our approach to worship, stack up here? Does our approach to worship embrace this principle of sacrifice? I think this primarily this means I must die to myself when I worship. I must take up my place in Christ – demonstrating His humility, His love, His obedience (i.e. my new nature.) I must die to myself – even in the small decisions. David learned this – to carry the ark with poles, – to not take the easy way but pay for his offerings, – to not build the temple when God had told him his son should build it etc.
And for me? And for you? What have we learned? Dying to self will look differently in different worship cultures. (It’s even different on different days for me!) The list of ways we should die to ourselves could go on and on couldn’t it? I must die to myself in order to worship authentically.
NO Easy Buttons allowed.
“Fall down and worship me…” May 10, 2011
Posted by jmhaddix in worship.Tags: offering, Satan, temptation, the fall, vision, worship
2 comments
If you’re familiar with Jesus’ life at all, you know that shortly after He was baptized, the Spirit led him into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and nights. Matthew says he was led to be tempted by the Devil; Luke says he was led in the wilderness being tempted by the Devil. I think we have to remember that Jesus’ focus here would not have been to be tempted by the Devil. He had another agenda, another purpose – a higher purpose as the following verses show. And obviously the Devil had an agenda.
What would Jesus’ agenda have been? His first agenda clearly was to follow the Holy Spirit. His underlying purpose however, is found in his three responses to the Devil’s temptations, and probably summed up in the final response in Matthew, “You shall worship the Lord you God and him only shall you serve.” (Matt4:10)
It would not be inaccurate to say that Jesus’ life was all about worship. His worship was expressed in his devotion to God the Father – the intimacy He pursued. It was expressed in his actions toward men also. The teaching, the healing, the compassion, suffering and the cross, were all acts of worship toward God as his first love. His complete obedience is evidenced here in the temptations and all the way to Gethsemane through to the cross. He lived and died as an offering first to God of worship, and then to accomplish His will toward men. (Eph 5:2, 2Cor5:21)
In the wilderness, led by the Spirit, Jesus must have felt compelled to ask God to prepare him for the ministry he was about to embark on. He knew God’s heart and desire. He knew God’s agenda for his life was be the embodiment of the Father’s love toward men and through his death and resurrection to give God a people that would be his people – a kingdom, an eternal inheritance of holy, pure, righteous people from the earth. This was an overwhelming calling – something no one else could have accomplished! Perhaps the 40 days was a time for Jesus to envision this – to see the hope to which he had been called so that he would run the race before him. (Heb12:3,4) Perhaps it was a time to lift his heart to God, to listen to Him, to intercede for the world. It was probably this and more.
The three temptations the Devil brings give us rich insight into his nature as well Jesus’ character. We won’t look at all three here but suffice it to say this. Twice Satan questions Jesus’ identity – “If you are the Son of God.” Then he tempts his fleshly desire and Jesus responds revealing his submission to God’s authority and will. (Matt4:4) He then tempts Jesus’ to question God’s power and Jesus responds acknowledging God’s power and Lordship over his life. (Matt4:7)
The last temptation seems almost as if the Devil is exasperated and reveals his true motive, “All these (the world’s kingdoms and glory) I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.” What did he tempt Jesus with? He tempted him with a short cut to his vision. Satan offered Jesus an easily attainable but corrupted version of what he came to earth for. Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. He offered him this world – a sinful fallen world and kingship over it. All he had to do was supplant God with the Devil. It may have looked good (though not really) and this may be why Satan showed it to him, but on the inside it was corrupted. And the cost to get all of this? Much less than going to the cross and giving His life, though ultimately this is an absurd question.
Jesus saw how ugly this temptation was and responded again with Scripture. (Matt4:10) The Devil left until another opportune time.
Do you see the connection with our worship? Satan is hungry for your worship too and he will secure it through any means he can. He uses the world to tempt us. We often have legitimate needs and visions and desires – desires God wants to meet in His timing – under His authority and Lordship in our lives. But Satan comes and offers us a short cut to those things (though corrupted) if we’ll simply compromise who or what we worship. (It doesn’t matter to Satan.) This is one reason why we must be vigilant about our worship lives. The Devil is still alive, tempting, deceiving, promising and killing.
I think the applications are clear: the battle is real, we must know Scripture, apply scripture and discern the world’s (Satan’s) lies, and keep Jesus as our first love.
What does Jesus’ temptation teach you about your spiritual journey? Learn from Jesus’ example and remember He came to bring us real, uncorrupted life! John 10:10
(this is part of the series: Windows on Worship)
