Humanistic or Supernatural Worship?

So much in modern Christian worship caters to the potential visitors, the membership, the worship leader, and the traditions of the congregation. People know what they want and do not want in a worship service! Unfortunately, this tendency can lead to a rather humanistic 'worship' experience. Pleasing the crowd and appealing to their sensibilities seem to be paramount. All the while we can potentially forget or perhaps disregarded who the true focus of worship is. If we are not careful the church service can degenerate to a mere show focused on us and not the Lord God. Entertainment becomes the standard and not exaltation or edification. Cultural concerns tend to trump biblical mandates. The 'worship' service evolves into a humanistic presentation whose purpose, design, features, and emphasis is the satisfaction of the 'worshipper.' Though there may be incredible expressions of talent, it is still all about us. Though sanctified language is used, the focus is keenly people oriented. 

But what about God? I have concluded that spiritual, supernatural, spirit-empowered worship is indeed edifying to worshippers, but it is supremely honoring to God. God is not lost in the shuffle! Beloved, He is sought, reverence, adored, obeyed, praised, loved, and cherished deeply. Such focus is wonderfully supernatural--God is the target of such praise. Notice how this evidences itself in the Jerusalem church of the First Century in Acts chapter two. Luke writes in, Acts 2:47,

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

I love the phrase "praising God!" The worship of God was certainly the central priority of this local assembly. The phrase occurs a number of times in the NT indicating the focus and concentration of the worship was towards God (Luke 2:13, 20; Acts 2:47; Acts 3:8, 9). The word “praising” means to prize and to speak of the excellence of God. In worship God is the One we seek to extol and exalt!

It was MacDonald, who insightfully observed,

Life became an anthem of praise and a psalm of thanksgiving for those who had been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God’s love. (MacDonald, W. (1995), Believer’s Bible Commentary)

The Psalmist understood the proper focus of worship in Psalm 150 saying,

Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2, Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3, Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4, Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5, Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6, Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Instead of praising people, preachers, and popes, praise the true and living God! 

The early Jerusalem Church is a healthy model for us today and churches must gather regularly for the worship of Almighty God (Acts 2:47). The Christians in the first churches understood this and concentrated the worship on praising God; corporate worship was important to them. They were people who placed a high priority on worship. I believe we should also.

New Testament worship was characterized by joy and thanksgiving because of God's gracious redemption in Christ. In fact deep joy and great gladness marked the early churches and this reality is repeated often in the historical accounts of Acts (5:41; 8:8, 39; 11:23; 12:14; 13:48, 52; 14:17; 15:3, 31; 16:34; 21:17). (Walvoord & Zuck)

 John 4:23, says that those who “worship the Father in spirit and in truth” are true worshipers. You see there is something supernatural about God-honoring worship. Consider the following observations and counsel from the Word of God. So how should we worship today?

Worship in a God-Centered Way.

This early Christian worship focused on God's saving work in Jesus Christ.

John 4:23, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

This is absolutely vital!  We cannot come together to worship the preacher, each other, the special musicians, nor the building itself.  It is right to appreciate all these things, but they are a poor focus for worship. No,  it must be Jehovah that we willingly bow our hearts to, it must be Adoni that we adore in the assembly, it must be the Most High God that we acknowledge to be exalted, elevated, and above all others!

This truth is beautifully illustrated in the 21^st  Psalm.  Though David is being honored as the victorious king and Israel’s monarch, it is the Lord Most High who is worshiped magnified and praised!  Notice these vivid statements of God-centered worship:

Psalm 21:1, The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

Psalm 21:7, For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. 

Psalm 21:13, Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

Worship in a Christ Exalting Way.

Philip. 3:3, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

In worship we should seek to left up Jesus Christ to the place of preeminence and glory that rightfully belongs to Him.  Every Christian should come to church with this goal in mind.  Christ should be recognized as truly exalted, infinitely elevated, royal in rank and honor, enlarged in majesty, renowned and ostentatiously distinguish from everything else!  Not only prominent, but preeminent!  Not merely significant, but supreme!

Not only influential, but Imperial!  Not just Formidable, but Invincible!  Our languages along with all others fail to offer enough superlatives to describe our exalted Lord Jesus Christ!

               1.  Christ is Exalted When We Acknowledge His Power and Wisdom as We Reject Mere Human Resources and Strength.  1 Cor. 1:29-31, That no flesh should glory in his presence. [30] But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [31] That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24, Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: [24] But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

  

               2.  Christ is Exalted When We Acknowledge His Sacrifice on Calvary as Complete and All Sufficient Payment for Sin and the Key to Effective Christian Living.  Galatians 6:13-15,  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. [14] But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. [15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Simply stated, Jesus Christ is exalted when we come together to celebrate New Life in Him as the sole means of our Salvation, Sanctification, and Glorification.  We celebrate because He alone did the impossible; we rejoice in the fact that He alone is the complete Savior and Lord!  It is time to brag on Jesus when we Worship!

FOCUS ON CHRISTWhen we seek to win others to Christ, we must never think we possess any power in ourselves or lead others to believe we do through any air of superiority or lightness as we proclaim the gospel. We would do well to heed the advice of Dr. Payson, who said, "Paint Jesus Christ upon your canvas, and then hold Him up to the people; but hold Him up so that not even your little finger can be seen.

This is good advice for evangelism as well as worship. Let us make it our business to hold up Jesus Christ in our Worship and refuse to place anyone else on an equal or superior position with Him.

Worship in a Spirit Inspired Way.  Philip. 3:3, “ . . . which worship God in the spirit, . . .”  (Also Jn. 4:23-24)

Notice that our praise should be personal and living, not a dead ritual. True worship was that which occurred under the inspiration of God's Spirit as He directs the human spirit in appropriate expressions of praise.  Such spirit oriented worship is not confined to a certain time and place, but it can be rendered at any time and in any place.  

Malachi 1:11, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.

Romans 1:9, For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Worship in a Truth Controlled Way.  John 4:24, God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.   

Worship is the believer’s response with all that he is—mind, emotion, will, and body—to all that God is and says and does.  This response has its mystical side in subjective experience, and its practical side in objective obedience to God’s revealed truth.  It is a loving response that is balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better.  (Warren W. Wiersbe)

Thus we must worship in spirit and in truth. We must be sincere and heart-felt in adoring Him. While following the biblical commands in obedience and conformity to His will in everyday practical ways.  It is internal and external at the same time.  However, the external expressions and internal realizations are controlled by the statements of Scripture.  Worship = Revelation + Illumination + Motivation + Activation!  It is worship to adore the God who revealed Himself in Scripture; it is idolatry to worship a god of our own imaginations! Ensure that you know the God you worship and that He is the God of the Bible! Then lavish your loving obedience to Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength! Mark 12:30, And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Worship in an Individual/Personal Way.

Acts 2:43, And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

                 1.  Be Personally Moved by the Awesomeness of God.

There was a reverential awe, a holy respect that came over each person and the entire church.  They were impressed with a fresh Heaven sent understanding of how awesome God really is. God was magnified in their perceptions personally and collectively! There was individual and corporate impact simultaneously. This holy awe actually amplified their respect for God especially because of the mighty wonders they had witnessed in the assembly. I would to God that we all personally worshiped each Sunday with a fresh astonishment over the awesome power of God working among us.  O that we were more alert, and awake to the electrifying presence of God in the assembly!

                  2.  Be Personally Moved to Action as a Priest of Christ.

Peter said that we are “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).  Each believer acted in his capacity as a priest to offer his own worship and spiritual sacrifices to God, not needing nor depending upon a separate priesthood. The early churches worship definitely did not consist in building elaborate church sanctuaries or in developing impressive ecclesiastical rituals.  They simply worshiped God and God showed up often!

When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him. When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him. When you discover his strength, you will rely on him. But only when he saves you will you worship him.It's a “before and after” scenario. Before your rescue, you could easily keep God at a distance. Comfortably dismissed.  Neatly shelved.  Sure he was important, but so was your career. Your status. Your salary. He was high on your priority list, but he shared the spot with others.Then came the storm … the rage … the fight … the ripped moorings … the starless night. Despair fell like a fog; your bearings were gone. In your heart, you knew there was no exit.Turn to your career for help? Only if you want to hide from the storm … not escape it. Lean on your status for strength? A storm isn't impressed with your title. Rely on your salary for rescue? Many try … many fail.Suddenly you are left with one option: God.And when you ask … genuinely ask … he will come.And from that moment on, he is not just a deity to admire, a teacher to observe, or a master to obey. He is the Savior. The Savior to be worshiped.… A season of suffering is a small price to pay for a clear view of God.”(From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado)

Personal and intimate worship begins with a biblically clear view of the awesomeness of our Savior-God! Why not trust Him as your Savior and Lord today? Forgiveness of sins, adoption into God’s family, and a brand new beginning is what God offers each of us when we acknowledge our sinfulness to Him and in repentance believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, Jesus died for our sins, he was buried, and on the third day He arose from the dead triumphant over sin, death, Hell, and the grave. He did all of this for me and you. As sinners we deserve death, but Jesus died to pay for our sins. He arose again to offer us new life, eternal life, redeemed life through faith in Him. Believe God today! Come on…worship begins when you meet the Lord Jesus Christ as your very own Savior. Trust Him now…yes, this is your opportunity to be saved. 

The Philippian Jailer's Salvation I

The Philippian Jailer’s Salvation I

ACTS 16:25-34

How can a person be certain of their personal salvation?  What must a person do to experience salvation? A genuine salvation experience is presented in this story, and by it we can examine our own salvation experience.  This Bible account will assure us that we are saved, or it will help us decide we need to be saved. This historical event reveals what God must do in salvation, and what we must do in response to the saving initiatives of God. Each of us should be able to discern whether our salvation experience match the Bible’s example. While no two salvation experiences are identical, there are common elements to every genuine conversion.

Genuine salvation is entirely through faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. You see, God begins with illumination and conviction to bring about conversion—repentance and trusting Christ. The result is salvation (new birth) and a desire to please the Lord—the beginnings of transformation.  Let us note these elements in the Jailer’s salvation experience.

I.  The Preparation for the Jailer’s Salvation (Acts 16:25-29). 

God often uses difficult challenges and awkward situations to bring people’s attention to the most important matters in life. One of the most crucial issues of all is a relationship with God, and the forgiveness of sins.  Many people leave this matter unaddressed; they ignore God their entire lives. Except God take the initiative, they would continue in ignorance. Well, how does God initiate and prepare the hearts of sinners for salvation?

A.  GOD USES THE TESTIMONY OF FAITHFUL BELIEVERS.

Acts 16:25, And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

1.      They were Willing to Endure Difficulties as Witnesses for Christ (16:19-24). These preachers sustained a strong witness through terrible difficulties. Paul and Silas has been tried unfairly, striped and publicly humiliated, beaten with rods, imprisoned, and put in chains. Their backs were lacerated, bloody, swollen masses of human flesh. We can only imagine the excruciating pain.  Now they were sitting there in a dark smelly, rat and roach infested dungeon. . . .  But still they bore a strong testimony to the wonderful grace of God! All of this God would greatly use to get the attention of the jailer!

2.       They Prayed and Cried Out to God in the Midst of their Ordeal (16:25). They probably asked God for strength, to forgive their persecutors, and to use their sufferings to reach others for Christ.

Ps. 50:15, And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Jer. 33:3, Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

3.       They were Focused on Praising God Instead of Complaining about their Pain. Perhaps they praised God for His Salvation, the privilege to suffer for the cause of Christ, and for the presence of God through all the suffering. Beaten and imprisoned, Paul and Silas respond by singing a hymn of praise—a song sung directly from the heart to God. The relationship between their song of praise and their supernatural deliverance through the earthquake cannot be overlooked.

Praise directed toward God can shake open prison doors! A man was converted, his household saved, and satanic captivity overthrown in Philippi. Today, as well, praise can cause the chains of bondage to drop away. When you are serving God and things do not go the way you planned, learn from this text. Remember praise triumphs gloriously!

4.       Their Strong Testimony of Faith Gave God an Opportunity to Work Among the Lost. Their faith in the Lord was a strong witness and God used it to prepare the heart of the unsaved for the gospel.

I am reminded of the 4 Men That Brought Their Crippled Friend to the Lord in Luke 5:16-26.  Jesus healed the man and forgave his sins when he saw his friends’ faith. Luke 5:19-20, And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20, And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

B.  GOD INVOLVES HIMSELF SUPERNATURALLY TO DRAW PEOPLE TO HIMSELF. 

Acts 16:26, And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

This was a supernatural moving of God.

    1.  God Used an Earthquake to Get This Jailer’s Attention.

John 6:44, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Often sin provides pleasure for a while—for a season sin is more enjoyable than the force of guilt and regret. The result is people become happy in their sin and have no sense at all that their lives, motives, plans, and behaviors are offensive to God.  When people go on with their lives generally ignoring God, He in mercy will take the initiative to bring their attention to their true spiritual condition.

    2.  God Still Uses Various Means to Grab A (Lost) Person’s Attention Today.

         a. A Natural Disasters (Fires, Floods, Earthquakes, or Storms)

         b. A Tragedy (Death of a Friend, Love One, Co-Worker, Someone in Your Unit, or a Family member ect.)

         c. Our Personal Circumstances (Financial Reverses, Failed Marriage, Person Problems ect.)

         d. The Preaching Of the Gospel of Christ!

         e. Good parents who love God and model the Christian life at home.

         f. The trials and testings of Christians who magnify Christ through their pain.

     3.  God Purposefully Moves Events to Prepare Hearts For Salvation. The earthquake was a natural disaster God used to ultimately achieve supernatural goals.  This is what makes this a supernatural moving of God.  He was interested ultimately in this jailer’s spiritual welfare. God will bring us to the very end of ourselves and our resources so that we will finally look up and remember that He remains the ultimate Reality.  When this happens it is time to turn to God.

C.  GOD MAKES PEOPLE AWARE OF THEIR SPIRITUAL CONDITION. 

Acts 16:27, And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

1.      When the Jailer Was Awakened, His Heart Was Filled With Terror and Hopelessness. 

           a. He realized he would be executed for the prisoners he thought had escaped while he was sleeping on duty.

           b. He realized his execution would bring shame to his family’s name; therefore, he had rather kill himself then to be put to shame. His suicide would actually appear as if he was killed by one of the escaping prisoners.

     2.  Sometimes Life Will Provoke us to Great Fear, and to Despair in Hopelessness. Often we turn to God for help in the form of a ‘microwave fix,’ and other times we run straight to the world’s way of coping.  In every case a person either turns to God or turns further away from God. We will either seek God’s help or look to some humanistic solution.  The tragedy is that some people view turning to God as only optional, not mandatory! But we should always turn to God! Nah 1:7, The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

         a.  The Disciples In A Storm Turned To Jesus. Mark 4:38, And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

        b.  The Woman With The Issue Of Blood Turned To Jesus. Mark 5:25-27,  And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,  26, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

       c.  The Desperate Father Who Brought His Demon Possessed Son Turned To Jesus. Mark 9:17, And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

  3.  The Jailer’s Physical Awakening Led to a Spiritual Awakening. There was an inner awakening to his sinful condition before a holy God—conviction.  His fears of losing his job and perhaps his life gave way to deep conviction of sin. He was now afraid to meet God in his sins. He became keenly aware of his personal need for salvation, deliverance, and a new beginning.  He took the initial step of recognizing his personal need for God and forgiveness.

           a. The sinner must be convinced he is in desperate need of the Savior, Jesus Christ!

John 16:7-11, Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ⁸ And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ Of sin, because they believe not on me; ¹⁰ Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; ¹¹ Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

To “reprove the world” means to warn about the consequences of sin: convict, convince, tell the fault, or even rebuke.  The idea is to overwhelm with arguments for the purpose of persuading: to conclusively prove wrong with evidence. The Holy Spirit in a sense takes the sinner to “court” and causes us to recognize our sinful nature/condition and the consequences of being a sinner.

Rom 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (See also Jude 1:14-16; Rom. 3:10-20, 23; 6:23).

  

            b. Every sinner must be awakened to his need to be saved before he would trust Christ as Savior!  

                  1.  A Person Must Realize He Is Spiritually Sick Before He’ll Call A Spiritual Doctor to Make Him Well. 

MATT. 9:12 … They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

                  2.  A Person Must Realize He Is Drowning in the Sea of Sin Before He will Call on a Spiritual Lifeguard to Rescue Him from death.  Ps 69:1-2, Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.  2, I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

            c. Each Christian can be used by God to make Others Aware of their personal need for the Savior also. Each Christian should desire for their Testimony to Awaken their friends and associates to their unsaved condition!  We today should also long for an Earth quaking moving of God, that sinners can realize their need for Christ!  Don’t hide your light; let it shine!