"Worshipping God in a Proper Order with Fear Can Change History" By Pastor Keith Sherlin (www.essentialchristianity.com)
Worshiping God in a Proper Order with Fear Can Change History
Doctrinal Thoughts
When the evil liberalism invaded the main line denominations of America in the 1900’s it derailed American Christianity in a major way. Many even today do not realize how far south the spiritual climate has become due to the fact many have been inoculated to the sinful climate. What is one of the main areas whereby sin and Satan derailed much of Christianity? Much of Christianity suffered when false ideas of what worship means spread across the globe. For many worship means something we only do on Sunday’s in the church fellowship when we sing. Others have embraced the idea that worship means some ecstatic experience that leaves one in a euphoric state of mind, basically emotionalism. Still others have embraced the idea that worship means only an intellectual pursuit of truth. Though all of those elements, singing praise to God, emotional experiences, and seeking God’s truth with the mind have a part in worship, those do not explain the heart of worship.
The heart of worship begins in a proper understanding of who God is. When one understands the nature of God it places an enormous amount of fear into the heart. The heart comes into the presence of God, learns about who he is through Jesus Christ, and then leaves his presence as a changed person. Yet coming to God means one must come to him with the right attitude, with the right respect. Dr. Robert Webber, possibly the leading authority in Christian circles today on Worship, has stated: “the early Christians recognized the need for Acts of Entrance and Acts of Dismissal in worship. Consequently, historical worship is divided into four movements: (1) We enter into God’s presence; (2) We hear God speak; (3) We celebrate at God’s Table; and (4) We are dismissed” (The Worship Phenomenon: A Dynamic new Awakening in Worship is Reviving the Body of Christ, 37). Worship is not something we do first to gain entrance into God’s presence. We worship because of being in God’s presence. “Worship tells and acts out the living, dying, and rising of Christ. Worship celebrates Christ’s victory over evil, the certain doom of Satan, and the promise of a new heaven and new earth” (p.33). We can see that our brethren of the Old Testament understood the order of worship. The people in Nehemiah’s day feared God, they respected God, and they responded to God when he revealed himself to them. When the priest Ezra read the Scriptures it motivated the people to revere, respect, and respond to God. “So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion . . . . Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Then Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all the people chanted, ‘Amen! Amen!’ as they lifted their hands toward heaven. Then they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Now the Levites . . . instructed the people who were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage” (Nehemiah 8:2-8). Note that because of their reverence for God, a proper fear of him, it motivated them to learn about God from the word, to praise God for the word, to fall to the ground in worship because of the word, and then they left from the word to “eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them” (Nehemiah 8:11). The course of history changes when people come before the Lord with fear and reverence.
Life Application
Let me ask you two questions. First, how does your church worship God? Do you read about God, revere God, and then respond to God in worship and acts that can change the course of history? Secondly, do you fear God? Do you recognize that he is worthy to be worshipped, adored, and cherished because he is the center of the universe, the one who holds all authority over you and the course of history? Memorize this verse, it will help you worship God correctly: “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7).
Doctrinal Thoughts
When the evil liberalism invaded the main line denominations of America in the 1900’s it derailed American Christianity in a major way. Many even today do not realize how far south the spiritual climate has become due to the fact many have been inoculated to the sinful climate. What is one of the main areas whereby sin and Satan derailed much of Christianity? Much of Christianity suffered when false ideas of what worship means spread across the globe. For many worship means something we only do on Sunday’s in the church fellowship when we sing. Others have embraced the idea that worship means some ecstatic experience that leaves one in a euphoric state of mind, basically emotionalism. Still others have embraced the idea that worship means only an intellectual pursuit of truth. Though all of those elements, singing praise to God, emotional experiences, and seeking God’s truth with the mind have a part in worship, those do not explain the heart of worship.
The heart of worship begins in a proper understanding of who God is. When one understands the nature of God it places an enormous amount of fear into the heart. The heart comes into the presence of God, learns about who he is through Jesus Christ, and then leaves his presence as a changed person. Yet coming to God means one must come to him with the right attitude, with the right respect. Dr. Robert Webber, possibly the leading authority in Christian circles today on Worship, has stated: “the early Christians recognized the need for Acts of Entrance and Acts of Dismissal in worship. Consequently, historical worship is divided into four movements: (1) We enter into God’s presence; (2) We hear God speak; (3) We celebrate at God’s Table; and (4) We are dismissed” (The Worship Phenomenon: A Dynamic new Awakening in Worship is Reviving the Body of Christ, 37). Worship is not something we do first to gain entrance into God’s presence. We worship because of being in God’s presence. “Worship tells and acts out the living, dying, and rising of Christ. Worship celebrates Christ’s victory over evil, the certain doom of Satan, and the promise of a new heaven and new earth” (p.33). We can see that our brethren of the Old Testament understood the order of worship. The people in Nehemiah’s day feared God, they respected God, and they responded to God when he revealed himself to them. When the priest Ezra read the Scriptures it motivated the people to revere, respect, and respond to God. “So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the scroll of the law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people paid close attention to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion . . . . Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Then Ezra praised the LORD, the great God, and all the people chanted, ‘Amen! Amen!’ as they lifted their hands toward heaven. Then they bowed down and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Now the Levites . . . instructed the people who were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage” (Nehemiah 8:2-8). Note that because of their reverence for God, a proper fear of him, it motivated them to learn about God from the word, to praise God for the word, to fall to the ground in worship because of the word, and then they left from the word to “eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them” (Nehemiah 8:11). The course of history changes when people come before the Lord with fear and reverence.
Life Application
Let me ask you two questions. First, how does your church worship God? Do you read about God, revere God, and then respond to God in worship and acts that can change the course of history? Secondly, do you fear God? Do you recognize that he is worthy to be worshipped, adored, and cherished because he is the center of the universe, the one who holds all authority over you and the course of history? Memorize this verse, it will help you worship God correctly: “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7).
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