The Heart of Worship

“I will praise You with my whole heart” – Psalm 138:1a

 

A.W. Tozer, in his book Whatever Happened to Worship? said the following about worship:

 

I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and delight of worshipping Him. A worshiper can work with eternal quality in his work. But a worker who does not worship is only piling up wood, hay and stubble for the time when God sets the world on fire . . . . God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us – to worship Him and enjoy Him forever! (p. 12)

 

Tozer goes on to further state of worship:

 

If we are truly among the worshipers we will not be spending our time with carnal or worldly religious projects. . . . I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” (p. 13).

 

As you can see, Tozer felt worship was very important if not the most important thing in the life of a Christian. And the Bible would bear that emphasis out too. Worship is what we will be doing for an eternity.

 

Worship has been greatly neglected by many. Some see worship as a mere warming up for the teaching of the word. But a spirit and heart of worship is what we should live in and especially come to church with to hear the word and then strengthen our heart of worship. Some have made worship out to be music alone, but music and singing is only a small part of what worship is. Worship is a heart attitude, a way of life.

 

Worship is designed and ordained by God not because He is a cosmic narcissist. Far from it! Worship is good for His people. Worship can be linked to every facet of our lives. We come to an understanding of our purpose and meaning in life through worship.  We become overcomers in life through worship. We reach the world as they see our lives of worship to the Lord. Marriage, family, and church all come together and are strengthened through our worship of the Lord. Worship is central to all we are and do in the Lord and that is what this study intends to show.

 

 

 

The Heart of Worship

PSALM 138 - ¹ I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. ²I will worship toward Your holy temple,  And praise Your name  For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.³     In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.⁴     All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth.⁵  Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord.⁶  Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.⁸  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

This is a magnificent Psalm that gives us a wealth of revelation on what worship is all about. In this psalm is the heart of worship. David wrote this psalm. We don’t know what the occasion was for David writing it. Some think it was in response to God’s blessing David with an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam. 7). Or it may have been in response to a victory over an enemy and “the gods” of that enemy. (In ancient times opposing forces relied on their respective gods. Victory or defeat were then connected to these gods.) Let’s look at it and see what it tells us about worship.

First, the heart of worship is a step of faith, an act of the will. Verse one says, “I will” (138:1a; Psalm 5:7).  Worship is not something we necessarily have to be in the mood to do. We don’t have to feel like worshipping to worship God. Worship begins with an act of faith regardless of how we feel. The Bible says we are to walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). I have learned that if, (even when I don’t feel like it), I step out in faith and worship the Lord, my feelings of worship follow my willful step of faith. Faith is the engine, feelings the caboose. Feelings follow acts of faith. By faith worship the Lord.

Second, the heart of worship involves praise (138:1b). “I will praise. . . .” “Praise” is the translation of the Hebrew term yadah and means, “to confess, praise, and give thanks”. The word literally means to hold out the hand; to revere; to worship with uplifted hands. We come to the Lord confessing and acknowledging our limitations, weaknesses and sins. We don’t come to God in pride. We come to Him in humility. We lift our hands in total surrender and admission of our unworthiness. And as we receive His forgiveness we lift our hands in praise and thanks. We all are who we are by God’s grace (1 Cor. 15:10). For that we should all lift our hands in praise to the Lord.

In Hebrews it states: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). We need to practice the worship art of praise.

Third, the heart of worship is directed toward God. David states, “I will worship You. . . . .” The Triune God is the only One deserving of our worship. Why Worship God? The Bible tells us that God commands us to worship Him (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; 96:6-9). God alone is worthy of praise and worship (Revelation 4:11; 5:9). It is God alone who has created the universe and sustained it by His grace and therefore it is God alone who is worthy to be worshipped (Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 4:9-11; 14:6-7).

Another reason for worshipping God is because of His holiness in contrast to our sinfulness.  When Isaiah had his vision of the Lord on His throne in heaven it brought him into an immediate repentant awareness of His sin. God cleansed him from his sin and then gave Isaiah the opportunity to represent God. Isaiah’s immediate response to volunteer to go as God’s ambassador to Judah was an act of worship if ever there was one (Isaiah 6). Acknowledging and experiencing the holiness of God results in our worshipping God (1 Chronicles 16:28-29; Psalm 29:1-2; 96:7-9; 99:5, 9). God’s holy mercy in light of our sinfulness should drive us to worship God (Exodus 34:6-9; Joshua 5:13-15; Nehemiah 9:1-3).

The apostle Paul when he got to the end of what God was inspiring Him to say about salvation and the nation of Israel in the book of Romans burst out in spontaneous praise and worship saying:

• Romans 11:33-36 - ³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord?     Or who has become His counselor?”³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him  And it shall be repaid to him?”³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

When you realize all that God is and all that He has done, you cannot contain yourself but must bless God and give Him the honor and worship due Him (see also Psalm 115:1-8; 145:1-13; Revelation 11:15-17; 15:3-4; 19:1-4). We were lost helplessly and hopelessly in sin and were living in outright rebellion against God. We were His enemies (Romans 1-3). But God through faith in Christ by His free grace provision made a way that our sins can be forgiven (Romans 4-5). While we were in sin, separated from God and at war with Him, in love and by His grace He sent His only Son Jesus to pay the debt of our sin on the cross (Romans 5:8). Anyone who trusts in Jesus to save them from their sin is forgiven by God and stands justified before Him. “Justified” and its cognates means just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned (Romans 5:1).

Once justified, we are told of the new life to be lived in Christ. We are to live a life of holiness (Romans 6). If we try to live that new life in our own strength we’ll only achieve wretchedness (Romans 7). But when we depend on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit we can be more than conquerors (Romans 8). The pinnacle of life in Christ is life in the Spirit.

Not only does God save us and give us power to live right, but He elects us to serve Him in certain tasks, just as He did with Israel (Romans 9-11). Israel was elected by God in the Old Testament to represent God to pagan people. Israel is God’s servant. Israel was God’s means to incarnate Jesus, His only Son and Highest Servant. And those who follow Jesus find their place of worship in answering God’s elect call to serve Him in life.

Having taught the justification by faith in Christ, God’s call and empowering provision to live holy, and that God gives us holy purpose in electing us to serve Him, Paul can no longer contain himself. He bursts out with an expression of worship in his letter in Romans 11:33-36. The gracious salvation of the Lord drives us to worship Him (Revelation 5:9-14; 7:9-17).

Fourth, the heart of worship involves the whole heart. David says, “I will praise You with my whole heart; . . . .” (138:1c). Jesus expressed His repugnance at halfhearted devotion to God in His letter to the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-19). Someone has said, “The world says half hearted devotion is better than no devotion at all. But Jesus says if you can’t worship me with all your heart don’t worship Me at all.” When we take into account the grace and mercy and blessing of God, anything less than wholehearted devotion and worship of God is inappropriate, offensive and blasphemous.  We are to seek and serve God with all our hearts and that is especially true of our worship (Psalm 9:1; 111:1; 119:10, 58, 69, 145).

The term “worship” found in this verse is shachah and means to bow down; prostrate oneself; to worship. In the Greek New Testament  “worship” is translated from the term proskuneo which means, “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand; to fawn or crouch to, to prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore);  worship.” ^[1]

Picture in your mind the way a dog relates to its master. The prime attribute of a dog toward his master is that HIS MASTER IS HIS WORLD: security; provision; purpose for being; joy and happiness.  

Now notice the word wasn’t defined by saying, like a cat licking its master. Cats have no masters; or at least that’s the way it looks. Look at the contrast between dogs and cats toward their owners:

 

·         Dogs look up to you like you’re “God.” Cats look down on you as though they don’t need you.

·         Dogs follow you around the house and everywhere else. Cats don’t want any part of you most of the time.

·         Dogs want to lick you. Cats only want to be stroked and petted.

·         Dogs paw you. Cats claw you.

·         Dogs come when you call and will go anywhere with you. Cats won’t come when you call and go berserk when you try to take them to unfamiliar surroundings.

 

Be a dog not a cat in your worship relation to God. Be:

·         Totally devoted like a St. Bernard 

·         Totally attentive like a German shepherd

·         Totally excited like a terrier

·         Totally obedient like a Golden retriever

·         Totally reliable like an Irish sheep dog or border collie who herd the flock

·         Totally strong in defense of their master like a bullmastiff

A have a friend who has a dog and it is a dog like all dogs that craves attention. If when I go over to my friend’s house I show any attention at all to his dog, the dog stays close and looks for more and more. The dog gets excited and jumpy (even though it is a big old furry dog). If I don’t pet it or rub its ears or scratch it, the dog nudges my hand with his nose and when I respond he joyously and excitedly licks my hand and shows me great affection. That’s the best way the dog knows how to show his appreciation and love. He doesn’t care who else is around watching him. He just goes all out to show he likes and appreciates my attention. That dog is far lower than a human on the chain of God’s creation. But humanity is far lower in relation to God in this universe. Can we show God any less worship?

While God wants us to come humbly before Him, He does not endorse some of what is associated with worship at times. We should not take the above illustration too far. There have been instances when in the church people have literally acted like animals in their “worship.” This is out of order and not pleasing to God (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Our worship, as we will see, needs to be governed by the scriptures. If it isn’t found in the Bible, it isn’t something God endorses. Barking like dogs, squirming like worms and behaving like farm animals is not worship, it isn’t revival, it is unbridled carnality. Acting in such unbridled ways offends God not to mention discredits the Bride of Christ the Church.

Fifth, the heart of worship is a spiritual thing. David says he wholeheartedly praises God “before the gods I will sing praises to You” (138:1d). Worship is a spiritual thing; it takes place in a spiritual dimension where there are “gods.” Worship makes a statement in the spiritual realm that God and God alone (the Triune God of the Bible) is worthy to be praised and glorified.

You must be born again! The first thing that must be in place for someone to worship God is that they be born again. When a person acknowledges and turns from their sins (i.e. repentance) and asks God’s forgiveness based on faith in Jesus Christ, they will be forgiven. At that point the Holy Spirit will indwell them giving them spiritual eternal life (cf. John 3; Acts 2:38-39; 2 Cor. 5:17, 21). Just as you were born physically, you must have a second birth; you must be born again. Only with the regeneration and second birth of the Holy Spirit can you know and experience worship (cf. (Romans 8; 1 Cor. 2:9-14).

There will be spiritual opposition. There are many religions with many different “gods” (which are really no gods at all – 1 Corinthians 8:4-6). We need to understand that when we worship or seek to worship that all hell and the army of Satan will oppose us and seek to detour and distract us from worshipping God.

Put on your spiritual armor. We need therefore to put on the full armor of God to accomplish worship (Ephesians 6:10-18).  It is a shame and disgrace that sometimes those who worship false gods do so more wholeheartedly than those who worship the One true God! Some succumb to the distractions and deceptions of the enemy and have their heart of worship stifled. For some the opposition to worship is from within, form their carnal sinful nature (Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 3). Some people prefer to pout before God than praise Him. Our worship should reflect the truth that God is real, omnipotent, holy and all loving. It’s about Him not us. We shouldn’t be bashful about our worship. We should stand up and be heard. We worship the Living God! (Psalm 42:2; 84:2; Isaiah 37:4, 17; Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 6:20, 26; Hosea 1:10; Matthew 16:16; Acts 14:15; Romans 6:10; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 6:16; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:10; Hebrews 9:14; 10:31).

Are there really any idols today? Read what one writer said about modern day idolatry:

What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. For us there are still the great gods Sex, Shekels, and Stomach (an unholy trinity constituting one god: self), and the other enslaving trio, Pleasure, Possessions, and Position, whose worship is described as “The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Football, the Firm, and Family are also gods for some. Indeed the list of other gods is endless, for anything that anyone allows to run his life becomes his god and the claimants for this prerogative are legion. In the matter of life’s basic loyalty, temptation is a many-headed monster. ^[2]

Yes, there are idols today and many are caught in the sin of idolatry. It may take a different form than in ages past, but it is idolatry nonetheless. Idolatry today is just as sinful if not moreso given the full revelation of God in His only Son Jesus Christ. We need to cast down our idols and worship God. God calls us to worship Him and cast down our idols (e.g. Jer. 4:1-4).

Worship is a Battle for Your heart

Let me just say at this point that worship is a battle for your heart. When Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, it wasn’t long before Satan sought to win Jesus’ heart by getting Him to worship him. When we look at that incident we see the strategy of Satan exposed:

·         Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” (Mat. 4:8-10; see Exodus 20:2-3; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20).

First, understand the devil wants your worship – “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” To the devil worship is worth all the kingdoms of the world “and their glory.”  Getting you to worship him is his top priority and mission objective.

Second, understand the devil thinks he can buy your worship; “And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”  The devil puts a price tag on your worship. Have you sold your worship? If he can’t get you to worship him, he will try to distract you from worshipping God. He will buy your worship through distracting alternatives such as sports, recreation, work, family, and friends, anything that will keep you from worshipping God in the congregation of the Lord. Satan will use “good” things to keep you from the “best” thing worship. Guard against being diverted from worshipping God.

Third, understand the devil should be shooed away – “Away with you Satan!” Satan is defeated (Col. 2:15). Jesus in us is greater than Satan in the world (1 John 4:4). God will crush Satan under our feet (Rom. 16:20). All we need do is draw near to God in worship and resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7).  Put Satan in his place. When he comes knocking, ask Jesus to answer the door. And you keep worshipping the Lord.

Fourth, understand worship is something we must do – “You shall worship the LORD your God.” Worship of God is not optional. Worship is something we need to do. And “the LORD your God” is the ONLY ONE to whom we are to give our worship.

Fifth, understand worship is equated with service – “and Him only you shall serve.” Jesus equates worship and service. We are not to worship people or anything else, we are to worship God alone (Acts 14:15; Matthew 6:24, 33-34; Luke 16:9, 11, 13). God alone is worthy to be praised and worshipped.

NOTICE: Here in Jesus’ words of response to Satan we find His definition of worship (and Jesus definition is the only one that matters): For Jesus worship is service; presenting our lives to God every moment and living for His glory in everything we do. – “and Him only shall you SERVE.” If our understanding of worship is limited to singing, we miss the mark and are only scratching the surface of what true worship is. True worship is doing all we do for God’s glory.

The apostle Paul echoes this definition of worship when he is inspired to write:

·         1 Cor. 10:31 – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Worship is very practical. When your eyes are opened to see the magnificence of God the only reasonable thing to do is bow before Him in worship. This is what Paul writes to the Romans. After he has laid out the inspired and blessed powerful gospel he is inspired to write:

• Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Worship is our only reasonable response to God’s gracious salvation. Romans 12:1-2 is really a response of worship. We so often take those verses out of their context. Worship is the key to understanding life. When we worship God appropriately, everything else will come together and begin to fit in place. These verses connect worship to living in a way that is holy and acceptable to God. Presenting our lives and heart to God in full surrender is the full sense of what worship is all about. Paul is inspired to say that this total commitment is the only reasonable way to respond to God’s provision. Worship is much more than merely singing in a service; it is service!

Worship strengthens us to resist conformity to the world. Worship works worldliness right out of us. Romans 12:2 tells us worship helps us keep from conforming to the world’s ways. Worship works worldliness right out of us. To conform is to be put in a mold. Don’t let the world mold you. Worship God and let the Spirit mold you. Worship is God’s means of spiritual formation. Worship and be conformed to the likeness of Christ! (Romans 8:29).

Worship transforms us. This verse also tells us that worship has a transforming effect on us. Worship renews our mind and helps us to discover and prove God’s acceptable and perfect will for us in life. When we worship we live in the presence of God and that has a transforming impact on us. Moses looked at the back of God and was changed. We get to look into the glory of the Lord by the blood of Jesus and that changes us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:7-18).

Worship is the atmosphere in which we discern the will of God. With a heart of worship we are in the right frame of mind and heart to receive God’s word on His perfect will for our lives. It was during a time of worship that the Spirit chose Paul and Barnabas to go on a mission (Acts 13:1-3). If you worship, the Spirit may have a word for you too! God can reveal His plans for us as we worship Him.

All of this is a consequence of worship defined in service. Serve the Lord with all your heart and you are worshipping. It’s in the service of worship that we are most reasonable, strengthened, and given direction in God’s will. That is fantastic! What a blessing it is to worship the Lord. What a blessing to go from aimlessness to advancing in God’s plan for our lives. What a blessing it is to find our life purpose. Worship is the environment in which God reveals His will to us. God is awesome! Praise Him! Let’s worship Him!

Everything we do in life can be an act of worship. Paul was inspired to express this truth in the following way saying:

• Colossians 3:23-24 - And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Worship is doing whatever we do with all our heart as to the Lord. Mundane and even secular things we are involved in can become a means to worship. Mowing the lawn, yard work, your job, doing good works for others, serving in all aspects of the church, can all be a blessing to God and spirit building for us if we do them with all our heart – with a heart of worship.

Worship is God’s power tool to build us into the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). Worship is God’s spade to grow the fruit of the Spirit in us (Galatians 5:16, 24-25). Worship is God’s means to make us all we need to be so we can do all He calls us to do, for His glory, until He returns. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” (Psalm 29:2).

Worship is a way of life. Warren Weirsbe says of worship:

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose -- and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.[3]

Sixth, the heart of worship is expressed in a public setting. David says he wholeheartedly praises God “before the gods I will sing praises to You” (138:1d). These words tell us not only that worship is something spiritual but that it involves singing in public. Worship is not only singing, but singing is a big part of expressing worship. Worship involves open expression “before the gods.” There are all kinds of outward expressions mentioned in the Bible as part of worship.  

Singing and using musical instruments is a Biblically supportable way to worship the Lord. Some churches forbid the use of musical instruments in their worship. Some churches forbid certain types of instruments or music in worship. But the Bible gives evidence that we can use all different kinds of musical instruments in our worship (Psalm 33:1-3; 71:22; 81:2; 87:7; 92:1-3; 98:5-6; 144:9; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3-6).

Singing with all our heart. When I was a young boy my parents used to drag me to church. There were reasons why I didn’t want to go. Church was boring. I didn’t see much that was different in the people where I went to church. I did see something different in a few, but in most I saw other people who didn’t seem like they wanted to be there either. One thing that communicated this to me was the singing in worship. The church I attended with my parents as a young boy was one of those churches where people sing just enough to be able to say they were singing if asked, but not really enough to be heard. It was really dead singing. People’s lips barely moved. Their heads were bent downward. They looked embarrassed if by chance they should catch anyone looking at them. For most singing was uncomfortable; their heart wasn’t in it. There were a number of reasons why I didn’t want to go to that church as a young boy. The lackluster, halfhearted, dead singing was one of them. If God is all we say He is, then He is worth singing to – worshipping – with all our heart. Unfortunately I sometimes see the same thing today. If our worship is to be wholehearted, then our singing should show that.

Singing can be a gauge of one’s heart condition. When you sing in worship to the Lord, are you barely singing as though your heart were the size of a pea, or are you singing with all you’ve got as though your heart were the size of a watermelon?  When you sing do you sing to the Lord or for the benefit of the people around you? When you sing do you care more of what the Lord hears or more about what the person next to you hears? If your singing reflects more of a concern for what people think about you than what God thinks about you, then your singing is exposing a part of your carnal fleshly nature. When we sing in worship we should sing with everything we’ve got to the Lord.

Years later when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and began to attend a church it was the worship that church that God used to draw me into it. It wasn’t necessarily the most polished or technically sound worship, but it was heartfelt worship. Let me share an example of the worship God used to draw me into His church.

Singing does not depend on ability. Those who lead worship need to be skilled and gifted in doing so (e.g. 1 Sam. 16:16-18; 1 Chron. 25:1-7). A worship leader needs to be skillful musically. A worship leader must have musical ability enough to lead worship to focus on God. Someone leading worship should not be a distraction from worship due to any musical inability to lead. But as individuals in the congregation of the Lord all we need is a heart to worship in order to worship. Years ago there were two brothers who attended this church with me. They were impressively muscular manly men who had been broken in humility and built back up in love by the Lord. These were brothers in Christ who loved the Lord with all their heart. They were serious about their walk with the Lord. They left a mark on me and taught me something about worship I needed to learn as a young believer. What did these burly brothers in the Lord teach me? They loved the Lord so much that when they sang in worship they did so with all their heart and might. They sang loud and clear. Well, I need to mention here that these two brothers were not musically or vocally gifted. In fact they couldn’t sing a lick. These brothers sang so out of tune that if you sat next to them you’d be dragged into their tuneless praise. We’d try to arrange that they at least sat separate from each other because if they sat together and sang they’d throw the whole congregation out of sync in song. They knew they were out of tune and they would sometimes even apologize for being out of tune. But they did their best, the very best they could. They sang with all their heart. We used to joke that by the time such singing reached through the clouds to heaven the sound would be filtered so that it sounded like the best operatic voices. The important point is that their singing was with their whole heart. They sang to the Lord, not to people. How do you sing? Are you out of tune? So what? You may not be eligible for the choir or to lead worship, but you can still offer God a sacrifice of praise in song. Sing away my brother and sister in Christ, sing away! Your heavenly Father sees your heart in your sacrifice of song to Him and He loves it. Sing away!

What about our songs of worship? The Bible says whatever songs are used in worshipping the Lord should be psalmic (i.e. musical), hymnic (i.e. lyrically about God), and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16). This also implies that the songs sung to God in worship should be singable so that the congregation can join together in lifting their voices before the Lord in song. Music made in worship of God should be joyful (Psalm 81:1; 95:1-2; 98:4-6; 100:1-2). The music and song of worship should be centered on God and be an offering of praise and thanksgiving to Him for all He has done (Psalm 47:6-7; 57:7-10; 59:16-17; 61:8; 66:4; 67:3-4; 68:32; 89:1; 98:1; 101:1; 104:33; 146:1-2; 147:1; 149:1). Worship should aim at expressing thanks and praise for the redemptive work of God in Jesus Christ (Psalm 40:1-3; Revelation 5:8-14).

Worship is about Him it’s not about “me.” So much of worship in the present day focuses on us rather than God. Worship is not primarily to make us feel good. Worship is primarily to make God feel good. The best worship is worship that starts, proceeds and ends with focusing on God and His work. Now there is a residual effect of our worship. Worship has a great impact on us because when we fix our eyes on our awesome God it puts our problems into proper perspective. You either have a small God and big problems or a great God and small problems. Worship focused on us or on people results in a reliance on human feebleness. Right worship exalts God to His proper place and gives us a higher perspective in a way that enables us to get through the hardest of trials or situations.

What about physical outward expressions in worship? Clapping your hands in worship is Biblical (Psalm 47:1; 98:8). Lifting up your hands up in worship is Biblical (Psalm 28:2; 63:3-5; 134:1-2; 141:2; Lamentations 2:193:41; 1 Timothy 2:8). Saying, “Amen” in worship when we end our prayers (Psalm 72:19-20; Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 14:16) to express agreement with God and His word (Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Revelation 22:20), and to bless the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:34-36; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; Romans 1:25; 9:5) is Biblical. Bowing our heads and bowing our knees in worship is Biblical (Genesis 24:48; Exodus 4:31; 12:27; 1 Chronicles 29:20; Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9-11). These are all Biblically sound expressions of our worship before God.

Worship should be decent and orderly. But having said all that it’s important that our outward expressions of worship do not press beyond the Biblical guidelines prescribed for them. We should never worship in a way that draws attention to ourselves and away from God (Matthew 6:1-2, 5, and 16). That means that when we do sing with all our heart to the Lord that we are considerate to those around us. If we sing in the Spirit we will find the proper order and balance. We should be mindful of those around us and not only worship the Lord in a way that pleases ourselves and disregards how it affects others (Romans 15:1-2). The most important thing in worship is that our hearts are right before God (1 Samuel 16:7; mark 7:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:8). God is a God of order not chaos (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Because of that our worship should never be out of control (1 Corinthians 14:32).

Seventh, the heart of worship focuses on the holy presence of God. David states, “I will worship toward Your holy temple” (138:2a; see also Psalm 29:1-2; 96:7-9; 99:5, 9; Isaiah 6). When David says he will worship toward the Temple we need to keep in mind that the Temple was central to Israel because it was where God made His glorious presence known ( 2 Chronicles 7:1; see  context of 2 Chronicles 6 and 7).  In the future the glory of God will fill the Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 43).  When we worship we should aim at acknowledging and entering into His presence. God is omnipresent; but we do not always acknowledge or sense His presence. God’s presence is not dependent on our sensing it. But worship, if it is to be true worship, needs to be an act of prayerfully coming into His presence, His holy presence. The Temple was a holy place, a unique place because it was where God chose to make His presence known. This was not taken lightly and moved God’s people to approach Him reverently. There should be a reverence when we worship God. When we worship we are stepping from the mundane commonness of life into a special place where God is allowing us to meet with Him.

Notice it states, “I will worship toward Your holy temple. “ In other words, no matter what I am doing I will do it with a consciousness of “Your” or God’s presence. My life revolves around my worship of God.  

Eighth, the heart of worship praises God for His loving kindness and truth. David continues, “And praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (138:2b,c). You can’t worship God without His word. You can’t worship God properly outside the parameters of His word. If your worship contradicts God’s word in terms of God’s revelation of Himself, His truth, and His word, you are not worshipping God you are blaspheming God. Worship should be the magnification of God and His word. When we worship we should get a deeper clearer more personal sense of the essence and substance, the profundity of God and His word.

When Jesus said that proper worship involves “spirit and truth” (John 4:24), He was pointing to worship that was led by the Holy Spirit and that followed the truth of God’s word (e.g. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Worship is defined and ordered by the word of God. God exalts His word even above His own name. Therefore we should keep God’s word in heart and mind when worshipping Him. God’s word should guide the lyrics of our worship music. God’s word should be sung.

Some mistakenly look at God’s word as a hindrance to worship. They mistakenly say, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). But the letter kills in the sense that it exposes the sinner as utterly sinful and then points them to the cross (Galatians 3:24). We wouldn’t know what worship is or how to worship without God’s revelation in His word. And we will not worship God acceptably if we go beyond its revelation of what true acceptable worship is. (See the value of God’s word in Psalm 119).

Ninth, the heart of worship is a cry for strength. “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (138:3). In worship we come weak and frail and declare our dependence on God seeking His answer to our weakness. I have found that some of my best experiences of worship have come when I am crying out to God in weakness. There are times when I get in the car and just drive with Jesus as my Passenger. It’s just me and Him. As we drive I have no geographical destination, but I have a spiritual one. As I drive I talk with Jesus and worship Him. I cry out to Him. By the time I pull in the driveway to return home I’m at least satisfied that He has heard. And when I commit my life circumstances to the Lord in worship He has a way of passing on His peace that surpasses understanding to me. Worship has a way of cleansing us from despair and doubt. Worship is the tether that moors us to foundational dock of Jesus’ word (e.g. Matthew 7:24-27). Worship is the vehicle that moves us from the place of weakness to God’s place of power to endure.

Worship is God’s means of encouraging us (Psalm 56:9; 119:145, 146; 141:1; 142:1). God fill sour heart with courage when we worship in His presence. If we are weak and timid, worship will strengthen us and make us bold. In worship God provides what we need to face the day and endure problems. Worship is holy adrenaline.  

Tenth, the heart of worship declares that in the end every knee will bow before the Lord. “All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD” (138:4-5). “All the kings” will praise God and declare His glory in the end. We need to look forward to the final victory of God when we worship (Psalm 72:11; 102:15, 22; Philippians 2:8-11; Revelation 11:15; 21:24). Worship instills hopefulness in us even when defeat stares us in the face. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). The way God does that is through the worship. Worship is God’s banner over us.

Eleventh, the heart of worship recognizes God’s willingness to meet with us. “Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar” (138:6). Even though God is high and lifted up, holy and transcendent, He stoops down to meet with us in worship. In God’s presence is fullness of joy and everlasting pleasures (Psalm 16:11; Acts 2:28). Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). Where two or three meet in the name of Jesus, He is there (Matthew 18:20). Jesus is the word made flesh (John 1:1-2, 14). God has taken the initiative to meet with us through the blood of Jesus. Coming into God’s presence by the blood of Jesus avails the provision of our Lord (Hebrews 4:15-16; 10:19-22). Think of it, we can come freely and frequently into the presence of God Almighty, God of the Universe! That is a wonderful thing to worship the Lord about.

Lucifer was corrupted when he looked at his worship and became proud of himself. This led to rebellion against God and his being cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14; Ezek. 28). There’s something about worship that tempts us to be proud. We can be proud in the way we worship. We can become proud of the way we play an instrument or sing. Or we can be too proud to worship; we are embarrassed by the way we can’t sing. God gives grace to the humble but He opposes and knows from afar those who approach Him in pride (1 Peter 5:5-6). Humble yourself before God in worship and He will help you enter into His presence.

Twelfth, the heart of worship is God’s means to revival. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me” (138:7). Even though we may be beaten down by enemies who persecute us; even though the circumstances of life may be beating us down; if we worship the Lord, He will revive us (see Psalm 143). Worship revives the soul. Even the soul of the elderly can be revived (Psalm 71:17-21). If you are knocked down on the mat of life and the ref is about to count you out, worship the Lord and God will lift you up and revive your soul to finish the fight. Worship is a major means of overcoming depression and mental stress. Worship the Lord and He will lift you up (Psalm 80:14-19; 85:4-7; Isaiah 57:15-21).

Thirteenth, the heart of worship leads to spiritual maturity. David says, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands” (138:8). The idea of the word “perfect” means to come to fulfillment; to come to maturity; to develop to the intended purpose and end. Therefore worship is a means by which we become all God intended us to be. Worship is a way God makes us to be all we need to be so we can do and experience all God intends for us to do and experience with Him.

In the New Testament we are told:

• Colossians 3:14-17 - ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Worship is an expression of one’s love for God. This ultimately is the essence of the heart of worship. When we express our love for God in worship He works to mature us and perfect our faith. Coming into the presence of our holy God in worship gives us a glimpse of His glory. Like Moses in the Old Testament whose countenance was transformed by his contact with God’s glory, we too are transformed as we experience the glory of God in worship (2 Corinthians 3:7-18). When we love on the Lord in worship, the pieces of our life puzzle come together. When we love the Lord in worship, we realize the purpose for which we were created. We were created to love God; to worship Him.

How important is worship? A.W. Tozer wrote of the importance of worship saying:

I would rather worship God than do any other thing I know of in all this world. ... I cannot sing a lick, but that is nobody’s business. God thinks I am an opera star! . . . The beautiful part of worship is that it prepares you and enables you to zero in on the important things that must be done for God. Listen to me! Practically every great deed done in the church of Christ all the way back to the apostle Paul was done by people blazing with the radiant worship of their God. . . . Wherever the church has come out of her lethargy, rising from her sleep and into the tides of revival and spiritual renewal, always the worshippers were back of it. (Ibid. p. 18, 19)

May God revive and perfect us for His glory as we seek to worship Him. Willfully determine to worship the Lord. Worship Him with praise. Worship Him and Him alone. Worship with all your heart. Worship Him in the Spirit. Worship Him publically in the congregation of the Lord and wherever you are. Worship in the presence of the Lord. Worship God for His loving kindness and truth. Worship God in a cry for strength. Worship God humbly. Worship God for making His presence known in Christ. Worship God and be revived. Worship God and become all you need to be so you can do all He purposes for you to do, for His glory, until He returns. But above all, worship the Lord!

The Welsh Revival of 1904-1905, of which Evan Roberts was greatly used, and that transformed Wales for the better and saw over 150,000 souls saved, was to a large part a revival centered on praise. It was a revival filled with worship and praise. One of the most popular songs that came out of this revival, the one most closely associated with this revival, was Here is Love Vast as the Ocean. My prayer in closing is that as you read these lyrics your heart is filled with a spirit of worship as the Spirit comes upon you. Maybe you will even search the Internet for a rendition of the song and enter into the presence of the Lord as you sing along. (I suggest you find Robin Mark’s presentation of this incredibly worshipful song – use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8YOPj5TnUM – put the headphones on and turn up the volume or blast it loud for all to hear).  I pray we would seek the Lord to cultivate a heart of worship that will revive us and bring glory to His name. I pray we’d simply, worship the Lord.

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving-kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heaven’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.[4]

---

^[1]Strong, J. (1997, c1996). The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words (electronic ed.) (G4352). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] Your Father Loves You by James Packer, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986, page for April 17 found at http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=772

 

[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 119. Quote of William Temple (15 October 1881 – 26 October 1944)

 

[4] Words: William Rees (1802-1883), vers­es 1-2 (Dyma gar­iad fel y mor­oedd); Will­iam Will­iams pos­sib­ly wrote vers­es 3-4; trans­lat­ed from Welsh to Eng­lish by William in The Bap­tist Book of Praise, 1900. Music: Ro­bert Low­ry, 1876 (MI­DI, score).

 

Worship – Our Weapon

“Now when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon and Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated”

– 2 Chronicles 20:22

 

We are in a war.

 

Nationally the push to rewrite history and eliminate any vestige of Christianity as a ground for defining morality is at a zenith. You may disagree that the founders of this nation were Christian. But it would be hard to contend that Christianity hasn’t had a profound influence on this nation in her times of greatness. All of this is being sacrificed for a convoluted worldview that sees America as simply another nation in the world rather than an exceptional nation blessed by God. America, this worldview contends, is imperialistic. America has become great at the expense of the weak. America is unjust and oppressive. America must be brought down a peg and Christians with it if they get in the way.

First, prayer, then God’s word and any traces of the holy were removed from our educational institutions. (Don’t want to pollute the young populace.) Then mores of common decency were rejected and the floodgates of free love and sex opened wide. Now the family fabric of our nation is in the process of being dissolved to such a degree that it ceases to mean anything. Men can marry men. Women can marry women. Soon to follow adults will marry children (or at least the age of consent will be removed). There will be allowances for a man to have many wives and for equalities’ sake, a woman to have many husbands. Eventually a time will come when humans can marry animals or inanimate objects. All of this will likely be presented as human rights issues. It will come under the banner of freedom and anti-discrimination. It will be enforced with the patrolling gunboats of political correctness. It will be promoted to the disgrace of a once great nation by a  government that has degenerated to legislate licentiousness. We are in the midst of what is in reality an antichristian political utilitarian anarchy of lawlessness. If it feels good legislate it; hedonism in the highest. Pass laws to protect sin. Remove laws that uphold righteousness. Government was ordained by God in His Word, but this government has long left God and His Word out of its equation.

On the other hand government intrusions are at an all-time high. National crises have been seized upon to implement an unprecedented pervasive and proliferating system of citizen oversight and control. They know where you are, when you’re there, all the time. The government has taken control of the medical system. They determine if you are deserving of treatment. The masses are being purposefully addicted to the drug of dependency on government. The spirit of entitlement sucks people into the system. They promise cost effectiveness and deliver individual dependency and national bankruptcy. The Internal Revenue Service has become a political weapon. The police force has been armored and equipped like an army. I’m all for protection and preparation against terrorism, but it does appear lately that some of this anti-terrorism strategy is conveniently aimed at and used on the citizenry.

All of this is painful and scary to see for many. But the pharmaceutical industry has the solution. Take a pill. Take a pill for anything and everything. Evangelist psychobabblers spreading the good news of wellness will keep people seduced in a reduced state of apoplexy. Keep the patient under anesthesia until their organs are removed. Hey, they’re doing head transplants now you know. (I’m not kidding.[1]) What we see is a national head transplant. Without the Head, how much longer can this go on?

Internationally there is the cancer of ISIS (ISIL) terrorism metastasizing from the bowels of Islam over the body of the earth. The cells of this cancer feed on “infidels.” They are committed to a war of elimination by decapitation. They brag and boast of their cutthroat crimes in the media. It is a fanatically depraved demonically inspired leprosy which feeds on itself as well as others. Our nation is not exempt from this cancer. Shortsightedly and foolishly our leaders are actually purposefully lowering our border guard. They look the other way allowing for the infiltration of those who would do us harm. All of this fueled by a lust for the votes of illegal immigrants and packaged in disregard of citizenship. It’s all to sustain political power. Their self-promoting miscalculations are proving dangerous for their constituency.

Already we have seen a decapitation by one infected with the ISIS plague. An innocent secretary was stabbed and then beheaded all as an act of vengeance upon those who would not convert to Islam. The Islamic executioner had been fired from his job for his disruptive verbal attacks on his co-workers. This blatant attack by an ISIS sympathizer was of course dismissed as a simple work place homicidal disturbance. We must be politically correct; don’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers (that’s too big a block of voters to alienate!); even if vast proportion of them are out to annihilate us! And really, aren’t you surprised you haven’t heard that the ACLU is taking the offenders case because he was discriminated against?

Despite all of this and much, much more, there is an even greater related age old war that is well underway. All that we see on the surface is fueled by what is going on under the surface. There is a spiritual war raging. There is a light versus darkness, truth versus falsehood, Heaven versus Hell war going on. This war is between God, His angels and His people versus Satan, his demons and sympathizers. It’s an interesting war in that Satan has already been defeated at the cross of Christ (Colossians 2:13-15).

You’d think Satan would give up given the decisiveness of his defeat at the cross. But no, he is a maniacal miscreant dead set on doing evil and deceiving. And he is still somewhat effective at this devilish determination. This is a war that can’t be fought with conventional weapons. This is a battle against unseen principalities and powers and rulers of darkness (Eph. 6:12). Therefore, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

God has provided us with the best of armor for this battle (Eph. 6:10-18). If we simply put that armor on and stand in the might of the Lord, we can’t lose. With the helmet of salvation our mind is protected. The breastplate of righteousness in Christ guards our heart. With gospel shoes on we can carry the gospel to free others from the enemy’s talons. The shield of faith deflects the fiery arrows of enemy doubt. The sword of the Spirit when swung in love cuts through the enslaving damming lies of demons. The belt of truth holds our armor in place. Yes, our commander has given us the best equipment for the battle.

But I want to speak to you about an oft forgotten and even unrecognized weapon in this battle. It is a weapon that steadies and calms the ranks of God’s army. It is a weapon that when taken up gives God’s forces a steely unbeatable determination. I’m talking about Worship – Our Weapon. Immediately you may be tempted to think, “Worship, you mean singing? We’re in a war and you’re writing about worship?” Yes, my contention is that worship and in particular singing is one of our most potent weapons for the war we’re in. My contention is that instead of saying, “We’re in a war why worship?” we should be responding, “We’re in a war, we better worship!”

Now worship is far more than only singing. In reality our life is to be lived with an attitude of worship. When we live in full surrender to God in light of His grace we are worshipping (cf. Romans 12:1-2). When we live to please God not merely to please people we worship (cf. Colossians 3:17, 23-24). When we do all that we do for the glory of God we are worshipping (1 Cor. 10:31). We are to live lives of worship to God. Worship is more than singing. But singing is an important part of worship. Singing and its harmonies and sounds influence not only those physically in earshot of it, but it influences those in the unseen spiritual battle. If prayer is the long range artillery in our spiritual war, and God’s armor equips the boots on the ground, then worship singing is that communications jamming that brings confusion to the enemies of God. If the enemy is confused and divided, they will soon be defeated. Jesus said, “A house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25; Mark 3:25; Luke 11:17). Worship to the enemies of God is a loud screeching in their earphones.

God wants to unite people in Christ (Eph. 2:11-22). The only good division is separating from sin. In this sense Jesus came to divide believers from unbelievers in Him (Matthew 10:34). God’s word is to be rightly divided in terms of orderly study and presentation of it (2 Timothy 2:15). God’s word divides us from our sin (Heb. 4:12). When God divides He does so to put things in their proper order and place. God is orderly (1 Cor. 14:33, 40). God divided the sky from the earth and the land from the sea.

God divides to create and beautify. Satan divides to conquer and disqualify. Divide and conquer is one of the oldest if not the oldest military strategies. It is rudimentary military strategy. One of Satan’s greatest strategies against the forces of God is to divide them. He took a third of the angels of heaven with him in his rebellion against God. He will deceive and take a host of God’s creation with him to hell.

An army united is stronger than an army divided. Satan wants to divide God’s army. He seeks to divide and cause chaos. He wants there to be infighting among God’s troops. He too often succeeds in his efforts to divide by pandering to people’s flesh. He encourages using selfishness to create division in the ranks. The carnal Corinthians are a perfect example of this strategy (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10; 3:1-4). Division in the church ranks is a sign of carnality not spirituality. Those who are divisive should be corrected and if they persist, they are to be avoided (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:10; Jude 19).

Worship singing has a way of uniting the ranks of God in a holy chorus. When we sing together we are united. But worship singing, while it unites worshipers, has the exact opposite effect on the enemy. Worship singing disrupts and divides the enemy. Worship singing has a positive and negative impact. Worship singing is therefore an extremely effective weapon in God’s arsenal. And that is why Satan does everything he can to corrupt worship singing as well as quench it as much as he can.

Satan doesn’t want you to sing worshipfully. He will do everything he can to keep you from worshipping God in song. And that is why singing is such a touchy subject with people. There are some who don’t think singing is a manly thing to do. Singing is for children. Singing is for the feminine. If you think that way you’ve been deluded. Those ideas are straight from the pit of hell. Consider this: Moses and the children of Israel sang and God helped them defeat an empire. David sang and God helped him slay a giant enemy nine and a half feet tall. Paul and Silas sang and God brought an earthquake to break open their prison doors. Jesus sang and He defeated the devil and suffered successfully for our redemption on the cross. I think it’s time for us to sing and see what God will do for us!

In the Old Testament there is a historical battle recorded that demonstrates the effectiveness of worship singing. In 2 Chronicles Jehoshaphat was for the most part a good king of the southern kingdom of Judah who implemented righteous reforms (2 Chron. 19). Then a horde of Moabites and Ammonites came up against him (2 Chron. 20:1-2). Both these groups trace their roots to Lot’s incestuous relations with his daughters (Gen. 19:37-38). It was in Moab that Balaam brought God’s people down with a strategy of lust (Number 22 and 25). The cruel Ammonites were into eye-gouging (e.g. 1 Samuel 11:2). They would rip open the pregnant women of their conquered foes (Amos 1:13). They worshipped the god Molech, a fire-god with the face of a calf. The idol of Molech was made of metal. It had outstretched arms and a cut out furnace area in its belly. In the ceremonial worship of Molech the idol was heated until it was red hot and then as an act of worship infants were placed on the red hot arms of the idol. Simultaneously a loud drumbeat would drown out the cries of the burning child as well as the mournful cries of the child’s parents. Satan was written all over Molech. Today’s ISIS terrorists had nothing on this confederacy of cruelty that came up against Jehoshaphat and his people.

 Understandably this was a frightful sight. Good king Jehoshaphat did what any godly person does when faced with a trial. He immediately “set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chronicles 20:3-4). He sought the LORD and brought the people together. A good godly leader will always seek the LORD first and then rally God’s people together. A good godly leader knows God works through united people. The Holy Spirit comes to empower believers united together in “one accord” (e.g. Acts 1:14 and Acts 2).

 Having sought the LORD and having brought God’s people together, Jehoshaphat led a congregational time of prayer. His opening words of prayer recognized that God is sovereign and in control (2 Chronicles 20:5-6). He then remembered how God had delivered His people in the past and had promised to do so again if they sought Him out in times of enemy attack (2 Chronicles 20:7-9; cf. 2 Chronicles 7). Then the godly king laid out the current predicament before His LORD (2 Chronicles 20:10-11). And in the concluding words of His prayer he humbly expressed, “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12). They were powerless and perplexed but they did know Who to look to; “but our eyes are on You.”

Humbly united before the LORD, God faithfully responded by the Holy Spirit coming upon the Levite Jahaziel. As a relative of  “the sons of Asaph” he very well might have been involved in the worship ministry (2 Chronicles 20:13-14; cf. 1 Chronicles 25). The Holy Spirit will often speak to us through worship. And the word of the Spirit to Jehoshaphat and God’s people was a comforting one. “And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). The Spirit always brings things into proper focus; proper perspective – the battle is not ours, it is the LORD’s. Even though God had sovereignly determined to allow this predicament, He also had a plan to deal with it. And this plan of God would serve the purpose of teaching God’s people a valuable truth.

 While the battle was the LORD’s it didn’t mean His people would have no part in it. In this particular battle they would need to “position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!” God affirmed, “Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:16-17). We need to be ready to take our positions. We need to step up and step into our place of responsibility. Be ready for how God wants to use you.

Then Jehoshaphat leads his people in humble thanks entering into worship of the LORD. And their worship was no barely heard half-hearted lukewarm singing. It says they “stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high” (2 Chronicles 20:18-19). “Loud and high” my brothers and sisters; “loud and high”! When you worship the LORD can your singing be described as “loud and high”? When you sing, can you be heard? Is your heart in it? These people were aware of God’s deliverance and they expressed their thanks in appropriate singing. Their singing was an expression of their faith. They sang as though their lives were in the balance; because they were! Their worship flowed from the word the Holy Spirit had provided. Their worship was connected to the Spirit. How about you; what does your singing express, worship? Who are you connected to?

There is a connection between the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and worship singing. In the Old Testament Moses was instructed by God to strike the rock and water would come out for the people (Exodus 17). Later he was instructed by God to speak to the rock in order to get more water out of it (Numbers 20). But as the people continued their journey to the Promised Land and moved away from this rock how would they get water? As they moved on and needed more water God instructed Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water” (Numbers 21:16). God had the people come together; He had them unite. Then it states, “Then Israel sang this song: ‘Spring up, O well! All of you sing it” (Numbers 21:17). Then God provided water. Here God’s provision of water is connected with singing.

Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in the New Testament (John 7). This was a time of remembering and worshipping God for His provisions in the Wilderness wanderings. Each day during this Feast there was a libation ceremony during which the High Priest would lead a joyous procession of worshipers down to the Pool of Siloam. There he would dip a gold pitcher into the water and fill it. As the pitcher was filled with water they would sing Isaiah 12:2-3 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Then the priest would lead the procession back to the Temple where he would pour out the water into a silver basin as a drink offering. As the priest poured out the water Isaiah 44:3 would be sung – “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.”

On the last great day of the Feast when the water had been poured out, the priest would lift up the empty pitcher as a call for Messiah to come and fill up His people. It was at this point that Jesus, on that final great day of the Feast, “stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). John is inspired to comment here, “but this he spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39). This is important.

When Jesus spoke of “rivers of living water” He was connecting the Old Testament type of water in this Feast to being a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The New Testament states clearly “that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). When Moses struck the rock to get water out of it, it was a typology of Jesus being struck on the cross. When Moses was instructed to speak to the rock, it was a typology that the work of regenerating water of the Spirit had been completed and one only had to speak in faith to it to receive the water. But look what follows, as the pilgrims journeyed on from the place of the rock (the cross) they needed only to sing and the water would flow. “Spring up, O well!” and the water would flow. Water is a type of the Spirit. When we unite in worship singing, the Holy Spirit will flow! At Pentecost the believers were “one accord” (Acts 1:14). There is no specific mention of their worshipping, but gathered together for prayer they very well might have been. Then we see the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowering them to serve the Lord. Worship singing creates the environment for the living water of the Holy Spirit to flow. We need the power of the Spirit for the war we are in! Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to come with our singing.

You may be thinking, “Okay Pastor, I’m following you, but is there any other confirming evidence for this?” Yes! Being continually filled with the Spirit is connected to our worship in song. In his inspired letter to the Ephesians Paul writes, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Eph. 5:18-20).

The Spirit filled life, the life of continually being filled with the Holy Spirit, is directly related to “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” When we worship in song it invites the Holy Spirit to come.

Only a fool would go into battle without the authority of their commander’s orders and the equipment provided by the army. With the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we have both. And worshipful singing is the means God uses for the Holy Spirit to be poured out and His soldiers to be empowered for battle. From now on, when you sing in worship, sing with purpose. Worship in song as a call to the Holy Spirit to empower and equip you. Then you’ll be ready for the war.

“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20). All true worship involves believing in the LORD and His word (“His prophets”). The effective weapon of worship is worship defined and found in the word of God. I’m not speaking of mere music or secular songs. Such things will more likely lead to melancholy or very temporal distraction from your problems. If you want potent and more permanent deliverance from the attacks of demons you will need to worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness. Only that will lead to prosperity; the fulfillment of God’s will and purposes in your life.

God’s word speaks of the instrumental use of worship to empower and defeat His enemies. When we worship Him it empowers us. When we worship Him as He prescribes; we must worship God the way He ordains us to worship Him. We must worship God “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). “In spirit” means we must be “born again,” regenerated; made spiritually alive.  That happens when we turn from our sin in repentance to God through faith in Jesus Christ as the sole means and basis of God forgiving our sin. By faith we ask for and receive God’s forgiveness for our sins. When we do that the Holy Spirit indwells us giving us a second birth; a spiritual eternal birth (John 3; Titus 3:4-7). Only then can we “know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). You can’t worship God if you don’t know Him or His Son Jesus.

“In truth” means according to God’s word which is the embodiment of truth (John 17:17). When we are spiritually born in Christ we live by Him and for Him. To worship “in truth” means we live by God’s truth in His word. We can’t worship God apart from His truth. True worship, worship that God accepts and looks for, is worship defined by His truth.

Have you ever been down or depressed for no apparent reason? Have you ever been overwhelmed with doubts? Ever felt hateful or all of a sudden angry and vengeful, belligerent? Have you ever felt defeated? Ever sink in despair? Ever been deluged by darkness? Let me tell you something. That is very likely evidence of an enemy attack. Did you ever notice how, you can be feeling some or all those things but when you worship it seems to change you for the better? Ever ask yourself why that is? It’s because when you worship the Lord the enemy can’t stand it. When we worship the enemy breaks off the attack. Worship confuses the enemy. Worship is like a high piercing horn blast in the ears of the demons of darkness.

^“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21). The enemy can’t stand it when God’s people, “praise the beauty of holiness.” What does that mean? It means we praise the beauty of living holy before our Holy God. When we worship God and live in total surrender and love to Him, it is an overpowering weapon. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8a). Love is what the Holy Spirit pours into us when He indwells us (Rom. 5:5). Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8:37-39). When the enemy knows we know that, well, more often than not they will just let down their weapons, put down their heads, and walk away in defeat. When we praise the beauty of holiness it is very discouraging to our spiritual enemies.

Satan and his hordes are sore losers. When we praise the beauty of holiness not only do they turn in defeat, but they turn on each other. When we worship in song it so defeats the enemy that they are reduced to confused consternation.  And they become so confused that they turn their cruelty on each other. In Jehoshaphat’s predicament it states, “Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. ²³ For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.” (2 Chronicles 20:22-23). While worship brings the true worshiper peace and power, worship brings confusion to the enemy. Lucifer was very possibly the worship leader of heaven at one time (Ezek. 28:11-19). His pride led to his fall (Isaiah 14:12-17). Lucifer perverted worship to exalt himself. When he hears true worship that exalts God Almighty as it should, it is like nails scraped on a chalk board, a deafening sound that hurts his ears and stabs his mind and heart with the truth and judgment of God.

Worship as a weapon can do a thorough work of defeating the enemy. “So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24). When we worship we submit to God. We “resist the devil” with our worship. And when we do that, he must flee (James 4:7). Worship is a mighty weapon against Lucifer and his fallen angels. When we worship, Satan goes down for the count. The next time you’re tempted to give into the flesh or some ungodly notion, just tap out a worship melody and you’ll tap out the enemy.

Worship will lead you to the Valley of Berachah or Valley of Blessing. You will despoil the enemy and take back from him what is rightfully yours in Christ (2 Chronicles 20:25-26). Worship singing leads to abundant blessing at the expense of the enemy. Worship singing leads to a victorious joyous procession (2 Chronicles 20:27-28). The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Worship leads to a victorious procession to the glory of God! And worship singing impacts unbelievers. It communicates the presence of the Lord and instills the “fear of God,” reverence for God to them (2 Chronicles 20:29). When we worship sing God is enthroned in our hearts. And when we worship like that, it has an impact on those around us.

When we worship in song it soothes us and instills in us a sense of rest and peace in the Lord. After Jehoshaphat’s victory in worship it states, “Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around” (2 Chronicles 20:30). Worship and worship singing leads to peace. The prophet Isaiah echoes this when he is inspired by God to write of a song God would give His people: “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. ² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. ³ You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ⁴ Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:1-4). Isaiah speaks of bulwarks and a strong city because there are always foes ready to attack. What did God instruct Isaiah to communicate to the people? God gave Isaiah a song to sing and that song of worship in the presence of the Lord would “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.”  If you want calm when faced with calamity worship the Lord in song.

Finally, we should sing worshipfully in times when we are set to pick up our cross or encounter the enemy in pivotal purpose-fulfilling plans of God. After Jesus had put in place His Table before His disciples and was getting ready to go to Gethsemane and then the cross, it states, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). At the most critical redemptively important time in His life Jesus approached the cross worshipping in song. At the cross Satan and all the demons of hell brought their hardest and darkest devilish attack. Jesus warded them all off with a hymn of worship.

When we worship in times of trial it brings us closer to Jesus.  Jesus comes closer to us in our worship. What hymn did our Savior sing with His disciples? We don’t know. Perhaps it was a psalm traditionally sung at Passover (e.g. Psalm 113-118). Perhaps at some point Jesus sang, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me” (Psalm 118:6-7).

 Martin Luther the reformer was known to battle the devil all his life. You can still see at Wartburg Castle an ink stain on the wall of Luther’s study. It was there that he threw an inkwell at the devil. Luther fought oppressive thoughts throughout his life that he attributed to spiritual warfare. But he found a more effective weapon to fight the devil than an inkwell. In the great Reformation hymn A Mighty Fortress is our God written by Luther he conveys the hope we have in Christ when he writes, “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.  The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.” What might that “little word” be? In John 19:30 the single Greek word tetelestai is translated “It is finished!” Jesus’ redemptive work is finished and complete. The enemy is finished. Let’s be a constant reminder to him and those who fight with him that he “is finished!” We’re at war. Worship is our weapon. Use it!

 

 

 

 

---

[1] http://qz.com/99413/first-ever-human-head-transplant-is-now-possible-says-neuroscientist

Encouraging Light or Fearful Darkness?

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” – John 8:12

“Daddy, I’m scared! DADDY I’m scared!” When my kids were younger from time to time I’d hear their voice utter those words during the night. I’d get up, go to their bedroom and calm them. I’d pray with them. But sometimes, just to be sure, they’d ask, “Dad, can we leave my light on?” And of course we’d leave the light on.

There’s something about light that removes the fears cultivated in darkness. When the light is on there’s no shadows that can birth imagined or real scary images. I remember in 1973 a few friends and I went to see the movie The Exorcist. (I wasn’t a Christian at the time and don’t encourage any Christian to see such themed movies.) I remember the goofing around and joking about the scariness of the movie before it started. We were big guys; nothing would scare us. Well, we went in joking but came out scared and shaken. When the lights in the theatre were turned down and the movie started, our light countenance dissipated pretty quickly. Once that movie started unfolding, we got pretty serious. I have to admit there were some scenes where I closed my eyes. It impacted me. The sights, the sounds, the thoughts produced, were frightening. I was afraid.

When I went home from that movie I remember I had a hard time sleeping in the dark. There was a ceiling hatch door to the attic in my bedroom. I just couldn’t sleep with the lights off without being overcome with fear something was up there and would come out in the dark. Funny how you hear things in the dark. So I slept with my lights on. Of course when my parents would come and see the lights on in my bedroom I’d pretend I’d left them on by accident. They’d shut the lights off. But I’d soon get up and put them back on. That went on for some time. Interesting how the simple putting on of a light to dispel the darkness does away with the fear of the dark and what it hides. Light has a calming effect. I still don’t like that movie! Haven’t seen it since.

There is a greater application of light and darkness. There are things we would be wise to fear. There is a Prince of Darkness. He does oversee principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12). But there is Someone who can help us deal with the darkness and our fears. That Someone is Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world. Our Heavenly Father is the “Father of lights.” God’s light overcomes darkness.

In the Gospel of John Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot. This was a weeklong festival to commemorate God’s provision during the time of wilderness wandering of His people. During the nights of the Feast there was an illumination ceremony. In the court of the women there were four 75 foot tall candelabras set up and lit up at night to commemorate God’s provision of light during the darkness in the wilderness. There was also a prophetic messianic implication associated with this ceremony. In the Talmud it states that when those huge candles were lit all of Jerusalem and the surrounding area was illuminated. It was the day after the illumination ceremony that John records: “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Jesus was speaking of spiritual light and spiritual darkness with these words.  What can we draw from this verse and the idea of Jesus as light in scripture?

To “follow” means an ongoing active following; a walking side by side; an accompanying. The Bible says, “Can two walk together unless they be agreed” (Amos 3:3). If you walk with Jesus you believe in Him. To follow Jesus means to actively live a life of ongoing trust in Him. It is to pass from darkness to light; ; from death to life; from the power of Satan to God having received forgiveness of sins and living a sanctified way of life (cf. Acts 26:18). All of this is what it means to, “have the light of life.” It means to experience a new life in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

The term “light” occurs 263 times in 228 verses in the Bible. The term “dark” occurs 205 times in 177 verses. “Fear” is found 468 times in 448 verses. “Afraid” occurs 216 times in 212 verses. Light, darkness, fear and being afraid are prominent issues in God’s word. The world can be a very fearful place. The Bible uses the contrast of light and darkness to illuminate us about some very important spiritual truths. These lights of truth dispel the scary darkness. Let’s turn the light on and see what God has to say about light and darkness.

First, light conveys the idea of illumination; darkness conveys the idea of ignorance. In darkness you fumble around and can’t see where you’re going. Darkness creates uncertainty. Uncertainty can be scary; fear producing. In the darkness of our world, people are fumbling around with no accurate sense of direction, purpose or meaning. This can be fear producing; frightening. It takes the light of God to dispel fearful unknowns. It takes the light of God to expose the darkness of sin. It takes the light of God to expose our need for a Savior. It takes the light of God to show us the way out of the darkness. It takes the light of God to show us the way through this dark world. “But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light” (Eph. 5:13).

Second, light is associated with holiness and truth. Darkness is associated with evil and falsehood. John is inspired to write earlier in the gospel the words of Jesus: “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Speaking truth openly is associated with light – “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:21). When we live in a way pleasing to God we are in the light of God. Deeds ‘done in God” are holy. So let’s cast off the “works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” (Rom 13:12).

Hell is described by Jesus as “outer darkness” (Matthew 22:13). When Jesus was paying the atoning redemptive price for our sins, “darkness was over the land” (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33). Peter writes, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” (2 Peter 2:4).  Jesus stepped into darkness to shine His light and make a way of life for those lost in darkness.

Heaven is associated with light. The New Jerusalem is described as, “her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crustal” (Rev. 21:11). Heaven is described as – “There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). Light is hopeful. Light is encouraging. Light is an effective antidote to fear.

Third, God is the Source of light. God is the Creator of light. “Then God said, ‘Let there be light; and there was light’” (Genesis 1:3). The Old Testament speaks of the “light of Your countenance” (Psalm 4:6; 44:3; 89:15; 90:8). God is the One who “lights my lamp” (Psalm18:28). David said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). Here salvation and strength are connected to the light God provides. God’s light is our source of courage. With God, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night . . . nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness” (Psalm 91:5a and 6a; cf. also Proverbs 3:25-26). Don’t fear; God has our back.

Light is a fountain of life that springs from the Lord (Psalm 36:9). God’s light is associated with His truth – “Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle” (Psalm 43:3). The Lord covers Himself with “light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2). The Old Testament speaks of the “light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5). God’s light is revelation, life, all goodness and rightness. God’s light is salvation for all who live in darkness without Him. God saves us from the predators of darkness. God lights up the darkness when He walks in.

In the New Testament it states, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). This verse tells us that God is the Source of light which is a symbol of God’s grace (i.e.  “gift”), everything good and everything perfect, as well as the consistency, dependable and faithful (i.e. with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”). If “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,” then that which is bad and imperfect is from below and the product of darkness.

“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5b). God is the Source of light. If you are in darkness having no sense of direction or purpose or meaning, if you’re under attack and feel beaten down by life, fearful, listen to the words of God through Micah – “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8).  David was inspired to write, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered my from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). God delivers us from darkness and fear with His presence and His light.

Fourth, Jesus is the Source of light; therefore Jesus is God. Jesus is “the light of the world” (John 8:12). The incarnation of Jesus is introduced in the gospels with mention of the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy – “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region of the shadow of death Light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16; and Isaiah 9:1-2).  In the beginning of this gospel John is inspired to write, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5). If God is the Source of light and Jesus is the Source of light, then Jesus is God.

In the night, when the seas of circumstance are rough and threatening, Jesus comes with His soft but strong voice and says, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). If we just keep our eyes on Him we won’t be afraid and we might even walk on water (Matthew 14:28-30). Jesus is there, in the darkness, for you.

Fifth, God’s word is a source of His light. Isaiah was inspired to write, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Through the prophet God also said, “Listen to Me, My people; and give ear to Me, O My nation: for law will proceed from Me, and I will make My justice rest as a light of the peoples” (Isaiah 51:4). God’s word shines forth and lights a way of justice in a dark world of corruption.

God’s word sheds light to show us the way out of darkness. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). If you feel like you’re groping around in darkness, go to God’s word for light! “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). God’s word lights the path to safety through a dark scary world. God’s word is our spiritual flashlight. It helps us out of darkness.

In the latter days when the dark dealings of the god of this world get really scary and will seem to cloud out all light of hope, then we must pay heed to and cling to the prophetic word of God until Christ returns for us. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

Sixth, light is a symbol of life. “Light” is a symbol of “life.” Job spoke of the “light of life” (Job 33:30). David spoke of walking before God “in the light of the living” (Psalm 56:13). We may have physical life without Jesus, but we will never have spiritual or eternal life apart from Him. Faith in Jesus and repentance from sin is the way to be forgiven and freed from sin and experience the spiritual regeneration of the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3). We need not fear the darkness of death when we have the light of the Lord.

Seventh, the gospel is a light source since it contains the truth of God. Paul speaks of sinners, “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. . . . For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:4, 6). We will never really live and find meaning and true purpose in life without the light of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need not fear uncertainties, a critics claim or skeptics sarcasm. God’s word is true; always has been; always will be.

Jesus saving redemptive atoning work on the cross was a magnificent mission successfully accomplished as witnessed by His resurrection defeat of death (1 Cor. 15). And He saves people out of darkness so that they can be freed from it – “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). We don’t have to walk in darkness anymore. Indeed Paul writes, “What communion has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14). He wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). He says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11). Don’t play with darkness. There are demons in the dark. Predators prey in darkness.

Eighth, walking in the light of Jesus brings us into fellowship with God. “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Walking in the light of God leads to fellowship with Him and each other. Division therefore is the contrasting darkness to God’s light. Any time we allow ourselves to be divisive we walk in darkness (e.g. gossip).

The darkness may be scary, but when Jesus is with us and we are shoulder to shoulder with Him and each other, the darkness can be overcome. Together we can face the monsters of darkness. Together, with Jesus and each other, no matter what pounces from the dark, we are ready. Jesus will hold our hand in the dark. Jesus will guide us through.

Ninth, light leads to love. “He who says He is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now” (1 John 2:9). According to this verse hate is darkness. And apparently it is possible for someone to say they are walking in the light but actually be walking in darkness through hate. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10). When we love we walk in God’s light. When we love we grow in the Lord and become spiritually mature. And we need not fear anything or anyone one when we have such love. Nothing can separate us from God’s love, not even the darkness (Romans 8:31-39).

Tenth, we are the “light of the world” as we reflect God’s light in Christ in good works. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Christians are to be moons; they are to reflect the light of the Son. We do that with our good works. When we do all that we do in a Christlike way and to the glory of God we become God’s light reflectors (1 Cor. 10:31). We were once “darkness, but now we are light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8). When we have the light of life in Christ we are commissioned to share it with those who remain in darkness. We are to encourage the fearful with the light of Jesus. Light exposes sin and it shows the way out of it.

Eleventh, we are warned to make sure that the “light” in us is not “darkness.”  Jesus said, “Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness” (Luke 11:35). Later in the New Testament Paul was inspired to warn, “For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Satan and his hoards are “rulers of the darkness of this age” (Eph. 6:12). “Light” that deviates from God’s truth as revealed in His word is counterfeit; a false light. We don’t want a false imitation light from a bulb. We want the light of the Son Jesus.

Twelfth, apart from Jesus we are in darkness. Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12).  Without Jesus there is no light in the world. The world is in darkness without Him. Look at the depth of darkness in the world where Christ has been rejected:

• Dark devaluing of life: millions of babies murdered in the dark of their mother’s womb.
• Dark ruthless genocide of Christian men, women and children.
• Dark ethnic cleansing.
• Dark vicious beheadings broadcast in the media.
• Darkness and confusion about how to handle the “distress of nations and perplexities “of life (Luke 21:25).
• Darkness and confusion about who people are; even to the point where people doubt and deny their very gender.
• Dark images of violence, perversion, pornography saturating the world through the media and Internet.
• Dark rise in Satanism and the occult.
• Dark religions and cults who mis-define the One True Triune God as polytheistic, pantheistic, denying the Father, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit of light.
• Dark churches that have gone dark without Jesus. These are churches that call evil good and good evil. A “church” lost in darkness is often darker than the world. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:20-21).

It’s scary to see what Satan brings out of the darkness. It’s scary to see what the children of darkness are doing. Their dark heart is filled with diabolical schemes. There are demons in the darkness. They are scary. But they are no match for Jesus and His light. Demons of darkness are defeated and flee when we turn on the light of Jesus. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

If to follow Jesus means we “shall not walk in darkness,” then it follows that if you don’t follow Jesus you walk in darkness. To follow Jesus means to walk side by side with Him; to never go where He wouldn’t go; to go where He would go. To follow Jesus means to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). Jesus may lead you through darkness, but He will never lead you into darkness.

I drive an older car (276,000+ miles! Lots of memories in that vehicle.)  But as an older car the plastic headlight covers get oxidized. That makes the lights shine dimly at night. It can be scary and dangerous to drive in the night with dimmed lights. What to do? Well, low and behold I saw a commercial on TV for a two step liquid solution to my problem. You can treat the headlight covers with a liquid product that clears up the oxidation. Voila! Bright lights! The same thing can happen with us. Our spiritual eyes are the lamp to the soul (Matthew 6:22). Our spiritual eyes can become covered and clouded with the images of this world. When that happens we need the washing with the water of the word. Then His light will shine bright through us. Is God’s light shining through you? Do you need washing with the word of God? Let your light shine through brightly! It’s the only way to make it through the dark.

In the final words of the last book of the Bible it states of the New Jerusalem, “The city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light” (Revelation 21:23). Jesus is not only the light of this world. Jesus is the light of eternity. There is no darkness in heaven. There is nothing to be scared of in heaven. Are you walking in darkness? Are you scared? Are you walking in Jesus light? Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” You don’t have to grope and fear any longer. Encouraging light or fearful darkness, the choice is yours. Come and follow the light of Jesus the Lord!