The Great Pilgrimage

When I lose a good friend who has fought the good fight and finished well and has entered the joy and glory of the Lord, I find great peace and hope in the Psalms. Here is one of my Scriptural lessons for funerals and memorial services based upon Psalm 84.

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah  

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah  

Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”

More of God

Psalms 84:1–4 ESV “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah”

This Psalm is one of the sweetest of all the Psalms, and a favorite of many. It is a Psalm of pilgrimage, of a blessed pilgrimage. The Psalmist has in mind an actual pilgrimage experience to Jerusalem during one of three annual feasts, and then also its serving as a picture for us living as the People of God.

It is about the desire within the soul of every believer for more of God Himself. The Psalmist wants us to see that we are one in heart with these ancient pilgrims of faith. Together, we are the People of God who share a glorious eternal destiny. We long for the joy and blessing of worship in the presence of God. And we persevere until we arrive at heaven.

We do long for God. We pine for Him so much in our soul that at times even our body feels it. We know that where God dwells is the most lovely of places because of His Presence. This is what inspires our joyful worship here on earth—the hope of eternal and full joy in heaven. This becomes more a reality in our lives as we mature in the faith and as we approach the end of our earthly lives in the body.

The Psalmist envies the sparrow and swallow in the Temple area. They are so near to God, and perfectly at home in His Presence. The Psalmist considers how blessed the priests are who serve in the Temple daily. The pilgrims only worship there occasionally, and at some proper distance. But, he is so thankful for the opportunity to fellowship with His God. One day, the experience of the birds and the priests would be his.

In the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, worship and fellowship with God has been transformed—taken to a whole new level of joy. We have an even better taste in this life of what is promised us in the life to come. As we feed our appetite for God, it is true that we become even more hungry for Him.

More of Blessing

Psalms 84:5–8 ESV “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah”

Next, we observe the soul-satisfying blessing of being a pilgrim at heart. It is not just something the faithful do a few times a year, but is the very disposition of the heart. Blessings then come into the heart year-round by placing confidence in the Lord God and drawing strength from Him by faith.

This pilgrimage route is called a “highway” because many travel on it—many in the past, many currently, and many will in the future. We all are an encouragement to one another to keep going. No one travels on a pilgrimage alone.

There are many trials to face along the way. But there is no other way to get to mount Zion, except through certain valleys at times. Yet, even there God will honor our faith and make us drink from springs of water, yes even in the desert. We had no idea He could give such blessing, and provide so miraculously—and always at just the right time!

Pilgrimage is an intense adventure. It is an adventure requiring faith and hope. It is rewarded with joy and immeasurable blessings. As we continually move forward, our strength grows. Our hope increases as we are intent on reaching God’s glory.

This is Jesus’ desire for his followers to be with Him and to behold His glory. Upon arrival, gladness and joy overtake us, and all sorrow and sadness flee away! May we be resolute in our pilgrimage and our visionary goal of seeing God as our friend has attained.

More of Joy

Psalms 84:9–12 ESV “Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!”

The Psalmist cries out in prayer for blessing and a display of God’s covenant love. And then he breaks forth in song over the joy that awaits him in the very presence of God. Christians anticipate their arrival; may we follow our friend’s lead. This hymn of praise celebrates the superiority of being with God. The Psalmist declares that just one day of this special fellowship on the pilgrimage is better than three whole years spent anywhere else. He considers that even being a doorkeeper at the Temple is a greater blessing than all the fame, wealth, and power of the world. May we see how ravished the Psalmist is with the love of God?

In drawing close to God, God becomes to us like the sun—bringing light, restoration to the soul, and hope for the future. He becomes like a shield—demonstrating His power, defending from evil, and giving security. He bestows grace and glory—giving power and strength, showing His favor, and granting honor. He withholds no good thing—pouring out His goodness, revealing it in all things to the upright.

You see, being in God’s Presence will transform everything!  This is the point: the blessing of pilgrimage is that the adventure and all you have seen and experienced will stay with you when you return home.

Finally, the Psalmist concludes with a blessing for all of us. He looks up to God and praises Him for blessing all who trust Him. The Psalm opened with the Psalmist deeply longing for God and the Psalm ends with an invitation and encouragement to everyone to put their trust in Him.

Put your trust in God, in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay vibrant in your longing for the Final Day of Glory. As you do, your resolve in the Great Pilgrimage to the Heavenly Zion will grow, and you will find perseverance to be a joy.

2 Corinthians 5:6–9 ESV “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”

Hijacked Preaching

Preaching is not what many have come to think it is.

It is not about giving a good speech with applause and handshakes to follow. 
It is not about delivering a theology lesson with head nods and warm hearts agreeing.
It is not about providing counseling for the myriads of hurting people. 
It is not about motiving people to a better morality, making them feel guilty or superior. 
It is not about making Jesus sound politically correct or incorrect.
It is not about skillful altar calls, and the baptisms that follow. 
It is not about artsy appeals to a live really cool communal Christian lifestyle. 
It is not about presenting the top (insert a number) tips for living a happy life. 
It is not about convincing unbelievers, while ignoring the soul needs of believers. 
It is not about the preacher’s hair, jeans or suit, his language, or his makeup artists.
It is not about the newly released book and the promises contained in it.
It is not about dropping nuggets of wisdom for financial and relational successes. 
It is not about addressing current political concerns, injustices or outrageous atrocities. 
It is not about wooing weak women or duping men easy to be suckered. 
It is not about the number of people in the room or those listening by live streaming.
It is not about meticulously mentioning the concerns of various constituencies. 

The list goes on, and for American Christians this is especially true, sadly, embarrassingly and reprovingly. Preaching has been hijacked, taken to places it should not go.

Certainly, preaching, even good preaching, may contain some of the elements from the above list, but preaching still stands separate; it is not those things. It is a unique calling.

Preaching as Sui Generis

Preaching is a unique event without analogy or parallel. As John Stott named it in his book Between Two Worlds, preaching is sui generis, its own genre. There are only three things a preacher need to know about and concern himself with: the Holy Spirit’s role in Scripture, people and the preacher. God the Holy Spirit has written the Scripture. He indwells Christians. And He empowers the preacher. 

The Bible is God’s Word. There is nothing more powerful and important to study, declare and apply than this! What else is there worthy to be preached?! It is a simple task, though it is a profound task. And we are called to honor the Word before the Lord, His people and the angels.

1 Peter 1:12 ESV “It was revealed to them [Old Testament prophets] that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.”

Believers in Jesus Christ really want to listen to the Word. They really truly do, more than seeing the things in the list above! They have been re-made to hunger and thirst for the Word of God. And unbelievers will be given spiritual life by the living and abiding Word through the preaching of it. So everyone benefits.

Psalms 119:130 ESV “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” 

2 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word . . .”

The unction of God upon the preacher is easy to recognize and makes a world of difference! This is not simply passion, but the anointing of the Spirit that stirs the soul of the preacher, affecting him first and then the congregation. It far surpasses anything on that relatively boring preaching list above.

Simply Preach the Word

A few years ago I did some academic research on historical metaphors and models of preaching. I was stunned and lamented to see the modern devolutions, especially in the last couple of centuries.

For the pastor today, the pressures to perform and produce are intense. It is a matter of spiritual warfare. Consequently, every Sunday that I preach I must reset myself by prayer to the classical view of preaching, which is simply declaring the Word of God. 

Stay focused. Don’t let your preaching be hijacked, taken places other than God’s designed destination, and don’t bother listening to preaching that has been hijacked.

Kiss The Son

The hope of every new year:  His Messiah will reign upon the earth, soon.

Psalm 2:7–12 ESV “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

In this Psalm, the future Messianic King speaks concerning the promised universal reign decreed for Him.  In this Psalm, the King would be like a son to God who would be like a Father to him.  In fulfillment of this Psalm, Jesus Christ came to earth as the True Son of God the Father, the True King of the Covenant People of God.

The Decree Unfolding

The word “today” in the Psalm refers to the day of the coronation of the King onward.  The “today” for Our Lord Jesus the Messiah King would be all throughout His ministry.  This verse of the Psalm is quoted at His Baptism (Matthew 3:17; Luke 3:22), at His Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17), about His Resurrection (Acts 13:33); and most importantly upon His Coronation in Heaven in His Exaltation (Hebrews 1:5; 5:5).

He currently reigns from heaven over all things for His Church, subduing His enemies.  He is building the Church by the Gospel being proclaimed in mission around the world and true worshippers of the true God being made.

He will return to inherit all the nations, to the ends of the earth as His possession.  He will rule over all the earth’s inhabitants.  Our Lord Christ will be “heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2).

Genesis 49:10 ESV “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

He will establish righteousness in the earth and destroy and subjugate all the rebellious peoples, as a most fitting and glorious conclusion to this present age.  This will be the time for the vindication of God, of His Christ and of His people in this world.  It will be a time when society will be blessed with full justice and true peace.

In addition, Christ Jesus will share this amazing Psalm 2 glory with His Church!

Revelation 2:26–29 ESV “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Afterward, this great conclusion to world history will open up into the New Heavens and New Earth forevermore!

(If you are interested in reading more Scripture passages on this topic, see for example, Psalm 72, 110; Isaiah 2, 9, 11, 65; Micah 4, 5; Daniel 2, 7; Ezekiel 34, 37; Zechariah 14; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Revelation 19-22.)

The Summons still Stands

The Psalmist speaks to all the world, in light of all this truth, and offers the only hope.  Yet, it is a most blessed hope!   Submit now, “Kiss the Son,” and receive grace and eventual reward with the Anointed One.  Submit later, be forced to honor the Son, and receive wrath and eternal destruction from the Anointed One.

The wise decision for which the Psalmist is calling is this:  Worship and serve Yahweh, the Only True God, the Holy Triune One, now in reverent awe.  Kiss the Son of God in homage as the Anointed One and rightful heir of world and all things.  Here is the Gospel of God in Jesus Christ announced beforehand by Psalm 2!

Each of us in our sin is in rebellion against heaven.  This is described in the first part of Psalm 2.

Psalm 2:1–3 ESV “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.””

The Lord God has appointed Jesus Christ, not only as the coming Conqueror, but first as the Savior of world.  If you haven’t done so already, submit yourself now to the Cross of Christ for the forgiveness of your sin and the gaining of the true hope of eternal life.  Be wise and be blessed:  Kiss the Son.  Worship Him.  Acknowledge His authority.  Accept His reign.

We do not know when the Final Day will come.  So, take refuge now; for then, there will be no refuge.  Join the People of God.  The full and eternal blessings for His People will come when the Lord God will establish His Messiah as King over all the earth.  And this will be the best new year ever!

Identifying Messianic Psalms

The Messianic Psalms are the Psalms that speak about the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Which ones are they?  This question is not as easy to answer as it might seem.

The Usual List

We start by taking note of the Psalms that are quoted in the New Testament.  Then, we add to the list those which, though not quoted, seem to overwhelmingly point to Jesus, nonetheless.  This might be because the language of the Psalm looks beyond its original situation, or Messianic terms are used, or a certain circumstance in the New Testament fits a specific Psalm so well.

Then they are often arranged in two groups, those about His life and those about His Kingship.  And so, we end up with about 21 Messianic Psalms.

Kingly Psalms:  2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 61, 72, 89, 110, 132, 144.
Personal Life Psalms:  8, 16, 22, 35, 40, 41, 55, 69, 102, 109.

The Full List

However, when searching through the Psalms you will start to wonder if this list of 21 is really sufficient.  Remember the teaching of our Lord Jesus Himself in Luke 24:44.

“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Might it be more accurate to declare that all the Psalms are Messianic?  Although not all are Messianic in the same manner, but in a variety of ways.

The Christ is the ultimate extension of King David in the Psalms.  He Himself is also the ultimate resolution of all human aspirations expressed in the Psalms.  These things being so, the full and final satisfaction of each Psalm will be found only in Jesus Christ.

How To Read the Messianic Psalms

It is easiest and most rewarding to start with the most recognized and celebrated, the list of the most obvious 21.  Give yourself about 30 minutes to spend in each Psalm.

Here are five steps to follow when reading these Psalms:

1. Read through the Psalm from the perspective of the original audience.  Restrain yourself from thinking ahead.  Do this multiple times.
2. Read through the Psalm from the perspective of Messianic fulfillment.  Restrain yourself from going back in history.  Do this multiple times.
3. Stop.  Sit in awe.  Recognize the glory of God and Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you in His Scripture!
4. Offer up prayers of praise, using the Psalm itself, and even using the New Testament fulfillments you discover along the way.  Take your time and do a lot of this.
5. Recognize the value of the truths to yourself, to your time in Redemptive History.

The Kingdom of God has been inaugurated by the Messiah; it is expanding currently by proclamation of the Gospel; and it soon will be consummated with His reign upon the earth, and then forever in the New Heavens and New Earth!

So, let us give ourselves fully to the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ!  Missions is for the greater glory of God and Christ in the world now, and the world to come!

A Missionary’s Psalm

Psalm 121 is a favorite Psalm, especially for those in danger as a result of doing the Lord’s work.

Recently a colleague of mine had his life and family threatened in very perverse and troubling terms.  The ominous text message came because of his bold stand for righteousness in his ministry and in his community in Asia.

Precautions for him are necessary; courage to stay the course is just as necessary.  Yet, the personal anxiety and fear can only be met by the Lord Himself in His Word, through prayer and the encouragement of brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yahweh is the Keeper of All Things

“A song of ascents.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

This is a pilgrimage psalm.  We are all on a pilgrimage in the Christian life.  Some make more dangerous journeys than others.  Is looking at the hills a reminder of God’s power, or is this a look of anxiety because the hills are reminders that many troubles lurk there?

Yahweh is the Creator of all things and all places.  And everything and every person is under His constant control as the Creator.  Not only is there nothing to fear, but also there is no greater power or person on our side to help than Yahweh, our God!

Yahweh Keeps His People

“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

The first line is self-talk to remember truth and rely upon it.  At the same time it is a prayer to the Lord for those in trouble, “may He not let . . . may He not slumber.”  God is active on our behalf.  As it says in Ephesians 1:22 ESV, “And he put all things under his [Christ’s] feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.”

Clearly God does not sleep, nor is He unconcerned or uninvolved.  Take a look at the history of Israel!  Yahweh has never been caught off guard or stayed dormant in the face of His people’s troubles.  Being a member of the New People of God guarantees His concern.

Yahweh Keeps His Own Personally

“The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.”

The theme of the Psalm is that Yahweh is not only the general keeper of the universe, and the special protector of His People, but that He is also one’s personal keeper.  This is an astounding commitment of the Lord to you, if you are His!

The sun and the moon together as symbols encompass all time, all places, and all forces.  Of course we can observe the literal need of protection from the sun and its heat, but intended here as well is the protection from the evil effects of evil forces, human and demonic, so often active at night.

Yahweh Keeps Us throughout the Journey

“The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.”

Here is great assurance that the Lord has all resources to overcome all evil and trouble.  Our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, are in His hands, the Great Keeper!

As servants of the Lord, we travel often on journeys, “going out” and “coming in,” to advance the cause of Christ and His Kingdom, and we have His protection while we do so.  We definitely need it, and moreso in certain parts of the world.

This is a Psalm expressing great confidence, and giving great comfort!  This is also a Psalm asking for great acts of power and protection!

The God Who Heals: Our Church’s Annual Healing Prayer Service

It is normative Christianity to minister to the sick, including praying for their healing. 

Even so, some of us might not think of this as a corporate activity.  That’s where we were as a congregation, until four years ago. Since then, each January we hold an annual healing prayer service.  

At first, this service was attended with curiosity, mild suspicion and some concern.  To be honest, every one of us was nervous to some degree.  But the reasons we felt compelled to start were two: (1) We had recently been preaching through Exodus and had encountered Yahweh Rapha (“the God who heals”); and (2) we took note of just how many people were suffering with illness in our congregation.

So we simply decided that we should ask the Lord to extend His hand and heal.

What Does Our Healing Prayer Service Look Like?

We begin with an invocation and a time of congregational singing that focuses on God’s holiness and His presence.  Then we usually turn to a time of confession.  Sometimes we find previously written prayers and recite them as a congregation. Other times we use special music.

Often we will include an extended period of silence for private confession and repentance.  This has always been a sweet time of humility before God, and a great way to prepare ourselves to seek His will and trust His goodness.

Throughout the entire service, which lasts one-and-a-half to two hours, the Holy Spirit confirms our desperate need for Christ’s full redemptive work on our behalf, and He ministers to us the full hope we have in Him.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:2-5, ESV).

After more singing, we listen to a brief message on healing and perhaps a few testimonies from those who have recently experienced God’s healing power or sustaining grace.  The Holy Spirit uses this time to encourage a mood of thankfulness and expectation in us.

We also spend significant time in prayer for one another.  We set up circles of chairs on opposite ends of the sanctuary, with several elders at each.  Everyone is encouraged to go forward for prayer, whatever their need, and our elders hear concerns, offer brief words of counsel, share Scripture, and then minister by anointing with oil, laying on of hands and prayer.  This is all after the pattern of James 5:14-16.

It is a joyful privilege of the elders to then follow up with people, seeing the grace and mercy God has granted.

What Exactly Do We Teach About Healing?

The teaching time is important to bring clarity to this topic, to remove fears, to set the context for the evening, to teach how to pray and to manage expectations.  Much of our teaching and approach is indebted to Wayne Grudem, former professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School—from class notes and from his Systematic Theology.

We talk about how a biblical theology of healing always points to the mercy of God in Christ now and the hope we have for ultimate healing in our resurrection.  We warn people about wrong approaches, and we offer reasons why God might heal and His pleasure in doing so.

We mention three common mistakes: (1) not praying for healing; (2) creating an atmosphere of low expectations (God seldom, if ever, heals); and (3) creating an atmosphere of particular expectations (God always heals if . . . one has enough faith, sees the right healer man or stops sinning, etc.).

We discuss the wide range of healing: from God’s normal work through predictable means, to those times when He makes it more obvious that He is the Healer. We talk about miracles.  We talk about death.  We teach extensively on the value of suffering and weakness, and how significant they are for discipleship.

We review healings in the Bible and counsel against judging others in matters of seeking healing or not, and against presuming to know God’s will for others.

At times, the Holy Spirit moves people to seek healing, while at other times He gives them grace to rest, content without healing in the present.  Regardless, the Holy Spirit guides us in our prayers and communicates all the graces of God in our souls.

He also gifts individuals with the gift of healing.  Simply put, God chooses certain people through whom He answers prayers for healing more than through others. It is similar to any other spiritual gift in this regard, although we are not aware of anyone who has this gift in our body at this time.

How Have We Seen God Work?

Reports come in that evening about God’s work in healing, and they continue to come in over the next couple of weeks.  We have experienced healing of what we might consider the normal illnesses of life and also the more significant physical ailments.  We have seen Him answer doubts, lift depression, purge sin, restore relationships and revive souls.

Most recently, a woman asked for prayer for general weakness and shortness of breath, which was rapidly worsening and for which her doctors had no answers.  Only days after the service, she was admitted to the hospital with severe anemia.  After a transfusion and several tests, she returned to health.

Although it has been determined that she was bleeding internally, no real medical explanation has been offered as to the cause of the bleeding or to her continued good health now.  We know without a doubt that God has healed her.

Although God is at work in amazing ways in our lives all the time, the healing service serves to focus our prayers and to cause us to see with greater clarity God’s hand at work in our congregation.  Most people experience some kind of renewal.  Even our children experience personal revival from a heightened sense of sin and the importance of an intimate relationship with God through Christ.

Everyone learns how to pray better—to pray openly, confidently and with faith that God will always glorify Himself in answer to our prayers.  God is glorified both in His healing now and in His not healing now.  Ultimately, all prayers for healing will be answered at the day of resurrection glory.

This annual service has become one of our church’s favorite times together.  It is a time to grow in humility.  It is a time to rejoice in all the benefits of our God. Our benediction for all is from our apostle John (3 John 1:2 ESV): “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”

(This blog entry was originally published as an article, co-authored with Raymy Krumrei, in the Fall 2007 issue of EFCA Today, copyright Evangelical Free Church of America.)

Sunday Shouldn’t Feel Like A Funeral, But A Resurrection

I was running late that Sunday and rushed to my seat in church.  The lights were dimmed and then the dirge began.  

We started off our worship by singing this absolutely dreadful tune and un-singable song about our sin and death.  Why, why, why . . . why?!

Starting with a song like that was a stupid mistake.  But, continuing the worship service in the mood of a funeral was worse.  “Jesus is risen,” I wanted to remind the worship leader.  This means our sins are forgiven, and we rejoice, hallelujah! 

A Wake-Up Call

Visiting many worship services in many churches these days, I feel like a restaurant critic of churches.  This has its drawbacks for me personally, however it also has its moments of refreshment, and even occasional insights.

When I look at the expressions on the faces of people around me, and those of the worship leaders, the mood of the day becomes obvious.  Most often, I am overjoyed worshipping with a wonderful church, with wonderful music and being led into the glory of Christ!

However, I have also made a strange discovery in public worship services.  It is not uncommon for melancholiness and expressionlessness to be promoted as spiritual.  This is strange because it does not match up with the Bible in its primary examples nor its instructions.

Being melancholy is not pleasing to people, or to God.  Who wants to go to worship God and be depressed?  Yet, the saddest of situations is the deadpan mood, neither really happy, nor really sad, but expressionless.  How can anyone be expressionless in worship?!  

Sometimes I feel like I am at a funeral, when I know I am really supposed to be at a resurrection celebration; and that of Jesus Christ.

Sing a New Song

Psalm 98 is clear that we are to sing a new song with bountiful joy!  

What is this “new song?”  It is a fresh outburst of praise of the Lord, to the Lord, and for the Lord.  It is an anticipation of new acts of His deliverance and redemption.  At the same time, it is a renewed realization and acknowledgment of the Lord’s future.  It is a song that matches our experience with God.

Our new song we are to sing includes three verses:  Celebrating God as our Past Savior; Praising God as our Present King; and Anticipating God as our Future Judge.

Psalm 98 ESV “Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! 

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”

Pay Attention to Mood, Because Everyone Else Does

When planning the worship service, consider the mood of the text being preached.  What do people need to feel that day?  What do we want them to feel?  Pay attention to the mood being set by the worship team, both in song, and yes, even in their facial expressions.  Everyone is watching and will be following.

So, how is your and your congregation’s singing sounding these days? 

Govern Your Heart

Life comes forth from the heart.  Our whole experience of life derives from what is in our hearts.  Our perspectives, meaning-making, significance-finding, even simple joy, they all come from the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

The Hebrew word translated as “keep,” more specifically means either protect or govern.  If the meaning is to protect, it is about keeping watch as against an enemy, that nothing bad influences the integrity of one’s heart.  If the meaning is to govern, it is about keeping watch as in restraining a prisoner, that nothing bad comes out of one’s heart.

Obviously, we want to be doing both, protecting and governing, but the second option here seems to be more likely, that of governing.  We are strongly advised to restrain our hearts from wrongdoing.

The concept of the “heart” in the ancient near east involved the whole person:  mind, emotions, will, and affections.  We tend to think of the heart as the place of intentions or emotions only.  The idea here is to use one faculty of the heart, the mind, to keep the rest of the person in check.  We must do so because the tendency of our hearts is to lead us astray.

Disney Has it Backwards

This can be hard to accept because it is contrary to the ever-present and popular Gospel according to Disney, which teaches relentlessly to just follow your heart.  Perhaps, this explains the common saying of Christians these days, “you don’t know my heart.”  They may just be defending their sincerity, but most often something more is going on here.  

Some use this phrase trying to escape an impending spiritual assessment.  For others it is a quick defensive move.  In more severe cases it functions as a way of putting oneself above the Holy Spirit and the Church.  Regardless, those who use the phrase often are in great danger of self-deception on purity of motive and clarity of thinking.  This is because the phrase is used to assert that they themselves know their own heart.

Again, we tend to think of the heart as the place of intentions or emotions only, and that they are good.  This is very dangerous way to think and live, to trust one’s own heart; Proverbs calls it foolish.  Don’t let others, or yourself, get away with this, rather guide them into the truth of Scripture and their souls.

The Truth of the Matter

On the one hand, no one really knows their own heart; yet, on the other hand, we do know how everyone’s heart works.  Here is wisdom worth pondering when handling ourselves and dealing with others, from Proverbs 20:5 ESV “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.”

Ultimately, only God really knows what is going on in there, not even the person himself or herself really very much.

Jeremiah 17:9–10 ESV “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”” 

Proverbs 21:2 ESV “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.”

This is why we pray like David in Psalm 139:23–24 ESV “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Practically speaking, simply look at the four verses following Proverbs 4:23.

Proverbs 4:24–27 ESV “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

Living the Proverbs

The fullness of life promised in v.23, “Govern your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life,” would be fulfilled in all that comes in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 4:14 ESV “. . . whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”” 

John 7:38 ESV “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’””

Sometimes, we can forget the connections between the Old and New Testaments, but they really speak to the one and same final hope.  Jesus Christ grants us the Holy Spirit and His power and ability to perform the Proverbs at a whole new level as the New Covenant People of God.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” 

Romans 8:2 ESV “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

In Christ Jesus, we get to re-experience Proverbs from a greater perspective and with a greater purpose! 

A New Royal Priesthood

Four new names are given to Christians, terms that are now even more fitting for the New Covenant people God has created.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 

The terms “chosen race,” “royal priesthood,” “holy nation” and “a people” are packed with meaning, being rooted in Old Testament history in God’s powerful dealings with Israel, most notably in their times of the Exodus and the Exile.

Exodus 19:5-6 ESV “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. . . .””

Isaiah 43:20-21 ESV “. . . my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” 

(See related blog entries:  A New Chosen Race, A New Holy Nation, A New People Of God.)

A New Royal Priesthood

Historically, the roles of king and priest were to be kept separate for the people of Israel.  However, prior to this in the time of Abraham, there was Melchizedek who served both as a king and a priest, and he holds priority over the long-standing Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 5, 7).  

Later on we read about the future, unique, powerful combining of the roles of king and priest in Psalm 110 in anticipation of the Messiah.  In verse 4 it is declared, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”  Additionally we are given the examples of kings David and Solomon, both of whom on occasion served minor priestly functions; together they give us a glorious preview of the coming Christ, our Lord Jesus.

On top of that, the “royal priesthood” was a role the whole Old Covenant people of God were to play--sometimes they did well, sometimes not so well.  But now, in the New Covenant, the people of God play the role much better, being empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Here is yet another way we are made like Christ--sharing in His royalty and priestliness.  See Jeremiah 33, especially verses 14-18, and then verse 22, “As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.”  

Our royal priesthood, however, is a derived one, coming from our relationship to the King of the universe.  And we live to serve Him and His interests and His eternal Kingdom.

Revelation 5:9-10 ESV “And they [angels] sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you [Jesus Christ] to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””

Moreover, the significance of the “royal priesthood” role has grown much larger in the fuller purposes of God now revealed.  Our mediatorial role for the nations and peoples of the world is to bring them the Gospel of Christ and His Kingdom (Romans 15:16)!

Our Three Dimensional Priesthood

1. We offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5).  These include cooperating with all the influences of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and giving Him all the glory for the transformations He has worked and is still working in our lives.
2. We serve one another in the church, praying for and ministering to one another.  We need one another.  The well-known phrase “priesthood of all believers” is not about the removal of authority structures in church, which would be a great misunderstanding, but about our serving one another and using our spiritual gifts.
3. We exist for the benefit of the world.  We alone have access to the One True and Living God because of the Lord Christ.  We declare His Gospel and live it out.  And we seek to bless the world in a multitude of wonderful ways because of receiving such a blessing.

Saint Augustine wrote, “In ancient times only one high priest was anointed, but now all Christians are anointed.”  Think about the extraordinary honor, along with the expectations of the duty, of belonging to this “new royal priesthood!”

O Lord, Smite My Enemies, But In A Loving Sort Of Way

Many of the Psalms contain imprecations, that is requests for God to bring judgment upon one’s enemies.  There are over a dozen Psalms with this as a major theme; and many others that contain such requests somewhere in the Psalm.

The first occurrence is in Psalm 3, and it is a strong statement.  Notice the certain confidence in the request in verse 7, “Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.”

What place do these Psalms have in our lives and ministries today?  We need to resist our urge to be repulsed and reject them as expressions of an outdated Old Testament religion.  Rather, how do we honor the Word of God, and value and use these passages of Scripture?

It is by considering the larger story of redemption that such prayers can become our prayers.

The Progress of the History of Redemption

We need to recognize the historical development in God’s plans which modifies our use of the imprecatory Psalms a bit.  For example, though we might experience similar situations as David, we still are not completely like David.  He was a directly anointed King over God’s people and had the ark of God’s presence in his midst.  We live at a different point in redemptive history.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came and established the New Covenant, inaugurated the Kingdom of God, and has given the Holy Spirit to His Church to preach His Gospel to the world in power.  We have a different task to perform, and different interests to protect, and different methodologies to employ.  The People of God today are a spiritual people united to Christ, and not embodying a political state; not until Christ returns.

We know we are to “love our enemies” and speak the Gospel of Christ to them, and so it doesn’t seem right to pray for opportunity to slaughter them with a sword.

Three Prayer Modulations for Moderation

We have to learn to pray the imprecations in a New Covenant manner, such as “Smite them on the jaw, and shatter their wicked teeth . . . but in a loving way, O Lord.”  This may sound strange, but it is not too poor of a way to express the change of tone required in our prayers.

First, we are not to give up on righteousness being upheld, but to pray and work for it earnestly.  Justice is a good thing.  We certainly must not take our own vengeance, but do pray that God will uphold His glory whatever it takes.  And a good test of our own heart is that we must be willing to see this glory and righteousness displayed even in our suffering and growth.

Second, we should enter humble self-examination before, and every time, we pray imprecations; and yet we can and should rejoice at God’s vindication of His holiness and our righteous cause when it comes.  Ultimately, we should desire our enemies’ salvation and even relational reconciliation as the best outcome.

Third, sometimes it is best that we pray our imprecation in a more general and eschatological sense, and less specifically upon individuals for the here and now.  This lifts our thoughts and sets our minds on the glory of God, and can be a safeguard against thoughts for personal vengeance.

2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 ESV “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

These Psalms Address Our Experiences

Undoubtedly there are many times in our lives when concerns for justice and righteousness overwhelm us, whether it is a personal situation of ours, or it is the general condition of a society, or it is the suffering of the weak, or often most painfully when it is someone we know.

And the spectrum of injustice in the world is wide, from daily wrongs we endure all the way to the most infamous crimes of humanity.  These seemingly uncommon type of  Psalms actually address our common concerns in this world.

So, go ahead and use these imprecatory Psalms to pray for glorious victories and blessings from the Lord.  Look to God for more than just refuge, but for full deliverance, in such a way that you wake up each morning with confidence, joy, and song in your heart for the Lord’s new day!

(See related blog:  When Your Enemy Falls.)

Jesus Christ In Eight Wonders

The opening paragraph of the Book of Hebrews tells us how we are to think about Jesus Christ by means of eight clauses.

Hebrews 1:2–4 ESV “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”

The Heir of All Things

This Son is the One whom the Father appointed as Heir of all things.  God has declared His pleasure in Him.  He will yet receive all things with a new dignity as the Son who has both revealed God to us and redeemed us from our sins.

The Son has already been enthroned on high, yet awaits the consummation of all things.  He will take possession of all things permanently, forever.  This is the fulfillment of Psalms 2 and 110 which speak of the Kingship of Christ.  To be the Heir of the universe is His destiny.  

The Creator of the World

He is the One through whom God the Father created all things.  Jesus Christ is the eternally pre-existent and co-existent Son of the Father.  The Son is co-Creator with the Father.  

He is the rightful Heir of all things by virtue of His being appointed to it, as the Son who pleases the Father in redemption.  Also, He is the rightful Heir simply by virtue being its Creator.

The Reflector of God’s Glory

He is the “radiator” or “reflector” of God’s glory, shining forth the fullness of His glory.  As the radiator of the glory of God, He Himself must be God.  He must be essentially glorious as the Father Himself is.  

This speaks to His oneness with the Father in eternal glory.  We recall the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain with His Apostles Peter, James, and John. 

The Same God but Different Person

He is the “exact imprint/representation” of God’s nature or being.  He is the exact correspondence of the essence of the Father.  He is fully God Himself, yet necessarily distinct from Him.  They are two persons, and yet the same God.  

This statement about His being the “exact imprint” is parallel to the previous one about His being the “radiance of the glory of God,” yet they do relate two different points.  Passing over centuries of doctrinal development, today we commonly refer to the Son and the Father being “equal in essence and glory, yet distinct in person and office.” 

The Sustainer of the Universe

He also upholds all things by His powerful word, carrying all creation along to its goal.  His constant word enables creation to continue to exist.  

More than that, He uses all creation for the accomplishment of all His purposes.  This work of Sustainer also shows Him to be our omnipotent God. 

The Purifier

He made purification for sins by self-sacrifice on the Cross, having become man, one of us, body and soul.  Sin is the big problem, our big problem--its unpardonable guilt, unending shame and unbreakable power.  He removed all of this and the stain of sin upon our souls as the Pure One.  

This phrase is the key phrase for introducing the Book of Hebrews.  This theme of purification is thoroughly developed, and the work of Christ explored and applied to our lives both now and for eternity.

The Reigning King

He sat down at the honorable and powerful position of the right hand of the Father, the Majesty on High.  Jesus Christ is ruling and directing all things every day to serve His saving purposes among humanity and to benefit His Church.

In this phrase and the previous one the eternal Priesthood of Christ and eternal Kingship of Christ are brought together.  We are reminded of the prophecy in Psalm 110 concerning these two roles being united in the Messiah. 

The Most Excellent One

He has always been above the angels since He created them.  However, during His ministry upon earth as a man He was subject to their service and care of Him.  But now, after accomplishing redemption as the Son of God Incarnate His status has been renewed in a newly exalted way!

Upon His ascension into heaven, Jesus inherited the most excellent Name above all names.  It is the name of “Lord” with many new facets now referencing the totality of His being and work openly revealed!  

The first two chapters of the Book of Hebrews describe this most astounding event of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Coronation in heaven--read on!

A new age was inaugurated when the Son of God appeared from glory and has now returned to glory.  It is the age of final revelation and full salvation!  And so it is the time of Mission.  It is our age.  Ponder in prayer these eight astounding clauses, and then go tell all the world about this Jesus, how to consider Him and to consider their relationship to Him!

Ten Characteristics Of Truly Penitent Prayer

How does a Christian recover from great sin, even all lesser sins?

Surely, each situation is going to have a variety of unique factors to consider.  Our sin can be simple, but also relatively complex necessitating thoughtful spiritual strategies.

Our Ever Present Need

Since our hearts and minds can be deceitful, and because we can be deceived so easily by the world and the devil, we need to ask, “What does truly penitent prayer that finds mercy with God look like?”

You may not be in a position of great sinfulness today, but it is likely that you have been in the past to some degree, or that some brother or sister will need your help, or that you will soon encounter temptations and falter or fail, or that you need renewal in your appreciation of the Gospel of Christ, or that you might just need to recognize that some lesser sins need some attention.

A Psalm Of (Ab)solution

Psalm 51 guides us through praying our prayers of confession, and encourages us:  God will have mercy upon the truly penitent believer.

     “To the choirmaster.  A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
     “1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
“7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
“13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.”

Ten Characteristics Of Truly Penitent Prayer

1. It pleads for forgiveness and cleansing and does not presume upon God’s mercy. (vv.1-2, 9)

2. It sees sin for what it is and oneself for who one really is, taking responsibility, making no excuses. (vv.3-6)

3. It does not argue with God, to whom one is accountable, but accepts full chastisement from all of His Word. (v.4)

4. It hopes in the power of God to completely forgive and to thoroughly wash clean. (vv.7-8)

5. It seeks a transformational change in one’s heart and empowerment to be more holy. (vv.10-12)

6. It longs for the return of joy in one’s life, in one’s worship, and in one’s ministry. (vv.8, 12, 13-15)

7. It does whatever it takes to get right with God and His People. (vv.16-19)

8. It looks to Jesus Christ as one’s Savior in faith and repentance yet again, and takes hold of all in Him. (vv.1-2, 7-9, 10-12, 16-17, 19)

9. It finds mercy and renewal by the Holy Spirit, the promise of all good gifts of grace. (vv.10-12)

10. It maintains a new humility and hope in walking with the Lord. (vv.16-17)

Jesus Is The Way

Psalm 51 humbles all of us before God, and it is also a very strong encouragement to us as sinners to come to Christ Jesus, and to stay close to Christ--for fullness of joy and increasing holiness.

It is so heartening to know that there is a way back to God, isn’t it?  Proverbs 28:13 states, “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Scriptural Snippets And Sidebars

So often in our worship gatherings we do not “lead off” with the Word of God.  Why not?  Until the Word is spoken we can’t offer the worship our hearts, minds and souls want to offer.  We do not yet sense that we are His.  And meaning is not yet present.  Our worship and our gatherings suffer because of this all too common weak confidence in the Scripture.  

A Foil To A Praise Psalm

Recently, I preached Psalm 33.  One of the sections of this Psalm is about the effective power of God’s word and how considering this elicits our praise.  

Psalm 33:4–9 ESV “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

At another venue a few weeks after that I was at a worship event where the Word of God was largely absent.  It was an interesting contrast.  The leaders were sincere, but were simply telling us things about God that we knew were in the Bible.  The music was beautiful and true, but again composed of merely human wording.  Much, much later in the meeting the Word of God was introduced and we felt Christian finally; at least I did.

Our words are just words, but God’s Word is effective.  We can’t deeply encourage one another without the Word of God.  We end up simply making stuff up to say that seems like it ought to be encouraging, and reading the Bible along with our story as a supporting sidebar.  And no matter how wonderful the songs are that we are singing, we can’t leave it to the songs to convey snippets of Scripture as if that were enough.

Basic Instructions On Reading Scripture

Scripture should not merely be read in snippets and sidebars as it seems useful; rather we should declare it and read it publicly as instructed in 1 Timothy 4:13 “. . . devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture . . . .”

Don’t hurry.  Pause for one or two seconds before you begin reading.  And then pause for a second of two after you finish before you leave the front or sit down.  Announce the text you will be reading by reference only.  There is no need to supply personal commentary.  Simply read the Bible.

Read well.  Practice reading aloud beforehand, if you have the time.  Know the text--its divisions, emphases, pronunciation, cadence, et cetera.  Read a little louder than your normal voice, but not in a weird “holy” voice.  Keep a good pace.  Be lively and passionate about God’s Word; and honor and enjoy the text in front of everyone.

Our Words Are Not As Good As God’s Words

The Word of God brings focus, power, authority, truth, clarity, renewal and transformation.  This is because God is speaking, not us.  He is the One who can bring such blessings into our worship, our meetings and our lives.

If we lead off with the Word of God, at least somewhere near the beginning, before we move too far into our meeting, then we will find Psalm 33:1 much easier to accomplish:  “Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!  Praise befits the upright.”

I Am Not Usually Two Hours Late, Honestly

A few years ago, in a Buddhist country, in southeast Asia, a consortium of local churches from different denominations got together and planned an intense campaign to preach widely and plant as many churches as possible in one week.  

It was my very first exposure to such an approach, and I felt honored to be part of a team brought in to help.  Actually, it was their first attempt at such an approach, as well, but their faith and zeal were strong.  The result from that week of ministry was over 300 professions of faith and five new churches planted.

Two Hours Late Was Not Too Late, Thankfully

We learned a lot from one another while ministering the Gospel together that week.  One special memory sticks out above the rest for me.  It took place in an apartment where thirty young adults had gathered secretly to hear about the message of Christianity.  This was all arranged in advance and with the specific people chosen.  My partner and I were to arrive at a certain time and speak to the people.

A phone call came in asking what happened.  Where were we.  We were supposed to be there two hours ago.  We didn’t know what happened, but there was some miscommunication.  So, we frantically headed to the location, praying for the people--that they would stay, and that they would remain open to receiving us and the message.  

When we arrived we were welcomed warmly.  All the people had stayed.  After appropriate apologies and honoring our hosts and national leaders, we began.  They were eager to hear what we had to say and wanted to get right to the topic.

Could We Squeeze The Gospel Into Just An Hour?

Most of them were disenchanted with Buddhism but did not know what to do about it.  They especially wanted to hear answers from Christians outside of their own culture, which I found interesting.

We shared the basic outline of the Gospel from the very beginning, about who God is, to what He has done, starting from Creation, on to Christ and the Cross, and clear on out to His return and the final state of glory.  We spent most of this 30 minutes or so talking about the person of Jesus Christ, which was their main interest.

This was all done through translation by a couple nationals who were also Christian workers.  We took a few questions with their help, and certainly they filled in our answers with what really needed to be said.  A few knew some English.  We finished up our presentation time with sharing our personal stories about how Jesus Christ had transformed us and our families.

After that hour, about half group decided to start following Christ.  Amazing!  God had been at work preparing them for this day, at work through others who had shared the Gospel with some of them before, at work in their lives, in their minds and their hearts.  This group of people spent another hour or so with my partner talking in more detail about being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

What would we do with the others?  They obviously still had many questions, so I decided to sit with them and hear their concerns, even their objections and try my best to answer their questions.  I had no idea this would be so valuable to them.

The Two Best Questions I Have Ever Been Asked

It began, “you said that Jesus Christ was God and that he was man, so which is it?”  What a great question!  We looked at a some Scriptures and then spent time slowly talking and thinking through the two natures in the one person of Jesus Christ, and its reasonableness, yet its glorious mystery, and precisely how this is related to our salvation.  Most of them understood how this could be true; and then we had to talk some about God being Triune, which was made a little easier by starting with the person of Christ.

The big practical question on their minds was on the difference between Buddhist and Christian meditation.  This was out of my league, so I had them explain Buddhist meditation to me and tell me about their personal practices with it.  Many of them said they didn’t find it meaningful.  Picking up on their emptying concept, I said that in contrast Christian meditation is about filling our minds.

We looked at Psalm 1 together.  I had them read it aloud.  They loved it and started talking excitedly about it for a number of minutes before I could get any translation about the conversation from my national Christian friend.  I waited patiently and prayerfully as the work was being done by my national partner, and really the Word of God itself.  They understood very well, and wanted me to tell about my experience of following Psalm 1 and its results in my life.  What an amazing blessing to talk with these dear people who want to know God about knowing God!  A few more became disciples.

After two hours of this spiritual intensity, we ate a simple lunch together.  It was a joyful time being crammed together in that small apartment for half a day talking about matters of eternal significance.  We prayed with this group of new believers.  And best of all, our national partners were praising God for the results--possibly a new church!

Lessons On Partnership And Questions

While we were saying our good-byes, we were thanked for coming and sharing, of course.  But, then a number of them shared more deeply about how they felt like they had never been allowed to ask their religious questions before, or get any kind of real answers from their religious leaders.  I don’t know how accurate this was, but we affirmed that in Christianity questions are always welcome, even the most difficult questions, and that the answers are always found in the Bible.  

Then, motioning to our national partners, we affirmed that they deeply cared for them, understood their questions far better than anyone else, and wanted to continue teaching them about our Lord Jesus Christ.

That was a great day!  God showed me the joy to be had in welcoming those who have honest questions, answering them from His Scripture, and watching Him at work.  God also showed me the value of working in partnership and in teams.  There is simply no other better way.

1 Corinthians 3:5–8 ESV “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”