The Two Majors of Worship in a New Year

As we begin a new year I believe the two majors of our personal and corporate worship are God's Word to us and prayer.  We need to hear from Him on a regular, consistent basis and He needs to hear from us with our expectation of His promised presence and glory among us.  Here are some of the words from Him that I am reminded of:

"But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night" Ps. 1:2.  "Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.  Each morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly" Ps. 3:5.  "I praise You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees.  I will study your commandments and reflect on Your ways.  I will delight in Your decrees and not forget your word"  Ps. 119:12, 15-16.  "Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word" Ps. 119: 37.  "Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived." Ps. 119:54.  "Lord accept my offerings of praise, and teach me Your regulations" Ps. 119:108.  "Give discernment to me, Your servant; then I will understand Your laws" Ps. 119:125.  "Guide my steps by Your word, so I will not be overcome by evil"  Ps. 119:133.  "Look upon me with love; teach me Your decrees"  Ps. 119:135.  "I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will obey Your decrees.  I cry out to You; rescue me, that I may obey Your laws.  I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words" Ps. 119:145-147.  "Listen to my prayer; rescue me as You promised.  Let praise flow from my lips, for You have taught me Your decrees.  Let my tongue sing about Your word, for all Your commands are right"  Ps. 119:170-172.  And that's just from the Psalms.  

"Let the word of Christ dwell richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord"  Col. 3:16.  May we begin the new year committed to a very simple but profound thing in our daily lives - spending time in His Word and praying.  As our pastor said last Sunday...we spend time doing all kinds of things, reading the news, on Facebook, etc.  May we give time to that which will enhance and enrich our personal and public worship to the glory of God as we begin a new year!  mjm

A Christmas and New Year Prayer

Father, as we make the transition from the celebration of Your blessed Son's birth to a new year of opportunity, illuminate our hearts with the Light of the World, the radiance of the presence of Christ.  Tomorrow, oh Lord, won't You do wonders among us?  May our lives show forth Your love in a dark and weary world.  Teach us to befriend, and love with Your love, the lost; to serve the poor; to reconcile with our enemies; to love our neighbors as ourselves.  

Turn our eyes upon Jesus and help us keep our eyes on Him.  Keep us ever faithful in Your ministry and service until our Lord Jesus comes for the final victory when we shall feast with all Your saints in the joy of Your eternal presence.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ and in the unity of the Spirit, may all glory and honor be Yours, almighty God, now and forever.  Amen.  mjm

O Holy Night

One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time is "O Holy Night".  It has some interesting history that I want to share with you this Christmas. The beginning story of this song takes place in France.  Not only did it  become one of the most popular Christmas songs ever, but it also marked a technological revolution for music.  In 1847 a parish priest requested a poet in his parish by the name of Cappeau to pen a poem for Christmas Mass. This poet was not a very regular church attender.  In fact the poet was a little surprised by the request.  But, he used Luke as a guide and created the poem.  He was so moved by his own poem that he decided it needed to be set to music.  He enlisted a classically trained musician of the Paris Conservatoire by the name of Adolphe and "Cantique de Noel" was created. It was used three weeks later in a Christmas Mass and was wholeheartedly accepted and used throughout the churches in France.  

However, after being wholeheartedly accepted into the church, Cappeau left the church and became a part of the socialist movement.  When it became known that Adolphe, the musician, was a Jew "Cantique de Noel" was banned by the church in France.  Even though the official church tried to bury the Christmas song, the people continued to sing it.  

John Sullivan Dwight, a graduate of Harvard College and Divinity School, later found the song and translated it into English.  He published it as "O Holy Night".  Then in 1906 Reginald Fesseden, a    33-year-old professor in Pittsburg, using a new type of generator, spoke into a microphone and for the first time in history broadcast over the airwaves the Christmas Story from the gospel of Luke.  It created quite a sensation on ships and in offices. People were rushing to their wireless units to catch this Christmas eve miracle.  After he finished the recitation of the Christmas Story, he picked up his violin and played "O Holy Night," beginning a new medium for music that would take it around the world.  

This great song of worship - requested by a forgotten parish priest, written by a poet who would leave the church for the socialist movement, set to soaring music by a Jewish composer, and brought to America by someone who wanted to highlight the sinful nature of slavery as well as the birth of Christ - has become one of the most popular Christmas anthems of all times.  May all of you and yours have a blessed Christmas on this Holy Night.  mjm

All Heavenly and Earthly Hosts Sing Praise

In Psalm 148 verses 1-6 we find the Psalmist using powerful personification to describe heavenly praise.  It is as if the Psalmist is describing the night of all nights with all creation erupting in an explosion of joy!  In verse 1 the luminaries of heaven praise the Lord.  In verse 2 the angels of heaven praise the Lord, with all the segments of nature praising the Lord in verses 3-4.  What would motivate this kind of all-creation praise?  On that night hundreds of years later . . . "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

Then in verses 7-14 all of nature breaks forth into praise to the Lord.  Why are they praising Him?  In verse 13 they are responding to the glory of His name.  Second, in verse 13 they are realizing that His glory completely transcends His creation.  And then in verse 14 they are praising in gratitude for the coming king He has given Israel - a prophecy and prelude to the coming of Christ.  

Why do we who now know this Messiah sometimes neglect to praise?  Why is it that sometimes our hearts are non-responsive?  Do we sometimes worship the creation rather than the Creator?  As we approach Christmas may we bow again before the throne of His cradle, and cherish this great Gift from the Father.  O come, let us adore Him!  mjm

Glory and Praise

Glory and Praise are abundant in the Christmas Season.  And love flourishes during this season of giving and receiving.  Paul brings us challenges in the 1st chapter of Philippians in verses 9-11 that are very appropriate for this time of the year as we enter into the season of celebrating His birth.

First, he challenges us to let our love overflow, abound, and flourish with discernment or understanding.  The last I checked our church had given over $728,000 to world missions this month.  That's a great start.  But, we must not stop there.  We need to be discerning where God would have us spread love among our families, our church families, our neighbors - those around us who are needy during this time.   ". . . And love thy neighbor as thyself."  This is the second part of the Great Commandment which is both a continuation and natural result of our worship.

Second, he shows us in verse 11 that as we bear the fruits of love and righteousness that come through Jesus living in us, that God's glory is manifested and recognized by others.  When we worship the Lord by loving Him with all our heart, mind, and soul, it makes Jesus Christ attractive to all. It is our privilege and calling to get everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.  There is no better time for us to show people His glory and praise.  It will bring much glory and praise to Him.  Oh yeah, our worship theme for this year is - Making His Praise Known! May the Christ of Christmas be manifested in our daily personal worship and our gathered/corporate worship in these days. That would be the first part of The Great Commandment.   mjm

He Started the Symphony of Song

The Gospel of Luke opens with a song, "Glory to God" (Luke 2:14) and closes with a song, "Praising God" (Luke 24:53).  This symphony of song begins and ends with God's glory.  It started the whole world singing His song and there have been believers singing ever since.  

There is a huge emphasis on songs and hymns throughout this great gospel which shows God manifest in the flesh.  Luke is the gospel of Christ's manhood.  The angel says to Mary, "so the holy one to be born" referring to our Lord's humanity.  In contrast our human nature is unclean, but when the Son of God took bodily form He was "holy".  

In Luke 1:46-55 we find the song of Mary, The Magnificat.  It is a song of rejoicing.  Then, in 68-79 we find the song of Zacharias.  It is a song of deliverance and worship.  Then of course there is the song of the angels in chapter 2.  God's glory blazed the heavens and a huge angelic choir sang praises and glory to God.  

Not only a symphony of song but a symphony of prayer is seen in this gospel.  Luke tells us more about the prayers of our Lord than any other of the gospel writers.  Prayer is an expression of human dependence on God.  We need to continue this symphony of prayer today.  There is too much activity with too little private prayer in the church today.  The cause of Christ doesn't need less work, but definitely more prayer.  

What would happen if today we were to get serious about the symphony of song and the symphony of prayer?  Maybe then we would truly see God's glory!  mjm

No Substitute

There is no substitute for a heart of worship that has established that it's all about Jesus.  The Lord is the audience of one.  Worship is about God, . . . for God, . . . and to God!  There is a dynamic something that takes place when the people of God gather for Him! . . . for worship.  That dynamic happens no place else on earth.  It is for His pleasure and His glory!  

There have been hundreds of books on worship, seminars, conferences, on-line courses, all kinds of help in understanding and growing in worship.  And, if we are not careful, we begin to make it too complicated because of all of these resources available.  When, before all of these resources and now after all of these resources, the bottom line is still the same.  Do we have the right heart for worship?  There is no substitute for having a heart for worship.  It is put very clearly in Ephesians 5:10.  "And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]". (Amplified Bible)  More succinctly, "find out what pleases the Lord".  

In the paragraph before Ephesians 5:10, we are challenged to walk in the light.  Walk in the light and find out what pleases the Lord.  In our experience and study of God's Word we must find the actions, attitudes, and even thoughts that will delight the heart of God with our offerings of worship.  It is the finding how to express intimately a relationship with our God in which we feed on the truths of His Word.  As individuals and as the church, our worship must be a passion and priority so that others will see Him in us and have a hunger and desire to also become passionate worshippers.  There is no substitute.   mjm

The Power of Song

I was reading in Deuteronomy 31 yesterday and was struck by how Moses is instructed by the Lord that song is a powerful tool in teaching and remembering what God has done and what God requires of His people. Moses was getting ready to depart this life and had written a book of instruction for his people.  He tells the people that this book of instruction is to be read at the end of every seventh year.

Then the Lord predicts Israel's disobedience and tells Moses to write down the words of a song and teach it to the people. It is then stated that the descendants of Moses will never forget the song.  The song of Moses would live on.

J. S. Bach, the great church musician, also saw the importance of song.  He stated, "The final reason of all music is nothing other than the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.  Where there is devotional music, God is always at hand with His gracious presence."  He knew the song would go on.

The great Martin Luther believed that music has the power to light up the gospel message, giving life to the words, impressing it on the human heart and expressing the joy it brings.  He believed there was no better way to conserve the truth and spread the gospel.  He believed you could sing truth into the heart.  This was the reason he said he would leave others to write the theology books as long as he could write the hymns.  He knew if the people sang the truth, they would believe and carry the truth.

It is also interesting that concern for the descendants of Moses is mentioned, and that both Bach and Luther stressed the importance of musical training for youth for the very same reason.

We see the power of music at work in our children as they perpetuate the truth and the song at Christmas.  The Christmas Story is wrapped in song and the song goes on!  mjm

His Abiding Presence

In a real sense worship begins and ends with His abiding presence.  Jesus' promise to all His disciples was that He would be with us till the very end of time.  We have the potential and privilege of experiencing His abiding presence every moment of every day.  That promise was given in the midst of the great commission, given on His authority that we were to go, tell, and teach everyone that they could also live in His abiding presence.  

A life in complete fellowship with Him is the preparation needed for us to be willing to go, for us to pray fervently for a lost and dying world, and for us to give sacrificially so that others will experience Him.  When He left those disciples and promised them the Holy Spirit, their primary vocation was to live in unbroken fellowship with Him.  The strength of their testimony and the power of their preaching was totally dependent on His abiding presence.  They had to be "totally His".  

It is no different for us as His disciples today.  Anything we try to do apart from Him is totally human effort that means nothing in the kingdom.  We must be "totally His" and completely dependent on unbroken fellowship with Him and His abiding presence if we are to effectively be a part of His kingdom-building, shedding light to a dark world.  Again, we have a choice to make.  His mission through us depends on our worship!  If our worship is right, our participation in His mission will be just right!   mjm