Transforming our Worship

As we enter a new year may we have a desire for our personal and corporate worship to be transformed into all that God would have it be.  At the moment I am in an intensive personal study of I John.  This is what led me to talk about transforming worship.  

Sometimes our worship becomes cold and ritualistic,  both personally and corporately.  Our worship is more impersonal than intimate.  It is as if we worship a God far off in distant heaven rather than with us and in us.  In I John, he reminds us that the Christian walk is an intimate relationship between us, our triune God, and our Christian brothers and sisters.   Therefore in worship we do not stand back at a distance, but we enter into a close fellowship with God and with those who have joined with us in worship.  

One of my favorite words found both in the gospel of John as well as in I John, is the word "abide". This Greek word, meno, means "to remain, to live, to continue, to abide".  John uses this word to explain and emphasize the depth and intimacy of our relationship with God.  We abide in both the Son and the Father (I John 4:15).  We know this because of the gift of the Holy Spirit in us (I John 3:24).  Through the Spirit, God lives in us . . . making Himself manifest in us (I John 4:15).  

John leaves no doubt that there is an intimacy to our relationship which, when we get ahold of that truth, can transform our worship.  It is not long-distance communication; it is intimate communion. We share in the very life of God Himself.  To know God in this way not only calls for expression of our love to Him, but also for His people (I John 4:11).  Genuine fellowship and worship with God manifested always includes fellowship and love for God's people.  As we have said before, "Authentic worship always spills out onto others."  In fact in the gospel of John, chapter 7, verse 38, John says it in a different way . . . "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  As we enter this new year may our worship be transformed, spilling out and splashing onto others - manifesting His glory for all!  mjm

Christmas Progression - Not Past Tense

Yes, He came... but He still comes today - these days after Christmas.  Christmas is not just a "once upon a time"; it continues in the here and now and in our future days.  The incarnation, "God with us" doesn't stop on Christmas Day.  It continues and abides with us day in and day out.  From day to day, joy to joy, sorrow to sorrow, heartbreak to heartbreak, praise to praise; God is with us by the Son and through the Holy Spirit.  

Christmas doesn't happen once a year.  It happens every day that we allow Him to abide in us and accomplish His purposes through us; as we yield to Him, making it possible for "rivers of living water" to flow from us in ministry to others.  Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing."  Only as we yield to the "God with us," yea the "God in us," do we see Christmas spill out on those who are around us every day.  

We talk a lot about not missing the meaning of Christmas - Emmanuel, God with us.  We talk about not making things and the world's priorities more important than He is.  We talk a lot about giving Him worship due the King who came in a manger.  We talk about giving to others around us who are in need because of injustice, hate, and greed; giving to those in need of love.  Should those things be any different any day of the year?  Should our worship of the Worthy One be any less?  Should our giving and loving be any less?  Me thinks not.  

I've been studying the Epistles of John the last few days.  True, genuine, authentic fellowship with God always includes fellowship with God's people and that true love spills out on to others.  Saint Augustine of Hippo says, "What does love look like?  It has hands to help others. It has feet to hasten to the poor and needy.  It has eyes to see misery and want.  It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrow of men.  That is what love looks like." 

Let us bow and worship Him and in doing that become givers and lovers of those who need Emmanuel - God with us - in their lives every day.  Let's make every day Christmas for the Lord in our worship and for others in our living and loving!  mjm

The Christmas Plan

We go to Luke chapter 2 for the Christmas Story, but the Christmas Plan is laid out in prophecy in the Old Testament and Jesus' birth foretold in Luke chapter 1.  So you could say the Christmas Story is found in Luke 2, but the Christmas Plan is presented in Luke 1.  

The Angel comes to Mary in Luke 1 and lets Mary know the plan.  The plan of redemption for man was greatly advanced when a very simple peasant girl named Mary said a very simple - yes. It was a yes that would change the world forever.  There was no great ritual, no greatly advanced theological training required, just a very simple, trusting response from Mary, "I am the Lord's servant,  . . . may it be to me as you have said."  

God revealed His purpose and plan through the angel, and Mary responded.  In a very real sense, this became Mary's worship.  Would that it would be the same in our lives this Christmas.  May we be always ready to respond to God's purpose and plan with a simple yes.  No reasoning away things, no analyzing, just a simple yes to whatever God is saying to us.  

It is only then that Christ will be manifested in and through us so that the "God with us" continues through our lives to others.  Our love for Him and His love through us to others is a simple, "Yes, Lord!  May it be as you have said."  

May You and Yours Have a Blessed Christmas!  mjm

His Humility - Our Salvation

Jesus humbled Himself and came down found in the likeness of man (incarnation).  His whole life was marked by that humility.  He chose the form of a servant.  He made no reputation of Himself; He emptied Himself.  He even said, "The Son of Man hasn't come to be ministered unto or to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many."  "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Our Lord took a low place throughout His walk on the earth.  He took a humble place at the feet of the disciples as He washed their feet.  He took the place of guilty sinners that He might bear our load.  Humility is the salvation that Christ brings.  

But the salvation that Christ brought is not only a salvation that flows out of humility; it also leads to humility.  It isn't just the salvation He brought; it is exactly the salvation we need.  What is the one thing hindering our worship?  Primarily, pride.  Pride is the very root of all sin.  The humble Lamb of God comes to us in our pride and brings us salvation from our pride and self-will.  

The greatest expression of worship in our relationship to God . . . is to wait upon Him!  To be nothing before God.  To be an empty vessel in which He can pour out all His fullness, where He can exhibit His life, His goodness, His power, His love, and His glory!  If we are to be filled with the life of our Lord, indwelled by Him, we must be utterly empty of self.  We must wait on Him, allowing God to be all in all.  

He humbled Himself down to earth and on earth He humbled Himself down to the cross.  He humbled Himself to die the death of the Lamb of God.  This Christmas may we not only "know" His love, but also His humility.  His humility is our life and salvation.  As we celebrate His coming in humility, may we say in our worship, "Jesus, I am nothing, and Thou art all."  mjm

Out of Heaven and Into Us

I was intrigued by Major W. Ian Thomas' chapter title from one of his last books which I am using as a title to this blog.  Isaiah 9:6 prophecies  . . . "For unto us a child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  And then we see in John 1 the following: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, . . ."

Can you imagine helping a friend by putting gas in his car because he has no money and then seeing that friend after thanking you profusely pushing with all his might on his car trying to get it down the road rather than starting it with the gas you had graciously given him?  You would look and say, "He's crazy. Why does he think I put the gas in the tank? Talk about senseless."  Well, that's exactly how Paul addresses the Galations, "You poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galations!"  He goes on to tell them they are failing to live simply by faith in the indwelling Christ through His Spirit. 

Jesus didn't come from heaven to earth to get us out of hell and into heaven.  He came to get Himself out of heaven into us.  He didn't just come to dwell among us, but in us.  The gift is His very life.  The very life of Christ in us brings into us He who is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.  How can we say things like, "I just don't have peace."  He is our peace. He didn't come just to be in the world, but to be in us.  All of Him has come to be in all of me. "Christ is all and in all . . ." (Col. 3:11)  Christmas gives us the gift of the indwelling "Christ in us,  the Hope of Glory"! (Col. 1:27) . . . if we simply invite Him in. And, when we do, all of Him comes to dwell in us.

Let's not just have the mind set that Christmas is about Jesus coming to earth.  Let's have the mind set that He came to indwell us!  That is a hallelujah Christmas!  mjm

Praising Spontaneously

Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."  The spontaneous response of a grateful child is praise.  The person who has come to really know the Lord and fellowships intimately with Him will sing to the Lord with the deepest heartfelt praise possible.  Mary was completely overwhelmed, realizing how God had chosen her.  She sang one of the most profound expressions of praise found anywhere in scripture.  It is called the Magnificat. God created us to praise and it will be our heavenly occupation for all of eternity.

If we stop and meditate on all that God has done, is doing, and has promised to do in our lives---both our private and public praise would bring unbounded worship.  If our lives are not full of praise we may have lost our awareness and appreciation of the bountiful activity of God in our lives.  Just like Mary we must never take for granted all that God has gifted us with in our lives.  We must at this time of Christmas be made more aware of all the countless blessings God has poured out upon us, our fellow believers and our families.  It is not something that has to be manipulated or orchestrated if it is a true expression of our thankful hearts and wonder-filled lives that have encountered the Holy God who gifted His Son to the world with love.  

One of the things I love about this year's Christmas musical is that it ends in great worship and praise of this great gift-giving act of our gracious God, who split the heavens open with "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased."  Hallelujah!  mjm

Jesus is the Song of Christmas

When Jesus came it set the whole earth singing!  As early as Exodus 15:2 we find the words, "The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation."  This is the first of many times when the Song, the Savior, and Salvation are spoken of as if they are one. 

There are more than 575 references to music in 44 of the 66 Books of the Bible.  The God who set His people singing in the Old Testament and gave His people the promised new song in the person of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, is the God who has kept that song alive for more than 2000 years. And according to Revelation, He will keep His people singing throughout eternity.  

Christmas is all about the song.  It's all about singing.  Jesus was sent to give us a song!  He was to be the new song mentioned in the Old Testament.  He would become our song of life, our song of joy, our song of love.  No matter where we find ourselves in our lives, He always gives a song.  

It is believed by many that the night Christ burst on to this world scene it was announced by a multitude, or choir, of angels praising God!  God gave the gift of His Son and of Song to bring the glory of God to those who needed to be redeemed to Himself for His great glory.  

Nine times in scripture "the new song" is mentioned, some being commands to sing that new song . . . "that many may fear and trust in the Lord" as we see in Psalm 40.  In the year of our worship emphasis being just that, we present a Christmas Musical Message . . . The Song of Christmas. May we share with our world this Christmas that . . . Jesus is the Song!  mjm

In Need of a Mediator

Let us recall some truths as we enter into the season of Christmas.  When we look at the story of the first Adam we see humanity in ruin and in need of redemption.  Humanity was ruined through a man and now must be restored through a man.  Therefore what would be needed in a Redeemer?

God is unable to have fellowship with a sinner and therefore the sinner, having no access to God, is in  need of a mediator; one who can be accepted and trusted by both parties, one who takes both God's nature and man's nature.  A Mediator would have to be a God-man.  He is not a man who became God but a God who becomes man.

Enter - the God-man.  "The Word became flesh."  The eternal Son of God became the incarnate Son of Man.  In chapter 1 of Hebrews, the Mediator is divine. He is called "God", "Lord", "Son".  In Hebrews chapter 2, He is called "Jesus", "brother", "high priest".  In chapter 1 He is as far above us as is the heavens above the earth.  He is completely separated from us.  He is in a class untouched by us.  He is the unapproachable, the incomprehensible, the incomparable One.  But, then in chapter 2 He is on the level of humanity.  He has stooped to come to our humanness. He is One with us.  He is the sympathetic understanding Son of Man.  

Christ Jesus would represent man in this mediation as well as God.  He is man, the Mediator between God and man; the incarnate Son, "the Word made flesh".  

From the beginning to the end of Scripture the Christmas Story is told.  Christ Jesus, the Mediator between God and man, is God; eternal Son, Lord from heaven, Alpha and Omega.  Christ Jesus, the Mediator between man and God, is Man; the incarnate Son, the Man of Galilee, the Babe of Bethlehem.  With these words as background, I encourage you to read Hebrews 1 & 2 and think on these things as we usher in the celebration of the coming of God-Man, the second Adam.   mjm

Missed Mission Opportunities

Looking back I realize that had we not responded to God's call to Zimbabwe, Africa some 30 years ago, it would have been a missed opportunity. And we could not have responded unless we were sent.  God's timing and opportunities are always perfect in His sovereign timing. 

I was there at the only time in history when there were students at our Seminary from six different African countries.  I had the opportunity to teach and share with students from all six countries and now most of my former students are serving as worship leaders and pastors and convention leadership in all six countries.  God's timing was perfect.

At the same time I was able to establish a liaison with a music school, teaching general music courses. I taught church music courses and other seminary courses at the seminary and general music courses at the school of music.   I was able to strategically bus my seminary students into those classes in that music school where at that particular moment in time music teachers from all over Zimbabwe were coming for training.  The students and I were able to openly witness to those teachers during that time from all over the country.

During those years I had more than 250 students throughout the country to whom I was able to teach Biblical foundations of worship, edification, and evangelism in regional church music schools. I also helped enable my African Christian brothers in starting new churches and fellowships, and found myself preaching in churches and  fellowships on a regular basis.

I am humbly aware that none of this could have happened without the faithful giving of churches to the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Mission offering.  I had the time in those years to stand and teach sometimes nine hours a day because you and others gave faithfully. 

When I came back to Texas under God's clear direction I was a little puzzled.  My daughters struggled big time when we returned.  Zimbabwe was home to them.  I even asked, "Lord, why bring us back?"  One day after being back in the states I read some stats that showed that Zimbabwe at that point was more Christian than the state of Texas.  I was blown away.  Just makes me realize that missions starts here at home and circles the globe.  

But there are still 3027 known people groups who have never heard the name of Jesus.  Those unreached people groups are not here at home.  They are across the world.  We must not miss this opportunity to pray, go, and give as never before so that there will not be missed opportunities. 

$599,999.99 to the world this Sunday from the First Family!  mjm