Pressing On!

Recently I have been considering a favorite song of mine from the Christian radio genre and it is also a song that we have also sung in the services of the congregation where I preach.  The song is entitled “Jesus Messiah” made popular by the religious artist, Chris Tomlin.  I have written about some of his other songs that I like as well.  However, the part about this song that is problematic for me is the second verse which says, His body the bread, His blood the wine. This has been an ongoing blindly guided situation I see God’s people falling into.  They refer to the juice taken at the Lord’s Supper as wine.  I say that this is problematic not because I object to it but I believe that nowhere in God’s Word does it give the indication that the drink that was used at the original giving of the memorial or at any time the Lord’s Supper is to be observed as wine.  Not in any of the gospel’s nor in the account of Paul in First Corinthians do any of the writers guided by the Holy Spirit ever refer to the grape juice that was used during the commemorating of our Saviors death used as wine.  A quick search into any concordance will verify this.  The Greek word for wine is never used in this area of the Bible.  This word “wine”, I do understand is used to mean numerous different things when it is used in scripture.  But the word wine is nowhere in those scriptures in the Greek or even English.  Even in some of the most liberal translations that I have come across do not refer to the Lord’s Supper as it being wine.

I just urge for us to sing songs about Bible things using Biblical language.  Don’t take a good song and mess it up doctrinally just to fit in with the world.  In the case of this song I have talked with our song leader and we have agreed that changing the word wine to vine, it not only makes rhyming sense, more importantly it makes Biblical sense.  Too many times if we come across something that is wrong scripturally we just stay away from it.  I suggest we fix it, turn it back to God for His praise.  If the old boundaries have been moved we shouldn’t just say, oh well, we should move them back.  Not to mention when something like this is misunderstood among the world it has a tendency of confusing those that are new Christians and to those that are not as spiritually mature as they could be.  Please don’t think me hard headed or legalistic, but check it out see what the Bible really says.  

     Have you ever wondered if you were the only one that has trouble understanding something?  For example, when you were in junior high and it just seems obvious to you that everyone else in the class must have already taken this mathematics course because they all understand what is going on just fine.  And yet you are still scratching your head because you just simply haven’t figured the concept out yet.  In time it finally sinks in and you get it.  Not that it means that the mathematics course was wrong or stupid or whatever you called it when you were growing up, it just took you a while to figure it out.  You know, it took time to make sense of it all. 

     Sometimes I feel the same way about the word worship.  Maybe I just haven’t figured it all out yet.  Maybe I never will.  I do pray for understanding to help me to see it for what the Bible has said that it is and nothing more or nothing less.  I am going to list a few things that I know about worship, just to let you know why I understand what I do about worship. 

1.  I do know the word worship is first found in Genesis 22:5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

2.  I do know the word worship is translated differently from one version of the Bible to another, such as in Exodus 3:12 the NASB says And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” And then the KJV translates the word as serve.

3. I do know the word worship is used in reference to God and to idols.  Psalm 2:11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. Then in Daniel 3:5-6 that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. “But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.”

4. I do know the word worship is used to mean many different things.  And most of those are things that are not what we would call church gathering events. 

     However, I do believe that worship is what we do when we come together to praise and honor the Lord, God the Father and Christ the Son.  Just as much as I understand that worship may not always be done as a group activity but can simply be me serving in the name of Christ in another capacity.  I also can conclude from study, that worship in not just the singing of hymns, choruses or spiritual songs, that worship is about pleasing the Lord in spirit and in truth as we learn in John chapter 4.

     In the summation of what I am trying to share is perhaps this, Worship is not so much what we do or when we do it, as much as it is what we are and how we express it.  And I believe that as we find in scripture it ought not be about what pleases me. but actually what pleases the Lord.

     Some Christians built a new church building and invited everyone to come see it. All admired its beauty. Up on the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the new building. They praised everything but him. No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous. “If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit,” he said to himself. So the nail released its hold, slid down off the roof, and fell in the mud.

     That night it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and precious Bibles were ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to quit! While holding the shingle, the nail was obscure, but it was also useful. Buried in the mud, it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust.

     You may, like the nail, feel obscure at times. You may feel that the job you are doing is no big deal. You may think that if I weren’t here nobody would miss me. But just like the nail, your absence is felt. When you are not present for worship, the body of Christ is hurt. We are ALL part of the Lord’s ministry. Don’t ever feel like you are not special to Christ or His Church. Each and every Christian should be an active, working, functioning part of the Body of Christ. Read what the apostle Paul penned down for us  in 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

     Paul reminds us that we all have important responsibilities in making the Gospel known to the entire lost world. That may mean going over seas and preaching the Word on a far away mission field. Or it could mean going to your neighbor or to your fellow co-worker and talking to them about the Salvation Christ has to offer. We are all important. Not that any of us should not do the afore mentioned ideal plan of sharing the Gospel, but we do need to keep in mind that there are other areas we can work for the Lord in. Do not overlook the importance of doing your faithful service to the Lord by working in the local congregation. It means just as much to the Lord to be the one that cleans the baptistery as it does to be the one that immerses someone in it. Please do not take what I have just said wrong. The point that is trying to be shared is that unless you do what you do for the sole purpose of giving the glory to the Lord then you should not even do it. Too many times we do this and we do that so that others will say, “Oh my, isn’t he/she a grand Christian.” Well the way I understand it we should do what we do so that the Lord will say, “Well done My good and faithful servant.”

     The hardest thing to remember is that you, that I, that we matter to God and to Christ. God the Father sent His only begotten Son to die for us and Jesus willing did that. That should be proof enough that we matter. Christ has expressed how much He loved us. Let us reciprocate that love and not be like that nail and quit doing our job. Let us continue on with the attitude that we “get” to work for Christ, instead of we “got” to work for Christ. If we work tirelessly with this attitude in mind we will come to a clearer knowledge that YOU DO MATTER!!!

Here is a pointed story, which has been told in rhyme,

About a certain preacher, who lived once upon a time.

At one of his appointments, some members – not a few

Became sorely troubled, about the word – “INTO”.

The good book says quite plainly, in Acts 8  “They came unto”,

And “Went down INTO water”, as Bible people do.

This man preached a sermon, with zeal and power and might,

And to his satisfaction, he set the passage right! 

“INTO” there doesn’t mean INTO, but AT, or NEAR, or BY

They went down TO the water, and got a small supply. 

Now, near this place of worship, there lived a sister Brown,

Who, by her splendid cooking, had gotten much reknown. 

And her delicious coffee, On all the circuit round,

The preacher oft said boldly, “It’s like could not be found” 

When he would preach a sermon, of extra power and length,

He liked at her good table, to recuperate his strength. 

She was a simple Christian – no better in the land,

And oft reproved the daring, for changing God’s command. 

She heard Jones’ “INTO” sermon, and thought the matter o’er

Then asked him home to dinner, as she had done before. 

She ground her well-browned coffee, the kettle steaming hot,

And put it AT, not INTO, the famous coffeepot.

She poured for him a cupful, I think she did not sin,

Why, sister – you’ve forgotten, to put the coffee in!! 

No, No! Dear Sir, that’s coffee, I ground a good supply,

And then down by the vessel, I put it AT, NEAR BY.

By logic of your sermon, (I think it very thin),

If AT or NEAR means INTO, I put the coffee IN!

But if you promise now, no more this stuff to teach,

Or dodge God’s plain commandment, when you attempt to preach.

I’ll go and make some coffee, just to a Bible dot

And I will put the coffee, INTO the coffeepot!!

I showered and shaved, I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat in a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer as I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me touching my own I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side I thought, ‘Why must our soles touch?’
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine but it didn’t bother him much.
A prayer began: ‘Our Father’ I thought, ‘This man with the shoes, has no pride.
They’re dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!’
‘Thank You for blessings,’ the prayer went on.
The shoe man said a quiet ‘Amen.’
I tried to focus on the prayer but my thoughts were on his shoes again.
Aren’t we supposed to look our best when walking through that door?
‘Well, this certainly isn’t it,’  I thought, Glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended and the songs of praise began…
The shoe man was certainly loud sounding proud as he sang..
His voice lifted the rafters His heart was raised high.
The Lord could surely hear the shoe man’s voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering and what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached into his pockets so deep…
I saw what was pulled out, what the shoe man put in…
Then I heard a soft ‘clink’.  As when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me to tears, and that’s no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man for tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service as is the custom here.
We must greet new visitors, and show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow and wanted to meet the shoe man..
So after the closing prayer I reached over and shook his hand
He was old and his skin was dark and his hair was truly a mess.
Bu t I thanked him for coming, for being our guest.
He said, ‘My names’ Charlie, I’m glad to meet you, my friend.’
There were tears in his eyes but he had a large, wide grin.
‘Let me explain,’ he said, wiping tears from his eyes.
‘I’ve been coming here for months and you’re the first to say ‘Hi..”
‘I know that my appearance, ‘Is not like all the rest.
‘But I really do try, ‘To always look my best.’
‘I always clean and polish my shoes, ‘Before my very long walk..
‘But by the time I get here, ‘They’re dirty and dusty, like chalk.’
My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize for daring to sit so near
He said, ‘When I get here ‘I know I must look a sight
‘But I thought if I could touch you, ‘Then maybe our souls might unite.’
I was silent for a moment, knowing whatever was said
Would pale in comparison, I spoke from my heart, not my head.
‘Oh, you’ve touched me,’ I said ‘And taught me, in part;
‘That the best of any man ‘Is what is found in his heart.’
The rest, I thought, This shoe man will never know..
Like just how thankful I really am, That his dirty old shoe touched my soul.

Well, the 2010 year is off and running and there is nothing we can do to stop it.  Every year about this time especially, I think of the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:23-27 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it  to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The new year brings with it many challenges and trials, but also many new joys and celebrations.  Remember as we run this race called life not to get caught up in the pitfalls and uneven terrain that Satan has the world throw at us.   Keep up the push and we will be stronger for it.  I hope and pray that in your new year you can accomplish all that the Lord has in store for you.

     I don’t know about you but I get tired of the practice of taking Christianity out of the world.  Even if there are many schemes and misleadings that I do not like about Christmas there is still the simple fact that Christ is at the front of it.  I have added the video clip below to give us some ideas about how we can make a difference in a nation that tries to put Christ farther and farther out of sight.   

     Also I have placed a list developed by the A.F.A. (American Family Association) that let’s you be aware of those that choose to not recognize Christ as the reason for the season.  Just something to think about and consider.  Be sure to continue to look to the AFA website for current updates to the list.

We have many things in which to be thankful for.  Just don’t forget who to thank, Our Father which art in Heaven.  Our nations leaders have always shown gratitude for what the Lord has blessed us with, I pray that our leaders today will keep that tradition going. 

     31 and 0.  If a basketball team started off a season 31-0 it would be all over the news.  If a baseball player got 31 hits in a row we would hear about it.  Well something more important than that has happened and we should hear about it.  Recently I received an update from the OneNewsNow group about the latest elections that took place and some of the voting results from that election.  The following is a clip of the article that was submitted by OneNewsNow.  It makes some very good points about what the majority of the people really think concerning gay-marriage.  Here is the article.

PORTLAND, Maine- Voters in Maine have rejected an effort by lawmakers there to impose homosexual “marriage” in that state.

Gay marriage has now lost in every single state – 31 in all – in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine – known for its liberal-minded electorate – and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign. With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, proponents of traditional marriage had 53 percent of the votes.

“The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation,” declared Frank Schubert, chief organizer for the winning side.            
Gay-marriage supporters held out hope that the tide would shift before conceding defeat at 2:40 a.m. in a statement that insisted they weren’t going away. “We’re in this for the long haul. For next week, and next month, and next year – until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for,” said Jesse Connolly, manager of the pro-gay marriage campaign.

Five other states have legalized gay marriage – starting with Massachusetts in 2004, and followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Iowa – but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.

Romans chapter 1 is very clear about the Christian view of homosexuality.  In verse 32 it states and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give approval to those who practice them.