Living Alive

Are you ready…. to worship God? Are you ready for the Shekinah of God?

“Shekinah” is an Old-Testament, Hebrew concept: the glory of God dwelling – powerfully present – in the midst of God’s people.

Are you *sure* you’re ready for worship? It’s powerful when you really open yourself to God’s reality!

Worship, Richard Foster states in “The Celebration of Discipline”, is “to experience reality, to touch life. It is … to experience the resurrected Christ in the midst of the gathered community.”

I like that idea of worship. Worship is our True Reality.

What do you experience when you come to worship at church? It has a lot to do with what you *expect*. If you’re anticipating “entertainment” or things that you “prefer” to happen in worship (a nice, *short* sermon; your favorite songs), then you may miss the bigger reality of God’s presence.

To prepare your heart, your expectations, for True Worship, anticipate the Shekinah of God more than your own personal desires.

Sometimes, we just there socially. We’re talking, catching up with others. Sometimes the pastor is the one who’s just talking, being social (confession time!).

The Shekinah of God calls us out from the world, and into purpose-full, Spirit-full, Reality – to hear God’s Word & to respond in faith.

Prepare by prayerfully inviting God’s presence to fill you in worship. So, then, you may hear the music, as part of God’s Shekinah.

Then you may hear the Word as a Word from God to your heart – to be applied in your life that day.

Then you may respond in obedience & live in Shekinah, every day!

Worship Resources/References:
Spiritual Reading:  ”The Celebration of Discipline”, R. Foster: This spiritual classic focuses on the acts of faith which we highlight this season: prayer & meditation, scripture study, and more… silence & solitude, guidance and service. Check it out of the church library. Also, Francis Chan, Crazy Love (see www.crazylovebook.com & click the video “the awe factor”).

“LEV”
> “You shall be for me a priestly and a holy people” (God says to the people, Exodus 19:6).
> Lev – “holy” – the Hebrew root word from where the name of the biblical book “Leviticus” comes.
> File under “Passionate Worship”
> Concern: Today’s Christianity suffers more from “boredom” & “blending in” than anything else. What’s distinctive about your faith or church? Can anyone tell there’s anything “different” or “of God” about your or me?

The Levites (people of Lev) were the tribe of Israelites in the Old Testament who were “set apart” (consecrated, holy) to be priests to God.

Forms of the word “holy” occur more than thirteen hundred times in the Bible. It’s important.

God is holy. God calls people to be holy.

We cannot make ourselves holy; only God can do that. We do have the responsibility to follow God’s laws, commands & teachings – especially as taught by Jesus – in order to keep ourselves holy.

Reading the first five books of the Bible, the Torah (Law), remind me of the call to holiness.

Am I truly seeking to live a life that is whole-heartedly dedicated, “set apart” for God?

Passionate Worship involves the human heart deeply in the endeavor of holiness. Opening your heart, being receptive to the change, movement & challenge of the Holy Spirit is the beginning.

Join me on the journey – just as the ancient call of God joined millions of hearts then, so it can now.

I love music.
But it strikes me that not everyone does.
There are some people who don’t like music (and I suppose some who don’t care for chocolate or fresh air…. What kind of life is that?).

Music is spiritual. It’s as elemental to existence as breathing. Every culture in the history of humanity has come up with some form of music. And prayer.

Macedonia held a benefit concert the other night. The music filled the place, moved the people, helped the needy, and most of all, pleased the Lord (to be sure, check Psalm 33, 71, 100, 108 and more).

(Yes, I performed in the opening band, but let me speak as a listener-participant as well).

There I was, friday evening, with my wife, seated up front. The music begin slow & invitingly. One by one, the members of the band Revival! approached the stage & joined those already singing & playing.

It was a powerful demonstration. Not just the music, the opening song. It was an example. God’s music is an *invitation*

A song says “come on in” – “take part”. Will you join in?

Music is a gift of God. It’s part of our passionate worship which we offer to God from the depths of our being.

But not everyone sings. “Well, you gotta know that song. And it helps to like the song.”

What’s your attitude toward singing?

Do you think of it as an offering to God? It doesn’t matter if you’re on key. Simply lift up your heart, and lift up your voice, as a way of pleasing God, praising God… for ALL that God has done for You.

Singing let’s the heart return to God.

(more about this soon)

PASSIONATE WORSHIP

People have been created by God to live (eternally) in right relationship with the Creator. We’re made to worship God. This is a good thing! Worship involves a loving relationship with our Creator, a relationship that has been initiated by God, consecrated by God, and redeemed by God in Christ.

Worship is part of our created way of being. God created humans from the dust of the earth & “breathed life” into us. This essence of life (soul) or breath (spirit) is the very presence of our Creator residing within the creature. Each breath we breathe is a living doxology (praise) and worship of God our Creator, each moment, then, a communion with the Author of our life.

Worship is a human task given from the beginning. In the Garden of Eden, we see this close relationship: where people are called by God personally, by name; given instructions, and provisions (Gen. 2:15); shown the consequences of disobedience (Gen. 3).

Worship has become, however, better known as a “thing” we do at church, usually one hour per week (a lot less if it’s not convenient for us to get there). It’s better to understand “worship” as anything we do to ascribe “worth” (same root word in both worship & worth) to something else. Many of us worship “things” whether they be sports or possessions, or even people, as we invest time, resources and attention to these other things.

Worship, done rightly, seeks to offer oneself first to God and to further God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus spoke of it this way (John 4:24): “God is spirit and worshippers must worship God in spirit and in truth.”

Worship a Macedonia seeks to fulfill that very command of Christ. One way we’re doing so is to incorporate “passionate worship” in all we do. So what is meant by “passionate” worship? “Emotion. Personal feeling”? Is that all?

I invite you to comment about what you think it means.
In the meantime, consider this Wesleyan perspective from the Wesley Study Bible.

“Spiritual Worship” : John Wesley’s desire was for a religion of the heart devoted to God. Spiritual worship is worship suitable to God’s nature, which is full of power, wisdom, love and holiness. It arises from the Christian’s inward dimension of faith, love and holiness and finds expression in the service of the heart toward God. Mere outward use of external forms of worship does not constitute spiritual worship. The service of the heart is sparked by an inward delight of God to the point of desiring to imitate God’s holiness. Therefore, the outward dimension of spiritual worship involves obeying the commands of God and using the means of grace [prayer, bible study, sacraments in corporate worship, spiritual disciplines] to draw [your heart] into deeper communion with God.

Let us worship the One Who is Worthy! ~ Pastor Jason

Resources: The Wesley Study Bible, Abingdon, 2009; worship matters, B. Anderson, Discipleship Resources UMC.