Worship and a New Year

Psalm 66:1-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

How Awesome Are Your Deeds

To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.

66 Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
²     sing the glory of his name;
    give to him glorious praise!
³ Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
    So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
⁴ All the earth worships you
    and sings praises to you;
    they sing praises to your name.” Selah

⁵ Come and see what God has done:
    he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
⁶ He turned the sea into dry land;
    they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
⁷     who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
    let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

⁸ Bless our God, O peoples;
    let the sound of his praise be heard,
⁹ who has kept our soul among the living
    and has not let our feet slip.

A friend and I were talking about worship recently.  We both are musical and enjoy singing in church; however, we both found ourselves with certain pet peeve pertaining to worships in the church. Thus this post was born with my thoughts on worship and hymns. 

1) We need to sing with passion. If the song is a dirge, bring a contrite spirit to the song. If the song says,"Shout for joy!" They need to hear you four pews ahead of you. The choir or music leaders are there to lead us in worship, but the congregation needs to follow.  I too find myself singing words without fully contemplating what they mean. I have sung songs without heart, but I am the one missing out. Worship is my time to contemplate and rejoice in my savior and all He has done for me. 

2) As I get older and (by the grace of God) wiser, I find myself caring less about how you sound. God did not make everyone a singer. I get that. Yet I can find more heartfelt worship in the off key little kid singing at the top of his lungs or in the old and broken voice of a 90 year old man who truly seems to understand the words of his favorite hymn. Whatever rags we have to offer Christ are treasures. No I don't enjoy off key or pitchy, but I am moved by the passions of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

3) This is worship, not a performance. There are times for that. Congregation please participate and bring spirit and passion to hymns and spiritual songs. Share in the gift that God has given to you of worship. 

4) Bring intentionality to worship.  Read the poetry of the lyrics and understand the truths that we sing each week. Bring thought and prayer to the lyrics. I recently was on a missions trip and the leader asked the group to pick a song to sing with the local church. He asked us to pick a song that we were singing vertically, meaning one sung directly to God. I appreciate him being intentional in the kind of worship he wanted to share with our fellow believers. 

Gracious and Merciful Father, as I start this new year, abide with me. Be with me in the decisions I make and the passions I pursue.  Keep You ever before me so that I might not sin against You. May I be able to rejoice in work You do in my life this coming year. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5 Living Presently

1 Thessalonians 5

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ² For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,¹⁰ who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Final Instructions and Benediction

¹² We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,^[c] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

²⁵ Brothers, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The Thessalonians did not need to be taught to be living for the future. That is all they had on their mind. They were not living for the present time.  Some had stopped working because supporting themselves didn't matter anymore. Paul was commending for living with the second coming in mind, but also encouraging them to life in the present moment. Working and enjoying life is important, yet part of enjoying life is living a life pleasing to God. Paul points out some of the things that make up present living: Respect, esteem work, be at peace, do good to one another, rejoice always, pray, pray without ceasing, give thanks. Paul is giving the Thessalonians a recipe for a joyful life. This is a lesson I need preached my heart. I want to live a joyful, Christ filled life. I often forget to include God in the everyday. Paul tells me how to right here: rejoice, pray, give thanks. Slowly God is sanctifying me. 

1 Thessalonians 4

A Life Pleasing to God

4 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

The Coming of the Lord

¹³ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

In the beginning of this chapter Paul talks about one of the ways we suppress the Holy Spirit is with our sexual immorality or our lust. Paul urges the church in Thessalonica to keep this type of sin at bay as it hurts their brothers and hurts their relationship with God. The Old Testament if filled with stories and analogies of how to flee this very sin.  In our sex inundated culture, it is difficult to stay pure of mind and heart in this area. Why is this sin so heart wrenchingly difficult then? The heart longs for love, connection, and acceptance. We/I have spoken the theology of romance to our hearts. Paul points out in this passage that we get caught up in lust and later in loosing loved ones, but here is his reply to that,"We will always be with the Lord." Our hearts were made for love and connection, but not the kind that romance can satisfy.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Until our hearts are satisfied with Christ, we will never be satisfied with what the world has to offer.  

Father, help me to be satisfied with you. 

 

1 Thessalonians 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy,our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reportedthat you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

It's hard when we see our friend's suffering. Paul here is worried about the affliction that the Thessalonian church was suffering. Suffering has way of showing people who they really are. It separates the true in heart from the people who liked the idea, but not necssiarily the practice. It can be scary to be in a relationship that might dissapoint you. Paul has praying and yearning for this church to be growing in Christ. They are like his children that he wants to see prospering, but he left them in a situation that could have easily lead them to give up their faith. Oh, the relief he must have felt when he heard about their faith. 
I think often take many things for granite and don't realize the joy that can come out of them. There can be great joy in watching the church of Christ grown; however, what you put into it is what you will get out of it. There is great joy in coming along side someone and mentoring them in their faith. 

Father, I ask that you would give me good mentors in my life to encourage my faith. I ask that you would put people in my life whom I can minister too. Give me wisdom and courage in my relationships. Show me how to love others. Please supply what is lacking in my faith. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

Paul's Ministry to the Thessalonians

2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. ² But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. ³ For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ¹¹ For you know how, like a father with his children, ¹² we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

¹³ And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

Paul's Longing to See Them Again

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

Paul talks about the appeal of the gospel. I have never heard a story more simple, yet the wisdom to apply it to everyday life requires a delicate intricacy. It has not cons, no impurities. Simply the gospel is enough. No lies, no flattery, no self-glory. 
I love how Paul gives the example of parents in how he presented the gospel to the Thessalonians. He came as a mother gently, lovingly, and making sure to not be burden to the children of the church. He also came as a father with truth in the word, encouraging, and exhorting. As I think about how my own parents have done this in my life, I can see how God is calling me to do the same for the people He has given me to minister. Often we make demands of the people we pour our lives into. We have expectations of others. Parents cannot have fierce expectation of their children because they are children. 
One thing that makes Paul glad about the faith of the Thessalonians is how they excepted the word of God. How often do I not bring a certain reverence of mind to studying God's word? Excepting God's word as truth that is powerful in my life is important. Why do I treat is with a blase attitude? It should be the first comfort I run to when I am hurt or lonely. It should be at the tip of my tongue when I celebrate. 

Father, help me become an imitator of Christ. Give me a love of Your word. Bring Your word to my mind constantly. Father, I want to be like a parent to those who you have called me to love. Give me a love without harsh expectations. Give me wisdom in relationships. Amen. 

1 Thessalonians 1

English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

The Thessalonians' Faith and Example

² We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, ³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we know,brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.⁶ And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

I find 1 Thessalonians to be very encouraging. These were gentiles and they turned from their idols. Paul's letter is admonishing them for diluting their faith with works or turning back to idols. He is encouraged by how well their faith is doing without him or someone else there. He is encouraged that the reports he hears about their faith. He doesn't even have to boast about their faith to others because the record has already been reported and speaks for itself. Would that I have such a faith. May I be an imitator of the Lord and of the people God has put in my life to show me how to live a good Christian life. 

Heavenly Father, I ask that you would grow my faith. May I rely on you for my glory and selfworth. I know that I have many idols in my life, some that I don't even recognize. Father take these idols from me. Reveal my sin so that I might repent. Give me a heart of repentance and submission to your will. Father I want to obey you. Give me a heart of obedience. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Looking Forward To The Second Coming

Psalm 96

English Standard Version (ESV)

Worship in the Splendor of Holiness

96 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
² Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴ For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
⁸ Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering, and come into his courts!
⁹ Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;^[a]
    tremble before him, all the earth!

¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.”

¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
¹²     let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
¹³     before the Lord, for he comes,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

I was recently struck with a sobering realization. I in a conversation after I had recently had a loss in my life. I was still mourning the loss acutely. The man I was in conversation with said,"I long for the day Jesus returns." I realized I didn't. I didn't look forward to Jesus coming to judge the earth. Not only do I associate that day with pain and suffering, but there were/are still to many things on this earth that I want to experience: a husband, children, and different adventures. But what if God does not have those planned for my life. Would I be ok with that? This Psalm reminds me to praise God. He is praised when I ascribe or tell of His good that He has done. If my focus is this, will my heart longings hurt less?  I'm not sure. Here is what I do know. God will be with me no matter what happens. God has a good plan for me because I am His child. He will be faithful to me on the day of judgment and in my life today. I will serve the Lord and tell people of the good He has done for me.

Joshua 24:15

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”