John the Apostle

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20) NLT

This worship profile of John is from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. It is a wonderful study tool for all who want to learn more about Biblical worship.

Tradition holds that William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, did not become passionate about evangelism until the day he had a gripping vision of hell. If that is true, is it possible that we may never become serious about worship until we first catch a glimpse of heaven? Consider the life of John, son of Zebedee. An uneducated fisherman, John was one of Christ's hand-picked disciples. For three years John saw Jesus perform mracles, heard his powerful sermons, and received brilliant (though brief) peeks at Christ's divinity. John had seen things that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. Even so, it was his vision of heaven that moved him to write of the importance of worship.

John the Worshiper

Our first glimpses of John in the Bible show us an impetious, brash, and sometimes self-centered man. Jesus had named John and his brother, James, "Sons of Thunder," and it was they who urged Jesus to call down fire from heaven to unish a Samaritan village. However, the experience of being in the presence of Jesus for three years transformed John into a humble, loving shepherd of God's people.

Learning from John

John was a master of conveying inexpressible truths and heavenly realities in symbolic language. John told us that God is light, truth, the way, the gate, the shepherd, the beginning and the end--finite concepts that give us a glimpse of the infinite God. Such symbols can spark our thoughts about the God we worship, and the church has made rich use of such symbolism to this day.

More than any other writer, John showed us that worship is the language of heaven. In the book of Revelation (see chapters 4, 5, 7, 11, 19), John struggled to find words to describe the scene around the throne of God: heavenly beings and redeemed people chanting and singing. The praise of this countless multitude is described as thunderous, not to mention continuous. The worship is neither mandated nor coerced; it is spontaneous and freely given. It is marked by wild exuberance and unabashed devotion.

John has been called the "apostle of love," not only for his teaching about the love of God, but also for his own deep compassion for other Christians. John told one congregation, "I write this [letter] to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13). Love should motivate everything we do for God.

Following the Example

As you read through the book of Revelation, take careful note of the characteristics of the heavenly throng that proclaims God's praise. They pray vigilantly (5:8), they have suffered tribulation (7:14); they fear God's name (11:18); they are spiritually undefiled (14:4) and blameless (14:5); their good deeds follow them (14:13); they are victorious over the enemy (15:2); they do not practice idolatry or dishonesty (21:27). John reminds us that worship that is pleasing to God comes from a pure heart. We must live a blameless life, always reads, as John was, to welcome the return of the Lord: "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"

Immanuel

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Enjoy this Christmas day devotional about our Emmanuel...God with us...by Charles Spurgeon from his book Morning and Evening.

Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire.

Let us notice at the very first glance his miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not  the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Savior, although truly man, was as to his human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that he may be formed in us, the hope of glory.

Fail not to note his humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accomodation afforded to the new-born King!

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.

He Became Poor

"For your sakes he became poor." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Here is another thoughtful devotional by Charles Spurgeon. It speaks of Jesus leaving his throne, coming down from on high, and becoming poor to reach us.

The Lord Jesus Christ was eternally rich, glorious, and exalted: but "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor." As the rich saint cannot be true in his communion with his poor brethren unless of his substance he ministers to their necessities, so (the same rule holding with the head as between the members), it is impossible that our Divine Lord could have had fellowship with us unless he had imparted to us of his own abounding wealth, and had become poor to make us rich. Had he remained upon his throne of glory, and had we continued in ruins of the fall without receiving his salvation, communion would have been impossible on both sides.

Our position by the fall, apart from the covenant of grace, made it as impossible for fallen man to communicate with God as it is for Belial to be in concord with Christ. In order, therefore, that communion might be compassed, it was necessary that the rich kinsman should bestow his estate upon his poor relatives, that the righteous Savior should give to his sinning brethren of his own perfection, and that we,   the poor and the guilty, should receive of his fullness grace for grace; that thus in giving and receiving, the One might descend from the heights, and the other ascend from the depths, and so be able to embrace each other in true and hearty fellowship.

Poverty must be enriched by him in whom are infinite treasures before it can venture to commune; and guilt must lose itself in imputed and imparted righteousness ere the soul can walk in fellowship with purity. Jesus must clothe his people in his own garments, or he cannot admit them into his palace of glory; and he must wash them in his own blood, or else they will be too defiled for the embrace of his fellowship.

O believer, herein is love! For your sake the Lord Jesus "became poor" that he might lift you up into communion with himself.

Do You Worship Like Mary or Martha?

This is an interesting worship devotional by David Good from his book entitled Captivated by the Heart of God.

In Luke 10:38 and John 12:1 we read a short story about Jesus attending a dinner party hosted by his close friends, Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. If you are familiar with this story, you will remember that Martha is busy preparing and serving dinner for their guests while Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet. In her frustration, Martha approaches Jesus to complain that Mary is making her do all the work. Jesus' response is the opposite of what she had hoped for. In fact, Jesus tells her that what Mary is doing is more important. I can just imagine the look Jesus must have been given by Martha to that comment. If I were ever crazy enough to say something like that to my wife I doubt I would live to ever make that mistake again. Jesus wasn't being indifferent or insensitive to Martha's efforts. Martha was being indifferent to what Mary was doing.

As I read this story, I began thinking about worship and what the modern Church can learn from it. Like Martha, it is so easy for us to become focused on getting Jesus to respond to us rather than us responding to Him in worship. As humans, the tendency is to make worship about us rather about Him. Martha forgot that the dinner party was about the honored guest, not the hostess. How many times have we come away from a worship service disappointed because we didn't get what we wanted out of it that morning? Mary, on the other hand, kept focus on the right place. She understood that she wasn't the point. Martha felt Jesus wasn't showing enough appreciation for what she had done for him while Mary felt that she wasn't showing enough appreciation for what he did for her so she gave him everything she had. Martha was only interested in what she could get from Jesus. Mary was interested in what she could give to him.

This Sunday, as we gather together to worship our Lord, we have a choice. We can approach worship like Martha---focused on Jesus' hands, seeking his applause for our efforts. Or we can worship like Mary---focused on Jesus' face, seeking his embrace. Worship is not about getting him to respond to us, but rather getting us to respond to him. It's not about God enjoying our presence, but about us enjoying God's presence.

I love the words to the famous hymn, "Rock of Ages" by Augustus Toplady that says, "Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling. Naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace. Foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die!" Worship like Mary who held nothing back, didn't care what others thought of her, and whose sole motivation was to bless her Master.

The Wise Men

They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts. Matthew 2:11 NLT

Every now and then people will quip that they can worship in their garden or on the golf course just as well as in a church. While this may be true for some, many simply use it as an excuse to skip church. The true motive behind their statement can usually be discovered in their answer to one small question: "Well, do you?" The wise men who came to Bethlehem literally went to great lengths to worship the Lord. They embarked on a long journey in order to adore the newborn King of the Jews because they understood the importance of worship. And just as the wise men's eagerness to worship the Lord troubled King Herod, their earnestness can still unsettle us and teach us about worship today.

The Wise Men as Worshipers

In addition to presenting themselves for worship, the wise men brought gifts. They worshiped the Lord by their presence and their presents: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As costly as those gifts were by themselves, they gained even greater value when given to Jesus. We, too, can give gifts to God, and watch him multiply them for his glory, much like a seed bringing forth plentiful fruit.

Learning from the Wise Men

The wise men's gifts provide us with many insights about worship:

Gold has always been a valued commodity and traditionally represents material wealth. Worship includes giving a portion of our material blessings to the church or to others in Christ's name. Giving demonstrates that we are good stewards of the wealth God has given us.

Frankincense was a fragrant substance added to sacrificial fires. As the valuable incense was consumed, the fragrance was released, filling the air with a sweet aroma. This can be compared to time given in service to God. Although this time may appear to others to be consumed and lost, it becomes a sweet aroma of worship to God.

Myrrh was added to the cloth used to prepare bodies for burial. Thus, the gift of myrrh compels us to reflect on the ultimate purpose for which Christ came to earth: to give his life as a ransom for many. Reflection upon Christ's atoning death should form a central part of our worship, and so Christians should regularly participate in the Lord's Table.

Following the Example

We tend to worship only when and where it is comfortable or easy. We allow inconvenience to dampen our enthusiasm for worship. But what a different attitude toward worship the wise men displayed! They endured a very long and difficult journey to worship the King of the Jews and to give him costly gifts. Let us learn from their example and make a special effort to regularly come before our King in worship.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day

We bow our hearts to You and pray.

We give You thanks for all You've done

Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.

For beauty in nature, Your glory we see

For joy and health, friends and family,

For daily provision, Your mercy and care

These are the blessings You graciously share.

So today we offer this response of praise

With a promise to follow You all of our days.

---Mary Fairchild

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

---Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't Forget

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being , praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 NIV)

The devotional below is from the book, Captivated by the Heart of God by David Good. It is a reminder for us to look through the lens of God's goodness.

As I was reading Psalm 103 the other day I was struck by the phrase in verse 2 that says, "...and forget not all his benefits." I like how the New Living Translation says, "...may I never forget the good things he does for me." Remembering God's acts of kindness to us is a critical part of worship. We don't forget. We just fail to allow the reality of what he has done shape how we understand and feel about life. I think of it as wearing prescription glasses. We can manage without them, but our vision is blurred and distorted and we miss important details. David is reminding us to put on our glasses so that we always view our lives through the lens of God's goodness.

I remember a conversation around the dinner table at our home not long ago with our teenage son. If you have a teenager in your home, I'm sure you have had the same conversation. As we were getting up from the table, my wife informed our son that he needed to rinse the dishes and load the dishwasher. He immediately complained about the unfair workload his mother and I burden him with. I think his exact words were, "Why do I have to do all the work around here?" I am thankful that my wife will not allow guns in our house because I believe she would have shot him right there in the kitchen. Before any violence could erupt, I simply asked him the following questions: Who made dinner? Who went to the grocery store and bought all the food we just ate? Who worked to earn the money to buy all the food? Of course his answer was you and mom. "So, what did you do?" I asked. "Nothing", he replied. He lowered his head and did the dishes and has never said that since. The simple fact was that he had forgotten the good things his parents do for him on a daily basis.

Sometimes we all act like that with God. We go through life with all of its demands, frustrations, trials and pressures and our vision gets distorted. We get tired and frustrated, angry and depressed. We see God as harsh, uncaring and distant. That is when we need to put on our glasses so that we can see clearly and be reminded that he is good and his mercy endures forever. If you ever find yourself forgetting what God has done for you, read Psalm 103. David lists them for us so we won't forget. Always remember that no matter how bad life gets, it will never overshadow the greatness of God's goodness towards you. You may need to take a moment and reflect on some of the great things he has done for you. Write them down. Say them out loud so you can hear them. As the sun rises and sets, recite them so that you will never forget them.

Majesty

The song "Majesty," written by well-known pastor Jack Hayford, celebrates Christ's triumphant victory over death. It calls Christians to come to the throne of God and offer unending praise, a scene reminiscent of the elders' worship of Christ in Revelation chapter 5.

This same worship of our Lord can be found as well in 1 Chronicles. Here King David leads his people in heart-felt worship of the King of kings. As David worships, he proclaims the wonderful works of God and extols his matchless character: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty" (1 Chron. 29:11).

As you read these words, reflect on the generations of faithful believers who will one day join us in a powerful chorus of praise to the Lord, proclaiming: "May you be praised forever and ever!" (1Chron. 29:10).

Majesty, worship His majesty;

Unto Jesus be all glory, power, and praise.

Majesty, kingdom authority

Flow from His throne unto His own,

His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus;

Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty, worship His majesty;

Jesus, who died, now glorified,

King of all kings.

Copyright 1981 Rocksmith Music

(this is an excerpt from the Praise and Worship Study Bible--Tyndale House)

James

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:16)(NLT)

The worship profile below is taken from the Praise and Worship Study Bible published by Tyndale House. This is a great study Bible for anyone who wants to learn more about biblical praise and worship.

James holds a significant place in early church tradition. This James about whom we speak was likely the half brother of Jesus. And although he had earlier rejected the claims of Christ (John 7:5), James later became an important leader in the church of Jerusalem. One of the more significant instances of his leadership can be found in Acts 15, where he spoke in defense of Gentile evangelism. While James was not one of the Twelve, in a broader sense he can be called an apostle due to his foundational role in the church. Tradition has also named James as the author of the Bible book bearing his name. This book has much to tell us about trials, morality, good works, impartiality, and prayer, and has been embraced by many for its practical wisdom.

James the Worshiper

To James, righteous living was the hallmark of faithful Christian service. Small wonder, then, that James emphasized confession and prayer as staples of Christian worship. Confession of sin is designed to remind us of our imperfections and our dependence on God's saving grace in Christ--a basic part of worship's progression toward spiritual renewal. Prayer keeps us in touch with the one whom we worship. Public prayer increases our awareness of the needs of the body to which we belong. And, as James writes, it has "great power and wonderful results" (James 5:16)(NLT).

Learning from James

Regarding our fellowship as believers, James gives us some important reminders that, if applied, can build a unified body. He reminds us to show impartiality: Don't have special seating for the rich and famous while neglecting those who are poor or those who may seem less important. Our worship should reflect the impartiality of God. Inclusion, not exclusion, must be a regulative principle in our worship.

James also reminds us that we should not be too quick to ascend God's throne of judgment. Too often fellowship or worship among Christians is hindered by those who stand in judgment over their brothers and sisters in Christ. James reminds us that we are to obey the law, not pronounce it (James 4:11-12). James also reminds us that corporate worship brings us encouragement as we suffer the trials of this world.

Following the Example

Reflect on the practical principles laid down by James. To what extent does your own fellowship heed James's wise advice? Does your worship reflect the inclusiveness for which James call? Are the important committees that plan the worship experience cliquish and exclusive? Do too many find themselves on the periphery of active church involvement?

Often judgmental attitudes can paralyze both our worship and our service. Christ calls us to show grace and forgiveness, especially toward those with whom we don't agree! How do you fare in this area? Is confession an integral part of your worship? Do your prayer sessions reflect the needs of the local congregation as well as the universal church?