A Voice in the Wilderness

Some of you experienced the beautiful worship in our monthly church hymn-sing in a barn in the mountains last Sunday evening. This was especially precious by the presence of a large group of young folks from a church back east who sang and ministered to us as like the angels. These were strangers to most of us, yet our kinship of spirit was indisputable. It was interesting that the sermon earlier that day in our congregation was on the topic of worship. My study of this concept and of this word, "worship" leads me to the root word in the old Anglo-Saxon, "woerthscipe." What is the worth of God, and is He truly worthy of our total attention, admiration and devotion? Jesus said, ...the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Jn. 4:23

Whenever I am privileged to be a part of such lovely worship as took place Sunday evening, or even that takes places more usually on Sunday mornings, my heart is somehow divided in my love for God, and a desire to carry this love to others outside, who have no hope, or perhaps have a supressed hope in God greatly confused by conditions around or inside of them. I think of others I know and care about, and generally those whom I don't know personally, but who inhabit our world without the blessings and comfort of Christ. I long to carry this taste of heaven to them and groan in the frustration of the impossibility of doing so. As every true disciple of Jesus Christ, I am an evangelist at heart, feeble though my efforts quite often are in this endeavor. There is much to be said of pure worship of the living God, and much concerning the practical fruit of this worship. Worship is, of course more than a religious act, such as singing and prayer, but really a total way of life.

This evening I came across a message by a saint of a previous generation, a generation not too far removed from the one in which we now live. His observations of perhaps fifty years ago are very much mine of today, though today they seem much stronger than, perhaps what he saw then. He observed a condition in the church at large, and a form of evangelism prevalent then that was a reflection of that church and its spiritual condition. Because I share this man's concern, and feel the cry of his heart for a purer form of evangelism, stemming from a purer form of worship I want to share his words with you. I hope you will all click the link below to his message.

Won't it be wonderful when the day finally comes that we all bow before the great throne of God, when we are a part of the crystal sea of worshipers prostrate before Him? It's almost too magificent a scene to imagine. In the meantime, however our worship is constantly being purified and becoming more pure through the sorrows and difficulties of this life; and we are blessed, unprofitable servants as we are to bear some measure of fruit for God's eternal kingdom as a direct result of this worship. Halelujah! Our joy is full in Jesus.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him]. (Psa 126:5,6)

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
(Rev. 7:9-12)

http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/pot-pourri-evangelism.html

Thu, Aug 14th - 12:03AM

Evangelism: Outgrowth of Pure Worship