Journey to the Manger: Part II

Meditation on Luke 2:1-20

"Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them" (NASB95).

Christmas is now basically right around the corner. It is merely a little over 24 hours away. Hopeful you are finished or nearly finished with your holiday shopping. With all the hussle of the season, I hope that you have found time to spend mediating on the true reason for the season in the midst of the choas.

Hopefully you can spend the next two days with friends and family. But more importantly, hopefully you will take time to celebrate and worship Christ's birth. Find time to read the account of Christ's birth with your family this season. Give thanks to God for giving us his only son.

Journey to the Manger: Part I

Meditation on Isaiah 7:10-16

With Christmas right around the corner, it is only fitting to do a mini-series entitled Journey to the Manger. Christmas as become for the most part nothing more than a commercial holiday with nearing no acknowledgment of the true meaning of Christmas. It is sad that the real meaning for the season is over shadowed with commercialism.

It is easy to get got up with all the chaos of the season: the crowds at the malls, traffic being heavier in the store parking lots, the aisles at the stores overflowing with people trying to get those last minute gifts. Are you in the midst of all this chaos? Are fighting the crowds?

While being in the midst of the chaos, are you focusing on the mission at hand? Or are you thinking of the reason for the season? It is for this reason that I am doing this mini-series.

I would like to draw your attention Isaiah 7:10-16: "Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!” Then he said, “Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. “He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. “For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken" (NASB95).

I want to challenge you to spend some time meditating on the above passage this week.

Call to Worship: Recognize the Priority of Worship

Meditation on Ezra 3:1-7

Have you ever given serious thought to how you view worship in your life? Do you participate in worship, both public and private, on a regular basis? Do you recognize the priority of worship? If you do recognize the priority of worship, do you take time out of your busy schedule to worship?

The background of the passage on which this meditation is based on is crucial to the significance of this text. Ezra begins with the story of God's people returning to the Promised Land after a time of exile. God's judgment upon Judah was over.

Notice what one of the first things that God's people did after they returned to the Promised Land. Read Ezra 3:1-7:

"Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God. So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required; and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals of the Lord that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill offering to the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, but the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid. Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and food, drink and oil to the Sidonians and to the Tyrians, to bring cedar wood from Lebanon to the sea at Joppa, according to the permission they had from Cyrus king of Persia" (NASB95).

I would like for you to take a few moments to brainstorm for reasons why you think the Israelites gave priority to worship. Now ask yourself, which reasons that you thought of might also be reasons for God's children to give priority to worship today?

Did you notice that the people first responded to God's work by rebuilding the altar at the site of the temple? Did you notice that they rebuilt the altar in accordance with the law of Moses? Did you notice that they worshipped God despite their fear of those surrounding them?

Why do you think regular worship, public and private, is essential for the work God accomplishes through us? How have recent worship experiences enabled you to serve God better?

What reasons do you have to praise God today? Tomorrow?

There are three biblical truths that need to be stressed for spiritual transformation with regards on recognizing the priority of worship in your life.

1. When God gives you opportunities to serve Him, you should respond to them with joy, gratitude, and determination.

2. Since the Lord's work actually is work the Lord accomplishes and since godless people often oppose those in His work, you who participate in His work need to maintain a close relationship with God through regular times of worship, both public and private.

3. You need to participate in corporate worship since public praise glorifies God, encourages believers, and is a witness to unbelievers.

My challenge to you and to myself is this: set aside more time each day for private worship.

Call to Worship: Hearkening His Voice

Often times what is consider to be worship is not truly what worship is. Many consider singing of hymns and praise choruses is the heart of worship. In fact, there are many who would argue that singing is the essence of worship.

As believers we are to sing praises to our Redeemer. But mere act of lift our voice in song does not mean that we have actually worshipped in a God-honoring manner.

Singing is an aspect of getting our hearts ready for true worship. True worship comes in response to the proclamiation of God's Word.

"Let us remember therefore this lesson: That to worship our God sincerely we must evermore begin by hearkening to His voice, and by giving ear to what He commands us. For if every man goes after his own way, we shall wander. We may well run, but we shall never be a whit nearer to the right way, but rather farther away from it. . . .So let us hold to this rule, that all human inventions which are set up to corrupt the simple purity of the word of God, and to undo the worship which he demands and approves, are true sacrileges, in which the Christian man cannot participate without blaspheming God, and trampling his honor underfoot."--John Calvin

Call to Worship: Priority of Worship

To being this series Call to Worship, I want to start with discussing the importance of proper worship and the priority of worship. This posting will not fully develop the each thing mentioned here, simply because much of what I will mention here will be addressed in greater depth later.

Have you spent time pondering upon the first four of the Ten Commandments lately. Read Exodus 20:1-11 (Scripture reference below). After you read the text, spend some time reflecting how these four commandments are related to worship. Re-read the text more than once if necessarily. It is crucial that you understand the significance of this passage.

Importance of Proper Worship

Exodus 20:1-11

"Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy" (Exodus 20:1-11, NASB95).

Exodus 20:1-3 declares that the Lord is our God and that we shall not have any other gods. We must acknowledge God for who He is and what He has done. Because our God is the one true God, He demands that we do not worship any other gods. Are you worshiping a god besides the one true God? Are putting something in your life before God? Is it work? Is it money?

In Exodus 20:4-6 we are told that we are not to create in idols and that we are not to worship those idols. Have you made something into an idol in your life? Have you created God in your own image instead of recognizing him as the God who is as found in Scripture.

Exodus 20:7 tells us that we are to honor the name of the Lord. Are you honoring the name of the Lord in your speech? Are you are honoring the name of the Lord in your thoughts?

Exodus 20:8-11 informs us that we are to remember the Sabbath and to keep it holy. Are you honoring the Sabbath? Are you honoring God in how you keeping the Sabbath?

It is clear that the first four commandments of the Ten Commandments deal with the importance of proper worship. If you do not have a proper prespective of these four commandments, you will not have a proper prespective of biblical worship.

Priority of Worship

1. Our chief responisibility is to honor God above all others. See Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Mark 12:28-30.

2. God claims Lordship over every area of our lives. See Matthew 6:24 and 1 Corinthians 10:31.

3. Westminster Shorter Catechism states that man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Spend some time personally reflecting how you view worship. Are you worshipping as God demands according to these biblical passages.

Call to Worship: Introduction

In the last blog posting, I asked the question: what is your purpose in life? I briefly examined the first question of the Westminster Confession as the answer to the posed question. I have been pondering several different options for a new series of postings. Hence, a new series is on the brick. The new series is entitled Call to Worship.

This new series will look at various aspects of biblical worship. The series will also look into some of the great hymns of the faith, along with modern praise and worship choruses.

We are called to worship. Since this is our calling, we must know what biblical worship is and what it is not. Much of what is "labeled" as worship is not worthy of being called worship at all for a facet of reasons, which will be addressed in the series as well.

The purpose of the Call to Worship series is to bring about biblical worship in our lives, both privately and corporately. To God be the glory and honor.

"Doxology"

Praise God from whom all blessing flow,

Praise him all creatures here below;

Praise him above, you heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

What Is Your Purpose In Life?

Our sinful nature gets the best of us at times. Often times when we are in the flesh, we are so self-centered that we forget about others around us. And at times, we are so focused on ourselves that we totally forget about God as well. During these self-centered times, our motto is: It's all about me!

But it should not be about us at all. In fact, the believers motto should be: It's not about me! He is God and we are not.

So what is your purpose in life? Let's look at how the Westminister Confession addresses this question:

Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Read Psalm 86:9--"All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name" (Psalm 86:9, NASB95).

Read Isaiah 60:21--"Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever, The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified" (Isaiah 60:21, NASB95).

Read Romans 11:36--"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:36, NASB95).

Read 1 Corinthians 6:20--"For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:20, NASB95).

Read 1 Corintians 10:31--"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31, NASB95).

Read Revelation 4:11--"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created" (Revelation 4:11, NASB95).

Scripture clearly teaches that the chief end of man is to glory God.

Read Psalm 16:5-11--"The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever" (Psalm 16:5-11, NASB95).

Read Psalm 144:15--"How blessed are the people who are so situated; How blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!" (Psalm 144:15, NASB95)

Read Isaiah 12:2--"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2, NASB95).

Read Philippians 4:4--"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4, NASB95)

Read Revelation 21:3-4--"And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away”" (Revelation 21:3-4, NASB95).

Futhermore, Scripture teaches that we are to enjoy Him forever and ever.

So what is your purpose in life? Are you glorify God with your life? Are others going to see that you enjoy Him forever and ever?

"Glorify Your Name"

Lord, God, when I consider the heavens

And the work of Your hand, what is man

That You are mindful of him

Lord God, when I consider the moon and the stars

And the worlds You ordained, who can say

You are mindful of him

You put all things under his feet

And give him rule over Your creation

Almighty God, how majestic is Your name

Every knee will bow and every tongue will praise and

Glorify, glorify Your name

We will glorify, glorify Your name

And together the redeemed, all forgiven will proclaim

We will glorify, glorify Your name

Oh Lord God, when I consider Your blessing

And the gift of Your grace, I stand amazed

Your merciful eyes fall on me

Oh Lord God, You forgave my transgressions

And You restore my soul, white as snow

Lighting the darkness in me

In the shadows of the valley

I will not fear, You are beside me

Almighty God, how majestic is Your name

Every knee will bow and every tongue will praise and

Glorify, glorify Your name

We will glorify, glorify Your name

And together the redeemed, all forgiven will proclaim

We will glorify, glorify Your name

--Wayne Watson

"You're Worthy of My Praise"

I will worship with all of my heart

I will praise You with all of my strength

I will seek You all of my days

And I will follow all of Your ways

I will give You all my worship

I will give You all of my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

I will bow down and hail You as King

I will serve You, give You everything

I will lift up my eyes to Your throne

I will trust You, I will trust You alone

I will worship, I will bow down

I will give You all my praise

--Big Daddy Weave

Who Is This King of Glory?

Mediation on Psalm 24

"The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face—even Jacob.Selah. Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.Selah" (Psalm 24:1-10, NASB95).

The church today longs for a renewal in worship. But what is worship? There is mulitude of ways that this question can be answered. The Hebrew verb "to worship" literally means "to bow down, to prostrate oneself." In other words, it reveals the attitude and position of a person who is subject to a reigning king. In Psalm 95:6 we read the following, "Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." To truly worship the Lord is to submit and to surrender our entire being to him as the sovereign King of kings and Lord of Lords.

The goal of our worship, when informed by Psalm 24, is the entrance of the King of glory. As we call upon the Lord and as we submit to his lordship, we are inviting God to be present in our midst in all of his glory. Our hearts will be satisfied with nothing less than his glory.

Psalm 24:3-6 gives the qualifications for worship. In order to truly worship, we must enter his presence with clean hands and a pure heart.

Who is this King of glory? He is Jehovah. He is the Lord mighty in battle. He is almighty. He is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Captain of our salvation. He is invincible.

"King of Glory"

Who is this King of Glory that persues me with his love

And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words

My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need

Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me

Who is this King of angels, O blessed Prince of Peace

Revealing things of Heaven and all its mysteries

My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand

Who's this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus

The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart

The King of glory

Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty

And wisdom beyond measure, the graceous King of kings

the Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

Who is this King of Glory, He's everything to me

The Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things

He is the King of glory, He's everything to me

--Third Day