WORSHIPING GOD

As we walk with the LORD and read the Bible we seem to pick and choose which rabbit trail (message, tradition, custom, or story mentioned in the Bible) we want to follow and hop down. I am amazed to the number of different denominations and religions in the Christian world and to think they all came from the same Bible. One group says we will focus on speaking in tongues while another group says we will focus on water baptism, and sadly the list goes on and on. But what is really sad is how each group says the other groups are wrong and know not the truth. Paul ran up against this same thinking with the Church at Corinth. It seemed there were divisions and contentions among the body of Christians (like today) that weakened the witness of the church collectively. One of the main divisions was who they called their spiritual leader or who they followed. In 1 Corinthians we read, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians1:10-13) How can the Body of Christ be light and salt to the world if it is divided and fighting among itself? I hear and see the same thinking today, the idol worship of evangelists, pastors, and teachers sickens me and I am sure it sickens God to see His Body so divided and confused. One says, “I am of Copeland, Hinn, Hagee, Warren, Parsley, or even Stahl” and sadly the list goes on. This is not to be our focus in whom we will follow my friend, if we want to be called a Christian the die has been cast our focus is to be Jesus, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:2-3) Not too many Christians want to follow Jesus it is much easier to follow a man, because if we follow Jesus we will have to identify with Him and we too will have to “endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” a price most Christians are not willing to bear. But this is the bitter cup we must drink if we are to come after (become like Jesus) Jesus and become what He wants us to become.

You know we see this wrong thinking also when worshiping God. One group will sing only the hymns while another group will sing only contemporary music (and say the other group is wrong), but in reality real worship has nothing to do with singing, dancing, our service to God, or even giving our money, oh no real worshiping of God has to do with bowing down our heads to God in reverence and honor. We find this act of worshiping God in the very first Book of the Bible, Genesis, “And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.” Genesis (24:52) In Exodus we find Moses worshiping God, “And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.”(Exodus 34:8) The list goes on and on, no singing or dancing just silence and stillness before a Holy God. Funny how we can get so far off track and not really know it, but even worse how we can get far off track and not even care. Did you know you can get so far off track you can get over into idol worship? I will be the first to say amen to that. I have seen it and I have done it and I am talking in the last two or three years. One thing for sure if we keep our head bowed down before the LORD and our mouth in the dust we probably will not have too much of a problem in this area.

When the LORD really began to draw my older brother I remember him sayings (as with all of us when God really gets our attention) as long as he was in good relationship with his pastor he could get to God, but there came a time (as with all of us) when he no longer needed his pastor to get to God, he could make his approach to God on his own. I think this probably holds true for all new believers; the one who they see in their eyes (most times the one who has led them to the LORD) who they want to imitate in the LORD and why, because they see within themselves a lack the other person in the LORD possesses. Come let’s face it we all know some people whose light is a little brighter than our own. I can relate to this also. At the age of six I became a Christian my mother led me to Christ, but like most if not all kids as they grew the light of God in their lives was merely a flicker, but it did not go out. As I look back over my years I now can understand Isaiah was talking about me when he said, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” (Isaiah 42:3) God was longsuffering and did not break me to the point I could not walk nor did He put out my flame, but kept fanning my fire with people He would bring into my life and situations or circumstances that would keep me moving forward in Him. I thank God for these dealings in my life God knew just how to work in my life (as in all of our lives) to where I would have the stomach to go further in Him. And all through my years as I drew nearer to the LORD my relationship with my mother became more important (more important than a mother son relationship) she became a mentor and spiritual advisor to me and my family. Any time we really needed to get something from God we would call her and tell her our concerns and ask her to pray. Then after some time we would call again and ask her if God told her anything about us. She was the spiritual glue that held the family together, but now she is up in age and sadly her mind is not what it was and we are on our own. Now I guess that is okay for baby Christians, but that is not the behavior God is looking for in His children. God is looking for mature men and women who can hear from God for themselves, who have allowed God to deal and judge in their lives, where He has developed a fine tuned ear for His words. God is not looking for children that partake in idol worship of others. Now many Christians I know would love for you to come to them so they can say “thus saith the LORD” over you or prophesy into your life. I even know some Christians who like to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to seniority in the LORD. I do not know about you, but I cannot find the verses in the Bible that talk about seniority among Christians. I have a (I still call him a friend and love him, but he has broken off relationship, even though I have tried many times to talk, with me and even stopped sending me his newsletter, we three know why) friend who I have known for over 30 years who told me his word from God was deeper than my mine and I should take a back seat to him. But wait, I thought the word of God is from God. It is not my word that I speak when I teach, but God speaking through me. Our job is not to make up words to speak, but become a clean and usable vessel (through God’s dealings and judgments) God can open and pour us out into a lost and dying world of people. A vessel where God’s word can flow unhindered from our lips. People who think they are better than someone else has missed the whole point of being a servant. Now they may be gifted as a speaker and can teach the Scriptures with convincing passion, but they have missed the truth of what Jesus was telling the disciples, “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant (slave) of all.” (Mark 10:42-44) Not too many Bible teachers want to be a slave to everyone, oh no most want to be told how wonderful and deep they are in their understanding of the Scriptures, well that is not what Jesus said. Now please do not misunderstand me I am not blowing my own horn, I know I have not made it and I know there are much better Bible teachers (like my friend who I so would still enjoy to listening) out there, but again that is not the measure God is looking for, oh no my friend God is looking for the humble servant and broken teacher. My friend the way up is down and if we want to be (or even think we are) greater than someone in any area we are gravely mistaken. This idol worship can really get carried away. When my teacher Charles Haun would teach in Bible Schools many students would imitate his dress, try to talk like him, and even wear glasses (they were called Haunites) thinking this outward change in them would somehow change their inside, but God does not operate like that. Oh no my friend, our inward man is only changed by God’s inward dealings and judgments in our heart and attitudes, God is after our character and if He cannot get that in us all we will ever be is as tinkling brass and sounding cymbals. Oh we may be able to recite Scripture backwards and forwards and even speak with great swelling skill and ability, but our words will be shallow and never touch the areas of lives God desires to reach.

Did you know a part of man’s make-up (created by God) is a desire to follow. Now this God ordained following is hard-wired in us; not following man, but following Jesus. Again the command is, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” It is Jesus who we are to follow not man, but from the age of a little child we are taught in schools and in the secular, worldly media; be all you can be and not what God wants you to be. Look at this guy, how would you like to be able to run, jump and score baskets or touch downs like him? Look at his influence around the world and the money he makes, not to speak of the power he has and the glory he receives how would you like to be this guy? Paul directly took this wrong thinking on in the Church of Corinth when he said, “Be ye followers (imitate NKJV) of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians11:1) Now Paul was not saying become like me, like the Haunites tried to do of Charles Haun, oh no Paul was saying imitate or follow me in those areas you see of Christ in me and if I am not measuring up to our standard (Jesus Christ) then do not follow me. It is only those things of Christ we become will have any eternal weight of glory and value in our lives and if we see Godly characteristics in others we are not to follow them blindly as sheep (to my shame I have done that before) or try to become like them, but we are to see these qualities and characteristics God has been able to work in others, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” We are looking at the Godly work and the fruit that God has developed in them. I do not know about you my friend, but I have not physically seen Jesus today. But I have seen His love and kindness in every act of giving of one’s self for another. I have seen His smile every time a baby’s eyes light up or when I see the clouds come floating by. I have felt His touch every time my wonderful wife rubs my tired legs and back. God is everywhere and is in everything in this world all we have to do is have the eyes and more important the heart condition to be able to see Him.

You know the longer I go with God and the more I do for Him the more I can see my great need to just stay within the lines. When we moved to Germany in 1996, I got a better understanding of the German culture when I drove on their side roads now not heir autobahns, but their secondary roads. You see these roads had concrete bricks that line the outer limits of the road and if you get too far to the right or left you get into trouble. To navigate successfully on these roads (and in the German culture) you have to stay in the center, so too in our Christians life. In Ecclesiastes we find the Preacher giving great advice to his son and to us. And in verse 13 we find all we have to do to please God, “The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. 11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:10-14) All of our hard work (running around the world) and book learning (running from this conference or that conference to hear the same thing you have heard before) is “weariness of the flesh,” but here is the whole matter (nothing else to do) “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” And why, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” My friend if we keep this truth at heart and before us all the days of our lives we will have no problem with worshiping God. Written by David Stahl