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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Two Current Issues, #3
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12;2—NIV)
God's will is found by presenting our body a living sacrifice. God's will is found in things close at hand, familiar things that have been part of us, not in exotic "Hagars."
We have so much to learn these days, and the Spirit of God is ready and willing to teach us.
Each member of the Body of Christ is to live by the body and blood of the Lord. Every time we deny ourselves and go God's way we are given to eat of His flesh and to drink of His blood. These become our eternal life, our resurrection, our strength, our wisdom.
Iron righteousness! Fiery holiness! Stern obedience to the Father! Whoever is lacking in these will not appear with Christ as a member of His Body when He returns to bring justice to the nations.
I think the responsibility for bringing the members of the Body to further maturity falls on the pastors and elders of the assemblies. We must move the congregations from passive listening to more active participation.
How do we do this?
We are going to have to require of all the believers that they participate vigorously in prayer and worship in every service. Our services should begin with fervent prayer, having the congregation come to the front if possible, or at least stand and enter vigorously and fervently into vocal praise and calling on the Lord.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. (Psalms 150:3-6—NIV)
Does the above sound like a typical Christian service. If not, why not? If the above was true of the old covenant, are we to remain frozen in our pews?
The people on Sunday morning are not going to stir from their complacency unless they are lovingly pressed, for they are accustomed to coming in, flopping down, and talking to those around them. We must not permit this any longer.
During the past few years worship teams have come into existence. We have a worship team in our church, which includes pageantry and mime as well as guitars, keyboards, slide trombone, saxophone, drums, and flute. There are vocalists on the platform.
The worship-team approach has been helpful and it still is. But I think the Lord is saying this is not enough. We must have more prayer. The music is contemporary and excellent, but it is not a substitute for militant prayer. It still contains too much of the performance and spectator model.
We are a long way from the exercise of the varied gifts and ministries given to the Body, by which it is built up in the Head.
It is time now for every member of the Body of Christ to be activated. As we press into the Lord the Holy Spirit will, I believe, cause many gifts and ministries to operate. This is necessary if the Body of Christ is to come to maturity.
To be continued.