Biblical spiritual worship rallies people to a common theme. The Spirit always leads to Jesus! There is only one instance in Scripture, at Pentecost, when everyone spoke simultaneously of the wonderful works of God, and then Peter preached Jesus! Thereafter, Spirit-led church leadership established orderly boundaries for public worship. We are to define Jesus with our lives, to pray to the One who intercedes for us, and make His Name known by teaching and preaching with Spirit anointing.
I believe worship is to be experienced in the "carryover" to personal and family worship. Songs and teaching of the assembled church are to be reinforced in community, from house to house. The Sunday experience was never intended to be a "stand alone" event relegated to a time and place. Worship and service cannot be properly understood as a "one-size-fits-all" once a week injection, but from "house-to-house," and "person-to-person" function of people living the Faith. Jesus came to establish a community that had been released from the curse of sin and freed to honor the Father.
The church must never outgrow its need to teach and learn as she worships. The repetition of melody and lyric has a tremendous capacity to anchor the spirit of man in the Holy, connect time with eternity, organize deep truths which are then embed into human spirits by the Holy Spirit.
Consider an event recorded in Acts 3 and 4. Shortly after Pentecost Peter and John approached the temple at the time of prayer. A beggar who had been lame from birth called out for alms. Peter’s response was unexpected and without precedent. He said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. – Acts 3:3-8
The ensuing uproar resulted in Peter and John being imprisoned and ordered to stop preaching about Jesus. Peter’s response, You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see. – Acts 3:15-16
The religious establishment added threats to their prior order to cease and desist preaching Jesus’ resurrection, but the Apostle Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:8-12
Edward Perronet, a friend of John and Charles Wesley published a poem in 1780. The church has sung the song for 235 years, and for 41 years Perronet’s lyrics served as the theme of "Revivaltime," the international radio broadcast of the Assemblies of God.
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!
Pentecostals should not have be reminded that Paul wrote to the Philippians, Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A song published soon after the Civil War, became a favorite in churches in the North and South. It’s author, an Ohioan, William Clark, was a leading abolitionist and leader in the Temperance Movement. The lyrics are pregnant with truth of the power in Jesus’ Name.
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for all to die,
That He might man redeem!
Refrain:
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name! Blessed be the name!
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
His name above all names shall stand,
Exalted more and more,
He's seated at God's own right hand,
Where angel hosts adore. [Refrain]
Redeemer, Savior, friend of all,
Once ruined by the fall,
Thou hast devised salvation's plan,
For thou hast died for all. [Refrain]
His name shall be the Counselor,
The mighty Prince of Peace,
Of all earth’s kingdoms conqueror,
Whose reign shall never cease! [Refrain]
A song from the 90's honors the Name and centers our faith.
No other name but the name of the Lord
No other name but the name of Jesus
Is worthy of glory, and worthy of honor
And worthy of power and all praise.
I pray that the contemporary church rediscovers the centrality of the Gospel, the Name of Jesus and all its wonder-working power. May new songs, new melodies, new emphases be placed on Jesus so that my grandchildren experience Him and sing truths when faith is rattled, understanding is impossible, and hope needs new moorings in the Eternal Son!
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