When I was growing up I used to hear about people going on a sabbatical and I had no idea what that meant. Now after a little experience I have learned that it means essentially to take a break from work.

As I read the word of God and try to use that as the lens through which I live my life I am often stymied by the biblical concept of Sabbath Rest and how it relates to me. What is Sabbath Rest, and what does God expect from us in this area?

I think that Sabbath Rest is close to the heart of God. I can see this just by reading the Ten Commandments. Right after it says not to take the Lord’s name in vain it then says to, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”

So while we can see from this excerpt and others found throughout the scriptures that Sabbath Rest is important, I often ask myself how do I apply this command in my life.

Taking a day a week to honor God by not working can be an act of worship. When you take a rest from work you acknowledge God as the ultimate provider for the things you need.

During creation God set the example for us by resting on the seventh day. Of course God does not tire so that is an indicator that we are to take Sabbath Rest even when we are not tired.

You might ask, “What does Sabbath Rest look like?” I don’t think there is a one size fits all answer. I think the most important part is to honor God by resting, but what that looks like can vary from person to person.

Here are some things that might be restful for you to try.

Worship

Playing

Walking

Sleeping

Delighting in nature, family, friends…

This could possibly be one of the hardest commandments for me to follow. It is so countercultural. It takes a concerted effort and a lot of grace to be able to do this consistently.

Here are a couple questions to ask yourself when you think about Sabbath Rest:

Though we may yearn for Sabbath rest, what obstacles keep us from it?

How might ceasing from work one day a week reshape your work and attitudes on the other six?

Last week, over the course of several messages by different preachers, we were challenged to “pray big prayers worthy of a BIG GOD…about God’s revealed will throughout time and space.” Can you imagine walking into the throne room…having an audience with the High King of the universe and asking him simply to “bless the day? lead, guide and protect?”. Can you imagine the angels of heaven leaning in to hear your prayer…and then saying, “is that all? really?”  Do we pray like slaves or like sons? like hourly workers and not heirs? like we are trying to get in Christ, rather than like we are already in Christ?

Some other thoughts rolling around my head/heart from last week in the Lord’s presence: *I want to choose the better part.*   *what is needful?*  *faith contradicts the problem.*   *In the world, work = money, but not in the kingdom.*  *do we need more time for love?*

I had a moment last week, in which we were responding to God’s Word in worship… and I could hear this brand new, spontaneous song playing in my head at the same time as I was playing the end of the song “The More I Seek You”…I went for it. Told the congregation I was going to teach them a new song. What they didn’t know was that it was new for me. Literally being sung for the first time as I “taught” them:

Lord, I love You | Lord, I love You. | Lord, I love You. | I want to love You more.

To know You is to love You. And I want to love You more.

Lord, I know You | Lord, I know You. | Lord, I know You. | I want to know You more.

Also, had a cool moment sitting at lunch with someone…she said, “have you ever been to Liberty University?” yes…Royce and I led two songs at Liberty’s chapel (like 10,000 people) a few years ago. She said, “the other day when you were singing in different languages, I remembered you from that chapel service.”   I am very glad to be remembered that way.

]]> http://proskuneo.info/2010/08/big-prayers-etc/feed/ 1 http://proskuneo.info/2010/07/what-are-you-worshiping/ http://proskuneo.info/2010/07/what-are-you-worshiping/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:02:54 +0000 royce http://proskuneo.info/?p=1927 Matt Newman has been teaching every Wednesday afternoon at PWI about the theology of worship. This has been such a sweet time of learning what the Lord expects from us in worship and in life. Here are a few thoughts I am developing and thinking about after learning from Matt.

I don’t think we are often conscious of the one of the most important aspects of worship… the way we live our lives.

There is so much more depth to worship than just singing songs on Sunday morning. It’s our entire lives offered to Him in complete submission. In Romans 12 we are exhorted to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. It then goes on to say that this is our spiritual worship. So worship needs to be more than just songs if we are to follow this verse.

Worship is laying our lives down in complete surrender and acknowledging GOD as Sovereign.  This can be done in any context whether on the way to work or at home with your family.

With this in mind don’t throw out music and song. In fact, the command to sing is found many places throughout the scriptures.

Anything NOT God can be a god to us. It is so easy for me to put things before God whether it is my preferences, my feelings, or even my comfort. All these things can become idols.

I heard a quote once that your priorities reveal what you worship. I find in my own life that is many times the case. So what or who are you worshiping today?

At that same location on Friday the 30^th we will have a presentation from the PWI students, “The Artist Speaks.”

This Sunday the 18^th we will also be leading worship at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Stone Mountain. We would love to see you at any of these events.

Click to learn more about our upcoming events.

This past week was filled with growing, learning, and stretching. Some students are learning how to play and sing at the same time, others are learning more about leading worship, and still others are learning how to better their photography skills or sign language abilities.

God has been expanding our views of ourselves and of Himself. We have had time and space to seek God and hear what He thinks about us and realize what we believe about ourselves. We had an exercise where we spent twenty minutes in front of a mirror to discover how we actually see ourselves.

We are looking forward to see what God has in store for us this month as we continue to seek Him as a part of this creative community!

God desires the worship of the heart.

In fact, when Jesus was questioned by the Samaritan woman at the well about the form of worship, He chose to redirect the conversation. Instead, Jesus said that God is seeking worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. Romans 12 links worship with heart issues such as surrender, humility, service, and community rather than with any musical style.

God desires Jesus to be exalted. Philippians 2 makes this abundantly clear. At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess His lordship. Jesus Himself is the Unifier of the Church. He is the Head of the church (Eph 1:22), our peace (Eph 2:14), and His Spirit is the Spirit of unity (Eph 4:3).

In our churches today, we seem to seek to be unified by so many things…a common mission, a cool brand, a socio-economic status, a shared language, a preferred musical style. We must be careful not to supplant Jesus. He deserves to be the Unifier of the church.

As God’s people, may we give Him what He deserves…the praise of all people. And may we offer Him what He desires…the worship of the nations together. Let us not travel the path of least resistance. Let us not be content with our cultural defaults. Let us  not focus on form, but on Christ. Let us do so together. And may He receive glory in the church forever and ever!

Multi-ethnic worship is not a new technique for reaching people from diverse backgrounds. It is not merely a response to the global migration that is happening at a staggering pace. It does not mean catering to the comfort zones and heart music of the people in our congregations.

It is bigger than us…our preferences, our grooves, our desires, our music, our ways. It is more than hands folded or hands raised, fast or slow, loud or soft, active or still.

Many times as we approach the subject of worship, we are asking the wrong questions. What kind of music do they like? What are the felt needs of the congregation? Who is our target audience? In what ways can we best worship God? But, what if, instead, we were to ask the question: What does GOD desire?

Ephesians 5:10 exhorts us to “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Instead of focusing on what is pleasing to us, let’s find out what pleases God. As we look throughout the Scriptures, we see…

God desires the nations to worship Him. The ten commandments begin by proclaiming that God alone is to be worshiped, revered, and adored. Psalm 86:8-9 says, “There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” Notice that this text (among others like Acts 17:26) clearly states that God created the nations.

How might the realization that God created the nations affect your perspectives on cultures, ethnicities, and diversity? Secondly, in this text we notice that all nations (quite an inclusive term!) will come and worship God. It will happen. It is part of God’s wise plan.

God desires the nations to worship Him together. In Revelation 7:9,10 John gives us a glimpse of heaven. In it, “a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

As we consider what that must have looked like and sounded like to John, we hear the words of Jesus’ prayer… “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We don’t know a lot about what heaven is like. But it is clear from Revelation 7 and other passages that there will be multi-ethnic worship in heaven for eternity. I am willing to join my prayer with Jesus’ and work for the rest of my life to see God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven as it relates to multi-ethnic worship. Are you?

I had the privilege of interviewing all the the students during the past 2 weeks. It was great to get to know their hearts better. Our students come from many places across the United State, from Florida to New York. We also have 2 applicants from the country of Honduras.

Some students are coming to PWI to learn more about leading worship in a multicultural context. Some hope to improve their musical abilities whether it be playing an instrument better, or improving their vocal abilities. Some are coming to refine their skill as an artist.

As I think about all the people that the Lord is bringing to PWI this year I am struck with the fact of how multi-talented they are. Many of these students have been gifted with multiple gifts, and we are so excited to see how the Lord is going to bring them all together to edify the Body and bring glory to Himself.

Unfortunately, I have seen a trend in us human beings. When we have some new revelation of GOD, if we are not careful, pride creeps in. We understand something we didn’t understand before, and all of a sudden, we feel like we are better than others. “They just don’t get it.” “I feel sorry for them.” “I am not sure I can be around them…” Wow. This is not of GOD. This kind of language can even happen when talking about multi-ethnic church. We can come across as if we are more spiritual because we understand that Christ’s church is and should be comprised of people from every nation and tongue. “I am not sure I could ever be in a mono-cultural congregation again.”  Let’s be careful, brothers and sisters.  Let’s not forget that it is GOD who has revealed…it is not we who have acquired! Sometimes, we talk as if every church should be multi-ethnic and if they are not, then they are wrong. I am a firm believer that not every local Body of Christ should be multi-ethnic. I do believe they should be open to the possibility… (another blog, another day…)

One thing that helps me…I realize GOD has gone to a lot of trouble to expose me to, teach me about, and challenge me in this idea of the multicultural, multilingual, multiracial Body of Christ. I have had some tremendous opportunities…for goodness’ sake, I lived in another country for some of my formative years! I am now responsible for what He has shown me. Others have not had the same opportunities. Others have learned other aspects of God’s heart that have yet to be a blip on my radar screen. They are responsible for what He has taught them. And Jesus is responsible for building His church…and He is building…and He will build…and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

¹Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ²make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus^{, 6}who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. ⁸Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [Philippians 2:1-8]