God's Word Presented for God's Glory
Introduction
This website is titled isGODfirst.com because it considers why God is not more prominent in our lives and in our churches.
The website also contains some of the messages preached by Dr. Howard F. Sugden during his time preaching in Lansing, Michigan and elsewhere. They are included because of the increased sense of God's love and power that believers often felt after hearing his messages.
Dr. Howard F. Sugden's sermons were placed in the Public Domain by his wife, Lucille, after his call to glory.
Further information may be obtained from Laurence [at] TruBee.net
Is GOD really first in our lives?
The question of whether God is first in our lives is often assumed to relate to especially spiritual people such as Pastors or missionaries. Nothing could be further from the truth. God was first in history, and will remain first throughout all of eternity. All believers in Jesus Christ and His saving work are called to an increasing recognition of that reality. It is not an optional add-on to becoming and being a member of God’s family.
Jesus Christ is the only person who has ever lived who put God first in all circumstances. Most of us consider ourselves highly fortunate if we have put God first in the major decisions of life, such as marriage, career, etc. There is one area, however, in which all believers in Jesus Christ are required to put God first on a weekly basis. Namely the times when we gather together for the specific purpose of worshipping our creator and redeemer.
Surprisingly, group worship is one of the areas that we have the least control over. It is decided by tradition, by availability, by group preference, by fashion, and sometimes by the active deception of dark forces. Throughout the last 2000 years it has been either the greatest support for believers, or their greatest distraction from God centeredness. It is the primary concern of the first four of the Ten Commandments. It is also the area in which human pride and thirst for dominance has caused the greatest damage to the Christian faith as a whole, and to the largest number of individual believers. In addition, it was the primary area in which God expressed his sadness and anger against His people in the Old Testament, who consistently placed God anywhere but first in their lives and in their corporate worship. It was the area in which the Lord Jesus Christ found himself in the greatest controversies, and which eventually lead to His physical death. It was also the area in which the Apostle Paul expressed his greatest concerns in his letters to groups of believers in various parts of the ancient world, and the area in which he found himself in the greatest danger. This website is therefore dedicated to focusing myself and others on more God-centered worship.
Before dealing with the task of putting God first in our worship, however, it may be useful to revisit some related truths clearly taught by God’s word, otherwise known as the Bible. For example, in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-4, the Bible reveals that God is our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Enabler, and as such He must have the first place in our lives. Revelation 4:9-11 reveals that worship of God will be a primary part of our eternal purpose in Heaven.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Revelation 4:9-11
“9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!”
“9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created!”
God-glorifying worship is a significant part of why we were created, and what we will do willingly, thankfully, and joyfully for the entirety of our eternal futures. God centered worship today, therefore, is an essential part of putting God first. To do this well, however, we will need to consider several questions which relate to our worship of God.
1) Who is God?
The first two words of the Lord’s Prayer define who God is, and who His children are - “Our Father…” Matt 6:7. If we seek to become God’s children, or grow as His children, then it is vital that we begin to reconsider the role that God plays in our lives. The website isGODfirst.com is intended to help us to do that from God’s perspective rather than our own, or that of our church, or any particular religious denomination.
The first two words of the Lord’s Prayer define who God is, and who His children are - “Our Father…” Matt 6:7. If we seek to become God’s children, or grow as His children, then it is vital that we begin to reconsider the role that God plays in our lives. The website isGODfirst.com is intended to help us to do that from God’s perspective rather than our own, or that of our church, or any particular religious denomination.
2) Who are the people of God?
When we define who God’s children are apart from the scriptures, we are attempting to either define God from our own perspective, or redefine Him in our image. God will not allow either.
When we define who God’s children are apart from the scriptures, we are attempting to either define God from our own perspective, or redefine Him in our image. God will not allow either.
There have long been two kinds of adults who call themselves “Christians”. One group is composed of genuine believers in the person and power of Jesus Christ. A different group of apparent believers are what we might reasonably describe as “Churchians”, or people who are church-focused rather than God focused. At best these people are well meaning and worship alongside Christians, but they tend to be more interested in the social benefits of being in the church. At worst, these people are leaders in the visible church, who often do great harm to the Christian faith.
To identify who God defines as true believers in Him, we should carefully consider the Lord’s thoughts on this matter, which he communicated to his disciples on the evening before his trial and crucifixion. These can be found in the Gospel of John, in chapter 17.
John 17:6-26
6 I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,
8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them; and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
14 I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.
22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one,
23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me.
24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
6 I revealed your name to the people whom you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me. They have kept your word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatever you have given me are from you,
8 for the words which you have given me I have given to them; and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me.
9 I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All things that are mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
11 I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them through your name which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.
14 I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.
19 For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word,
21 that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.
22 The glory which you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one, even as we are one,
23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me.
24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 Righteous Father, the world hasn’t known you, but I knew you; and these knew that you sent me.
26 I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
By my count, John 17:6-26 contains 53 direct references to the people of God in just 21 verses. It defines all of those people who either have been, or will be called by grace to become a part of the eternal family that has God as its head, Jesus Christ as its savior and the Holy Spirit as its enabler.
3) What is our relationship to God?
Dependence upon God is the hallmark of authentic Christianity. That is clearly evidenced by the concerns of the Lord Jesus Christ on the eve of His trial and crucifixion, as noted above. They relate to His relationship with God, and the completion of His service for Him. They were also focused on the people who God has called to Himself.
Dependence upon God is the hallmark of authentic Christianity. That is clearly evidenced by the concerns of the Lord Jesus Christ on the eve of His trial and crucifixion, as noted above. They relate to His relationship with God, and the completion of His service for Him. They were also focused on the people who God has called to Himself.
The emphasis on God’s relationship to His people is also self-evident throughout the whole of the Old Testament, and often occurred at times when His people became distracted from putting Him first in their lives. Likewise, the emphasis on the Lord Jesus’ relation to His people is self-evident throughout the whole of the New Testament.
Consider the following passages:
Isaiah 55:1-3
"1 Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness.
3 Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."
"1 Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness.
3 Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."
John 6:44-48
"44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.
48 I am the bread of life."
"44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God. He has seen the Father.
47 Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life.
48 I am the bread of life."
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
John 15:4-6
"4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
"4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Revelation 3:18-20
"18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me."
"18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me."
1 Corinthians 12:12,13,20
12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit...
20 But now they are many members, but one body.
12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit...
20 But now they are many members, but one body.
Romans 8:9-13
"9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. "
"9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. "
"Come unto me, … and I will give you rest." Is that the central message of our lives? Is it the central message that we hear at church? It should be. It is the central message of the Bible written in different ways at different times, but God has created us to put Him first. Anything less than that is a deviation from His plan, but it will not remain so forever. All of God’s people are destined to spend eternity singing the praises of the God who is finally recognized as first in their new lives.
Putting God first is not primarily an act of self will. It is the natural reaction to a recognition of who God is and what He desires to do in us, for us and with us. When it is manifested in an attitude of love, trust and obedience, it is God’s work that is being reflected back towards Himself.
Our primary task, after we have been drawn to Jesus by His grace, is to walk nearer to Him in our daily lives. Some Christian hymns refer to this, such as “Nearer to thee My God”. Jesus refers to this increasing nearness in many ways including “abiding in Him”, and producing fruit by being a part of His vine (see John 15) etc.
It is an attitude that is caught, rather than taught, but there are some Pastors whom God has gifted with an ability to communicate God’s character from God’s word. One such man was Pastor Howard F. Sugden, who when I knew him was an old and increasingly frail man who God had gifted with an ability to inform people’s hearts and minds about their creator. After hearing his sermons, I frequently remember thinking “that message was about the God whom I wish to serve”. That is why this website contains sermons from him that his wife placed in the Public Domain after his passing.
4) What is the church global?
The Church as a whole is the collection of all of God’s children saved by grace in the past, present and future. It is defined in John 17 as demonstrated above. The truths that the Lord spoke about during his last days on earth are key truths that we should live by. For example, “Apart from me, you can do nothing”.
The Church as a whole is the collection of all of God’s children saved by grace in the past, present and future. It is defined in John 17 as demonstrated above. The truths that the Lord spoke about during his last days on earth are key truths that we should live by. For example, “Apart from me, you can do nothing”.
There is often a foundational difference between HIS church as defined in John 17, and our church as defined by ourselves or by our particular denomination. This should never be. HE has died for us, not we for Him. HE decides who is a part of HIS church and who may participate in the LORD’s supper, or anything else that we do collectively to worship HIM. Whenever we subdivide the Lord’s people, we are in great danger of enhancing ourselves and our organizations rather than the Lord.
5) What is the church local?
The American church is the collection of all of God’s children who live in America. Likewise, the church in any particular city is the collection of all believers who live in that city. It is defined in practical ways in almost all of Paul’s letters to believers who lived in the locations that he addressed in the New Testament. The following examples illustrate that.
The American church is the collection of all of God’s children who live in America. Likewise, the church in any particular city is the collection of all believers who live in that city. It is defined in practical ways in almost all of Paul’s letters to believers who lived in the locations that he addressed in the New Testament. The following examples illustrate that.
Col 1:2
"2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
"2 to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Roman 1:7
"7 to all who are in Rome beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
"7 to all who are in Rome beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Cor 1:2
"2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth — those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:"
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"2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth — those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:"
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Eph 1:1
"1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:"
"1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:"
Phil 1:1
"1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:"
"1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:"
1 Thess 1:1
"1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:"
"1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:"
1 Pet 1:1a
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Pet 1:1
"1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:"
"1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:"
Jude v1
"1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:"
"1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:"
6) What are denominations
Denominations tend to be groups of Christian believers which have been formed to differentiate themselves from other denominations, which they believe have erred from the clear teaching of the Bible. The intent is not necessarily wrong, but the consequences often are.
Denominations tend to be groups of Christian believers which have been formed to differentiate themselves from other denominations, which they believe have erred from the clear teaching of the Bible. The intent is not necessarily wrong, but the consequences often are.
The Christian church has for too long focused on partial reformations that dealt with one or more doctrinal deviation from the scriptures, and whose recovery necessitated yet another denomination. The reformation of the 16th century was initiated by men like Martin Luther and was a great retrieval of some sound doctrines and practices that had been ignored by the church of its day, but it was an incomplete reformation. It did not adequately deal with salvation by infant baptism or “State Church” issues and indeed opposed reformations in those areas.
Emphasizing a denomination typically comes at the cost of deemphasizing God. So often it replaces the conscious and spontaneous worship of God with a somewhat dry format that conforms to the letter of a system, more than a love for God. It can also separate believers into categories that sometimes serves the needs of power seeking individuals more than the purposes of God. Unfortunately, these will likely become more harmful as we see the day of the Lord approaching, with its consequent animosity of the world against believers.
Whole hearted God-centeredness is the only “denomination” that God recognizes, and our task, especially during worship should be to make that both our individual and corporate aim. We should always remember that being a member of God’s family by grace is such a significant honor, with such high expectations, that we should not be focused on any particular person or church denomination.
7) What is hierarchicalism?
Denominations also tend to be synonymous with church hierarchies, which detract from God-centeredness. They can take the form of granting some intermediaries with supposed special powers which are indispensable for believers wanting to live blessed and Godly lives. God does indeed grant some with special abilities, but they must always remain God-centered abilities, rather than their self-centered counterparts.
Denominations also tend to be synonymous with church hierarchies, which detract from God-centeredness. They can take the form of granting some intermediaries with supposed special powers which are indispensable for believers wanting to live blessed and Godly lives. God does indeed grant some with special abilities, but they must always remain God-centered abilities, rather than their self-centered counterparts.
God is only first if He has no opposition, and the greatest form of opposition to God has always come in the form of alternate hierarchical structures, which is precisely what dark forces have been angling towards for millennia. There is only one form of hierarchy found in the New Testament. It has God in His three persons at the top, and every believer at the bottom, with no human being, or collection of human beings in between. That is the dominant reality emphasized by the Lord Jesus Christ during His final days of His earthly life, as encapsulated by the seventeenth chapter of John’s gospel. We all need to learn how to sing “peculiar honors to our king”, or “only believe and thou shalt see, that Christ is all and all to thee”.
Yes, there is a need for order in the church as emphasized by Paul’s letter to the churches of his day, but it is a limited order which is established to maintain the sound doctrine found in the scriptures, rather than in particular creeds or church service formats. It should especially not be used to elevate any human being or hierarchy of human beings to the point of being necessary, intermediate dispensers of God’s grace. God will not tolerate such distractions from His glory in heaven, and will not long tolerate it on earth either. The Old Testament is abundantly replete with that lesson, and God has shown no inclination to change His perspective since then. It is our perspective that must change.
Yes, there is a need for order in the church as emphasized by Paul’s letter to the churches of his day, but it is a limited order which is established to maintain the sound doctrine found in the scriptures, rather than in particular creeds or church service formats. It should especially not be used to elevate any human being or hierarchy of human beings to the point of being necessary, intermediate dispensers of God’s grace. God will not tolerate such distractions from His glory in heaven, and will not long tolerate it on earth either. The Old Testament is abundantly replete with that lesson, and God has shown no inclination to change His perspective since then. It is our perspective that must change.
8) What distracts us from God?
Genuine faith will at all times have certain commonalities, but our pursuit of those commonalities, rather than God himself, is a clear indication that we have veered off the path of faith and are putting our traditions first, rather than God. Christian tradition can provide us with valuable insights into the ways in which God’s people have tried to protect themselves from doctrinal error. At the same time, church centered tradition has also been both a most harmful mimic, and often a great hindrance to genuine unity. When Christian tradition is emphasized more than God Himself, it is a sure sign that we have begun to serve a god of our own creation, and not the genuine God of eternity.
Genuine faith will at all times have certain commonalities, but our pursuit of those commonalities, rather than God himself, is a clear indication that we have veered off the path of faith and are putting our traditions first, rather than God. Christian tradition can provide us with valuable insights into the ways in which God’s people have tried to protect themselves from doctrinal error. At the same time, church centered tradition has also been both a most harmful mimic, and often a great hindrance to genuine unity. When Christian tradition is emphasized more than God Himself, it is a sure sign that we have begun to serve a god of our own creation, and not the genuine God of eternity.
9) What is the proper role of worship?
Putting God first in our worship of Him is deeply satisfying on a personal level, but the proper goal of worship is God’s satisfaction with us, not our satisfaction with Him. God desires and requires His people to be God focused, not works, or organization, or church, or even sound doctrine focused. That is the eternal mission that God has provided for us, and it must start in our individual lives before we can communicate it to others.
Putting God first in our worship of Him is deeply satisfying on a personal level, but the proper goal of worship is God’s satisfaction with us, not our satisfaction with Him. God desires and requires His people to be God focused, not works, or organization, or church, or even sound doctrine focused. That is the eternal mission that God has provided for us, and it must start in our individual lives before we can communicate it to others.
10) How can we become more God-focused in our worship?
One of the greatest indicators that our worship together is God Centered, is revealed during the prayer which initiates our collective worship together. So often, in church, that prayer is formalized to the point where it has little meaning, and is entered into with little reverence. When we draw together to worship God, He must be our sole focus, and we must understand the great privilege that we are exercising by entering into His presence. That moment, though often repeated, has the greatest significance to our Christian lives. It reveals whether we come with the gratitude, humility, thankfulness, and assurance that can only be founded on God's Word, and is enlivened by His Spirit. Our rights to enter into His presence were granted by our Creator, purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, and are sealed in our daily lives by the Spirit of God. As such, our worship initiation prayers should never become commonplace or ordinary, and should precede all other church business when we gather together to worship God.
One of the greatest indicators that our worship together is God Centered, is revealed during the prayer which initiates our collective worship together. So often, in church, that prayer is formalized to the point where it has little meaning, and is entered into with little reverence. When we draw together to worship God, He must be our sole focus, and we must understand the great privilege that we are exercising by entering into His presence. That moment, though often repeated, has the greatest significance to our Christian lives. It reveals whether we come with the gratitude, humility, thankfulness, and assurance that can only be founded on God's Word, and is enlivened by His Spirit. Our rights to enter into His presence were granted by our Creator, purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, and are sealed in our daily lives by the Spirit of God. As such, our worship initiation prayers should never become commonplace or ordinary, and should precede all other church business when we gather together to worship God.
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