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Who could blame him really? In a matter of days Job had lost his fortune. His
children had been suddenly taken from him. The pain from the boils that covered his
skin must have been unbearable. All of it; his health, wealth, and family was gone.
Job was not dead, but that was just a minor technicality. And so Job´s outburst is
understandable, for deep suffering isn´t only looking for the pain to end, but for an
answer to the question: ´Why me?´
´If I have walked with falsehood . . . and my foot has hastened after deceit, let Him
weigh me with accurate scales and let God know my integrity . . (Job 31 v 5-6) Oh,
that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me!
And the indictment which my adversary has written . . . I would bind it to myself like
a crown.´ (Job 31 v 35, 36b)
And how does God respond? He does not defend Himself. He does not explain
Himself. God chooses to reveal Himself.
´Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know
its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken
out of it . . .(Job 38 v 12-13) Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given
understanding to the mind? Who can count the clouds by wisdom, or tip the water
jars of the heavens?´ (Job 38 v 36-37)
When silence falls once again, Job finds that the answer to his suffering is not found
by asking: ´why´ but by knowing: ´Who.´ It is not found in questioning God´s
worth, but in seeing Him for who He is. God answers the problem of Job´s suffering
with the grand and wonderful mystery of His power and presence. Job himself says
as much:
´I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
(Job 42 v 2) I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You.
´ (Job 42 v 5)
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´The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.´ (Job
1 v 21)
Matt and Beth´s song ´Blessed Be Your Name´ focuses in on this scripture, and tries
to give worshippers a voice to respond to God with praise, even in the painful times
of life. Matt writes:
´I think we´ve received more personal testimony feedback from this song than any
other. I have come across some of the harshest life circumstances I´ve heard of as
people have emailed in their stories of how they´ve chosen to worship our amazing
God even in some of the hardest times of life. More than anything, this reminds me
of how much pain there is in the world, and about how important it is to be real,
honest and true (yet always remaining reverent) in the worshipping church.´
1. In this chapter of the book, we talked about worship ´that can never be
extinguished´ and then looked at the analogy of a fire needing heat, oxygen and fuel
to keep going. We can lose the ´heat´ in our worship by allowing the cares and
struggles of life to take our focus away from God. Essential ´oxygen´ can be cut off
when we don´t allow the Holy Spirit to take the role of lead worshipper in every
aspect of our lives; in church and outside of it. And finally, we can shut down our fire
´s ´fuel´ supply by not recognizing the revelation of God´s power and glory all
around us. How strongly is the fire of your worship burning right now? Could it be
fading in any way because of a lack of heat, oxygen or fuel? What steps can you take
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2. This chapter also brings up the issue of the two choices worshippers have in the
face of adversity: to challenge or question the worth of God or to meet Him in the
style of the lament Psalms; songs that combine the honesty of desperation with, ´an
underlying confidence and trust in God.´ Take a moment to read through a few
passages from the lament Psalms to see God´s model for authentic worship amidst
brokenness. Looking back at difficult times you may have experienced in the past or
may be experiencing now, what path have you chosen? Has worship been quenched
by the pain of life´s circumstances? Has honest desperation given root to bitterness?
Take a moment to reflect and, if necessary, resolve to make changes for the future.
3. Chapter One referenced Romans 1:20 where Paul writes that God´s divine nature
is clear in the very fabric of this creation we inhabit. There are times when we can be
so busy with the trials and ´busyness´ of life that we can miss the signs all around
us pointing us on towards our God. Consider the places where God may be ´hidden´
in your life. You may want to ask God to remove the blinders that may be hampering
you from seeing His goodness and presence around you.
Prayer
God, our Creator, Father, and King, please allow me the grace to see Your glory,
power, presence and love even amidst life´s darkest hours. May these glimpses of
Your unchanging worth continually feed a fire of Your worship in us that can never be
extinguished.
´And one called out to another and said ´Holy, Holy, Holy . . .´
The intensity of the opening verses in Isaiah 6 build one upon the other, a steady
drumbeat marking the march towards the moment of realization. Whenever that
moment took place, it becomes clear that, in verse 5, reality came crashing down
around the prophet -
´Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the
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midst of a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.´
There are moments in worship when we must, like Isaiah, declare that we are
undone, that we are ruined, that the ways in which we still cling to what Paul called
the ´old self´, must be destroyed if we are to be in the presence of our King.
Chapter 6 could have ended with the doomed finality of Isaiah´s own words. But
God, in his unknowable, unfathomable love and mercy grants us a fresh, new start -
´Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand . . . He
touched my mouth with it and said, ´Behold, this has touched your lips and your
iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.´
Undone worshippers do the hard work of turning the light of God´s glory into the
corners and crevices of their souls, to find any way that may be unpleasing to the
Lord. When called, they humbly return to the realization that they cannot stand on
their own, that they must be cleansed, regardless of the cost. They realize that, only
once they have been undone by God´s holiness and glory and restored by His love,
can they begin again and fully respond to His call -
Scripture Review
Scripture tells an amazing story of a God searching, seeking, and hungering after a
relationship with humanity. In that story there are moments of revelation in which
the Lord bursts through time and space and meets with men and women, young and
old, rich and poor to point them towards Him. Some are healed, some are comforted,
and some are undone. Below are a few passages to read, consider or pray through as
an individual or as a group. They are stories of undone worshippers throughout
scripture. They are individuals who have found themselves broken in the presence of
the Lord and yet, in that brokenness, found grace, hope, empowerment and promise
for the future.
Saul/Paul: Acts 9 verses 1-17
King David: Psalm 51
Thief on the Cross: Luke 23 verses 35-43
Peter: Luke 5 verses 1-11
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1. Psalm 139 verses 23-24 is a passage that strikes at the heart of what it means to
be an undone worshipper. David decides that he wants so much of God that he asks
God to search his heart for any hint of sin. Undone worshippers invite God to point
out any sin in their lives because they knew that this was the only pathway to true
and unhindered worship. Consider whether or not you need to move from being a
reactive to a proactive undone worshipper. Is it time to move on from waiting for God
to point out ways you need to change and begin to tenaciously pursue holiness?
2. This chapter of the book highlights individuals from Scripture who seemed to be
set aside for a period of time while God communicated painful but important lessons.
We also looked at a difficult yet fruitful season in Matt´s life when God drew him
away from leading worship to help him refocus on the important essentials at the
center of God´s heart. Take a few moments to look back at the times you have felt
´sidelined´ by God. Perhaps that is taking place right now. Is there anything that
God may have been or is trying to say to you? While it is certainly not true that God
is disciplining us every time we undergo hardship, could it be possible that you need
to reframe your idea of how God may be trying to work in and speak to you in these
challenging times?
They had seen him, only five days earlier, riding into Jerusalem hailed as the King of
the Jews.
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This is not the way it was supposed to end. A coronation had turned into an
execution. For his followers who could muster the strength to stay and watch the
man in whom they had placed their faith, love and devotion hang from a cross, the
pain of loss and the confusion at what had gone wrong must have been a potent
combination.
He´s dying.
Our King. Our Answer. Our Redemption.
The One clothed in blinding Majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration, now having his
clothes fought over by Roman guards.
The One who had commanded the sea to rest and demons to flee, now struggling to
take each breath.
The One who summoned Lazarus from the tomb with a great shout, now silently
teetering on the edge of death.
It makes no sense. God´s Son had stepped into time to become one of us. But surely
not to be spat upon, laughed at, tortured and die.
Jesus chose to let go of the majesty, glory and power that were his in heaven. He
chose to put on flesh and blood - flesh that could be torn apart and blood that could
be spilled. But why?
Reckless, passionate, unreasonable love. And undignified worshippers live and love
without reservation because they have received so lavish a love as this.
Scripture Review
Scripture is filled with the worship of the undignified. These men and women show a
willingness to let go of their reputations, resources, and even their own lives to give
honor to God. They have realized that life is full of blessings, but that none can
compare to the matchless worth of God. Below are just a few examples of individuals
who were able to cut themselves free from the cords that entangle and keep us from
true undignified worship:
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2. Before we can become undignified in our worship, we must cut ourselves free from
those things that keep us from ´dancing as David danced.´ Take a few moments to
contemplate whether or not there is anything in your life that you may classify as
´too precious´ to give up to God. It may be fear of what others will think, fear of
handing over finances to God, or it may be something different altogether. Is there a
particular area in which God has been calling you to come clean with Him so that you
can fully enter into an open and uninhibited worship of Him in your life?
3. In this chapter, we are reminded that the act of being undignified in our worship
must come from and overflow of love and adoration for God. For lead worshippers
this may mean not getting caught up in the ´performance´ aspect of being on stage
in front of others. But those of us who don´t dare step behind a microphone or play a
musical instrument can also fall prey to misguided motives. How many of us have
given, spoken or served ´for God´ when it was really more about ourselves. Think
and reflect on the motivation behind your own ´acts of worship´ and ask God to
speak to your heart about this matter.
She may have been as surprised as anyone in the room that evening as she pulled
the alabaster jar out from underneath her cloak and broke it over Jesus´ feet.
After all, what she was about to do would cost her dearly.
It would cost her financially. The value of the nard inside the jar was equal to the
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It would cost her personally. Scholars tell us that the ointment was most likely a
family heirloom passed down from mother to daughter, from generation to
generation. Did she think about the stories she had heard as a child about the
mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers before her that had cherished the
flask of precious oil?
It would cost her reputation. We´re not sure if she knew anyone at the party, but
Mark leads us to believe that she wasn´t on the guest list. And what did she expect
the reaction to be when she, a woman, interrupts dinner and anoints this teacher
with so costly a gift?
Yet, she was compelled to sacrifice to demonstrate His worth. Mark doesn´t explain
the reasons behind her devotion. But maybe that´s the point. A gift like this doesn´t
have a reason behind it. Logic, as it has a habit of doing, gave way to love.
Sometimes worship doesn´t really make much sense to those ´looking on´ and
Simon´s other guests that evening were no exception. They were used to doing
things the way they had always been done. They were caught off guard. Faced with a
lavish and unpredictable act of adoration, they said:
´How impractical!´
´What a waste!´
But Christ loved the extravagance of her gift. And maybe He saw in it, a faint
reflection of what He was about to do.
Scripture Study
Oftentimes life´s most moving moments come from the unpredictable gifts of love
we receive from those around us. Perhaps it´s a gift from your spouse given ´just
because´ they love you or a homemade card from your son or daughter, letting you
know how much you mean to him or her. The unpredictable act of love is so powerful
because it steps outside of our expectations and catches us off guard. It tells us that
the giver is not satisfied with showing his or her love in the ´usual ways.´
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The Bible tells story after story of men and women who threw caution to the wind
and brought offerings in new, exciting and unpredictable ways to God. For them it
wasn´t about what was expected. It wasn´t about measuring out love in
´appropriate´ amounts. It was about responding to God´s love and glory with a
´new song´ - a lavish and fresh act of worship. Below are a few stories from
Scripture that paint a picture of a worship that is truly unpredictable in ways both big
and small:
1. It may be helpful to, as we did briefly in this chapter, reflect upon the church in
Ephesus in Revelation 2. Matt wrote that the church there ´seemed out of love. She
is enduring hardship, yet no longer enjoying Jesus.´ Are we still enjoying Jesus? Or
have we, over the course of life, forgotten the fire of our spiritual youth? What can
we do to rekindle that flame of passionate and unpredictable worship that we once
had?
2. The chapter highlights the vital role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the
unpredictable worshipper. It is the Holy Spirit that guides our worship, whether it is
in song or in life. Are we listening to His voice or have we deadened our ears,
assuming that we ´know what he expects´ from our worship?
3. One sign of a worshipping heart is that it´s always looking to bless God with the
gifts it has been given. Sometimes, however, even the best of intentions can be
twisted into a burden and we can find ourselves feeling pressured to do it all alone.
In this chapter, we discussed the fact that when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead our
worship, we come to realize that we were never intended to do it alone. Instead, the
Holy Spirit leads, enlivens and directs our gifts to be used to their fullest capacity of
God´s glory. Take a moment to think about whether worship, in whatever form that
may take, has become centered on your own ´striving´ to ´make it happen.´
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´Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord´s
disciples.´
Acts 9:1
´Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by
proving that Jesus is the Christ.´
Acts 9:22
Now any student of the Bible will tell you that the original text wasn´t written with
chapters and verses attached. Still, it´s pretty strange to think that the Saul that
made a name for himself by breathing out ´murderous threats´ against followers of
Christ had begun to, only twenty-one verses later, breathe out the truth of Jesus
revealed to humanity. The Jews that Acts mentioned were surely baffled by the
wondrous mystery of Jesus´ true identity. But, it wouldn´t be a surprise if they were
also baffled by who God had chosen to deliver the message to them?
Saul?
The persecutor had become a preacher. How could something like this happen?
Revelation.
Transformation.
He wasn´t on any leisurely horseback ride that evening as he made his way down
the road to Damascus. He was a man with a mission - a mission from the high priest
himself. He was on his way to do what he did best - round up Christians.
´As he [Saul] neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed
around him. He fell to the ground´ Acts 9 v 3-4a
´[He] heard a voice say to him, ´Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?´ Acts 9 v 4
Saul had watched Stephen die as he cried to heaven. He had built a reputation on
the backs of persecuted Christians. He had most certainly heard of this Jesus. But
now he had come face to face.
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He had meant to spend his life snuffing out the body of Christ. Instead, through a
moment of intimate and powerful revelation of the person of Jesus, he ended up
giving up his own body - his own life - for the name of his Saviour.
Unveiled worshippers are men and women who have themselves ´fallen to the
ground´ when faced with the glory of God. Still, as they listen to the whirlwind of
power, they can hear the sweet whispers of love and intimacy. They have seen the
love of the cross and the power of the empty tomb. And, born from that life of
worship, unveiled worshippers become, quite simply, different. Rooted in their Lord,
they shine with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self control.
They shine forth with the humble and powerful grace they have seen for themselves.
Scripture Review
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. And still, He is a God of change.
Scripture tells the story of the great unveiling of God´s plan for humanity. On a
much smaller scale, the Bible is full of the smaller changes, the changes that happen
one life at a time. These are often the story of unveiled worshippers: those who
encounter God´s love and power and emerge as new creations.
1. This chapter discusses the two sides of the unveiled worshipper: revelation and
transformation. Second Corinthians 3:18 talks about the fact that, when faced with
God´s glory, we are being transformed into Christ´s likeness. Perhaps it´s time to
ask ourselves, are we still being transformed? Are we increasing in our love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
(Galatians 5:22-23) If not, what does that say about our need to possibly ´re-
encounter´ God?
2. Bowing is a posture of the body and of the heart. The unveiled worshipper is
warmed by God´s intimacy, but, at the same time, overwhelmed by His glory. Simply
put: when was the last time you were bowled over by God? It is important to
recognize that these encounters are many times God-initiated and that we can´t
´live on the mountaintop,´ but are we missing the opening of heaven and a glimpse
of God´s grandeur in the songs that we sing, the Scripture that we read, the nature
that surrounds us and the relationships in our lives? Reflect upon whether or not it´s
time to at least pray that God would overwhelm you again.
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3. The unveiled worshipper is, in many ways, a missionary worshipper. He or she has
encountered God and the subsequent transformation is, like Moses´ radiating face,
visible for all to see. Is our worship missionary in this way? Do we let the light of
God, shining brightly upon us in worship, reflect to those around us? Do we ever get
caught up in the way in which worship makes us feel that we forget that we are
meant to spread the overflowing presence of God that He showers on us?
4. Quoting Revelation 3:20, Matt goes a bit deeper and describes the intimate nature
of the Greek word deipnon or eat. He writes that this meal was ´not a hurried event
. . . Jesus is saying in effect, ´Let me deeper into your life. I want to come and eat
with you, to be close to you. I am not calling you just to be a waiter at the table,
serving Me as I eat. I´m calling you to sit down with Me and for us to eat together.´´
Has our worship become hurried? Are we afraid to allow the words that we sing to go
deep into our soul? Are we more comfortable with a ´drive through´ encounter with
God than we are with the ´deipnon´ he is asking for? Is it time to ask God for the
strength, patience, and discipline to sit, worship, wait and listen?
A crowd of thousands.
They had ruined King Nebuchadnezzar´s party by not playing by the rules. And the
rules were pretty simple: When the music plays, you fall down and worship my new
ninety-foot high golden statue. If you´re still standing, we burn you alive.
Scripture paints a powerful portrait of their defiance. But what don´t we see?
Standing alone, surrounded by a sea of bowed worshippers, their minds must have
been racing.
What about my life´s work? My reputation? After all, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego weren´t wide-eyed idealistic twenty one year olds. These men had spent
their life building a career in public office - placed there by Nebuchadnezzar himself.
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And what about my life itself? What kind of pain awaits a man being burned alive?
Unstoppable.
The story crescendos with God´s amazing act of miraculous deliverance in the fiery
furnace. But their speech, midway through Daniel Chapter 3, to a furious king makes
it clear that these men were ready to pay any price for the name of God.
´If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from
it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want
you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold
you have set up.´
Even if.
This is the song of the Unstoppable Worshipper.
Even if I am persecuted.
Even if I am laughed at.
Even if I am abandoned.
Even if God doesn´t deliver me.
Even if I am killed.
Even if.
Scripture Review
I Samuel 17 David, a boy not able to fit into armor, fights and kills the mightiest
Philistine warrior
Luke 2:8-20 Shepherds, whose testimony wasn´t even admissible in court, are
among the first to be trusted with the Good News of Christ´s birth
John 20:10-18 Jesus appears for the first time after his resurrection to Mary
Magdalene, who, as a woman, and like the shepherds above, did not have the social
status to even testify in a court case
Exodus 3 God nominates Moses, a former prince suspected of murder with a speech
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impediment who has spent the last several years as a shepherd in the wilderness, to
go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites
Matthew 14 describes a day that is about as far from ´normal´ as you could imagine.
He begins the day by learning about the gruesome execution of his cousin John the
Baptist. Trying to escape to mourn the loss, Jesus gets sidetracked by thousands of
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desperate men, women and children - all wanting to see and be touched by this Man
they had heard so much about. He ends up spending hours - into the early evening -
healing and performing miracles for the gathered crowd. When the disciples begin to
get nervous about the lack of dining options for the masses of people, Jesus takes it
upon Himself to cater the entire event, multiplying fives loaves and two fishes to feed
all of the thousands of individuals gathered. It is later that very evening when the
disciples, undoubtedly still chattering on about the events that had taken place
earlier in the day, saw a solitary figure approaching them. Not too strange - until you
realize that they were in a boat and the person approaching them was not! It was
Jesus, walking on the very sea itself.
And still, if you´re not careful, you may miss v. 22 and 23.
´Immediately, He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the
other side, while he sent the crowds away. After he sent the crowds away, He went
up to a mountain by Himself to pray, and when it was evening, He was there alone.´
Somewhere between taking a meal for two and turning it into a meal for thousands
and taking a stroll on a tumultuous sea, Jesus stopped to pray. And He did it alone.
Actually, it´s pretty clear that Matthew wants us to know a couple of things. He
mentions twice that Jesus sent the crowds away and again repeats himself by telling
us twice that Jesus was alone as He prayed.
Word travels fast in a crowd, and by the time the last bit of fish and last hunk of
bread was handed out, it wouldn´t be surprising if the entire crowd knew the
miraculous recipe Jesus used to create that meal. The air must have been electric.
He stopped it all.
To be alone.
An Unnoticed Worshipper is one who is willing, even when things are ´going well,´ to
step back and check in with God. He or she realizes that the key to ministry is not
what goes on amongst the crowds, but what goes on before the King. The Unnoticed
Worshipper is relentless in his or her pursuit of the pleasure of only One. He or she
knows that the fame, accolades, and praises of humanity pale in comparison to the
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chance to hear ´well done, good and faithful servant´ and that the wellspring of a
ministry that is powerful, honest, and full of integrity is a heart focused on being
´known´ by God alone.
Scripture Review:
One of the tremendous things about having the Bible is that God Himself inspires it.
To put a finer point on it, we get a history lesson from God´s own perspective. In so
doing, He gives us glimpses into the lives and deeds of all kinds of worship. Some
worship, like David´s ´undignified dance´ is there for the entire world to see. At
other times worship goes unnoticed by most, but remains dear to the heart of the
Father.
1. The opening story in this study highlighted a busy Jesus, remembering to simplify
His life back down to just Him and His Father, right in the middle of a packed day.
One famous Christian quote says something to the effect that ´I´m too busy, not to
pray.´ Take a moment to reflect on whether or not a busy schedule, even if it is busy
with ´God stuff´ has taken your attention away from the Lord.
2. If you are currently serving in your local church, how do you feel when someone
else is serving in your place? In this chapter, Matt spoke quite directly to worship
leaders and musicians. If you find yourself there, how do you feel when someone
else is playing or leading worship? Perhaps you are a speaker or group leader. How
do you feel when another person is doing what you do? Regardless of your area of
service, are you able to enter in and meet with God, or do you find yourself
evaluating what this other person is doing and how you would do it better? Has
service of God become more about who´s doing what and how they´re doing it,
rather than about God Himself?
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No one would have noticed if he had just ignored the voice he heard that day.
The old man had been promised a son, and from that son a nation. So many years.
So many tears.
And now this? Sacrifice what God has promised? Murder the good that was to come?
Kill the hope once and for all? Take the life of his own son?
The Bible doesn´t give us much detail about what Abraham was going through as he
spent three days marching through the wilderness to find the place where the
sacrifice would take place. Was it agony to see his very own son laughing and eating
around the campfire each evening? Was there a moment - were there a thousand
moments - when Abraham almost called the whole thing off and headed back home
to start this nation he had been promised? Did he despise the setting of the sun each
day, knowing that it brought him one day closer to losing - in the worst imaginable
way - his son?
The story ends well, with the Lord stopping Abraham at the last moment. Still, any
honest reader has to ask: What drives a man to do such a thing?
Obedience.
Simple, undivided obedience.
Abraham´s dedication to his Lord would not be divided, even when those questions,
those ´distractions´ were good, noble, even Godly. God had spoken and Abraham
must obey.
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Passover week had not worked out the way the disciples had imagined it would. It
was supposed to be a coronation of a king, the initiation of the Kingdom of God.
Israel would be restored.
Again.
Holes in his hands and a gaping wound at his side. But there he was still. Alive.
Alive again.
So who could blame the disciples for springing the question on Jesus?
So when they met together, they asked him, ´Lord, are you at this time going to
restore the kingdom to Israel?´
He said to them: ´It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by
his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth.´
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from
their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men
dressed in white stood beside them. ´Men of Galilee,´ they said, ´why do you stand
here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into
heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.´
(Acts 1 v 6-11)
We read Jesus´ answer to the disciples with a bit of distance now. Two thousand
years to be exact. The expectation of Passover week, the pain of Calvary, the joy of
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´Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?´
The distance may mask a bit of the emotion that was carried in their question that
day. But we know something of how they must have felt. For we feel it as well.
We know that the world is not yet as it should be - that things are not yet set right.
´The details are up to the Father. Wait for the Holy Spirit and then go.´
Never resting in our knowledge of Him, but pushing to see Him more fully in this life.
Never accepting that the love of God´s Kingdom cannot change the injustice and
pain in our world.
´Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror- then we shall see face to face. Now
I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.´ I Corinthians 13 v
12
Scripture Review
In Revelation, the story of Scripture is finally satisfied. The Lord returns and Creation
is reborn - united with the Creator in perfect love and peace. The passages below
highlight that story - a story of desiring more of God and acting to bring His Kingdom
to earth.
Romans 8v18-25
Humanity and all of creation crying out to be satisfied
Matthew 6v9-13
Jesus, asked how we should pray, responds with a prayer not to wait for the Kingdom
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1. In this chapter Matt writes of the Unsatisfied Worshipper´s desire to know more of
God - to push beyond what he or she know of Him now. Take a moment to reflect
upon your own desire to know more of God. In any relationship, an individual can
grow used to the idea that he or she knows someone else ´enough.´ That is often
the time when things grow stale. Is there a possibility that you have grown used to
what you know about God and have lost the desire to see more of Him revealed to
you? Have you become satisfied?
2. Throughout the Unquenchable Worshipper we have read about the intimate
connection between worship and action. Here again, we have seen that the
Unsatisfied Worshipper is one that is not only unsatisfied in his or her pursuit of God,
but in his or her pursuit of seeing His Kingdom come here among us. In a culture
that is full of news of devastation and pain 24 hours a day, we can grow deadened to
the suffering and injustice all around us. Consider your own sense of ´holy
unsatisfaction´ with the current state of affairs in your own neighborhood, nation
and world.
3. The Unsatisfied Worshipper is aware that he or she is broken -´healed in part, yet
still so fragile.´ This realization calls us back to dependence on God who has
´brought us safe this far.´ Though still broken, he or she looks back on what God has
done this far and draws upon His faithfulness for strength to persevere. There is a
tendency for all Christians to stop pushing ourselves to be fully healed - to feel that
we have done enough. While there doesn´t always need to be ´something wrong,´ it
is helpful to maintain a healthy sense of being unsatisfied with where we are and to
demonstrate a ´longing to be whole.´ Reflect on what God has done to bring you
towards wholeness thus far and prayerfully consider what he may still desire to do in
your life to bring you closer to him.
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Chapter 10 - THE UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPPER STUDY GUIDE SERIES
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Chapter 10 - The Unending Worshipper
In prison. Alone. Rumors of his own execution swirling, if not amongst the guards that
watched him twenty-four hours a day, then, at the very least, in his own mind.
With death a very real possibility, he ponders a question that lingers in the back of our
minds-
These are the ´big questions´ that we bury underneath grocery lists, car repairs and
office deadlines. These are the questions that we never stop - or avoid stopping - to
ask.
Paul´s answer?
To live? Christ.
To die? Gain.
Paul, in two short phrases, sums up what it means to live this kind of ´in-between
existence´ we call Christianity. We are to live in eager expectation of our heavenly
inheritance (Philippians 3 v 20-21) while, at the same time, being firmly fixed on
ensuring that ´Your Kingdom comes, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.´
(Matthew 6 v10)
If Paul is released He will continue to live ´in Christ,´ not stopping for a moment his
life of worship through obedience, intimacy, adoration, and proclamation. To live is
Christ.
If Paul is executed He will ´see face to face´ and ´know fully´ (I Corinthians 13 v 12)
the presence of Christ. Faced with the unspeakable Glory of God, Paul will forever sing
and exist to praise Him. To die is gain.
And there is the Unending Worshipper. Like Paul, they understand that worship does
not end.