I have said these things to you, that in me you may
have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I
have overcome the world.
John 16:33
As I write this I think of an old man even now sitting at the side of
his dying wife. As her body fails he is there, holding her hand.
Tribulation. Death is a consequence of sin and this husband and wife are
feeling its pain. In the world you will have tribulation, Jesus says to each of them, but take heart! I have overcome the world!
How can Jesus look at his followers and one minute say to them, the hour is coming… when you will be scattered… (verse 32) and in the next tell them, I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. How can he say we will have peace and we will have tribulation?
We are reminded that this world is not our home. We are passing
through to the promised heavenly land and Jesus has overcome this world
so it will not be able to keep us from him. The husband’s tears for his
wife are real, but so is his hope in the knowledge that Jesus has
overcome the world.
What is the trial for you today? What is your tribulation? Have you
found the secret to peace, the knowledge that Christ has overcome the
world so no matter what your affliction you have a lasting hope? Christ
is victorious over sin and Satan! Christ is victorious over death and
Hell! Christ has promised eternal blessings to the adopted children of
God! Believer, have peace! Christ has overcome the world.
by
Chris Roberts
So you are a Bible believing Christian who wants to please and worship
God in spirit and in truth…but… You have a smartphone, an iPad, laptop, a
Netflix , podcast, and maybe game fly subscription . You also have a
steady social life online where you make opinions straighten things out
and explain things to others with your knowledge and intellect
. Maybe your passion for God isn’t really what you thought it was .
Maybe your worship isnt really anything worthy of the creator , maybe
it’s time to make a choice between Facebook/Twitter and Jesus.
The contemporary
church has fewer pews and more chairs, no more big
pulpits only movable podiums, and fewer choirs and more praise teams.
That’s cool. Things change. Change is good. But what happens when the
focus of worship is what changes?
More than likely most
churches have made strides to ‘keep up with the times’. No more church
programs or announcements, we have actual news reports. No more
wondering what the words to the songs are, there are lyrics. No more
having to find a seat close enough to see the preacher, there are huge
screens strategically located in front, left, and right of your
eye-line. There’s no longer a need for an introduction, you get to watch
a cool, short movie about this month’s sermon series. No need to bring
your actual Bible anymore, you have a pretty touchscreen device that
does not require you to flip one page.
Church has become cool.
Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a little fog coming out
while the worship team is up, having actual newscasters to report the
church happenings, or even a really dope stage setup and lighting. But
if all of that was taken away, could you still worship?
More
often than not, you sit in front of some type of screen for multiple
hours every day. Whether it be a smartphone, navigational system,
tablet, TV, or computer, our days revolve around these pieces of
technology more now than ever before. Children as young as 2-3 years old
know how to operate a cell phone and tablet without help. Gadgets have
become part of our daily lives, but is it now a requirement for our
daily worship?
How did people have church and truly experience a
move of God as they gathered together if they didn’t have a Facebook,
YouVersion, Twitter/Facebook, Notes, or YouTube? No one in the Bible had
any type of gadget to assist them in communion with God, yet they knew
Him. But how?
1. Want God.
No light, video, cool effect can
make you want God. That’s a condition of the heart. Jesus instructs us
to love God with all of our heart. The wants of our heart are the things
we seek. If it’s entertainment instead of worship, of course our
services will look more like a movie or concert while no one is truly
seeking God. If in our hearts we really want God, that’s what we go
after. (Jer. 29:13-14, Prov. 8:17, James 4:8)
2. Walk with God.
There are so many people throughout the Bible, yet only two people
“walked with God”: Noah and Enoch. These two men were used very
differently in the Bible. Noah built the ark to replenish the earth
after God destroyed it. Enoch only had children, walked with God, but
never died. But how amazing to live a life that didn’t include a great
feat like building an ark or living over hundreds of years, but to be
known for walking with God. Noah and Enoch didn’t have fancy technology
as a mediator for God. They just took time to have fellowship with Him.
Will people know you for your fellowship with God?
3. Wait on Him.
These little pieces of technology make everything happen so fast. Our
generation of believers feel as though God didn’t hear our prayer if He
hasn’t moved like we wanted in three days. We are so used to having
everything happen on our schedule. In Ps. 27:14, we are told to ‘Wait on
God’. He wouldn’t have told us to wait if we never had to. Do not think
God is Siri and has to answer just because you pressed the prayer
button. Know that God is always working things out for your good, so
just wait. While waiting, spend time to get to know Him better.
It is time for us to learn that our programs are not progress. What we need is His presence.- Tommy Tenney
We have gotten so caught up with how entertaining we can make our services that we never actually experience Him.
Challenge yourself within the next few weeks to pick up your Bible and
flip through the pages. Do you know the order of the books of the Bible?
Is your app handicapping you? Sing a song to God instead of immediately
plugging in your music player. God wants your worship not someone
else’s.
TO BE CONTINUED.........
adapted from HOWTOWHORSHIPGOD.COM
