GOD'S WAYS

Moffatt translates Isaiah 45.9-11:

Woe to the man who quarrels with his Maker --

man a mere potsherd of the earth!

Does the clay ask the potter what he is doing?

does what he makes tell him that he is powerless?

[Woe to him who asks his father what he is begetting,

or his mother what she is bearing!]

And would you question me about the future?

Would you dictate to me about my work?

says the Eternal, Israel's maker, Israel's Majestic One.

I think the word "rebuke" used in Matthew 16.22 is interesting. In the Greek New Testament it's the infinite aorist for epitimao and means: to tax with a fault, to berate, chide, censure severely, to REPROVE. It certainly doesn't indicate that Peter approved of Our Lord's ways. In fact the admonishment by Peter of our Saviour is quite the opposite of acceptance, approval, and worship.

In the haughtiness of the flesh man has sought to quarrel with God, to doubtfully question Him, to sit in judgement of Him - and even try to forbid God to do certain things. Sometimes man will dictate to God what he wants Him to do - calling such foolishness "commanding faith", "Sonship privilege" - or some other acerebral carnality. Thank God, He's purging this foolishness from His people so that they can truly worship Him in all His ways.

Now, worship IS NOT trying to talk God into pleasing us, but to the end that we completely surrender so that we please Him . Then quarreling ceases and we rejoice in His will and proclaim to others the blessedness of total surrender to HIS WAY!

Of course, worship includes believing: "...Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed signs before the people, and THEY BELIEVED. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and WORSHIPPED (Exodus 4.30-31, NIV, my emphasis). They saw, heard, and believed - and they worshipped.

No great change had, as yet, taken place in Israel. They had only been assured that God had heard their prayer and that He was going to deliver them. They bowed down and worshipped because they believed the report . True worship in spirit and truth presupposes belief in God, and you cannot approve and accept His ways unless you believe in Him.

"...he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11.6, NASB). Believe that HE IS what? First, HE IS GOD, and there is none other; then that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him. BUT - our worship doesn't begin with rewards! It begins with HIS PERSON, Who is IN HIMSELF, ALMIGHTY GOD! Then we believe His word is true, and in believing - WE WORSHIP!!

As in Israel of the "old" covenant, God has spoken great and precious truth to His people in this day, calling out a people to Himself, so that He might process them and purify them (with no carnal help) and bring them into the fullness of HIS life. We see very little outward change yet, but we can believe the truth He reveals, and because we believe we can WORSHIP - approving all the ways which bring us into HIS REALITY.

"...Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe his prophets and you shall prosper". (2 Chronicles 20.20). Paul says, by the Holy Spirit, at Acts 24.14, "...I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets." (NIV).

I WORSHIP! I BELIEVE! The religiosi of that day, devout Jews, no doubt, called "the way" a "sect" (Greek: airesis : heresy) and they could not approve of the Spirit's teaching. Therefore they couldn't approve of the God of that Way.

Often, in this day, God uncovers precious truth long hidden in the law and the prophets, and this so staggers the minds of men that they call it heresy and blasphemy - condemning the prophet through whom the Holy Spirit works. BUT - God does have HIS BELIEVERS, and they are worshipping Him in the revelation of His ways.

Chapter 9 of John's gospel tells a story well worth thinking on - not only for the miracle of the blind man receiving his sight - but for the effect that his healing had on the inner man. He'd been blind from birth, Jesus gave him sight, and all the man could report to questioning religious zealots was, "One thing I DO know. I was blind but NOW I SEE ". He was speaking of his physical blindness and sight, of course. His spiritual blindness had never entered his mind.

Jesus heard that the Pharisees had thrown him out of the synagogue, and when He found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?"

"Who is he, sir?", the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in him."

Jesus said, "You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."

Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshipped Him.

That's all it took for the man to believe. A PERSONAL encounter with the Christ and a revelation: "You have now seen him and he's speaking to you". Immediately HE BELIEVED AND HE WORSHIPPED!

"And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you:' then tell them, 'It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes, when he struck down the Egyptians.' Then the people bowed down and worshipped." (Exodus 12.26-27, NIV).

Just as soon as the people understood the WAY of God in their deliverance - the HOW of it - they responded in spontaneous worship. They accepted (approved) and rejoiced in HIS WAY OF WORKING.

When we ponder the grace of God, of His unending love, and the whole stupendous, glorious plan of redemption, we praise Him. Then, as we consider the ways in which He works out this revelation, we WORSHIP Him yet more. We can rejoice in His grace, but as His grace becomes more experiential, it takes on a greater depth, a new reality, and the result is WORSHIP. We recall how He has led us, especially when we didn't understand our own feelings, our deep longings; then we see how He used all these steps, these testings, His WAYS, to draw us to Himself. How can we not worship Him and say with the Psalmist:

The LORD is righteous in all His ways

and loving toward all he has made.

(Psalm 145.17, NIV)

It naturally follows that having accepted and rejoiced in God's ways, you want others to know about the wonders of worship, but if you're resisting His dealings in your life you're not apt to declare His marvelous worship. This lip service that isn't backed up by His life manifest in man is a common ailment in churchdom, and is responsible for much of the weakness of modern pseudo-worship. Jesus said, "These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men" (Matthew 15.8-9. See also Isaiah 29.13).

Men will profess to serve and worship the LORD, call solemn assemblies in lofty gaudily-spired cathedrals, where they perform vain rituals, and useless ceremonies, "time-honored" forms of worship, which teach them hollow, worthless traditions and misinterpretations of scripture. They can't approve of God's ways, so they substitute their own. IN VAIN they worship, because they have bound themselves in the traditions and commandments of men.

TEACHING THE TRUTH IS A LIFE-GIVING PART OF WORSHIP and worship includes OBEDIENCE:

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"

"Neither", he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence (worship), and asked him, "What message does my LORD have for his servant?"

The commander of the LORD'S army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." AND JOSHUA DID SO.

(Joshua 5.13-15, NIV)

God's commands must be obeyed. I think Joshua expected some profound revelation of a strategy that would guarantee a quick and easy campaign, but he didn't hesitate to obey what may have appeared as rather trivial in light of the great conquest he'd undertaken.

The meaning of the Hebrew word used for the English "to obey" is "to hear, to submit, to hearken and diligently obey", and "to readily submit one's self." The Greek word used in the New Testament corresponds to the Hebrew and means: submissive hearkening, i.e. a hearing that results in doing . To worship the LORD in Spirit and truth means to listen to what He has to say, and then give diligent obedience.

Joshua believed that the man standing before him with drawn sword was commander of the LORD'S hosts, so he fell down, abased himself, and worshipped. "What's the command? What's the word for me?" Receiving the answer he immediately obeyed.

Paul had a tremendous encounter with the LORD on the way to Damascus. A light shone from heaven, and it knocked Paul to the ground. Although it isn't specifically stated there was doubtless worship involved,because Paul addressed Him as "LORD" and asked, "LORD, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9.6). That's not passive lipservice! It's readiness to obey. At Luke 6.46 we read that Jesus asked, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord', and do not the things which I say?" He said at another place, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7.21, NASB).

To fall face down on the ground before Him and call him "LORD" is indeed an act of worship - yet such physical and vocal acts are vain if the worship in Spirit and truth is lacking -- and obedience must follow . If we accept and approve of His ways (and commands) we are sure to render obedience! Not a slavish, pouting obedience - but a joyous obedience in expression of our adoration and worship.

(A brief digression: Have you perhaps heard a witness say "I'm just holding on to my salvation and trying to get through this life - and it's hard, very hard, to hold on"? It's perhaps time for such a witness to let go and let God hold on to him. Let the witness worship, and obey by casting all care on Him, taking no anxious thought for the morrow.)

Poor old Job! So many commiserate concerning Job and his catastrophic visitations. But Job knew from whom came testing, and when the messengers kept reporting tragedy after tragedy he didn't count the cost. He lost cattle, sheep, camels, and even his servants. Then he lost his sons and his daughters. Every worldly "good" except his wife was swept away in a brief moment of time. BUT --

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

May the name of the LORD be praised."

In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrong doing.

(Job 12.20-22, NIV)

This reaction to God's dealings provides us with a real challenge today. Though "poor old Job" lost everything - tore his clothing, shaved his head, and didn't try to hide his grief, he didn't "cover up" and pretend that everything was okay, but showed his pain clearly according to the custom of the day. But even in this agony of spirit, soul and body, he fell to the ground, abased himself before the Almighty, and HE WORSHIPPED.

Job accepted all of God's ways and didn't charge God with vanity. He didn't complain that God was being too "tough" on him and that he just couldn't "hold on" any longer, but confessed:

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

May the name of the LORD be praised".

i.e. "For all this I will praise the LORD and approve of what He does!!"

God uses all kinds of pressures (often translated "tribulations") and situations in our growth and development. We can resist them and suffer - becoming stunted and distorted - or we can accept them from HIS hand, worship Him for all that He does - and find that it not only redounds to His praise, but is marvelously worked to our good.

How often in our journey through the days God has lent us have we had to endure the contrary winds of the world, the contumely of proud man and the myriad burning burdens flesh is heir to? Everything may seem to work against us - then in our desperation we finally humble ourselves before HIM - worship Him - and find He imparts inner peace that shuts out the fear and anxiety - and the world cannot take that peace away!!

When He lives within, we are going to worship Him. If it seems God is remote and far off in heaven sitting on a throne, there will be a vagueness in worship and it will lack the intimate vitality that gives abundant life. But when He dwells in the heart by faith there can be daily, on-going communion -- a worship which defies expression in man's all too feeble words and phrases.

It's strange that we try to tell others to worship and serve our God, while we ourselves know so little of how to worship. I believe that these present processings, testings, and purifyings are being used to bring us to that place where we APPROVE OF ALL THE WAYS OF THE LORD. Then we can worship in pure "spirit and truth" - bringing joy to the heart of our Creator as well as peace and satisfaction to us.

Regardless of what the future holds, let's face it with a heart committed to WORSHIP GOD - believing, witnessing, obeying, and confessing, regardless of what may befall.

And with "poor old Job" let us proclaim, "...May the name of the LORD be praised!"

A P O L O G I A

The writer is not constrained to make a defense of the words of the LIVING GOD, but will here, once again, declare the Saviour's mercy and grace - not a "SECOND CHANCE" - because our Father recognizes NO first, second or third "chance" - only Christ in us, the hope and confident expectation of Glory -- GOD'S HOPE AND EXPECTATION.

There are those who see nothing but death, misery and unending torture for 99% of God's creation. Some of these have told the writer that justice requires God to condemn that 99% of His creation to "Hell" for "eternity" but all through the sacred written record God declares His intention of saving ALL His creation. There is neither time nor space to delve into this miracle here - even if the writer was so inclined.

The reader is commended to the Gospel of Jesus Christ which we call "Epistle to the Romans". Given by the Holy Spirit's unction, using Paul the Apostle as amanuensis, it declares the best news ever received by creation. A smattering of those glad tidings will be dealt with here. Let the reader whose heart is open to receive the message of life rejoice, and search further as the LORD directs.

"...God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. MUCH MORE then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His LIFE...Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to ALL men, because ALL sinned...therefore as through one man's offense judgement came to ALL men, resulting in condemnation, EVEN SO through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to ALL men, resulting in justification of life." (Romans 5.8-11, 18, NKJV, my emphasis).

"But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by one man's offense many died, MUCH MORE the grace of God and the gift by grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many." (Romans 5.15, NKJV, my emphasis).

The writer deems it interesting to observe that ALL of Christendom readily acknowledges that by one man, and by that man's offense, death fell upon ALL men. But not many of those same Christians can accept the fact, a glorious miracle, that more, MUCH MORE, the grace of God shall abound to ALL men. That one man's offence could cause such devastation of humankind, because death passed upon ALL men, doesn't provoke an argument from the elite of churchdom. "Isn't the evidence all around us?", they ask.

But when one man, Jesus Christ, releases the unbounded flow of God's grace, through His obedience to the will of God - people will struggle mightily in unbelief. They harden their hearts and stiffen their necks, and will NOT approve of the fact that the sin and inborn iniquity of ALL men has been dealt with, and will be purged from creation by God's Sovereign will.

There is MUCH MORE to be discussed here. For the FREE GIFT isn't the same as the offense. Read and receive. ONE ACT of disobedience brought judgement and condemnation - and by the time the FREE GIFT arrived in God's timely plan and purpose there was MUCH MORE than the one offense to cover and deal with -- a multitude of sins. So, how MUCH GREATER is the free gift able to go beyond ALL sin and secure the victory over death, until ALL are endowed with grace and quickened by HIS LIFE!!

"For if by one mans's offense death reigned through the one, MUCH MORE those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in LIFE through the ONE, Jesus Christ" (Romans 5.17, NKJV, my emphasis). Surely, there's no need to describe to what extent death has reigned - in the physical, soulish, and spiritual existence of man. We need but take note of the depth of despair in the unknowing world. But there is a realm which is greater in its dominion, as we MUCH MORE reign with HIS LIFE in us. Death can't hold its prey, because HIS LIFE has overcome death and HE IS LORD, both of the dead and the living. HE has the keys to death and Hades, and when He opens the gates of death ALL the captives will be free, and come forth into HIS LIFE.

"...where sin abounded, GRACE abounded MUCH MORE". (Romans 5.20, NKJV, my emphasis).

KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS!