A Heart Prepared, Opened, & Changed

In picking up from my last log, we find the Holy Spirit leading Paul and his missionary band to the city of Philippi. Paul’s method of evangelism was to first go to the Jewish synagogue of the city and reason with the Jewish congregation concerning the Scripture. In Thessalonica he spent three Sabbath days in the synagogue reasoning from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that Jesus was indeed the Messiah (Acts 17:2-3). In Berea he again proclaimed from the Scriptures in the synagogue and spent several days examining the Old Testament with the Jews as well as a number of Greeks (Acts 17:10-12). On his next visit to Athens, he used the same method - he first went to the synagogue and shared on the Sabbath, then spent several days in the town expounding on the Word and proclaiming that Jesus Christ was the Savior (Acts 17:16-17).

Backing up to his visit in Philippi, we assume that there was not a significant Jewish presence in the town for there was no synagogue; ten Jewish men were required to form a synagogue. On the Sabbath, he and his companions went outside the city along the Gangites River where he expected to find a place of prayer. A small group of women had gathered there for worship, some Jews and other probably proselytes. One of the women there was named Lydia, who sold purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a city known for its purple-dyed, woolen fabrics. The Lord opened her heart to Paul’s message and she became the first European convert to Christ along with her entire family.

I just love this simple story of redemption. Let me share some of my thoughts:

• A heart prepared - Lydia was a “worshiper of God” (Acts 16:14). This doesn’t mean that she was a believer in Christ, but she was probably a converted Jew. I imagine that she spent every Sabbath and other days down by the river in prayer and worship. She had a relationship with God and lived a life of complete devotion even before encountering the power of the gospel. The soil of her heart was prepared.
  
  
• A heart opened - Outside of the grace of God, how do we move toward God? He opens our eyes to the truth and empowers us to respond. He breaks open our hearts for the message of salvation. God works and we respond.
  
  
• A heart changed - For Lydia, her worship would take on a whole new meaning and purpose. No longer would she worship the God of a promised Messiah, but rather the God of a promised fulfilled in Christ Jesus.

As we are faithful in sharing the gospel within our community, our state, our nation, and world, may we by God’s grace continually find hearts that are prepared, opened, and ready to be changed for the glory of God.

A Journey of Passion By Faith

Paul and Barnabas had just experienced a sharp disagreement that would result in this missionary band dividing into two groups: Barnabas would take John and travel to Cyprus and beyond; Paul would take Silas and travel through Syria, Cilicia, and to the west. On this particular journey, the Spirit kept him from preaching in Asia (Acts 16:6) so he traveled along the northern border of the country. He wanted to go north into Bithynia, but again the Spirit would not allow him. So, he went west until he reached Troas on the northwest coast of Mysia. It was in this town that Paul had the vision from God calling him to bring the gospel to Macedonia.

They traveled through the cities of Samothrace and Neapolis until they reached the town of Philippi where they would spend several days. The first question that comes to my mind is, “Why didn’t he evangelize in the two towns before Philippi?” In fact, it doesn’t seem that he evangelized in Troas at all during this journey. On his third missionary journey, Paul spent about a week in Troas. It was in this town that he raised a young man named Eutychus from the dead after he had fallen from the third floor of a building listening to Paul preach. Again, why would Paul pass through these towns without staying a few days to share the gospel and gather the believers together?

We don’t know whether Paul evangelized or not, at least on a personal level. I imagine that he did have opportunities to share his faith as he encountered people throughout the day and evening. When he was getting food and water, I’m quite sure that he wasn’t silent about His Savior. When he sought shelter for the evening, I’m quite sure that he probably had a probing question or two for the innkeeper. Yet, his greater evangelistic effort would be saved for another location - Philippi. Let me share some of my thoughts as to why he passed through some towns and heavily evangelized in others.

First of all, he was sensitive to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t go to Asia or Bithynia because the Holy Spirit was leading him elsewhere. The Scripture says that the Holy Spirit kept him from preaching in Asia (Acts 6:6). When he wanted to goes north and east to share the gospel, the Scripture says that the Spirit of Jesus would not allow him to enter the Bithynia (Acts 6:7) He packed up his bags and traveled to Macedonia the immediately after his vision from God because that was what God told him to do. He was obedient to the Spirit’s leading and to God’s command.

Secondly, he was sensitive to the open doors God provides. We get a picture of this on Paul’s third missionary journey at the city I already mentioned - Troas. In writing to the church in Corinth, he said, “I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me…” (2 Corinthians 2:12). The people were receptive to the gospel. God had prepared the way for the message of good news. Paul didn’t stay at this time as he was worried about his brother in Christ, Titus, whom he was probably planning on meeting in Troas. Since he didn’t find him there, he traveled to Macedonia and then later returned to Troas as described above.

Thirdly, he was sensitive to God’s strategic plan. Philippi was an important city. It is located along a range of hills which divides Europe from Asia, the east from the west. These hills dip to form a pass where Philippi is located thus controlling the road from the east to the west. One of the great decisive battles in Roman history was fought at Philippi where Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius to set forth the future of the Roman Empire. Philippi was established as a Roman colony a few decades before the birth of Christ. Rome would send large groups of veteran soldiers to these colonies to settle there and provide a strategic road center for the Empire. These colonies were also places of cultural influence. Roman language was spoken, Roman dress was worn, Roman customs were observed, the magistrates took Roman titles, and they observed the ceremonies of Rome. In a sense, Philippi was a mini-Rome whose influence would radiate throughout the region. To establish a church in Philippi would be incredibly strategic in the ultimate expansion of the gospel through the region and known world.

We can learn several things from Paul's journey to Macedonia:

• One must follow his passions and be aggressive in living out kingdom work. Paul and a few friends were not complacent and content with status quo Christianity. They were passionate and went to great extremes to live it out.
  
  
• One must be sensitive to the work and guidance of the Spirit. Paul tried to preach in Asia; he tried to cross the border of Mysia. Yet, the Holy Spirit intervened and guided them elsewhere. Our faith journey should be led by the Spirit of Christ. As we aggressively follow our passions, we must allow the Spirit to be our compass.
  
  
• One must respond immediately to the voice of God. After God gave the vision to Paul during the night, Paul and his companions got ready to leave for Macedonia at once. When God speaks to us in our hearts, through His Word, through someone else, through a circumstance, or some other way, we must get ready to respond at once.
  
  
• One must look for open doors. As we live out faithfulness to God, He will open doors of receptivity and anointing that we must respond to. We join God in what He is already doing in the hearts and lives of people for His name’s sake.
  
  
• One must trust in God’s strategic and sovereign plan. We don’t always see the big picture. I don’t image that Paul saw the significance of the city of Philippi in regards to the greater expansion of God’s kingdom. Our role is to serve fully where and when He plants us for ministry.

In my next log, I want to look at Paul’s first spiritual encounter in Philippi. Until then, may we aggressively live out our passions by faith under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we immediately obey His voice, look for open doors, respond to His work in people’s hearts, and trust in His sovereign plan for the glory of His name.

The "Yet" of Ceaseless Worship

This week, we took our family to see the movie, Facing the Giants. This is a must see! It’s a movie that shows how the power of God is more than enough when facing the giant and sometimes impossible situations of life. This movie presents the clear gospel message. It will be an incredible tool of evangelism for years to come.

One of the themes that was emphasized throughout the movie was praising God in both the good times and the bad times. When the football team won, they would praise God. When the football team lost, they would praise God.

I was reading Habakkuk’s prayer/song found in the third chapter of his prophetic book and saw this same theme addressed. He writes:

Though the fig tree does no bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Each of the food and drink items mentioned in this passage has tremendous significance. The fig tree was one of seven food producers mentioned in the description of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 8:8). The fig was an important food source in biblical days. Figs were eaten fresh or dried. The first fruit of the fig tree was a special delectable (Isaiah 28:4, Hosea 9:10, Nahum 3:12). Dried figs were used all year round and were invaluable in times of war. Oftentimes, the figs were dried into clumps or cakes. These caked figs were commonplace and provided a daily staple. Figs were also used medicinally (2 Kings 20:7, Isaiah 38:21).

Grapes were also a significant fruit. They were eaten fresh and also dried as raisins. Like the dried figs, they were often made into cakes (1 Samuel 25:18, 30:12, 2 Samuel 6:19, 16:1, 1 Chronicles 12:40, 16:3, Hosea 3:1). The most important use of grapes was the making of wine which was the most common drink of that day. Diluted wine was also a regular beverage. Wine was used medicinally and also as a disinfectant.

An indispensable commodity in biblical times for food, medicine, fuel, and ritual was olive oil. Olive oil, along with grain and wine, were considered a blessing given by God (Deuteronomy 11:14, Hosea 2:22, Joel 2:19, 24). Olive oil was used for cooking and for fueling lamps. It was used as medicine in the treatment of wounds (Isaiah 1:6, Luke 10:34). It was also used during religious acts and the preparation of a body for burial. Kings, priests, and prophets were anointed with oil as well as the objects dedicated to God’s service.

After Habakkuk describes the loss of these three most significant items (figs, grapes, olives) which were not only sustainable food items but also symbols of God’s blessing and prosperity, he next focuses upon all crops and livestock. He says that all of the fields are barren and the pastures and pens are empty. What he is ultimately describing is utter desolation. With no fig, no vine, no olive, no crop, and no herd, there would be no hope, no future, and no life.

Then he puts forth the most important word of the passage - “yet.” Though there is no hope, no future, and only eminent death, yet will he rejoice and be joyful in the Lord God, his Savior. What a challenge for us today. No matter the circumstances, the pressures, the seeming hopelessness, the pain, the defeat, or whatever the Lord allows into our lives, the joy of praising God will not be affected or halted.

Job was another man who understood this truth. After losing his wealth, his family, and his health, he remained righteous before God. He said, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” (Job 13:15) Notice again the "yet."

Ceaseless worship is ascribing worth to God in both the good times and difficult times; it is ceaselessly focusing our mind’s attention and our heart’s affection upon God and not our circumstances. Ceaseless worship is saying "yet."

Father, may the fruit of my ceaseless worship be joy, praise, and hope both in the light of day and in the darkness of night. May You hear me say "yet" during the darkness.

Unified Worship

As a follow-up to my last post, I want to share my heart about unified worship. Though I’m presently in favor of multi-services in multi-languages, I still believe that we should continually seek to lay down our preferences and speak many worship languages. Again, when I mention worship language, I’m considering the numerous distinctions of style and cultural preferences. In our blended service at UBC, we incorporate hymns and contemporary choruses, choir and praise team, orchestra and rhythm, hymnbooks and screens. I realize that the term blended can mean many things, too. For some churches, a blended service might mean a blend of black gospel music with traditional choruses. For others, blended might mean southern gospel songs with hymns. Still others might blend CCM with contemporary praise and worship.

A couple of generations ago, a person could walk in to just about any SBC church and recognize the surroundings, the hymnal, and most if not all of the music. Today, SBC churches are like the big box of crayons that has the sharpener on the back; they come in multitudes of colors. They cover every spectrum of the scale from music, to programs, to theology, to size, to vision, and so much more.

Today as people move from place to place and become involved in new churches, they bring with them various backgrounds. As churches grow these Christian cultures merge. Also, as the younger generation has little if any denominational loyalty, they enter the mix with even a more diverse perspective. Lastly, add in the new believers and seekers to your church and you have a rainbow of cultures, experiences, perceptions, likes, dislikes, expectations, desires, needs, preferences, etc. The enlarging gaps between the generations further highlights these distinctions. How can you possibly engage each person even within a blended service?

In worship, the goal is the glory of God. He is the purpose of our gathering. He is the focus of our praise. To Him alone do we bring the offering of worship. Yet, there still is a need to provide the best vehicle for the body as a whole to truly engage in Spirit-filled and Truth-embodied worship. This brings us back to the question of how do we engage the heart of such a diverse group of people within a worship service?

First of all, there is no way to provide the perfect worship language for everyone. Even in the multi-worship service churches, there will still be gaps. Let me throw out a few of my thoughts that if practiced, would make our worship more unified.

• God alone must be the object of our worship. If we let our preferences, styles, likes, dislikes, expectations, etc. come before God, we’ve engaged in false worship. In fact, my preference for hymns or for choruses can become an idol. He alone is the only God! “Who among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is like You - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)
  
  
• The supremacy of Christ and the Word must be the theme of our worship. When we gather seeking to exalt the Savior and praise the worth of the Lamb, our preferences don’t matter any more. When we gather to feast from the Word of God, our likes and dislikes are not even appetizing. The atoning work of Christ and the beauty of His Word is more than enough.
  
  
• The Spirit of God is the source of our worship. As we yield to the Spirit, He empowers us to worship God fully and completely. Our efforts will always fall short. But if we are being led by, if we are living by, and if we are keeping in step with the Spirit, He will empower and embolden our worship.
  
  
• The “one anothers” of God’s Word must be the fruit of our worship. Scriptures such as speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; submit to one another out of reverence for Christ; bear with one another; encourage one another; love one another deeply from the heart; live in harmony with one another; clothe yourselves with humility toward one another; and more, force us to lay down our differences and put the interests and needs of others above our own.

Only in heaven will we have truly unified worship - a worship where every tribe, tongue, people, and nation sing the new song (Revelation 5:9-10). So, whether we have one service or multiple services, may we strive to reflect the ceaseless worship of heaven.