Winning the War of Worship

War. War never changes.” – (Bethesda Game Studios. (2008). Fallout.)

There is a war raging today that predates human history itself. Long before the rise and fall of empires, before the first kingdom was established, and before mankind drew his first breath, this conflict had already begun. It has fueled rebellion, fractured nations, divided families, distracted hearts, and deceived countless souls. Its battlefield stretches across every generation, every culture, and every corner of the earth. Yet this war is not fought with bullets, bombs, or armies. It is fought within the hearts and minds of men. Every day, every person is confronted by it. Every choice we make becomes part of the struggle. This is the oldest war in existence. It is the war behind every idol, every temptation, every false god, and every competing affection of our hearts. It is the war for your worship.

Revelation 12:7 reveals a conflict that resulted in Satan’s expulsion from heaven. Cast down to the earth, the great deceiver now continues the same rebellion that has defined his agenda from the beginning. That is the pursuit of worship that belongs to God alone. The first war was not fought in a field. The first war was not fought in a nation. The first war was not even fought on earth. The first war was fought in heaven, and at the center of that war was worship. Lucifer wanted something that never belonged to him. He wanted the throne of God. He wanted God’s glory. He wanted God’s worship. The book of Revelation tells us the war in heaven was not over territory. It was not over resources. It was not over money. This war was over receiving worship. When Lucifer lost heaven, he brought that war down to earth. The battle that raged in heaven is now raging in the very room in which you are reading this.

This battle comes into focus in Luke 4:5-8. In the wilderness, Satan confronted Jesus with a startling offer. Showing Him the kingdoms of the world, he declared, “If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (Verse 7). At its core, this temptation was about worship. Jesus’ response exposed the heart of the conflict. “…Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Verse 8). Christ responds with the eternal truth that worship belongs exclusively to God. The battle in the wilderness reveals that the enemy’s greatest goal is not simply to make people sin, but it is to redirect their worship. Every temptation, every deception, and every competing affection ultimately seeks to dethrone God in the heart of His creation. 

The war for your worship is still raging today. The question posed to us today is the same one that echoed in the wilderness. Who will sit upon the throne of your heart? Whatever captures your devotion will command your loyalty and become the object of your worship. The battle has always been about worship, and it remains the defining conflict of every generation. Everyday there is a battle being fought for our attention, our affections, our devotion, and for our worship. The enemy wants it. The world wants it. Even our own flesh wants it. Yet, there is only one who deserves it, and His name is Jesus Christ. He is the only one who is worthy. Hallelujah! “…Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). He is the only one who deserves our complete allegiance, our deepest affection, and our highest devotion.

Notice what Satan wanted there in the wilderness. He did not ask Jesus for money. He did not ask for sacrifice. He did not ask for service. He asked for worship. Why? Because authority flows from worship. Allegiance flows from worship. Satan understood what many people still fail to understand today. Whatever receives your worship, eventually receives your life. The enemy offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world for a single act of submission. He is still offering fame, success, pleasure, influence, and acceptance in exchange for worship. The tragedy of it all is that many people will sell their worship for far less. Some trade it for a paycheck. Some for relationships. Some for popularity. Some for temporary pleasures that will not satisfy and cannot last. We see Jesus here standing against this offer, and at the same time demonstrating a powerful truth while setting the example for us. Anything gained at the expense of worship is too expensive. 

Jesus answered, “…Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Before Christ performed a single miracle, before He opened blind eyes, before He fed multitudes, before He raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus won the battle for worship! Victory came before power. Worship came before the miracles. Surrender came before authority. God’s order has never changed. Worship first, power second. Lucifer never figured that out. There are those who desire power without surrender. Many want to see blessings without devotion. Others seek miracles without worship, but God does not operate in this way. If we want to see the power of God move and the mighty miracles of which He alone is able to accomplish come to pass, we as His Body must return to the heart of worship—worship that exalts Him as the Head of the Church; worship that He alone is worthy to receive. 

Worship is not merely something we bring to God; worship is the natural response to seeing God for who He truly is. Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, and he cried, “…Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts…” (Isaiah 6:3). Thomas looked upon the risen Christ and declared, “…My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). John saw the glorified Jesus on Patmos and wrote, “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead…” (Revelation 1:17). Throughout Scripture, the pattern never changes. When there is an encounter with the majesty of God, worship is inevitable. Nobody has ever truly seen Him and remained silent. Again, nobody has ever truly seen Him and remained silent. The problem in our generation is not that we have forgotten how to worship, it is that we have forgotten where to look. Worship in its purest form is not self-centered, man-directed, or outcome-obsessed; it is God-centered, God-directed, and God-glorifying.

The battle for your worship is so fierce because the devil knows he cannot stop worship; he can only redirect it. If he cannot destroy your worship, he will attempt to divert it. If he cannot divert it, he will attempt to corrupt it. Too many people have become more fascinated with the hand of God than the face of God. We can find ourselves in a place where we celebrate His gifts more than His glory. We pursue what He can do for us instead of simply beholding Him for who He is. The result is a generation that can get excited about miracles but remain unmoved by beholding the majesty of the Lord God Almighty. Somewhere along the way, many have turned worship into a transaction. We worship so God will heal us. We worship so God will bless us. We worship so God will answer our prayers. True worship goes far beyond what might happen as a result of our worship. True worship is a response to the revelation of who Christ is! When you see Him as He is, worship becomes unavoidable.

Imagine if every miracle stopped tomorrow. Imagine if every prayer request remained unanswered. Imagine if there were no visible sign and no immediate breakthrough. Would He still be worthy? The answer is yes. Yes. A thousand times yes. God’s worthiness is not determined by His activity. His Church does not need a greater fascination with miracles. The Church needs a greater vision of Christ. When we truly see Him—His holiness, His power, His mercy, His beauty, His sacrifice, His resurrection glory—we will stop asking how little worship we can give and still receive something from Him, and start wondering if we could ever give Him enough. 

The clearer our vision of Christ becomes, the more natural our worship becomes. When we behold His holiness, we worship. When we recognize His mercy, we worship. When we understand His sacrifice, we worship. When we experience His grace, we worship. The closer we get to Jesus, the louder our worship ought to become. Not louder in terms of volume, but louder in devotion. Louder in surrender. Louder in obedience. Louder in gratitude unto our God. Because worship is not the result of being emotionally excited, it is the response of a heart that has seen the only One who is worthy. What are you giving worship to today? Who is winning the war for your worship? 

The Right Hand

AND I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1)

Within heaven is a throne and, on that throne, sits the sovereign King of time and eternity. His right hand symbolizes sovereign power, favor, and action (Psalm 110:1). The book written within and on the backside, though unusual, symbolizes completeness. The seven seals are complete, perfectly secure, and divinely ordered. The climax of history is written in a book and sealed with seven seals as a test of worthiness.

John the revelator couldn’t know what was written in the book, but he felt the weight of its judgment, the glory of its redemption, and the gift of its inheritance. This is God’s legal right, to reclaim the inheritance that Adam forfeited, to pass judgment, and to restore what had been lost.

This is the greatest story ever told. A story is told between the bookends of eternity, the story of time itself and it begins with the Creator God.

Genesis Chapter 1 – The Creator

In the beginning (of time), God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth. He is the divine architect and builder of the universe without tools or raw materials. He spoke into the void, and nothing obeyed and became something. 

Elohim (God) as the creator is the title of a supreme transcendent power. He is majesty, but also distant. He stands outside of creation and commands with absolute control. The sun, the moon, and the stars obey Him without question or hesitation. 

Genesis Chapter 2 – The God who relates

The Elohim of creation does not change, but His title is now linked with His personal name. YHWH Elohim, the LORD God. The One who spoke the world into existence is also the One who draws close, puts His hands in the dirt and forms man. He breathes life into man, plants a garden, and puts the man in it. In the cool of the evening God appears in the garden and walks with Adam. He is relational. He wants to be known and He can be known.

Genesis Chapter 3 – The Redeemer, the God who forgives

The first three chapters set the stage for what was and is to come. The fall of man, the promised redeemer Jesus Christ, His glorious victory, and then the One who restores, redeems, and passes Judgment. He alone is worthy and His story is the ultimate Journey Through the Ages.

Remember, Elohim who holds the universe is the YHWH Elohim who intimately cares for His people. Because the Worthy Lamb has overcome, we are given a promise for the daily grind: the Lord will renew your strength.

For the Sake of the Call

Do you feel a stirring?

Do you feel a change of season coming for the great Church of God?

Do you feel a shaking?

Do you believe that God is getting ready to do something for His people?

These are some of the questions I have been contemplating. It can be a great move, but only if we are ready.

The theme for Sunday School is “One Accord” found in Acts 2 and Philippians 2:2. One Accord means – deep unity, harmony, and unanimous agreement in purpose, mind, and spirit among believers, often in prayer. One mind. One spirit. To be in One Accord with one another we need to be walking, talking, and living in the Spirit.

Acts 2:1 – “AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”

Can you imagine it? All being filled with the Holy Ghost at the same time, in the same place. We rejoice when even one soul receives the Holy Ghost, but imagine an entire room filled at once. Amen!

This leads me to ask this question of you, and of myself; are we in One Accord with God and our fellow members in The Church of God? We can be in one accord with someone and still be wrong through scripture. Just because two agree, doesn’t mean they are right. So often we need to be reminded, just as The Advice to Members tells us, examine yourself daily to see whether you are in the faith.

Think about a garden that you have tilled and prepared for planting. You have placed the plants and seeds exactly where they will grow best. You have placed them where they will get the most sun, water, etc. At first, you tend it faithfully. You are using the right fertilizer, watering it at the right increments, and weeding when necessary. But then, the cares of this life start to overcome you. You are no longer watering your garden by the Word as before, and weeds begin to take over.

In my own yard in Idaho, we have a wild morning glory vine. Some may think it is pretty, but it is an obnoxious weed! If it is allowed to grow, and is not pulled up by its roots, it wraps itself around the plants, trees, and grass and chokes them out, ultimately killing the plants around it. So, it can be in our spiritual lives. Sometimes, we don’t even recognize that weeds have begun to take over. We drift away from God’s will and begin living according to our own. We may no longer be walking in One Accord with our brothers and sisters.

I am so grateful for our church government! It checks us, saves us, protects us. Thank God for our leadership who is watching over our souls! I am so thankful for how our auxiliaries work together, hand in hand. We must listen when God speaks to our hearts and convicts us.

Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

David spoke to God from his heart and God heard his prayer.

I am reminded of a song called ‘Living in Laodicea” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Oh Lord, take your plow to my fallow ground

Let your blade dig down to the soil of my soul

For I’ve become dry and dusty

And Lord, I know there must be richer earth lying below

For I have been living in Laodicea

And the fire that once burned bright, I’ve let grow dim

And the very One I swore that I would die for

Oh, has been forgotten as the world’s become a friend

We have turned from your law to try and find a better way

Each man does today what is right in his own eyes

And we will pay the price for our sinning

We can never know true living

We’ve exchanged His truth for lies

It is no small of a thing that He’s done for you

By shutting the gates of hell upon a cross

We were sentenced once, but now we are pardoned

And He chose us to use us though we fall

So while we’re living in Laodicea

Keep the fire burning bright, don’t let it grow dim

For the very One we swore that we would die for

He must not be forgotten, fear the world become a friend

Oh, the very One we swore that we would die for

Must not be forgotten, fear the world become a friend

Philippians 2:2 – “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

On September 2, 1945, World War II was officially over, and the United States discouraged people from continuing to grow their ‘Victory Gardens”. They felt that such gardens would compromise the growth of the nation’s industrial agriculture now that war was over. And so, the “Victory Garden” movement withered away. We, as the Church, cannot allow our spiritual gardens to wither away. We have a high standard that we must live up to. We must continue to till, plant, water, and remember that we may not see the end result of our labor for souls in this life. But God will give us peace as we continue to bear fruit. We do the work that God has required of us, and God gives the increase.

“Victory Gardens” Isaiah 51:3 – “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

May we remain in One Accord with God and one another. May we continue to tend our spiritual gardens with diligence. And may we be ready for the move of God that is surely coming.

One Accord

One Accord. This is such a simple concept, but very difficult to put into practice in our own human ability. However, we know that with Spirit of the Lord, being in one accord is achievable. We will “…all speak the same thing [and]…be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10) one day.

We’ve all probably heard some good quotes about unity throughout the years. I would like for us to focus on this one from AW Tozer:

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

We must attain the standard that the Apostle Paul outlined for us in Philippians—“…let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (3:16). He even gives us some tools to know how to do this. In Verse 17 he instructs us to follow him and the other examples we have been given throughout the years. In Verses 18 and 19 he tells us to walk away from those who are enemies of the cross; these are those who glory in their shame and pay attention to the earthly instead of the heavenly. Finally, in Verse 20, Paul says that our eyes must remain fixed on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, what are you minding? What frequency are you attuned to?

Paul, in chapter 2 of Philippians says that if we want to please him, and ultimately please God, we should “…be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Verse 2). There are two words for “one accord” in the Greek—sumpsuchos. Syn—which means together with and psychos which means the soul, self, inner life, the seat of the feelings, desires, and affections. So, “one accord,” in this instance, refers to being united in spirit. This is the only occurrence of this word in the New Testament. Of course, we have read the words “one accord” in the book of Acts many times. It is homothumadon in the Greek. It means to be of one mind, one passion, to rush along in unison.

To reach the state of “one accord,” we must all be given wholly over to the Spirit of the Lord and His Word. We must allow Him to check our strings. We must be attuned to His fork.

A piano that is never played, can get out of tune quickly. When it “sits idle, its wooden soundboard expands and contracts with the changes in humidity, stretching the strings and causing the pitch to rise or fall” (Music Stack Exchange). Inactivity will make the keys stiff, too, and rust could develop. So, how do you keep a piano tuned? You get regular tunings, and you play it.

I can avouch for this. My grandparents had a piano that sat in a cold room on an exterior wall. I was bequeathed this piano upon their passing. To my sadness, when the piano tuner came to repair it, it was in disrepair. It had been exposed too long to the Tennessee humidity. It had sat unused for years (except for one quick song played at Christmas). The piano man told us to gut it and repurpose the wooden shell. How sad; a once-prized family heirloom, now reduced to kindling.

Could the same be said of us? Are we double-minded, wishy-washy, tossed to and fro, unsettled, or unfocused—out of tune, unable to be played? The Spirit cannot reside on a shelf when we have a bad day or some type of emotional, mental, relationship, or physical conflict. He must be living in us and breathing through us, tuning us to His standard. What are you doing with your mouth? Your mind? Your body? We tell on ourselves. Others know when we are out of tune.

Isaiah was so honest about where he was spiritual. He said, “Woe is me!...I am undone…I am a man of unclean lips…” (Isaiah 6:5). The angel of the Lord kâphar-ed him, purged him, tuned him, by placing a live coal to his lips. This purging meant that his sins or flaws were covered, canceled, cleansed, disannulled, forgiven, or reconciled. He was now covered within and without with holy pitch.

Have you allowed the Spirit to kâphar you? Our Advice to Members is wonderful. From it we see that so much of our pitching must happen within rather than without. Some would say that the Advice focuses on the outward (where we go, who we hang out with, what we look like) and that’s the part most people get hung up on, but it’s God who sees what needs to be pitched or purged within. Please do not misinterpret what I’m saying. I think it is useful and needful that we all believe and practice the same things, but God sees the most hidden parts of our hearts, the parts we may not even be aware of ourselves that may not be in one accord with Him.

For instance, we are often concerned with how we sound, how we look, or how we feel, when we should be concerned with what the Spirit thinks, says, and knows. We second guess His voice. We question His still, small voice. We, my friends, are a little out of tune if we’re doing this. We should be honest like Isaiah and say, “Woe is me.”

Church, I’m afraid that our way has stifled the Spirit; quenched Him. We have settled for less than His very best. We will never receive the full blessings of God with this attitude. We will never reach perfection. We will never see the House full. We will never experience the state of the 120 on that blessed Day of Pentecost of being fully in one accord. Why? Our focus is on us and our one little piano string and not on Him and the entire piano.

Yes, we may receive trickles of blessings because I believe our Father knows we are trying, but can’t you just hear the Spirit saying, “Get ready! You don’t have time to waste! Get tuned.”

Immediately after Isaiah is pitched, a question is posed to him. “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). It is as if he is being asked “Can I play you now, Isaiah?” He quickly responds by saying, “Here am I; send me!” Isaiah doesn’t wait for more confirmation or another pricking of his heart. He doesn’t wait for another chorus to be sung or the pastor to open the altar. He doesn’t wait for someone to march with a flag. He doesn’t wait for God to physically pick him up and transport him. He doesn’t wait for Brother So-and-So or Sister Oh-So-Holy to confirm that it is him that must go. He doesn’t wait to be put on a committee. He doesn’t wait for someone to apologize to him. He doesn’t wait for handwriting to be on the wall. No. Isaiah just says, “I’m here. I’m here. You can use me, Lord. I’m ready to work for your cause and make some beautiful music.” Some of us need the Holy Ghost to get a hold of our strings.

The idea of being in one accord starts with one person, just as it started singularly with Isaiah. Again, Paul says, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). It starts with you. Are you ready to play some music? Who did it start with at Pentecost? Acts 2:1 tells us “AND when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” They were all rushing along in unison waiting on the Promise.

Are you ready? I believe that we are getting ready to be in one accord. My ideas don’t really matter. My opinions can hinder. My way isn’t the only way if it doesn’t line up with His way! Acts 2:2 says, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” This was the early Church being asked, just as Isaiah, “Are you going to respond?” The 120 were ready. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Verse 3). Why? Because they were rushing along in unison, they were in one accord. “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Verse 4). They were all filled. Not one singular person was left out. They all were willing to respond and be played and because of this what a sound! What a time! “46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Verses 46, 47).

What would happen in our Sunday Schools, our local churches, our states, and nations if we all, willingly responded to the moving of the Spirit every day? We are all different and unique and fearfully and wonderfully made, but when we are all standing at attention for the Concert Pianist to play us in unison, that’s when everything will change; that’s when we will be in one accord. I’m ready to make some beautiful music, church. I’m ready to be in one accord with each string tuned to the same pitch.