Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Discontent in the Outer Court
"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name." - Psalm 100:4
The picture here is of the tabernacle. There is at least a sense of awareness that people are gathering in the Name of Yahweh. I imagine busyness, the noise of people, the noise and smell of animals being brought for sacrifice, commotion, much activity and, perhaps an atmosphere of celebration as people draw near with thanksgiving and praise. This was good. This was necessary.
This was the outer court.
There was and is another place, a holy place, the Holiest of Places, where none of those outer court practices will be tolerated. The Overwhelming Presence demands, requires, compels: silence, reverence, a breathtaking sense of awe as we approach with holy fear... the very throne of God. There... the Almighty speaks to us and we are... broken so we can be made whole, humbled so we can be raised up, made to see our sinfulness so we can fully appreciate and experience His forgiveness. In that Place and only in that Place we are truly... changed.
The veil of separation has been torn asunder; access has been granted; the Father, with outstretched hands, beckons us to "Come."
May we and our churches never be content with mere "outer court" worship.
The picture here is of the tabernacle. There is at least a sense of awareness that people are gathering in the Name of Yahweh. I imagine busyness, the noise of people, the noise and smell of animals being brought for sacrifice, commotion, much activity and, perhaps an atmosphere of celebration as people draw near with thanksgiving and praise. This was good. This was necessary.
This was the outer court.
There was and is another place, a holy place, the Holiest of Places, where none of those outer court practices will be tolerated. The Overwhelming Presence demands, requires, compels: silence, reverence, a breathtaking sense of awe as we approach with holy fear... the very throne of God. There... the Almighty speaks to us and we are... broken so we can be made whole, humbled so we can be raised up, made to see our sinfulness so we can fully appreciate and experience His forgiveness. In that Place and only in that Place we are truly... changed.
The veil of separation has been torn asunder; access has been granted; the Father, with outstretched hands, beckons us to "Come."
May we and our churches never be content with mere "outer court" worship.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A Revival of What?
You often hear about the need for revival. Preachers call their congregations to pray for revival. Though not as common as a few years ago, we have revival meetings. (The church world is now flooded with "conferences," but still no revival.) There are multitudes of books, CD's, and DVD's about revival. Revival, revival, revival!
The question I ask is, a revival of what? Signs and wonders? Passion and fervor? Real prayer and true worship? Service? Holiness?
When it all boils down, when we get to the bottom line, what we need a revival of, what the world needs to see a revival of in the Church and in individual Christians, what the Father longs to see in His children is a revival of... Christlikeness.
"Revive us, O Lord. Do not simply give us a hunger and desire for Christlikeness, for a hunger is not satisfied, and a desire shows something lacking and unfulfilled. Mold us and shape us into the image of Christ, not just as a testimony to the world, but for Your glory. Revive in us, a true spirit of the likeness of Your Son. Send revival, O Lord."
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