“More Words on Worship: Linked In”
Hebrews 12:18-29
She was deeply moved; the time of worship had led her into a deeper level of commitment, into a deeper intimacy than she had ever before experienced. She drove home a different person than the one who had left a couple of hours previously. As she entered the house and put the bulletin on the coffee table her husband shut off the television. Just as she began to greet him he interrupted: “Let’s not start that again! I don’t want to talk about not going to church with you. I’ve been to church, too. I’ve watched ‘Hour of Power’ and Charles Stanley and listened to “Words of Hope’ on the radio. Why should I sit in those uncomfortable pews when I can relax and concentrate right here, in my own living room, and hear some of the best preachers around? I know you don’t think I’ve really worshipped, but what goes on in the sanctuary that’s any different from what happens right here in my own living room?” (1)
How would you respond to this familiar scenario? The author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us WE VALUE WORSHIP BECAUSE IT LINKS US TO A VARIETY OF VALUABLE FELLOWSHIPS. Verses 22-24 get to the point: “But you have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”
The first link in worship is to A SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP: “...you have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.” Early in the Old Testament Mount Zion reminded the Israelites of the giving of the Law, and of the accompanying darkness, thunder, lighting, and whirlwind. It symbolized holy and human terror. Eventually, however, it came to represent the place of worship where all nations would one day gather to pay homage to God. Listen, for example, to Ps. 122:3ff: “Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel.” By the time of this Hebrew letter, Mount Zion represented what the Old Testament saints had longed for and expected -- an out of this world, heavenly place where all God’s people would one day gather.
So today, when we gather as God’s people, WORSHIP LINKS US WITH THE SPIRITUAL REALITY. When we worship we share in the heavenly Jerusalem. We are exposed to and participate in a new age, a new environment, a new life that comes only from God. It is an experience that answers the deepest longings of our hearts. As the Psalmist wrote (41:1-4); “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God? ...These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and thanksgiving, among the festive throng.” Worship is the GPS system that always indicates the true north of our souls. As Brennan Manning writes, “Worship is a countercurrent to the drift into materialism, narcissistic self-indulgence, and the relentless bombardment of the media. Worship opens up to the transcendent and enables us to see through the make-believe character of the unreal world. It frees us from the idolatry of the mall and the marketplace, it liberates us from false deadlines...and the obsession with comforts and pleasures that delight the flesh but demand the soul in exchange. Though these idols will continue to tempt us, worship exposes them, names them for what they are, and diminishes their power over us.” (2) Worship in the sanctuary links us to a much needed spiritual fellowship.
According to Hebrews the second link in worship is to an IMMORTAL FELLOWSHIP: “You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly... (22b)” When we worship together here we are, in fact, joined by the angels and heavenly hosts. We are not alone - we are gathered, even now, as a full, holy assembly of thousands. All the pictures in Revelation of the heavenly throngs gathered around the heavenly throne are real even as we worship together.
And it’s not only the angels who join us -- IT’S ALSO ALL THE SAINTS (23c): “…to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.” It’s all the heroes of Hebrews 11; it’s all those who lived and served subsequent to Christ who were granted righteousness through the death of Christ; it’s all our believing loved ones who are deceased yet living. In John Calvin’s words, worship involves both the visible and invisible church. Euripides, centuries ago, wrote a Greek play called “Alcestis.” It tells how the hero Heracles -- the Greek Samson -- came to the palace of King Admetus and found the beautiful Queen Alcestis had died; the whole land was in mourning. Heracles volunteered to go out to the lonely tomb where he met the monster Death and did battle with him. In the last scene of the play Heracles came back, leading someone completely covered with a white veil. As he stands before the king he says, “Look upon this; and if (she) seems to thee like thy wife, then my king, step forth out of grief into joy.” With that he pulls of the veil and says, “See, O king, I give her back to thee.” (3) What the Greeks watched as fable, we experience as fact every time we worship in the sanctuary; God, through the resurrection of Jesus, gives us back communion with all those who have departed this life. This morning, worshipping with us, are all those departed significant saints who influenced my life: my sister, my parents, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, my pastors, the many wonderful persons over whose funerals I have presided and so many more. And you can recite a similar litany from your life. Together we worship God through Jesus Christ. At this very moment we are part of an immortal fellowship!
Thirdly, corporate worship links us to A UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP: (23a) “You have come ... to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” The reference is to all who are saved; all Christians, throughout the world, share every act of worship together. I am not talking about a new denomination or a new ecumenical movement; I am referring to a reality. As F. B. Meyer wrote, “We meet the Church of the redeemed, each time we sincerely worship God. We may belong to some small section of the visible Church, unrecognized and unknown by the great bulk of our fellow believers. We may be isolated from all outward fellowship and communion with the saints, imprisoned in the sick-chamber, or self banished to some lone spot for the sake of the Gospel; but nothing can exclude us from living communion with saintly souls of all communions, and sects, and denominations, and names.” (4) As we worship today we are bonded with friends and family who are scattered in many places. We worship with Christians from around the world whom we will never meet until that glorious day.
Dr. William Brownson, in a Words of Hope sermon, wrote of a trip to Russia where he and his wife, along with their Russian language broadcaster and his wife, worshipped with a Christian congregation in Moscow. Even though there was a huge language barrier, he reported that they felt a wonderful, warm oneness in Christ. That afternoon, which happened to be the fourth of July, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow held an open house, which they were privileged to attend. He wrote, “The accommodations were lavish, the food delicious, the company stimulating. We enjoyed it thoroughly. But do you now what we discovered? There was a far closer bond between Russians and Americans at the Lord’s Table than in gatherings with countrymen or even kindred on any other basis. Christians belong to a world-wide fellowship whose ties are deeper than nationality and stronger than blood.” (5)
Think for a moment of a massive rally -- perhaps a political convention or a celebration of a home team’s championship. There is unity of spirit and focus, an enthusiasm of purpose that allows thousands of people, who do not know each other, both physically present and those watching by way of modern media, to celebrate magnificently together. Similarly, WORSHIP IS THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF LIKE MINDED, LIKE SPIRITED BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JESUS CHRIST. The spirit of our day emphasizes the individuality of each group and person, which leads to divisiveness; worship brings us to what unites us -- the cross of Christ! We need to worship! It puts us in communion with Christians world wide. A writer once interviewed the late Dr. Albert Schweitzer. When the interview was completed he said to Dr. Schweitzer, “This has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.” Dr. Schweitzer responded, “Sir, I want you to remember that when two Christians meet, it cannot be a privilege for one of them except as how the privilege is mutual to them both.” (6) We are all enrolled in heaven, are brothers and sisters; it’s a privilege to share together every time we worship in this universal fellowship!
The fourth link in our worship, according to Hebrews, is A DIVINE FELLOWSHIP: (23b & 24a) “You have come to God, the judge of all men ... to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant...” In the book of Revelation the apostle John wrote that he was lifted up in the Spirit; he saw the worship and the events to come from God’s perspective and presence. Likewise, when we worship we ascend to God and to Christ and see things from their perspective and presence. And what we see brings us to our knees in humble adoration and praise! Worship is not the time and place to come for answers to our questions, although our questions may get answered; it is not the place to receive the latest advice on how to improve life, although such advice may be given; it is not the place to hear the latest pop Psychology, although we may become psychologically stronger. IN WORSHIP WE COME TO THE HEART OF GOD, IN JESUS; WE COME TO MINISTER TO HIM. If Jesus came back to earth today and set up an e-mail address, what would you send to Him? What would you say to Him? Here in worship we are in His very presence; we kneel before the throne of glory to minister to Jesus, to bless Him. He is the focus of worship.
A man named Bill Butterworth wrote about his son’s sixth birthday. The young boy mentioned he would like to have a party. Since the boy usually knew not only what gifts he wanted but what stores carried them, Bill asked him what he wanted. Being less specific this time, the boy simply said, “I would like a ball to play with.” Bill asked, “What kind of ball?” “Oh, I don’t know, either a football or a soccer ball.” “Well, which do you want more?” “Well,” said the boy, “If you have some time to play ball with me this year, I’d really like a football so we could throw it back and forth in the back yard. But if you’re gonna be really busy this year, maybe you just better get me a soccer ball, because I can play soccer with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood.” Bill realized his son was not so much interested in the gift as he was in the presence of the giver! So Jesus is far more interested in us spending time with Him than in merely dropping by and depositing our gifts. So we come to spend time with Him, adoring Him, expressing our love for Him. And when we do we experience this divine fellowship in all its fullness: The Bible tells us that the Lord “inhabits the praises of his people.” Witness 2Chronicles 5:13-14; “The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’ Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.” Only in worship in the sanctuary is there such a divine fellowship!
The fifth link in worship is to A REDEEMING FELLOWSHIP: (24b) “You have come to God ... and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Remember when Cain killed Abel? Genesis 4:10 states God said to Cain: “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” Our sin always leads to a cry for vengeance; but when the cry for vengeance rises to the throne of heaven, the blood of Christ cries out all the louder for forgiveness -- “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.” Only through Jesus Christ can we come into the presence of God. And in worship WE COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE WHO IS TOTALLY FOR US. God sees us not in our sin but, through the eyes of Jesus, in our righteousness; He does not hear the cry for vengeance, but through the heart of Jesus hears the cry for mercy. As Paul wrote, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” In worship we bow with the redeemed, our sins forgiven, washed away, gone forever. Jesus paid the price! In worship we celebrate and give thanks for our freedom from the deadly power of sin! There is no greater freedom! In a world that tears us down and emphasizes our guilt, we need to join, as often as we can, the redeeming fellowship in worship of our Almighty, Grace-filled God.
Pastor Bruce Rigdon, a Presbyterian pastor in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, once performed a large wedding in his church. It was a beautiful Saturday night. The church was filled with people who were devoted to the young couple being married. Many of the people in the congregation were from different cultures and faiths. Included in the wedding ceremony was the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. After the exchange of promises, Pastor Rigdon moved to the communion table and invited all who had been baptized and who loved the Lord, to come forward to celebrate the sacrament. To his great surprise when he looked up from the table, he saw virtually everyone--regardless of who they were or what their faith tradition was--coming forward. What was he to do? Say, “Stop! Only the baptized are invited to the table?” How totally absurd, he thought. What a travesty that would be to our Lord. And so he welcomed all to the table. After the wedding a Jewish couple came up to him and explained that they were children of Holocaust families and that even though they had lived by a rule never to enter a Christian church, their love for the bride had brought them there that night. The gentleman said, “When you invited people to the table and everyone around us began to move, we couldn’t remain seated. We know, Pastor, it’s Jesus’ table, not ours. But we were drawn . . . by some kind of love, so please, we hope we haven’t offended you or your community. But we were received at the table tonight and were deeply moved.” Shortly after this confession, another couple came up to him, identifying themselves as Moustafa and Munir, originally from Lebanon. They said, “So you know what our life has been like . . . You know about the pain and bloodshed . . . We are, of course, Muslim.” Then they told how their children rose to go to the communion table, and they were drawn inexplicably to follow them. “We know we shouldn’t have been there,” they said, “but somehow, for us tonight, the war has ended.” (7)
Let us never think we can worship alone; true worship links us to amazing, valuable fellowship. When we truly worship we are never alone. It is here in the sanctuary that we are placed in a spiritual, immortal, universal, divine, and redeeming fellowship. No wonder Hebrews exhorts us: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” “Be thankful…Worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.”
(1) Robert R. Hackler, “Our Community in Communion”, Pulpit Digest, march-April 1983, p. 63
Brennan Manning, Youth Worker, Spring 1991
(2) Ibid, p. 66
(3) “The Way Into the Holiest”, F. B. Meyer, Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington PA, © 1968, p. 161
(4) “Where You’ve Come”, Words of Hope, 6/14/81, p. 9
(5) Hackler, p.66
(6) Susan Warrener Smith. Cited Dr. Mickey Anders
