Standing Shoulder To Shoulder Together As We Fight the Good Fight of Faith A personal letter of encouragement to you, written solely to "lift up hands that hang down". TO SUBSCRIBE send a blank message to shoulders-subscribe@... . TO UNSUBSCRIBE send a blank message to shoulders-unsubscribe@... . IN EACH CASE you will receive an automated request for confirmation which you must answer. FOR BACK COPIES go to www.associate.com/digests/shoulders . Click on "Start Reading" TO SUBSCRIBE TO "HOPE4KYIV", a praise report and prayer request letter of the Tolliver's ministry as missionaries to Ukraine, send a blank message to hope4kyiv-subscribe@.... FOR BACK COPIES go to www.associate.com/digests/hope4kyiv. +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #258 ---- 1/18/02 TITLE: "Worship (part four) ---- It's Channel" Dear Friend and Journey Companion: I greet you today from LaGrange, MO, where Jo Ann and I shared a missions conference Sunday morning and where we began a four day conference on "Reaching Your City". As I begin writing, it is nearing 11:00 Sunday evening. After a hectic week which culminated in major computer battles, I am finally getting a chance to write to you. I hope this note finds you rejoicing in the Lord and reveling in His goodness. While I think about it, . . . Special Notice! Effective immediately, and in keeping with our new ministry relocation, please change my personal e-mail address to lifeunlimited@.... We will be phasing our myexcel.com address out very soon. WORSHIP'S CHANNEL: Last night we had our first of four community-wide services in which I am leading a conference on "We know that the day will come when all true believers, no matter what denominational background, will gather around the throne of the Lamb and will give perpetual praise unceasingly for all of eternity. What a time that will be. I saw evidences in that service of what it might be like when we can identify the correct channel . . . . a cleansed and containing channel . . . . for worship. That's what I want to consider for a few moments with you today. . . . A Correct Channel A Cleansed Channel A Containing Channel. Recently, by the generous provision of the Lord through a local church, we had the funds that enabled us to buy a new laptop computer for our ministry overseas. After about two weeks' of use, and after installing some fifteen significant software programs, it was time for me to initiate the use of an external keyboard and mouse. I decided to do that this past Friday. Being the novice that I am with computers, I clicked on some things I shouldn't have. As a result I somehow dis-engaged the laptop keyboard, but the external keyboard and mouse would neither one work. The outcome? . . . . no way to correct the problem. Neither the keyboard nor the finger pad would work. The cursor just stayed right where it was. I even did the unthinkable and shut off the computer by pulling the plug and removing the battery, hoping that perhaps when I turned it back on something would work. Nothing did. I punched all the F, Alt, Esc, and Ctrl keys I could find, and nothing worked. In desperation, I took the road of last resort and used the system recovery disks . . . . erasing everything on the computer, of course. Since I had almost everything backed up, I knew the worst scenario was simply more time consumed re-installing all that software. What I wasn't prepared for, however, was the battle I'd have with my Outlook Express when I again attempted to transfer all the folders with their 5,000 plus letters and articles, and also the address book with its nearly 2,000 e-mail addresses. I actually got them transferred this second time. I even know where they are. In fact not only are they somewhere on the C drive, but they're also copied in My Documents as a safeguard. It's just that Outlook Express doesn't know where they are! So, here I am, stuck again with something that is beyond me, but simple to understand and fix by one who knows about such things. Well, all of this has reminded me of how easy it is for you and me to have the right "folders" of worship, but have them in the wrong place so that true worship cannot be picked up by the Holy Spirit and delivered to the Father in the Name of our Savior. It's a matter of finding and establishing the right link up . . . . the right channel by which true worship can take place. As I look back, I realize that similar experiences have happened to me in this very area of worship . . . . genuine worship. As a result, I've settled for no worship at worst, or corrupted or incomplete worship at best. Such experiences, if frequent enough, will soon eradicate any further desire for worship, and we then settle for poor substitutes built on perfunctory ritual or impressive performance. Three phrases from scripture come to mind in this matter of the Channels of worship. A CORRECT CHANNEL: "They that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth." (John 4:24) Jesus and the woman from Samaria had an interest conversation that she turned toward worship. Jesus accommodated her by reminding her that neither the location, the tradition, nor the style of worship was relevant to the issue of genuine worship. The key ingredient was that the channel of worship be the right one. Otherwise, one could recite all the correct phrases, sing all the right songs, follow all the right forms, and still go away empty and void of genuine worship. If we are to enjoy cherished worship, we must use the correct channel ---- spirit and truth. One of these is man connected and the other is God connected. 1. Worship in spirit: If we hold to the idea that man is a trichotomy, we quickly recognize it may be easy to settle for the wrong channel of worship. When it's left up to us, we often choose incorrectly. Being made body, soul, and spirit, we find the body containing various systems and the five senses is primarily world-oriented. It is through the senses we gain awareness to the world around us. The bodily systems keep us alive if treated properly, give us problems if they are not. There is nothing inherently significant found in the body that will cause worship. While it is true that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and they can be used to demonstrate and express worship, they are not necessary to worship. Some of the greatest worshippers I've ever known were quadriplegics and older people on their death beds. Their bodies were useless to worship. It's nice to be able to sing, clap, dance, kneel, lie prostrate, and the like while worshipping, but the body is not the true channel of worship. Something else is. That would be good to remember when choosing music styles and other physical forms of worship. The soul often gets an equally engaged workout when it comes to worship, but, again, it's the wrong channel. That's the part of us that is people conscious, but it is not inherently God conscious. It is basically self focused. That's why it is so easy for our knowledge or lack thereof to derail true worship. Just because we don't know a new song is no reason to be deprived of a genuine worship encounter. That's also why our emotions that are so varied should not affect our worship. Whether we're joyful or sad . . . . in either situation we should be driven to worship and should be fulfilled in that experience. And, most certainly our wills should have nothing whatsoever to do with bringing us to worship other than having made the decision to come into God's presence and choose to worship. Our preferences should have no substance and our actions should lead us no other direction than into the presence of a holy God. 2. Worship in truth: This is God's side in selecting the correct channel for worship. Whether you believe "truth" means Jesus the Truth, or the Bible (Thy Word is truth), or just truth as truth, the fact remains that if we're going to worship God at all, it must be built on and come through truth. You cannot come with a deceptive heart because it cannot stand in the presence of truth. You cannot come with falsehood into God's presence, for He cannot be fooled or deceived. He knows. He knows your heart, and he knows your motive. Frankly, the more I think about it my friend, the more I see how totally naked we are when we enter into God's presence in truth worship. The truth, whatever it is, strips away all pretense and hidden things. If we do not worship Him in truth, we do not worship Him. We worship something else . . . . or someone else. When we worship Him, we meet Him. When we meet Him, we know Him. And when we know Him, we know Truth . . . . and the Truth sets us free. So . . . . are you going to worship? If you are, dear friend, you will do it through the correct channel . . . . not through your body or your soul. It's not that He will not permit it, . . . it's that it just can't be done. It's an impossibility to truly worship Him in any other way. The good news is that when we do indeed worship him in spirit and in truth, He blesses us by allowing our minds, emotions, wills, and bodies to join in as an added bonus! Hallelujah for that! But they are just assistants and not the primary channel. Never forget that. It's urgent that we use the Correct Channel. A CLEANSED CHANNEL: "Worship Him in the beauty of Holiness." Isaiah 35:8 refers to the "Highway of Holiness" that leads to Zion. In Psalm 51 David makes it clear that the joy of God's salvation had been stolen by unconfessed sin. Though at that time he could not worship, he could repent. You and I both can probably quote dozens of scriptures that clearly tell us that sin separates us from God's presence, His provision, and His pleasure. What the Old Testament law taught regarding repentance, confession, and sacrifice as the means for entering into worship, the New Testament declares as also required. The only difference is that in the Old Testament those obligations had to be met by man. In the New Testament we discover to our amazement that they were met in God through Jesus Christ. Now when we come and stand before Him, we hear, "there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." However, that finished work of Christ once for all does not relieve us of our responsibility to come to Him having appropriated fresh cleansing. And, if you want to truly worship Him, it requires a cleansed channel. That means holding nothing back when the Holy Spirit prompts us and convicts us of attitudes and actions that have been displeasing to the Father. Sometimes the first step to true worship is on the Holy Spirit's part . . . . He convicts us. Then the next move is ours. If we don't take it, we can go ahead and pretend . . . . going through the motions, saying the right words, . . . . sounding more and more like an arrogant and presumptuous Pharisee. And getting the same result. . . . Nauseating religious clown acts. A CONTAINING CHANNEL: "You and You alone will I seek." Again, my mind is very foggy right now, and I'm not at home where I can locate the scripture reference for which I'm looking. However, there is something very special that happens when we come to the Father to genuinely worship Him. A Correct Channel and a Cleansed Channel will almost guarantee that it will also be a Containing Channel . . . . in two ways. The channel of worship must first be containing in that it disallows a wandering mind from slipping off into other areas. Worship needs to be a "this one thing I do" experience where we are not affected by deadlines, duties, and distractions. And, assuming we are focusing solely on the Lord and are worshipping in our spirits and not only in our minds, feelings, or the conditions of our bodies, then we should be so disciplined in our worship experience. I remember years ago hearing Ron Dunn talk about how easy it was for him to come into the presence of God to simply seek Him and instead settle for a good sermon idea. There's a time for getting sermon ideas, but the primary purpose of worship is God . . . . not sermon material. Then it needs to be a Containing Channel in that it contains only that which brings pleasure to the Father. So, things such as malice, anger, fear, resentment, worldly thinking, personal gain, . . . . none of these things are acceptable. In a nutshell, to be a Containing Channel, we must retain that which pleases God and reject that which doesn't. FINALLY: Well, my friend, there you have it. I don't know if this makes sense to you or not . . . . but I believe this is what the Father wanted me to share with you today. We both were created to Worship God above all else. Yet, too often it is one of the hardest things we do because we are so beset with pressures of life, demands of others, and even expectations of ministry. Let's remind each other that we can worship our Father only in spirit and in truth . . . . all else is a fraudulent experience that leaves nothing but disappointment, disillusionment, and a sense of unfulfillment. And let's remind each other that we must be Cleansed Channels, washed clean from all self and sin, if we are to enter into His holy presence without shame or hesitation. And, finally, we must be Containing Channels that will so live our lives that we will bring to Him ALL that He deserves and NONE that is of the flesh. If you can, spend some time today just being in His presence. . . . just you and the Lord. . . . drawn away for a few moments from the things that distract. Become an unrestricted channel in your spirit by which you may enter into worship that is pleasing to Him and pleasurable to you. In His Bond and For His Kingdom, Bob Tolliver -- Rom 1:11-12 Copyright November, 2002 Life Unlimited Ministries lifeunlimited@... If this letter has blessed you, feel free to forward it, with proper credits, to any and all you wish. Do you get "Hope4Kyiv" ---- the prayer and praise letter of our ministry in Ukraine? Subscribe by sending a blank message to hope4kyiv-subscribe@.... MAY I RECOMMEND . . . . If you have a heart for God and would like to be encouraged in your life and ministry, and you have a burden for your church, your community, and the world, then you may want to receive . . . "National Pastors' Prayer Network" newsletter at http://www.nppn.org ~ email: phil@... Register your PPG: http://www.nppn.org/ppg/ U. S. World Prayer Center at Usprayercenter@... City Reaching/City Impact Roundtable www.cityreaching.com Bob Hall's "Friday Fax" from New Zealand fridayfax-subscribe@... "Life Action Outreach" at www.LifeAction.org "Bulletin On Revival" by Francois Carr in South Africa at www.revivalcsa.co.za "Youth Interceding For America" at www.yifa.org "Mission America" at www.missionamerica.org. "The Lighthouse Movement" at www.lighthousemovement.com "We will not Work where we have not prayed." (Todd Golden)