Pastor Sam made the observation that, when we experience crisis, the appropriate response for the believer manifests itself in two primary ways:
The expression of deep faith. It's so important to develop a lifestyle of faith in God. This faith is a well that we draw from in seasons of grief and uncertainty. Like the parable of the ten virgins, which we've discussed before, there is this idea of building up a spiritual reserve... having something extra to refuel us when our lamp is going out. I'm speaking in metaphor, but I think you know where I'm going with this. There are some people who only show up in church when a crisis hits, and those persons have it all backwards. We need to be in an ongoing, growing relationship with Christ so that when a crisis hits, we won't be blindsided or blown away. Pastor Sam shared a few lines of a hymn that expresses this concept:
"When darkness seems to veil His face, I rest on His unchanging grace:
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil."
Because the hymnwriter had a history with God, the experience of life's storms did not disturb or distract him.
The expression of deep worship. In the first service Pastor Sam asked a question, and answered the question succinctly: "What do we do when there's nothing we can do? We worship." That's what Job did, and I hope we can all express the godly response of Job: "The LORD gives; the LORD takes away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (see Job 1:20-22).
Like faith, worship is a lifestyle that is built up over months and years of engaging in the worship of God. As my husband often says, it's the one thing we do on earth that we know we'll be doing in heaven, so why not get as much practice as possible?
We have made the great mistake of equating worship with music, and that's not the case. Worship is the declaration- declarative, spoken out loud, publicly expressed- it's the declaration of the attributes and worthiness of God. Certainly we can use music as a vehicle for this expression, but the music isn't always in support of the worship. I'll give you an example- the song I mentioned during last week's blogs.
"Take my heart and form it; take my mind, transform it; take my will, conform it to Yours O Lord..."
It's performed as a classic "worship" song, but as you read the lyrics you'll see there's no declaration of the attributes of God. It's a great song, but "Take My Heart" is better described as a prayer set to music.
What do we say when we worship? We declare who God is: How great is our God... Lord, You are holy... The Lord our God in the midst of us is mighty... The LORD reigns... in other words, it's all about Him. No personal requests, and not even thanksgiving...
So God, today we lift our hands and we worship You. You who are holy, kind, merciful and just. Oh God, we see Your hand of judgement looming and we know that Your mercy requires the execution of Your judgement. You are the mighty, everlasting, all-powerful God. When You speak the earth shakes and trembles. You are the One who reigns over all. A fire goes before You and burns Your enemies. Oh Lord, You are exalted above all gods. We worship You, almighty God... truly there is none like You!
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