Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation

Posted By: Daryl

Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/19/11 02:24 PM

Here is the link to the study and discussion material for Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011):

http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/11c/less13.html

Posted By: Daryl

Re: Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/19/11 02:35 PM

Pastor Dan Wilson posted this in the Adult Sabbath School Class Group over in Facebook:

Originally Posted By: Pastor Dan Wilson

OK - Finally I understand what has been bothering me about this whole quarter that I couldn't quite pinpoint.

Last week The lesson compared our Sabbath morning worship services to the day of Pentecost.

Other times in the quarter they compared it to the OT sanctuary services.

This week they compared it to John's revelation of Jesus (vision) and to the throne room vision.

The question is asked on Sunday: "How should our worship services elicit in us a similar reaction? That is, shouldn’t we be given a sense of the presence of God, which should humble us? At the same time, how crucial that the Cross be lifted up before us as our only hope of salvation."

Essentially all these examples and the questions that have followed them are like comparing the most dramatic scenes of a relationship (first meeting, engagement moment, wedding, first home, children, etc...) and then asking: "Why can't everyday of marriage be as charged and exciting as these days and what can a couple do to make sure they are that way?"

Here is my issue: John didn't give himself a vision. Moses didn't invent the sanctuary and it's services, Peter didn't plan or initiate pentecost.

It seems like the lessons have been grasping at this utopic, elusive worship experience that we should be able to create on Sabbath morning that will at once make us fall on our faces in humility and shout for joy with singing at the same time. In looking to do this all these dramatic scenes are pulled from Scripture and compared to Sabbath morning when upon close examination there is no substantial comparison at all.

Furthermore we are not pagans. We do not invoke God's presence even though we use the pagan term - invocation. God does not appear when we conjure Him up like the spirits do.

Worship in the true Biblical model is man seeking after God because God was first seeking after him. It is man finding Him even though He was always there waiting and knocking and calling and wooing.

Sabbath morning is a gathering of men and women, most of whom should have been through this encounter experience already. It did happen because of a formula they mastered or a prayer they repeated. It happened when God's Spirit responded to a person's invitation.

The when and the where and the how is different for all of us. For some like Saul/Paul it is wildly dramatic and never forgotten. For others it is as though the connection was always there like John the Baptist. For others there is a following and a journey of discovery and understanding that has no fixed point or AHA moment like Peter and the disciples.

On Sabbath morning men and women who love God and live to serve Him gather to celebrate and deepen each other's experience by sharing, and studying, and singing and praying. Some Sabbath's will deeply impress one and not so much another. Another Sabbath will be different again.

My point is do not get caught in the trap or false idea that unless Sabbath morning has some wow factor it isn't worship or that if my marriage isn't hollywood like everyday than maybe we're not really in love.

If our worship is God centered, and leads members closer to the cross and the gospel of Jesus Christ, the lamb slain from the foundation of the world then it is God honouring.

If people leave more fully understanding the truth that "If I see the blood I will pass over" worship has taken place.

If people leave reassured that in an uncertain world the Rock of Ages is always solid and trustworthy, worship has taken place.

If people leave knowing that their burdens are lifted only at calvary worship has taken place.

The singing may not be worthy of Carnegie Hall but if it lifts up Christ God listens with joy.

The preaching may not be Television smooth or PhD deep, but if it point to the Lamb and gives hope to the fallen, it echoes true in the courts of heaven.

The God on the mountain is still God in the valley and worship in the valley is as real as mountain top experiences. He is Holy Holy Holy. How and when He reveals that to each of us or to a church as a body is up to Him not us. In the mean time, worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

What are your thoughts regarding the above quoted and reformatted for easier reading comment?

Posted By: Rosangela

Re: Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/24/11 02:39 AM

I think that he made some good points, however this is how I see it: worship is a way of living, and the worship occasions at church are high points in this experience. For those who have this experience, the worship at church always conveys the sense of the presence of God (although in varying degrees), and this is both a humbling and a joyful experience.

Posted By: Rosangela

Re: Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/24/11 02:44 AM

The Bible, in the book of Revelation, ends like it began in Genesis - showing that there is both a true and a false way of worshipping God.

There are 54 occurrences of the verb "to worship" in the NT, and of these, 22 occurrences are in the book of Revelation.

Posted By: Green Cochoa

Re: Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/24/11 06:46 PM

I appreciated his comparisons on the the term of "invocation." I agree, we are not pagans.

I think knowing other languages is helpful to understanding "worship" here too. In Spanish, for example, "adorar" means "to worship" (or "to adore"). Do we "adore" God? Do we "adore" anything other than God? In Chinese, one of the terms for "worship" can also encompass "pay respect to," "salute," and "visit."

In the Bible, bowing the knee (kneeling) or bowing so that one's face was to the ground, either one of these actions meant worship. Do we ever kneel before anyone other than God? In America, probably not. In some cultures this is a rather common form of respect.

But "worship" is much more than merely an action of respect, or of an attitude of adoration. Worship includes the following:

1. Prayer
2. Praise
3. Songs to God
4. Scripture reading
5. Faith
6. Obedience
7. Fasting
8. Humility
9. Tithes & Offerings (Sacrifices)
10. Reverence / Respect

And there are probably more. "Worship" is so pervasive, it encompasses all we do.

Blessings,

Green Cochoa.

Posted By: dedication

Re: Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/26/11 08:38 AM

Dan is presented the realities. Most people, as they step inside the church are not overwhelmed with a mighty sense of Divine Presence

When we enter church we tend to see people, we greet people, give someone a hug, shake hands and share a few pleasantries with fellow worshippers, we hear the chatter, see the colors and movement of people.
The reality is much more of a people focus -- most of the time there is the pressure of working to make the program go smoothly, being sure the children's divisions are having a good program and the kids aren't running around loose, hoping the visitors feel welcome and so often the spiritual dimension is almost secondary, like little tidbits one manages to snatch up here and there during the hours at church.

There is just no comparison to the awesome encounter of John, or Daniel, or Jeremiah, when they were given a glimpse of God Himself. That experience totally overpowered their vision and thoughts and nothing else mattered.

That type of experience is rare in church group setting. Though group worship can be like the trip to Emmaus -- when our "hearts burn within us" as we hear the words of truth, and there is a joy that comes from meeting with like believers and sharing thoughts with them.

And really -- maybe that's more like what its suppose to be -- -- "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us ... and while he opened to us the scriptures?"

Protestantism focused more on that type of a worship service, rather than the "high" experience.
Catholism, on the other hand, tried to invoke the awesome encounter experience as people walked into the magnificiently decorated architecture of their cathedrals. The artwork and lofty structual design has a profound affect upon the person. Against this awesome setting there's the chanting of hymns that leaves one in almost an hynotic state.

So, I think the author Dan, has a valid point, we shouldn't come to church expecting an knock-down awesome feeling, but rather to find joy in fellowship with other believers and feel the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts as the scriptures are opened.

And yes, of course worship is a way of life.
But I think the author was talking about the worship service when people come together Sabbath morning.

What do we expect then?

Posted By: Rosangela

Re: Lesson #13 (3rd Quarter 2011): Worship in the Book of Revelation - 09/27/11 04:13 AM

Quote:

There is just no comparison to the awesome encounter of John, or Daniel, or Jeremiah, when they were given a glimpse of God Himself. That experience totally overpowered their vision and thoughts and nothing else mattered.

Right. But the lesson didn't say we must experience the sense of the presence of God exactly as they experienced it, nor that we must experience the resulting sense of humbling and of joy to the extent they experienced it.