March 1996
Vol III
To spread the true gospel Light to all men
The Making of True Worship
by Rev. Stephen J. Dickinson
Today, the majority of the world's population has become what is known as "self-centered," which seems to effect every facet of our lives. This self-centeredness is evidenced in our family relationships, our work areas, our friendships, as well as our times of worship in the church. With the self-centered mentality, we go through life asking ourselves "what is in it for me," or "what do I get out of this." This same mentality has been carried into the churches of today, which has produced a living nightmare to our God, causing Him to regret even more His decision of creation. Because of the consumer mentality, Pastors and lay-people are failing to perform their obligations that they were called to, and the churches are being left spiritually bankrupt. Pastors today seem to be more interested in pleasing man than God. In this, the local Pastor concentrates on increasing numbers (without true Salvation), preaching church doctrine (instead of the doctrine of Jesus Christ), and mastering empty---feel good sermons. This keeps the Pastor out of the fire and in the grace of their congregation, denominational officials, and church leaders. All the while, true church worship has fallen short of the mark, and the people whom they have been charged to shepherd are led astray.
True worship is a personal response to God. John 4:23 tells us that "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." God is not seeking those who maintain the self-centered attitude, with church being the place to go and receive a false blessing and leave feeling good. This is not true worship. The essence of true worship is our response to God Himself, in what He is, what He has done, and what He will be doing. Worship is God centeredness, with us recognizing all that He has been, all that He is, and going to be. In drawing into worship towards God, and away from self, God's holiness will quicken our conscience into a full awareness of God and His desires for our lives. True worship will nourish our minds and hearts with the great and deep truths of God, that the Pastor must deliver to the people through true unction and power of the Holy Spirit. True worship will purify the imagination by the beauty of God, and open our hearts to a deeper understanding and love for God. True worship will surrender the complete will to the purpose of God, which is the complete remedy for the sin of self-centeredness.
True worship is not characterized by methodology, styles or presentation. The only thing that counts in true worship is that all facets of the service are presented through the power and suggestion of the Holy Spirit. The pastor's responsibility is to pray through in all things, and the people are to come with no expectations other than to be led into a deep and true time of worship with God. Too often today, the church carries the "Production Mind Set," in which the service becomes a production of man and not a worship service for God. It would appear that the majority of churches today are simply playing church, and the presence of God is not found within the church walls. Other words, they are guilty of playing church and just pretending to possess the power of God. This is a horrible blasphemy which burns the heart of God and turns Him completely away the fraudulent worshipers. So you might ask, how can we clarify false worship from true worship? God's word is never changing, and Acts 2:41-47 describes the worshiping church. Such a church will see souls come to Christ (v. 41). True worshipers will be steadfast in the true doctrine and fellowship of Jesus Christ, with prayers constantly being uttered (v.42). The worshiping church will not be a selfish church. Rather, each will cater to the needs of the church and the people as well (v. 45). The true worshipers showed their love for God by continuous attendance (v. 46), with God adding to their numbers daily, those who were being saved (v. 47).
When people gather together in God's name, to glorify Him and not man, God has promised to be in their presence. God is tickled to death to find people who will worship in His will and His name. God will strengthen those hearts that are fully committed to Him, and His blessings will be poured upon those who are truly serving Him.
True church worship is continuous prayer. The prayerful attitude should begin before, continue throughout, and end at the close of each service. Worship is prayer! The worship service consist of various stages and degrees of communication with God. Some different forms of communication might be---the call to worship, songs of praise and commitment, times of confession, the delivering of the word, participating in the offering, communion, and departure to serve. From the very beginning of the service to the time of departure, the service should be completely enveloped in prayer. True worship is a time for people to recognize and remember God's mercy, and to respond in prayer and self-giving. True worship through pray unites the believer with God, and transforms men and women into the likeness of Christ Jesus. Without this kind of a prayerful attitude, there can be no true worship with God.
Now we must ask, could the hindrances to our entering into true worship be caused by the preoccupation of "who we are" and not "who is God?" Could the problem of a dead worship service be caused from the self-centered attitude of "what can God do for me", instead of asking "what can I do for God?" True worship comes to those who through holy living, seek the face of God, and are God centered in all their worship. The true worshiper will focus on being with God and allowing His Holiness to bring them into a reverent submission to His every will. The true worshiper will open up their heart to the marvelous love of God and seek to better understand Him and His will for their life. When we come to the House of the Lord---let us not be self-centered, but God centered. Let us come to the House of the Lord for God's name sake, not for our name sake. This is the making of true worship.
MILLENNIUM
by Dr. Stanley R. Farrar
(Continued)
Second, let us take a look at the pre-millennial teaching, as it is the one that is most readily accepted by many today. Although it has even more problems with its teaching when compared to the Bible. There are many today that accept it as being accurate only because it is so widely propagated. This belief teaches that Satan succeeded in making Jesus postpone the establishment of His kingdom during Christ's first advent. Thus the establishment of the kingdom has been put off until Jesus comes again or at His second advent. There are a number of problems with this theory, as we consider what the Bible has to say.
1. The first thing to consider is that Jesus is God and He has all power in Heaven and on earth. John 1:1,14 lets us know He is God and He dwelt among man. Matt. 28:18 tells of the power that He has. There is no way that He was defeated when He was crucified, but instead He was all victorious. He accomplished exactly what He came to accomplish. At His death, burial, and resurrection He was victorious over Satan, death, the grave, and hell. He postponed nothing, He fulfilled all that the Father had sent Him to do. He proclaimed it as He hung upon the cross (John 19:30). In His High Priestly prayer He declared that all that the Father had sent Him to do He had finished (John 17:4).
2. Mark 9:1 says that some that were with Jesus present would still be alive when the kingdom had come in all of its power. Therefore, the kingdom of God had to have come during the time of the Apostles. It could not be some futuristic kingdom to come at the last day as some would have you to believe.
3. I have afore stated in the section on the post-millennial teaching that the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, not one to be observed with the human eye. The kingdom is not one of the physical but of the spiritual. Paul tells us In Romans 14:17 that it "...is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Luke 17:20-21 "...The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold; the kingdom of God is within you." Therefore, we do not look for a literal kingdom, for He has already set up His kingdom in the hearts of all believers. Only those who believe in the pre-millennium look for a literal kingdom, as did the Jews.
4. There is also a problem with where there would be a millennial reign of Christ upon the earth. In the book of 2 Peter it tells us that this old world is going to be burned up leaving no place for a millennial reign to take place 2 Peter.3:10-12.
5. Those that believe in a millennial reign of Christ on the earth also has to believe that there is going to be two resurrections of the dead, 1000 years apart. Whereas the Bible tells us that the saved and the lost will be resurrected at the same time. It says that all which are in their graves will come forth at the same time. In Acts it says that there will be a resurrection, not two (Acts 24:15).
The Bible also tells us that at the time of Jesus' coming every eye will see Him and every knee shall bow before Him. This could not be possible if the just was resurrected first then 1000 years later the unjust would be resurrected (Rev. 1:7).
6. The book of 1 Thess. tells us that Jesus will return and it gives us a description of the event. 1 Thess. 4:13-18. He will be coming for His faithful followers and they will be taken up with Him in the clouds. AT THIS POINT I WOULD HAVE YOU TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION! Verse 17-18 tells of those who will be taken up together with Him and then it says, "...and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Note it says "will ever be with the Lord." It does not say that he will take us up at the resurrection and then come back to set up His kingdom.
7. Rev. 21:2 tells of the new Jerusalem coming down from Heaven. Is this speaking of the Jerusalem in the Middle East? No, definitely not. Turn over in your Bible to Hebrews 12:22-23 and see what this New Jerusalem is speaking of in proper respect. It is speaking of the Church. Therefore, in keeping with proper use of symbols then we have to recognize that the New Heaven and New Earth has to be symbols, as well. Then, if the New Jerusalem is speaking of the Church, then the New Heaven and New Earth has to be speaking of the eternal home of God and His redeemed. That has to be the eternal Heaven.
God, in the last days, will bring an end to this old world and all that it contains. The last day means exactly that, for when we get to heaven there will be no more days. Then He will judge all mankind and issue the just rewards. There will be no literal MILLENNIUM.
Thirdly, we need to consider for just a short time the a-millennial teaching, which the writer believes with all of his heart. The Bible is written in symbols and allegories to help make it meaningful to all ages. Therefore, we cannot take it completely literally. The 1000 years that is referred to in the book of Revelation is a symbolic period of time that is relevant to our Christian walk. When we accept Jesus Christ as our own personal savior He establishes His kingdom in our heart right then. Old Satan is put in an abyss, or a confined area, which is only the area of influence that we will allow him to have in our lives. Therefore, the A-millennialist takes the teaching of the MILLENNIUM as a symbolic period of time, an indefinite period of time as we live for Jesus Christ.
If you believe the pre-millennial or post-millennial theory, you have to believe the temple is going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Also, that the Levitical priesthood will be reinstated and, the blood sacrifices would be brought back into effect. If you believe this then you make Jesus' sacrifice, which He made for you and me, null and void. You make another way of salvation other than Jesus Christ. The Bible says there is no other name by which we may be saved. Acts 4:12. Consider all of the truths of the Bible, and listen to the Word of God. Men will lead you astray, but God will lead you to His eternal home. May God bless you as you study the Word of God and let His Holy Spirit lead you into all truths.
By Pastor Stanley Farrar II
There are people who will say "Well, what's in a name?" Should man name the church? Many believe that they have the right to. Is this a true assumption, it all depends on who their church belongs to, man or God. Let us look at what the Bible says about the naming of God's Church. Isa 62:2 "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." So we see that Christ Himself was to name the church. Which he did in John 17:11 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." So we see here that Christ stated that His church was to be kept in the Father's name. Thus, if the church belongs to God, then it already has a name. If it is man's church, Satan loves the division that is caused by the names that man has given churches, and the false teachings they propagate.
Jesus stated strictly that the church (those that believe in Him) is to be kept in the Father's name (See John 17:11). This plainly tells us that we are to be kept in God's names. Thus when we are saved we take on a new name the church of God. I have had some tell me that this is applicable to the universal church, such as in Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." 1 Cor 10:32 "Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:" 1 Cor 11:22 "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." 1 Cor 15:9 "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." Gal 1:13 "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:" 1 Tim 3:5 "(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)" But if we look into the Word we will see it also applies to the local church. Let us look at 1 Cor 1:2 "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:" 2 Cor 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:" 1 Thes 2:14 "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:" 2 Thes 1:4 "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:".
We see that the Bible gives us a set name for the church. Despite this, many congregations today are named after methods, teaching and even offices. But you have to look long and hard to find one with a true biblical name. What does a name tell us? It states ownership or belonging. In the case of a family, it designates that a person is part of a certain family. The family name is passed down through the generations. The same is true in the church, for the name of God is passed down to us making us the Church of God. And the Church is one family. Eph 2:19 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;" Eph 3:14-15 "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Thus the church has one name, not many, just as there is but one true God. We are named after the Heavenly Father by Christ Himself. Many today would name themselves after Jesus. Although this is closer to being correct, being that Jesus did purchase us with his own blood, it is still not the true name of the church. It still comes down to the fact that Jesus did name the church and he named it after God the Father, not himself.
What does it really mean to be the church of God? Well, literally it means the congregation of God. Which is to be the people who serve God. It also means that we belong to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. So the family name, the church of God, does not exclude any of the God Head. It leaves them all on an equal footing and places them in control, as the ruling Body of the Church were they alone should be and no man has the right to try and replace them with anyone or anything.
Man was never meant to rule the church. God created the church of His people. To be a member of the church, God must place you into the church. He does this when you are saved. Man cannot make you a member of God's Church. Acts 2:46-47 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." 1 Cor 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." 1 Cor 12:18 "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." So we can clearly see that God places us in the church, not man, so no earthly church membership is of God. God has built the church and doesn't need man to tell him who belongs. Man also cannot remove you from the church, but sin can. 1 John 3:8-10 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (Also see Romans Chap. 6). Man cannot see the heart and cannot know of hidden sin. but God knows all things. With man-made church membership you cannot help but be bound together with disbelievers. This is forbidden by scripture and a blasphemy to God. For this kind of membership removes God from the leadership of the church and puts man in His place. The church of God is to be ruled by God alone.
We live in an era where men try to say that the name of the Church doesn't matter. This is a direct contradiction of scripture. Christ named the church both local and universal. The name he gave the church is the church of God. Jesus said that He would build his church, not churches. God never intended the denominational divisions we see today. God hates division and wants us to be one church (see John 17:11-12, Gal 3:28). This is why God told us "to come out from among them." Who reigns in your church, God or man? Does your church hold the biblical name for the church? If not, how many other manmade teachings are there in your church? If your church has any rule of faith other then the bible it is a church of man and not the church of God. For we cannot waiver from the word of God with out man-made teachings appearing and man-made teachings help Satan and destroy the soul.
"It doesn't matter what church you go to" This is a lie that has been proliferated throughout the movement today. This lie of the devil has allowed many to return to the evils of denominationalism and has cost some their very souls. Let us not fall into this trap of Satan to justify false teachings and false names. It is a great danger to conform to those around you, we have not that luxury to conform. Some claim to be part of the church of God but have fallen victim to this lie and have removed the name of God from their churches. God gave us His word for us to live by, and He named His people the "church of God". It is not an option what we call ourselves, we are the church of God. The question is who does the church belong to? Does it belong to the community or does it belong to God? Did the community die for us, no Christ did! He purchased us with his own blood, and he gave us a new name. That name is the church of God. Let us cling to the name that God gave the church. Let us separate from all man-made teachings and names. Join together in true biblical unity. Not a union of denominations, but the union of true believers through God.
Is published by the First Church of God, 818 4th st, Fairbury, Nebraska 68352, Chief Editor Pastor Stanley Farrar II, Editor Michelle Farrar.
The Gospel Light is published to spread the true light of God's word to all men. We are dedicated to the truths of the word of God. Such as salvation, holiness, sanctification, the unity of all believers, etc... We are not responsible to return any articles submitted to The Gospel Light. We reserve the right to hold the articles for future printing, and possible reprinting. All articles submitted should be submitted to the First Church of God, 818 4th st Fairbury, Ne 68352. Articles are not to be longer then two pages typed, because of space concerns. I hope that the Gospel Light paper is a blessing to you, and may God bless those who read this paper.
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