I was reading an article by John Piper yesterday. I am not your typical John Piper devotee even though I have family members that believe his in the direct line of the messiah. I usually stere clear of anything I know is written by the members of the frozen chosen or their followers. I know what I believe, I know why I believe it and I think it's a shame that God's people have to argue and fight about something like the love of God and whether God loves everyone or just the ones He choses. I apparently don't enough free time. It strikes me a humorous when the story of The Samaritan Woman is used as an example of God's predestined chosing of believers yet in the same gospels, there is the story of Nicodemus who came to Jesus of his own accord. Sure the Holy Spirit calls us all and without that wooeing there would be no movement on our part toward God. I get that. I will probably be labeled a blasphemer, but I am convinced that the Bible teaches us that, yes, some are chosen, but some come on their own. I don't mean to take away from the omniscience or omnipotence of God. I just don't understand how some of this world's most Godly men can be on both sides of this issue. Could it be that they are both correct? Anyway, this is not the subject I wanted to talk about today.
I was struck by the article though. It was taken from a series of sermons from 1997 on worship. There are times when I read something that I feel so strongly about and am in such total agreement with that I find it hard not to shout. I was in my office at work so shouting was not an option. I did have to wipe away tears though. If this sermon was not pages and pages long, I would have posted it here but I think I would rather speak what my heart is saying.
He mentioned that the New Testament doesn't refer to worship at all the way that the Old Testament does. The word used for worship in the Old Testament literally meant to "fall down". That will preach. I have listened to literally thousands of hours of opinions and read thousands of pages devoted to the story of the Samaritan woman and when Jesus told her that the true worshippers would "worship in spirit and in truth". I have questioned that one myself. I have had several "aha" moments when I thought I had received some divine revelation that explained what that phrase really meant. I don't know if I am any clearer today than I was before but I scensed in my spirit that this was about to be cleared up in my own mind.
I must offer this....I am a worshipper. I have spent the majority of my life leading worship, learning about worship and truely hungering and thirsting for God. I know what it is like to have an insatiable hunger to be in the presence of God.
I have said before that when God is trying to show me something that He really wants me to grasp then He will point it more than once. So, I read this article by John Piper yesterday, then I happened to go to the same site today and ran across another sermon on worship by John Piper called "Boasting only in the Cross". Then I was watching my video for school today at lunch and it was on the stories of Nicodemus and The Samaritan Woman. Ok, ok. I get it. I think I am supposed to seek God and research what it means to worship "in spirit and truth". I believe I have started a journey today. I am not sure but it seems at every turn I am being faced with this subject. I began reading a book, yes, by John Piper, called "When I Don't Desire God". I don't know why I was prompted to download this book. I really do desire God but I was struck by a phrase I came across yesterday "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him". It is my soul desire to glorify God. I thought I understood this concept but I am convicted that I have not found my satisfaction in Him. I have sought satisfaction in the things that I do. I am told that I have a gift of leading worship; that I have a true annointing that few people have or experience. I am always amazed by that statement. I know I spend a lot of time in prayer and personal worship in preparation for leading worship. I have said many times that I am at my most peaceful and most in tune with God when I am leading worship. I have said that when I am leading worship I feel like I am doing what I was created to do. I am withdrawing those statements. I am created to glorify God. I cannot glorify Him to the fullness extend of my capability as long as I am not satisfied with Him. Not the things He can do, Him and only Him. WOW! Where will this lead me? Hopefully to contentment, happiness, joy, all those things I have struggled with for every moment of my existence. Today, I began a journey; maybe a journey into utter madness, maybe a journey home but it is a journey to find out what it means to be satisfied in God.
Blessings
Allen
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