“⁷Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” — John 16:7 (ESV)

Again, I have looked at the above verse several times as relates to others words I was studying. Here I continue to study the word “send” and have found something that I must have missed or forgotten. Jesus had to go in order for the Holy Spirit to be sent.

It seems a bit strange that Jesus had to leave this world so that the Holy Spirit could come. Would it not make sense for the two of them to be here in the world together and do twice the work. When I look at it from that perspective I am a bit perplexed. Twice the workers, twice the work, right?

Well as I look a bit closer and think back to all that I know and have learned, God does not need the help. He is fully capable of doing His work without any additional help from Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or even me. He can take care of it all on His own.

I see in the above verse that Jesus left this world and as He arrived in heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to this world to continue His work. Jesus was not able to stay here in this world forever. Think about it, Jesus walking the earth for 2000 years, it makes no logical sense. But, the Holy Spirit can be with us forever. The Helper can and will dwell among us all the days of my life, the life of my children, my children’s children, and my children’s children’s children. I look at things and see the Holy Spirit has been here with us for the past 2000 years and will be with us until Jesus comes again.

Jesus could not stay and so as He left, he made sure that we had a Helper that would be able to stay. The Holy Spirit was sent to continue the work of Jesus in our lives and in the live of those to come.

What are your thoughts of Jesus’ departure from this world? Were you wondering about the reason that both Jesus and the Holy Spirit were not here together to double the output of God’s work? What if we accepted that the Holy Spirit was sent to continue the work of Jesus for eternity in this world?

“¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” — John 3:17 (ESV)

There is pretty common knowledge of the verse before the one I have quoted above, John 3:16. Well for this morning I am looking at why God did not send His son. I believe that too often we are only looking at one side of things and as we do, our perspective is skewed to the point that we only see things from that view and omit the balance of the information. When I read John 3:16, I see the “whoever believes in me” part and feel as though it is only for those that believe and the rest are condemned. But that could not be further from the truth.

God loved the whole world, not just part of it and certain people in it. He has given the opportunity for all to be saved, only He knows, as is common for most things, that not everyone will take advantage of the gift of salvation He provides. We have to remember that God provides the same salvation for all. Verse 17 points this out to me.

I have to remember to look at things from the perspective of verse 17 as well as 16. I have to know that God did not condemn the world. He sent His son to save it. To offer salvation to all who would accept. Not just the “religious right” or the “church goers” or the “chosen nationality”. He sent Jesus for all the world and there was no condemnation in His coming.

“¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ¹⁹And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” — John 3:18-19 (ESV)

I see in the above verses that those that believe are saved those that are wicked are wicked and have condemned themselves. To often we want to blame someone else for that which does not go our way and really the blame should be placed solely on us. I have to know that Jesus came to save and not to condemn. I have to know that if condemned, it is my own doing. I also have to remember that Jesus came to save and, until I have passed from this world, I have the opportunity to accept the salvation provided and join Jesus in heaven, just as the thief crucified with Jesus.

Jesus was sent by God to save the world, not to condemn it. We have condemned ourselves with our actions. It is not too late however, there is still time now to listen to and accept the salvation provide by God through the death of Jesus so that we “should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

When you think about the coming of Jesus, what are you thoughts on the reason He came? Are you even aware that He only came to save? What if we accepted He came to save and not to condemn?

I am continuing my study of the word “send” and am at a passage I have studied before. In the margins I have written, “Pray to be sent not just for God to send”. As I look at the verses again, I see what I was referring to.

“³⁷Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; ³⁸therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” — Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)

I see here that we should definitely be praying for God to send out someone to tend to the needs of others, bring the glory of God to others, and provide for those that may not be able to provide for themselves. I see that there is plenty work to be done and as Jesus says in verse 37, “the laborers are few” indicating that there is a short supply of His followers doing the work.

I know that there are those that are constantly doing the work of God in the lives of those in need, but I will also say that I know that list is a short one compared to the population of those who follow Christ. Now I do not want to presume that there are those that simply proclaim Christ for the visual effect of its value, but I do know, as Jesus indicated in verse 37, there is a shortage of those that are doing the work.

I have to take the approach to pray for the Lord to work in the lives and hearts of everyone and in that work will compel them to go out and do the work needed to bring salvation to all. I have to also be listening to hear God as I am sure that He has instructions for me just as He has instructions of others. I have to pray for God to send and for me to be sent.

What are you praying for in relation to the action of sending or being sent? Are you looking for God to simply send someone to take care of things? What if you did, and then also prayed that God would send you into the field to do the work as well?

“⁸And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” — Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

Notice in the verse above the approach of Isaiah when asked who would take on the advancement of God’s Word, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah is first in line to offer to take on the work for the glory of God. He is not shy or timid. In fact, notice also the exclamation point as he draws attention as he boldly volunteers for the assignment.

At my office there are events that we sponsor to work and serve in the community. I have taken an interest in these as a way of providing service in the community and in the advancement of my mission “To improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s love.” The approach that I take when these events are presented is to say “I’ll go”.

By no means am I comparing myself to Isaiah and his relationship to God, but I am showing the correlation between his approach and enthusiasm for the work and the enthusiasm I should have as I do the work God has tasked me with as well. I am to say “Here I am! Send me” and with exuberance jump at the chance to go. I have to be open to the chances I am provided to glorify God through the work He has for me. I have to go when called and not look back.

I will be given even more opportunities than those presented at my office. I will have many chances to do the work of God and serve others in advancement of the glory of God. I will be provided certainly with more work to do as assigned by God. And in all of those opportunities and chances I have to look at them with the same enthusiasm as Isaiah and say, “Here I am! Send me.”

What opportunities have you been presented to do the work of God? Are you looking out for them, or even aware of them being presented to you? What if you were and took the approach of Isaiah and said, “Here I am! Send me.”?

“⁸I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, ⁹but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’” — Revelation 22:8-9 (ESV)

How easy is it to worship other things or entities based on what we perceive is their benevolence to me? I have received from others and at times I feel as though I owe them worship as a provider.

I want to put this out there, although I am not expressing an opinion one way or another, but think of government entities and their “giving” to me as a citizen of their domain. The entity provides that which is set forth of in the documents approved by the people. They are only performing as the will of the people have dictated as being a part of their role. In some cases there has been overreach as relates to that role and in others there has been a perceived shortcoming. In either case, we the people, in a lot of cases, have decided that they are to be worshiped for their “giving”. This is clearly stated as not what should be as you see in verse 9 above.

John literally fell for the worship of other entities than God as he “fell down to worship at the feet of the angel”. He was carrying out the worship of the messenger as opposed to the one, God, who sent the message. John fell trap to the idea of worshiping the one simply doing the will of the true authority, God. He was quickly corrected and shown the right path, “Worship God”.

I have to remember to look at situations and find the truth in them to be sure that I am placing my worship where it truly belongs and not at the feet of the one who brings me the information. I have to remember that pastors, prophets, angels, authority figures, news outlets, or any other purveyor of information to me are just the messengers and that the message itself comes from God and that is where my worship is to directed.

When you hear of news, where do you direct your worship? Are you in the group that falls or bows down to the messenger as the one providing? What if you were to direct you worship to God as the ultimate provider and simply respected the purveyor of the message?

I believe that this is one of those things that I have to remember and celebrate in God’s Word, the why I worship Him.

“3And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

‘Great and amazing are your deeds,

O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations!

4Who will not fear, O Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.’”

— Revelation 15:3-4 (ESV)

Notice there in verse 3 above, “Great and amazing”, “just and true”. These are those reasons that we worship God. He is “great and amazing” and “just and true”, not just His actions or works in my life, but His character is all those as well. I can count on Him for all things.

Yes, I do know that God will allow me to suffer hardship and difficulty. But notice the way I have stated that, he will “allow” for those things to occur. He does not cause them, just as our parents and guardians and others of authority in our lives. We have the choice and need to experience adversity in order to grow, but God does not make us suffer, He only allows us to experience it in order that we may learn from it and grow stronger for it.

God is great and amazing and just and true. In those are descriptive words, are realism that the world is sorely missing as they chase after all things for themselves. The just and true are not always what we want to have or experience, but they are generally what we need to experience in order to grow. I have to learn to embrace all that God allows me to experience, knowing that I am growing for it.

And that is why I worship God. For He is “great and amazing” and “just and true” in all that He does for and in my life. I am grateful for the love and provision and blessings and adversity that God allows in my life. He knows what I need and gives accordingly, and for that I worship Him.

What does God allow in your life? Are you experiencing that which you did not/ do not expect, like adversity? What if we embraced all that we experience and know that God is indeed “great and amazing” and “just and true” in all that He allows in our lives?

I have read and written on the passage for my study a couple of times before. And in each of those times I was reminded or it was revealed to me a couple of different truths. This morning is no exception.

“⁹And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever.” — Revelation 4:9-10 (ESV)

Verses 9-10 above are coming off of the explanation of the worship from the 4 creatures that never ceases. They are there surrounding the throne of God and they are in a constant state of worship. This then, I can see in the above verses, that worship activates the worship of the 24 elders that surround the throne of God. These worship the Lord always and for ever.

My worship should follow the same example as these. When I look at those that surround God and see that they are in constant worship, that should be a sign to me that I should be in constant worship. Not only in a fleeting moment like being in the church building or in the presence of the pastor of the church, but always. Notice that the elders worship without question every time the creatures worship. Shouldn’t I do the same, as they are in constant worship, I should be as well.

My work is to bring glory to the Lord and a huge if not all of that is to worship His glory and honor. I am to be His hands here in this world and I am to be thankful that I have the opportunity to bring glory and honor to Him through my hands. My work is worship and not only am I to do that work, but I am to be doing that at every turn. Like the elders are prompted to act on their task of worship when the creatures do the same, we are to take that same action when prompted to bring glory and honor to the Lord, which is always.

It is up to me to know the work God has for me. I learn that work daily as I study His word and learn in more depth the actions that are pleasing to God. Am I going to miss the mark, yes. Am I going to give enough glory and honor to God, no. God does not hold it against us when we miss from time to time. He knows our nature and knows that we are still learning. The thing is to know what we are working toward and work to do that as often as we can, and when we do miss the mark, repent and get back after it.

What is your work for God? Are you aware of just what it is that God wants from you? What if you were to do the work as the creatures and elders and just bring glory and honor to God at every turn through your worship of Him?

“²⁸Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our God is a consuming fire.” — Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)

This morning I was reading in Hebrews as I study the word “worship” and I was led to the passage here of “A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken”. The above verses are the writer’s closing to the passage and what I found that stood out to me was the idea/reminder that our worship is our offering to God.

When I think about offerings, I get visions of the plate passing in church or the sacrifices dropped at the alter. I don’t immediately go to worship or singing and praying to God in thanksgiving. This morning I ask myself why. I have to dig into the reasons.

We as a family recently received our giving statement from the church and when reviewing at first glance appears that we may not be giving all we can. But is that true? Am I really not giving enough as offering to God. I say, that I am, just not in the form of monetary giving. For instance, we are serving faithfully in the church to provide for the needs of the church and those that attend, whether that is in the kids department as Lori does, or in the set up and tear down of the “worship” area as Aarron and I do.

We are providing offering to God in the form of our service, and then, we worship as additional offering. It is great to hear Aarron stand next to me in the service and sing praise to God. He and I are very similar in our personality and for him to offer worship in song is a proud, brother in Christ moment for me. He gets it and takes action on it.

I still believe that I should be giving all that I can monetarily as offering, but I also know that is not all we can give and when you look at the passage and verses above, it is important to remember that our worship is our offering.

What are you giving as offering to God? Are you focused on the monetary gift you give? What if you were to increase your offering of worship in addition to your current monetary giving?

I believe that too often, I have found myself in the position of mental and spiritual worship and have not been fully committed physically.

“¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” — Romans 12:1 (ESV)

Paul gives it to me strait here. I am to surrender to God, physically. I am to give Him all of me from my heart, head, and soul, to my entire physical form. It is not good enough to worship in my mind. I have to give full to Him all that I am. My worship should be physical as well.

My giving of my full physical self is more than surrendering. I have to be prepared to worship and know that my physical for God is the best I have to offer. I spend about 40 minutes in the mornings exercising to improve my physical health. I get dressed up to go out to a nice dinner with Lori. I dress professionally to go to the office. Doesn’t it make sense to fully commit physically to God, my Lord and Savior. I should be more willing to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” to God over primping to see people at the office.

I am not saying that I should be out looking for outfits to “look the part” of a “holy roller”. What I am saying is that I should be presenting the best of me to God, whatever that best of me might be. In the Old Testament, the people would bring the best of their animals, not just an animal as sacrifice to the Lord. In some cases they would buy “the best” when they arrived at the temple because they may have felt as though they did not have a worthy sacrifice. And now, thanks to Christ’s death for us, we no longer need a sacrifice, we tend to just come and have strayed away from bringing our best to Him. Again, no need to bring more than you are or have, but it is right to bring the best of you, mentally, spiritually, and physically.

When you come to Christ, how are you coming? Are you thinking more spiritually and mentally is how you should prepare? What if you came to Him physically prepared, presenting “your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”?

“²⁴God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” — John 4:24 (ESV)

You see, in verse 24 God is identified as spirit and we are to worship Him in spirit. I have to meet God where and for who He is. I cannot have God conform to me and meet me on my terms, it is my duty to conform to Him and meet Him where He is. Jesus clearly states this here and when Jesus says something, it is my duty to follow as a follower of Him.

Jesus is speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and explaining to her the time will come when worshiping will not be at a place but in simple honor of God. I do not have to go to the church building, the holy place, or a specific mountain to worship Him. I simply have to get my heart right and ensure that my worship is for His glory alone.

“²³But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” — John 4:23 (ESV)

As a “true worshiper” I have to make sure that my heart is right and that I am honoring God in spirit and in truth. I have not to hide from Him. I have not to be only in certain company. I have not to keep Him to myself. I have to worship to honor Him in spirit and in truth and proclaim Him to all who are around me to ensure they have the opportunity to hear and follow Christ as He works in their lives.

I have found myself in positions where others know that I am a follower of Christ. They know that I am not shy about proclaiming my love of Him. What they may be missing and that is my fault is the worship I have for Him daily. I may not be open with my worship and for that I am missing opportunities to demonstrate my dependence on Him for my provision and blessings. Yes, they know I am a follower from some of my actions, but they do not see all of my actions that demonstrate my love for Him and my duty to do His will. I have to change that and do all things for Him and worship Him always. As stated by the 20 year old, wiser than His years, speaker from my church on Sunday, Sam Langenbahn, “Jesus is different, therefore I have to be different.”

When you are out there in the world, what does your worship look like? Are you worshiping outwardly and expecting God to conform to you? What it we worshiped God where and how He is, in spirit and in truth from our heart, He “is different” so we “have to be different”?