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Seven Days For Worship

    “Worship” is a concept which must be understood by every faithful Christian. God both expects and deserves our “true worship.” “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) There is a worship that is true worship and there is a worship that is vain worship. In Matthew 15:8-9 we read, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” The word worship is used in a 102 verses in the King James Bible. One of the great Bible verses concerning worship is Psalm 29:2. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” True worship is caused by our awe and reverence for the true and living God. I remember Habakkuk 2:20 saying, “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.”

   Paul taught us about seven days for worship. Paul spent about three years at Ephesus preaching the word of God and strengthening the church. (Acts 20:31) During Paul’s stay at Ephesus he warned everyone night and day with tears. While he was there the word of God grew nightly and prevailed. (Acts 20:20) Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines for Diana, stirred up the people against Paul. Many people were turning away from idol worship and turning to the true and living God. The turmoil in Ephesus was so great that Paul was forced to leave. As he journeyed from Ephesus he came to Troas. The Bible says, “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:6-7) Paul and his companions stayed seven days for worship. There they observed the Lord’s Supper together, as the early church did on each Sunday. During this seven days Paul also did some powerful teaching to the elders from the church in Ephesus, who had met with him there. Seven days for worship to the Almighty God is very important for us also!

   Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are also important days if we are to worship correctly. Those who say that everything we do in our life is worship to God are not correct. The first time the word “worship” is found in our Bible had to do with Abraham sacrificing Isaac at God’s command. Abraham did several things in preparation for that day, but not all of it was worship. What he did on the mountain, at the specific command of God was worship! “Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:5) During the week days the true worshippers must meditate and be sure that they know that they believe, that they know they are penitent of all wrongs, and that they know they love God completely and want to honor Him.  Paul spoke of the God, “whose I am, and whom I serve.” (Acts 27:23) First day of the week worship is acceptable only when we have maintained a proper relationship with God during the week. First day worship is acceptable to God only when we have belonged to God and served Him faithfully. Our daily life is to glorify God; then our Sunday worship can be acceptable to Him. There is special worship, during which God commanded specific actions on a certain day, even though all of our actions on all days should honor God.

   Faithfulness to God demands that we worship correctly on the Lord’s Day. The proper day for worship is the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7) During our worship our minds must be centered on honoring God and remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin. Our worship must be characterized by “reverence and Godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28-29) The true worshipper is the person whose mind and life is controlled by Christ’s will. Worship is true worship only if we have the right spirit and if we do the right things, while we are assembled. In no age, place or time has God ever told man to worship, but failed to describe how the worship is to be done. In the New Testament there are five channels through which our worship flows upward to God. Singing is a beautiful and powerful force, when we realize that it is produced by the word of God dwelling richly in the worshiper. (Colossians 3:16) Preaching is a heart touching part of our worship when we focus on the preaching of the cross. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Prayers take on new meaning, when we realize that we are gathered at the throne of God’s grace, with Jesus our sympathetic High Priest. Giving is motivated by God’s unspeakable gift to us. (2 Corinthians 9:15) The Lord’s Supper focuses our hearts on Jesus. He is that Lamb that was slain for our sins. (Revelation 13:8) Communion refocuses our reliance upon Jesus, with a humble and grateful heart for the sacrifices He has made for us.

   After First Day of the week worship has ended, we should be prepared for six days of glorifying God. The six days of glorifying God will again prepare us for special worship on the first day of the week. Without faithfulness in worship to God there can be no Christian life. Without a Christian life there can be no faithfulness in worship. Those that come to see God as their great Creator will worship Him or give Him "worth." The psalmist wrote, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10) Your life should lead you to faithful service to God and man. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) Faithfulness in glorifying God on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday will prompt you to an even stronger desire to worship God faithfully on the Lord’s Day. Faithfulness in Lord’s Day worship will then prompt you to an even greater faithfulness in coming weeks.                   

   Our attitude toward worship should be that expressed by David in Psalm 122:1. "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." Before we can participate in true worship, we must be a Christian. You must obey the first principles of the gospel of Christ to become a child of God. Obedience to God includes faith, repentance, confession, and baptism. (Mark 16:16, Luke 3:13, Acts 8:37, Acts 22:16) We urge you to be a Christian and to worship faithfully. Christians must accept the challenge of Psalm 95:6-7. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand:”

---- Charles Box

News & Notes

1. Prayer List: In Need of Prayer: Paige & Briley Barr, Teresa Boutwell. Terry Claunch, Johnny Cole, Camren Coleman, Lisa Cook, Tim Croley, John Curry, Nell Daughtry, Nelson Daughtry, Haley Fortune, Richard Harrell, Michael Hartin, Devin Hawkins, Darlene Herring, Betty Hobbie, Orene Johnson, Stephanie Maddox, Katherine Myers, Ramona Newton, Bill & June Perry, William Pierce, William Poole, Linda Reynolds, Nathan Simmons, Evelyn Smith, Eleanor Stabler, Ed Starkie, Vickie Starkie, Andy Taylor, Mary Lou Terrell, Alice Thompson, Leroy Waller, Cleo Wilson, and Barbara Woods. Crowne Health Care: Dorothy Buck, Jewel Cauthen, Gladys Childs, Arlene Coletrane, Ruth Davis, Betty Findley, Betty Garlock, Davis Hester, Ruth Hester, Jim Holmes, Kathy Johnson, Sarah Knight, Alice Padgett, and Annie Ruth Tetter. Pine Needle: Lydia Ann Raybon and Elizabeth Perdue

2. Welcome to Walnut Street: We welcome Sharon and Rebecca Shappley and Sophia to Walnut Street. They live at 203 South College Street, Greenville. – Phone 283-1272. Make them feel at home.

3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Joan Barr and her family in the death of her brother-in-law, James Barr and Tim Croley and his family in the death of his uncle, Arthur Little.

4. Silver Threads Banquet: The youth group wishes to honor the older members of the congregation with a meal and entertainment on Saturday, February 16^th at 11:00 a.m. in the multipurpose room.

5. Help Marty and Alisha Celebrate: We want to help Marty and Alisha Sexton celebrate the adoption of their precious daughter, Quinn. On Sunday night, February 23^rd we will share a covered dish meal together, after the evening service in Quinn’s honor.

6. Anniversary: Celebrating an anniversary this week: February 14^th Calvin and Annie Webb.

7. Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday this week: February 12^th Jason Holladay, February 13^th Anderson Bagents, and February 15^th Nell Davis.

8. Contribution Records for 2013: The contribution records for 2013 are on the welcome center in the foyer. If yours is not there or if you see the need for corrections, please see Deborah Stallings.

9. Thank You: Dear Walnut Street, Our family wanted to say to all of you how much we appreciated the thoughtfulness and care that was bestowed on us after my Grandmothers’ death. We were touched by all the kind words and the cards we received, the phone calls and the lovely plant that was sent. It is so nice to have such a caring spiritual family as all of you. In Him, Randy & Lisa Bagents and Family

10. Religious Debate: The University of North Alabama Christian Student Center is hosting a religious debate on April 4th beginning at 6 PM. Bart Ehrman will affirm the proposition, “The pain and suffering in the world indicates that the Christian God does not exist.” Kyle Butt will deny that proposition. For more details visit www.unacsc.com.

11. Immediate Needs For Our Mission Work In Guyana: We need, (1) 4,000 Brick to complete Building -- $700. (2) Cement to finish Building -- $810. (3) Moving fill-dirt to building in Annai -- $500. (4) Wiring & Lights for building to use when the community Generator working -- $950. Total Amount Needed: $2,960. Thanks to all who are helping!

12. Vacation Bible School: Happy Ever After…The Salvation Story is the theme of this years’ Vacation Bible School. This is exciting! We hope that you will see its potential and join with us in our excitement. We need your help; there are jobs for everyone! See the bulletin board in the foyer.

Open Your Eyes

   While Israel was at war with Syria, Elisha, the man of God, prophesied.  He informed the King of Israel that the Syrians would be in “such and such a place,” so that the Israelites could set up an ambush. This he did more than once, and it began to vex the Syrian king. So the king found Elisha and sent horses, chariots, and a great army there. The army encompassed the entire city of Dothan, and Elisha’s servant arose early and went out where he was taken aback by what he saw. He hurried inside to inform his master and said, “Alas, my master!  What shall we do?” Then, confidently Elisha made this statement of faith, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then, Elisha prayed that his servant’s eyes would be open. The Lord immediately opened his eyes, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, forming a wall of protection around him and Elisha.  (II Kings 6:8-17.) 

   Are your eyes open to the power of the almighty God? It is time that we fearful servants open our eyes and see that those who are with us are more than those who are with them. No, we are not assured that a great physical army will protect us from harm, but this should not discourage us.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…but against the rulers of the darkness of this age.”  (Ephesians 6:12.) We are at war with the Devil, but we should not fear, for we have been given an arsenal of armor and powerful weaponry. (Ephesians 6:13-17.) Have faith in this, and there is no reason why we should not be brave just as Elisha was when he stared death in the face. Believe as Paul did when he said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

   I challenge you today to open your eyes and see the power you have been given. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation.” (Romans 1:16.)  Believe in it, obey it, and share it!

----Darrell Powell