Question #1: Jesus Christ, Our Worship Leader (excerpts
of answers)
It is accurate that Jesus Christ is our true worship
leader. He has earned the right to be the leader. However, I do not
think most people perceive this fact. For me, it was a whole new concept
to think about.
I had never thought of Jesus as our worship leader before.
However it makes sense. If according to Hebrews he is the current
and eternal high priest, then he is our worship leader. I now see
him in a new light. Not only is he the one who carries out the sacrifice,
but he is the sacrifice. The realization that Jesus is the eternal
bridge between us and God makes me want to worship him all the more.
I really enjoyed reading this chapter because I felt
it was something new and worthy to be discussed and pondered. I knew
that Christ was our "bridge" to God, but have never considered all
he does that connects us to God. Christ truly is our worship leader.
He leads us now and will lead us in Heaven. That's an awesome thought!
Along with leading us, he also represents us before God.
It was amazing to learn that Jesus Christ continues
to be our worship leader. I knew that the only reason I can come to
God and worship is because of Jesus' sacrifice 2000 years ago, but
I often forget that He continues to be my mediator between God and
He is still drawing me closer to God and ministering before God for
me. In a sense, I don't always have to look back at what Jesus did
2000 years ago because He "has a continuing ministry as our high priest."
It was also reassuring too, because when I lead worship I get nervous
a lot.
I always took the idea of Jesus being our High Priest
in the sense of forgiveness of sin only. I thought that since the
Old Testament priest offered sacrifices to atone for sin, that is
what Christ did--only sacrificing Himself instead. But if He truly
is our High Priest, he would carry out all the duties that come with
the title, such as leading the people, directing worship, etc.
While on several worship teams, one of the things I
have had to struggle through is focusing on God, not the music, and
not how I sound. This chapter has given me something else to dwell
on as I'm worshiping through music. Jesus is going before God on my
behalf at that moment and offering my worship.
As I read this, I realized what bothers me about so
many worship leaders. They are taking much attention that is not due
to them, and should be more directed towards God.
Question #2: Our Response to His Response (excerpts
of answers)
What impacted me the most in this chapter is the entire
idea of worship being our response to Christ's response. This is a
completely new concept for me. In my eyes, worship has always been
me praising God for His amazing nature or simply whatever He was doing
in my life. The idea of worship completely changes when I think about
worship being initiated by Christ, not me. It is a very humbling concept.
It makes me realize that I am not in control of everything (like I
sometimes want to be). Worship is not great because I am singing out
to God. Worship is great because Christ first came to my rescue.
What impacted me most about this chapter was worship
as a response to His response. Sometimes I catch myself thinking that
I am pleasing God, and doing him a favor by worshipping him. This
is not so. God calls us to worship him through Christ. If it weren't
for Christ's intercession for us, we would be nowhere near to being
able to worship God. Christ constantly prays for us and perfects our
worship so that it can be heard by the perfect ears of God. I liked
this realization, because it humbles me in worship as I realize how
unworthy I am. I often view it as an obligation, but really, it's
a privilege. That just puts everything in perspective, and I think
it purifies my worship.
The most highlighted aspect, in my view, was the concept
of worship being a response to Christ's response. Christ leads us
in this dynamic worship-relationship experience. Even the triune nature
of God is a relationship of eternal response--the Holy Spirit always
testifying to Christ's glory, and Christ always testifying to the
Father's glory. God is a God of relationship.
It is easy to forget the grace we have been given.
Christ represents us before the Father and unites us the Father. He
made the initial response with his sinless life, death, and resurrection.
Our response can only be a response to what Christ has already done
and is doing for us. Our response becomes an outward focus on Christ,
and not on how we personally relate to God. All too often I think
the emphasis is placed on our own personal "experience" and we tend
to focus on ourselves. I desire a healthy perspective on worship;
therefore I need to remind myself that Christ is the agent.
Question #3: Practical Applications (excerpts from
answers)
My favorite part was the practical applications. They
helped me to realize that there are many different ways to tell people/inform
them of God's love and power. Each of these applications could be
used in a different way. I consider them all to be useful, especially
the ones that have you imagine yourself within heaven's gates, or
walking with God. This is something that everyone dreams about, and
being able to imagine it while sitting in church makes for a wonderful
service of tranquility.
Before reading this chapter, I had never really pondered
what it would be like for Jesus to be our worship leader in heaven.
To think, the Lord who CREATED music will be leading us in worship
sessions. I am really looking forward to an amazing time!
I think it would be AWESOME if I went to a church service
at my church, and our music director said out loud that he is not
the worship leader, but that the worship leader is there in spirit,
but can't be seen because he is invisible to the human eye. To hear
someone say that to the people, would help remind me and probably
others that we are singing to Christ.
The one idea that impacted me the most was that I can
have enough confidence to worship. He even calls us His "brothers
and sisters." This in itself blows me away. The fact that the Son
of the One True God puts Himself on our level by calling us His family
shows how approachable and loving He truly is.
Question #4: The Physical Side of Worship (excerpts
of answers)
The physical act of worship has always been difficult
for me. With the exception of raising hands, I rarely, if ever, participate.
This is not to say that I disagree with demonstrative, outward worship.
I do, however, have a personality that clashes with it, and a mind
that wages war with the life-giving Spirit within, who pleasures in
our free worship (although I do feel that there are limits to that
freedom). I enjoy seeing others express their worshiping selves in
the congregation before the Lord. It does my soul good. But, I've
given up trying to be an imitator of others around me and have instead
focused my attention on God's command to worship in Spirit and truth,
however that may look.
One thing that really stood out to me was the fact that
we should be prostrate before the Lord in worship. The more I thought
about it the more sense it made. God is so holy, and we are not even
worthy to worship Him. We need to come into worship with humble and
thankful hearts, with a servant's attitude.
It is honoring to God when we express our worship by
bowing down before Him whether alone or in the midst of the congregation.
Some churches have become too stingy in their worship because certain
things just aren't thought proper. I believe that that is an indicator
of a wrong view of God. When we realize His holiness and His glory,
we can't help but fall down before Him.
I am glad that this chapter focused on physical (bodily)
worship. It is something that I have often examined in my own life.
I believe that I do not have or display enough of a fear and reverence
for God in my actions when I sing and pray and serve him. This is
especially true about my personal prayer life. I often find myself
praying on my bed, just lying down--making sure to not get too uncomfortable--and
I wouldn't talk to even a girl that I thought was cute with such disrespect.
So, this chapter confirmed through Scripture my feelings that I need
to show God, through my body position, my reverence for him.
I believe that using physical actions during worship
is acceptable and Biblical but I was not aware of the amount of Scripture
there is to back that up. I do not believe that the actual act of
raising hands or falling on your knees will cause you to be a more
holy worshiper, but as humans, doing physical acts can help us keep
focused and serve as a reminder of who we are worshiping. A person
would never approach an earthly king in a casual manner, so we should
be even more inclined to come humbly before Christ, the King of kings,
as we worship.
What most impacted me was the part pertaining to our
bodily response. I tend to be rather reserved in that area, but now
I think that there actually is a lot of scriptural evidence for this
type of worship. I do not want to draw attention to myself or distract
my brothers and sisters from their worship. However, I will definitely
be trying to use more of these expressions in my personal prayer and
worship times.
I bowed down on my knees in prayer at a conference last
September for the first time in my life. I hesitated a lot when the
worship leader encouraged us to do so. It seemed very humiliating
and difficult for me. However, the Spirit convinced me, and I did.
As I prayed and worshiped, I began to feel that it was a very natural
thing to do. After that experience I began to apply this physical
expression of my faith both in my personal prayer time and in public
worship. I do not always bow down on my knees, but I do so when I
am convinced by the Spirit. When I bow down, I can truly be honest
with myself and with God who knows me well. I feel I don't need to
pretend that I am capable or great. I reveal my weakness, helpless,
and needs before Him. I like to have this freedom when the Spirit
encourages me to do so. This practice is very uncommon and strange
in Japanese ritual and tradition. I never saw anyone at church bow
down on one's knees in worship. I wish this practice would spread
more among Japanese Christians because it would help us picture heavenly
worship. Even angels fall on their faces. We should do the same.
Question #5: Meditation Assignment (excerpt s of answers)
I have had a very difficult two weeks and I put off
this question for a while because I didn't want to sit and pray to
God. As I began to ask if Christ's gift of grace and forgiveness was
real to me, I was made aware it is not at this point in my life. I
listed my temptations in my heart. I began to think about Christ and
the areas that He might have been tempted. It was hard for me to comprehend
Him as a man and God. I started to ask Christ to intercede for me.
I had never really done that before. I began to join in a prayer that
asked the Father to help me in the temptations I had. This part was
very real to me. Although the time of meditation wasn't some awesome
revelation or emotional experience, it seemed to really refresh me
with the fact that the truth is real and I need to live like it is.
My prayer is that God will give me a repentant heart as I cling to
Him each day.
Before my time of prayer and meditation I was stressed
and felt pulled in several directions. When I asked the Lord if Christ's
priestly ministry was real in my life I felt like the answer was no.
The thought that it was not truly real to me disturbed me. The more
I thought on Christ's intercession for me, the more it seemed to absorb
in my deepest parts. The greatest temptation to me seems to be the
attitude of pride. My sister confronted me with this problem two weeks
ago. At the end of my meditation I imagined Jesus praying for me.
When I pictured Christ before God's throne, the natural impulse to
correct my sin by myself diminished because it helped me to see I
didn't have to correct it, because Christ was anticipating the sin
and seeking to correct it for me. The most amazing part was when I
visualized Christ before the Father with His arms outstretched with
me behind Him and asking the Father to see Him instead of me.
During my meditation time I really felt compelled to
focus more on my need for Christ. There was much significance in visualizing
Jesus Christ kneeling before our heavenly Father and asking him for
specific help for me. The thought was kind of overwhelming. I started
thinking of worship as more of a partnership between God and myself.
I think what I learned about myself is my temptation
to fit it and be one of the guys keeps me from doing anything that
is out of the ordinary. Rather than being radical and exuberant about
my faith, I keep it inside and bring it out when it is convenient.
The temptation of fitting in is at the root of many other temptations.
For example, I want a nice car and nice clothes so that I will be
cool and people will respect me. I asked God to come alive in me.
What I have inside of me is so much more important that any material
possession and now I need to live like that.
In questioning whether Christ's priestly ministry seems
real in my life, I would say it does seem real. But there is a huge
temptation in my life that immediately comes to mind whenever the
word temptation is mentioned. I have struggled many years with this
and have never come to complete victory. Often when I pray about this
temptation I am reminded of the verse that tells me that Jesus has
been tempted in all points as I am, but it rarely brings hope. I long
for Jesus and the Spirit to intercede for me in this area of temptation.
I confess though, that I often have trouble believing that they will
and that they really care. I feel that I have failed too many times
for them to have the patience to intercede for me yet again. I do
hope my faith will increase and that I will enter into the prayer
of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
All of my temptations are subtle. None are blatant,
but still they are very hard to discern. I loved imagining Christ
praying for my temptations. I loved understanding that Christ prayed
for the disciples, so why can't he pray for me. I totally trust the
Spirit and Christ to intercede for me, and right now with all that
I am going through, I feel like they are the only ones that truly
love me.
An area I am tempted to fall into is jealousy. I can't
hide the fact that it tends to creep up on me when I least expect
it. I really hate it, and I am making an honest effort to not have
it in my life. Only Christ can change me from deep inside. I believe
that Christ is speaking that to my heart. He will do these things
and He really does care. It is so great to be loved like this.
The part that I felt most pleased and touched by was
when I read, He called us his "brothers and sisters." I feel I rejoiced
about it all but yet I hurt inside thinking of all the wrong I have
done in my life. The thought of me being related to Christ is outstanding,
but I feel like I am the rotten one in the family. Yet, knowing I
have God as my Father and Christ as my brother, I feel reassured and
confident. I am very thrilled to have a family like that, including
my other brothers and sisters in Christ here on earth. It is something
that I have never thought of before and will never forget.
I imagined what it would be like to see Jesus praying
for me in my areas of struggle. I could see Him using the exact words
to express my feelings and telling the Father in a better way than
I ever could. I never thought of Jesus praying for me. As I pondered
it and really thought about what that meant, I could not believe I
had never thought about it before! Jesus is there, backing us up.
Wow, God is good.
This exercise was very cool. Along with the prayer and
reflection, I incorporated some singing of songs. The things that
were going on in my head were more pure than they have been in previous
worship times. I did get distracted a few times, because I chose to
do the exercise in the dorm and there were a lot of people around.
I began by following the suggested outline. It became
apparent that I had a hard time truly understanding what Christ's
priestly ministry means. I think my struggle is understanding the
nature of Christ is that He is fully human and fully God. I really
saw how limited my view of Christ was.
During my time of meditation, I found it hard to first
to let Christ do the work of entering into God's presence for me instead
of trying to get there myself. Therefore, what I did was to silence
myself before the Lord and ask him to totally clear my mind and heart
before Him. As He did this, I found myself fall into more and more
dependence upon His power as the way to enter into his presence. I
then asked him to search my heart and show me anything that was unclean
and offensive in His sight. For awhile nothing came to mind, so I
continued to sit in silence. Once I was finally silent and attentive
before Him, He started revealing to me all the filthy things that
he saw in my life. One of the major ones was my degree of complacency
and mediocrity in relationship to Him. He showed me that I am not
letting myself be stretched in my faith and that I am settling for
where I am. The Lord gave me a total disgust for these sins. Another
thing the Lord showed me was my constant quest to seek the approval
of others. It was so awesome to know that because of Jesus' blood,
I could confess all my sins and enter into the Lord's presence with
total confidence. I did not have to be ashamed because I was not coming
by my power. It was very humbling and gave me a greater awe for the
work Jesus continues to do in my life. Then I was moved to pray something
like this: Dear Lord, help me not to settle for the safe and comfortable
life. Give me the courage to be stretched for you. Help me to let
go. Help me not to live to impress others or to promote myself, but
please give me true humility with my only motive being to love You
and to give Your love to others. Thankyou so much for your love. In
Jesus name, Amen.
