In 1971, the great 20th century preacher, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, brought these remarks to an annual Minister’s conference:
“We must not be content until we have had some manifestation of the activity of God. We must concentrate on this. This is my plea, that we concentrate on this, because it is the great message of the Bible, so substantiated by the lessons of history. That is obviously today the only thing that gives us any hope as we face the future. And God seems to be saying that to us. ‘Prove Me now. Try Me. Risk your everything on Me. Be fools for My sake. Cast yourselves utterly upon this belief.’ Let us put it like this: Do we really believe that God can still act? That is the question; that is the ultimate challenge. Or have we, for theological or some other reasons, excluded the very possibility? Here is the crucial matter. Do we individually and personally really believe that God still acts, can act and will act - in individuals, in groups of individuals, in churches, localities, perhaps even in countries? Do we believe that He is as capable of doing that today as He was in ancient times - the Old Testament, the New Testament times, the book of Acts, Protestant Reformation, Puritans, Methodist Awakening, 1859, 1904-5? Do we really believe that He can still do it? You see, it is ultimately what you believe about God. If He is the great Jehovah - I am that I am, I am that I shall be, unchanged, unchanging, unchangeable, the everlasting and eternal God - well, He can still do it.” (I originally found this quote on Adrian Warnock’s site, but you can read the full sermon here.)
What does a manifestation of the activity of God look like? How do we know God is present to act? The most significant evidence of God’s activity is conversion, when a defiant rebel is miraculously transformed into a forgiven lover of God through the Gospel and the power of the Spirit. Lavish generosity and humble servanthood can also be evidences of God’s activity. People who no longer live for their own glory but for the glory of the Savior display God’s power at work. I’m among those who believe that the gifts of the Spirit described in various New Testament passages ( 1 Cor. 12, 141 Corinthians 12
[12:1]Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not
want you to be uninformed. [2]You know that when you were
pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were
led. [3]Therefore I want you to understand that no one
speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is
accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the
Holy Spirit.
[4]Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same
Spirit; [5]and there are varieties of service, but the same
Lord; [6]and there are varieties of activities, but it is
the same God who empowers them all in everyone. [7]To each
is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common
good. [8]For to one is given through the Spirit the
utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of
knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9]to another faith
by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one
Spirit, [10]to another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between
spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another
the interpretation of tongues. [11]All these are empowered
by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one
individually as he wills.
[12]For just as the body is one and has many members,
and all the members of the body, though many, are one body,
so it is with Christ. [13]For in one Spirit we were all
baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and
all were made to drink of one Spirit.
[14]For the body does not consist of one member but of
many. [15]If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand,
I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any
less a part of the body. [16]And if the ear should say,
"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,"
that would not make it any less a part of the body. [17]If
the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of
hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the
sense of smell? [18]But as it is, God arranged the members
in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19]If all were
a single member, where would the body be? [20]As it is,
there are many parts, yet one body.
[21]The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of
you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of
you." [22]On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem
to be weaker are indispensable, [23]and on those parts of
the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater
honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater
modesty, [24]which our more presentable parts do not
require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater
honor to the part that lacked it, [25]that there may be no
division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another. [26]If one member suffers, all
suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together.
[27]Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. [28]And God has appointed in the church
first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating,
and various kinds of tongues. [29]Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30]Do
all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do
all interpret? [31]But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way. (ESV)
, Eph. 4Ephesians 4
[4:1]I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to
walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have
been called, [2]with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love, [3]eager to
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
[4]There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were
called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- [5]one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6]one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all. [7]But grace
was given to each one of us according to the measure of
Christ's gift. [8]Therefore it says,
"When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men."
[9](In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he
had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?
[10]He who descended is the one who also ascended far above
all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) [11]And he
gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers, [12]to equip the saints for the
work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
[13]until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14]so
that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the
waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human
cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15]Rather,
speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way
into him who is the head, into Christ, [16]from whom the
whole body, joined and held together by every joint with
which it is equipped, when each part is working properly,
makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
[17]Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you
must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of
their minds. [18]They are darkened in their understanding,
alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance
that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. [19]They
have become callous and have given themselves up to
sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
[20]But that is not the way you learned Christ!--
[21]assuming that you have heard about him and were taught
in him, as the truth is in Jesus, [22]to put off your old
self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is
corrupt through deceitful desires, [23]and to be renewed in
the spirit of your minds, [24]and to put on the new self,
created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and
holiness.
[25]Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one
of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are
members one of another. [26]Be angry and do not sin; do not
let the sun go down on your anger, [27]and give no
opportunity to the devil. [28]Let the thief no longer
steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his
own hands, so that he may have something to share with
anyone in need. [29]Let no corrupting talk come out of your
mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits
the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
[30]And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you
were sealed for the day of redemption. [31]Let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be
put away from you, along with all malice. [32]Be kind to
one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God
in Christ forgave you. (ESV)
, etc.), such as prophetic impressions and healing, continue to this day. They, too, are a sign that God is active in our midst.
However, I’m sobered and challenged by Lloyd-Jones’ question: “Do we really believe that God can still act?” He is asking if we have faith for God to move among us in clear, distinct, and powerful ways. He is asking us to consider if we are settling for an "appearance of godliness, but denying its power?" ( 2 Tim. 3:52 Timothy 3:5
[5]having the appearance of godliness, but denying its
power. Avoid such people. (ESV)
) At the end of the day are we placing more trust in God’s activity or ours? I find that I can still approach congregational meetings in a way that expecting God’s active presence is almost an afterthought. Maybe you’ve had the same experience.
Scripture explains God’s presence in different ways. Psalm 139Psalm 139
[139:1]O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
[2]You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
[3]You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
[4]Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
[5]You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
[6]Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
[7]Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
[8]If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
[9]If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
[10]even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
[11]If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,"
[12]even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
[13]For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
[14]I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
[15]My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
[16]Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
[17]How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
[18]If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
[19]Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
[20]They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!
[21]Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
[22]I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
[23]Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
[24]And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
and other passages teach that He is present everywhere at the same time. Quite a feat. But, there are many Scriptural examples of God making his presence known in a unique way. Some of these are expected, as when we gather to share the Lord’s supper or sing His praise ( 1 Cor. 11:23-321 Corinthians 11:23-32
[23]For I received from the Lord what I also delivered
to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was
betrayed took bread, [24]and when he had given thanks, he
broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do
this in remembrance of me." [25]In the same way also he
took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new
covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me." [26]For as often as you eat this bread
and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he
comes.
[27]Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup
of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning
the body and blood of the Lord. [28]Let a person examine
himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the
cup. [29]For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning
the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. [30]That is
why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
[31]But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be
judged. [32]But when we are judged by the Lord, we are
disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the
world. (ESV)
; Eph. 5:18-20Ephesians 5:18-20
[18]And do not get drunk with wine, for that is
debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, [19]addressing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
[20]giving thanks always and for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (ESV)
). Other times, God reveals his presence and activity in ways that are startling and affecting. In 1 Cor. 14:23-251 Corinthians 14:23-25
[23]If, therefore, the whole church comes together and
all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter,
will they not say that you are out of your minds? [24]But
if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he
is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
[25]the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling
on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is
really among you. (ESV)
Paul seems to assume that will be a regular occurrence in our meetings if we are responding to the Spirit’s leading. Unbelievers will fall down and proclaim, “God is really among you!”
How do we respond to Lloyd-Jones’ penetrating question - “Do we really believe that God can still act?” – without falling into emotionalism or idolizing experience? How do we maintain a balance between celebrating God’s presence among us and expectantly looking for his active presence? In our experience-saturated but God-deprived culture, it’s an important question. That topic is the theme of the main session messages at Sovereign Grace’s WorshipGod06 conference, “The Glory of His Presence.” It will be held August 9-12, 2006, here in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I’ve asked my good friend Jeff Purswell to start the conference with a message on a biblical theology of the presence of God, tracing what God has to say from Genesis to Revelation. I’ll be speaking on Pursuing God’s Presence, and have invited author Randy Alcorn to speak on Anticipating God’s Presence. My prayer is that everyone who attends the conference will leave more confident of God’s constant activity in their lives, and more committed to pursuing a greater experience of that activity. I’d love to see you there. You can find out more about the conference here.
What about you? Where do you need to grow in faith for God’s activity in your life and your church? How have you maintained a balance between celebrating God’s promised presence through ordinary means and an expectation for his supernatural activity in unexpected ways? I’d be interested in your comments.
Share this post with others.
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 17th, 2006 at 1:26 pm and is filed under
For Pastors,
For Worship Leaders.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the
RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Entries RSS
Bob,
I think I could write you a “thank you” book for the way you’ve allowed the Lord to use you– I was at Metro Life last May for the Worship Conference…The way the Lord used you that weekend was profound. I’ve also benefited immensely from this blog- I moved back home from Orlando in August, and my dad and I have had several disagreements on the topic of worship and when I get frustrated not knowing how to explain my thoughts/beliefs, I have numerous times found the words my heart believes on this blog- whether they’re your words, or a quote. It’s made for much more calm discussions as I’m not stumbling over words so much. Thank you.
Now in regard to your interest for comments: In struggling with a lot of the words we sing at my local church, and witnessing what I would describe as “romanticized Christianity” my friend and I have been challenging each other with the idea that when we’re frustrated, we’re self-sufficient and aren’t actively believing that God can change and control hearts. We ask each other the question, “Do you believe God can change their heart?” It provokes me to pray instead of being frustrated. If God has changed my hard, cold, stubborn heart to love Him…He can change ANYONE’S heart! When I lose sight of that, and become self-righteous thinking that “my way” or even “Sovereign Grace’s way” is better, I lose grip on grace- for others, and then in turn, for myself. I become legalistic and not loving. I become the very thing I get frustrated by- I don’t understand the importance of Christ’s sacrifice in MY life, because I’m too busy looking at others. God knows hearts better than I ever could. Just this past week I’ve been singing the song I learned as a kid, “My God is so GREAT! So strong and so mighty there’s nothing my God cannot do!” Boy, I want to live like I believe that.
Thanks again for allowing God to use you.
Comment by Janelle Leach — May 17, 2006 @ 3:44 pm
Bro. BobThis text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.
. I’m sure much of this has to do with abuses and un-biblical practices surrounding those gifts in other churches (which I also reject!). I also see it as a barrier to dynamic, charismatic worship because many evangelical congregations (who actually teach the doctrines of grace) are afraid that they might “cross over the line” into other characteristics seen in pentecostal or charismatics congregations, creating a real boundary in a worship service. I don’t see how the scriptures forbid God to act in many supernatural ways with, of course, the only purpose of those ways being to glorify God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
In transitioning as a worship leader from an A/G background to a Southern Baptist church (that teaches the doctrines of grace) I have found that most Baptists who have solid theology firmly trust that God will act in creating the greatest miracle of all–that of regeneration. However, they struggle with the idea that God also does act in other ways, i.e., the gifts of the Spirit. Most are, to borrow Sam Storms’ term, “practical cessationists”–they will tell you that God still heals or raises the dead, but would be very uncomfortable in participating in a service where their elders followed the pattern in James 5James 5
[5:1]Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries
that are coming upon you. [2]Your riches have rotted and
your garments are moth-eaten. [3]Your gold and silver have
corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you
and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up
treasure in the last days. [4]Behold, the wages of the
laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by
fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the
harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
[5]You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-
indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of
slaughter. [6]You have condemned and murdered the righteous
person. He does not resist you.
[7]Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of
the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit
of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the
early and the late rains. [8]You also, be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at
hand. [9]Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so
that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing
at the door. [10]As an example of suffering and patience,
brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the
Lord. [11]Behold, we consider those blessed who remained
steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and
you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is
compassionate and merciful.
[12]But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by
heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes"
be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under
condemnation.
[13]Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is
anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [14]Is anyone among
you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord. [15]And the prayer of faith will save the one
who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has
committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16]Therefore, confess
your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you
may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great
power as it is working. [17]Elijah was a man with a nature
like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain,
and for three years and six months it did not rain on the
earth. [18]Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and
the earth bore its fruit.
[19]My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the
truth and someone brings him back, [20]let him know that
whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save
his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
(ESV)
Comment by Thomas Clay — May 18, 2006 @ 11:32 am
Bob,
Thanks for this challenging post. Can’t wait for the Worship God conference! How have you cultivated an anticipation of God’s active presence and power during the meetings of the church? It seems easy for me and others (even those of us who serve week in and week out leading corporate singing) to become familiar with the context and the songs…with little expectation of God moving unusually in a particular meeting.
Comment by jon — May 18, 2006 @ 11:45 am
Thank you, Bob, for the timely reminder. It seems God’s Spirit is really working in my life, as your humble reminders have been all coming at just the right time when I need to hear God speak to me.
I’m just about to leave for a 4day student ministry conference called “CAMPUS CHALLENGE” purposed for students in or looking to be serving in campus ministry. I’m the Worship Coordinator/Advisor, mainly overseeing the worship team’s adherence to Biblical worship in spirit and in truth.
It’s the 2nd year in a row I have done this, though last year was more onstage lead singing also. This year, I’ve followed your blog series on “What does a Worship Leader Do” for our devotional times before practices, and it’s been a wonderful time being honest and truthful to ourselves about what we are really doing.
I am getting more nervous by the minute here, because we have planned and practiced so much, seeking to magnify His worth & works, and yet, it feels like so much has yet to be done, or isn’t organized as best as I’d prefer. I know God can work wonders during our times of singing, and also the rest the conference time… but I must admit I have struggled with the question, whether I really believe that God can still act.
Starting tonight (Fri) until Monday afternoon, the conference will unite over 170 university students from all across Southern Ontario, mostly asians, but from various church & denominational backgrounds. I thank God for how your reformed and Charismatic foundations are confirming my Biblical understanding of worship. Please pray for the conference, the musical worship ministry, and my leadership.
More details: http://www.campus-challenge.com
SDG,
-Alex Leung
Comment by Alex Leung — May 19, 2006 @ 10:21 am
I don’t know if this falls on the comment that you want to hear but when I read your post, I wandered back to my post about knowing God and believing in Him, knowing His attributes and experiencing them. Sometimes, especially when we are young, we tend to attribute ‘relationship’ with God by knowing a lot about Him, getting along with the knowledge without the real connection to God. Until you get to believe more on yourself and the reliance to God is just in the mind. You thought you have that connection but the fact is you just thought about it. Which is so sad. I heard a lot of people say that children are so blessed if at a young age they are able to know God. But the crucial thing about it is when something gets wrong along the way (i.e. wrong assumptions, wrong interpretations, loss of focus), it is so hard to get back on track. It is still my constant prayer that I will be able to get out of the mere knowledge and start experiencing, feeling, allowing His presence to move in my life.
‘Prove Me now. Try Me. Risk your everything on Me. Be fools for My sake. Cast yourselves utterly upon this belief.’
Comment by Arthur — May 22, 2006 @ 6:29 am