March 5, 2022 -- Psalm 122:1-2; 6-9 -- Church is meeting tomorrow, are you prepared?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Our feet have been standing
   within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
   May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
   and security within your towers!
For my brothers and companions’ sake
   I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the hose of the LORD our God,
   I will seek your good.
Psalm 122:1-2; 6-9 ESV

When you get ready to go to school, the night before you head off to class, you do your homework, make sure you have your binders for your classes, or your tablet to take notes, and your lunch is ready. If you try and get all that accomplished in the morning, eight minutes before the bus leaves, you know you’re euchred and your day is a wash. Preparation is necessary for so many things in your life. 

Then why is it that many Christians just flop their way to church; under-prayed, and under-prepared? Worse yet, after church, complain because it wasn’t good. As if church was about them and their feelings, rather than bowing before the Omnipotent (that is, All-Powerful) One.

Notice the preparation of the Psalmist—the anticipation of gathering with God’s people for worship. For Old Testament believers the city of Jerusalem held the temple, the place where the Holy One of Israel made His place on earth, the inner sanctuary of the Most Holy Place.

Today Christian when you meet with other Christians you are communally the place where the Spirit of God lives. Gathered Christians are the new temple. It is a great privilege to meet and sing together, gathered followers of Jesus Christ, freed from slavery to sin, now privileged and glad to bring praises to God, Who is in and among His people.

Look at verses 6 through 9 where the prayers are offered. These are the prayers offered as the people travel to Jerusalem, preparing for corporate worship. All along the way, their heads are getting wrapped around the fact it is not about them. Prayers are offered for peace (how relevant that is today!). Prayers are offered that others will know the peace of God. It is work to seek after the goodness of the LORD. Prayerful anticipation brings great reward as the people are gathering.

If going to meet with God’s people seems boring to you, give your head a shake! Examine your heart with the light of the Spirit’s presence and ask: “am I the problem?” Is my lack of preparation hindering my full participation in the act of worship?

True worship is sacrificing yourself in service to Christ, rededicating yourself in the commitment to turn from selfishness and sin and deliberately move closer to Jesus. True worship is thanking the Father for the richness of the salvation given in Jesus. Such worship is not mere emotionalism—it is submitting the will to God. It is yielding activities which are dishonorable and disreputable and trashing them in favor of dedicating one’s home and heart, finances and life, free time and worktime, present and future to the King of kings and LORD of lords. It is the reason the psalmist’s heart swelled with joy when his companions said to him, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

Pray as you prepare to go to the churching building to meet with the people who together are being built up as the temple of Jesus Christ. Pray that the preacher will be strengthened by the Spirit to bring the Word of God. Pray that your soul will be hungry and thirsty for the things of God. Pray for those who are debating whether or not to go to church, that the Spirit will help them overcome the weakness of the flesh and stir them up so that they go to church and receive soul-reviving blessings. Pray for your own heart, that every weight and sin and anything that might drag you down and keep you from truly honouring and blessing God, all such burdens would be laid down, and your will and your mind, your heart and your attitude will all be lined up in praise and worship, honour and blessing which are directed to the High King of Heaven.

LORD our God, there is none beside You. No thing and no other is in Your league, for You alone are brilliance and glory, power and splendor. Father in heaven, send Your Spirit in rich measure to Your people so that hearts will be prepared for worship, souls will be revived from their stupor and minds will be focused on the beautiful gift of Jesus Christ--the Savior of the World. Enable Your preachers and missionaries, Your chaplains and padres, evangelists and exhorters to speak the word with all boldness, and the authority which is given in Jesus' Name. Convict the sinner and comfort him in Christ. Trouble the complacent Christian who is in danger of drifting away from Your goodness. Triune God, revive in us, holy gladness and joy at the prospect of gathering for worship. Help our brothers and sisters in Christ, across the globe who are kept from public worship because of war, persecution, or political interference. This we ask in Jesus' great Name, Amen.

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