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ENCOURAGEMENT TO ETERNAL FOCUS IN UNITY
AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL
Chapter 12
Chapter 14
Chapter Time Link
Map
Worship in Spirit and in Truth
13
What Worship does the Father Approve? What did Jesus mean by God being "a Spirit" and worship having to be "in spirit and in truth" for the Father's approval?
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Myth: God accepts any religious expression as long as one is sincere
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Myth: There are many roads to heaven and each religion gets there in its own way
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Myth: All religion worships the same God but by many different names
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Myth: Worship is heart felt sincerity in ones greater self
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Myth: Religion is a viable means to get to heaven
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From the time of man's earliest religious expressions toward God men have asked in the spirit of tolerance and diversity for all others to laud and voice approval of all religious expression as God approved. This expectation often comes even after God has clearly spoken in rejection of some of man's religious rites and activities. Cain no doubt expected his brother Able to side and agree with him on issues of accepted religion worship by God. Whatever the details of their conversation Cain was overwhelmed with anger about the situation introducing the first Biblical case of documented trauma into the human experience.
When teaching fellow health care workers about trauma in an Advance Trauma Life Support (ATLS) I often use an illustration to impress upon the learners the need to make early proper decisions and actions. The first moments of trauma victims are called "the Golden Hour" because the actions of health professionals in that first hour have the greatest chance of good outcome for the victim if done correctly. A few simple techniques that can be learned by any physician or emergency provider can save countless lives if acted upon correctly.
Whether truth or fable a story told about the Dallas County Fire Department impresses upon leaders to make sure the basic necessities are correctly applied when starting on an important mission - even if that mission is worship that is approved of God the Father. As the story goes a wealthy Texas businessman in the Dallas County area one Sunday morning.had one of his largest and most financially productive oil wells accidently catch on fire As man of influence touching many lives the call went out for all available Fire Departments to respond. Every major area department collected together near the oil well. Captains were meeting together in the Command Center when in the distance they heard the clang of an old bell. While looking at the map of the oil facility one of the Captains not even looking up with a smirk on his face spoke to the others telling them it was just the old volunteer unit of the Dallas County Fire Department. This old Dallas County unit was a poor ragtag group of all ages who worked at all kinds of jobs in real life. They volunteered to help with fires in the rural Dallas County area. Recently the gang had obtained an old faded rusty four time over hand-me-down truck that barely ran. The engine popped and smoked at it moved down the road but it would still get them to their destination. The hoses and pumper on the engine had already been retired from several other departments over the years. The men's protective equipment also was sparse and outdated. Spread among them was an odd mismatched collection of boots, hats, gloves and coats that resembled a museum collection from years past. Yet they had trained on weekends and gladly always answered the calls in the county when needed. No one initially paid any attention to the loud popping and smoke coming in the distance so as not to publically embarrass the coming group with open laughter. The attitude at the command center was like a professional’s idea of a Little League baseball player dreaming of playing in a Major League Baseball game. There was the sense the situation at hand was far too important to think about the children at this time. Yet to their surprise the truck rolled right past the command center and through the taped yellow barrier right up to the fire. In awe all the best and most equipped departments watched in disbelief where in a moment men piled out of the old truck. The paint began to peel back on the sides and frayed hoses were unrolled quickly. The smell of burning paint and rubber began to fill the air. The truck captain was hollering at his men and the men scurried to rescue their truck which would no longer start just cranking away without life. One of the men got the pump running and began spraying the truck and the men as they attempted to salvage what they had. A cloud of steam engulfed the whole scene from view as they moved about near the well fire. Before anyone in command center could overcome their dismay to allow reality to enlist their help the smoke and steam began to slowly clear. With unbelief these well trained pristine veterans looked eyes wide open and chins dropped. The fire was out. The small volunteer group had actually put the fire out in the process of trying to save their truck. Later the owner being grateful decided to give the group a reward check for five thousand dollars. As the media news groups interviewed the captain he looked scripted for the part. His hat was scorched, boots squished with filled with water as he shifted his weight, and soot decorated his face and coat. As he was sharing to the world their experience one of the reporters shouted out, "What are you going to do with the five thousand dollars?" With a smile on his face he shook his head and grinned, "I guess we are going to get the brakes fixed on the fire truck."
Many times our worship experience before God the Father is similar to the Dallas County Fire Department. We ignore basic essential principles of accepted worship by the Father. Since at least on the surface through all the smoke of our activity and intent we think it looks like something worshipful we feel the Father will reward the outcome regardless of the underlying meaning in our hearts of what was done. Yet in Sripture we find God does not reward all worship activity based just on outward appearance, methodical actions, the latest contemporary styles, experiential outcome or perceived results. To use an old cliché the ends do not justify the means with God. We cannot as mythilogical wizards reading incantations for desired effects and heavenly blessing exercise the criteria of the Kingdom of God as just a book of spells.
Even with methods of moderrn business analysis it is so tempting to use the new found worldly measures of statistical outcomes to determine God's approval of our actions. Surely those acheiving desired goals more than others are doing something more right for God to bless them. Yet we must remember God's Word says He sends rain equally on the just and unjust alike. So the acheivement of the desired effect of our religious experience does not necessarily mean the Father approves of everything we call worship. As seen later below Scripture clearly points out specific instances where common sincere worship activity of prayer, praise, offerings and other religious rites were rejected. So we must get our brakes fixed and properly engage truth of the unseen Kingdom of our Father to avoid possible rejection in our own Golden Hour of Worship.
Most Christian religions would agree Jesus is our greatest example. Many non-Christian faiths usually recognize Jesus as the Son of God giving Him a high position of influence. So did He say God the Father accepted all expressed organized religious activity? A look at Scripture reveals even Jesus did not give approval of all religious activity as worship of the Father. He told the Samaritans “…you worship that which you do not know…” John 4:22 NASB He was even bold enough to claim of the Jewish worship, “…we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.” The desired religious pluralism of our day for world peace was not part of the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 4:19-25 19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. 22 "You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NASB (Emphasis mine)As one addresses this subject of approved worship he must understand it can often generate extreme anger in peoples of the earth. People will often hostilely defend religious rites and actions when their religious faith is challenged as exampled in the course of events of Cain and Able. Most wars today have religious connotations. Murder is not only physical, but includes attacks of character, opposition of opportunity, withholding of service or earthly hindrance of family or countrymen. Human nature would rather fight than switch to God's truth and the righteous ways of God's Kingdom. Remember humanity by nature loves darkness more than light. As evidence of this the soil of the earth is soaked with the blood of millions because as Able they dared to agree with God in rejecting the religious activity and expression of another. Sadly, Scripture even tells readers only a small part of those on earth have a heart that seeks after God’s approval in all they do.
It is clear from the Scripture God does not approve of every device of man. One is challenged in 2 Timothy 2:15 "15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth." NASB In investigation of "the word of truth" found in the pages of the Bible the answer to this often volatile question is found in Jesus statement to the Samaritan woman. He said, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” We learn from this there are different kinds of worshipers. The Father wants worship “in spirit and in truth” and thus inferred not all worship is such. Jesus concluded with a major absolute for approved worship by saying in John 4:24, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NASB Without spirit and truth any religious activity is not acceptable to the Father. Understanding the cost that often comes in asking, the questions thus presents itself, "What worship does the Father approve? Let us then consider...
Worship in Spirit and in Truth
Worship is Earthly Life Patterned After God’s
Currently Existing
Heavenly Kingdom
So what is spirit and truth? In the estimated ten thousand different religions of the world there are many different answers. Even the Samaritan woman Jesus spoke showed the debate over proper religious expression was common in her day. She tried to start an argument with Jesus over whether worship had to be at Jerusalem or Samaria. Jesus responded both were wrong. The criteria for acceptable worship was not primarily about the specific place on earth.
It is a surprise to most people that qualification for acceptable worship is not directly about the things in this temporary world. Heavenly approval has nothing to do with a building or location on earth because in this New Testament era it is the people individually and collectively who are indwelt by the Spirit of God. In Scriptural worship the religious identifying name one calls itself is secondary to the meaning and connotations of the identifying name. The kind of Bible translation one reads is of less importance than the application of the Kingdom truth contained in what is read. The name of fellowshipping churches in worship means little in approval whereas the obedient quality of the mission in Kingdom work done in cooperation together as God's ambassadors means nearly everything. In worship one's nationality as a fellow citizen of the coming Kingdom means much more than any citizenship of temporary earthly realms. The training of the minister one listens is of less degree in worship than the truth about Kingdom matters the minister shares. As one can easily see God's view of worship is often very different than many other important criteria placed by seekers of this world.
On earth most people use fleshly measures to determine valid worship. Approval centers on the marketing spin and perception of the religious experience of magnificent buildings, polished ministers, popular translations, catchy seeker friendly names and massive associations. Following the desires of the flesh the world often focuses on the wrong place and emphasizes the wrong things in measure of the worship God desires. These man made idols built often have very little to do with "in spirit and in truth".
The definition of Jesus criteria of "in spirit and in truth" is interpreted in so many ways among religions and peoples of the world. Most in political correctness in a myopic view of only this world define “spirit” as a peaked focused mind and emotion in heart felt sincerity and “truth” as some revelation from Divinity relative to each individual in personal interpretation. Some go so far in New Age teachings to make this “spirit” requirement some level of “truth” with one’s inner greater self.
However Jesus defined “spirit” giving us a measure to validate our interpretation of intended meaning. He tells us “God is a spirit…” By spirit Jesus is referencing us to the attributes of the Father now separated from us and not seen. The Father is currently separated from us due to sin in God’s Kingdom. Some might have asked why would there be a chapter on earthly worship in a book about heaven? What does heaven have to do with proper worship of the Father in religion? This chapter is written because the value for worship the Father seeks is found by looking to heaven where the Father currently resides in His Kingdom. We must know about the Father in heaven and how his Kingdom works to evaluate our worship on earth. Remember the first words of Jesus model prayer begin with "Our Father which art in heaven..."
Contrary to popular myths of many cultures the Father and His current domain are very real. The Father lives in more than an ethereal vague emptiness of nothingness existing as a negligible mist. Both He and the heavenly Kingdom He abides as described in Scripture are a world much different than our current temporary dark world. As separated from this creation we just cannot visibly see God or enter the place of His presence until later through the work of Jesus Christ. Scripture tell us this will only happen at the end of the age after Jesus thousand year reign when God will then be with man in complete fellowship. Just as believers will see Jesus in the glorified state of eternity so shall they see the Father living forever as His adopted children. So for now on earth God is like the wind. We only see His effects on His creation. Now while very concrete, defined and real in heaven - from our earthly view God is invisible or a "spirit".
The “truth” Jesus speaks is the righteous function of this unseen world of the Father’s Kingdom. Truth is more than randomly chosen governances over man’s activities. Truth is the actual work, laws and principles within God’s Kingdom of His executed will. Truth is what God both wills and does within His domain to accomplish His purpose. God’s truth is expressed and exampled in Jesus Christ God’s Son sent to our world.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. NASBJesus by giving the standard of "in spirit and in truth" was telling the Samaritan woman the worship God the Father seeks is that which accurately portrays the Father’s actions and world of in His Kingdom. Worship is action and activity that models the character and nature of the Father and His Kingdom in heaven now unseen.
Jewish worship with the Tabernacle and ordinances initially did just that. All pictured heavenly truth of unseen activities in God's Kingdom of heaven. Later often even the Jews themselves often lost the meaning of their religious system turning their actions into meaningless traditions of men. Also the Samaritan worship while speaking of God corrupted these pictorial truths to worldly themes of value to themselves. The Samaritan leadership years before had copied much the Jewish religious system for political reasons to give people the convience of keeping the business aspect of religion at home rather than traveling to Jerusalem. In doing so the Samaritans missed the meaning behind the religious practices they copied. Even today most likewise follow vein inherited traditions not understanding the meaning of what they do religiously in worship of the Father.
Jude summarizes the common worldly values that corrupts God's truth in Jude 11 saying, "11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah." NASB Cain's actions were to picture events in heaven. He chose to corrupt the picture of matters in heaven his worship was to portray. Balaam for worldly gain sought to help others destroy the nation chosen to properly picture God's work in heaven. Korah and host in rebellion decided they could do better at the religious expression God designed than those God had appointed to do it. God dealt with all three. Thus if a religious activity of our temporary world does not accurately portray the invisible eternal world of the Father in the order and manner He has determined then it is not true worship that the Father accepts. So a student of the Bible finds God's margin for acceptable worship is rather narrow. An action either pictures heaven or it does not.
Worship is Exercised Faith in Heavenly Kingdom Patterns
Scripture tells us faith is living a life in harmony with the truth of this now unseen spiritual world of the Father. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 NASB Our conviction of the certainty of this invisible world of the Father is necessary to please the Father. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 NASB
God has called His children to testify of a message that is often hindered and lost within the vain traditions received from our Fathers in busy meaningless religious activity. Rather than emphasis on numbers, statistical research, position, wealth, prosperity, power, buildings, prominent preachers, or education is a simple focus on the eternal Kingdom to come. While God does get some good out of the things just mentioned believers must realize God foremost desires a life of faith anticipation of a new Heavenly Kingdom to come a thousand years after the return of Jesus Christ. Such is the life of faith lived by so many that have gone on before us as examples. The author of Hebrews in chapter 11 shares this kind of earthly living in many great examples of faith.
Hebrews 11:13-16 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. NASBThose of you who have read this far in this message should be commended for your honesty in search for truth with God. Also for many your dedication to tell others your religious messages is admirable. Hopefully it is apparent from these writings that I also have been very serious about my fellowship with God being proper and correct before Him. Personally in my search I have even prayed for God to take my life rather than hinder His Kingdom work. Once I was led to give everything up even resigning from local church membership for a short time as a test of proper value and perspective of things on earth as compared to things in heaven. In my pride for many years I valued to highly the importance of the taught traditions on earth that were mere representations of the things in heaven. The temporal values of the flesh led to depression from inappropriate views of pleasing the Father.
I have come to believe as seen in chapter Bond Servants of Jesus much of the religious disagreement among believers is a pseudo-dichotomy [false-division] where both sides are often actually right from their perspective. We often confuse the attributes of temporal copies of the earthly rites of religion with the real unseen activities they pattern in heaven. Incorrectly applying the promises of eternal spiritual matters to the earthly matters of life or vise versa confuses seekers of the Father in Heaven and divides them among themselves.
We must never forget the heavenly perspective is absolutely necessary to please the Father in Heaven is one of faith. Consider Hebrews 11:1-6.
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith [assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen] it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. NASB (Emphasis and insertion mine)
Faith is the "assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith in things not seen as God sees things is required to please him just as "men of old gained approval." Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." NASB Not all religion is true worship as Jesus pointed out of the Samaritans in that conversation with the woman at the well telling her in verse 22, "You worship that which you do not know..."NASB When Jesus said God was Spirit that did not mean God was a ethereal vapor of nothingness. It simply meant He in heaven is invisible to us as a spirit is invisible. God is very real with definite attributes and qualities manifested that by faith in Jesus Christ we will see one day in the coming age. As well to say the Lord made the present evident creation out of things not visible does not mean out of nothing but things we cannot see today that are very real in the domain of heaven. Read Revelation 21-22 and note time, mass and space that will be very real as an inheritance for believers. God's timeless laws that govern the universe will remain stable throughout eternity. Thus, for proper worship to gain approval as "men of old" our lives must be modeled after the spirit (invisible) and truth (Divine law) now practiced in heaven that we cannot see.
So for God to be pleased with worship it must model what goes on in heaven accurately. Failure to proper show what goes on in heaven means rejection of what one does by God no matter how religious or sincere he might be. This happened to Cain in rejection of his offering. By whatever revelation was available to him in his day he should have known the proper picture in faith was that of a needed sacrifice for sin in heaven. Gratitude and thank offerings for blessings were not acceptable for return to the Father.
The same problem occurred with David when he forgot to have the Levites carry the Ark of Covenant resulting in a death and stopping a wonderful worship service of dancing and singing. In heaven the proper picture was only the Levites who pictured the priestly ministry of Jesus could take care of matters in the Holy of Holies. This area represented the Third Heaven of God's domain where only Jesus could go. No man has been inside the Holy of Holies of the Third Heaven of God Holy domain or will go there until the end of the age. When the heavenly picture was corrupted the Lord was angry and did not accept the worship done.
2 Samuel 6:1-8 6:1 Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. 3 And they placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4 So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. 6 But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. 7 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah , and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. NASBWorship in Earthly Examples of Heavenly Patterns of God's Kingdom
For God's approval all religious teaching, activity, rites and observances should in the exercise of faith picture the Father’s heavenly Kingdom where His will is done without failing. As revealed in His Word the following table lists events of God’s purpose in the spiritual world and the earthly activity that portrays it along with some earthly corrupted examples.
| Father's Heavenly Kingdom | Earthly Picture of Pattern | Corrupted Example |
| Heavenly Dimensional Separation in Current Divided Kingdom of God with the Father in “Holy of Holies” of third heaven not of this creation. (Hebrews 8:5) (Hebrews 9:11) | Earthly Separation (Pattern of
temple\tabernacle diagramming current division)
(1 Chronicles 28:19)
|
Last Day Scoffers message that all things have
continued as from the beginning of creation. Idea Kingdom is Heaven on
earth perfected to Eden. (2 Peter 3:3-4)
|
| Heavenly Sacrifice Required in cross of Christ in gospel of death, burial and resurrection for sin. (Hebrews 9:11ff) | Earthly
Sacrifice Required in cross. (Hebrews 13:12) Recognize personal sin before God and need of Savior. (1 Timothy 1:15) (Luke 5:31-32) |
Cain in
religious thank offerings denies need for sacrifice.
(Genesis 4) Able "better sacrifice".(Hebrews 11:4) |
| Priestly work of Christ in Holy of Holies of God's Heavenly Temple. (Hebrews) | Levites picture work of Christ in temple on earth. | David moves the ark of the covenant without the Levites and Uzzah dies ending a great worship service. (2 Samuel 6:1-8) |
| Heavenly Spiritual Birth required for entrance. (John 3:1-6) | Earthly Birth required for
entrance. (John 3:1-6) |
Nicodemus needed "spiritual birth" to know God was with him
(John 3:1-6) The "many" with improper fruit Jesus did not know. (Matthew 7:15-23) |
| Baptism of indwelling Holy Spirit in spiritual
birth - “born again” & "in Christ". Sealed by Holy Spirit at
moment of salvation unto day of redemption.
(1 Corinthians 12:13) (Ephesians 1:13-14) |
Water baptism on earth publicly portrays spiritual baptism of new birth "in Christ".(Galatians 3:26-27)( Romans 6:3-4) | Disciples at Ephesus initial baptism rejected by Holy Spirit. John's baptism pictured hope in coming Messiah. Baptism after cross pictured hope in completed work of Christ death, burial and resurrection. Holy Spirit rejection of believer’s baptism for wrong symbolism. (Acts 19:1-7) |
| Seven Days time in heaven for: 1) God's work to redeem creation as one in Christ 2 ) sentence carried out of angelic rejecters to Lake of Fire |
Seven Day work week on earth designed to model work week of heaven's time of redemption. | Violators of the Sabbath lose God’s blessings and receive judgment. |
| Christ as head and authority of heavenly local assembly He is building. (Colossians 1:18) | Local church autonomy
subject only to Christ as head rather than earthly organizations. (Ephesians 5:24) |
Teaching of the Nicolaitans (lit. conquer people) - ecclesiastical control of believers by other than Christ and Holy Spirit in Kingdom work. (Revelation 2:6) |
| Holy Spirit authority as Comforter leads believers in Christ assigned work of Kingdom. (John 14:16, 15:26) | Believer’s in given responsibility follow
heavenly authority of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
(John 14:26) (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) |
Believers grieve the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30) |
| Local Body to assemble of all believers after 1000 year reign at end of age of God’s plan of redemption on first day of new week in Kingdom of Heaven. (Hebrews 12:18-24) (Matthew 16:18) | Local Body of assembly of believers on first day of
week. (called
“church” today since 16th century)
(1 Corinthians 16:2) (Acts 20:7) |
Body of Christ dispersed geographically and over time in ecumenical church teaching. Corrupts picture by the individual assemblies of oneness of Christ body in heaven as always together with Christ. |
| Jesus
visible in His Glorified immortal Body of brightness from eternity past.
(1 John
3:2)
|
All
believers given glorified bodies like unto the Lord's glorified body of
eternity past clothed in light and not flesh or blood. Current bodies
obsolete so changed at first resurrection.. (Philippians 3:20-21) (1 Corinthians 15:35-58) |
Both Jesus body and body of believer's are and will be perfection of this world in Genesis Eden design. |
|
Bride of Christ in Heavenly Wedding in special eternal covenant
relationship. (Revelation 19:5-9) |
Marriage and Family in
churches on earth portrays heavenly covenant relationship. (Ephesians
5:22-33) Men lovingly lead as Christ loved the Church.
Women submit as the church submits to Christ. Together they raise children
for the Lord. (1 Timothy 2:9-15) |
Unequal yoking with unbelievers corrupting picture of only believers in wedding feast. (2 Corinthians 6:14) Women in leading and teaching men corrupting the picture of the relationship of Christ and His church. |
| Great Supper of all Believers with Christ in celebration remembrance of Christ’s payment for sin. (Revelation 19:9) | Lord’s Supper often observed by believers in local assembly in remembrance of payment of Christ and looking forward to enjoying same with Christ. (Matthew 26:26-29) | Nonbelievers, believers without proper baptism in picture of spiritual birth necessary to partake of celebration supper, or worldly believers partake corrupting picture of only those properly qualified invited. (1 Corinthians 11:23-34) |
| Service Attitude Oriented
Kingdom. (Philippians 2:3-11)
|
Christ attitude of servant in sacrificial
prayerful discernment and application of Father’s will.(Mark 10:35-45) (Romans 12:1-2) |
Diotrephes like believers serve self in claims of
authority. (2 John 9) Corrupts picture of greatness through service in
making others successful by personal sacrifice. |
| Father’s forgiveness of sin by unmerited grace and mercy through Christ.(Ephesians 1:7) | Believer’s forgiveness of sin of others by unmerited grace and mercy as picture of heavenly forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:32) | Believers in wickedness fail to forgive others in their heart corrupting picture of God's forgiveness. (Matthew 18:21-35) |
| God owns everything. Believers will have ownership of nothing in heaven. | Believers
give everything to God for His use in Kingdom work.
(Galatians 2:20) (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) |
Believers rob God of tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3:8-12) At times pretend to give all. (Acts 5:1-11) |
| God speaks to us in this dark world through His Spirit and Word. | Believer's now listen in prayer to disern God's will in actions. | Believers disregard the will and ways of God in iniquity. (Psalms 66:18) |
Worship and Faith in Personal Testimony of the Author
Each of us must then prove our own way by prayer and study of God's Word what is acceptable to the Father and what actions and choices properly model the Heavenly Kingdom of our future citizenship. As such for your consideration I have followed the following heavenly order in seeking God's approval. It is given not for you to follow blindly but to compare with Scriptural revelation of the Father to determine your own path to pleasing the seeking Father.
I was born as a citizen of this earth September 8, 1956. From the heaven perspective when I in prayer to the Father accepted Jesus as my Savior from personal sin at age 17 I was baptized or dipped in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came into me to seal me to that day of redemption.
Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. NASBI was born of Spirit at that moment with a heavenly spiritual birth as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:1-7. Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus how one knew "God is with him." The answer was a spiritual birth that gives evidence of its presence without actually being seen.
John 3:1-9 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." NASB (Emphasis mine)From earths view I was born to be a part or citizen of earth in the flesh. From heaven's view I was born again of Spirit to be a citizen of heaven.
Most religions of the world in error look over the absolute necessity of a loving relationship with the Father in a spiritual birth by repentant prayer of personal sin in accepting Jesus Christ. They turn to other religious expressions of matters of heaven that can only follow in proper order to those who are proper citizens of heaven. Apart from this spiritual birth it is not religion, pedigree, technique, style, a selected region, good works or expressions of spiritual power that God wants for acceptance and worship. Remember what He will say to "many" in that day.
Matthew 7:15-23 15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.' NASBThe "good fruit" Jesus spoke is not good in relation to the values of man or the temporal matters of this world. It is not antiquity, a certain identifying name, largeness of size, fame or good results to others. Those Jesus did not know were good religious people by the values of this world most likely in popular ancient traditions experiencing power over evil and practiced life "in Your name." So what was the problem? They practiced out of the pattern of the heavens, activity not of faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen). They while religious never personally accepted Jesus as their Savior for sin in prayer to the Father so He could intercede in their behalf with His blood. They had no spiritual birth. Jesus blood was never applied in their behalf in heaven for their sins. Like Cain they simply decided to be good and began exercising religion designed for true repentant believers. They omitted absolutely necessary steps of recognizing personal sinfulness before God and accepting from the Father His gift in Jesus Christ. Jesus never knew them and all their good was for naught.
The good fruit is a life that in the proper order patterns the things in heaven. So many of our world are confused in this issue. For example going to church is not good fruit by itself. Singing, praising, dancing, and giving are not good fruit by itself. Abstinence, sacrifice, or fasting have no fruitful value in themselves. The value of all these must come in the proper order in the proper picture of heavenly matters we cannot see. The Bible is clear out of the proper order that pictures God's work in heaven none of these other things count for any value before Him. Without the new birth which we only picture on earth with water baptism all the rest that follows is for nothing having no value to the Lord.
Following my experience of salvation I properly worshiped God on earth by picture of that moment of spiritual birth in water baptism. My baptism under water on earth following Jesus command pictured my Spiritual baptism of new birth that made me a citizen of heaven and dead to the sin of the world. I worshiped in testimony to the world my trust was in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus for my sins. Any corruption of this heavenly picture is not faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen) and is unacceptable worship with the same irreverence as Uzzah in David's day.
Galatians 3:26-27 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. NASB Romans 6:3-4 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. NASBJesus both exampled and commanded water baptism as an earthly picture of my spiritual birth in heaven. That spiritual baptism in heaven made me a citizen in heaven to assemble with all saints at the end of the age when the Kingdom comes. Heaven is a real place where all creation will at the end of the age be reunited with the Father. As Jesus said without being born again one cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore water earthly baptism made me eligible for participation in the rites and actives of the assemblies on earth just like spiritual baptism made me a member eligible to participate in the matters of the Kingdom of Heaven. On earth to allow believers without proper baptism participation in matters of church activities that picture things in heaven that only believers will do corrupts the proper life of faith.
My water baptism was not required to go to heaven but was required on earth for proper worship as "good fruit" in a life of faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen). Those who require water baptism for heavenly citizenship confuse the heavenly with the earthly pictures corrupting the picture of the gospel. Submission to earthly baptism only saves in the sense it gives a good conscience toward God in properly following His will in His blessings.
1 Peter 3:13-22 13 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. NASB (Emphasis mine)Further after water baptism I worship by meeting in assembly with other believers. My baptism qualified me as a member of a local body of Christ on earth just as my spiritual baptism in the new birth made me a member of the local Body of Christ to form future in heaven.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. NASB (Emphasis mine)This assembly with other believers on earth pictures my hope to assemble with all believers at the end of the age in heaven that Christ is building and forming. In this earthly assembly my activities of worship must picture what will go on in that heavenly assembly in the coming heavenly Kingdom for God to accept it as true worship. So any religious activity is not true worship unless it properly pictures what goes on or will go on in heaven that we now see by faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen) in His Word to us.
Matthew 16:18 18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. NASBHebrews 10:19-31 19 Since therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NASB Hebrews 12:22-24 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. NASBIn heaven all believers in one assembly will observe the Lord's Supper with Him as He promised. Note the time of this observance is in His Father's Kingdom and not at His second coming to set up His Kingdom on earth. Many saved in that 1000 year reign of Christ will join those saved ages past when Jesus gives the Kingdom to the Father. Again this earthly supper on special occasion with other members of our assembly is not required for entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven - but required on earth for proper worship and fruit in a life of faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen). For proper worship it must be observed worthily.
Matthew 26:26-29 26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom ." NASB (Emphasis mine) 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part, I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God, and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you. 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 He took the cup also, 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 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you may not come together for judgment. And the remaining matters I shall arrange when I come. NASBBelievers celebrate in every service together as a picture of this great event of the final assembly in God's Kingdom one with man. God's children will sing, praise, dance, work, supervise, serve others above self and more in heaven in perfect health in new spiritual bodies. Again such activity patterned on earth is not required to go to heaven but required in the proper order of the heavenly for proper worship and fruit. On earth the same pattern must be demonstrated for good fruit else we know one is a false prophet and Jesus never knew them. Thus for the religion to be acceptable on earth I must follow my spiritual birth with proper expressions on earth of my hope in faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen) that pattern the heavenly citizenship I received by faith. I show the world the fruit of water baptism, assembly worship, Lord's supper in assembly, singing, dancing at times, praising, consecrated Holy living, praying, giving sacrificially everything in my life to God's work and sharing God's Word. As you can see singing, praising, giving, prophesying helping others or other religious expressions are not valid without the spiritual birth and proper picture order that follows.
Thus I have learned to please God my earthly patterns must match those in heaven. Such principle is seen throughout Scripture in the testimony of many lives recorded there. If I get away from the pattern God is not pleased with my worship no matter how sincere or religious I might be or no matter how ancient the religious tradition. Heaven and the eternal Kingdom must be my focus in all that is done for approval. Such is a life of faith (assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen).
As such I have by grace been called as an ambassador of heaven to this world to tell others of the things of heaven. At one time I fought hard for patterns on earth and would have tried to call anyone different from my taught traditions a heretic because that would be different from what I was taught. My defense was out of loyalty and pride like a team member having to win with my views against anyone else who might think or see differently. Over time in the study of the Kingdom of Heaven God showed me the earthly things are just patterns of the heavens. The more I studied about heaven the more I became a stranger and pilgrim here with others on earth. I told my Pastor, "I don't understand why I don't see things the way everyone else does." as we discussed the Lord's work in churches.
Often when one looks at the division over such earthly things both sides are right from the proper perspective of heaven or earth i.e. the Trinity, salvation by works or free grace, creation is six days or a longer time, etc. At other times our earthly practice is irreverent as Uzzah falsely picturing heavenly matters. Praise God for grace or I would have died long ago. Yet still in grace no matter the failures God still calls and my desire to share in overwhelming as evidenced by publications. People actually run from me at times rather than discuss the eternal life we have in the heavens. Many a time my wife reminds me, "Remember most people are not as interested in this as you are." Sadly, I have found most would rather not know. Yet if I feel as Elijah like hiding far away in a cave when no one listens - a gentle still voice tells me there are 7000 who have not bowed their knee to Baal who seek the heavenly country more everyday as well. I look forward to fellowship with them in the new Kingdom to come and purpose to remain faithful.
What really matters is the gospel of Jesus Christ and following those heavenly patterns by faith. Note that I have not labeled worship that the Father accepts with a particular pedigree of religion on earth. The name, buildings, programs, style, leaders, organization makes little difference to God. What matters is the purity of gospel message of the Kingdom work of God in Jesus Christ. Any other gospel is no gospel at all as seen in chapter Bond Servants of Christ.
I would encourage you to make sure you have as a sinner approached God in prayer and personally accepted Jesus as your Savior from sin in a spiritual birth. Then read Scripture about heaven and design your life after that Kingdom to come. That kind of life will be well pleasing to the Lord. For me that meant water baptism as an earthly picture of my spiritual salvation in Jesus Christ. Then followed attending an assembly of believers, praising, giving, learning, teaching, loving in mercy and grace, forgiving, witnessing, singing, and dancing just as I will in heaven in that day. The table below from Scripture attempts to show the proper order if the pattern God desires of heavenly citizens. The life of the Apostle Paul and others of the New Testament also follow this heavenly pattern as ones reads their recorded testimonies as they attempted to please their heavenly Father. May God bless you with spiritual understanding as you further seek to please He who created you. As you study more about heaven this world will as well become strange indeed.
| Order | Religious Activity or Rite that pictures Heavenly Kingdom Pattern |
| 1 | Recognize Existence of God |
| 2 | Recognizing personal sin in comparison to Holy Just God |
| 3 |
Hearing God's invitation to receive the sin payment of His Son for eternal life |
| 4 |
Prayer to Father accepting Jesus Christ as payment of sin in Spiritual Birth |
| 5 | Prayer in discerning Father's will |
| 6 |
Water baptism showing spiritual baptism of new birth |
| 7 | Assembly with other believers showing will attend assembly of all believers at end of age |
| 8 |
Studying His Word so ambassador actions are approved of Father in Heaven |
| 9 | Serving Others showing God's Kingdom laws |
| 10 | Giving and sharing in good stewardship to further Kingdom Work |
| 11 |
Singing in praise of God showing will sing such praises in New Kingdom |
| 12 | Lord’s Supper showing celebration supper in New Kingdom |
Much religious confusion and false worship of the Father comes by failing to understand our earthly actions must conform to heavenly patterns of the eternal Kingdom for God the Father to approve it. The table previously given above in section Worship in Earthly Examples of Heavenly Patterns of God's Kingdom provides many examples of such deviation. Many additional examples could be added to the list that the Father does not approve since they do not accurately portray the truth of the heavenly attributes of the Father and His Kingdom gospel of heaven. As we make our choices in matters of this earth we should take great care to conform our activities to those of heaven. Such exercise of faith in the pattern of the spiritual enables true worship acceptable to the Father until we arrive at that time to enter as discussed in the next chapter A Room With Jesus.
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