The Church at Worship

GOLDEN TEXT: “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” —Matthew 21:13

MATTHEW 18:19, 20

ISRAEL’S glorious temple, looked upon as the house of God, was typical, not of a more glorious building in this age, but of the Lord’s people themselves who, individually, are the temple of God, and as such, are being prepared as “stones” in a future spiritual temple. (I Pet. 2:5) The unbelieving Israelites desecrated the typical temple, and we must be on guard lest we do the same with respect to the antitype.—I Cor. 3:16,17

There are various ways of defiling the antitypical temple of God. One of them is through misunderstanding and misrepresentation of our brethren in Christ. This is brought to our attention in Matthew 18:15-18. Here Jesus tells us the proper methods of handling all such matters in order that the Lord’s name might be glorified. It is the continuation of this that we have in verses 19 and 20 of our lesson.

Jesus attaches vital importance to this proper procedure, asserting that if two or three agree as “touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Then he adds, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” We can depend upon the presence of the Lord wherever his people come together in a sincere effort to understand one another and to work harmoniously in his cause.

JOHN 4:23, 24

THE woman of Samaria, whom Jesus met at Jacob’s well, was concerned as to where God was to be worshiped. Jesus explained that the place of worship was not important, that it was the spirit of worship that was important. “But the hour cometh, and now is,” he said; “when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”

Conceivably one might, amidst the plush of a modern church edifice, and surrounded by stained glass windows, be awed into a certain sense of reverence for God. But to know something of the wisdom, justice, love, and power of God, as revealed through his Word of truth, induces reverence under any and all circumstances of life. With this appreciation of God, one can with joy and thankfulness bow his heart before the great Creator and worship amidst the noise of a factory; the commotion of a thronged highway, or together with his brethren amidst the uninviting surroundings of a lodge hall, or in the quiet of his own home.

ACTS 1:12-14

AT THE time Jesus instructed his disciples to tarry at Jerusalem, they had not yet received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, they had faith in the God of Israel, and they believed that Jesus was the Messiah, so they possessed the spirit of worship, and with this our Heavenly Father undoubtedly was pleased. If God had accepted the faith of Abraham instead of righteousness, he could do the same for these waiting disciples.

While waiting for the outpouring of the Spirit, they gathered in “an upper room.” This was not a temple building. There was no grandeur surrounding them. According to our standards today, this “upper room” was probably far from being even comfortable. But it was made sacred by the presence of the Lord’s people, and there they held a prayer meeting. Before them was the vision of their crucified Lord, now risen from the dead and gone to heaven, but promising to send the Holy Spirit. Under the circumstances their prayers perhaps reflected emotions of praise and wonderment, of hope, and perhaps a measure of confusion. It was a critical time, and they did the only wise thing—they prayed.

COLOSSIANS 3:16, 17

JESUS said that the proper way to worship God was “in spirit and in truth.” If we are to worship in this manner we must know the truth; the truth that is, which is revealed by God through his written Word. Paul understood this, and wrote, “Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” This is a basic requirement for acceptable worship of God. The Athenians worshiped a multiplicity of gods, but Paul knew that they could not properly worship the true God unless they learned to know him.

Paul continues, “Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (vs. 16) Apart from the word “teaching,” which Paul uses here, one might get the thought from this admonition that the worshiping of God was largely a matter of emotion.

And, indeed, true worship does stir one’s emotions, but emotions alone are not pleasing to God. The truth of the Word, which reveals the character of our Heavenly Father, must be the foundation of our worship.

QUESTIONS

What is the house of God today?

Explain one way in which God’s house can be defiled.

How do we worship God in spirit and in truth?

What part does prayer have in true woe ship?

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