Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Elements of Worship – Psalm 96
The worship of our Creator is the highest point of Man’s existence. God has not left us without a guide as to how we are to approach Him. Truly, we are to worship Him in the “Beauty of Holiness” (v10). There is a reverential awe and fearful disposition associated with our worship when the attribute of God’s holiness is emphasised.
When the mind is yielded to God, it brings forth spiritual fruit in the believer’s life. What is the Spirit’s fruit? In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” When the believer is blessed with the fruit of the Spirit, the is no law to condemn or judge such a one! The fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of the character of God in our lives. When God endows us with such spiritual blessing, we are a blessing to the people around us.
With a sound mind, the Christian serve the law of God. Such a mind is led by the influence of the Holy Spirit undergirded by God’s Word. Such a mind is disciplined, taught, trained to do good, serve God. The Apostle Paul took time to cultivate such a godly mind! He testified spending time with God in imbibing the truth of God into his very heart after his conversion.
The Apostle Paul understood well the first law of Christ’s kingdom! (Matt. 5:3) This, I believe, is the testimony of a child of God who realized his unworthiness before God. He cries out to God for mercy. If God will not intervene to grant him deliverance, he will fail miserably! Therefore, we dare not live far from His presence but seek to experience His sanctifying presence by a poverty of spirit. Amen.
The indwelling Holy Spirit coupled with the indwelling Word strengthening the mind is the secret of victorious Christian living. The Christian is able to see sin for what it is at all times. He is able to see the spiritual warfare within him and take precaution to protect himself from being brought into captivity to the law of sin which is in his members.
2 Kings 2:1-14 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
The Apostle Paul praises God for giving him His Word and is resolved to all the law of God to guide his life. He loves God’s Word because it brings to his life God’s blessing. He rejoices in embracing God’s Word. What about you? How much is God’s Word an integral part of your life? In psalm 119, the psalmist speaks of the blessedness of embracing God’s Word. It benefits him.
The Apostle Paul sees in his heart both the propensity for good and for evil. He has to actively choose to do good whilst he sees an evil tendency seeking to pull him down. He sought the Lord to help him do good and finds in the Lord a present help. James Smith echos the Christian’s victory over sin as he waits upon God, “What a mercy that evil does not reign in you, and over you. It did reign once, and would reign but for free and sovereign grace.”
The Apostle Paul describes the war within him that is waged between the Spirit and the flesh. It is a very real battle. He saw the rottenness of the flesh. It is corrupt and evil. He calls this the sin that dwells in him. He saw also the Spirit prompting him not yield to sin. He could differentiate well between good and evil and he realizes the pull toward evil is such a contending force within him. This acknowledgment leads him to endeavour by prayer and supplication to keep close to God and not yield to sin.
Matthew 26:47-56 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.