For one, the Neese asks the question, "Do you want to be used by God?" Of course most Christians would say yes, emphatically, even! We DO. But he goes on to say, "Would you like to be used by your spouse? ... the church? the government?"
The answer is, generally, no. I do not want to be USED by my spouse, church, or government, or anyone in particular, really. Looking for ways to be useful implies to me that I am not useful most of the time. But even then, do I want to be "used" by my husband simply to give him children? Of course not! I want to be known by and loved by, appreciated by and adored by my husband. Not to be used by him as a means to an end!
And this is exactly what Neese points out.
"God didn't create you so that he could use you.
He created you so that he could know you."
In summary, God can use anything to accomplish his will. He is GOD, for crying out loud. God sent His son so that He could have relationships with people. We are not tools. We won't be thrown away when we're broken or when we aren't doing our jobs. We are people, and we are not disposable to God. We do things for God and serve him because He is valuable to us.
Secondly, Neese identifies the concept of "worship" as ministering to God. That is our job. Wait... what? Why do we need to minister to God? He's God?
"Worship is simply not for us. It is for God."
I love this because it doesn't say, "Worship is simply NOT ABOUT us, it's ABOUT God," which is a phrase I have heard many times. Of course worship isn't about us, it isn't even FOR us! We worship God because when we do so, His presence comes down and ministers to US. God's presence changes our lives.
Well doesn't that just put it together for you. Have you ever heard someone say, in regards to sharing your faith in Jesus Christ with someone, something like: "You just tell them. God is the only one who can change hearts." I know I've said this And it's true! But man that statement needs some unpacking, no? Worship is for God. When we worship and minister to God, God's presence comes and ministers to us.
Hm. So as a priesthood of believers, if we (as mentioned in the book), carry God's presence with us, like the ark of the covenant, and like a tabernacle (we are the tabernacle, we are God's dwelling place - Luke 17:21, 1 Cor 6:19) then we should be stewarding God's presence, not our words. God's presence will minister to those around you. And what does God's presence bring? Sing it with me... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22)... And how will all people know you are Christ's disciples? By how you love one another (John 13:34-35)!
"... one injustice I have not seen rectified is this: the church takes ministry away from the Lord and gives it to the people.
As a worship leader, this is intense. Yeeees, yes, yes, I worship God. I pour out my praise to him, and offer him my life. I sing the songs "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty"... But when I really think about it, I sing things like that, or "not for a moment will You forsake me" also to the congregation. Initially, I don't think this is so bad. Right? People need to know that God is always with them, and how will they know if no one tells them (Romans 1)?
When I am worshiping, and leading worship at church, my focus and my ministering needs to be to God alone. When I do this, God is present. He is knowing us. He is consuming our praise.
Think about the last time someone you love praised you or realllly laid the love on thickly. How did you feel? How did you react? Did you love it? Did it make you love them even more? I know this is how I feel when my husband praises me. Sheesh, when my husband even notices me I get a little twitterpated. So I really can't imagine how very much God wants to minister to us through his presence.
God's presence is so great. Too great, in fact, for us to grasp or understand. He gives us glimpses of his greatness. Those experiences with Him- some of you may call them mountain top experience, but I would describe them as being made whole.
And I want to be made whole by God's presence. I want everyone to be made whole by God's presence. And while we are all priests, God has often chosen me to be on a platform leading something like worship. Whoa- that a little heavy and it just hit me. God has often chosen me to lead his people in calling down his presence by ministering to Him. Guys (gals), that's important! You may not be on a platform on Sunday mornings, or during the week, singing songs about God, to God, etc. but you, if you believe that God sent his only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sin, once and for all, and after three days in the grave raised Jesus from the dead, then are called to lead people into the presence of God! AH!
God wants to know you. God wants to make you whole in His presence. When we worship (read: minister to God and not mankind), God's presence (God's Holy Spirit) in turn convicts our heart, and lavishes love upon us, and giving us (hear this, yeah...) a peace that passes all understanding.
I know that phrase well, but it's what I want, all the time. God's presence. God's peace. God's hope.
Thanks be to God.
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