Do you love to worship? I confess I do. God created us in his image to worship him with our whole lives. When I go to different services, I notice that each church has its own unique voice in worship. None is exactly like another.
If we had been in Jerusalem in the days after Jesus’ ascension, what would we have seen? We know they sang hymns (Mark 14:26). But they did not have a piano or an organ or an orchestra. Did they fulfill Psalm 150 using the instruments of their day? I am sure they did.
Jesus had taught them to pray, so they did. The men and women joined together constantly in prayer. When they chose another apostle to take Judas Iscariot’s place they asked God to lead them. As the men and women prayed together in worship, God’s Spirit came in power. The Psalmist tells us that when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity, there God bestows his oil of anointing and the gift of life. Jesus prayed, “Make them one.” And they became one.
Out of their worship came an opportunity of witness. The Holy Spirit came on the men and women and gave them the ability to speak his message in other languages. When the crowd heard about God and wondered about it, Peter explained that Joel’s prophecy had come true. God’s Spirit fell on men and women enabling them to prophesy. Before I studied prophets and prophecy, I thought it meant to predict the future. Actually, the prophets of the Old Testament did more “forth-telling” than fore-telling. They said, “Thus says the Lord . . .” Joel had predicted a time when young and old, men and women would prophesy. Peter said, “Today is that day.” Three thousand people were saved.
God’s vision for worship was clearly multicultural. Many languages were spoken that day. God’s vision for his church is also multigenerational. Young and old saw visions and dream dreams. God’s vision for worship in his church involved both men and women speaking to God and speaking for God to others. God’s vision for worship in his church involves prayer, preaching and salvation. I love to worship. Do you? Worship with God’s people on Sunday!
