Church Bulletin:
Every Sunday we come together to sing praises to our God. We may think of it as an ordinary practice performed by millions of ordinary people. Yet something special happens. We join our voices to the heavenly anthem; we enter into that never ending praise performed in the very presence of the King of kings. Of course this occurs not just on Sunday, but every day God’s people worship Him in song “from the rising of the sun to its going down”.
The book of Revelation provides a fascinating glimpse into the worship of heaven. 7:9-12, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
As we worship God with the invisible and universal church, it is not just our praises which rise to heaven. God is also present among His people in a unique way to bless them. Psalm 22:3, “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” God’s earthly throne is not located in a temple made with bricks, but in a temple made of living stones. By faith He is revealed to us through the truths we sing. James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you……..” We draw near to God and He draws near to us when we praise Him in song. 1 Cor 11:10 indicates that the angels are also present when God’s people gather to worship. It may be mysterious nevertheless it indicates that our worship is significant to heaven and heaven is present.
To worship God is no ordinary thing, particularly as we do so corporately. Psalm 87:2, “The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” God is pleased when we worship Him in our own private dwellings, yet He loves it when we gather as a church. We enter His courts and He visits us. Earth touches heaven and heaven touches earth.
Andrew