The Calvary Road

Love Not The World Part 5

"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

Alternates To The Calvary Road

Let's consider the church in the West in two distinct ways. First, there's the traditional service, where we sing, read the Bible, pray, and then transition into a learning environment. We all focus on the ONE who teaches us.

Second, there is a more vibrant, professional musical to lift the spirits of those present to sing joyfully to the Lord, perhaps lifting their hands and becoming emotionally involved. There may be some expressions of spiritual gifts, such as a word of knowledge, prophecy, and concluding once again in a teaching from the Word. Prayers can be made, and after all has been done, the hope is that everyone present will be blessed in one way or another.

I am generalizing, and I apologize to those who do not feel that the worship service should not be generalized in such a way. If such a routine does not exist in your experience, then I am not talking about your church.

Let us consider another element that may or may not be true of the church. Most attending are assumed to be Christians, living a good life, and not doing anything that would bring reproach upon Christ or place a stumbling block before the world. The leaders, of course, are thought more highly of than the rest. Therefore, it is always a shock when anyone falls into sin.

The Calvary Road Always Leads to Christ

Let us consider something different at Sunday Morning Worship. Transparency is critical during the time spent together. The previous week is set in the minds of those attending. It may have been filled with joy or sorrow, an easy path, or what may have seemed like a difficult road to walk. This time, worship is not about what is expected but what has happened in real-time.

There has been no rehearsal, no program laid out, no song choices prearranged, or prayers prewritten. However, there are the things that God has written on the hearts of those who come to meet God with fellow believers and share for the benefit of all. There may be young and old in age and the Lord. Some are passionate about their new salvation experience through Jesus Christ; others have faced many battles with the enemy and rejoiced more extensively in the grace shown them through many hard years.

The songs sung may bring joy where sorrow has been expressed. A song may point to the freshness of Christ's blood to encourage a struggling sister or brother with sin. A song can be chosen to focus on the glory yet to be seen in eternity to bring into perspective the hardship that a brother or sister is enduring at the present moment. All this and more can happen in prayer that is sought when it is most appropriate.

The Calvary Road Always Gives God The Glory

The previous accounts are all happening in real-time as those present feel safe and comfortable enough to share with those present. In a way, the worship is much like Jude expressed in his opening lines, "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints" (verse 3).

Worship is about meeting God, talking with Him, expressing our worship, praise, confession, thanksgiving, and interceding for others. Do we prepare a formal letter before meeting a friend for lunch? We might want to share specific things, but when we become formal, we might even offend if our conversation does not happen naturally.

As the time together progresses, there may be a break for lunch, where all gather to remember the Lord's broken body and the blood shed on Calvary's tree. Joy is in the moment we receive refreshing from earthly food combined with spiritual nourishment to remember what we will never forget in eternity.

The Calvary Road Always Points To Christ

At some point, the Lord will orchestrate the moment when, and through whom among the most mature and filled with the Holy Spirit, a Word of learning is given. Christ will be exalted, a fresh cleansing can be experienced, a broken heart can occur, and triumph of God that all may feel as well as know.

These are the moments we experience God together for the mutual benefit of all and to praise the only One who deserves it. It is not professionalism and makes it a day of rejoicing. It is not prepared by people but orchestrated by the unseen God, who lives in everyone's heart.

The Calvary Road is not walked out of tradition or human preparation but on the solid rock of our salvation. The ever-present Holy Spirit makes Jesus Christ real to us, and the sovereign unseen God who is everywhere present brings all things together in His way and at His time. Jesus spoke to the unsaved crowds but He only discipled twelve, and it certainly was not only on Sunday.