2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (NKJV) indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
As children of God, we desire His presence, and Scripture has revealed to us what attracts His presence and otherwise. First, we need to be open to God’s work among us because as we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us (James 4:8a). Secondly, the above passage tells us that unity among the body of believers also attracts His presence.
God dislikes division and strife among His people. God’s presence will not be there when people are divided because sin abounds when we have differences, arguments, and unforgiveness. Whenever there is strife and division, it is the work of the devil because he is the one who kills, steals, and destroys, whereas God is love and is a holy God.
King Solomon assembled the leaders, priests, and people to welcome the ark as it was brought into the temple. The ark represented God’s holiness and presence in the land and the people of Israel. The trumpeters and singers were as united as if they were one when they praised and thanked God by lifting their voices and singing the attributes of God—His goodness and mercy. It was their intentional act of worship towards God and their united and deliberate praise and worship that brought the presence of God. They approached God as a people, and the cloud that signified God’s presence filled the temple when the musicians were in one accord. Praise and worship attract the presence of God because people in the Old and New Testaments drew near to God through worship. This is why the worship segment is so important in church services. There shouldn’t be any strife or division regarding worship because it is all about God, not us.
Today, we don’t have an ark or a temple, but we ourselves are the temple of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We are the living stones that make up the church of the living God. Therefore, we need to welcome the presence of God with the right attitude towards worship, where we intentionally praise and worship God as a body of believers. As the worship leader leads us through praise and songs, we should praise God wholeheartedly as one until the spirit of worship comes or the glory falls. Then, we will stand in His glory.
Sermon Series:The Presence of God
合一敬拜
历代志下5:13-14 13 吹号的、歌唱的都一同发声,声音洪亮地赞美感谢耶和华;吹号、敲钹,用各样的乐器,扬声赞美耶和华,说:“因祂本为善,祂的慈爱永远长存!”那时,耶和华的殿有云充满,14 以致祭司不能站立供职,因为耶和华的荣耀充满了神的殿。
作为神的儿女,我们渴慕祂的同在,而圣经已向我们揭示了什么能吸引祂的同在,什么会阻碍祂的同在。首先,我们需要对神的作为保持开放的态度,因为当我们亲近神时,神就必亲近我们(雅各书4:8上)。其次,上述经文告诉我们,信徒群体之间的合一也能吸引祂的同在。
神不喜悦祂的子民中有纷争与不和。当人们彼此分裂时,神的同在就不会彰显,因为当我们存在分歧、争吵和不肯饶恕时,罪就会增多。每当有纷争和分裂出现,那就是魔鬼的作为,因为魔鬼是那杀害、偷窃和毁坏的,而神是爱,是圣洁的神。
所罗门王召集领袖、祭司和百姓来迎接约柜进入圣殿。约柜代表着神的圣洁和同在临到以色列地和以色列民。当吹号的和歌唱的扬声赞美、感谢神,颂唱神的属性——祂的良善与慈爱时,他们齐心合一,如同一体。这是他们向神有意识的敬拜行为,他们合一的、专注的赞美和敬拜带来了神的同在。当乐手们同心合一地敬拜时,那象征神同在的云充满了圣殿。赞美和敬拜吸引神的同在,因为无论在旧约还是新约中,人们都是通过敬拜亲近神。这就是为何在教会崇拜中,敬拜环节如此重要。关于敬拜,不应有任何争论或分歧,因为敬拜完全是关乎神,而不是关乎我们。
如今,我们既没有约柜,也没有圣殿,但我们自己就是神的殿,因为圣灵住在我们里面。我们是那组成永生神教会的活石。因此,我们需要以正确的敬拜态度来迎接神的同在,作为信徒肢体要有意识地赞美敬拜神。当敬拜领袖带领我们用赞美和歌声亲近神时,我们应当全心全意同心合一地敬拜,直到那敬拜的灵降临,或直到神的荣光彰显。那时,我们就要站立在祂的荣耀中。
讲章系列: 神的同在
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