He who places the members of the body in it as it pleases Him, uses evangelists, pastors and teachers, when and where He chooses to do so; they looking to Him for guidance where to go, and where and how long to remain, to whom they are alone responsible for the use of their gift or gifts.
But in worship, we come together, not to hear a gospel address, not to be taught by a teacher, not to be exhorted by a pastor, but to give, as led of the Lord in the midst by His Spirit, praise, adoration, and thanksgiving to our God and Father, or it may be. to the Lord Jesus Himself – something that requires no special gift in any one, but something that every true Christian walking with God has in him, and which God is alone worthy to receive, that is, worship.
It may be one or two or three simple, but true-hearted souls, may each in turn be led, in simple, unlettered words, to be the mouthpiece of all the Christians present; but it will be so, not because more fitted or more gifted by even spiritual gifts, or because called upon by any one to do so, but simply because His Spirit is leading, to whom we are to look and own as our Head, our High-Priest, our Minister of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man, our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom, too, our songs and words of praise come up acceptable unto God.
And this system of worship will never be done away with. It has begun on earth, though, we being still in bodies of humiliation, it is never what it should be or will be. When we get the redemption of our bodies – when no longer “through a glass darkly, but then face to face,” knowing as we are known – when, no longer scattered and divided, and mixed up with the world, as many are, in worship, all Christ’s blood-bought ones are gathered around Himself in glory, then shall worship begun on earth go on there in glory forever, and be what it ought to be fully.
The holiest we enter
In perfect peace with God,
Through whom we found our center
In Jesus and His blood;
Though great may be our dullness
In thought and word and deed,
We glory in the fullness
Of Him that meets our need.
Much incense is ascending
Before th’ eternal throne;
God graciously is bending
To hear each feeble groan;
To all our prayers and praises
Christ adds His sweet perfume,
And love the censer raises,
These odors to consume.
(Read the Epistle to the Hebrews prayerfully with this).
(Continued from page 246).
(Concluded).