A pastor in a Zhejiang church said that Christians should attend God-centered worship to experience revival and the Lord’s grace, to address their inner needs, and to abide by God’s command.
Based on Hebrews 10:19-25 and 12:29-29, Pastor Liu Yanmin, from Yuhang Church in Hangzhou, China’s northeastern coastal Zhejiang Province, gave a sermon titled The Worship Concept Christians Should Have on August 8.
Liu stated that it was recorded in the Bible that a priest responsible for worship in the sanctuary was stricken down by God, so this incident reminded believers to worship the Lord following His method and requirements. The Bible contained norms of worship and believers’ lifestyles, as well as the ways of worship that pleased God.
He continued that worship was not a manifestation of self, but had a unique and most important object - God. The processes of praise, worship, and officiation were not opportunities for Christians to express themselves, as God was the only one whom they served.
"We worship God because He creates and rescues us through Jesus. We are made in the image of Him who promises to be with us, so we fear Him," Liu urged.
It was difficult for the believers who read the letter to gather as they were persecuted at that time; still though, God asked them not to give up meeting together, according to Hebrews 10:25. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, our circumstances today were better than those of believers’ in early churches. Yet it was easy for us to stop gatherings, as we were too casual and self-indulgent.
The light and heat emitted by a match and a pile of matches were different, said Pastor Liu. When Jesus preached on the mountain, the seashore, or the boat, many people gathered together to listen, as God’s words were what they needed.
"We want to live a life of worship, which is our inner need. One person can not gather. The Bible says that if two or three people come together, there is Jesus with them," he shared.
The pastor said, "Faith based on utilitarianism will not last long. Some people always seek healing from God. If their demands cannot be satisfied, they would not believe in God. We must be grateful and hopeful that God has given us the opportunity to worship, this is the correct attitude."
The servant of God stated that injured church members would also be encouraged and comforted when they worshipped, as they could experience God’s grace in the service. In the church, believers shared their testimonies which showed the power of Christ. When merged together, the testimonies would be more powerful.
During the apostolic period, persecution reached its peak, but the church was in its most revived state.
"God guided them to learn to love each other and to be loved while loving others. So more and more people were filled with the Holy Spirit to preach for the Lord and were willing to be martyred for the Lord."
"Through worship, we can feel love, which is God's grace to us. True worship is what each believer should pursue and learn," he concluded.
-Translated by Abigail Wu
