The Importance of Public Worship
Dear Reader,
The following verses and article beautifully states our Lord's mind regarding the importance of our attendance upon the public means of His grace. It is a tragedy that we must have to be commanded to "Not foresake the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some." (Heb. 10:25). Rather, let us pray for such an heart as David had when he said, " I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." Psa. 122:1. Was it Christ who said, "I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there ye may be also?" O, my soul, it is heaven to be where Christ is. While this is spoken primarily of our Lord's second coming, can we not also apply it to his preparing a place for us here in the days of our sojourn where he will come to us and commun with the souls of his dear children at set times and in appointed places to bless us as we gather to worship and honor him as his people? Our dear Saviour has said, "That where I am, there ye may be also." "Where to or three are gathered together, there am I also in the midst of them." Where thou art, my dearest Jesus, there I desire to be and to lie down among those sheep who here the Shepherds voice. "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents." Song of Sol. 1:7, 8. Indeed, May I be always among those who have come to worship God in spirit and in truth.
The following verses and article beautifully states our Lord's mind regarding the importance of our attendance upon the public means of His grace. It is a tragedy that we must have to be commanded to "Not foresake the assembling of ourselves together as is the manner of some." (Heb. 10:25). Rather, let us pray for such an heart as David had when he said, " I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." Psa. 122:1. Was it Christ who said, "I go to prepare a place for you that where I am there ye may be also?" O, my soul, it is heaven to be where Christ is. While this is spoken primarily of our Lord's second coming, can we not also apply it to his preparing a place for us here in the days of our sojourn where he will come to us and commun with the souls of his dear children at set times and in appointed places to bless us as we gather to worship and honor him as his people? Our dear Saviour has said, "That where I am, there ye may be also." "Where to or three are gathered together, there am I also in the midst of them." Where thou art, my dearest Jesus, there I desire to be and to lie down among those sheep who here the Shepherds voice. "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions? If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents." Song of Sol. 1:7, 8. Indeed, May I be always among those who have come to worship God in spirit and in truth.
- Ps 42:4 --- When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
- Ps 55:14 --- We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. {We…: Heb. Who sweetened counsel}
- Ps 63:1, 2 --- A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. » O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
- Ps 63:3 --- Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
- Ps 84:1,2 --- How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
- Ps 84:10 --- For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. {I had…: Heb. I would choose rather to sit at the threshold}
- Ps 119:111 --- Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart
I.--Ordinances Blessed
God's ordinances are called His name. Jerusalem is said to be the city which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there, (1 Kings xiv. 21.) God therefore promiseth to be present with, and to bless His ordinances: "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee," (Exod. xx. 24.) Many are apt to complain that they have waited long, and have not attained this blessing; whereas, it may be, they overlook the blessing they have attained. Though you say you see not the glory of God in His ordinances, yet have you not felt something of God's power therein? Though you say you do not behold the goings of God in the sanctuary, yet have you not felt something of His workings in thy soul? Is there no warmth of heart, no stirring of affection, no impression of holiness found in thee, either in or after ordinances? Though thou feelest no sensible approaches of God to thy soul, dost thou not find God keeping thy soul in a waiting, depending frame upon Him, in His ordinances? Dost thou not say, "However God deals with me, yet will I wait upon Him; for, if I obtain not the blessing when He commands it, how can I expect it when He has not promised it? If I do not thrive in the enclosed garden, am I more likely to grow in the open field? If I do not flourish beside the living streams, am I more likely to prosper in the parched desert?" Doth God keep thee close to ordinances? Even this is a blessing: "Blessed is the man that heareth me," saith wisdom; "watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors," (Prov. viii. 34) Though at present you have not those mercies you wait for, yet is it a great blessing to be kept diligently waiting for the mercies you desire to have.
II.--Ordinances Not To Be Neglected
Some are prone to keep away from ordinances because they cannot come with such a heart as they would. But, take heed; he that is unfit to-day, may be more unfit to-morrow. The more we give way to our sloth, the more ground will be gained by our corruptions. If thou canst not find thy heart fit, come, that it may be made fit. Though we should endeavour after a good frame, yet God will have us know that the preparation of the heart is from Himself, (Prov. xvi. 1.) Therefore, though you cannot bring such a heart as you would, yet come and beg for such a heart as you desire to bring.
III--Ordinances Not To Be Undervalued
Some have too low, and others too high thoughts of ordinances. Some say of ordinances, as Naaman did of the Jordan; "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel; may I not wash in them and be clean?" (2 Kings v. 12.) Thus do many despise both ordinances and the wisdom and authority of God in them; and, not being satisfied with their plainness, endeavour to make them more pompous. But while they think in this way to put a glory on them, they take away their efficacy; and, while labouring to gratify their senses, hinder the benefit of their souls. God commanded an altar of earth to be built by the children of Israel, on which they were to sacrifice to Him; and, if an altar of stone, then not of hewn stone. "For," saith He, "if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it," (Exodus xx. 25.) That which men account polishing, God accounts polluting, and that which they call adorning God calls defiling.
Another sort there are, who, pretending they have obtained the substance, therefore need not the shadow. They have the baptism of the Spirit, and need not the baptism of water. Christ is come unto them, so that they need not ordinances to remind them of His coming. The day has dawned, and the daystar risen; therefore they need not the word. Thus they embrace a cloud for a star, and night for light; whereas the primitive Christians, who were filled with the Spirit, kept close to ordinances. Stephen, who was "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," (Acts vi. 5,) is chosen a deacon. Those upon whom the Holy Ghost was poured out were commanded to be baptized, (Acts x. 44, 47.) And God says, "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them," (Ezek. xxxvi. 27.) The Spirit of God is not given to discharge from ordinances, but to fit us to walk with God in them. On the other hand, as some have too low, so others have too high thoughts of ordinances. They look for that from ordinances which they can receive only from Christ. They expect that from Paul's "planting" and Apollos' "watering," which they are to have from God alone, "who giveth the increase," (1 Cor. iii. 6.) In the sixth chapter of Numbers, Aaron and his sons were, by an ordinance, to pronounce a blessing upon the people; but it was God who was to give it: "And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them," (verse 27.) Therefore, highly esteem and diligently attend upon the plain and pure ordinances of Christ. But expect not that from the cistern which you can only have from the fountain; or that from the presence-chamber which thou art to receive from the king.
God's ordinances are called His name. Jerusalem is said to be the city which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put His name there, (1 Kings xiv. 21.) God therefore promiseth to be present with, and to bless His ordinances: "In all places where I record my name, I will come unto thee and bless thee," (Exod. xx. 24.) Many are apt to complain that they have waited long, and have not attained this blessing; whereas, it may be, they overlook the blessing they have attained. Though you say you see not the glory of God in His ordinances, yet have you not felt something of God's power therein? Though you say you do not behold the goings of God in the sanctuary, yet have you not felt something of His workings in thy soul? Is there no warmth of heart, no stirring of affection, no impression of holiness found in thee, either in or after ordinances? Though thou feelest no sensible approaches of God to thy soul, dost thou not find God keeping thy soul in a waiting, depending frame upon Him, in His ordinances? Dost thou not say, "However God deals with me, yet will I wait upon Him; for, if I obtain not the blessing when He commands it, how can I expect it when He has not promised it? If I do not thrive in the enclosed garden, am I more likely to grow in the open field? If I do not flourish beside the living streams, am I more likely to prosper in the parched desert?" Doth God keep thee close to ordinances? Even this is a blessing: "Blessed is the man that heareth me," saith wisdom; "watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors," (Prov. viii. 34) Though at present you have not those mercies you wait for, yet is it a great blessing to be kept diligently waiting for the mercies you desire to have.
II.--Ordinances Not To Be Neglected
Some are prone to keep away from ordinances because they cannot come with such a heart as they would. But, take heed; he that is unfit to-day, may be more unfit to-morrow. The more we give way to our sloth, the more ground will be gained by our corruptions. If thou canst not find thy heart fit, come, that it may be made fit. Though we should endeavour after a good frame, yet God will have us know that the preparation of the heart is from Himself, (Prov. xvi. 1.) Therefore, though you cannot bring such a heart as you would, yet come and beg for such a heart as you desire to bring.
III--Ordinances Not To Be Undervalued
Some have too low, and others too high thoughts of ordinances. Some say of ordinances, as Naaman did of the Jordan; "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel; may I not wash in them and be clean?" (2 Kings v. 12.) Thus do many despise both ordinances and the wisdom and authority of God in them; and, not being satisfied with their plainness, endeavour to make them more pompous. But while they think in this way to put a glory on them, they take away their efficacy; and, while labouring to gratify their senses, hinder the benefit of their souls. God commanded an altar of earth to be built by the children of Israel, on which they were to sacrifice to Him; and, if an altar of stone, then not of hewn stone. "For," saith He, "if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it," (Exodus xx. 25.) That which men account polishing, God accounts polluting, and that which they call adorning God calls defiling.
Another sort there are, who, pretending they have obtained the substance, therefore need not the shadow. They have the baptism of the Spirit, and need not the baptism of water. Christ is come unto them, so that they need not ordinances to remind them of His coming. The day has dawned, and the daystar risen; therefore they need not the word. Thus they embrace a cloud for a star, and night for light; whereas the primitive Christians, who were filled with the Spirit, kept close to ordinances. Stephen, who was "full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," (Acts vi. 5,) is chosen a deacon. Those upon whom the Holy Ghost was poured out were commanded to be baptized, (Acts x. 44, 47.) And God says, "I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them," (Ezek. xxxvi. 27.) The Spirit of God is not given to discharge from ordinances, but to fit us to walk with God in them. On the other hand, as some have too low, so others have too high thoughts of ordinances. They look for that from ordinances which they can receive only from Christ. They expect that from Paul's "planting" and Apollos' "watering," which they are to have from God alone, "who giveth the increase," (1 Cor. iii. 6.) In the sixth chapter of Numbers, Aaron and his sons were, by an ordinance, to pronounce a blessing upon the people; but it was God who was to give it: "And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them," (verse 27.) Therefore, highly esteem and diligently attend upon the plain and pure ordinances of Christ. But expect not that from the cistern which you can only have from the fountain; or that from the presence-chamber which thou art to receive from the king.
Making Church Attendance a Priority
We shall all do well to remember the charge of the Apostle Paul--"Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is." (Heb. 10:25). Never to be absent from God's house on Sundays, without good reason--never to miss the Lord's Supper when administered in our own congregation--never to let our place be empty when means of grace are going on, this is one way to be a growing and prosperous Christian. The very sermon that we needlessly miss, may contain a precious word in season for our souls. The very assembly for prayer and praise from which we stay away, may be the very gathering that would have cheered, established, and revived our hearts. We little know how dependent our spiritual health is on little, regular, habitual helps, and how much we suffer if we miss our medicine. ~ J.C. Ryle
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