One heart - gathering together Nov 6

Passage: Romans 15: 5-13: ‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs ⁹so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.” ¹⁰Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” ¹¹And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.” ¹²And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” ¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Introduction:

• The theme of our new series is ‘One Heart’ which suggests (a) the mission of God to bring all things in creation into harmony under Christ (Eph 1: 9-10; Col 1: 18-20) and (b) the one heart of our church to live and work with him in his quest to reconcile creation (2 Cor 5: 18-20).
• Today’s particular topic is our gathering together, a crucial strategy in God's plan.
• Last week we reviewed the importance of prayer in arising and shining, noting that Moses’ first response to his new mission was to ask (pray). We continue with his example since our new theme is equally enriched from Moses' experience in Exod 33-34. For example, the theme of his prayer contains rich encouragement for our gathering with one heart.

Focus: 2 Chronicles 5: 13-14: 'It came even to pass, as 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 for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; ¹⁴So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.'

Comment:

1. Moses asked (Exod 33: 12-13, 15-16, 18). V. 33: 12: 'Moses said to the Lord'.
   1. See last week’s message. What concerns us now is how Moses asked. We find that: --
2. Moses asked wisely (Exod 33: 12-13, 15-16, 18). He asked, (a) 'Show me now your ways that I may know you' (33: 13); (b) 'if your presence go not with us, etc. (33: 15-16)' and (c) 'Show me your glory' (33: 18).

1. Why ask for these things (e.g., to know him, and for his presence and his glory) since he already knew God intimately and had seen astounding examples of God’s glory?
2. Answer: He knew that as a result his life and mission would be in harmony with Yahweh; that he would have tangible and fresh relationship with him and thus empowerment for life and mission, and would have a deeper understanding of God's nature upon which life and mission are built.
3. Similarly, in the NT Paul prayed, ‘That I may know him’ (Phil 3: 10), and for his churches, ‘I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better’ (Eph 1: 17).
4. So, just as Moses prayed, though he already knew God intimately; and just as Paul prayed, who knew the Jesus intimately, we too need ask wisely and to seek in our gatherings; namely, to know him, to know his presence, and to know his glory.
5. Note: Praying and seeking to know Jesus better is a vital aspect of the church’s many gatherings and may it increasingly be so. Accordingly, through Scripture, prayer and worship, Christ is revealed, his grace received and we are drawn closer together (Rom 15: 13: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’).
6. Example: What might we expect then by praying and seeking thus? (a) Look at the last verse, 'the God of hope = overflow with hope'. (b) Paul cites an example in Phil 4: 6-7 (e.g., peace beyond human understanding) and (c) in Eph 3: 17b-19 (e.g., love beyond human understanding that fills us with God). (d) Personal experience of knowing the Father.

3. Moses received (Exod 33: 14, 17, 34: 5-7):

1. E.g., Exod 33: 14, 17: ‘The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” ... ¹⁷And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”’
2. God is willing for us, too, and is pleased with us in Christ (cf. Matt 3: 17: 'This is my Son in whom I am well pleased' with Col 3: 3: 'Our lives are hidden with Christ in God'). Our lives are hidden in the One who is well-pleasing to God.
3. Note: Our regular gatherings are to be times of expectation, encouragement and enrichment through engaging with Christ through the Scripture, each other, prayer and worship (Col 3: 16-17). The result of such gatherings will be growth into Christ and thus in unity (Eph 4: 15-16; Rom 15: 5: ‘May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves’).
4. Example: (a) Look at the last verse: 'God who gives – give you a spirit of unity'. (b) The little boy who wished God had been at church with him.

4. Moses worshipped (Exod 34: 8: ‘Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped’).

1. He worshiped at once – all reluctance and apathy removed, he worshipped eagerly and whole-heartedly – as a result of knowing God better.
2. Note: Corporate worship, which is based on knowing Jesus better in a context of hopeful expectation, will be eager, responsive, wholehearted and unifying worship that will also be reflected in the daily worship of our spiritual growth and service for him (Rom 15: 6: ‘so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’).
3. Example: A crucial reason for spiritual worship. Spurgeon: 'There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit' (e.g., Isa 6: 1-8). God's servants are best prepared by awe of his presence. [The experience at staff prayer day last year.]
4. Conclusion: So, as individuals and gathered church, let’s together (a) ask, (b) ask wisely, (c) receive with expectation, (d) worship with eagerness, and then, with one heart and voice, ‘arise and shine’.