IS IT FOR WOSHIP? OR IS IT FOR ENJOYING WORDLY PLEASURES?

From the time of the early apostles till today we have been worshipping the Lord on a Sunday, a day on which our Lord rose again from the dead. “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the lord” (Ps 122:1). King David was so happy to visit the house of the Lord. We find that apostles frequently visited the house of the Lord. “And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:53). We need to go to church every Sunday to worship God and praise Him for all the good gifts he has bestowed upon us. Worshiping the Lord in the spirit is a must for every Christian. This is the commandment, or an order given by Lord Jesus Christ Himself. “God is a spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Worshipping the Lord is a divine commandment. The apostles worshipped the Lord in the spirit. How about you?

There was a pastor who used to visit all his church members from 5 am on every Sunday, informing them about Sunday morning service. The church members needed a reminder that it was Sunday again, only then they would come for the Sunday service. How sad it is for us to hear about this kind of congregation. I have watched very carefully that every church has a good gathering during Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and New Year. Many of these churches have only 1/4 of the congregation attending the church throughout the year. The church leaders do not give much importance to church attendance, but they get upset when the offertory for the church goes down. Which is more important? Priceless soul or the offering? Let us care for the lost sheep in our fold. Shepherd who does not bother about his lost sheep is a careless shepherd. So also, a pastor who takes no care for his lost sheep. “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord” (Jer 23:1). Let every pastor try to build a church like Pastor Paul Yanki Cho of South Korea.

Sunday must be exclusively for worshipping the Lord and preaching the Gospel. Let us observe the Holy day. “If thou turn away from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shall honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, not speaking thine own words. Then shall thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high Places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isaiah 58:13, 14). Let us spend our time usefully on Sundays by visiting hospitals, prisons, orphanages and ministering in villages and towns. God promise His blessing for those who observe the Sabbath. Once a church member said to his pastor he will not be coming to church on Sundays. The Pastor told the brother that he should not avoid Sunday services by quoting the verse in Hebrews 10:25. Immediately the brother said by doing overtime on Sundays he is given a very good amount. The tithe to the pastor will be more. The pastor said well-done brother go ahead with your work in the office, we will pray for you. Woe to such pastors! Money or no money, going to church should be a must for every Christian.

Today the television has arrested many from going to church on Sundays. Every church must come out openly and condemn watching TV instead of worshipping in a church. Some churches have cancelled their Sunday evening services due to lack of attendance. Once an announcement was made in a church that we will finish our evening services before the commencement of the TV film programme. Does not this sound ridiculous? Once I decided to visit a few believers on Sunday evening. I was shocked to see they were watching film on the TV. I was very much grieved in my spirit. My prayer was, Lord let thy coming be on a Sunday evening. I am sure the majority will be left out! Let us shun worldly pleasures and glorify God and please Him more on Sabbath. Is Sunday a day of worship to you? Or is it a day of enjoying worldly pleasures? Turn your hearts towards worship.

Amen