05/24/2021
Every Church employs liturgy, even if they don’t call it that. We go through our liturgical rites and rituals as we worship, and many of them remind us of the more important things of Christian faith, but in the end they are just empty actions without the Holy Spirit helping us to infuse them with the blood and life of Christ. What is communion if we can’t remember Jesus in it, ingesting His body and drinking His blood as we partake of the elements? What is baptism but a refreshing dip without the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to the truth of Jesus, and being born again? If our liturgical actions become performa, and don’t include Jesus then they are nothing but dead works.
“For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Hebrews 9:13-14 ESV
Without the help of the Holy Spirit it is easy for us to fall into the trap of religion for the sake of religion. We can find ourselves placing man in charge of how we approach God, or turning to the world for guidance in our faith, and when this happens then suddenly we find that the life, which was the gift that Jesus presented us, has faded away. We continue to do the things we associate with religion, but they are dead… our heart can’t feel them, our soul can’t embrace them, and our mind forgets what they were once about. Without the Holy Spirit leading us to remember we sadly come to understand the true purpose of the parable of the sower; the poorly cast seeds become who we are, and reveal that the Church is no longer a worthy bride…
“The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.”
Luke 8:12-14 ESV
So how great is the involvement of the Holy Spirit in the liturgy you apply to your faith, and in your worship? Does He cause you to remember Jesus Christ in all of your actions, and teach you to glorify God in them as you should? Today let’s look honestly at our liturgical practices, and call for the Holy Spirit to take the blood of Jesus that we might have let dry to a stain, and His body that might now be hard and stale to us, and renew them in us… lifting them from the dead and bringing them back to a fullness of life.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
Liturgy, or liturgical practices, aren’t meant to save or redeem us; that has already been done by Jesus, no, they are meant to remind us of why we believe, and renew us in the practice of our faith. Are our practices doing this for us today? Are they founded on the word of God, or just invented by man?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the liturgy we employ in our faith, and our worship, as we remember your Word, and the gospel of Jesus through them. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who gives us understanding, and brings to our remembrance these important events in our faith, as He teaches us to glorify you in them. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who knows our hearts, minds, and spirits, and who helps us in our frailty to remember your Holy Word, and the gospel message of Jesus. Praised be your name as we perform every religious thing that we are taught by the Spirit, so that you are glorified. Help us Father to see Jesus in our communion, our baptism, in our marriages, and every instrument of our liturgy. Let every act of faith glorify you, and increase our belief. Merciful are you through your Holy Spirit who guides us away from religious sloth and our temptation to ignore the power in the performance of our faith. Amazing is your grace that flows through Jesus, and lifts us from the dead in both body, and spirit. Hear our prayers for forgiveness Lord, and wash us clean in the blood of Jesus! This being the New Covenant, and our only true hope. See Christ in us as we stand before you, and seat us with Him in heavenly places. Father, until that day, allow us to see Him in our worship and liturgy as the Holy Spirit encourages us, and we stand lovingly in His presence.
Rich Forbes