Costly Grace and Cheap Grace

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Monday, July 15, 3013:  I Chronicles 19:1-21:30
Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.”  I Chronicles 21:24 (NKJV)

Grace is one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible and in our world.  Entire segments of Christianity have warred with each other because of the distorted caricatures surrounding the grace of
God. 

David found himself in a place of repentance and forgiveness.  He had been broken under the judgment of God because of his sin.  As a response to God's gracious offer of new life, David sought to build an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan.  The land was offered to David as a gift, but the king refused to accept saying that he could not give back to God something that cost him nothing.

There are those who do not understand why David did this.  After all, was David trying to buy God's favor?  How could any of us ever add value to what God has already done.  We often tell people that Jesus paid it all (and HE DID!), therefore all we need do is accept. 

The key element here is for us to understand the two sides of this wonderful thing called GRACE.  Grace is the free gift of God that can never be earned.  It is never merited.  We truly can only receive it.

But, once we have received the grace of God, it will then demand our entire lives.  We can not purchase grace, but it will demand our everything. 

Perhaps the best summary of cheap grace and costly grace comes to us from the pen of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great German martyr who stood against Hitler during those dark days of World War II.  He writes in The Cost of Discipleship:

“Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?...

Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.”

Grace is like a love relationship.  It is freely given, but it costs everything.  God deserves our best.  He does not demand it so that we purchase His favor.  We give it freely because He is worthy.  The cost that we pay is insignificant in comparison to the matchless value of WHO HE IS!

A GOOD Idea and a GOD Idea

One Year Bible

Old Testament passage for Sunday, July 14, 2013:  I Chronicles 16:38-18:17

Now it came to pass, when David was dwelling in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent curtains.”  ² Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”  ³ But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, ⁴ “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in. I Chronicles 17:1-4 (NKJV)

David had a GOOD idea.  But it was not a GOD idea.  He sat in his own house and considered how he could improve God's "house."  Sounded like a good and honorable thing to do.  His most trusted counselor, Nathan, agreed with it. 

At first reading of this story, it sounds like God changed His mind.  One minute Nathan is saying, “Go ahead” and the next he’s saying, “Not so fast.”  Nathan initially believed that David was hearing from God about building a temple, and that David was to build it.  But, later that night, God brought clarity.  David was, in fact, hearing from God about the Temple.  But David’s job was not to actually do the construction.  Rather, he was only to PREPARE for it.

God didn’t change his mind.  It appears that Nathan jumped to a conclusion, and then God corrected him. 

It can be that way with following God.  Great ideas come into our heads and hearts.  We assume that since we heard it, we are to do it.  But, that’s not always the case.  It’s the difference between a GOOD idea and GOD idea.

Hearing from God can sometimes be like RADAR.  We are getting a signal, but it’s a little fuzzy.  We then try to interpret what we think God is saying to us.  We may be right on target about WHAT God wants, but we get some of the details wrong. 

This is an important lesson for each of us to learn.  Just because it’s a GOOD idea does not always mean it’s a GOD idea.

ALARM BELLS: "I Quit"

Here are the notes from yesterday's message at New Life Community Church.  This was the sixth and final message in the series ALARM BELLS and is entitled "I Quit".  If you would like to listen to this message, you may do so by going to our website at www.newlifesite.com.  God bless!

Alarm Bells, Part 6                                                                            Sunday, July 14, 2013

 “I Quit”

I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.”  But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.  Psalm 31:22 (ESV)

And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls.  Joel 2:32 (NKJV)

Satan’s major strategy against us is to DISCOURAGE us until we QUIT.

Video:  Facing the Giants

We quit when we …

1.     TRUST ourselves

2.     Can’t SEE JESUS

3.     ISOLATE ourselves from FRIENDS

³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.  Hebrews 10:32-34 (NIV)

³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”  ³⁸ And, “But my righteous one will live by faith.  And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”  ³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.  Hebrews 10:35-39 (NIV)

Luke 24

Context of Luke 24: 

Things were going great

Jesus comes to Jerusalem

Things turn bad

One minute rock star status, the next He’s crucified.

The entire roller coaster left the disciples devastated, confused

The resurrection takes place.

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him.  Luke 24:13-16 (NIV)

CONVERSATION does not mean CONNECTION.  Rarely have I found someone drifting in the wrong direction who didn’t also say, “I’m closer to Jesus than ever.”  They’re just walking in the wrong direction!!!

Jesus came alongside but they did not RECOGNIZE Him.  Jesus actually had to INTERRUPT them. 
If the devil can’t make you BAD, he tries to make you BUSY.  So preoccupied you can’t recognize Jesus.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”  They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”  Luke 24:17-18 (NIV)

Have you ever been disappointed?  Ever gone on a vacation and the picture you saw on the internet did not look like the room you walked into?
People let you down and perhaps you even feel God has let you down.
Something did not meet your expectations.  It did not turn out like you had thought it would.  You became disillusioned and you started back-pedaling. 

We start telling Jesus how to do things.  We start correcting Jesus.

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.  “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”  Luke 24:19-24 (NIV)

We find ourselves lecturing Jesus about Jesus.
If it ain’t good, it ain’t over.

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  Luke 24:25-27 (NIV)

Stay grounded in God’s Word.
Daily Bible Reading Plan

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.  Luke 24:28-29 (NIV)

Turning point:  STAY.
Take time for intimacy.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”  Luke 24:30-32 (NIV)

Slow down and do what’s important.

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.  Luke 24:33-35 (NIV)

One of the most frequent phrases in the Psalms is “His love never quits.”

The Boy Scouts, Exodus, and Same-Sex Marriage

Events during the past two months have crescendoed to reveal a massive shift that has changed American culture.  I am referring to the big three of: Boy Scouts, Exodus, and the Supreme Court.  Actually, these are but the latest installments in a story that has been unfolding for a long time.  The larger story is about the standardization of gay identity in our culture.

Here, in brief, is what has happened recently:

The Boy Scouts of America

On May 23, the 1,400-member Boy Scout National Council met in Irving, Texas and voted to remove membership restrictions on openly gay boys.  This has practical, symbolic, and precedent-setting implications for this iconic American institution.  The vote captured national attention and sends a signal to us all.

Practically, the key word is "openly" which means that sexual orientation is recognized and therefore approved.  The Boy Scouts have always claimed that all things sexual have no part in the Scouting identity.  Now it does. 

Symbolically, this sends a new message about IDENTITY.  The Scouts are all about identity -- what it means to be a healthy growing boy and then a man.  That image got "updated" in this decision. 

In terms of setting precedents, the Boy Scouts will now be soon faced with another decision concerning Scout Masters.  In the past, their decision (in 2004) to exclude openly gay men from becoming Scout Masters had been SUPPORTED by the Supreme Court in the 2000 case Boy Scouts of America vs. Dale.  That decision simply said that all private organizations have the constitutional right to "set membership standards."  The May 23 vote cut the legs out from under any decision to exclude openly gay individuals AT ANY LEVEL. 

Exodus International

On June 19, the board of directors of Exodus International met in Irvine, California and voted unanimously to close down their organization.  Exodus International was perhaps the most visible Christian ministry nationally reaching gays to help them exit the homosexual lifestyle (hence the name "Exodus").  Their closure is equivalent to James Dobson closing down Focus on the Family because he no longer believed in marriage!   Almost unthinkable.

The board issued a statement saying that the shut down of the ministry came "after a year of dialogue and prayer about the organization's place in a changing culture."  The president of Exodus Alan Chambers issued a statement saying:

I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents.

He has apologized for the Exodus slogan "Change is Possible."

This is a massive cave in.  He is saying that Exodus International's approach to "reparative therapy" doesn't work.  Much has been written and said in the aftermath of the demise of Exodus.  Just because the approach they have used proved in their minds to be ineffective does not mean that the power of the Cross and the authority of God's Word is also ineffective. 

The effect of the Exodus International closure plus the Boy Scouts decision has been something of a "double whammy" (in the words of L'il Abner).  Then comes the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court

On Wednesday, June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court, by a 5-4 decision, struck down the 17-year old Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  DOMA had defined marriage as the union between a "heterosexual couple" and it allowed states to refuse recognition of same-sex marriages granted by other states. 

The result of this decision was to, in effect, legitimize and condone same-sex marriage nationally.  There are many levels at which this has impact -- ranging from the right of the Supreme Court to make such a decision to the further disintegration of a moral compass.  Many predict that United States vs. Windsor (that's the name of this Supreme Court case) will become the new Roe v. Wade. 

Summary

Our culture is experiencing a "full court press" by the gay community.  Judging from the events I have mentioned, it appears they have achieved victory and a new day has come in which homosexuality is now mainstreamed in America. 

Along with these steps toward standardizing the gay lifestyle, another move has also taken root.  Those who, for whatever reason, question the gay agenda are being demonized and threatened.  That would primarily include anyone who believes that the Bible calls homosexual activity SIN, or stands vocally FOR heterosexual marriage.  Witness, for example, the back-lash uproar surrounding Chick-fil-A earlier this year.

At stake is not just the cultural predisposition toward homosexuality.  On a far larger scale, it is the ability of anyone to believe that the Bible is true, and that it holds moral authority over us.  The gay agenda does not stop at acceptance.  There are three chapters in the story that has been building over the past many years.  Those chapters are: the acceptance, the approval, and the promotion of homosexuality.

Even now, the National Association of Educators (NAE) is producing and distributing curricula aimed at exploring sexual identity.  The purpose is to advocate openness and promote experimentation.  It is truly a new day in America.  The future has arrived. 

The real question is "Where do we go from here?"  I will in a future blog outline thoughts concerning the response that I feel is needed.  It is imperative that the Church continue to compassionately hold up  the truth of God's Word.  There is no doubt that our world is rapidly changing.  It is powerfully comforting to know that God's truth never changes, but instead always liberate.

In the words of the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer, we must be ready to offer "honest answers to honest questions."  Even though it appears that the biblical foundations are eroding under our nation, this could also become the Church's finest hour as we shine more brightly the light of the Gospel that transforms lives.  To that end may we pray, may we learn, and may we work.

   

David's Second Chance

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Saturday, July 13, 2013:  I Chronicles 15:1-16:36

12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”  I Chronicles 15:12-13 (NKJV)

God knows how to build a marriage.  God knows how to build a church.  He knows what makes a business work.  He can make a nation strong.  He knows how to rebuild broken lives.  

David's initial attempt to put God first resulted in disaster (see yesterday's blog: "Why God Killed a Man").  Like many of us, he had the right idea, but went about it the wrong way.  He knew the WHAT (bring back the ark of the covenant), but he did not know the HOW (men instead of machines should carry God's presence).  

God's Word tells us not only what God is like, it also instructs us how to live.  It is amazing to read the intricate details God prescribed for the building of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.  His details are not meant to restrict us but rather to direct us to our highest possibilities.  

When David found and followed "the proper order" according to the Bible, the result was a celebration.  God gave David a second chance.  I, for one, am so glad our God does not disqualify any of us because of our foolish failures.  Instead, He meets us like the dawning of a new day offering a second or third or ........ chance to follow Him and fulfill the dream He spoke so clearly.  Like all great endeavors, success requires many attempts.  We all need a second chance.  And our God isTHE GOD OF THE SECOND CHANCE.      

Why God Killed a Man

One Year Bible

Old Testament passage for Friday, July 12, 2013:  I Chronicles 12:19-14:17

9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11 And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”  I Chronicles 13:9-12 (NKJV)

An amazing and perhaps shocking thing took place as David sought to bring the ark of the covenant back to its rightful place.  The ark was the centerpiece of Old Testament worship and symbolizes THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE.   But, it had been captured by the Philistines in I Samuel 4:11.  For upwards of forty years, it had remained "out of place" -- lost -- exiled.  As a side note, one of the reasons for the failure of Saul as king of Israel was that at no time during his reign was God worshipped in fullness.  During his entire 40 year reign, the Presence of God was absent from Israel's worship.  

One of David's first actions as king was to bring back the ark.  Undoubtedly, this was the right thing to do.  It was a national event of huge significance. "All Israel" was excited and watching as this long overdue return took place (I Chronicles 13:4-5).  But tragedy struck right in the midst of the procession.  One of the men escorting the ark reached out to steady the ark and Scripture says that the anger of God boiled over such that He struck the man dead on the spot.  Needless to say, the parade stopped at that point.  One moment there had been music, singing, tambourines, and trumpets (I Chronicles 13:8).   The next, things went totally silent.  It was shocking.  David was obviously distraught.  His "good" actions had brought another tragedy.

In discouragement, David let the ark of the covenant rest for three more months "out of place."  Progress came to a halt in the midst of a flood of questions.  Perhaps you have felt like this.  All your good intentions seem to result only in another disaster -- another disappointment.  There was no doubt that David was doing the right thing in bring the ark back.  Yet an "innocent man" got killed in the process!  Worst of all, GOD DID IT!  How can something start out so good and yet end up so bad?  What went wrong here?  In frustration, David cried out, "How can I bring the ark of God to me?" (I Chronicles 13:12)  He was saying what many of us have said as we seek to get things right in our lives.  HOW CAN I DO THIS?  EVERYTHING I TRY SEEMS TO BACKFIRE ON ME!  HOW CAN I POSSIBLY BE ALL I'M SUPPOSED TO BE?  THIS WALK WITH GOD IS TOO HARD!

But, of course, the story does not end here.  The ark of the covenant DOES finally arrive back in the center of Israel.  That day does unfold with great celebration.  But, that is three months later.  We need to look for a moment at why this shocking delay took place.  There are at least three lessons that we need to understand.

1. ALL TRUE PROGRESS MUST BE ON GOD'S TERMS.

We can't bargain with God.  He knows the right way.  He has given it to us in His Word, the Bible.  David had forgotten how to handle the PRESENCE OF GOD.  The priests had forgotten what the Scriptures clearly say about carrying the ark of the covenant.  In Exodus 25:12-14 and Numbers 7:9, it says that priests are to transport the ark ON THEIR SHOULDERS using poles.  Instead, David had tried to carry it "on a new cart".  In short, man's way is a new MACHINE.  God's way is redeemed MEN.  In the words of E.M. Bounds, "Men look for better methods, God looks for better men."

2.   OVER-FAMILIARITY CAN CAUSE LOSS OF GOD'S PRESENCE.

Uzza was one of the sons of Abinadab.  It was in his house that the ark of the covenant had rested for the past 20-40 years.  Uzza grew up with the ark in the next room.  He had never known the ark as the glorious instrument of worship it was.  In a sense, he easily could have seen it as another piece of furniture.  This loss of reverence led him to "help God."  Scripture does not say that the ark teetered.  It says only that the oxen stumbled.  When Uzza saw that, he reached out to make sure God was ok.  

As the son of a priest, Uzza should have known that you the process of transportation, the ark was not to be touched.  Numbers 4:15 says, "but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die."  It is said, "Familiarity breeds contempt."  In our day of casual Christianity and easy faith, perhaps we need a new dose of the fear of God.  Unfortunately, the entire concept of the reverential fear of God is a foreign concept to many.  

3.     GOD'S HOLINESS IS STILL AWESOME.

How could a God of love strike down a "good" man like Uzza?  It seems to our Western, egalitarian minds that God is playing unfair here.  He seems to be nit-picking on a minor infraction while ignoring worse things done elsewhere.  It appears that David questioned God in this manner.  At times it seems God is too hard to please and then "swats a fly with a sledge hammer."

This mind-set hits us in the face when we read about the death of Uzza.  The only way to understand is to go to the heart of our complaint, which is that we think God us UNFAIR.  His judgments are too severe.  

When we ask the UNFAIR QUESTION, we are telling God that we think He is treating us unfairly.  In short, God has every right to reply to our complaint by asking us to define what exactly would be fair.  If God were to treat us with complete fairness and justice, we would all be dead in our sins.  In fact, He has mercifully withheld His wrath against sin.  He has mediated His judgment and allowed us another chance.  His HOLINESS is awesome -- perfect -- absolute.  All variance from His holiness requires by nature His judgment and wrath.   By atonement for sin, God has granted us mercy and grace.  That atonement is given to us in Jesus.

Our problem is that we take His mercy and abuse His holiness.  It appears that in the case of Uzza, God finally said that His righteous requirements were being ignored too long.  As Uzza sought to rectify the ark by touching it, God rectified His HOLINESS by saying, "That's enough."  And judgment fell.

In Conclusion.

God always knows best.  His ways are not too hard.  If life isn't working out like you thought it should, perhaps you should revisit the Owners's Manual, your Bible.  In its pages, God's light will shine on your path showing you the way.

We need to look again at our relationship with Jesus.  If He is "old hat" to you, then you are not really looking at Him.  Even though He has been like a shadow lurking in a back corner of you life, it's time to bring Him into the living room.

All of us have been thankful for the forgiveness and patience of God.  However, we need never forget that He CAN bring down judgment.  And He does.  It behooves us to do some housecleaning before God, in His holiness, finally says to you, "That's enough."

God wants His Presence back at the center of your life.  In a sense, that's what life is all about.  May it be yours in full!

War -- Worship -- Advance

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Monday, July 8, 2013:  I Chronicles 5:18-6:81

31 Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark came to rest. 32 They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.  I Chronicles 6:31-32 (NKJV)

When David rose to become king of all Israel, he brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.  There he "pitched a tent" (II Chronicles 1:4) which we call the Tabernacle of David in which to house the ark.  This Tabernacle was a reproduction of the Tabernacle which Moses built in the wilderness as Israel journeyed toward Canaan.  

All of these Old Testament things such as the Tabernacle, the Temple, and the ark of the covenant are symbolic of New Testament realities.  They are TYPES and SHADOWS that point toward Jesus and the ministry that He brings us.  

The books of I and II Chronicles cover the same period of the history of Israel as I and II Kings.  The difference is that Chronicles is written from the perspective of the Levitical priesthood while  Kings, as its name indicates, is written from the perspective of the kings -- the throne.  Therefore, a theme of I and II Kings is WAR, while the unifying theme of I and II Chronicles is WORSHIP.  

David was not only a man of WAR, he was a man of WORSHIP.  Therefore, as he made preparations for a permanent "house of the Lord", he set music and song and worship all around the process of construction.  The ark of the covenant moved from a tent (tabernacle) to a temple.  Worshippers and singers were APPOINTED by David to surround this transition -- this advance.

All significant advance in the Kingdom of God is surrounded and supported by heart-felt worship and praise.  David mandated it.  This Old Testament practice is a pattern for New Testament living.  

So, how is your WORSHIP LIFE?  Are you surrounded by the songs of the Lord?  David commanded that the singers were to minister in song until the Temple was fully built.  We may have many jobs and many responsibilities these days, but the greatest aid to our advance is the sound of heaven filling our hearts.  Our mouths full of praise are our greatest weapons in the WAR.