THE OFFERTORY VS. THE ALTAR CALL
Of course, they shouldn't be in competition, but certainly one is more important than the other, at least in God's eye. The offertory should never outlast the altar call, or surpass it in importance or attention. But, it does.
Too often, in churches across our nations, we will spend nearly an hour (and sometimes more) receiving (and I have to use that word loosely) an offering, but only minutes--a few, "travailing" for souls during the altar call. I wonder how often--and how many, souls were on the verge of making that all important decision, only for that opportunity to be taken away so that we could move on to more important matters--you know, like receiving a "love offering" for the speaker. Please understand me, there is nothing wrong with receiving an offering--it is necessary, but it shouldn't take precedence over eternal matters of the heart. In a lot of our churches, offering is the longest portion of the worship service. Something is wrong when our coming together is focused more on money than anything else.
What was the focus of Jesus' ministry? What was the focus of the Apostles' ministry? It was service--not receiving; and the service had a goal. The love exhibited was always to point men to Christ--"...by this shall all men know that ye are My disciples." The Apostles did a lot of receiving of money and goods, too, but they distributed them to those who had need. It was those "bowels of compassion" that helped to draw souls by the thousands in the early days of the church. Today, we are less focused on serving and more focused on receiving and being served, yet expect the results of the early church. It won't happen. Revival will happen when we set aside our agenda and put souls at the forefront of the agenda, as Jesus did. When compassion moves us to give more (to those who have need) than we receive and to persevere (truly travail) with those who come into our midst seeking Him, things will change. We did away with tarry service--that was good, but I think we may have thrown away "the baby with the bath water". Now, we no longer have time for souls that don't respond instantly or at least quickly.
In the 35th chapter of Isaiah, we see an amazing metamorphosis--but there was a catalyst to start that process. It doesn't just happen. There is a cause that creates the effect. Of course, many would argue that this prophecy only refers to Israel, but it has implications for us, too since "Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval." [2 Timothy 3:16, GWT] Here is that passage [Holman Christian Standard Bible]:
1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2 It will blossom abundantly
and will also rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
steady the shaking knees!
4 Say to the cowardly:
“Be strong; do not fear!
Here is your God; vengeance is coming.
God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,
for water will gush in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the parched ground will become a pool of water,
and the thirsty land springs of water.
In the haunt of jackals, in their lairs,
there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.
8 A road will be there and a way;
it will be called the Holy Way.
The unclean will not travel on it,
but it will be for the one who walks the path.
Even the fool will not go astray.
9 There will be no lion there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it;
they will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk on it,
10 and the redeemed of the Lord will return
and come to Zion with singing,
crowned with unending joy.
Joy and gladness will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee."
This passage begins with a paradox. The wilderness and the desert become the beautiful place of health and wholeness (spiritually). That is not the normal character of those places. That's what is different about a relationship with God--chaos/wilderness can be all around, yet peace can reign within those who know Him. That's how we "walk upon our high places" with feet like hinds' feet. Habakkuk wrote his prayer in the midst of his own chaotic, troubled desert, yet enraptured in unbridled praise. "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth." Shigionoth (tephillah) is a highly emotional form of praise--wild, exuberant and rhythmic. It would seem that Habakkuk should be consumed with worry, doubt and fear, since the fig tree won't blossom, there's no fruit on the vine, the olive has failed, the fields have failed to produce crops, the flock is cut off and there are no more cattle. These were desperate times, but Habakkuk's prayer wasn't woeful or fear-filled; it was over-flowing with praise and and confidence. Even though those things existed, he had something that enabled him to rise above his circumstances and not fall down under the weight of them. We do, too. In fact, we have more than Habakkuk did.
While naturally things are chaotic, and perhaps even a wasteland we can choose to live on the fatness of the land, spiritually--there can be a blossoming in the midst of the desert, even as of a rose. When we begin to focus on spiritual health and its enrichment, then we can and must strengthen others. Luke 22:32 says, "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.” [GWT] Isaiah 35:3,4 tell us STRENGTHEN, STEADY and SAY. It's the calling of everyone of us--in the Body of Christ. There is a violent assault against the Kingdom of God. What will we do about it? Souls need to be strengthened, steadied and encouraged. It's a treacherous day that we live in, and men's hearts are failing them for fear. We cannot stand by, or be lackadaisical about it. It is urgent. We say that we want revival and we want to see a Pentecostal move of God where souls are saved by the thousands and healed miraculously, but it is contingent upon our behavior. Revival will happen when we revive, and revive those around us.
Priorities and focus. People before substance. Surrendered pride and greed. Right motives. Compassionate deeds, not simply compassionate speech. L-O-V-E.
Get right church and let's (all) go home.
Too often, in churches across our nations, we will spend nearly an hour (and sometimes more) receiving (and I have to use that word loosely) an offering, but only minutes--a few, "travailing" for souls during the altar call. I wonder how often--and how many, souls were on the verge of making that all important decision, only for that opportunity to be taken away so that we could move on to more important matters--you know, like receiving a "love offering" for the speaker. Please understand me, there is nothing wrong with receiving an offering--it is necessary, but it shouldn't take precedence over eternal matters of the heart. In a lot of our churches, offering is the longest portion of the worship service. Something is wrong when our coming together is focused more on money than anything else.
What was the focus of Jesus' ministry? What was the focus of the Apostles' ministry? It was service--not receiving; and the service had a goal. The love exhibited was always to point men to Christ--"...by this shall all men know that ye are My disciples." The Apostles did a lot of receiving of money and goods, too, but they distributed them to those who had need. It was those "bowels of compassion" that helped to draw souls by the thousands in the early days of the church. Today, we are less focused on serving and more focused on receiving and being served, yet expect the results of the early church. It won't happen. Revival will happen when we set aside our agenda and put souls at the forefront of the agenda, as Jesus did. When compassion moves us to give more (to those who have need) than we receive and to persevere (truly travail) with those who come into our midst seeking Him, things will change. We did away with tarry service--that was good, but I think we may have thrown away "the baby with the bath water". Now, we no longer have time for souls that don't respond instantly or at least quickly.
In the 35th chapter of Isaiah, we see an amazing metamorphosis--but there was a catalyst to start that process. It doesn't just happen. There is a cause that creates the effect. Of course, many would argue that this prophecy only refers to Israel, but it has implications for us, too since "Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God’s approval." [2 Timothy 3:16, GWT] Here is that passage [Holman Christian Standard Bible]:
1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2 It will blossom abundantly
and will also rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
steady the shaking knees!
4 Say to the cowardly:
“Be strong; do not fear!
Here is your God; vengeance is coming.
God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,
for water will gush in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
7 the parched ground will become a pool of water,
and the thirsty land springs of water.
In the haunt of jackals, in their lairs,
there will be grass, reeds, and papyrus.
8 A road will be there and a way;
it will be called the Holy Way.
The unclean will not travel on it,
but it will be for the one who walks the path.
Even the fool will not go astray.
9 There will be no lion there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it;
they will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk on it,
10 and the redeemed of the Lord will return
and come to Zion with singing,
crowned with unending joy.
Joy and gladness will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee."
This passage begins with a paradox. The wilderness and the desert become the beautiful place of health and wholeness (spiritually). That is not the normal character of those places. That's what is different about a relationship with God--chaos/wilderness can be all around, yet peace can reign within those who know Him. That's how we "walk upon our high places" with feet like hinds' feet. Habakkuk wrote his prayer in the midst of his own chaotic, troubled desert, yet enraptured in unbridled praise. "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth." Shigionoth (tephillah) is a highly emotional form of praise--wild, exuberant and rhythmic. It would seem that Habakkuk should be consumed with worry, doubt and fear, since the fig tree won't blossom, there's no fruit on the vine, the olive has failed, the fields have failed to produce crops, the flock is cut off and there are no more cattle. These were desperate times, but Habakkuk's prayer wasn't woeful or fear-filled; it was over-flowing with praise and and confidence. Even though those things existed, he had something that enabled him to rise above his circumstances and not fall down under the weight of them. We do, too. In fact, we have more than Habakkuk did.
While naturally things are chaotic, and perhaps even a wasteland we can choose to live on the fatness of the land, spiritually--there can be a blossoming in the midst of the desert, even as of a rose. When we begin to focus on spiritual health and its enrichment, then we can and must strengthen others. Luke 22:32 says, "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. So when you recover, strengthen the other disciples.” [GWT] Isaiah 35:3,4 tell us STRENGTHEN, STEADY and SAY. It's the calling of everyone of us--in the Body of Christ. There is a violent assault against the Kingdom of God. What will we do about it? Souls need to be strengthened, steadied and encouraged. It's a treacherous day that we live in, and men's hearts are failing them for fear. We cannot stand by, or be lackadaisical about it. It is urgent. We say that we want revival and we want to see a Pentecostal move of God where souls are saved by the thousands and healed miraculously, but it is contingent upon our behavior. Revival will happen when we revive, and revive those around us.
Priorities and focus. People before substance. Surrendered pride and greed. Right motives. Compassionate deeds, not simply compassionate speech. L-O-V-E.
Get right church and let's (all) go home.
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