The storm of the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet stopped. Many Christians seem to have become accustomed to worship that is not quite the same as traditional ones, such as worshipping on the Internet, worshipping at home, and worshipping in front of their cell phones and computers…
Regarding how we, Christians should authentically worship God in such a special time, a megachurch pastor said that worship is a way to experience the presence of God.
In a recent sermon, Pastor Tong Liu of the River of Life Christian Church in the U.S. explained the true meaning of worship.
"When God's people are gathering, God wants to manifest His presence and power among His people so that everyone who comes before His throne will know that God is among us," the pastor said.
"Where is the throne of our God? It is mentioned in Israel's praises." Quoting Psalms 22:3, Pastor Liu preached, "When we gather in worship and praise before God, His throne will be among us, releasing the power of His presence among us so that we can experience His deliverance and healing."
Liu quoted the scriptures from Isaiah 6:1-3 to think about the meaning of worship from Isaiah's experience of coming before the throne of God.
Worship is an honor to God
The first thing Isaiah did when he came into God's presence was to see God sitting on a high throne.
"Brothers and sisters, this is a very important thing. Today, if you don't understand this truth, it is very difficult for you to come to obey God, and there are millions of reasons in your mind, such as 'Lord, why don't you bless me?', 'I also give and serve, why don't you bless me, O God?'. We people always like to ask why," he added.
Liu stated, "The God we believe in today is the true God of all the universe, and He is also the true God who created all things in the universe"; Pastor Tong Liu shared, "No matter how many atheists in the present age say there is no God and they want to drive God out of their circle of life, they can never deny one thing; man is born with an instinct to seek the meaning of life. This is something that cats, dogs, and other such animals do not have. You never see a cat or a dog there thinking what is the meaning of my life. Only humans think, because we are created in the image of God, and in us, there is a longing for eternity, righteousness and perfection, which comes from God."
"Our God is not only the Lord who created the universe, He is also the Lord of history. In other words, our God didn't just let go of the universe after creating everything in it", Pastor Liu emphasized, "He has an eternal plan of salvation for mankind. We see that in the history of mankind, no matter how many human schemes, enemy attacks and obstructions, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, still came to this world in the flesh according to God's plan, and Jesus Christ still accomplished the salvation of mankind according to God's will. No matter how evil and dark the present age is, the Lord promises us that He will surely come again."
According to Revelation 5:12, Pastor Liu confessed that today we could worship and praise not for any other reason, but simply because our God is truly worthy of all our praise.
Worship is a love for God
"Our faith is different from other religions in that our faith is based on a relationship with God, not out of fear, nor is it a mere prayer for blessing. Our faith is a true connection of love. Today our God not only loves us, but also amazingly longs for us to adore Him."
According to Matthew 22:37-38, one of the greatest commandments that God gives us in the Bible is to love Him.
Pastor Liu Tong explained, "In other words, God's greatest requirement for us is not to do this or that, but to come and love Him alone. You know we Chinese don't know how to express love very well. When we think of love, we tend to think of attending meetings, tithing, and participating in ministry, and we often think that we do this or that for the Lord out of loving Him. But in fact, this is not what the Lord said. The Lord says, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
"What is love? Love is not in what you do for the other person, but putting your mind and heart on the other person. What our Lord desires of us today is not what we do, which is of course important and necessary. But God desires more than anything else that we turn our hearts and our minds to Him. This is why worship and praise are so important. In worship and praise, we can bring our hearts and minds to Him alone to think of His love, to think of His works, and to say, 'Lord, you know that we love you deeply.'"
Openness to God through worship
According to Isaiah 6:5, when Isaiah realized that God was so holy and righteous, he saw the filthiness in himself, and that he was living in the midst of it without knowing it.
"Brothers and sisters, isn't this the current situation of you and me?" Pastor Liu Tong shared, "In the midst of ministry, we feel that we are quite capable and spiritual. Others may need God's help, but we can handle it on our own, and we don't need God. It's like the night the Lord was betrayed, when Peter said, 'Everyone else will fall, but I will never fall'. As a result, he denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed. We really need to humble ourselves and open our hearts to worship."
The coals of fire in Isaiah 6:7 represent the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is not only the salvation from sin but also the gospel of healing. Where Isaiah confessed sin and weakness, God brought forgiveness and healing.
Pastor Liu Tong continued, "In the same way, today, when we worship God with an open heart when we humbly bring all our weaknesses and needs to God, the rivers of God's healing, will flow in your life and make you whole again. This is why you often can't help but weep when you are in worship. The reason why you shed tears is that in the depths of your heart you have met God. Therefore, do not be embarrassed because you shed tears before God, it is the work of God. And do not despise the tears you shed before the Lord."
Worship is a commitment to God
Liu said that when we worshipped, we were close to the heart of God that is for all nations to come and praise Him, and through worship and praise for all nations to understand God's love, justice, mercy and faithfulness.
"You need to know that your worship before God is not just for yourself, but for all nations and all peoples. That's when your worship must bring an act of devotion," he added.
According to Isaiah 6:8, he said, "An authentic worship never seeks just to satisfy oneself; an authentic worship must be a worship that satisfies the heart of God. When you walk into a church, you know that it is a place of worship and praise. You will enter into the mind of God through worship and praise, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will fulfill the great commission of God on earth: that all nations come to God, worship and praise Him, and satisfy His mind".
- Translated by Wylie Sun
疫情的风波还未停息。很多基督徒似乎已经习惯了和传统敬拜方式不太一样的敬拜，例如在网络上敬拜，在家里敬拜，在手机电脑前……
在后疫情时代，你是否有这样的疑问？真正的敬拜应该是怎样的？作为基督徒的我们在这样特殊的时期又该如何真正的敬拜神？……
矽谷生命河灵粮堂的刘彤牧师，在最近一次的证道中，向弟兄姐妹们讲解了敬拜的真正意义。
刘彤牧师分享说：“当神的百姓聚集的时候，神要在祂的百姓当中彰显祂的同在和能力，好叫每一个来到祂宝座面前的都知道，神就在我们中间。”
“敬拜赞美是我们经历神同在的一个管道。”刘彤牧师说。
“我们的神的宝座在哪里？是在以色列的赞美上。”刘彤牧师引用诗篇22：3节讲到：“当我们聚集在神面前敬拜赞美的时候，神的宝座就要在我们中间，释放祂同在的能力在我们中间，让我们经历到祂的释放和医治。”
刘彤牧师引用以赛亚书6：1-3节的经文，从以赛亚到神的宝座面前的经验来思想敬拜的意义。
一、敬拜是对神的尊崇
以赛亚来到神的面前的第一件事情是看到神坐在高高的宝座上。刘彤牧师说：“弟兄姐妹，这是非常重要的一件事情。今天，如果你不明白这个真理，你就很难来顺从神，你的里面就有千万个为什么？主啊，你为什么不祝福我？我也奉献、服事，神啊你为什么不祝福我？我们人总是喜欢问为什么。”
“今天我们所信的神是宇宙万有的真神，祂也是创造宇宙万物的真神。”刘彤牧师分享说：“无论现今的时代多少无神论者说没有神，他们想要把神赶出他们的生活圈子。但是他们却永远无法否认一件事情，人从生下来就有一个寻求生命意义的本能。这是猫狗等这些动物所没有的。你从来不会看见一只猫或狗在那里思想我人生的意义是什么。只有人会如此，因为人是按照神的形象创造的，在他里面有对永恒、公义和完美的渴望，这是从神来的。”
“我们的神不仅是创造宇宙万有的主宰，祂更是历史的主宰。换一句话说，我们的神不是创造宇宙万有之后就放手不管，不是的。”刘彤牧师强调：“祂对人类有永恒救赎的计划。我们看到人类的历史当中，无论有多少人的计谋、仇敌的攻击和拦阻，耶稣基督神的儿子还是按照神的计划道成肉身来到这个世界上，耶稣基督仍然按照神的计划为我们完成人类的救赎；而且无论现今的时代多么的邪恶和黑暗，主应许我们说：祂必定要再来。”
根据启5:12节，刘牧师说：今天我们之所以可以敬拜赞美不是因为别的原因，只是因为我们的神祂真的配得我们一切的称颂。
二、敬拜是对神的爱慕
“我们的信仰和其他宗教是不一样的，我们的信仰是建立在和神的关系上，不是出于惧怕，也不是单单的祈求祝福。我们的信仰是一种真实的爱的连接。今天我们的神不但爱我们，而且很奇妙祂也渴慕我们来爱慕祂。”
据太22：37-38节，神在圣经中给我们的诫命最大的一条是爱神。
刘彤牧师解释这条最大的诫命时说：“换句话说，神对我们最大的要求不是做这个、做那个，而是单单来爱祂。你知道我们中国人不太懂得爱，我们一想到爱就想到参加聚会、十一奉献、参与事奉，我们常以为我们要为主做这个、做那个，我们就是爱主。但是事实上，这个并不是主所说的。主说：你要尽心，尽性，尽意，爱主你的神。”
“什么是爱？爱不是在于你为对方做了什么，爱是把你的心思意念常常地放在对方的身上。今天我们的主所渴望我们的，不是让我们做这些、做哪些，当然这些、那些都很重要而且很必要。但神更渴望我们将我们的心、我们的心思意念全然的归向祂。这也是为什么敬拜赞美那么的重要。在敬拜赞美当中，我们可以把我们的心思意念单单带到祂的面前来思念祂的爱、思念祂的作为，并且说：是的主啊，你知道我们深深地爱你。”
三、敬拜是对神的敞开
当以赛亚来到很深的宝座面前，他不仅认识到神是宝座上的那一位，神也是圣洁荣耀的主。他当时的反应是：“祸哉，我灭亡了。因为我是嘴唇不洁的人，又住在嘴唇不洁的民中。又因我眼见大君王万军之耶和华。”
当他认识到神原来是这样的圣洁、公义，他才看到他里面的污秽，原来他全然活在污秽当中而他却不知道。
“弟兄姐妹，这不就是你我的光景吗？”刘彤牧师分享道：“在事奉当中，我们觉得自己还挺能干的，我们还觉得自己挺属灵的。别人可能需要上帝的帮助，我们可以自己搞定，没问题，不需要神。就好像主被卖的那一夜，彼得说：别人都要跌倒，我永不跌倒。结果在鸡叫以前，他三次否认主。我们真的需要谦卑下来，让我们敞开我们的心来敬拜。”
赛6：7节中的火炭代表的是主耶稣基督的救恩，这不仅是罪的救恩，也是医治的福音。在以赛亚承认罪恶和软弱的地方，神就带来赦免与医治。
“同样，今天当我们敞开我们的心敬拜神的时候，当我们谦卑把一切的软弱、需要带到神面前的时候，神医治的江河就会涌流在你生命当中，使你重新得以完全。这就是你在敬拜的时候，你常常会情不自禁流泪的原因。为什么你会流泪，因为在你心灵的深处，你遇见了神。所以，不要因为在神面前流泪就很难为情，这是神的工作。你也不要轻看你在主面前流的眼泪。”
四、敬拜是对神的委身
当我们在敬拜的时候，我们就会贴近神的心。神的心就是为了万国万民，神要万国万民都来赞美祂，借着敬拜赞美让万国万民都明白神的慈爱、公义、怜悯和信实。
你在神面前的敬拜，你要知道你不只是为你自己，更是为了万国万民。
刘牧师补充道，“这时你的敬拜一定带来一种献身的行动的。”
据赛6:8，他说：“一个真实的敬拜从来不只是寻求满足自我，一个真实的敬拜一定是满足神心意的敬拜。当你走进教会，你就知道教会是敬拜赞美的教会。你要借着敬拜赞美进入神的心意当中，靠着圣灵的大能在地上完成神的大使命，直到万国万民都来到神面前归向神、敬拜赞美神，使神的心意得到满足”。
刘彤牧师：后疫情时代，基督徒要首先恢复宝座前的敬拜
The storm of the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet stopped. Many Christians seem to have become accustomed to worship that is not quite the same as traditional ones, such as worshipping on the Internet, worshipping at home, and worshipping in front of their cell phones and computers…
Regarding how we, Christians should authentically worship God in such a special time, a megachurch pastor said that worship is a way to experience the presence of God.
In a recent sermon, Pastor Tong Liu of the River of Life Christian Church in the U.S. explained the true meaning of worship.
"When God's people are gathering, God wants to manifest His presence and power among His people so that everyone who comes before His throne will know that God is among us," the pastor said.
"Where is the throne of our God? It is mentioned in Israel's praises." Quoting Psalms 22:3, Pastor Liu preached, "When we gather in worship and praise before God, His throne will be among us, releasing the power of His presence among us so that we can experience His deliverance and healing."
Liu quoted the scriptures from Isaiah 6:1-3 to think about the meaning of worship from Isaiah's experience of coming before the throne of God.
Worship is an honor to God
The first thing Isaiah did when he came into God's presence was to see God sitting on a high throne.
"Brothers and sisters, this is a very important thing. Today, if you don't understand this truth, it is very difficult for you to come to obey God, and there are millions of reasons in your mind, such as 'Lord, why don't you bless me?', 'I also give and serve, why don't you bless me, O God?'. We people always like to ask why," he added.
Liu stated, "The God we believe in today is the true God of all the universe, and He is also the true God who created all things in the universe"; Pastor Tong Liu shared, "No matter how many atheists in the present age say there is no God and they want to drive God out of their circle of life, they can never deny one thing; man is born with an instinct to seek the meaning of life. This is something that cats, dogs, and other such animals do not have. You never see a cat or a dog there thinking what is the meaning of my life. Only humans think, because we are created in the image of God, and in us, there is a longing for eternity, righteousness and perfection, which comes from God."
"Our God is not only the Lord who created the universe, He is also the Lord of history. In other words, our God didn't just let go of the universe after creating everything in it", Pastor Liu emphasized, "He has an eternal plan of salvation for mankind. We see that in the history of mankind, no matter how many human schemes, enemy attacks and obstructions, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, still came to this world in the flesh according to God's plan, and Jesus Christ still accomplished the salvation of mankind according to God's will. No matter how evil and dark the present age is, the Lord promises us that He will surely come again."
According to Revelation 5:12, Pastor Liu confessed that today we could worship and praise not for any other reason, but simply because our God is truly worthy of all our praise.
Worship is a love for God
"Our faith is different from other religions in that our faith is based on a relationship with God, not out of fear, nor is it a mere prayer for blessing. Our faith is a true connection of love. Today our God not only loves us, but also amazingly longs for us to adore Him."
According to Matthew 22:37-38, one of the greatest commandments that God gives us in the Bible is to love Him.
Pastor Liu Tong explained, "In other words, God's greatest requirement for us is not to do this or that, but to come and love Him alone. You know we Chinese don't know how to express love very well. When we think of love, we tend to think of attending meetings, tithing, and participating in ministry, and we often think that we do this or that for the Lord out of loving Him. But in fact, this is not what the Lord said. The Lord says, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
"What is love? Love is not in what you do for the other person, but putting your mind and heart on the other person. What our Lord desires of us today is not what we do, which is of course important and necessary. But God desires more than anything else that we turn our hearts and our minds to Him. This is why worship and praise are so important. In worship and praise, we can bring our hearts and minds to Him alone to think of His love, to think of His works, and to say, 'Lord, you know that we love you deeply.'"
Openness to God through worship
According to Isaiah 6:5, when Isaiah realized that God was so holy and righteous, he saw the filthiness in himself, and that he was living in the midst of it without knowing it.
"Brothers and sisters, isn't this the current situation of you and me?" Pastor Liu Tong shared, "In the midst of ministry, we feel that we are quite capable and spiritual. Others may need God's help, but we can handle it on our own, and we don't need God. It's like the night the Lord was betrayed, when Peter said, 'Everyone else will fall, but I will never fall'. As a result, he denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed. We really need to humble ourselves and open our hearts to worship."
The coals of fire in Isaiah 6:7 represent the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is not only the salvation from sin but also the gospel of healing. Where Isaiah confessed sin and weakness, God brought forgiveness and healing.
Pastor Liu Tong continued, "In the same way, today, when we worship God with an open heart when we humbly bring all our weaknesses and needs to God, the rivers of God's healing, will flow in your life and make you whole again. This is why you often can't help but weep when you are in worship. The reason why you shed tears is that in the depths of your heart you have met God. Therefore, do not be embarrassed because you shed tears before God, it is the work of God. And do not despise the tears you shed before the Lord."
Worship is a commitment to God
Liu said that when we worshipped, we were close to the heart of God that is for all nations to come and praise Him, and through worship and praise for all nations to understand God's love, justice, mercy and faithfulness.
"You need to know that your worship before God is not just for yourself, but for all nations and all peoples. That's when your worship must bring an act of devotion," he added.
According to Isaiah 6:8, he said, "An authentic worship never seeks just to satisfy oneself; an authentic worship must be a worship that satisfies the heart of God. When you walk into a church, you know that it is a place of worship and praise. You will enter into the mind of God through worship and praise, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will fulfill the great commission of God on earth: that all nations come to God, worship and praise Him, and satisfy His mind".
- Translated by Wylie Sun
Pastor Liu Tong: In Post-Epidemic Era, Christians Must First Restore Worship
