Together # 1
A Together of Relationship with God
A Together of Relationship with God
Worship God Together
God is especially delighted when His people praise Him with thinking, feeling and acting that match truth, especially about His character. This worshiping “in spirit and in truth” requires vigilant help from extremely close Christian relationships.
Ex 8:1; Ex 20:2-11; Ps 100:4; Jn 4:23-24; Rom 12:1; Heb 12:28-29; Heb 13:15-16
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God wants us to worship “in spirit and in truth”. Worship is not to be limited to or prioritized by place or ceremony.
Jesus declared,
“... a time is coming when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . .
Yet a time is coming and has now come when
the true worshipers will worship the Father
in spirit and truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit,
and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:21,23-24
Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. . . .
Yet a time is coming and has now come when
the true worshipers will worship the Father
in spirit and truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit,
and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:21,23-24
Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman
Worship is ascribing worth to God. Anything less than God Himself is inadequate praise. Therefore, worship is reflecting back to God his own character. Since Jesus is the visible representation of God and His character, the best way to worship is through Christlike thoughts, feelings and actions. The more we are like Jesus, the more God sees our Savior’s reflection from our lives.
Being like Jesus brings our spirits, the deepest inner part of ourselves, into harmony with truth. We will then live like what we believe is really true. This is worshiping in spirit and in truth.
Worship is valuable and easiest in a praise and worship service where we sing and pray about God’s character. Whether we sing a hymn like “Holy, holy, holy” or a praise chorus, we are recognizing God’s pure, wonderful character and responding to who He is. This is very valuable, and was done for hundreds of years before Jesus spoke to the woman at the well. We should do such praise and worship together often.
But Jesus changed the emphasis to worshiping in spirit and in truth. When each Together is done by obeying the scriptures that instruct that particular Together, behavior becomes Christlike and is an act of worship. Thus, Christian relationships are opportunities for very valuable worship. However, it takes effort to implement the Togethers. Such costly worship shows great love for God.
It is quite important we realize that worship is the responsibility of Christians when they are together, especially in our closest relationships. This “relationship worship” becomes lifestyle worship – individually and together being like Jesus in character. The Togethers of Scripture are powerful ways to worship, as will be shown in this curriculum. Christian friends, Christian family members and Christian spouses must help one another worship with behavior and thoughts that are in line with the truth of Scripture.
For example, it is not uncommon for us to say we believe that God is sovereign and plans the events of our lives. And then when life gets tough, we do not have the calm peace that comes from true belief in God’s actual sovereign control. It is one thing to say that God is sovereign and quite another thing to live like He *is* sovereign. But, we can do so with one another’s help.
The close relationships of Christian friendship, family and marriage can help us bring our lives into conformity with what we know about God and the truth He has revealed to us. It is in these relationships that we can help one another live what we believe. It is in these relationships that we can powerfully help one another become more and more like Jesus. Christlikeness is the ultimate reflection back to God of his own character.
Christlikeness is the ultimate worship!
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Being like Jesus brings our spirits, the deepest inner part of ourselves, into harmony with truth. We will then live like what we believe is really true. This is worshiping in spirit and in truth.
Worship is valuable and easiest in a praise and worship service where we sing and pray about God’s character. Whether we sing a hymn like “Holy, holy, holy” or a praise chorus, we are recognizing God’s pure, wonderful character and responding to who He is. This is very valuable, and was done for hundreds of years before Jesus spoke to the woman at the well. We should do such praise and worship together often.
But Jesus changed the emphasis to worshiping in spirit and in truth. When each Together is done by obeying the scriptures that instruct that particular Together, behavior becomes Christlike and is an act of worship. Thus, Christian relationships are opportunities for very valuable worship. However, it takes effort to implement the Togethers. Such costly worship shows great love for God.
It is quite important we realize that worship is the responsibility of Christians when they are together, especially in our closest relationships. This “relationship worship” becomes lifestyle worship – individually and together being like Jesus in character. The Togethers of Scripture are powerful ways to worship, as will be shown in this curriculum. Christian friends, Christian family members and Christian spouses must help one another worship with behavior and thoughts that are in line with the truth of Scripture.
For example, it is not uncommon for us to say we believe that God is sovereign and plans the events of our lives. And then when life gets tough, we do not have the calm peace that comes from true belief in God’s actual sovereign control. It is one thing to say that God is sovereign and quite another thing to live like He *is* sovereign. But, we can do so with one another’s help.
The close relationships of Christian friendship, family and marriage can help us bring our lives into conformity with what we know about God and the truth He has revealed to us. It is in these relationships that we can help one another live what we believe. It is in these relationships that we can powerfully help one another become more and more like Jesus. Christlikeness is the ultimate reflection back to God of his own character.
Christlikeness is the ultimate worship!
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
When Dave first heard that worship was supposed to be more than the worship services at his organizational church, he was intrigued. He had been worshiping the same way for years, and it got to where it could be done without thinking.
Worship, Dave learned, was reflecting back to God his own character. Naturally, being like Jesus was the best way to do that. So, Dave determined to become more and more like Jesus for the rest of his life. Dave believed in basic biblical doctrine and appreciated that much of his thinking was, therefore, like Jesus. However, he realized that his behavior also needed to be like Jesus. Dave was excited to learn that, over time, his frequent biblically-obedient relationships of Christian friendships, family and marriage would elicit more and more Christlikeness Then Dave wondered what it meant to worship God in spirit and in truth. Realizing that only thinking, emotions, and behavior that truly matched biblical truth was acceptable worship, Dave made agreements with his Christian friends and his Christian wife that they would point out where one another’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors were not consistent with true belief in the Bible. |
We know Jesus attended some religious events and celebrations. Likewise, we can be like Jesus and participate in worship services and reflect to God his magnificent character in words.
However, Jesus reflected back to God His own character continually because He was just like God the Father.
However, Jesus reflected back to God His own character continually because He was just like God the Father.
”Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
John 14:9
John 14:9
Of course, Jesus was God. So, it was natural for him to reflect the Father’s character. But, Jesus as human had to choose to stay true to his holiness and not give in to the temptation to sin.
. . . has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Hebrews 4:15
We can choose to be like Jesus. Implementing the scriptures that underlie the Togethers of Scripture in our closest relationships of Christian friendships, Christian families, and Christian marriages will produce in each of us more and more Christlike character.
Each Together will develop a specific quality of Jesus’ character. The curriculum of this Crucibles for Transformation into Exceptional Christlikeness will help us all more thoroughly reflect Jesus back to the Father.
Jesus lived absolutely in harmony with God’s truth, Thus, to become more like Jesus, it is important that Christians help one another eliminate thoughts and behaviors that are not consistent with God’s character. Thus, Bible study is important for more than learning. We need to help one another live the truth we learn.
Opportunity to Worship God
God has given us the responsibility to worship Him together as His people. Worship is reflecting back to God his own marvelous nature, character and attributes. Worshiping in church services emphasizes words. Obeying the scriptures as categorized by the Togethers is worship through our very lives. The value of word-worship not accompanied by lifestyle worship is questionable.
Each Together will develop a specific quality of Jesus’ character. The curriculum of this Crucibles for Transformation into Exceptional Christlikeness will help us all more thoroughly reflect Jesus back to the Father.
Jesus lived absolutely in harmony with God’s truth, Thus, to become more like Jesus, it is important that Christians help one another eliminate thoughts and behaviors that are not consistent with God’s character. Thus, Bible study is important for more than learning. We need to help one another live the truth we learn.
Opportunity to Worship God
God has given us the responsibility to worship Him together as His people. Worship is reflecting back to God his own marvelous nature, character and attributes. Worshiping in church services emphasizes words. Obeying the scriptures as categorized by the Togethers is worship through our very lives. The value of word-worship not accompanied by lifestyle worship is questionable.
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them. . . . But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5:21, 22, 24
your assemblies are a stench to me.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them. . . . But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5:21, 22, 24
Since worshiping God is to go beyond church worship services to worship in spirit and in truth, Christians must help one another live together, as well as privately, in obedience to the truth of the Bible. Only thinking, emotions, and behavior that truly matches biblical truth is acceptable worship. Therefore, Christians should agree with one another to point out where one another’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors are not consistent with the truths of the Bible. This is to be done in love without judgment, so that it can be safe and welcomed.
Since perfect reflection to God of his own character is done through Christlikeness, each Together is essential because each reflects back to God the character of His Son. Every Together is in itself worship.
Particularly important for reflecting Jesus’ character now and in heaven are those Togethers that disappear upon death. 28 Togethers cannot at all be done in heaven. So, there are 28 qualities of Jesus’ character that must be gained here in a sinful environment. For example, the Together “Bear with One Another”, where we put up with being hurt by another, will not be needed in heaven where there is no sin and no hurtful behaviors. To become like Jesus who bore with Peter’s denial at the time of his crucifixion, we must let God help us overlook being hurt by one another. We want to go to heaven able to reflect for all eternity God’s forbearance. We want to be able to be unaffected and forgiving when a Christian hurts us, as God does when we continually hurt Him. To develop this worship ability, we need both close Christian relationships over time wherein hurt will inevitably happen and the sinful environment that will ensure such occasional hurt.
There are 28 more Togethers where attaining some aspect of Jesus’ character will disappear when we leave this sinful environment through death. For example, in heaven we will still communicate with God through prayer, but not with the great distraction of sin. For example, only now can we worship by remembering to bring one another together to pray about a person’s vulnerability to sin. (Read how Jesus prayed in this way for his disciples in John 17.) Only now can we develop that Christlikeness. And only now can we change so that we carry that particular degree of Christlikeness to heaven to be used for worship and God’s glory for eternity.
It should also be pointed out that behaving, thinking or feeling is any way that denies God’s character, like putting our trust in our bank account and discounting His role of taking care of us, is the opposite of worship. We might call it “unworship”. We all do this, but let us help one another do less and less of it.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Since perfect reflection to God of his own character is done through Christlikeness, each Together is essential because each reflects back to God the character of His Son. Every Together is in itself worship.
Particularly important for reflecting Jesus’ character now and in heaven are those Togethers that disappear upon death. 28 Togethers cannot at all be done in heaven. So, there are 28 qualities of Jesus’ character that must be gained here in a sinful environment. For example, the Together “Bear with One Another”, where we put up with being hurt by another, will not be needed in heaven where there is no sin and no hurtful behaviors. To become like Jesus who bore with Peter’s denial at the time of his crucifixion, we must let God help us overlook being hurt by one another. We want to go to heaven able to reflect for all eternity God’s forbearance. We want to be able to be unaffected and forgiving when a Christian hurts us, as God does when we continually hurt Him. To develop this worship ability, we need both close Christian relationships over time wherein hurt will inevitably happen and the sinful environment that will ensure such occasional hurt.
There are 28 more Togethers where attaining some aspect of Jesus’ character will disappear when we leave this sinful environment through death. For example, in heaven we will still communicate with God through prayer, but not with the great distraction of sin. For example, only now can we worship by remembering to bring one another together to pray about a person’s vulnerability to sin. (Read how Jesus prayed in this way for his disciples in John 17.) Only now can we develop that Christlikeness. And only now can we change so that we carry that particular degree of Christlikeness to heaven to be used for worship and God’s glory for eternity.
It should also be pointed out that behaving, thinking or feeling is any way that denies God’s character, like putting our trust in our bank account and discounting His role of taking care of us, is the opposite of worship. We might call it “unworship”. We all do this, but let us help one another do less and less of it.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
When I (Dick Wulf, author of this curriculum) was inventing the youth discipleship program in game form called “DragonRaid” in 1983, my dictation would come under demonic attack. A few times what I dictated on cassette tape would play back with paragraphs mixed up. A whole day’s work would be lost and I would become quite discouraged. When I realized what was happening, I would play praise music on my cassette player and my spirit would lift. Then I would dive back into the task, making sure that what I now dictated would be better than what had been lost, making it counterproductive for Satan to attack what I was doing.
But when my typist’s old manual typewriter (1983 was before computers) would not print the letters she was typing, more serious worship was needed. She was working on a really old machine where the letter was at the end of a metal arm. She would tap a key with the letter written on it similar to computer keys of today. But, a different letter would print than the letter at the end of the metal arm. This stopped progress cold. I had to bring my friends and family into obeying the scriptures that make up the Battle Together (#52) “Stand Up to the Devil at One Another’s Side”. Together we confronted Satan in victory as did Jesus when he rebuked Satan. Since Christlikeness is worship, Satan was driven away. Then my friend’s typewriter began working again. In the end, thousands of kids and young adults playing fantasy role playing games with sinful values came to know Christ as their Savior through “DragonRaid”. (You can find the game through our website at www.LambsBride.org.) |
We use the Together “Worship God Together” to fight evil and defeat the devil who wants God’s glory for himself.
Satan works against the worship of God, especially doing his best to prevent lifestyle worship where our spirits approach God in the likeness of Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.
Satan works against the worship of God, especially doing his best to prevent lifestyle worship where our spirits approach God in the likeness of Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.
“I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Worship defeats the cause of Satan. The devil cannot stand it when Christians worship, especially when they worship together. Two or more Christians living the truth together, not just believing it, can drive the evil one away. Worshiping in spirit and in truth is very powerful against all kinds of evil.
That is why we need to add to “church service worship” the more frequent “relationship worship” all week long. We are surrounded by evil that needs to be attacked by worship in spirit and in truth – biblical truth acted out and aggressive to take control over bad things.
Each of the other 64 Togethers, as expressions of worship, defeat evil. For example, the Strengthening Together “Encourage One Another” (#27) gives Christians courage to take on difficult assignments from God which will defeat evil. The Healing Together “Hurt With One Another” (#31) keeps Satan from injuring a Christian as much as possible. The Battle Together (#49) “Arm Yourselves” has Christians taking up the weapons of spiritual warfare.
Lifestyle worship through the Togethers repels and defeats evil at the daily level.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
That is why we need to add to “church service worship” the more frequent “relationship worship” all week long. We are surrounded by evil that needs to be attacked by worship in spirit and in truth – biblical truth acted out and aggressive to take control over bad things.
Each of the other 64 Togethers, as expressions of worship, defeat evil. For example, the Strengthening Together “Encourage One Another” (#27) gives Christians courage to take on difficult assignments from God which will defeat evil. The Healing Together “Hurt With One Another” (#31) keeps Satan from injuring a Christian as much as possible. The Battle Together (#49) “Arm Yourselves” has Christians taking up the weapons of spiritual warfare.
Lifestyle worship through the Togethers repels and defeats evil at the daily level.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Jerome realized that his life in this sinful culture was the way to prepare for heaven, just like boot camp had been the way to prepare for Army life. If he could worship God with the distractions of a difficult life, he knew he would have to become more committed to worship than sinless heaven would later require. He wanted to enter heaven with that higher level of commitment to worship.
Jerome recognized that it did not take much individual choice and commitment to worship in a church service. Such worship was a wonderful offering to God, but not one that would make him a dedicated worshiper. So, Jerome gave himself to growing in lifestyle worship with his friends and wife. When children came along, he brought them into obeying the Bible’s instructions for behavior in relationships. Everyone involved became more and more like Jesus. When God looked from heaven, He saw his son Jesus in Jerome and the others, as well as in their interactions with one another. Later in heaven, God would enjoy such “higher level” worship right in His own home. |
We want our worship to glorify and please God. So, naturally, worship of God will be our #1 joy and priority in heaven.
Because we worship for God’s sake, not our own, it is important to realize that worship is to be done “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23.24). Amos 5 helps us to realize that we cannot hold God up high in song and words and then live like God isn’t all that important in daily life.
The Togethers are worship because obedience to their defining Scriptures becomes behavior and thought that reflects God’s character (the likeness of Jesus) back to Himself. Consistent practice of the Togethers is also proof that church service worship is not shallow or hypocritical. Such “together lifestyle” shows God that He is worthy all the time. Relationships that obey the scriptures of the Togethers bring worship from our lives into harmony with truth. Thus, we worship God “in spirit and in truth”.
Matching worshipful ceremony with lifestyle worship here in the middle of sin’s unholy distractions and temptations yields far superior ability to worship God in heaven. Immature ability to worship, without our spirit connected to truth, will likely cause a person to start with less worship ability when entering heaven.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman that emphasizing worship at a specific place was soon to be gone. Surely, now, with the penalty for sin paid and the Holy Spirit indwelling, we are able and expected to worship wherever we are. Whenever we Christians are together obeying biblical instructions for our relationships, we are worshiping.
But this worship can grow as we help each other conform our actual behavior to what we say we believe. All of the Togethers can be implemented ever more thoroughly, making us more fit to praise and worship God now and later in heaven.
To be prepared to worship in heaven at a higher level, right from the start, Christians need to help one another worship through behavior that matches God’s very character. Each Christian should seek to have a friend or family member point out inconsistency between belief and behavior at least ten times every year.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Because we worship for God’s sake, not our own, it is important to realize that worship is to be done “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23.24). Amos 5 helps us to realize that we cannot hold God up high in song and words and then live like God isn’t all that important in daily life.
The Togethers are worship because obedience to their defining Scriptures becomes behavior and thought that reflects God’s character (the likeness of Jesus) back to Himself. Consistent practice of the Togethers is also proof that church service worship is not shallow or hypocritical. Such “together lifestyle” shows God that He is worthy all the time. Relationships that obey the scriptures of the Togethers bring worship from our lives into harmony with truth. Thus, we worship God “in spirit and in truth”.
Matching worshipful ceremony with lifestyle worship here in the middle of sin’s unholy distractions and temptations yields far superior ability to worship God in heaven. Immature ability to worship, without our spirit connected to truth, will likely cause a person to start with less worship ability when entering heaven.
Jesus told the Samaritan woman that emphasizing worship at a specific place was soon to be gone. Surely, now, with the penalty for sin paid and the Holy Spirit indwelling, we are able and expected to worship wherever we are. Whenever we Christians are together obeying biblical instructions for our relationships, we are worshiping.
But this worship can grow as we help each other conform our actual behavior to what we say we believe. All of the Togethers can be implemented ever more thoroughly, making us more fit to praise and worship God now and later in heaven.
To be prepared to worship in heaven at a higher level, right from the start, Christians need to help one another worship through behavior that matches God’s very character. Each Christian should seek to have a friend or family member point out inconsistency between belief and behavior at least ten times every year.
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Rosemary’s worship took off like a rocket ship when she entered heaven. Ten years before she died, Rosemary began to consciously look for opportunities to be like Jesus and reflect such praise to God. Then, six years before she entered heaven she discovered that much more Christlikeness was waiting to burst out in her relationships with Christian friends. She had asked for constant feedback whenever her thoughts, feelings or behavior was inconsistent with the truth revealed in the Bible.
So used to lifestyle worship, it was automatic to live worship in the kingdom beyond the grave. |
Viewing a beautiful lake is pleasant. But, understanding how water vapor is lifted by God through evaporation from the ocean to form clouds that become rain or snow that eventually flows down trickling brooks into singing streams and into that lake - is truly wonderful. Likewise, entering heaven with a deep knowledge of who God is because it was ingrained in our lives and corporate worship is much more fantastic than only knowing that God is holy because we sang some beautiful songs.
We want to start heaven off with inner knowledge of God because we let Him live deep within us when it was hardest because of the sinful environment. From our spirit deep inside of us, we want to have had springs of living water full of the knowledge of God take over the way we lived before our bodies died. We want to begin our heavenly lives with a jump start in the main purpose for being there - the worship of God.
And, don’t we want God to greet us with appreciation as we enter heaven because when it was really tough to live biblical truth, surrounded by sin, we still reflected His truth and character?
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
We want to start heaven off with inner knowledge of God because we let Him live deep within us when it was hardest because of the sinful environment. From our spirit deep inside of us, we want to have had springs of living water full of the knowledge of God take over the way we lived before our bodies died. We want to begin our heavenly lives with a jump start in the main purpose for being there - the worship of God.
And, don’t we want God to greet us with appreciation as we enter heaven because when it was really tough to live biblical truth, surrounded by sin, we still reflected His truth and character?
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
In heaven Loreen is talking with Jesus. He turns to Loreen and says, “It was so loving when you worshiped in spirit and in truth. In lifestyle worship you reflected to the Father my very presence in you. You did not often insult my Father by living in a way that doubted His nature. That was very special to me.”
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When Jesus walked in the sinful culture thousands of years ago, he must have been very happy with his constant connection with God. In heaven Jesus might mention to us in conversation that His life and worship under fire was especially gratifying. Won’t it be good to be able to say that we, though to a much lesser degree, also worshiped God in spirit and in truth under the temptation of sin? That will develop a unique connection with our Savior.
Praise & Prayer Regarding Worshiping God Together
Lord of All, I thank You for the opportunity through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, Christian fellowship, and the example of my Savior Jesus Christ to know You as You truly are. Consistent with the various aspects of your nature, help my spirit to worship you in words, song and lifestyle.
Lead me to help other Christians think and act in harmony with who You are and receive from them help of the same kind. Help us to grow ever more in knowledge, understanding and appreciation of who You are. May my Christian inner circle glorify you through all of the Togethers of Scripture by reflecting Jesus back to you.
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Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
Praise & Prayer Regarding Worshiping God Together
Lord of All, I thank You for the opportunity through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, Christian fellowship, and the example of my Savior Jesus Christ to know You as You truly are. Consistent with the various aspects of your nature, help my spirit to worship you in words, song and lifestyle.
Lead me to help other Christians think and act in harmony with who You are and receive from them help of the same kind. Help us to grow ever more in knowledge, understanding and appreciation of who You are. May my Christian inner circle glorify you through all of the Togethers of Scripture by reflecting Jesus back to you.
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Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.