Friday Morning Manna
April 10, 2020
Nathaniel Fajardo
email: [email protected]
Where and How Will You Worship Now?
“Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.” Col. 4: 15. “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church that is in thy house.” Philemon 2, KJV.
Note where the earliest of the churches were situated: “the church which is in his house;” “the church that is in thy house.” As Apostle Paul attested to in his epistles, this was how the Christian church began in its infancy and has undergone its “growth” in seven definite stages and periods, as detailed in the seven churches and seven seals of Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
The true church, described as “keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14: 12) is now in the waning days of the seventh and last Laodicean stage which it entered into after 1844, the year on which the 2300-day/year of Daniel 8: 14 (the longest time prophecy), terminated, thus ending any and all prophetic time periods but not the remaining unfulfilled prophecies that follow a divine chronology.
During the closing hours of church history, near the close of earth’s probation, this is how the overcoming remnant will be meeting very briefly, as the final home churching of the “little flock” church in its spiritual maturity—chiefly because of the persecution “in the prophesied “hour of temptation (or trial, NKJV) which shall come upon the whole world, to try (test) those who dwell on the earth.” Rev. 3: 10. Home church at the start, home church towards the finish line on earth, and on to the eternal church in our heavenly home.
Where “church” and church worship are concerned, this corona virus crisis is proving more difficult than it already is—for those who have been “playing church”—and getting away with it, till now.
As has been the practice of some, they go to church worship more for its fellowship, “religious socializing,” the chance to update in person, not virtual the latest buzz on what might have been missed in their social networking groups, or to promote their latest multi-level sign-ups or lately, internet business opportunities. Others just have to show their latest “Sabbath clothes” or as it really is, in content and intent, “Sunday’s best” outfit. For some, the brethren have to see how God has “blessed” with their latest SUV, etc. Yet for some, it is not to miss the sumptuous “all you can eat” potluck. Isn’t’ it ok to over-eat or even gorge; it’s vegetarian anyway? You get the point.
Moreover, if you were only attracted to join a church, congregation or worship services because of its “mega proportions,” as in “filled to the rafters” so that three separate services have to be set up in that one day to best accommodate and please the “different tastes” of worship formats while maxing out occupancy limits, or to where one experiences a “spiritual high” in contemporary “celebration-type worship services” — now arises these situational questions:
Where will you go for such worship services, atmospheres and surroundings? “O.” Nada. Zilch, for now. We should not take away anyone’s hopes. We can only present the truth that will reveal whether those hopes are worth hanging on. And so, hoping, like countless others, yet against the recognizable arc of prophecy—this global fix we are currently in, is hopefully, only temporary. But if not, do you know where you are going to? And what does the remaining balance of life as we knew it (and took for granted) before this corona virus pandemic upended it, hold in store?
How will such continue experiencing, on the appointed day for worship, that same “worship feeling” they have become accustomed to, when the stay-home mandate is in force for how long, no one really knows, and suddenly had no need to get up early to “get dressed for church,” much less drive to church—both habit-forming. The inertia to continue doing so with no rational (and soon, legal) reasons for doing so, for now, with no end in sight, can be for some, boring, for others disconcerting and even disorienting. Where are the familiar places and familiar faces? You might be already beginning to miss the headache caused by rush-hour traffic, indicating that “men are running to and fro.” Now the places and cities that traditionally and poetically “never sleep,” almost look and feel like the ghost-towns on the fringes of the old country.
I believe that this Covid-19 crisis, forcing mega church-minded worshippers into mini “home churching” is the preparation for final ones during earth’s final crisis. That’s one of the many reasons I know that God is in full control, not in the way we finite mortals think but in His infinite mind and ways. (See Isa. 57: 15).
While all on-site universities and schools have shut down for now, I see Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher holding major-subject classes right now, teaching in this Covid-19 Crisis global “classroom.” He is teaching those who’ve never experienced home-churching and home-schooling, to learn on the fly, in preparation for the much bigger crisis to come. As for those who’ve had prior or present experience in such undertakings, bless your hearts for being better prepared. However, this is no time to revel or entertain any self-confidence. Remember Peter’s fall? “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10: 13. You only have more accountability to God for giving you this advanced actual experience, and a greater responsibility to encourage, guide and exhort your families first, then your church brethren and even neighbors, currently isolated in their homes, to not fear, fret and lose faith but on the contrary, “to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Teach them by precept and example—not mere words–to learn from, lean on, and trust with all their hearts and minds the written word of God; it is the spiritual manna given by the Living Bread, Christ Himself.
The following appears to have been written for this very moment in time, and for the greatest and final crisis yet facing God’s people Learn from it:
“God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. ‘Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matt. 18: 20). Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity [Isa. 57:15] can alone, constitute a church.
“Where two or three are present and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides, let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city enclosed in the prison walls. The glory of God has penetrated the prison walls, flooding with glorious beams of heavenly light the darkest dungeon. His saints may suffer, but their sufferings will, like the apostles of old, spread their faith and win souls to Christ and glorify His holy name. The bitterest opposition expressed by those who hate God’s moral standard of righteousness [the Decalogue] should not and will not shake the steadfast soul who trusts fully in God.
“They that be doers [“not hearers only,” James 1: 22; cf. Rom. 2: 13] of the word are building securely, and the tempest and storm of persecution will not shake their foundation, because their souls are rooted to the eternal Rock.”- E.G. White, Letter 108, Oct. 26, 1886/Upward Look, p. 315.
On the true church being both called “the house of God” and the “pillar and ground of truth” (2 Tim. 3: 15) Apostle Paul wrote to the youngest of the apostles:
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim. 3: 15. Then in his epistle addressed to the generic Hebrews, Paul wrote:
“For both He that sanctifieth [not merely justifieth] and they who are sanctified [not merely justified] are all one: for which He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare Thy name [of the Father] unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee”[echoing the psalmist in Ps. 22: 22].” Heb. 2: 11-13.
In Hebrews 2: 13 the Authorized Version (K.J.V) uses “church,” ekklesia, where the N.K.J.V. uses “congregation.” In Acts 13: 43 the AV uses congregation, Greek zunagomizonai, meaning, ‘to struggle to company with, i.e., figuratively, to be a partner (assistant); strive together with.” – Strong’s Greek Dictionary. “Now when the congregation was broken up [see vs. 42], many of the Jews and proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Acts 13: 43, K.J.V.
In the context of our current church focus, I much prefer “church” over “congregation,” not as a whim but considered in the broader context embracing the nature and mission of the true church, both in times of prosperity, and adversity, by which God uses fiery trials and tribulations to shake, sift, and purify the church until “not one spot or wrinkle” remains in His bride. “Church,” as in global, includes its local congregations, and thus more applicable across the board, timely and unifying as it transcends numbers, locations, changing times and circumstances. All are part of the one fold of the gentle Shepherd of souls (Ps. 23; 1 Pet. 2: 25), who also is the mighty “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5).
Now, pray tell me, with this gentle yet mighty Savior on our side “who can be against us?”
This is how to not skip a beat, still reverently and vibrantly “worshipping God in spirit and in truth” even when the familiar surroundings of a “multitude” of worshippers were suddenly whittled down to “only Twelve disciples.” See John 6: 60.
(To be continued next week, God willing)