
Dr L M Murry
In one of my articles I had mentioned that Sovereignty and Majesty has no power without the glory of God. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was supreme in his kingdom. He could do anything he liked. He acknowledged the God of Israel; he did not honour and glorify God. He was therefore warned through a dream which was interpreted by the Prophet Daniel. However, he was not humble before the God of Israel. So he was driven out into the field and lived like an animal, eating grass for seven years. When he came to his senses, he praised and exalted and glorify the King of Heaven (Daniel 4: 37). At this time, the 70 years of punishment of Jews into exile was just about ten years ahead. But he did not prepare to release the exiles of Israel, so his kingdom fell like a ripen fig and was handed over to the united kingdom of Mede and Persia. It is to show him that there is ‘One’ who is above him and that is the Lord of Israel. The chosen people, Israel knew who had the glory.
When Elias was the priest of Israel, there was war with the Philistines. The people of Israel had been liberated from the bondage in Egypt and came to occupy the land which God had promised to their father Abraham. At that time the Philistines kingdom was in the hands of five Rulers namely Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Akron (1 Samuel 6: 17). Israel was at war with Ashdod and they were defeated, killing 4 thousand of the Israel army. The Elders asked why they were defeated. They said because the Ark of the Covenant was not with them. So they came to Elias and told him to take the Ark of the Covenant with them into the Battle. And they took it from Shiloh to the army camp. But this time also the Philistines defeated the Israelites, killing thirty thousand of them. The Ark of the Covenant was also captured by the Philistines. A Benjamite ran to Shiloh and told Elias that the enemy had captured the Ark and also killed his two sons. Elias was old and was sitting on a chair. As soon as the news was given to him he fell backward and broke his neck and died. The wife of Phinehas, the son of Elias, was pregnant and as soon as she heard the news she went into labour and gave birth to her child. Because of the difficult labour, she was dying of pain. The birth attendant broke the news of the birth of a son but she did not respond and died. The attendant gave the name of the child, Ichabod, meaning the glory has disappeared from Israel.
The Philistines took the Ark to Ashdod and was kept in the temple of Dagon beside the idol Dagon. The next morning they found that their idol had fall face down in front of the Ark. They lifted the idol and kept it in the same place. But the next day, they found that Dagon had fallen on his face before the Ark of the Lord. The head of the idol and his hands were also broken and saw it lying in the thresh hold. The people of Ashdod were afflicted with tumours in the body. So they sent it to the city of Akron, and they were also afflicted with the same disease. They called together all the Rulers of the Philistine and asked them what to do. They all agreed that the Ark of the Covenant should go back to its place. But the elders advised them not to send it empty. They must send seven ball of pure gold, exactly like the tumours of the body and also seven golden rats as their sacrifice. They built a cart where they put the Ark and the cows that pulled the cart were not yoked. So that they could go as they like. They all watched where the cows were taking the Ark and it went to the Israelites camp. The Israelites were harvesting their field and when they saw, they all came and started shouting with joy.
We are facing exactly like the Israelite as we had just read the story. But our situation is different. In the Old Testament story, the glory of the Lord had gone but in the New Testament Jesus Christ is shut out from the door of the church (Rev 3: 20). In Nagaland today the Baptist Church is in this situation. In my Book “A Response to God’s calling” which is in the Press now; I had written about “Restoration of Baptist Church in Nagaland”. You may ask me why I am so particular about Baptist Church. It is because I am a Baptist. As a Baptist believer, there is Church doctrine. A church without doctrine is a dead church. I must know what I believe and why I believe. But modern Evangelical churches tell us that ‘Doctrine Divides’ so nobody bothers about church doctrine. Baptist Church in Nagaland is practicing all the practices of different denominations that one can imagine. Beginning from the Roman Catholics of Monarchical system, Episcopalian, (the Church of England), Presbyterian, Charismatic with all their varied practices like Faith Healers, Prosperity gospel, Social justice, Replacement Theology, Pre, Post and A millennium and what not. There are practices of the Mormon, Seven Days Advantage, Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Science and even Kundulinas of the Hindu religion. The joy of the Spirit is replaced by happiness. Joy is a close inner spiritual relationship with God but happiness is what the present day society wants. It is merely emotional and not permanent.
John was instructed to write down about the revelation of Jesus Christ what must soon take place. He wrote to the seven churches beginning from Ephesus to Laodicea. The condition described about the condition of Laodecia is exactly like our Baptist Church in Nagaland today. It is not Ichabod but Christ is shut out from the door of the Church. He is knocking at the door but there is nobody to open the door. So the Church has only the body without the head. A body without the body cannot live. This is the condition of Baptist Church in Nagaland today. If the Church is to be “Chabod”, we must allow Christ to come in and be the head of the Church. We think we are rich with mega church buildings with all the modern World facilities but spiritually very poor.
John the Apostle after writing to the churches looked up to heaven and saw the door was wide open. The appearance of the one sitting on the throne had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow resembling an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty four other thrones on which were seated twenty four Elders. They were all dressed in white and crowns were in their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning rumblings and peals of thunder. The seven lamps representing the seven Angels of God were blazing and so on. Day and night without any stop they were all saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Rev 4: 8). The twenty four Elders also fell down before him and worship him They laid down their crowns before the throne and say; You are worthy, our Lord and God; to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being (Rev 4: 10,11)
Nobody has gone to heaven to see what worship is to the Lords delight. It was awesome and John was given a glimpse of what worship is. Some preachers claimed they went to heaven and a new message is given to them, like Benny Hinn and Kenneth Copeland and some charismatic leaders. Heaven tourism is attracting many Christians following the false prophets. What we are to know about worship is to be pleasing to God and what John had seen and written down is for us. Many of our worship services are tuned to the likings of the World. They have become like an Entertainment. It has become Performance and not worship. The duty of the Church is to worship the Lord. Unbelievers cannot worship the Lord. I may be labelled as holier than thou for saying this but believers are forgiven sinners and not those who think they are perfect.
What else John saw. He saw a scroll on the hand of the one who sat on the throne. A mighty Angel asked who was worthy to open the scroll. When he saw that nobody was able to open the scroll, he wept. He was told “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if, it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the Elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes...” (Rev 5: 5) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... and they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them to be kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Rev 5: 9) He also saw thousands of angels encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders singing in a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise” (Rev 5: 12). This is worship in heaven and we are to replicate it on earth. Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began (John 17: 5). The glory of the Lord is so important in any worship which is pleasing to God. Amen.