The Pleasure of His Company

Season 2 Episode 5 - In this episode, I share how a dear friend's challenge to expand the way I approach God is so consistent with the very words of Jesus regarding true worshipers.  Curious about my friend's challenge?  Listen and find out!

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, in what I hope are practical and meaningful ways.
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

 “Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
 Blog by Seth Lewis:  https://sethlewis.ie/

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers 3-month paid apprenticeships to unemployed young men.  These apprentices learn valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  The sale of the high-quality furniture they produce supports the ministry.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope" (podcast)
This is a 4-minute weekday podcast, where Joni shares stories of her life and biblical applications.  One of the world's longest living quadriplegics, God has used her courage, determination, faithfulness, and love to inspire and minister in amazing ways to people around the world.    
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free public domain resources (and many other resources for purchase), including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, devotionals, and maps.  You can simultaneously view multiple Bible translations, a dictionary, and a commentary.  
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

Recently, a dear friend challenged me to expand the way I approach God.  He said, “I encourage you to not only be a man of the Word, but a man of His presence.  In other words, I am challenging you, for the next few weeks, to spend more time in God’s presence than in His Word.”  

My friend was right.  In actual practice, in my daily time with the Lord, I had been doing the opposite:  spending more time in the Bible than in His presence.  I am beginning to see that spending time in the Bible is not an end, but a means to an end.  The “end” or goal is to be in the very presence of God, where we can learn and experience His ways and nature!  To continue moving forward in my walk with the Lord, I need to learn to sit before God, listen to Him, and simply enjoy His presence, in addition to using my abilities to commune with God through my study of the Bible.

In “The Pleasure of His Company,” a book by Dutch Sheets, he points out that “God neither needs nor wants worship.  He is, however, seeking worshipers… God longs for the singer, not the song.  Our heart as a worshiper is what makes our singing worship, not the words and music.”

In an amazing conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus reveals a fundamental principle about worshiping God:

But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.  (24)  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:23-24 HCSB)

Jesus was showing this woman (and by extension, us) that true worship includes both truth and spirit:

·         Truth = the reality of who God is, as revealed in our words and thoughts.

·         Spirit = the reality of who God is, as revealed in the affections of our heart.

In his book, Sheets makes a great point:

“Words certainly are inadequate to describe Christ’s attributes, abilities, intellect, and accomplishments.  He was, and is, breathtaking yet calming, all-powerful but gentle, unsearchably wise though humble, and awe-inspiring while completely approachable.  Perfection defines Him, intrigue surrounds Him, and eternity is in Him.  He is boundless love, everlasting joy, and the Prince of Peace.”

So, because expressing the truth of who God is by merely using our words is so inadequate, that is why Jesus taught us that our true worship of God must also include spirit.  But what is a practical way of worshiping God in spirit?  The answer is to simply spend time in His presence – reflecting on His attributes, listening to what He puts on our heart, allowing time for a heart-to-heart connection!

Sheets expresses so well in his book what Jesus desires for believers:

“What if I told you [Jesus] requests the pleasure of your company; that this incredible person, the only true and living God, not only loves you, He likes you.  He created us, mere humans, because He wanted a family, not distant servants.  When Jesus was asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray, His response introduced them to a completely new and radical way of thinking.

Luke 11:2 HCSB  [Jesus] said to them, ‘Whenever you pray, say: Father, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come.’

‘You mean that God told us to call Him Dad, not Your Highness or Most Holy One?’

‘Yep,’ Jesus said.  ‘God would prefer that you call Him Dad.’

May that forever shape your approach to Yahweh.  Father God wants you, not some shallow religious loyalty.  The affirmation of your praise and the admiration of your worship blesses Him, not because He needs [the praise], but because He… wants you.  The Scriptures tell us He is seeking worshipers, not worship.  God isn’t insecure, needing our praise in order to feel good about Himself; nor is He proud, needing worship to feed His ego.  It is relationship He desires.  Intimacy.  Family.  When we worship, He is captivated by the singer, not the song.  Our company is what he longs for.  Enlightened worshipers know this.  They also know that when they approach Him, He responds;  and the pleasure of His company becomes their reward.  

Make it your [reward as well]…

Christ is still seeking true worshipers today… While others seek His help, why don’t you seek His heart?”

Will you spend time in the pleasure of His company?

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”