WORSHIP--2
Now as to our worship in church.  The preparation for worship has a local form as does the end of worship.  However, the three deep elements--Word, Presence, Spirit-- do not have a human form.  They are the gift of God, God Himself.

  First, the preparation.  Jesus gives us our preparation in John 12.24-26.  He says the soul must humble itself as a grain of mustard seed in the ground; if it dies it bears much fruit.  Jesus then gives the interpretation and application.  He says--He who loves his life loses it and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me and where I am, there shall My servant also be.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

  Then in John 13.3 Jesus washes the feet of His disciples.  That separated them from the world, the flesh and the devil, John 13.11.  It was what the priest did in Exodus 30.19--For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet from it (the laver).  When the angel of the Lord prevented Abram from sacrificing Isaac, the angel separated Israel from the other nations who practiced human sacrifice.  God is not honored by the dead.  Romans 12.2 says--present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship.

  Then in John 14.3 Jesus gives the disciples the foundation of faith--If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also.  This is our hope, this is the assurance of faith, the evidence of things not seen, for which the followers of Christ persevere.  If that heavenly place is our destiny and promise, how do we get there?  Jesus says He is the way, the truth, the life.  We can know this because Jesus brings the Word to believers that they would know He was the One sent from the Father.  Our oneness with Jesus, our union with Him is in--where I am you may be also.  So Paul says--with Christ, by grace you have been saved and (He) raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph. 2.5.6.  Our destiny with Him in heaven is our assurance.

  Having said these things to His disciples, Jesus then has the Passover meal with them.  This is the sacrament of Matt. 26.26 and Luke 22.15-20.

  Then Jesus promises the Holy Spirit in John 16.7--I will send him to you.  It is the power of God the Spirit given at Pentecost.

  Then, as if to bring the gift of the Spirit to a high point in worship, Jesus says He has manifested the Father's name to the disciples, John 17.6.  He says He is coming back to the Father, so He asks the Father to --keep them in Thy name, John 17.11.  He gives the disciples His Word, that they may be sanctified in the truth, and not just them but everyone who believes.

  Finally, in the power of the Spirit, sanctified by His Word, Jesus sends the disciples out into the world, Matt. 28.19.  They are to take nothing but the power they've been given, Matt. 10 and Luke 10.

  At this point we can culminate the worship by proceeding out into the world.  In John 10.27-30 Jesus summarizes this in a few words--My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish...
 
  Now that's secure.