Holy, holy, holy

In all the places Amy and I have traveled, there are two where I have sensed an overwhelming sense of evil.  You might think walking the Fifth Quarter in New Orleans would be one, but what I saw and sensed there was blatant paganism and hedonism.  There have been places of deep lostness, brokenness and spiritual blindness.  I imagine you can empathize.  But there have been those two places where it seems Satan has sway.  

One is Las Vegas.  In recent times I have heard about great churches doing great ministry and seeing many come to faith in Christ.  But when our family spent the night there I was taken back by this sense of evil.  The other place is both times I have been in Salt Lake City, the home of the Mormons, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  And the oppressiveness intensified as I walked the grounds (where allowed) of the church.  A place held scared by so many, but a place that is described in I John 4:1-6; to deny Christ as reveled in Scripture is to be in the spirit of the Antichrist.  Christ as reveled in Scripture is the second person of the Trinity, God in flesh, and as Jesus declares many times, I AM.  The religious leaders of His day knew this and attempted to kill Him for His statements.  They said that “He speaks blasphemies since no one can forgive sin but God” (Mark 2:1-12), so Jesus, to show them that He had power over physical illness (thought to be caused by sin that in day), then told the lame man to “take up his bed and walk.”  2 Timothy 3:1-9 tells us there are those “who have a form of godliness, but deny its power.”  

The rites, rituals and forms of any worship are powerless if not driven by the revelation of God of Himself and as dictated by Him.  And while these places are overt in their false worship, we need to see and heed the caution of setting up anything or forming anything in the place of God has He has revealed Himself.  I am not tempted by the things of Las Vegas or the Mormon church, but I must take care to not lessen the holiness and majesty of God Almighty.  I must always remember that there is a God and I am not him.  Instead, I have been created to worship Him, saved by Him for His glory (not mine) and my worship is God focused and driven, for He is worthy.  My worship is acceptable in His sight, not for my benefit, agenda or pleasure.  

The old hymn says it well where our worship is directed: “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!  Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee.  Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!  God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!  Holy, holy, holy!  All the saints adore Thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy see; cherubim and seraphim, falling down before Thee, which wet and art and evermore shall be.  Holy, holy, holy!  Though the darkness hide Thee, though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see; only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, perfect in power, in love and purity.  Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!  All thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea; Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!  God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!”  

Where are saints (believers) and angels, falling before Him in praise.  Let’s make sure we are part of that chorus of constant praise!  

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor