William Hunter
17th October 2006, 11:29 AM (11:29)
(Expecting A Visitation of God's Grace Through Worship) by Jack Hayford, 2005, published by Chosen Books (www.chosenbooks.com).
Many of you know that Jack Hayford is in the Foursquare denomination. He is a believer in a prayer language, yet this book is written to be be read across denominational lines. He does not seem to push his personal view of a prayer language.
Now, as I am reading this book I realize I have a gem in my hands. This has to be one the most insightful presentations concerning worship I have read. The chapters are broken down into three main sections: 1. The Call to Worship; 2. The Power of Worship; 3.The Pursuit of Worship.
So far in my reading he has opened up Rev. 4-5 for me in ways I never thought of before. He comments that most Christians miss the real message of Rev. because they get all caught up in the details of its passages, and they miss the main theme of the book. As he pulls from other Scriptures, your view of those passages and insight into what true worship is will be stretched and expanded in an exciting way.
Let me give a quote from chap. 2: "It is without question thaqt among the Bible's most breath taking scenes is the one described in Rev. 4-5, as we are ushered into the throne room of the universe! Consider with me John's words as he attempts to describe in the mundane resources of human language the transcendent splendor of heaven's glories, centering his attention where all sentient beings logically world---on the royal seat and personal glory of the Creator Himself...Worship is the core value of the book of Rev., whatever else is made of its prophetic pictures...These two chapters are a single event, the text flowing as a continuum' a humanly imposed chapter division breaks them..."
Hayford says these two chapters cover time from creation to the consumation of time. He goes on to show that worship is the means for advancing God's redemptive purposes, etc. Hayford goes on in very practical ways to describe worship in a local church that opens all of heaven and its resources. This has to be one of the most uplifting and challenging books on worship I have read.
A final quote from chapter 3: "Second, John sees those who are worshiping around the throne. And they are wroshiping the One who is the Creator. This is not only the One who rules above all, this is the One who is able to take nothing and bring about anything that is needed. In other words, you never need believe that you have reached the dead-end for hope. The worst situation we can be in is the place where we declare that there is nothing that can be done. If you find yourself there, remember that God is your Father and call home. Better yet, come home. Step through the open door. It is here, worshiping at the throne of God where He is able to refill us with His Spirit, renew us with His hope, reassure us with His love and revive the drreams and desires He has given us from disappointment and despair...There are some who have been battered and scarred by circumstance, and the Lord says, 'Step in, look at the throne, see the Creator who is able, and the rainbow of promise for you.'"
I think this would be a great book for group reading by those of us who are praying for a "revival" in the COTN. Hayford throws open that gates of whole new insights into worship. I have read extensively about worship and this book has to be one of the most uplifting I have read.
Many of you know that Jack Hayford is in the Foursquare denomination. He is a believer in a prayer language, yet this book is written to be be read across denominational lines. He does not seem to push his personal view of a prayer language.
Now, as I am reading this book I realize I have a gem in my hands. This has to be one the most insightful presentations concerning worship I have read. The chapters are broken down into three main sections: 1. The Call to Worship; 2. The Power of Worship; 3.The Pursuit of Worship.
So far in my reading he has opened up Rev. 4-5 for me in ways I never thought of before. He comments that most Christians miss the real message of Rev. because they get all caught up in the details of its passages, and they miss the main theme of the book. As he pulls from other Scriptures, your view of those passages and insight into what true worship is will be stretched and expanded in an exciting way.
Let me give a quote from chap. 2: "It is without question thaqt among the Bible's most breath taking scenes is the one described in Rev. 4-5, as we are ushered into the throne room of the universe! Consider with me John's words as he attempts to describe in the mundane resources of human language the transcendent splendor of heaven's glories, centering his attention where all sentient beings logically world---on the royal seat and personal glory of the Creator Himself...Worship is the core value of the book of Rev., whatever else is made of its prophetic pictures...These two chapters are a single event, the text flowing as a continuum' a humanly imposed chapter division breaks them..."
Hayford says these two chapters cover time from creation to the consumation of time. He goes on to show that worship is the means for advancing God's redemptive purposes, etc. Hayford goes on in very practical ways to describe worship in a local church that opens all of heaven and its resources. This has to be one of the most uplifting and challenging books on worship I have read.
A final quote from chapter 3: "Second, John sees those who are worshiping around the throne. And they are wroshiping the One who is the Creator. This is not only the One who rules above all, this is the One who is able to take nothing and bring about anything that is needed. In other words, you never need believe that you have reached the dead-end for hope. The worst situation we can be in is the place where we declare that there is nothing that can be done. If you find yourself there, remember that God is your Father and call home. Better yet, come home. Step through the open door. It is here, worshiping at the throne of God where He is able to refill us with His Spirit, renew us with His hope, reassure us with His love and revive the drreams and desires He has given us from disappointment and despair...There are some who have been battered and scarred by circumstance, and the Lord says, 'Step in, look at the throne, see the Creator who is able, and the rainbow of promise for you.'"
I think this would be a great book for group reading by those of us who are praying for a "revival" in the COTN. Hayford throws open that gates of whole new insights into worship. I have read extensively about worship and this book has to be one of the most uplifting I have read.