I had laid in bed an hour already, eyes wide awake. It was late. We had an unexpected and very difficult ministry meeting at church. My wife and I had stood in our kitchen for a long time crying together. Our middle daughter, seven years old at the time, had come into the kitchen at one point and asked if we were fighting. “No, honey. Mom and Dad are not fighting. We are as close as we have ever been. Go back to sleep.”
Now I was lying awake with a million thoughts racing through my mind. I could not sleep. I got up. It was a cool, not cold, October night, and so I walked. I walked through our town. I wept. I prayed. On repeat, I listened to Worthy by Beautiful Eulogy.
I walked a couple of hours up and down the streets of the ghost town. Perryville shuts down at 9:00 pm. This was closer to 2:00 am.
At this point, it is not necessary to divulge the details of the meeting. Suffice it to say I was presented with the opportunity to give up or push back. By the kind mercy and grace of God, I chose to push back.
I know the proclivities of my sinful heart. I know there is pride always lurking. So, I do not say this as one who is as sanctified as he needs to be. But I believe the one driving motivation for not giving up was this: Christ is worthy of a healthy church.
Here is the first verse of Worthy by Beautiful Eulogy that I seem to have mulled over thousands of times:
I am writing this post today to encourage you. Christ is worthy of a healthy church. Worship is not always about feeling happy. Read the psalms. But when we are convinced of the worthiness of the Christ we can worship, we will worship, even in the midst of the darkest night.
I made it back to bed that night. God granted me sleep. And nearly two years later He has sustained us. And no matter what happens in the future, Christ is worthy.
Do not give up.
Now I was lying awake with a million thoughts racing through my mind. I could not sleep. I got up. It was a cool, not cold, October night, and so I walked. I walked through our town. I wept. I prayed. On repeat, I listened to Worthy by Beautiful Eulogy.
I walked a couple of hours up and down the streets of the ghost town. Perryville shuts down at 9:00 pm. This was closer to 2:00 am.
At this point, it is not necessary to divulge the details of the meeting. Suffice it to say I was presented with the opportunity to give up or push back. By the kind mercy and grace of God, I chose to push back.
I know the proclivities of my sinful heart. I know there is pride always lurking. So, I do not say this as one who is as sanctified as he needs to be. But I believe the one driving motivation for not giving up was this: Christ is worthy of a healthy church.
Here is the first verse of Worthy by Beautiful Eulogy that I seem to have mulled over thousands of times:
"What a joy it is to stand in Christ forgiven
Righteousness and eternal life when salvation is given
All my sins paid for and I could never repay You
But now my greatest delight is to trust You and obey You
More than a genre of music, worship is a heart-change
I gladly bow my knee to the God who never changes
Every day I'm changing, becoming more like Christ
Adoring what is good, adorned with the fruits of new life
And my hope is not a fantasy, it's built upon a reality
That You will keep Your promises according to Your sovereignty
I will see Your face and be safe under Your reign
When my faith turns to sight and only perfect love remains
Your people are my people no matter where they come from
The church exists according to the works of God's Son
So when the new creation when we're gathered in His name
It will be obvious that He's the one that's worthy of all fame
Cause the worthiness of Jesus is the reason we belong
So worthy is the Lamb will forever be our song"
Righteousness and eternal life when salvation is given
All my sins paid for and I could never repay You
But now my greatest delight is to trust You and obey You
More than a genre of music, worship is a heart-change
I gladly bow my knee to the God who never changes
Every day I'm changing, becoming more like Christ
Adoring what is good, adorned with the fruits of new life
And my hope is not a fantasy, it's built upon a reality
That You will keep Your promises according to Your sovereignty
I will see Your face and be safe under Your reign
When my faith turns to sight and only perfect love remains
Your people are my people no matter where they come from
The church exists according to the works of God's Son
So when the new creation when we're gathered in His name
It will be obvious that He's the one that's worthy of all fame
Cause the worthiness of Jesus is the reason we belong
So worthy is the Lamb will forever be our song"
I am writing this post today to encourage you. Christ is worthy of a healthy church. Worship is not always about feeling happy. Read the psalms. But when we are convinced of the worthiness of the Christ we can worship, we will worship, even in the midst of the darkest night.
I made it back to bed that night. God granted me sleep. And nearly two years later He has sustained us. And no matter what happens in the future, Christ is worthy.
Do not give up.
About The Author
ALLEN S. NELSON IV
1689 Federalism | Amillennialism
Allen S. Nelson IV is the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Perryville, AR, where he resides with his wife Stephanie, and their 6 children. Allen is the author of From Death to Life: How Salvation Works, Before the Throne: Reflections on God’s Holiness, and A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. He is an M.Div graduate of Grace BIble Theological Seminary in Conway, AR and co-host of The Rural Church Podcast 2.0 on the Reformation Podcast Network.
1689 Federalism | Amillennialism
Allen S. Nelson IV is the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Perryville, AR, where he resides with his wife Stephanie, and their 6 children. Allen is the author of From Death to Life: How Salvation Works, Before the Throne: Reflections on God’s Holiness, and A Change of Heart: Understanding Regeneration and Why it Matters. He is an M.Div graduate of Grace BIble Theological Seminary in Conway, AR and co-host of The Rural Church Podcast 2.0 on the Reformation Podcast Network.
Posted in Christian Living, Pastoral Leadership, Worship Leadership
Posted in Ecclesiology, Trials, Temptations, Hardship, Struggles, Encouragement, Exhortation, Worship, Perseverance
Posted in Ecclesiology, Trials, Temptations, Hardship, Struggles, Encouragement, Exhortation, Worship, Perseverance
Recent
Archive
2024
May
IVF is Evil.Find Your WhyWhy Do We Struggle with Self-Control?Old Time ReligionThe Pastor and His BibleLessons from Jude Pt. 4: The Dreams of False TeachersJoining with Creation: Why Your Praise Matters to GodChrist is Worthy of a Healthy ChurchBiblical Discernment and Why It Is NecessaryWhat is the Point of the Bible?Faith Cometh: First Mention Basics of Faith Pt. 2
June
July
Is God For Us?What Laws Are We Supposed to Obey?Remember MeDying Thoughts of a Godly ManOn Justification through Faith Alone in Christ AloneHigh Strangeness and a Christian ResponseDiscovering Perfect FaithfulnessChildren: The Best Bible School for AdultsThe Trembling PastorUnderstanding the Law: Part I
September
Rest In ChristFive Minutes for the Imago DeiUnderstanding the Law: Part IIThe Privilege of Knowing God TrulyEphesians: Abounding Riches of GracePrayer and Providence: A Look At Mark 7:24-30The Love of GodEphesians: Our Inheritance, Hope, and Glory in ChristThe Immutability of GodFighting Sin by Trusting in the Superior Satisfaction
Categories
Tags
17th Century
70 A.D.
Abandonment
Actions
Adam
Adoption
Angels
Animosity
Antinomianism
Anxiety
Assurance
Atonement
Attributes of God
Attrition
Augustine of Hippo
Awe
Baptism
Batman
Belief
Betrayal
Bible Reading
Bible School
Bible Study
Bigfoot
Bitterness
Blame
Blandina
Bravery
Business
Busyness
C.S. Lewis
Calvinism
Camaraderie
Catechism
Ceremonial Law
Challenges
Change
Chants
Chaos
Character
Charlatans
Charles Spurgeon
Children
Choice
Chords
Christology
Church Officer
Circumstances
Civil Law
Clash of the Titans
Claude Ramsey
Clefs
Commandments
Commentary
Communion
Composers
Confession
Contentment
Conversion
Conviction
Coram Deo
Corporate Worship
Creation
Cryogenics
Culture
Death
Decree
Defamation
Dementia
Demons
Dependance
Desire
Devastation
Diligence
Disagreement
Discernment
Discipleship
Discipline
Disobedience
Doctrines of Grace
Doctrine
Dreams
Drudgery
Ecclesiology
Elect
Embryo Grading
Emotionalism
Encouragement
Endor
English Puritanism
Entrepreneurship
Ephesians
Ethnomusicology
Eugenics
Eusebius
Evangelicalism
Evangelism
Evangelist
Evil
Exhortation
Expectations
Fables
Failure
Fairy Tales
Faithfulness
Faithlessness
Faith
False Teachers
Families
Family Worship
Famine
Fasting
Fear
Fellowship
Fertilization
Fervor
Five Points
Forgiveness
Form
Foster Care
Function
Fuxs Counterpoint
Gatherings
Gathering
Gentiles
Gentleness
George Whitefield
Ghosts
Giants
Glory
God's Word
Goodness
Good
Gospel Mission
Gospel
Grace
Gratitude
Greek Mythology
Grief
Happiness
Hardship
Help
Herodotus
Heroes of Renown
Heroes
Homeschooling
Hope
Human Trafficking
Humility
Humphrey Bogart
Hypocrites
IVF
Identity
Idolatry
Immutability
In Vitro Fertilization
Incan Empire
Inheritance
Intellectualism
Israel
James White
Jason and the Argonauts
Jerusalem
Jews
John Calvin
John Frame
John Knox
Joy
Judaism
Jude
Judges
Justification
Kids
Knowledge
Law
Laziness
Learning
Legalism
Legend
Life
Light
Liturgy
Local Church
Love
Luke Bryan
Malak
Marcus Aurelius
Marriage
Martyrdom
Matthew Henry
Meditation
Memory.
Mercy
Minds
Molech
Monergism
Money
Monotony
Moral Law
Morality
Mosaic Law
Mothman
Motivation
Music Theory
Musical Education
Musical Notation
Musicology
Music
Mystery
Mysticism
Myth
Nations
Neglect
Nephilim
Nervousness
New Covenant
Nick Needham
Notes
Obedience
Old Covenant
Old Testament
Omniscience
Online
Order
Orthodox Jew
Pain
Parents
Pastor
Paul The Apostle
Paul Washer
Peace
Pentateuch
Persecution
Perseverance
Plagiarism
Politics
Pornography
Power
Praise
Prayer
Praying
Preacher
Preaching
Preparation
Pride
Priest
Privilege
Prophesy
Prophets
Providence
Psalms
Pulpit Ministry
Punishment
Purification
Purpose
Qualification
Questions
Quick Wit
Reality Shows
Reconciliation
Redemption
Reflection
Reformed Evangelism
Regeneration
Regulative Principle
Religion
Rememberance
Repentance
Responsibility
Rest
Revelation
Reverence
Revival
Reward
Rhetoric
Richard Baxter
Riches
Righteousness
Roman Empire
Romans
Rome
Sabbath
Sacrifice
Sacrificial System
Saints
Salvation
Sanctification
Sarcasm
Satisfaction
Self-Control
Self-Discipline
Self-Examination
Sermon Preparation
Serpent
Service
Sex Selection
Shame
ShatteredHopes
Sickness
Sinbad
Sin
Social Media
Speech
Spirits
Spiritual Warfare
Spirit
Staves
Stewardship
Story
Struggles
Study Group
Study
Style
Suffering
Sundays
Supernatural
Supplication
Surrender
Teacher
Teaching
Teleology
Temporal
Temptations
Temptation
Thankfulness
The Bible
The Great Commission
The Holy Scriptures
The Joker
The Local Church
The Lord's Supper
The Lord\'s Supper
The Lyons Region
The Sons of Korah
Theology
Thomas Brooks
Thorpe
Tim Challies
Torah
Total Depravity
Tradition
Transcendence
Trembling
Trials
Trouble
Trust
Truth
Tulip
Turner Classic Movies
Tyre
UFO
Unchanging
Understanding
Unexplained
Unseen Realm
Villians
Virtue
Wailing
Warning
War
Weakness
Wealth
Weeping
Western Music
Westminster Confession
Wisdom
Witch
Wonder
Words
Worship
Youngsters