02/20/2023
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Birds, Angels, Church, and the Unseen World"
As I walked into church this Sunday, someone pointed out the beautiful singing of the birds. This person was ready to worship the Lord and because of that they were tuned into the praises of Creation.
That’s crazy because I had just read this line before driving to church… “Acknowledging God in adoring worship not only opens our spiritual eyes to the praises of the creation around us. It also awakens us to the reality that there exists beings of a higher order than we. These glorious creatures also worship God.” So the comment about the birds singing dovetailed with what Pastor Joe showed us about the unseen world of angels from 2 Kings 6.
The author went on to say, “Paul writes "that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places" (Eph. 3:10).
Our acknowledgment of the LORD I AM in worship actually bears witness to the heavenly beings! Our praise of God's grace proclaims to the Powers "the news of the boundless riches of Christ" and helps "everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things" (Eph. 3:8-9).”
Isn’t that amazing? When we gather for worship to praise God, the unseen world of angels takes notice. It says in 1 Peter 1:12 that angels long to look into the things concerning our salvation.
The author continues, “In Revelation, we read of a door left open in heaven through which John peeked into the deeper reality of the universe. Before the One on the throne are mighty living creatures: "Day and night without ceasing they sing, 'Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come'" (Rev. 4:8). When these creatures "give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne" (Rev. 4:9), twenty-four elders who have been on thrones around the throne fall down before the Lord God. They cast their crowns singing, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created" (Rev. 4:11). So, in the heart of heaven, before the immediate presence of God, adoration is the lingua franca [common language]. As we speak the language of praise, we both summon the heavenly beings and heed their call to join them in this worship.” -Gerrit Scott Dawson, "Gathering Praise," Weavings
When we gather for corporate worship, we are interacting with the unseen world! I need to remember that next time I am tempted to sleep in on Sunday.
God, open our eyes that we may behold wonderful things.
