Transactional vs Relational Worship

“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’”
— Luke 7:31-32 ESV

In Luke 7, marketplace is the Greek word agora, from ageiro which means “to gather”. It’s an assembly or place of assembly. Jesus says the people of this generation are like children sitting in an assembly. They gather and they do certain things, expecting God to play along with them. This is similar to witchcraft. Witchcraft is transactional power and manipulation —if I do this or give this, the spiritual realm will do my bidding and give me power to control.

Are we children of the marketplace? Is church a transactional assembly?

In 1 Kings 18:20-39, we see two forms of worship demonstrated, one through the prophets of Baal and one through Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh. The prophets of Baal dance and yell and scream and pour out their blood —all to get Baal’s attention and to get their god to do what they want him to do. Their worship is marketplace transaction. They think if they play the flute, their god will dance. On the other hand, Elijah simply worships in obedience, from sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to His voice, and operating for His glory. He says (1 Kings 18:36), “Let it be known this day that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.” What can we assume from this statement? While the prophets of Baal are working, Elijah is listening. He acts out of intimacy.

The Necessary Good Thing

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
— Luke 10:40-42ESV

True worship is total surrender, like Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet. She wasn’t there for anything but to be near Him and hear Him and see Him. She made the necessary, good choice.

Market worship is the expectation of my action coming first then the divine responding accordingly. In market worship, we perform and the divine moves. If I pay my dues, God will do what I want. Market worship is full of anxiety and troubles, and it says, “Lord, do you not care?”

True worship says intimacy first —only one thing is necessary and good. I will sit at my Heavenly Father’s feet with ears, eyes, and heart wide open to Him, and I won’t move until He gives me the word to move. Like Jesus, we sit and say, “Not my will but Yours be done.” Then we watch and listen to our Father. Like Jesus, we say, “I only do what I see You doing.” In true worship, we wait and Father speaks. True worship is based on faith in the goodness of His presence. He cares more than we can imagine, so let’s sit at His feet and rest in the pleasure of His presence.

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna [Yasha Na – “Save Please!”] to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”
— Matthew 21:12-16ESV

Jesus’ desire is to clear out the market worship and restore the house of presence. The market is a den of robbers, perpetuating a system that kills, steals, and destroys. Notice that when market was removed and presence was restored, the blind and the lame came into the temple. Up to this point, they were not permitted because they were viewed as unclean. The presence brings healing, deliverance, and salvation. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus comes to give abundant life (John 10:10).

In Exodus 33:18, Moses says to God, “Show me Your glory.” In John 11:40, Jesus says, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” Then He says in John 17:22, “The glory that You have given Me I have given to them.” All I bring is my faith in Him, Yahweh and Yeshua (“Yahweh’s Salvation”, Jesus). We come together not for transaction but for presence, not to build but to be built. We obediently and passionately seek, and He shows us and gives us the glory of His presence.

Presence Seekers

Recently, I’ve been in massive prayer rallies, worship gatherings, and energetic conferences. I’ve seen gifted speakers and popular leaders. I’ve seen worship teams that perform at such a high level of professionalism that they sound like a studio recording. Do you know that none of these increase Father’s presence? His eyes aren’t drawn to our talent or our hype or our high quality of production. He’s looking for His presence seekers. Who will pursue Him?

Seek His presence continually!
— Psalm 105:4b ESV

We don’t build a house and then tell Him to come live in it. He invites us to come and then builds us into a house for His Spirit. His Spirit is life, glory, and freedom (2 Corinthians 3:6,8,17). His Spirit is power, love, and Kingdom thinking (2 Timothy 1:7). In His presence there is fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore (Psalm 16:11). In His presence is resurrection life and creative miracles (Romans 4:17). Life, glory, freedom, joy, pleasure, power, miracles, LOVE! Why wouldn’t we seek His presence continually?!

Let’s be determined presence seekers together! His pleasure is in our pursuit. Jesus says (Matthew 7:7-8 ESV), “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Seek the Lord and you will find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). Seek Him with their whole heart and be blessed (Psalm 119:2). Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). Believe that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). And as we come to him, we are like precious and chosen living stones being built up as Father’s Spirit house (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Seeking His presence!
Matt