Worshiping Christ with the Saints

Do you know that in my church every Do you know that in my church every Sunday morning, you know who's in my Sunday morning, you know who's in my Sunday morning, you know who's in my church? Martin Luther Calvin's there too church? Martin Luther Calvin's there too church? Martin Luther Calvin's there too and Augustine and Augustine and Augustine Edwards to the spirits of just men Edwards to the spirits of just men Edwards to the spirits of just men made perfect this general assembly made perfect this general assembly made perfect this general assembly in heaven. This is the communion of in heaven. This is the communion of in heaven. This is the communion of saints. saints. saints. You know, I've been to Europe on many You know, I've been to Europe on many You know, I've been to Europe on many occasions and ministered in countries occasions and ministered in countries occasions and ministered in countries where I didn't speak the language, where I didn't speak the language, where I didn't speak the language, particularly in Eastern Europe, places particularly in Eastern Europe, places particularly in Eastern Europe, places like like like Hungary, Romania, Hungary, Romania, Hungary, Romania, and I would come to worship with the and I would come to worship with the and I would come to worship with the people on Sunday morning. I didn't speak people on Sunday morning. I didn't speak people on Sunday morning. I didn't speak their language, and they asked me to their language, and they asked me to their language, and they asked me to preach, and there'd have to be a preach, and there'd have to be a preach, and there'd have to be a translator there to communicate what I translator there to communicate what I translator there to communicate what I was saying to them in their tongue. And was saying to them in their tongue. And was saying to them in their tongue. And they would stand and they would sing the they would stand and they would sing the they would stand and they would sing the hymns. And I didn't understand a word of hymns. And I didn't understand a word of hymns. And I didn't understand a word of them, but I recognized every one of them them, but I recognized every one of them them, but I recognized every one of them because they're the same hymns we sing. because they're the same hymns we sing. because they're the same hymns we sing. The same hymns that our fathers sang. The same hymns that our fathers sang. The same hymns that our fathers sang. Somehow we think that the church today Somehow we think that the church today Somehow we think that the church today started 20 years ago started 20 years ago started 20 years ago and we have cut ourselves off and we have cut ourselves off and we have cut ourselves off from the whole assembly on high.

from the whole assembly on high. from the whole assembly on high. After Martin Luther died After Martin Luther died After Martin Luther died and the people of Bittenberg and that and the people of Bittenberg and that and the people of Bittenberg and that the students at the university would the students at the university would the students at the university would become discouraged, become discouraged, become discouraged, Philip Meenthon would stand up before Philip Meenthon would stand up before Philip Meenthon would stand up before the students and say, "Let's sing the the students and say, "Let's sing the the students and say, "Let's sing the 46th." And they didn't have to open their And they didn't have to open their Bibles to Psalm 46 Bibles to Psalm 46 Bibles to Psalm 46 to know what Meenthon was saying. And to know what Meenthon was saying. And to know what Meenthon was saying. And the men would stand up and sing, the men would stand up and sing, the men would stand up and sing, "A mighty fortress "A mighty fortress "A mighty fortress is our God. is our God. is our God. A bullwark never failing. A bullwark never failing. A bullwark never failing. Our helper amidst the flood, Our helper amidst the flood, Our helper amidst the flood, a mortal ills prevailing." a mortal ills prevailing." a mortal ills prevailing." That's a song that the saints have been That's a song that the saints have been That's a song that the saints have been singing for 500 years. singing for 500 years. singing for 500 years. And we're raising a generation of people And we're raising a generation of people And we're raising a generation of people today have never heard of it because we today have never heard of it because we today have never heard of it because we want to make worship want to make worship want to make worship casual.

casual. casual. Friends, you can't come into Friends, you can't come into Friends, you can't come into [clears throat] the presence of God, of [clears throat] the presence of God, of [clears throat] the presence of God, of the angels, and of the saints of there. the angels, and of the saints of there. the angels, and of the saints of there. And lastly, the author of Hebrews, And lastly, the author of Hebrews, And lastly, the author of Hebrews, who else is there? who else is there? who else is there? to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant. the mediator of the new covenant. We come to worship We come to worship We come to worship a risen savior a risen savior a risen savior who is gathered with his saints who are who is gathered with his saints who are who is gathered with his saints who are in his presence. in his presence. in his presence. Those saints who have gone before