Jason Helopoulos

When?

It's the expectation that those who are his, those who are following after him, that have fallen in love with him, will want and will spend time in prayer and in the Word.

It's the expectation of our Savior

Robert Murray McShane, the famous Scottish pastor from the 19th century, said this.

He said, a believer longs after God to come into his presence, to feel his love, to feel near to him in secret, to feel in the crowd that he is nearer than all the creatures.

Ah, dear brethren, have you ever tasted this blessedness?

There is greater rest and solace to be found in the presence of God for one hour than in eternity in the presence of man.

What McShane is picking up is what we've been talking about over these lectures, is that what is worship above all?

It's just dwelling with God and God dwelling with us.

And what McShane is pointing out is this is the great heart cry of the Christian.

I just want to be with my God.

I just want to dwell with my God.

And so there is a draw and there is a pull to getting away in secret worship with him.

If that is true, why is it?

What are the benefits of getting away with the Lord in secret worship?

Well, one is that we become more like him.

This is one of the great draws of private worship, of secret worship, is that we want to become more like the one we love.

And so we want to spend time with him.

And if you've noticed, it's often true, isn't it, that older couples that have been together for 50, 60 years, married together, that they begin to look like each other.

Sometimes there's a physical resemblance.