In spirit and truth, Amigos.
Back in 1980 when I first attended a Charismatic church, I was taken aback by the style of worship. More than that, I noticed an intensity and participation that I was not used to. Those things attracted me. The first priority of the Church is to worship the Lord. We live to glorify Him. The advent of mass communications and the rise of the Christian pop music industry has been a great blessing. There’s a lot of new music coming out at an incredible rate. Some of it is even biblical. The average person can access it anytime, anywhere. On the downside, it creates problems for churches. Honest pastors have to correct lousy doctrine in songs. Many also feel the pressure to compete with the radio in production value and repertoire. Whether we use hymnals, or song sheets, or projected words on a screen; whether we sing to guitars and drums, a cappella or with a soundtrack, real supernatural worship is possible in every service.
A few things to remember:
1. Our word “Worship” comes from an old English word meaning “Worth – ship.” Worship begins by acknowledging the worthiness of the Lord. Revelation 5:9-13
2. New Testament worship comes from the heart of the worshipper. It is not conditioned by location, equipment, or talent. John 4:23-24
3. Worship from the heart of a believer can flow as psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs. Ephesians 5:18-20 / Colossians 3:16.
a. Psalms may be spoken or sung. Paul probably meant those what were accompanied by instruments, especially the Davidic repertoire. Today, this may equate to our “traditional” hymns and songs of the church.
b. Hymns are more formal expressions of a common belief system put to music or chanted. Most of the new popular music that we now sing in church qualifies for this designation.
c. Spiritual songs, or songs given by the Spirit, are exactly that: songs given to the individual by the Spirit of God on the spur of the moment. We need all three.
4. Fresh music from Heaven can flow through anyone who will sing with the Spirit and the understanding also. Notice 1 Corinthians 14:13-15. We can expect to have songs of the spirit in unknown tongues, and we can expect to receive interpretations that glorify Him and instruct us.
Somebody Said: “I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” ― A.W. Tozer
Scripture Reading: But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NLT)
As with everything spiritual, we run the risk of reducing worship to a set of activities, a recitation of familiar songs, a musical performance, or even to mere singing, itself. It is so much more than that. Worth-ship springs from who we are, or more accurately who He has made us, and reaches toward who we believe Him to be. It centers on Him, His Person and His work. It requires no electricity, no exhortation from the podium, no incense, and no audience. When we set our hearts toward Him and come together to worship, Heaven happens.
Check out our current series “A Suprnatural Church,” at FCF Tucson’s YouTube channel
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