God-ward God-songs!

You probably looked at the title and said, "Huh?"  I remember one time having my students at the seminary in Zimbabwe take the hymnal, which at that time was unfortunately only translations of American 19th century hymns, and find how many songs were sung directly to God.  They couldn't believe it when they came back to class and reported how only a handful were God-ward.   I then challenged them to compose hymns and spiritual songs in their own heart and musical language that would bring the gathered body into His presence, focusing on Him rather than on us.

Without realizing it, most of us grew up in the church singing songs that were about God rather than sung to or towards God.  We learned a lot about God through those songs but the church was starved for songs that were sung directly to or towards God.  When we sing, is the subject God or self?  Unfortunately many times the majority are about self.  Now, is it possible for the song to be about God and self and still be engaged with God in worship?  Of course, but it can be harder if that is all we sing.  When we are trying to get our eyes off of us and onto God the song needs to be GOD-songs and not ME-songs.  If we take notice in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 5, 7, 15, and 19 the songs are fully GOD-songs, not ME-songs.  Isn't that interesting?  mjm

Music and Musicians - Created to Worship

God delights in all of our different expressions of worship in response to His revelation.  When we recognize that we were created by God for relationship with Him, and that we can enjoy that relationship by God's grace, our reasonable response is our unique expression of worship.  

One of those expressions of worship is through song.  According to 1 and 2 Chronicles we are given God's plan for music and musicians in corporate worship.  As worshippers we need to understand how God desires to use singers, musicians, and worship leaders in the local church.  You can not read the Chronicles carefully and not come away amazed at how seriously God takes the matter of music and musicians.  

God created music and musicians to precede and proclaim His presence, His power, and His Word.  I know from personal experience as a worship leader and musician that on some days when I don't feel like worshipping, worship music leads me into His presence.  

So, let's sing aloud! Let's proclaim God's love, goodness, greatness and His return.  Let us not allow the stones or even the "finest" musicians to worship for us.  God created you and me for worship, and He loves hearing our unique expressions of praise.  mjm 

Created for Worship

Books on worship are everywhere today, but most focus on what we have come to know as "worship wars."   There are many churches and denominations who have focused on non-essentials to worship rather than seeing what the whole of scripture has to say.  Much of the discussion is about worship style (robes and choir, or jeans and rock band) or the relationship of worship and evangelism (should our worship be "seeker-friendly" and "non-threatening) or what kinds of music and materials should be used.
We need to remember that the biblical narrative from Genesis through Revelation informs us that there is a battle for worship alright, but it has nothing to do with those things.  The battle for worship lies at the heart of the meaning of the biblical story.  Scripture shows us that worship lies at the heart of our human identity and our mission.  One writer describes four broad uses of the term, worship:  adoration of God; public worship of God's people gathered;  private expressions of devotion by families and individuals; and worship as a whole of life activity.  It is not on the periphery of our existence nor is it confined to one particular place or time.  It is the whole of our existence.  The Bible shows us how interconnected those four broad uses are.  From creation to new creation, the issue is worship, not form and function alone.  May we hunger and thirst after Him in worship without as much concern of how we worship Him.  From Genesis to Revelation to you . . . created to worship.  mjm

Practicing His Presence and Praise

We try to say it in so many different ways.  Worship is about Him!!  Too many times we live our lives, and we even worship, as practical atheists.  In other words...as if He doesn't exist.  One author many years ago wrote an entire book on practicing the presence of God.  You see, if we live in the light of the fact that He is present always in practice, it will change our lives and our worship.  

And, if we practice His presence, we can not help but have the practice of praise as a constant in our lives and worship.  John Piper has said, "The fuel of worship is a true vision of the greatness of God; the fire that makes the fuel burn white-hot is the quickening of the Holy Spirit; the furnace made alive and warm by the flame of truth is our renewed spirit; the resulting heat of our affections is powerful worship."

I once heard of a worship leader who began a worship service by saying:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce the honored guest of this worship service,
*  He is the One who created all things by the power of His Word.  He was, and is, and is to come.
*  He was totally God, and yet became man so that we might become as He is.
*  He died, and was buried, and yet rose from the grave and lives forever.
*  He is a strong warrior, mighty in battle.  When He disarmed His enemies, He made a public display of     them, having triumphed over them through his cross.
*  He demonstrated His great love for us in that while we were yet sinners, He died for us.

HE IS THE LAMB OF GOD.

HE IS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

HE IS THE GREAT I AM.

HE IS THE MESSIAH,

THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH,

JESUS CHRIST - OUR LORD!

Hallelujah folks, worship is not about me or you.  It is about Him!  May we practice His presence and praise in our lives and in our private and public worship.   mjm

The Songs of Heaven in Worship

It is wonderful that the songs of heaven that we know about inform our song in the church for now.  Last week we looked at those words, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain . . . " in Revelation 5.  Today, we look at the words that go on day and night in Revelation 4, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was . . . and is . . . and is to come."  

As our orchestra played "Holy, Holy, Holy" today it was as if we were already around the throne, surrounded by those words.  When we see the Lord high and lifted up, those are going to be the words on our hearts and lips.  Can you imagine if, during the week, every believer passionately seeks the Lord in private worship, loving Him with our heart, soul, and mind, and then in obedience shares the love of Christ to the lost and ministers to one another?  Out of those private worship lives would come "rivers of living water" washing over all those around us, glorifying God in every part of our lives, and the church gathered would not be able to contain the worship on the Lord's Day.  O Lord, let it be . . . let it be. 

When we remember who He is and what He has done, then our response should be those last words of My Eternal King sung by our choir today.  "E'en so I love Thee and will love, and in Thy praise will sing, solely because Thou art My God and my eternal King"!!  mjm

Be Still and Know . . .

Strangely enough, the weather these past days caused me to focus on the concept given in Psalm 37:7 and Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God".  These days reminded me that there are doing-followers and being-worshippers in Christ and that we will never be effective in our following until we are being.  There are all kinds of worship - celebrative, passionate giving, glorious praise, relishing His Word, and quiet meditation or waiting on the Lord.  Too many times we are scared to death of the latter, but needed in both our private and public worship.

In Psalm 37 we see in the midst of  prosperity, envy, chatter, and fretting that the Psalmist literally says, "Be silent, be still . . . and wait patiently."  Wait for Him.  That is saying to us wait for Him to show Himself.  Wait for Him and God will act.  Is there silence, being still, waiting in our worship for God to act?

Psalm 46:10 challenges us again.  "Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, and in the earth." In this context we are invited to behold the works of the Lord recited and relived in worship, reaching back to creation and all of human history.  The battles are over; the victory is won. The challenge is directed to those who gather for worship and to all forces seeking to undermine God's reign and rule.  "Be still, and know that I am God!"  Step back from looking for security in anyone other than God who is "exalted among the nations."  He is saying, "Cease trusting in work, productivity and accomplishment. Cease anxiety and worry.  Cease trying to be God.  Cease possessiveness.  Cease enculturation, taking on the values of this world.  Cease humdrum and meaninglessness.  Be still and know that I AM GOD!"  mjm 

The Super Bowl of Worship

I couldn't help thinking today: what is the super bowl of worship?  My mind went immediately to John's description of heaven in Revelation 5, especially after the singing of "Revelation Song" by the church this morning.  We find here that you don't have to worry about tickets for this super bowl.  The price of admission was paid in full by the Lamb of God.  Picking up in v. 8, "And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."  Preparation for this grand gathering is not the media hype or logistical companies' preparation, but "prayers of the saints".  That's why we need to take seriously the preparation of prayer for all our worship, even now.  "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.'"  You won't find any song at the super bowl that begins to compare with "the new song" in worship.  "Then I looked and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads and thousand of thousand, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!'"  Nothing that happens at the super bowl today can begin to compare with that, and the super bowl will be over in hours, but the worship at the throne will go on for eternity!  "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"  mjm

Worship Substitutes

In the church today many have tried to substitute other things for worship.  In a way, any substitute becomes an idol.  As I have talked about in previous blogs, we can even make our own idea or way of worship an idol if we are not careful. But let's look at some substitutes we have sometimes created.

Music for some is a substitute for worship.  Biblically we have seen that music is a gift God gave to help us worship; it is not be worshipped.  Some people worship music and say they are worshipping God.  Music is not worthy of worship...God is.  

Church Growth has become a substitute for worship for some.  Focus on numbers can secularize the church.  Relevance is a buzz word for Church Growth folks.  Does God want the church to grow?  Of course.  But the gospel is relevant in any culture, any time.  The reason we sometimes don't see growth is because we have lost our first love and are powerless and ill-equiped to carry out the Great Commission.  We need to seek Him rather than trusting in our own power to grow the church.

Some have made Preaching their worship.  Preaching and teaching God's Word is essential to the health of a church and God's people, but the priority of worship should be for believers to engage and encounter God in worship.  Preaching is an important element of worship, but not the only element of worship.  When the people of God are seeking Him in worship there is no greater place to preach the Word of God and see Him work, as people seek to know Him with every thing that is in them.  

Another substitute for worship in our day is Miracles and the Supernatural.  Those who seek these things many times say they are seeking Him, but are really seeking miracles.  God is a God of miracles.  He can do whatever He wants. But if we only pursue a relationship with Christ in miracles, we are worshipping miracles and supernatural rather than God Himself.  God, and God alone, is always to be the goal of our pursuit.  We need to be honest with ourselves.  What are we substituting for worship?  mjm