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Saturday, April 10, 2010

When Does Worship Matter


Hello Friends,

I am posting here the same piece I wrote for our Worship Team Blog. It's more than a piece, it's my passion. By way of conversation, I found myself propelled upon my stump. So, I'm trying desperately to come OFF of the stump, but not sure I want to. Even if I do, it's temporary, because praising God in Heaven is FOREVER, and it's about HIM!!! Here 'tis:

"When does worship matter? Consider the following scripture in Revelation:

"Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." - Revelation 4:8 (NIV)
On earth as it is in Heaven, right? Okay, let's start with this one scripture alone that is written about a perfect place we know to be Heaven, the presence of the living God where Jesus Himself is sitting at the right hand of the Father. THEY NEVER STOP SAYING....not singing, not shouting, not humming or contemplating, SAYING! Hey folks, in Heaven they never stop saying Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty. Why? Because He alone is worthy of praise. God is so Mighty, and so highly exalted that His worth is constantly spoken of.

Now about the singing, dancing and shouting....it's happening. Think on this:

" Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.

16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.

17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing." .....from Zephaniah 3.

I believe Heaven is a very busy, vibrant, & holy place. It's all of those things because it was made to be so. A little bit of reading in almost any spot in the Bible gives way to the understanding that living for Jesus is active and happening, and it's intended to be that way here, on earth, as it is in Heaven. What a wonderful thought. What a wonderful truth. (Okay....I misspoke....this is not brief....it comes from the core of my being!)

If you lived on a deserted island, no Albertsons, no Blockbuster, No Starbucks (is there such an island?), and you lifted up a holy praise to our God, if you never stopped saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty", would it matter? Yes. Would it matter only if someone heard you? No. Would it matter only if you were really good at it, called, so to speak? I hope you already know the answer. Of course not, Now, would it have significance? Still yet, does it make a difference? The answer is a yes, yes, yes! If you whisper His name and no one hears, it matters. It has significance. If you were mute and could only trace His name in the sand would it matter? Yes! Because you're doing what He made you to do.

Worship is beyond a calling, it's a mandate! And it's for ALL of us. Sing it, read it, hum it, trace it in the sand, but He is worthy, and MUST be praised by us, or guess what. There's a rock with your name on it, or my name on it, and it's going to cry out aloud because He must be praised. It's His day, not ours. It's His glory alone, not ours. It doesn't matter if ANYONE sees you, but it DOES MATTER. Are you catching my point? Don't get caught in the trap that it doesn't matter. THAT is the enemies snare set up for the likes of you, and of me. Let's not fall in that! Hey, Worship always matters.

A total aside here: I believe God gave us songs & song writers because He knows that some need help expressing His worth. We're not all called to write. For the writer, it's in them to write, they can't NOT write a song of praise. God put it in them to seek and find that one word that will say it, that chord that will touch them and others in new ways. But, music isn't the only way to worship Him.

BUT, IF IT WAS....that oughta be okay too (an official rabbit trail!).

Worshippers, your part in ministry matters because someone, you specifically, that HE created for His purposes is doing what He designed you to do, from a pure heart, of course. Do it, it matters. Punch the buttons & turn the knobs, sing out O singer, write O writer, display those lyrics.....do it all for His glory alone. IT MATTERS AT ALL TIMES because it's about our blessed redeemer, Jesus Christ.

"Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." - Revelation 4:8 (NIV)

6 comments:

Mari said...

Kathy, this is such a good reminder. I know that I am guilty of taking worship for granted. This was a perfect thing to read before going to worship with others, but a good thing to remember when I'm on my own too!

Susan said...

WOW!!!!! This was so very powerful, Kathy. As much as I love to worship and proclaim the Lord's name this put worship in a perspective I have never seen before.

Thank you so much for being obedient to His voice to capture this for us who do not understand worship on the level you walk, talk & breathe.

Your words here will have a lasting effect on my spirit, my life and my very being. And you know how very important WORDS are to me :o)

I love blogging just for moments like this when HE connects us in ways that "the world" can never understand, but we do!!!!!
(((((hugs)))))

P.S. I am printing this out and reading it often and with your permission sharing it with others.

Kathy said...

May I ever be challenged to live it as well, Susan. You're a blessed encourager.

Susan said...

Please post this on Hearts also :o)

Mary Lee said...

I love this post!

Sandra said...

This is a great post Kathy and so many things come to mind as I read it. It would be a letter if I wrote back what I got out of this.

One of those being that everything that has breath is to praise the Lord. Can you imagine stepping outside and seeing motionless objects such as birds, bugs, leaves not blowing......and can you imagine not hearing the sounds from these objects? But just as you said there is action and sound in things praising the Lord. Worship is action......I think I can hear song lyrics coming! :)

Oh I can't quit here....have you ever heard that sound never dies and that rocks can retain sound? That whatever has been spoken is still in the atmosphere.

By our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned.

Good Stuff Sister!!!!!!!