Worship

We pulled a switcher-roo last night at Link and Jeremy led worship and I spoke. We are in a series called Church Words and I spoke on Worship. It was not the best Worship message and not the best job I've ever done speaking but I think it was timely for the Students that were there. Below is my notes from the message and here's a link to the Power Point file if you want it.

Church Words

Worship

English Definition:

To honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power; to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

Hebrew Words:

Shachah (shaw-khaw') bow down, fall down (flat), do reverence, worship.

Hallal (hal-lal’)–praise, be clamorously foolish or mad before the Lord. – hallelujah.

Worship in Psalms: (I had a student mime these actions)

Make a loud noise. Still your heart.

Dance before Him. Stand in awe.

Bow down. Lift up your heads.

Lift your hands. Clap your hands.

Run to Him. Walk in his ways.

Meditate on His truth. Shout to God.

Clash the cymbals. Seek His face.

The Plan Truth About Worship

We are made to Worship

We WILL Worship something

We WILL worship whatever we value the most

We WILL become like whatever you worship

Exodus 20:3-5

3 "You shall have no other gods before me.

4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God

Idols-Money, Acceptance, Vanity

God desires your True Worship More than a song

Your heart, Energy, Passion, Adoration and Praise

Singing, Lifting our hands, Shouting, Dancing all of those things are an extension of a LIFESTYLYE of worship. Not just at Church but anywhere Worship can be lived out day to day Samaritan Woman Story Jesus spoke with the woman at the well. She said the Jews worship God in Jerusalem and we worship God on this mountain. Jesus responded…John 4:23 a time is coming and has now come when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

Samaritan Woman-We don’t have to be a certain kind of person doing it a certain kind of way. We don’t just worship at church. Worship is a lifestyle. Anytime anywhere. Worship Him by doing a good job at work or school. There’s at least a million ways.

TRANS-So, If worship is not about singing at church then why do we come together and sing and do all of that when it’s not really what it’s all about?

Link Worship

What is this experience about? “Link is a place to connect with God. I believe every Wednesday night service is a stacking stone in the foundation of a relationship with God. It is an opportunity to acknowledge with my mouth who God is and what He has done for me or others. It gives us a chance to search for truth together, seeking to know more about God.” Jeremy Isaacs

Corporate Worship Definition

When a group of people join together with the unified goal of Worshiping

Spectator Worship (The Worship Show)

The Audience-The people who show up at 7ish and stand on the ground level

The Performer-The people on the stage, worship leaders, musicians and speakers

The Director-The Holy Spirit directs the “performers” to lead appropriately

Negative Results of Spectator Worship

· Commentator Accounts…I don’t like the worship, too loud, too soft, too slow, too fast, He’s ugly, I don’t like her voice, this song is stupid ect.

· The goal can become pleasing the people more than worshiping

· Songs can become fake to God

**SoundBoarding** Soundboarding is where someone will sample audio clips from a movie or an interview then play then prank call a poor soul playing back the samples so that it seems like they are talking to a movie star.

I believe that spectator worship and the worship show mentality could get so bad that it seems that we are piecing together audio clips of the newest coolest worship songs and just soundboarding them to God. No genuine love for God, no passion just us responding to a good song.

SHAKE THAT OFF!! IT IS WRONG!!!!!!!!!

Meaningful Corporate Worship-

The Audience- The Audience of one. The Lord God Almighty

The Performer- All of us: Recognizing what God has done or is doing and responding

The Director- The Holy Spirit does not just lead a worship leader or pastor but leads all of us to do what God has created us to do…Worship

Someone said the other day that the only other person they know of that goes by Billy is Billy Mays of the famous Oxy Clean commercials and many more commercials. Then they said, the beard, the black hair…dude you kinda look like him! I was not very happy at all! Just so we are clear…I’m not trying to Billy Mays you. I’m not selling you worship. Act now or God will not be pleased! No, God doesn’t want you to come forward and make a decision to worship and struggle to keep it up. He wants it to be your choice. Your love for Him should be the easiest thing you do. What you should work for and struggle with, is knowing more about Him. When you find out how great He is…you will not be able to keep from worshiping. It won’t matter who is leading worship…what songs we are singing or the style music. It won’t matter if there is music at all. You will worship not because we pick the right songs and we have the sound loud or soft enough but you will worship because you want to worship.

A Geyser is caused by surface water gradually seeping down through the ground until it meets rock heated by magma. When you discipline yourself to know more about God and you let that knowledge sink in. It will meet the burning passion you have for God and explode out in worship and praise. When your eyes are truly opened to the awesomeness of God, you will grab every opportunity you can to let deep well of love, thanksgiving and adoration spring up like a geyser.