Why I Worship

What Is Worship, Why Do We Worship, How to Worship

Choppin With A Dull Axe

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We’ve heard it said many times… “Your praise is your weapon!”

I’ve been around weapons all my life. I grew up going hunting and learning how to use weapons.

One of the most important things to learn about weapons is how to maintain them. You have to know the things that can damage your weapon. There are certain things which can render a weapon completely ineffective and useless.

The same is true for our spiritual weapon known as praise. There are certain things that can render our praise ineffective. They mainly are made up of our attitudes and the ways we think. Here are a few of them.

First, a pharisaical or haughty spirit. We know that Proverbs 16:18 says that Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. The pharisees of Jesus’ day were so educated and religious, they couldn’t see what God was doing right in front of them (Matt 21:1-16, Luke 19:37-40).

Second, the attitudes of frustration and despair. We see this when we look at Job’s wife (Job 1:29, 2:9-10). She and her husband had known the joy of living under the blessing of God, but when things took a turn for the worse, she allowed her frustration and despair to take her to a place of turning her back on the very God whose blessing she had known.

Third, the fear of humiliation (self consciousness). When King David brought the Ark back into its proper place, he danced with “all his might” before the Lord. The Bible tells us in 2 Sam 6:12-23 that his wife, Michal, got furious with him and even made fun of him because of the way he acted. In essence, she was embarrassed at how he had presented himself.

Let’s examine ourselves today and be sure that our weapon of spiritual warfare; our praise, is not hindered by any of these attitudes. I know what it’s like to chop wood with a dull axe. It’s no fun and it’s not very productive. I’d much rather swing a sharp axe. I’d also rather lift a sharp, effective praise so that God can make his habitation in my life.

What are some other things you can think of that will leave the “axe” of our praise dull?

Your comments are welcome…

What Is The Holy Spirit’s Role In Our Worship

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Many worship services are held but true worship does not always happen. Excellent music cannot take the place of The Spirit’s Power in worship. Eloquent speaking cannot replace The Spirit’s Power in a persons heart.

Worship is allowing God to take center stage in our lives… no matter where we are.

Real worship only happens at the Spirit level when the Holy Spirit, who lives inside us, rises to magnify the Almighty God, giving Him the honor that is due Him and lifting up His Son, Jesus. No amount of planning, practicing, or preparing can take the place of The Spirit of God leading us into the presence of God.

Zechariah 4:6 ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

1- He is our teacher

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Ephesians 3:2-6 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

His tools are the Word of God and the experiences of our lives

2- He is our transformer

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

He allows us to live in God’s power by transforming us from the inside out.

3- He is the only Real Worship Leader

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

The Message Translation

The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise as we do it.

John 16:14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

He allows us to glorify the Father because He reveals God’s truth to us.

What’s More Important?

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Alright, here’s a question for you: What is the most important aspect of Worship in churches?

I hear a lot of “buzz words” like excellence, relevance, and so on in reference to how we “do worship” in our churches. I think it is good for us to work hard to produce a spirit of excellence in what we do. I also think there is some value to whether or not people can relate to what we are doing. You wouldn’t want to go into a church that is made up of mostly upper class white people in their 50s and 60s and try to get them to worship to grunge rock worship music (extreme example; I know, but you get the idea).

There are so many different things we can become focused on in building teams, working with musicians, developing leaders, and leading worship in services that I’m afraid we often miss the things that are most important.

So, here’s the task: if I were to ask you as a worship leader, a worship team member, or a church member; what is the most important piece of the “church worship” puzzle? What would your answer be?

I would like to take your answers and compile them in a list so please let me know whether you are a worship leader, a worship team member, or a church member when you leave you comments.

I will post the final results later. Thanks for your help.

Ready… GO!