It is really interesting the dynamics of worship in a group. At AD Venture we have a really interesting mix of "styles". All in the same room we'll have everything from a number of people sitting quietly with their eyes closed, to people standing with their hands in the air, and even at times a person or two in the back being very entouastic in their worship.
It is really interesting that God has taught me quite a bit about how to worship in recent months and it seems a big part of the deal is getting over myself and simple obedience.
There was one evening at church recently when I really felt the prompting of the spirit to throw up my hands and worship without any concern for what others would think. At that very moment while I was wrestling with God about what I thought he wanted me to do, I saw a good friend across the room do exactly what God was prompting me to do. It was a life changing moment for me on a few levels.
God seeks worshipers. God invited me to worship, and while I was being too self-centered to simply obey, God was speaking to others. How many times has God passed me over because I don't simply obey when he asks? Does it work on the same way in Churches? Is the reason we don't see God work in the way we know he can because we corporately don't listen and obey his promptings to worship?
God communicates with us. I'm convinced that evening was much more that just a cooincidence. I'm comfortable with the idea that God can speak (prompt, "put something on our heart", nudge, encourage, or however you are comfortable with saying that God communicates etc.) to individuals. Seeing Him so clearly saying the exact same thing to more than one person in the room motivated me more than ever to figure out how to listen more and obey.
I'm learning more than ever how so many of these complex issues of faith come down to simple obedience. Perhaps it is similar to spiritual gifts where they only grow if we use them. It would make complete sense that the amount that we experience God's presence in worship is directly related to our ability to get over ourselves and simply obey his promptings to cast all aside and worship Him.
Link: ysmarko.
It is really interesting that God has taught me quite a bit about how to worship in recent months and it seems a big part of the deal is getting over myself and simple obedience.
There was one evening at church recently when I really felt the prompting of the spirit to throw up my hands and worship without any concern for what others would think. At that very moment while I was wrestling with God about what I thought he wanted me to do, I saw a good friend across the room do exactly what God was prompting me to do. It was a life changing moment for me on a few levels.
God seeks worshipers. God invited me to worship, and while I was being too self-centered to simply obey, God was speaking to others. How many times has God passed me over because I don't simply obey when he asks? Does it work on the same way in Churches? Is the reason we don't see God work in the way we know he can because we corporately don't listen and obey his promptings to worship?
God communicates with us. I'm convinced that evening was much more that just a cooincidence. I'm comfortable with the idea that God can speak (prompt, "put something on our heart", nudge, encourage, or however you are comfortable with saying that God communicates etc.) to individuals. Seeing Him so clearly saying the exact same thing to more than one person in the room motivated me more than ever to figure out how to listen more and obey.
I'm learning more than ever how so many of these complex issues of faith come down to simple obedience. Perhaps it is similar to spiritual gifts where they only grow if we use them. It would make complete sense that the amount that we experience God's presence in worship is directly related to our ability to get over ourselves and simply obey his promptings to cast all aside and worship Him.
Link: ysmarko.
i just stumbled on this page. I too struggle with the same stuff. Obedience . . . isn't that the essence of worship? Wow. And to think we get obedience and music confused! It's awesome that we can "venture together" to learn how to hear God's voice . . . and then obey.
Posted by: jessica ubel | 28 December 2005 at 09:07 PM
I always remember the picture of King David dancing before the Ark as it was brought into the City
I imagine it to be with abandon
The fact of the matter is that it did repulse the Queen
Some times acting on our faith is like that
Ultimity that is why the Spirt intercedes for us to express the deepest parts of our relationship with God
Posted by: Joseph DeRuvo Jr. | 04 January 2007 at 11:01 PM