Part 3 of “An Open Letter To Worship Teams”
“Do we sometimes treat worship like a modern day Aladdin’s Lamp?”
There’s a word, a thought, I’d like to share with everyone, especially every believer.
But particularly with anyone who is part of a worship team.
The thought is this: God is not trying to hide from you. He hasn’t locked Himself away from you, expecting you to figure out the lock combination before He’ll “step out into the open.” He does not expect our times of worship to be a production, dance steps, or an equation of so many fast and slow songs. None of those things will automatically produce the Presence of God.
God will not be manipulated. He will, however, respond to simple, from the heart, worship. In fact, Psalm 22:3 says God is enthroned, or seated comfortably, on the praises of His people.
Please read the following verses. See if you can sense God’s desire to fellowship with His people.
Gen 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Ex 25:21-22
You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
Ex 40:33-35
So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
2 Chron 5:13-14
indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
Ps 84:1-2
How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Rev 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
[all scriptures NKJV]
God never intended for us to treat worship like Aladdin treated his lamp.
The truth is – GOD is the One Who has been chasing man for the past 6,000 years.
He’s the One Who created man, filled him with His heavenly breath, and fellowshipped with him throughout the day. God’s the One Who told Moses to build the Tabernacle; a place where God and man could fellowship through the offering of an animal’s blood.
God is the One Who filled the Tabernacle with His Presence, much like He filled Adam’s lungs with His breath.
Later on, King Solomon built the Temple and sanctified all the instruments, singers, musicians and priests; dedicating them to the Lord. As soon as everything was prepared, God, once again, filled the place with His breath, His Spirit.
And, it is God Who has planned to tabernacle, dwell, fellowship, with man forever and ever. It is God’s Son Who offered His blood so we could have eternal fellowship with Him.
Who needs a lamp and a genie?
But don’t expect every “worship experience” to be the same. Sometimes, when the Lord steps into our room, it is simply to receive our worship and fellowship with us. He doesn’t make a huge entrance; but those who were expecting Him, are waiting for Him. “Seeing” Him walk in, they usher Him to His favorite chair. From His place of enthronement, He communes with His family. He and His kids, enjoying each other’s company.
Other times His appearance may be so subtle, one doesn’t even know He’s in the room. People all around, talking, laughing, enjoying each other’s presence. He sits quietly, listening to our conversations, ready to join in. But only when asked. Though He is jealous, He isn’t rude. He loves us so much, yet He will not force Himself upon us or into our world.
Every so often He’ll step into our world like He stepped into Abraham’s. In the heat of the day (Gen. 19) God came calling. Abraham recognized Him and asked Him to stay a while so he could serve Him properly. So Abraham worshipped God by feeding Him. THEN, the actual purpose of the visit became clear. Worship led to intercession, with God drawing Abraham into His plans and purposes for the deliverance of Lot and family.
And then there are moments…yes, those times when His Presence in the room is much larger than the room itself! As He steps into the doorway, everything within us wants to fall prostrate before Him. Our shouts of joy are silenced by His eternal awe and beauty. Songs become mere melodies in the presence of His Glory. Even our breath responds to His Presence, becoming so “thick” we cannot speak, as He adds His breath to ours. The Eternal God, fellowshipping, communing, with man.
He rejoices with us! He sings and shouts with us! “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17
He DESIRES to be with us. Whether we’re doing well, hurting, mad or happy. He desires to be in our presence; it’s been that way since the foundation of the world.
So, throw away any magic lamps, special charms, or anything else you feel you need to “conjure” up God’s Presence. You don’t have to talk Him into coming!
Simply worship Him.
Jan Grace 