Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is and who is still to come." - Rev. 4:8b (NLT)
How fascinating those living beings are, they are continually saying these words day after day and night after night as they worship God in front of his majestic throne. As a worship minister, every time I'm on the platform doing my responsibility, I have noticed two groups of people during worship: one group is verbally worshiping God or should I say that they are enthusiastically singing the songs literally and actively responding such words like Amen! Praise God! or Hallelujah! and the other group are the silent ones. I don't know if they are participating in worship or not, they just stand there seems like they are watching what's going on. I'm not judging them saying that they are not participating in worship, only God sees our hearts and minds. Because of these people; the silent ones... I begin to wonder and search the scriptures for reference and answer for my questions like: which worship God prefer? worship without words or worship with words? or does God accept both? As I read the book of Revelations Chapter 4 beginning verse 8b, I have noticed that they are uttering words of worship - DAY AFTER DAY and NIGHT AFTER NIGHT - words unceasingly coming out from their lips, therefore worship in heaven is not silent! all living beings there are opening their lips and speaking words of worship to God. Imagine that sound coming from millions and billions of living beings worshiping God. I believe that God wants to hear from us words of worship for him. This time I would like to give emphasis on the power of words in worship... words that literally comes out from our lips. Let us take a quick look on the book of Psalms. Do you know that this book is a "songbook" of King David as he worship God? have you ever noticed that in every title of it's chapter there includes the word "sang", or "accompanied by instruments" or "to the tune of..." For example, Psalm Chapter 6 is entitled: "For the choir director: A Psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument." Psalm Chapter 7 is entitled: "A Psalm of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin." Psalm Chapter 9 is entitled: "For the Choir Director: A Psalm of David, to be sung to the tune Death of the Son." (Psalm 6, 7 & 9 from NLT) In addition, there is also a "Choir Director" - meaning there is music being played and there are choir who sings the chapter. So if the book of Psalm serves as a "songbook" why God does not include a "soundtrack" or "notation" for musicians to play it? It doesn't mean that music is not important; badly played or written music can make great theology sound obscure or unappealing; otherwise, great music can make shallow lyrics sound profound and incredibly moving. But the main point is this, God values more in the content of the words we utter in worship to him. It is the words, not the music that God chose to preserve for us in the scripture. I believe God is being moved by our worship not for the music but through the words... There is power in the words! The Power of Words in Worship 1. Words are what we use to define God and what he has done in our lives. Words tell us how God had acted in history and what God is actually doing in our lives. Words inform us that we are sinners who deserve the wrath of God. But Jesus has come to suffer the wrath of God in our place, purchase our forgiveness and reconcile us to God. Through words we have the opportunity to say who God is in our lives. In Matthew 4:1-11, When Jesus was being tempted by the devil, he uses his voice, his words as a weapon against the enemy. He spoke the scripture against Satan and as a result, the devil went away leaving him alone. Yes! the scripture has power, but it is more powerful when we speak it out! 2. Words are the primary way God has revealed himself to us and relates to us. We use words because God is a speaking God. From the time of creation He uses his words to create. Genesis 1:3 "Then God said, Let there be light! and there was light..." From the garden of Eden, words have been God's primary means of interacting with Adam. In Exodus Chapter 3, God introduce himself to Moses. He use words to explain what is his plan for the redemption of Israel from Egypt. God always wanted us to know more of him than can be conveyed through impressions, images or sounds. We also introduce Christ to others through our words. Teaching and preaching the good news so that other people may be saved by accepting Jesus and their faith will grow on him. In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trust in him will never be disgraced." Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" - Rom. 10: 8-15 (NLT) 3. Worship is more than words, but it's not less than words. Encounters with God are sometimes difficult to define. But wordless worship is not somehow better than worship with words. Worship without words can never communicate objective truth and God is defining, objective reality in which we live and move. In Matthew 19:37-40 (NIV) The Pharisees are trying to stop the people in uttering praises to God but Jesus told them if they keep quiet, the stones will come alive to praise God. Apparently, worship works it's way out into words. 4. Words enable us to worship God together. Words enable us to think and say the same things together, rooting our unity in the gospel and not simply in a shared experience. Psalms 133 says, "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony... And there the Lord has pronounces his blessings even life everlasting" (NLT) 5. Words complete the act of worship. Bob Sorge defines worship on his book Exploring Worship - "Worship is a conversation between God and Man. A dialogue that should go on constantly in the life of a christian" - In every time we hear God's word, our knowledge of him increases in addition to the different experiences we had with God, all of these are being kept in our hearts. As our hearts were being filled of God surely it will overflow out of our lips. We cannot stop saying things about God, his goodness, his mercy. We can never contain it. "For whatever is in your heart determines what you say" - Matthew 12:34b (NLT)
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AuthorWarren Jhun Ocampo Archives
September 2017
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