Kingdom Building Ministries - Edited and adapted by Mark Vermilion
Adapted from an article that was originally printed in the Kingdom Building Ministries Newsletter (Fall 1993)
A five-year old girl once approached me with the question, “Do you want to hear me sing a song?” I did indeed. Closing her eyes and raising her face, she began to sing:
“You are my mighty God. And I love you. I really love you. ‘Cause you are my mighty God, my mi-I-I-I-ighty God!”
Her heart had led the way as she invented both the lyrics and the tune. She had sung a “new song” to God. She had worshipped Him, and I was certain that He smiled and rejoiced in her love for Him.
Today, there seems to be a lot of confusion about how we can be better worshippers. Many people think that the answer lies in revamping our corporate worship style. But the real answer goes deeper than style – whatever the style may be. It’s what I saw in a little five-year-old girl whose heart was more in tune than her voice.
Here are some Biblical guidelines that can lead us as we seek to know God more intimately through worship:
1. Check your inner motivation for worship. (Why)
God seems to be more concerned about the motive of our worship than the style. He seems to be more concerned about the heart of worship – or more exactly, the heart of the worshipper. It’s what’s left when the music and liturgy fades.
Love is the motivating force for worship. Where there is no love for God, there is no worship (Isaiah 29:13); but where love is deep, worship overflows. Love for God changes you from being self-centered to Christ-centered.
Many people mistake “loving the Bride” for "loving the Bridegroom.” They're in-touch with each other, but they don’t know how to touch God. Fellowship is their strength; worship their weakness.
2. Re-read God’s instructions for worship. (How)
The Bible is our “how to” worship manual, clearly communicating what pleases God in worship. John 4:24 instructs us to worship in both spirit and truth. Worship requires active mental involvement – realizing, recounting, and focusing on God's Truth. Therefore, having a solid knowledge of the Word of God can assist worship. Colossians 3:16 instructs, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you…sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
Worshipping in truth means engaging our minds. There is no true worship if we’re not using our minds. But we’re also called to worship in sprit, and that means engaging our hearts.
Some of God’s instructions for worship may seem excessive – lifting hands, falling prostrate, dancing. But perhaps these forms of worship are a natural outflow of an engaged, humbled, contrite, joyful or grateful heart. Perhaps we’ve let a cultural understanding of what’s appropriate supercede what’s a natural expression from a heart that loves, and longs to please God.
The Westminster catechism states, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” You wouldn’t know it by looking at some Christians…and some churches.
Perhaps some of us are in danger of losing our minds in worship. Perhaps others of us are in danger of losing our hearts in worship. Remember, true worshippers engage their hearts and minds – regardless of the form of worship. They worship in spirit and in truth.
© 2001 Kingdom Building Ministries
Founder and President of Kingdom Building Ministries, Dwight Robertson is in constant demand as a speaker for conferences, conventions, university and college campuses, camps, churches, and young adult gatherings. His ability to communicate in exciting and fresh ways allows him to focus on challenging and equipping an emerging generation of leaders and laborers toward deeper spiritual development and world-changing vision. His ultimate ministry goal is to see a vast world-wide army of new Kingdom laborers raised up and trained through discipleship and ministry mentoring.
