Some time back I read an amazing comment about worship in a book by Rick Joyner. Rick was describing a vision he had received from the Lord. He spoke about how there are myriads of angels worshipping the Lord day and night – glorious worship that we humans long to hear. And yet, He stopped and listened with the greatest tenderness to the broken worship of a few believers on earth. The often broken attempts at worship by human beings, who see only glimpses of His glory, are worth an infinite amount more than the worship of angels who see the fullness of His glory all the time. I’ve never forgotten that.
Worship is not the singing of songs. Worship is not even a life of good works or holiness. True worship is not based on performance, self-righteousness or theological cognizance. No, true worship is what is happening continually in the spirit of a believer. It is the source, the foundation, the soil, out of which everything grows and is made manifest. It is possible to sing a slow ‘worship’ song and not be worshipping. It is very possible to be doing all the right things and not be ‘worshipping’. Conversely it is possible to be singing a pop song and be worshipping. It is very possible to be getting some things wrong and still be worshipping.
God is not looking for a people who are trying to be free from sin, trying to be holy or obey His laws. He is longing for relationship. Relationship and worship are inextricably linked. We cannot relate to God on the basis of the law, law-keeping will hinder worship more than anything. God no longer relates to us on the basis of the law, He relates to us on the basis of what Jesus has done on our behalf. This revelation of being free from the law liberates the believer to express the worship that is unceasing in his/her spirit. And this worship, that comes from a liberated heart, results in all kinds of glorious, effortless fruit unto God.
As Matt Redman wrote in a song, “Worship comes from seeing You.” We cannot worship in spirit and truth while we are still behind the veil. We are hindered in our worship to the extent that His goodness is veiled to us. The veil of the law has been torn so that all who believe can look fully, boldly, confidently in the smiling, glorious Face of Jesus.
John 4:23
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”
2 Corinthians 3:13-18
“…and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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 from the Lord, the Spirit.”
- Anneline
Worship is not the singing of songs. Worship is not even a life of good works or holiness. True worship is not based on performance, self-righteousness or theological cognizance. No, true worship is what is happening continually in the spirit of a believer. It is the source, the foundation, the soil, out of which everything grows and is made manifest. It is possible to sing a slow ‘worship’ song and not be worshipping. It is very possible to be doing all the right things and not be ‘worshipping’. Conversely it is possible to be singing a pop song and be worshipping. It is very possible to be getting some things wrong and still be worshipping.
God is not looking for a people who are trying to be free from sin, trying to be holy or obey His laws. He is longing for relationship. Relationship and worship are inextricably linked. We cannot relate to God on the basis of the law, law-keeping will hinder worship more than anything. God no longer relates to us on the basis of the law, He relates to us on the basis of what Jesus has done on our behalf. This revelation of being free from the law liberates the believer to express the worship that is unceasing in his/her spirit. And this worship, that comes from a liberated heart, results in all kinds of glorious, effortless fruit unto God.
As Matt Redman wrote in a song, “Worship comes from seeing You.” We cannot worship in spirit and truth while we are still behind the veil. We are hindered in our worship to the extent that His goodness is veiled to us. The veil of the law has been torn so that all who believe can look fully, boldly, confidently in the smiling, glorious Face of Jesus.
John 4:23
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”
2 Corinthians 3:13-18
“…and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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 from the Lord, the Spirit.”
- Anneline
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