The Posture of Worship Pt. II

 
 I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you
All about you, Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you,
All about you ,Jesus.
~Matt Redman

Imagine for a moment on Sunday morning....there is no Praise Team, no band, no sound system, special effects, or no flags, streamers, banners or beautiful garments for the dancers. Could we still offer extravagant praise to God without any of these things? How many times after praise and worship have we complained about the way the musicians played, or how the worship leader switched gears in the middle of the song, or even worse, forgot the words to the song  and threw everything "off"? Could it be, that we have taken ownership of the worship time and made it about us, instead giving worship to the One who made heaven and earth? Unfortunately, many of us have been guilty of grieving the Holy Spirit in this way.

The story of  the song: The Heart of Worship tells of how the songwriter's pastor in England got rid of the sound system and band in the church for a short time, to allow people to worship from their hearts. He asked the church members one question: "When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?" The article states that the congregation was uncomfortable at first without their music and sound, but they learned how to really honor and reverence God in a way that they never had before. In other words, the people put their focus back on God, and not on acting out what they thought was praise and worship. Matt Redman wrote the song in his bedroom as his response to what he learned from this experience, and it subsequently became popular around the world.

Worship is all about God, and who He is. Now imagine again...that everyone came to worship Him just because He is God. What kind of atmosphere would be in our gatherings if we all did that? God is calling. Let's go back to the posture of worship!

What may I give to the Lord for all the good things which he has done for me?  I will take the cup of salvation, and give praise to the name of the Lord. (Psalm 116:12-13)







Footnote: Song Story: Matt Redman's The Heart of Worship,  by David Schrader (http://www.crosswalk.com/)

The Hem of My Garment

     I remember going on the bus to the fabric store downtown with my grandmother, who was a professional seamstress. I watched while she inspected yardage, looking for the tiniest flaw and haggling with the shop owner to get the best price, recognizing quality fabric and knowing its worth. As she sewed, she would often sing an old hymn called She Only Touched the Hem of His Garment:


Oh, touch the hem of His garment!
  And thou, too, shalt be free!
His saving power this very hour
    Shall give new life to thee!
  ~by G.F. Root

     Among movement ministries, there has been a welcome increase in the number of garment makers, bringing a wide variety of styles and price ranges from which to choose. The downside of this is that some garment makers have become competitive and territorial, and some dancers have become more concerned with buying expensive garments than enriching their spiritual man. We should always invest in the best garments we can afford, but we don't have to purchase all of them at once! And we definitely should not be made to feel that the God's anointing will not be upon us if our garments are not the most elaborate, or  look down on those who wear garments that are simply made.  Remember that the anointing of God was ON Christ before it was IN His garment (Mark 5: 27-30), and the anointing also moved through Peter's shadow when he walked past people (Acts 5:25).
     God works from the inside out (Acts 1:8), and whatever we wear is secondary to what is in our hearts. Wearing beautiful garments means nothing if we are empty on the inside, have no Christ-consciousness towards others, or are hiding insecurities about ourselves underneath what we have on. God is All-Powerful, and can take someone who knows absolutely nothing about garments and move through them for His glory---because their hearts are pure (I Sam 16:7). So, before you put on that beautful dance garment, remember that what you are wearing inside is even more important than what is seen with the natural eye.

    Be blessed by this video...