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Worship 201: Worship is more than a feeling
Worship 301: The work of selah in worship
WORSHIP 101
HOW TO KNOW IF YOU'RE CALLLED TO THE WORSHIP MINISTRY by Katherine Duke
There are many singers in church and there are many musicians in church, but working in the worship ministry requires more than skill. The first element required for a minister of worship is a LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP. This means that this person worships the Lord in public, but moreso in private. This person does not need a crowd to worship the Lord, put adores the Lord in private as well because we have a heart towards go. DO YOU HAVE A HEART TOWARDS GOD?
What are the determining facts that lead to one being engrafted as a worship leader or psalmist? Undoubtedly, singers and musicians oversee worship in church, but from my experience on both sides, as a worship leader, singer and quasi musician, they are very different in perspective. Just because someone has the gift to sing, does not mean that they are automatically worship leader material. However, a worship leader should be able to sing. The major differences are perception and focus. A singer testifies of God's goodness through personal experience to others in song. A worship leader facilitates others to experience a personal encounter with God.
A HEART AFTER GOD. We have a lifestyle of worship, not merely worshiping Sunday morning in the midst of the congregation. We cultivate the life of a private worshiper because we know that we cannot leader others into worship and the presence of the Lord, if we have not been in the presence of the Lord. I find spending time with the Lord gives me the strength and direction I need to stand before His people. It gives me a deeper understanding of what is to spend time in the presence of God.
A LIFE THAT IS TRANSPARENT before the people. People can sense a phony a mile away. My notion of transparency is being real with people always and not changing moods from one moment to the next. A worship leader is an example both on and off the pulpit. If worship is not a lifestyle for the worship leader, then people will know it. They will not respect us or regard us as people of integrity.
RELY ON THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD when leading worship. A worship leader is one who does not push and prod, but ushers those who are willing to enter the presence of the Lord. People don't like being coerced into doing things. It is not our job to make people worship. The job of the worship leader is to leader the congregation into intimacy with God. We are also to provide an atmosphere conducive for the worshiper to enter the presence of the Lord (Gentile, 1990).
AN ATTITUDE OF HUMILITY. We cannot afford to be concerned about what others think when we enter into worship. What is important is that God accepts our worship and finds us an acceptable vehicle to aid in the congregational worship.
Sorge (1987) says that pride is the greatest hindrance to worship (p.101). As such, if pride is the greatest hindrance, then humility is the greatest aid in worship. Therefore, the successful worship leader is one who is humble and submissive to the Lord. I pray that the Lord will help me in this area. When well-meaning saints pat me on the back, saying what a good job I have done in worship, it's important to keep a level head. I train myself to tell them that it is God who deserves the glory and has done the work. Ezekiel 14 says that the sin of pride and taking the credit that belonged to God was what initiated Satan's fall from heaven. We must endeavor not to be in that place.
FILLED WITH THE WORD OF GOD. As a worship leader, we will undoubtedly have the opportunity to choose the songs for the worship period. I believe that one ingredient that is important in choosing songs is that the worship leader must know the Word of God. There are many worship choruses from which to choose. Some have good beats but they are totally out of sync with the Word of God. I do not care how good the song sounds, if it is not biblically sound, then we should not sing it.
A CONFIDENT SERVANT LEADER is able to make the choices that will lead God's people into the Holy of Holies in charismatic worship. I have learned not to be timid when I stand in front of God's people to minister. I doubt that an effective worship leader can be timid, especially in times of warfare praise. In worship, at times a spirit of heaviness may loom over the congregation and it is our job to be sensitive enough to know what to do and then bold enough to do it.
COMFORT IN SILENCE. There may also be times of silence during the worship portion of the service. I have learned not to mistake noise for worship or silence for a lull in worship. In Psalms 119 (and other places), the word "selah" appears at the end of sections of praise. Selah is a Hebrew word which means "to meditate, to be silent or to pray" (Boschman, 1980). It seems that worshipers in the days of the Tabernacle David were accustomed to moments of silence. At these times they would reflect upon God or to meditate upon the words they had just sung. This realization liberated me in worship. Being silent when I was leading worship was okay. This time allows the Lord to do what He wants to do. I did not have to fill every quiet spot with words. From that day forward, I have had confidence in the Lord to do His perfect work through "selah" and not allow the worship team format or other outside deterrents to hinder me from allowing God to work through silent moments.
THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS. A confirming factor of being called to the ministry is the testimony of others. Are they blessed and experience intimacy with God because of the worship facilitator? If people have to worship in spite of what we do rather than because of what wedo, then maybe we need to adjust ours style or maybe we need to deal with the possibility that this may not be the area of ministry to which the Lord is calling us. God will make full proof of the worship leader. The Lord will also open other opportunities to minister in worship.
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10 IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES FOR THE WORSHIP LEADER TO REMEMBER WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE
1)Seek the Lord and listen for His leading in every situation; (2) Love all people;
(3) Stay true to my convictions;
(4) Maintain a lifestyle of continued spiritual and academic growth;
(5) Discipline myself to follow through on God given ideas;
(6) Help others to attain their dreams;
(7) Invest in the lives of others (emotionally, spiritually, financially and academically);
(8) Value others and take into consideration their assessments of situations;
(9) Set goals and formulate a plan to achieve them; and,
(10) Focus on the Lord's plan for my life and that of my daughter. (Covey, 1991, Damazio 1990, and Duke 1998)
References
Boschman, Lamar (1987). A heart of worship. Detroit: Creation House.
Conner, Kevin (1976). The tabernacle of David. Portland, OR: Bible Temple Publishing.
Covey, Stephen (1990). Principle-centered leadership. New York: Fireside.
Damazio, Frank (1988). The making of a leader. Portland, OR: Bible Temple Publishing.
Duke, Katherine (1998). On the brink of ministry. New York: Marimae Publishing Co.
Gentile, Ernest (1994). Worship God. Portland: Bible Temple Publishing.
Sorge, Bob (1987). Exploring worship: a practical guide to worship. New York: Sorge.econd,
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