"In His (presence) house expectations and requirements fall to the ground, we're not controlled but liberated and free to discover who we are in Him. This process is actually worship a life song that brings Him the utmost Joy." -unknown
There was a point in my life when I felt like I was learning what worship meant. This process took a few years of me seeking it out or hearing sermons on it. Even after I had the revelation I was at a conference and a famous speaker and christian author was speaking about worship.
We can go on and on all day about what worship isn't.. It's not for us to get chills, the correct song choice or a place for us to say " I just don't feel like worshipping". The seasons of life we go through does not dictate the goodness of God and whether or not He is still worthy of our praise.
Worship is absolutely not for us. We don't go into an atmosphere of worship to satisfy ourselves or to "feel" something. Worship is another avenue to commune with the Father to get to know His heart and the opportunity to pour out our adoration and thanks for who He is. Something happens to us when we come into a place of worship just as it would in prayer or in reading the word. He meets us where we are at, We have a new freedom, we receive revelation and incite to who we are and who the Lord is.
The word that Francis Chan shared at a conference I attended wrapped up this journey of figuring out what worship is and the part I get to play in it. He read from Revelation 4 and 5; please go and read this chapters for yourself as I am going to briefly paraphrase to get to our main point.
So the scene that is John is seeing in Revelation 4 is a door open in Heaven and a voice calling him into the throne room where he sees someone sitting and describes this being with extravagant detail and surrounding the throne seated 24 elders. From the throne were seven lamps of fire representing the seven spirits of God. In front of the throne what looked like as sea of glass, in the center around the throne were four living creatures with eyes all around and huge wings one that looked like a lion, ox, eagle and one with a face like a man. Day and night they would continue on and say "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." The elders also fall down to worship Him, laying down their crowns saying "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things,
and by your will they were created and have their being.”
In chapter five he goes on speaking of the scroll set before them and there with scroll in hand is asked who is worthy to open the scroll and as John begins to weep because there is no one in heaven or on earth who can open the scroll or look inside. The angels told him not to weep because the lion of the tribe of judah, the root of david has triumphed and is worthy to open the scroll and look inside. Before Him is the lamb looking to be slain, standing in the middle of the throne. As he takes the scroll the Elders and four living creatures fall down each with harps and holding golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of Gods people. He was slain and by his blood he purchased the people of every tribe and nation for God. They praised him “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
With this scene set lets look at chapter 5 verse 8:
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.
This is a glimpse of the role we play in Heaven. The bowl of incense that is set before the Lord on His throne are our praises and prayers to Him. Are you kidding me!! We have a role in Heaven right now. When this was described with great passion I was brought to tears.. even now. How could we possibly for a second make worship about us and our "experience" or lack of in worship. Our worship to the Father is a beautiful fragrance to Him, a burning incenses in these huge golden bowls. He is worthy of our praise all of the time, not because of the condition of our heart, or the attitude we bring to that setting. He is worthy, because He is worthy. We get to minister to the heart of the Father in our worship to Him. There is a lot to be said about Worship and what happens during that time but if you can hold on to the picture of Heaven and the part YOU get to play in that marvelous setting. . . well everything else can fall away.
Psalm 145:1-4
My heart explodes with praise to you!
Now and forever my heart bows in worship to you,
my King and my God!
Every day I will lift up my praise to your name
with praises that will last throughout eternity.
Lord, you are great and worthy of the highest praise!
For there is no end to the discovery
of the greatness that surrounds you.
Generation after generation will declare more of your greatness
and declare more of your glory.
My prayer for you
Father, search our hearts, help us to get back to the heart of worship. It's not about us or what we want Lord but it's all about you. Father forgive us for the thing we've made it, the Glory and honor is all yours. We surrender our agendas and expectations of what we want worship to look like. We worship you Lord not just because of what you have done but also who you are. Thank you Lord. In Jesus Holy and Precious name
Amen.
