Homegrown Praise - A Theology of Worship Leading

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How Worship Starts From Deep Within...

By Beth Nichols

How Worship Starts From Deep Within

Worshipping the Lord is so much a part of me. Not just in song, worship is an act of serving the One adored. This intimacy produces a song deep within. As the psalmist says in Psalm 40, “He has put a new song in my mouth even praise unto my God. Many shall see it and fear, and trust in the Lord.” Worship, in a sense, is our witness of who God is to us, as we individually express our awe of Him and our reverence. Worship is acknowledging Him in all we are and do.

Acceptable offerings.

Worship is the act of offering ourselves to God as living sacrifices, holy acceptable to God, which scriptures say is “our reasonable service.” This worship is illustrated and foreshadowed by the offerings in the Old Testament. For example, the whole burnt offering is referred to in Exodus 29:18 when it says, "thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the Lord: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord."

Unacceptable offerings.

Beware that there are unacceptable offerings offered to the Lord. For instance, in Genesis, Cain’s offering was refused by God, because his heart was wrong. Contrarily, Abel’s offering was accepted because His works were righteous. Remember, God looks on the heart. As we worship, our hearts become open and receptive to purification. OPEN UP YOUR HEART. This is a vital step in your act of worship.

Types of offerings.

Using Old Testament analogies, the Lord became our burnt offering, our sin offering , our trespass offering, our peace offering, our thank offering, our meat or meal offering, and our wave offering. How can we help but praise and worship Him, as a result?

Symbolically, today, God requires of us offerings made by fire. In the Old Testament, burnt offerings required the entire animal to be burned. That speaks to us as needing to give ourselves entirely to Him, holding back nothing. As we yield and give ourselves to the Lord body, soul, mind and spirit, He baptizes us with the fire of His Spirit and we become an acceptable “burnt” offering unto the Lord.

True worship is probably the most exposing and costly act that we can ever engage in as humans. For us to really worship God we must be willing for all of “self” to be exposed and laid out before Him. We must allow the Lord complete access to our thoughts, unveiling our minds and being transparent before Him. In this way, we are giving Him access to all we are, laying down our lives as living sacrifices.

He puts before you an open door.

Worship is a door opener into the awesome mysteries of God. Worship brings us into the realm of the Spirit were spiritual truths are opened up, visions of God are revealed, and healings occur. Let us become “glory carriers” of His presence as we worship Him.

Editor’s Note: Beth Nichols is a "Chief Musician" with Homegrown Praise and a dynamic minister of "spiritual songs" throughout the community. Homegrown Praise recommends her highly. Beth's Music Studio specializes in keyboard and vocal worship training. Contact her to arrange individual training sessions.

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