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Encountering unexplored territory |
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Written by Miriam Miles
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Friday, 16 October 2009 16:59 |
As a worship leader, I find myself pondering the direction of worship on a regular basis. The season, the mandate, the flow of the River...the unexplored territory...
I believe our greatest desire is to offer up all praise and glory to Jesus, to our Holy King; to magnify and love upon the Father who first loved us; to commune with the Holy Spirit and leave the encounter having experienced new and fresh depths of revelation in Him.
So what happens when things feel ‘a bit odd’ during worship? What is happening during this time? I’ve often struggled with these questions, especially after services when the tangible Presence of God has not been...well...tangible!
Is it my offering? Am I coming with a clean heart? Have I really prepared myself to bring my best offering to Him? I’ve often wondered these things.
The old testament musicians led the army into battle (2 Chronicles 20). Their calling, their anointing, was to seek the face of the Lord, to bring him the perfect offering of praise and worship. The Israelites followed this direction, adding their offering to the praise and worship.
So I’ve been pondering 21st century worship teams and congregations and wondering: what is our modern day mandate?
I believe that the primary responsibility of the worship team is to listen. Listen to Holy Spirit, learn how to catch the flow of the River, to find out where He desires for us to go next. It’s in the listening, that the answers often come and possibly explains why sometimes we seem to just dive head first into the River and we are all swept away and the encounter is strong and transforming.
But sometimes it's difficult, clunky and restless. Sometimes, despite the vigilant preparation of the leader, the team, and the participation of the congregation, it seems like we are all walking uphill back-to-front. We get there, but gosh, the going is tough!
So what do we do when things feel like this? I believe that many factors can contribute to this phenomenon. I’ve not come across one ‘answer fits all’ solution. So, no flow? In my experience so far, there is one thing to do.
Wait. Pause. Listen.
We are all on a journey together, many times journeying into unexplored territory. We are one portion of the Beloved Bride making our offering to the Father. He loves this! And, just incredibly, his goodness and patience is extraordinary. He loves every one of our attempts at expressing what He knows is inexpressible!
So what can we, as one body do when this feeling of restlessness and disjointedness occur? Becoming comfortable with waiting for Him to move before we do, for some, is new territory. I believe that Father is taking His Bride on a journey into the unknown and is confidently leading the way. We can be so encouraged and inspired by his leading! He says that he will never leave us or forsake us, that he will only give us what we can handle!
Wow!
So the Father of the Universe, thinks we can handle this territory!!! What an honour! What a privilege to be able to worship him with this new kind of freedom!!
So again, the question arises: how do we, as worship leaders, musicians, singers and congregations, move as one, into unknown territory?
We intercede for each other. In this moment, we are corporately coming into agreement with the direction of the Holy Spirit and this may just take us all deeper!
What a thought - to experience an encounter that touches every person in the room!
Just think - one voice, one unified offering, offered in free and abandoned, loved -filled worship...
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Last Updated on Saturday, 17 October 2009 16:26 |
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