Posted by By Pastor Bode Ososami on
How is worship directed? Who can lead worship? This will be the focus of this teaching which is the fifth in the series entitled Free to Worship.
How is worship directed? Who can lead worship? This will be the focus of this teaching which is the fifth in the series entitled Free to Worship.
The Holy Spirit himself directs worship. God is not a passive spectator, He is not just sitting enjoying or assessing the worship, instead He is directing the worship. That means our worship leaders must be carefully chosen. Only vessels who will not share the glory with God can point us towards God's truth, compassion and mercy. It is these that can lead sessions of worship. The most important attribute therefore must be appreciation of the absolute supremacy of God in all things. This attribute produces a humility of spirit and a gentleness as well as a jealousy for the things of God.
Use of contemporary techniques and talent is quite in order where skill indeed glorifies the giver of the skill and the author of all creativity. However, nothing can be allowed to compete with the free flow of the living waters of God. Nothing and we must repeat nothing must be allowed to dam the waters that bring peace in the lives of men. Remember Christ sent the disciples off on an errand so that He could speak to the Samaritan woman directly. No man, no matter how talented, gifted or anointed should be allowed to mediate between you and God, and this must apply to worship. We can become accustomed to choirs, singers, piano and percussions that we lose the urge and the instinct to worship in the solitude of our homes, in our cars, as we stroll on the streets or even silently in our hearts …where our worship can not be invaded by amplifiers and human melody. Choice of worship leadership is extremely vital for congregations and worship leaders must be extremely cautious in handling a role that comes against a jealous and terrible God who fights with the oceans and the stars. My advice to every worship leader is to ask God to continually help you to be like Mary who sang." He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden". A proud worship leader is in trouble not with his admiring Pastor nor the adoring congregation nor with his fast expanding fan club. He is in trouble with God who must take him out to deliver His people.
Selection of instruments, players and singers require matured and tested spiritual discernment, not fault finding or witch-hunting but genuine spiritual understanding by those God has given the gift. There is the myth that worship was the ministry of the devil and as such music lovers and talented have a special tendency to be demonised or be agents of darkness…this is as ridiculous as the thought by some that light complexioned ladies with long hair are more likely to be workers of evil. Our wrestling is never with flesh and blood nor is our warfare ever carnal…the strongholds of darkness are too clever to present themselves in cheap stereotypes. It is far more likely in my own discernment for the enemy to attack congregations through the least likely agents such as the flesh of leadership and if uncooperative then it will seek out cracks in the armour of more faithful followers before using the "mad man of Gadara" you are watching closely.
Do you not see the roles Peter played in denying Christ or Judas in betraying Him? Were these not more the instruments of darkness seeking to destroy the truth of God than Zacheus the tax collector or even Herod the fox? But the devil fails again and again.
While musicians are not natural devils, though occasionally from their temperament, many feel justified to think so, they do indeed sit in a place of warfare that requires more of the prayers of the church. The devil wants to be worshipped every Sunday and he must find allies in the lyrics, compositions and harmony of music. He therefore pays special attention in destroying the purpose of God in this ministry which has been reserved for the golden vessels in God's peculiar treasure chest. In Daniel 5:1-4 1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. 2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
We must pray that God should take the devil's hand off His chosen vessels meant to glorify God in His temple but used to praise gods of gold, silver, dollar, naira, and of stone…gods of human creation. We need vessels too hot to be handled by Belshazzar.
Like Daniel, who could not be warehoused under the structure of Belshazzar or be bribed with fame or gold. Hear Daniel as he responds to Belshazzar's courtship. Daniel 5:17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
God is seeking Daniels, men and women of excellence to use as leaders in worship - to show forth his virtues and influence their lives for Him. Hear the worship of Daniel…Daniel 9:4 O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Daniel's worship is not just a romantic love song but in truth of a great God who is also dreadful…who is committed to keep His word and be merciful to those that love Him and obey Him…as for those who chose to do as they please inspite of all means He has used to reach them, they can only expect the dreadful side of Him in eternal damnation if they still chose not to repent.
May God never permit our lives or our worship to be used to give the devil pleasure in any way, in Jesus name.