Transformational Worship
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“Worship is the reverential response of creation to the encompassing magnificence of God”
Many discussions of worship trace the etymology of the English term to a word meaning "worthship"
It is what caused many in the Bible to fall to their knees in reverence and awe when around the presence of God.
In John chapter 4 we have the tremendous story of a person who was confused about worship and allowed True Worship to transform her life
In the discussion between the Samaritan woman and Jesus we read
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
She went from being marginalized to be being a messenger
It took the process of seeing and acknowledging her condition and then the realization of she was talking to.
She went from a conduit to a conductor -
a conduit is just surface and cover - it never really comes into contact with the electricity in the wires that it holds inside its pipes
a conductor in open freely flowing
She didn’t need the old waterpot anymore she had springs of living water in her soul
She went from casual worshipper to a committed worshipper in seconds
She was ready to tell everyone and in fact many heard her and believed because of what she said and many more believed because they heard Jesus themselves.
What is transformation -
The process or act of profound and significant change, resulting in a new state or form.
Transformation refers to a fundamental and positive shift in one’s beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, or identity.
It is if you will being in the presence of Almighty God that changes and transforms us
I remember someone and if I remember correctly it was Sister Becky Schenck at a church function of some kind who made the remark that church services should be times of encounters with God
Ever since then that has been my prayer - my intent - my goal in my church services
In His Presence there is fullness of Joy
In HIs presence is what we need to live and grow and be what we are to be.
Being changed
But its not about feeling, or working something up, or planing something that is emotional or hitting just that right crescendo in the music
as important and positive as those things might be - we are still looking in the wrong direction
Because WORSHIP that is going to transform us help us see who we are help us become more and more like Him is going to be focused on HIM
I love testimony songs:
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see
Redeemed how I love to proclaim it - redeemed by the blood of the Lamb....
But I believe more often than not we ought to be singing worship hymns
I love those worship songs that lift our eyes beyond ourselves, our feelings, our preferences and I’m getting on someone else topic -
But worshipful hymns like
“HOW GREAT THOU ART”
“O worship the King all glorious above and gratefully sing HIs wonderful love: Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise
Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon the throne
Hark How the heav'nly anthems drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul And sing
Of Him Who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Thru all eternity
Before long you are seeing His greatness, His Power, His Reign and lost sight of yourself
Another thing that happens is you lose yourself and find it in HIM
That is what transforming worship does
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
that word for service can also be translated as “worship” in fact many other versions translate it as that
When that happens the next verse is the obvious next event
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I’m glad we can enter into worship and be changed - not because we feel better, not because it was great music or program, but because we have had an encounter with GOD!!!