Category Archives: Worship

The Act and Art of Worship 2 – Minister Motara (Excerpts from W4)

Just like this video, we heard them singing something else, and meaning something else and still flowing with the emotions. Like, saying “I EXALT THEE” and meaning “I EXALT ME”
As a worshiper/minister, Worshiping God in Spirit and in truth means that I have to seek out God’s heart. I need to know what He is saying, what He wants to do in and through me. I need to be broken so I can deliver His total counsel. I can’t continue to live in sin. I can’t go contrary to His own guidelines. I need to stay constantly in the place of  His presence. Above all, I need to carry His presence everywhere I go because, Hey, I cant take anyone to somewhere I have never been!
On the other hand, as an ARTIST, or say, “Worship Artist”, my priority is to be skillful. I need to apply my skill generously. At the end of each performance, my works must be appreciated. I want to entertain, be my best. I want to flow with the emotions. I want to focus on my package, my brand, everything that just would portray me as beautiful, great, awesome. I want to focus on MY song, NY voice, MY audience, MY pedigree, MY personality, MY market, blah, bluh, blah
I will NEVER underestimate the place of Skill, because of course, God deserves our very best. He is a God of Excellence. He Himself gives us skills, talents , abilities and all that have.
However, we need to be sure to strike the right balance. None of this should ever take the place of worshiping in Spirit and in truth, because by God’s standard, that is who a worshiper is. Not the best singer, not the best soloist, not the best soprano, not the best alto or tenor, but the best of the best who would ultimately give Him the best with a broken and contrite heart. The one who would give Him His place, acknowledge Him, glorify HIM and HIM ALONE.
Needless to say is the fact that, as humans, we could easily slip into the art and dwell there, especially when the accolades are pouring in, and be like, oh my God…”Nobody hits them notes like I do”. And then, we begin to take His glory. And then we can wake up from the bed of adultery, or steal, or tell lies or not just bother to RELY ON GRACE anymore because, “Once I show, I will scatter the place”. Hmmm, that’s dangerous.
That’s why some worship and there is healing, deliverance, words of prophecy, chains are broken, signs and wonders take place. However, some worship and all we can take a way is, “wow, what a singer/dancer/entertainer and everyone leaves empty.
You know why? God will not share His glory with anyone…not even the best singers. 
Today, I encourage us to be steadfast, continually rely on His Grace at every point in time. Let’s strike the right balance, give God His place. Worship Him in Spirit. Worship in Truth.
Trust me, The ANOINTING will always make the difference.
Finally, I love the way The Message translation expresses John 4:23-24. It says “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”

I guess that says it all. Do not let us get it twisted friends! God is not mocked. You can deceive us with the ART, but God will only acknowledge the true ACT OF WORSHIP.
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The Act and Art of Worship 1- Minister Motara (Excerpts from W4)

Let’s define the word ACT. An act, when used as a verb, means to take action; do something, behave in the way specified.
Relating this to worship, I’d say that the true act of worship is worshiping in the specified way. This brings me to the question….what is the specified way?
Our answer is in John 4:24. It says “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
The true genuine act of worship is one that flows from the Spirit, and that is also done in truth
I can also say that true worship is NOT worship in Flesh and falsehood.
An art is the EXPRESSION or APPLICATION of HUMAN creative SKILL and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
So, I can say that the Art of worship is the application of human creative skills/understanding,/knowledge/ability and imagination to produce “Music/worship/songs to be appreciated primarily for the beauty/emotions/acceptance/fame/popularity and what have you.
So, simplifying both, let’s just say that The true ACT of worship is rooted in “SPIRIT and in TRUTH”. However, the true art of worship is rooted in human reasoning (flesh), skills, abilities, wanting to be appreciated, wanting to be celebrated, and all of that.
I could also say that the ART of worship is rooted in emotions too. That’s why we have so many “EMOTIONS ON DISPLAY” during worship, instead of true brokenness, transformation, connection with the Spirit of God.

Unveiled Worship

   

Unveiled worship is simply a new experience by revelation and understanding that translates you to the next level. You are never the same. Imagine for a moment that Jesus arrived at a Sunday morning service in a visible, human form. What impact would His presence have on your singing, worship, praying, giving, focus, exploits, attentiveness, relationship, seriousness, evangelism, live style and general attitude? Think of Jacob when in his dream, he saw the ladder, angels and the Lord for the first time in Gen.28:12. God even spoke to Him. It was mind blowing. When He woke up, he said “…Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not… in verse 16. He ended up raising an altar unto God early in the morning unsupervised. The mount of transfiguration experience changed Peter’s life forever based on what he saw. In Mark 9:3 the bible speaks of our Lord Jesus…And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. In verse 4, there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. How did Peter recognize Moses and Elijah? Men he only heard about from the scribes and the scroll. Amazing! The incarnate word revealed the fullness of Himself as the law and prophet, which is the old covenant of Moses and Elijah were interacting with the new covenant, full of grace and truth. In this apocalypse, the confused and overwhelmed Peter suggested three tabernacles. He didn’t know it is just one God the blessed Trinity- the undivided unity in rainbow colors. Whao!

 

A PICTURE OF THE UNVEILED WORSHIP

Isaiah 6 is a classic experience of worship- a great transformation that changed Isaiah’s life and ministry especially his status from a minor prophet to a major prophet. His prophetic insight, content and relevance to our redemption is phenomenal. He had prophesied in five chapters before his encounter in chapter 6, which opened up 60 more powerful chapters. What would bible be without …unto us a child is born and unto us a son is given…? And may many more…Arise, shine for your light has come… The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…

Isaiah 6:1 begins by “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple”

Under King Uzziah, Judah experienced prosperity second only to Solomon’s reign. But there is something greater than prosperity. As for me, my focus is not to survive or even succeed but to be significant in the agenda of God for my generation. My mission and ministry is to “keep God’s fame alive forever, and make everyone praise Him for all time to come.”

Although, everybody in the time of King Uzziah including the prophet was distracted from what God actually had in mind, God was determined to reveal His agenda anyway not minding the king’s death. God can never crucify His purpose for any man. He will rather crucify man for His purpose. It is noteworthy to know that in the very year that the king died, the prophet saw the Lord.

Just like immediately Lot left Abraham, God appeared to him. I have a strong witness that some people are to leave or die for you to see the Lord. Get ready and watch out!

The prophet had just learned of the death of their earthly king and as he enters the temple his eyes are lifted away suddenly from the earthly situation to eternal realities. He sees God, enthroned in holiness, and the excellence of his glory fills the whole earth. As Isaiah set his focus on God, there he received a visual experience of God’s glory, ushered in by the presence of the Seraphim. Isaiah suddenly becomes conscious that he is not able to stand in the presence of this holy God. The response of confession from his heart to the holiness of God was met with the inflow of cleansing and renewing power and the result is a new commission to service. This experience of  Isaiah gives us a pattern for our encounter with God.

A. Revelation (v 1) – God reveals himself to his people.

It is God’s prerogative to choose to reveal HIMSELF to anyone He wills at whatever cost. He always wants to get our attention.

 

B. Adoration (v 2) – God’s people respond in awe of God’s character.

If you truly see Him you can’t be the same. There is an instant change of attitude when you become aware of God. The influence of His manifest presence is magical.

 

C. Confession (v 5) – God’s people confess their sin before a Holy God.

At the sight of His glory there is fear and trembling…Every darkness disappears, every devil flees, every filthiness purged and every feebleness is strengthened. It is only in His presence we are naked and not ashamed,

 

D. Forgiveness (v 6,7) – God forgives his people their sin.

God particularly deals with sin severely taking away every guilt and sin consciousness to bring us near with boldness to stand as His witness and be used for His glory. Hallelujah!!!

 

E. Proclamation (8a) – God proclaims a message to the cleansed audience “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? God reveals His mind and mandate. His ways and thoughts are never our ways and thoughts. They are heaven and earth apart.

 

F. Dedication (v 8b) – God’s people express a desire to be used by God with a humble response “…Then said I, Here am I; send me”

 

G. Commission (v 9a) – God commissions his people to service. “And he said, Go…”

 

How good it is to experience the difference God’s presence make in our lives at every point in time. Whenever we miss it, we miss Him and always miss a lot. If you think you are there you are not there yet… All of us are still very far from reach.

Our greatness, promotion, healing, blessing, progress, living and fulfilment are all tied to His presence. In Him we live, move and have our being. Outside of Him, we are broke, battered, confused, lost, helpless, defenseless and ashamed. His PRESENCE is my PULSE!!!


      

                                                       





 Pastor Yomi Ajayi

  Wordpraise International©2013
Connect on Facebook : Yomi Ajayi

Awesome God!

The Awesome God has done it again!! we are in the last quarter of 2013. God has kept us alive and well. Isn’t He worthy of praise? Give Him praise for everything He has done for you, you are all that you are today by His grace and remember, He is working everything out together for your good. He created the world in six days, we still have 3 months left in this year and God can do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or imagine. Keep hope alive!! He has not forgotten you. Praise Him in advance too.
Have a fulfilling month of October.

Witholding Nothing -William McDowell

Witholding Nothing is a new single by William McDowell. He is a Gospel and praise & worship artist who grew up in Ohio. He started playing piano by the age of five, and by 13 he was playing drums for his church,  playing organ in the church at the age of 16, and he began leading his own worship sessions by the time he was 18. He relocated to Orlando, Florida in 2001, where he began serving as music director and keyboardist for Ron Kenoly. Two years later in 2003, McDowell opened his own recording studio, The Delivery Room, and tracked his debut album, The Reason I Live, there. In 2006 he accepted a worship leader position at the Gathering Place in Lake Mary, Florida, and a year later he was ordained as a pastor there. McDowell issued an ambitious two-CD set, As We Worship Live, in 2009. His second album “Arise” was recorded live on 10th of December 2010.

Available on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/withholding-nothing-single/id681830246