Attack from within

We should not sing about revival as that is an event. Sadly, in the Church we have songs of intent and action while forsaking true songs of gratitude (Praise) and adoration (Worship).

We are to sing about our love for the LORD, make it personal.

How sad it is that people do not encounter God through a heart of worship!

It is hard for some to approach or hear from God with their mobile phones ringing.

It is sad when a church has set up Wifi, so that people can surf the net and send messages during the service.

It is sad to hear of non-Christians used as comedians before the service to warm up the people.

It is sad to hear of non-Christians used to write Christian songs for a church that has a major music ministry.

It is sad to see non-Christians used in bands in the church.

It is sad to hear uneducated, untrained Christian song leaders call praise worship.

It is sad to hear the drums so loud that you can feel it in your heart.

We can see many levels of praise through to worship as we come from the world to the Courts of God where we sing praise; and then from praise we move into worship in the Holy of Holies.

I could praise another person for doing something great, but that does not mean I am worshipping them with adoration and exultation.

Praise is an act of expressing gratitude, thankfulness, admiration, paying tribute to God with enthusiasm in song and music (Psalm 9:11, 22:3, 33:2, 100:4, 150:1-6, 2 Chronicles 20:22, Isaiah 42:12, Hebrews 13:15).

Praise[1] (Gr134 / aineo H1984 / haw-lal’ / Psalm 63:5) to speak in praise of, to praise, extol, to sing praises in honour to God, to allow, recommend, to promise or vow.

Praise (Gr5214 / humneo / Psalms 113 – 118 and 136) “to sing, to laud and sing to the praise of”

Praise (Gr1843 / exomologeo / Luke 26:6) “will I give praise”; “I will confess, pledge publicly”.

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[1] http://www.abbalovesus.com/PraisevsWorship.html

Worship is a state of adoration, devotion, exaltation and expression of profound love that leads to an encounter with God in a sensitive way so that believers can hear God (1 Chronicles 16:29, Psalm 29:2, 95:6, 96:9, 99:5).

Worship (Gr4352 / proskuneo / John 4:21-24) “to make obeisance, do reverence to” used as an act of homage, bow down or reverence to God.

Worship (Gr3000 / latreuo / Romans 12:1) “to serve, to render religious service or homage”; to worship (by the Spirit of God) “to worship” (God in Spirit).

Praise/WorshipPsalm 66:4 “Everything on earth will worship[1] you; they will sing your praises[2], shouting your name in glorious songs.”  

Now that we have concluded that there is a difference between praise and worship, the challenge will be how we can bring the act of praise to the place of a sensitive state of worship.

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[1] H7812 shâchâh shaw-khaw’ bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

[2] H2167 zâmar zaw-mar’give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

The song leader needs to keep in mind that their desire should be to take people to the presence of God. People are born again by the Spirit of God and not by our music, although the music can set the stage for such an encounter. We need to get away from performance-based attitudes and come to worship-based attitudes. It may be required to stop certain instruments from playing or turn the volume down, but this will depend on the sensitivity of the musicians.