So Great…
Sunday night was truly awesome. As we have said, that word should be reserved for God, because He alone is awesome. We are not. The awesome power and presence of the Lord was evident as we worshiped, and it was a privilege to be part of it.
God is to be praised. He is both the source and goal of our worship. His Truth is our foundation. His glory in the church is what we seek. Our greatest joy is found in knowing Him as our treasure.
I commend His grace in you. It shows in the hours of practice you give, in your devotion and dedication, in your growth as a musician, and in your love for others. Thank you for leading well and remaining yielded to the call.
Seven observations from Sunday:
1. You sounded great. Whether playing, singing, or making all that possible via technical engineering, your sound (and look) was dynamic and powerful. While it is strictly surface, it is still true and yet another demonstration of the grace of God. Always remember that authentic worship-leading includes excellence in preparation and presentation.
2. It was a prelude to what is coming. Sunday night didn’t touch the glory of future, heavenly worship, but I couldn’t help but consider it a foretaste of Revelation 4 & 5.
3. Worship brings unity. True worship has God as its goal, and all things sort themselves out from that starting point. When God is magnified, the agendas of ego and selfishness dry up. We were one heart, one mind, one voice.
4. The worship was normal. While the amount of music was more than usual, it occurred to me that the event on Sunday night was not unlike what happens on a weekly basis. We don’t have to wait for seasonal presentations to experience worship like that…and that is a gift from God.
5. The Gospel went out. Scripture promises that sowing seed brings a harvest (Mark 4:26-29). We are the instruments, but the Spirit works in hearts. The wind of the Spirit blows where it wishes; we know not where it comes from nor where it is going (John 3:8). Only God knows the results.
6. We have further to go. We are still holding back in worship. I am holding back, too. You wanted to turn loose but held back. I could see it in your faces. Another staff member told me that they noticed the same thing. When we finally do get completely free in worship – when all of us stand firm in the Truth and in the fullness of the Spirit – who knows what will happen?
7. Complete surrender and obedience brings the fullness of God’s presence. What might happen? Perhaps something like this:
When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple. – 1 Kings 8:10-11
