A CALL TO WORSHIP

We are created for worship. Each of us was created BY GOD for RELATIONSHIP with Him, but we can only enjoy that relationship by God’s grace. God’s great love for us, demonstrated in Christ, initiates our response. The only reasonable response is Our EXPRESSION of WORSHIP. As we worship, God has promised His presence.

1 Chronicles 15 gives specific instruction from the LORD about how the priests were to prepare for worship.

The outstanding instruction is CONSECRATION. To be consecrated means:

1. To be made holy (to be sanctified and purified)
2. To be appointed
3. To dedicate oneself

The true consecration is a consecration unto/for God, not to one’s personal needs, nor to those of the church or others (Exodus 28:1,3-4,41; 29:1,44).

God highly appreciates our consecration. For this purpose HE sacrificed His Son to blot out our sins through His blood so that we are made priests and kings for Him (Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10) and we are called a royal priesthood, which is really a high and special position (I Peter 2: 9-10).

As Priests and Levites, we must be consecrated to God. If we are to carry the Ark of Covenant (God’s Holy presence) to the people, we must be consecrated (made holy). 1 Chr 15:13 we note that God’s anger broke out against the people because the Levites did not inquire of God about how to do it in the prescribed way.

Back in the days of Moses, God’s presence was not always available to every person. It was dangerous to encounter God’s holy presence without appropriate preparation. The priests were the ones who had access to God’s presence; their preparation to meet with God was literally a matter of life and death. They couldn’t survive an encounter with God without an appropriate cleansing and sacrifice. Ex 29:1-46, Lev 8:1-36. There was stiff penalty for the priests/Levites who did not comply. Lev 10, the sons of Aaron missed the mark and God literally sent fire to consume them.

It is dangerous to approach our worship encounters of Holy God with presumption. We are not supposed to become so familiar with the presence of God that we lose the respect and reverence for Him.

How do I prepare myself for worship?

Priests and Levites are to prepare for Worship. God has to work in us before He does the work through us. This preparation has to start with the Consecration as mentioned above. 1 Chr 15:14. “So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of Covent.”

 If God has called you to lead His people in worship, He has called you to do it with Integrity, Quality and Preparation.

Every worship service deserves to be done “as unto the Lord” the worship leader/team must prepare. Planning improves quality, it an absolute necessity for a worship leader/team who desires to honor God. It shows our priority for worshiping God and honors Him. Planning triggers and enhances creativity to flourish.

Preparation entail spending intensive time with God in prayer and word.

Another outstanding requirement is AUTHENTICITY. As a worshiper, you must be genuine. God wants us to be authentic and relational.

“Authenticity is what defines a successful worshiper. It’s not about putting a good show. It’s about connecting with people and ushering them into a worship experience.”  It is not Rock Star mentality.

Many churches struggle as they attempt to attract more people because they change their style of worship, thinking a switch is all that is needed. But we need to ask ourselves, “what is the goal of this worship? Does this keep people connected to God?” an authentic worshiper must be sensitive to the spirit of God and must never attempt to be someone else.

Another outstanding requirement is having THE SPIRITUAL TOOL BOX. It is important to prepare, practice and rehears. What about the preparation of the soul to lead other into the realms of the Spirit. Mark 12:30 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” That is the first and greatest commandment, total devotion to God.

Spend intense time studying God’s word. God is revealed in His word. Reading, hiding the word in our hearts and meditating on the word are disciplines of the Christian faith. Reflect/meditate- Psalm 8. Be renewed Isaiah 40:28-31- God is the giver of strength to the weary? Are you feeling burned out? Be renewed. Repent Psalm 51:10-13. The process of renewal is not complete without acknowledging the need for repentance. Rejoice Phil 4:4-7. You cannot afford to be encumbered by a load of anxieties in a worship service.

Preparing for worship: Take time to sit at the feet of Jesus before cooking up a feast of worship for the Lord

with Luv
Kalekye