THE EFFICACY OF WORSHIP


I write this article from my personal experience, not just as a true worshipper, but also as a worship leader. So as to help you attain the height that God is calling every of His children to climb through worship. As a worship leader, I strongly long for all of God’s children to experience the greatest dimension in God that comes as a result of a wholehearted worship.

In Christianity, there are several spiritual activities ranging from praying, fasting, giving, meditation, Bible study and many more, with huge spiritual and physical benefits which are too numerous to mention. However, another vital spiritual exercise that is often overlooked is WORSHIP. It comes with a lot of great blessings and this is not excluded to corporate worship alone but also of private worship.

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WORSHIP

Worship in Christianity is not just an activity that involves singing or talking about God. Like I’ve once said, anyone can talk about God in a beer parlour or in the house of prostitutes, but that doesn’t mean they are worshipping God. Worship is beyond singing or saying great words about God, it’s a matter of the heart that reflects in the act. Worship is all about honouring God.

Worship is beyond singing a song as some might supposed, neither does it has anything to do with how fast or how slow a song is. However, why slower songs are associated with worship is simply because the songs are solemn, giving worshipers the opportunity to meditate and reflect on the lyrics of the songs.

Worship is not just music dependent but heart dependent. Likewise, worship is not feelings dependent but feelings involvement, the fact that you are feeling bad should not be an excuse not to connect in worship.

We don’t worship to satisfy God’s ego, because in the first place, God doesn’t have an ego problem that requires our worship. He is God all by Himself.

I’ve heard some worship leaders said, “let us give (worship) to God what He cannot give to Himself”. The question is: “do you think God cannot give worship to Himself?” Jesus said, God would raise up stones to praise Him if man would not. This implies that God can make anything (just as He created Angels), anytime to give Him worship, if that is what He needs.

Worship is for our own benefit; it’s for man’s good. Worship actually affects and changes us, making room in our hearts for God to come and manifest Himself in our lives.

MY DEFINITIONS OF WORSHIP

Worship is the meeting point between man and Divinity.

Worship is fellowship with Divinity.

Worship is an encounter with Divinity.

Worship is a matter of the heart and the mindset that finds expression in words and action.

Worship is all about honouring God.

Worship is a reverential act of meditating about the personality of God which involves the mind, will, intellect, emotion, heart, mouth, hands and the entire being of a man.

Worship is an act of acknowledging God’s greatness, goodness, faithfulness, awesomeness, mercies and personality.

Worship is a life changing experience. If it is not life changing, then it is not worship but only a religious ritual. Worship is truly a life altering experience. Prophet Isaiah experienced a glimpse of a heavenly worship and his life never remained the same (Isaiah 6:1-7).

Worship is an experience that helps you get off your mind from the world system that is full of problems, challenges, stress, lust and restless pursuits, to focusing your mind on the greatness and personality of God.

THE CRUX OF WORSHIP

Worship should never be a momentary thing that we do only when we are in church or having our devotional. Rather, it should be our normal lifestyle whether in or out of church. I’m still trusting God to attain to that height where every seconds and activities of my life is all about the worship of God.

A prayer that is wrapped up in the cloth of worship is very effective and powerful.
Songs play vital role in connecting us easily in worship. It is very important to be aware that the song in itself is not worship but only a medium or a vehicle that takes us there.

Putting your mind on what you are singing is what counts. That is where the crux of the matter is. That is what the Psalmist refers to as singing with understanding (Psalms 47:7). This implies that you should know and understand what you are singing and also mean what you are singing or saying.

9 THINGS WORSHIP WILL DO TO YOU AND FOR YOU

1.     During Worship There Is A Cleansing Of Impurity

In 1 John 1:7, the Scripture talks about a cleaning from sin that comes not as a result of a confession of sin, but of one that comes by fellowship with God. Such kind of fellowship is attainable in the place of worship where your whole being is focused on the personality of the Great and Mighty God who is holy and righteous.

Such experience can be explained with this illustration of gold and fire; when gold in its impure state is brought into (fellowship with) fire, the impurity in the gold is automatically consumed by the heat of the fire, even without the gold asking for the impurity to be removed.

That is what happens when you bring yourself into fellowship with God’s Spirit through worship. Just like darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, likewise your sins will give way in the place of worship. The glory of God overshadows and cleans you from any impurity.

All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. 2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG

2.     In Worship, God Is Magnified Before Your Eyes

God’s promises are good and encouraging. God’s promises induce hope in us. However, another thing that gives me great hope is the thought of the greatness and personality of my God.

Don’t forget, I defined worship as an act of acknowledging God’s greatness, goodness, faithfulness, awesomeness, mercies and personality.

During worship experiences, I see how great my God is. I see that God is bigger than any man, bigger than any desire of mine, bigger than any challenge, bigger than whatever I can imagine. This is encouraging to me because it’s not just that God is bigger, but He is my God and Father who have loved me with an everlasting love.

For this reason, a true worshipper is the one that is naturally humbled because of the fact that he knows that he or she is insignificant compared to the greatness of God.

3.     Worship Beautifies And Puts Smile On Our Face

Worship should not be what is done only when we go to church or once in a while thing. It should be a continuous experience. The worship of God should be our lifestyle. Mind you, you have to consciously initiate it. You have to consciously sing that song, play that worship song, and meditate on the personality of God. When you do this, your face will unconsciously radiate smile, showing forth God’s glory.

There is a rob-off of God’s glory that every child of God experiences when they dwell in God’s presences. That was what Moses experienced when he stayed with God after which his face shown with God’s glory (Exodus 34:30-35).

If you claim to have had an experience with God in the place of worship, then it should show in your face. The experience should melt every mountain before your mind and make you smile home.

4.     Worship Helps You To Function In The Many Graces Of God Effortlessly

God has given us grace for everything we ought to be doing but this grace only works when we set our gaze on Him, and not on ourselves, nor the mountain before us. The more we set our gaze on Him, the less effort we require to live the Triumphant Christian Life.

The act of worship helps you set your gaze on Christ. The more your gaze is on Him, the more you experience His fullness in every aspect of your life. This including living the holy life, functioning in your ministry and being a doer of the Word.

5.     In Worship,  You Understand God’s Love

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19.

Worship is such a powerful spiritual activity that can make anyone experience the prayers of Apostle Paul, as recorded in Ephesians 3:17-19.

As the light of God’s glory floods your heart during worship, you will begin to understand and accept God’s love. That is what makes many cry, smile, dance and laugh during worship.

6.     In Worship, You Get Energetic And Empowered

Sometimes, because of the challenges and temptations of life, we come to church tired, downcast, defeated and even lukewarm. At such time, if you can get yourself connected in worship, you will be refreshed and empowered to continue the Christian race. I believe that was what Apostle Peter was referring to when he said “refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:19b.

7.     In Worship, You Get Filled With The Holy Spirit

One easy way to get filled or stay continuously filled with the Holy Spirit is to live a life of worship. When you open your heart to God, He will fill you. But your heart can only be opened when it is emptied of the cares and lusts of this world and focused on Christ in an attitude of worship. And worship gets you to God’s presence where you can have the privilege to be filled with God’s Spirit.

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. Ephesians 5:18b-19 NLT.

The above scripture gives a clear connection between getting filled with the Holy Spirit and singing songs of Worship to the Lord. You can’t worship God in spirit and truth without getting filled with His Spirit.

8.     Worship Is A Major Key To Accessing God’s Presence

For a child of God, God’s presence should be our continuous abode. We should never take a leave or break from the presences of God. We do feel the presence of God the more in Church today, reason is because of the worship atmosphere in the church. Actually, you can take that presence with you everywhere you go; whether you are in your home, office, car, or wherever.

Entering God’s presence is the essence of our worship. When you cultivate an attitude of worship, you will realize how easy it is to carry the presence of God with you anywhere. Don’t forget, God’s presence comes along with peace, strength, rest, peace, favour, etc

9.     Worship Affects Your Mentality, Intellect And Emotion

You can’t worship without the involvement of your mind, intellect and emotion. Take for example; when you take a song during worship, you have to reason out what you are singing. Is it intellectually accepted by you? If it is, then it will affect your feeling. That is why you see people cry during worship. Some laugh. Some just smile. These are emotional expressions during worship.

But what is more important is the long lasting impact such worship experience will have on your mentality, intellect and emotion which you will invariably carry to your day to day activities.

For instance, if you worship with this song: “You are the God of heaven and the earth, the unquestionable God, My Father and Friend…” One, you have to understand and accept what you are singing as true and you should be able to relate with the truth in the song.


If you do, it will affect your mentality and intellect by programming your mind to see everything in life and everyone in life as creatures under the control of your God. Furthermore, being aware of the fact that God is your God, your Father and Friend, should make you feel great every day.

7 ILLUSIONS ABOUT ILLICIT SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP








Below are seven make-believe lies the devil will want you to believe about illicit sexual relationship.

1.     Harmless

From the physical point of view, illicit sexual relationship looks harmless and safe to both parties involved. But if you take a critical look at the nitty-gritty of the act, you will realize that it is beyond just touching, kissing, caressing and sexual intercourse, there is more to it. The resultant effect of the act is truly destructive; it affects the spirit, soul and body of the persons involved. That is why the book of Proverbs, which is a book of wisdom, reads: Adultery is a brainless act, soul-destroying, self-destructive; Proverbs 6:32 MSG.

Don’t be deceived, it might looks harmless but it is actually destructive!

2.     Perfect

When it comes to sex outside the context of marriage, the saying that, “not all that glitters is gold,” comes very true. Looks can be deceptive and beauty is vain, says the Bible in Proverbs 31:30. Behind many looks and beauties lie destructive diseases, bad characters, evil motives, demon personified and many more. When you go into an illicit relationship based on facial value, you will be disappointed to find flaws and what you never bargained for.

It might look perfect but there are flaws beneath it!

3.     Excites

There is this illusion about sex that seems as if the pleasure and excitement would last forever, but that is never true. Illicit sex always comes with its momentary pleasure and excitement which always leaves a stigma of guilt and condemnation after the act. This might not be applicable to those whose consciences are dead. Never be deceived by the devil, the euphoria will not last long. You need to ask Amnon about his experience as recorded in 2 Samuel 13.

Illicit sexual relationship actually excites but it will leave you guilty!

4.     Pleasurable

There is no denying the fact that sex is pleasurable, but when it’s done outside the union of marriage, it is accompanied with regrets. Ask those who have contracted sexually transmitted diseases from sexual relationship and they will tell you their regrets. Ask those who have been blackmailed, victimized, demonized, oppressed and even extorted because of this singular wrong act. Samson will ever regret his tie with Delilah (Judges 16:9).

There is only a temporal pleasure which will definitely usher in a long-term regret!

5.     Justifiable

Some have said they fell into sexual immorality because they were being starved by their spouses, others because of the uncontrollable sexual orgy, sexual pressure, sexual temptation and many reasons. These reasons seem justifiable, but one thing I’ve found out, no matter how justifiable the reasons might be, it always ends up with a feeling of condemnation after the act. Yes, it might seem you have good reasons to give in, but the truth remains that guilt and condemnation awaits you at the other end irrespective of the reasons why you fall.

It is justifiable but leaves one condemned!

6.     Looks Simple

It might look simple to just go into bed with that person and think that is all. It doesn’t end there. It’s more than that. A soul-tie is created. Illicit sex triggers a process that can’t be explained. That is why it’s very difficult to break such relationships once it has been created. Judah thought all would just end after his affair with a supposed prostitute but the reverse was the case (Genesis 38).

Illicit sexual relationship might looks simple but it is actually complex!


7.     Momentary

A singular affair which many think will just last for one day has ruined destinies, reshaped lives and had long lasting negative impact which they never bargained for. The book of Proverbs gives a picture of a young man that sheepishly goes after a prostitute with this words: “He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life”. Proverbs 7:22-23.


The act is momentary but the after effect will definitely last longer than you can predict!


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