The Grand Powwow
I like the way we do worship at Charisma Church.
Yeah, we're lead by worship leaders that lead the congregation into the presence of God. Yeah, they guide where the song is going. And yeah, when the songs change, they're changed by the worship leaders.
But the coolest thing that takes place during praise and worship is the moving of the Spirit of God that leads us all!
I've been part of the worship team for two years now, and if there's anything I've learned, it's that we move when God moves and we go where He takes us. We worship in spirit and in truth.
In the book of John, Jesus tells a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well about who the true worshipers of God are. He says to her,
"But the time is coming - indeed it's here now - when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." - John 4:23
In the Samaritan woman's case, Jesus was explaining to her that God is not looking for worship at a specific place. In fact, God is not looking for people to worship him at a specific place, time, event, or even for a specific circumstance.
All praise belongs to God, and as our hearts and minds draw closer to Him, worship becomes desired joy.
When I'm worshiping God, it warms my heart to know that the rest of the band is worshiping with me. And not only is the band worshiping with me! The congregation is worshiping with me too!
And not only the congregation, but the church down the street, and the churches all over Raleigh, and the church across the state, and those across the nation, and in Brazil, and in India, and all over the world!
That's a lot of praise! And our God is definitely worthy of it.
No single person, or band, leads people into the presence of God by the sound of their voices. The Spirit of God is our spiritual leader in praise and worship! PTL!