I am living
like a homeless man. Searching for words like scarps of food. I want to help
people "join the fire" of what the Spirit is doing in worship.
change ONE.
We have to bring our own flame to the celebration.
So much of the culture we have come to know as worship focuses on us. The table is set and we expect to get something. Something we like the taste of. It focuses on what we gain, we experience, we like, we prefer in a worship celebration. We spend most of our efforts on all the things seen and have limited understanding or experience delving into the vast landscape of the unseen and open heavens worship.
This "us focused" mindset delivered up Sunday after Sunday is linked more to earth than to open heavens. It is so prevalent people don't know what to do when they encounter a group of people who minister to God in worship. Fear seems to be the response. People have no idea what is going on when a whole room of people are engaging God deeply and in love. The heart is read and it comes up empty. There is little love for God in it. So, when the entire atmosphere is swept up in the Holy Spirit's voice, fears are exposed. Fear and control go hand in hand. Fear and the Kingdom do not. When worship has far to much earth attached to it people think they are experiencing God when it just might be an "agreement of the soul".
Weeks ago, I spent the whole worship celebration on my face in tears. The Spirit was speaking volumes, the deep things were ringing in my heart. Heaven enveloped the whole place. The Lord's voice was clear, resonate, everything moving with him.
I have been on my face a number of times now in worship. I've had opportunity to be foolish in the presence of the Lord. At this point, I have too many stories to turn back and act as though things are not different. It would be foolish.
What is this thing that is happening in Worship?
I was watching Austin City Limits on a Saturday night. Fun was the band. The lead singer said, "There is something special going on here tonight. We're so glad to be part of it." I sensed it myself. A connection was happening in the environment. The band played and people were moving with them. A unity filled the atmosphere. Something was sweeping everyone up into a common taste, sound, feeling.
People were joining the fire. But it was a soul fire.
Worship is not soul fire, but many worship settings mistake soul fire for open heavens and the wisdom and revelation of Jesus to the eyes of the heart.
Change TWO - A shift has occurred
Something shifted. I wondered at first if it would remain. If it was a passing season? If it would leave us with a different worship team, a leader going away or changes that usually signal a change in the worship atmosphere. It didn't leave or change. It's going on 2+ years. It grows deeper and deeper. It isn't linked to the quality of our music either....we are a small fellowship with youth worship leaders and teams.
Through many changes something stayed constant. Unity fills the atmosphere, heaven opens and we move with the fire.
Change THREE - Unity/ agreement are the heart foundation
This past week as we were moving in that atmosphere, I felt compelled to take a break and write some notes. I want to unpack this so that more and more people can move into the incredible blessing of what the Father is doing in worship.
When all of us start seeing the Father at the same time......
We are bringing our own fire. Believers carry a revelation of the Lord. Their understanding of Jesus is revelation based. He has revealed to them a certain depth of knowledge and wisdom. We worship from that place. Spirit and Truth worship is a worship that matches the knowledge of the eyes of the heart. It is a link up with understanding in the believer. Believers carry identity and understanding of their heavenly Father and worship from that place of understanding. WE carry our own flame. We worship from a place of revelation of Jesus.
All the trappings, bands, music, lights, camera, action, ride on one truth. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and he is the presence. Worship is activated at the point of understanding and revelation of the LORD. All else is culture, feeling and affirmation of earth. Heaven affirms the glory and power of Jesus Christ. Heaven agrees with Jesus. Worship is connection and real time experience of the Heavenlies and the Heart of the
Father.
Bring the fire with you
The fire of faith. The fire of identity, heavens identity in you, through you, to Christ. Bring the mind of Christ to worship. Bring the Christ in you to worship. Heaven resides in us. There is fire in us. We each bring a flame to worship. The key to worship is in the Spirit's leading in agreement. Our hearts agree in unity of revelation. That the Father's heart is in us, that Jesus is the High Priest leading worship and that we carry the flame of his presence everywhere all the time.
Bring the fire with you and let it out with abandon, passion and truth.
Heaven is waiting to agree with you.
As always please let me know your thoughts.
Jreynolds@mycasptone.org
www.mycapstone.org
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