Lesson 1 God’s Presence

LESSON 1: IN GOD’S PRESENCE
MAIN IDEA: God has promised to be present when we worship.


There really is nothing like being in God’s presence. According to the dictionary, presence means “the state or fact of being present, immediate vicinity, proximity.” God’s presence is proof that He exists and is always with us. Another word used when referring to God’s presence is manifest, which means “obvious, apparent.” When God’s presence is manifest, it is unmistakable and undeniable! There is no doubt that He exists and is present at that moment.

In this class we will explore God’s presence, various ways God has manifested His presence in the past, ways we can experience God’s presence today, and how the experience of being in God’s presence affects our lives.


Three Dimensions of God’s Presence
Jack Hayford is a renowned Christian leader who has led worship and taught about worship for over 50 years. In his book Manifest Presence: Expecting a Visitation of God’s Presence through Worship, he offers this insight:

The Bible reveals at least three different dimensions by which God makes His presence known. Indeed, He is everywhere! But the ways He chooses to manifest Himself imply certain distinctions. Consider: God’s awesome presence, God’s abiding presence and God’s amazing presence.

Of course, these three dimensions of God’s presence are not exhaustive, but they can help us begin to understand the meaning and benefit of being in God’s presence. As Blackaby and King write in Experiencing God, the first step to experiencing God in our lives is understanding that He is at work around us all the time. So as we examine these three dimensions of God’s presence, see if you can relate them to specific parts of your life today.


God’s Awesome Presence
God’s awesome presence is often described as God’s omnipresence, which means that God is present in all places at the same time. This dimension of God’s presence is undeniable. Consider these words of King David:

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. Psalm 139:7-8, NKJV

Likewise, the apostle Paul gave a great picture of the awesome omnipresence of God as he helped the people of Athens identify the true identify of their “unknown god.” Take a few minutes to read this account in Acts 17:22-28 of your Bible.

God is indeed everywhere at all times whether we have a relationship with Him or not. The Bible explains that God is just and considers everything we say and do. God’s awesome presence surrounds us all the days of our lives, and nothing escapes His notice.


God’s Abiding Presence
God’s abiding presence is evidenced by God’s loving, tender, understanding, and intimate relationship with those who call upon Him as Lord. The Bible tells us often of God’s abiding presence. Consider these examples:

He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

“Remember, I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20

God’s presence is an abiding help in time of need and in times of great victory. Again, King David’s words bring God’s abiding presence to life for us:

If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. Psalm 139:9-10

God is very serious about abiding with us in an intimate relationship. And we have been given the privilege of responding by abiding in Him. Jesus made it very clear: if we dwell in Him, we will bear fruit and glorify God — we will prove ourselves to be His disciples.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” John 15:5, 8

It is truly a divine mystery that God Himself would choose to dwell in us, but it is a fact. God continues to invite human beings like us into relationship! How does “remaining in Him” factor into your worship?


God’s Amazing Presence
God’s amazing presence — sometimes called His manifest presence — is God’s response to His followers as they call out for His intervention. Which of us hasn’t cried out to God at some time in our lives? The leaders of the church in Acts depended on God’s unmistakable intervention. Their very lives depended on God’s amazing presence, as this passage from the Book of Acts reveals:

“Now, Lord, … grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. Acts 4:29-31

Most Christians today don’t face the persecution that these dear saints faced daily, but many around the world still do. As the Kingdom of God presses into every corner of the globe, missionaries — much like those in the early church — know the reality of their need for God’s amazing presence to deliver them from evil and to confirm His power to those who desperately need a Savior.

Throughout our study we have read about many people — people living today as well as Bible heroes who lived long ago — who have worshiped God and encountered His amazing presence. From Abraham to Nehemiah to Mary, to the individuals whose stories we’ve shared with you, God’s amazing presence is a proven reality.

Yes, God’s amazing presence is still available today. As we worship, we can expect Him to respond. God always delights in the praises of His people. We have every reason to expect God to respond as we worship.

You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3


God Is Always Present
Recently, I found myself in a familiar place: sitting in an auditorium waiting for my son Lee and the rest of the choir to take the stage. Like most choir members, Lee and his fellow university students had been working diligently on their program, and now was the moment of truth!

As the choir made its way to the platform, I could see Lee scanning the audience, looking for dad. I remembered Lee’s first choir program as a four-year-old. I was there then, as well, along with all the other proud papas.

All these years later, Lee probably didn’t want me to notice that he was looking for me, but I did. And it filled my heart with joy to catch his eye just as I did when he was four — letting him know that yes, indeed, ol’ dad was right there watching and cheering him on as he sang with all his heart.

The Bible makes it clear that God is doing the same thing every time we come to worship Him. He has promised to be there, and if we will focus our attention on the One who made us, we will find Him in the audience. He loves to hear our voices of praise!

Questions for Reflection
• How have you recognized or experienced God’s awesome presence?
• What has been the result of your awareness or encounter?
• How have you recognized or experienced God’s abiding presence?
• What has been the result of your awareness or encounter?
• How have you recognized or experienced God’s amazing presence?


LESSON 1 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

Class 7 “Presence”

“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 Jesus, initiates our response. The only reasonable and adequate response is our expression of worship. And as we worship, God has promised to be present.”

Let’s begin to connect with this class by considering the following questions:
• Do you remember the list of worship activities we discussed earlier: kneeling/bowing, singing, praying, shouting, clapping, prostrating, raising hands, dancing, playing instruments, meditating/listening, giving, serving, taking communion, and fasting? Which ones are within your comfort zone? What do you think makes the others seem uncomfortable to you?
• How would you describe the importance of talent and skill for musicians, balanced with the inward appearance of the heart? What do you think is God’s view?
• From Lesson 3 in Class 4, what do you think about Pastor Tom’s role as the true worship leader of Mike’s church? Are there aspects of his leadership in that area that your church sees differently?
• What is your favorite part of the worship service? Why do you think that is?
• Can you think of examples of someone you know who has had an intense encounter with God? Praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done in that person’s life!

Watch and listen as Mike sets the stage for our study on worship by explaining how God has promised us His “Presence” when we worship Him.

“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 Jesus, initiates our response. The only reasonable and adequate response is our expression of worship. And as we worship, God has promised to be present.”

Let’s begin to connect with this class by considering the following questions:
• Do you remember the list of worship activities we discussed earlier: kneeling/bowing, singing, praying, shouting, clapping, prostrating, raising hands, dancing, playing instruments, meditating/listening, giving, serving, taking communion, and fasting? Which ones are within your comfort zone? What do you think makes the others seem uncomfortable to you?
• How would you describe the importance of talent and skill for musicians, balanced with the inward appearance of the heart? What do you think is God’s view?
• From Lesson 3 in Class 4, what do you think about Pastor Tom’s role as the true worship leader of Mike’s church? Are there aspects of his leadership in that area that your church sees differently?
• What is your favorite part of the worship service? Why do you think that is?
• Can you think of examples of someone you know who has had an intense encounter with God? Praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done in that person’s life!

Watch and listen as Mike sets the stage for our study on worship by explaining how God has promised us His “Presence” when we worship Him.

Engage by reflecting on the following questions from the Word of God and Mike’s message:
• What lesson about worship was Mike drawing out from his story about visiting the White House? Read Isaiah 6:1-5 and contrast Mike’s initial attitude with Isaiah’s.
• In what ways do you think we have tended to lose our sense of awe in worship? What are some traps we can fall into when we allow our friendship and familiarity with God to completely push aside our awe of Him and His holiness?
• Can you recall a time when you rushed into worship with thoughtless familiarity? How have you found that such occasions affect your time with God and your experience of His presence?

Prayer:
I love You, Lord. How could I not lift my voice and my entire being in honor of who You are and what You have done in my life? Thank You for promising to be present with us as we worship You. Amen.

Preparation:
• Think about any terms or concepts that are new to you for this class.
• God has promised to be present when we worship.
• God revealed His presence in Old Testament times in many different ways.
• God revealed Himself in New Testament times through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• We can encounter God’s presence today when we worship.
• Faith is foundational to worship.

Lesson 5 An Everyday Expression

LESSON 5: AN EVERYDAY EXPRESSION
MAIN IDEA: We worship God by serving Him in our everyday lives with reverence and awe.


In this class we have been exploring the expression of our worship, particularly our expression of worship in the corporate worship service. Now let’s focus on our expression of worship beyond the sanctuary.


Paul Lived a Life of Worship and Service
As we have emphasized throughout our study, worship is to be a lifestyle. The apostle Paul understood this clearly because he lived a life of worship and service, as these words in his letter to the Romans indicate:

God is my witness, Whom I serve with my [whole] spirit [rendering priestly and spiritual service] in [preaching] the Gospel and [telling] the good news of His Son, how incessantly I always mention you when at my prayers. Romans 1:9, AMP

The word serve used here is the Greek word lateuro, which also can be translated “worship.” Paul’s ministry itself was an expression of worship. It was not something he did because tradition required it. Paul served — worshiped — because he had a personal revelation of God.

You probably know the story: Paul had an amazing encounter with God on the road to Damascus that changed his life completely. At the time, his name was actually Saul, and he was one of the most notable persecutors of Christians in his day. But on the road to Damascus, he received a firsthand view of God’s overwhelming power, grace, and mercy. This encounter ultimately changed his entire direction in life:

As [Saul] traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” “Who are You, Lord?” he said. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. Acts 9:3-5

In that moment, Saul received a revelation of God — of who He is and what He had done — and his life would never be the same. Having been blinded by the light, Saul made his way to Damascus; and there God opened His eyes — not only to see the world around him, but also to see the ministry to which he would devote the rest of his life.

As we know, Paul paid a great price for his worship and service of the Lord Jesus. Yet as his revelation of God grew throughout the years, Paul responded with more and more worship and service. Paul knew the hopeless condition from which God had rescued him — he had a clear revelation of who God is and what God had done in his life — and he was determined to live a lifestyle of worship and service.


Worshiping with Godly Fear, Reverent Awe, and Expectation
We in the Gentile world continue to benefit from Paul’s courageous lifestyle of worship, and we can respond to God’s revelation with equal fervor and dramatic results in our own lives. When we worship the Lord, we have the privilege of responding to His greatness and to the grace God expressed when He reached down to us in love. And as we worship, we can expect His presence to be revealed.

What are some ways that God reveals His presence to you today?

Although God is our loving Father and our Friend — which He has demonstrated to us through the suffering and the shed blood of His Son, Christ Jesus — we should never worship Him without godly fear and reverent awe, acknowledging the overwhelming power and glory of His presence:

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29

God is a good God, and He wants to hear your voice proclaiming adoration, appreciation, desperation, and expectation. He wants that voice to be expressed not only once a week but also every day, demonstrating a lifestyle of worship — a life that is being transformed by His Word.

As we draw near to God, we must come with a pure heart in response to who He is and what He has done. Words and actions that fit the worship mold but come from hearts that are not surrendered to God are always offered in vain.

However, when we come with words of praise offered from hearts that are fully surrendered to God’s truth, we can count on God to respond, and the cycle is complete: God initiates, we respond, and He responds to our worship with His glorious presence!

“These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men” Matthew 15:8-9
Take a few moments to read the full account of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus found in Acts 9:1-19a.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

“Who are You, Lord?” he said.

“I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Then Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Here I am, Lord!” he said.

“Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so he can regain his sight.”

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.  And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.  I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

So Ananias left and entered the house. Then he placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you can regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. And after taking some food, he regained his strength.


Have you ever had a similarly “intense” encounter with God — an experience of God in which you received a powerful revelation of who God is and/or what God has done? Those who traveled with Paul that day must have been completely shocked by the experience as well. Have you ever had a friend or family member who had an intense encounter with God?

If you answered yes to either question, please share the story a family member or friend. A personal testimony — such as Paul’s testimony and the testimonies of his traveling companions — is a powerful tool with great purpose in God’s hands. If you have never had an “intense” encounter with God, you still have a story — a testimony — to share! Whether it is intense or less dramatic, any encounter with God can be equally powerful when it is freely shared with others. Serving others and sharing your story with them as you live your life day by day is an expression of worship.

Points to Ponder
• God delights in our unique expressions of worship in response to His revelation.
• God created music and musicians to precede and proclaim His presence, His power, and His Word; and to prepare His people to receive Him.
• God created singers and musicians to be “lead worshipers,” but the pastor is the true worship leader.
• Four key parts of the worship service and one special element of worship can help us to express our worship.
• We worship God by serving Him in our everyday lives with reverence and awe.


LESSON 5 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?


Resources used for this class:
• Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for lateuro (Strong’s 3000).” Blue Letter Bible [online]. 19962008 [accessed 26 August 2008]. Available from the Internet: cf.blueletterbible.org.

Lesson 4 Worshiping Together – The Corporate Worship Service

LESSON 4: WORSHIPING TOGETHER – THE CORPORATE WORSHIP SERVICE
MAIN IDEA: Four key parts of the worship service and one special element of worship can help us to express our worship.


As we have seen, music is a crucial part of the corporate worship service. Much more than a longstanding tradition, music fulfills a specific, God-ordained purpose in worship: it proclaims God’s power, presence, and Word — preparing the hearts of His people to receive Him. Music is a vital element in many parts of the worship service, yet there is much more to the service.

Dr. Robert Webber, one of the most highly regarded teachers on worship of our day, breaks the worship service into four major or distinct parts:
• The Coming In
• The Proclamation of the Word
• The Table of the Lord
• The Going Out


The Coming In
As we come into the sanctuary, we are literally and figuratively setting ourselves apart from the world. If you’ve ever tried to get a family of toddlers or teenagers to church on time, you understand how “worldly” Sunday mornings can be!

We have been out in the world all week long, so to speak. Now, we are coming into the house of God to encounter the King of kings. We sing at the beginning of the worship service because music and musicians were created to precede the power, presence, and Word of God. We sing as we separate ourselves from the world in order to prepare our hearts to encounter His presence.

What happens to you personally — mentally, physically, and spiritually — as you begin to worship through singing in a church service?

In addition to singing, we also pray and read Scripture during this part of the worship service. The Coming In is our opportunity to fully turn our attention to the Lord — not something to get out of the way so that we can get on to the sermon! Once the coming in — the separating from the world — has occurred, we are ready to proceed with the worship service.


The Proclamation of the Word
The second part of the worship service is the proclamation of the Word of God. Have you ever noticed that a service of praise music without some proclamation of the Word just seems incomplete? That’s because it is incomplete. Music was created to precede the Word, not to replace it. When we gather in God’s name without the reading or the preaching of the Word, the worship service is incomplete.

Jesus will always be the cornerstone of our worship; He is the Living Word of God:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. John 1:1-3

Our understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done is determined by teaching and preaching from the written Word of God. As we grasp the depth of His sacrifice and His promises to those who believe, our worship expression will increase in consistency and freedom — and our lives will continue to be changed forever.


The Table of the Lord
The table of the Lord is given as a visible reminder of God’s eternal sacrifice in Christ Jesus. The Lord’s table must never become a ritual or just a tradition. It is a vital and crucial worship expression. The shed blood and broken body of our Lord will never lose its power.

Whether we call it the Lord’s table, the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, the Lord’s table continues to unite us. Whether we observe it weekly, monthly, or every now and then, remembering the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ is crucial to our worship. Jesus is the full revelation of God, and He initiates our response of worship. Jesus has been the center point of worship for the church throughout the centuries for good reason, and the table of the Lord brings our entire focus back to Him — inspiring further worship and proclamation of His gospel!

The Table of the Lord is observed at different times during the worship service and with different frequency throughout the Body of Christ. Whenever it occurs in the service, remembering the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ is indeed crucial to our worship.


The Going Out
The worship service concludes with the going out. This is a crucial part of the worship service during which we now precede the Word of God out into the world in which we live.

We have separated ourselves for a time to receive the Word and the table. Now it is time for us to take that Word back into our homes, schools, offices, and neighborhoods. We often sing as we go. We also pray as we go. We have been reminded of the great blessing and favor God has brought in our lives, and now it’s time take His presence everywhere we go. We are the body of Christ and the light unto the world:

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

During these four key parts of the worship service, we experience many biblical elements of worship — prayer, praise, thanksgiving, charity/giving, confession, preaching and teaching, and Scripture reading, to name a few. All of these are appropriate and necessary elements of the worship service which you most likely experience on a regular basis. But there is one other central expression of worship that, although it may not be a regular part of the weekly worship service, can never be overlooked: baptism!


Baptism: A Central Expression of Worship
No other worship expression of the church captures the essence of our Christian journey quite like baptism. It is indeed the visible demonstration of the grace gift of salvation and the Great Exchange — our total immersion into the life of Jesus that He has given in exchange for our life of sin. Baptism should be a time of great joy, celebration, and worship.

Not long ago, my coauthor Stan told me about one of the most amazing worship services I’ve ever heard of, and baptism was the focus. Stan and his wife, Sue, stood for over five hours one Sunday morning worshiping, watching, and rejoicing as over 400 people entered the waters of baptism! The room was simply electric with the presence of the Lord, as you can imagine.

Individuals, couples, and entire families made a public declaration that day — their lives had been immersed with Christ, and all things were new! I grew up with somber baptism services, and Stan’s description helped to reinforce the reality that baptism is an act of exuberant and joy-filled worship. “Listen in” as he describes the experience:

The singers and musicians surrounded the pool. They sang, they cheered, and they led us all in worship as we witnessed this unique worship expression of so many people. Those who entered the water that day came with great expectation and joy! They symbolically left their old sin patterns, addictions, and failures “dead” in the pool that day. They believed that God is indeed faithful, and they arose from the waters as new creations.

Words could never describe the effects of our collision of faith and expectation with the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the sanctuary that day. Those 400 dear saints had a revelation of who God is and what He had done — and nothing could stop them from expressing their deep gratitude to God as they experienced baptism. And as they honored God with their lives, we were all changed.

After reading this amazing account of the baptism service, don’t you want to stop and worship God for the gift of your own salvation? I know I do! Think of a recent baptism service at your church. What made it memorable for you? Did you consider it an act of worship at the time?

You see, there really is a Redeemer. He is holy and just, faithful and true. He has given us everything we need for life and godliness, and it cost Him life itself. He has given us the freedom to respond to His great grace by exchanging our flawed and failed lives for His life of liberty and victory over sin and death! We are the redeemed, and God’s love and sacrifice for us know no limits. Once we truly understand this, there should be no limit to our expression of worship. He alone is worthy!

Read More About
John the Baptist baptizes in the wilderness: Luke 3:1-6
Jesus is baptized: Matt. 3:13-17
Buried and raised with Christ: Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 2:11-1


LESSON 4 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

Lesson 3 The True Worship Leader

LESSON 3: THE TRUE WORSHIP LEADER
MAIN IDEA: God created singers and musicians to be “lead worshipers,” but the pastor is the true worship leader.


As we have seen, singers and musicians play a crucial part in preparing the people to express their hearts in worship and receive the power, presence, and Word of God. We commonly refer to the leader of a group of worshipers as the worship leader. However, we must be careful not to overlook the true worship leader. Consider these two examples from the Old Testament:

David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it. Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers and to have them raise their voices with joy accompanied by musical instruments — harps, lyres, and cymbals. 1 Chronicles 15:3,16

At that time Solomon assembled at Jerusalem the elders of Israel — all the tribal heads, the ancestral chiefs of the Israelites — in order to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD up from the city of David, that is, Zion. … . Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire congregation of Israel … . When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 5:2; 6:12; 7:1

The model God gave us for worship includes a major role for the singers and musicians. But the true worship leader in each of these instances was the one who presided over the whole event. In the first example, the worship leader was King David; in the second, the worship leader was King Solomon. Presiding over such gatherings was part of the king’s role as the spiritual leader of the nation of Israel. Similarly, the one who presides over the worship service today should be the spiritual leader of the congregation.


The Pastor as Worship Leader
We commonly refer to the music leader or minister of music as the worship leader, but the true worship leader is the spiritual leader of the church: the pastor. Every part of the worship service must be under the pastor’s authority and direction. The pastor is the one who is charged by God with the overall welfare of God’s precious lambs, including God’s servant who is in charge of the music.

Singers and musicians have a very specific purpose in worship: to prepare our hearts to receive the Word. They are created and called to be “lead worshipers,” and that is a crucial role in the worship life of the church. But again, it is the pastor who is the true leader in worship. When this distinction is clearly understood, the congregation benefits greatly.

I have served in full-time worship ministry in seven churches across the southern part of the United States; and now as Director of Worship for LifeWay Christian Resources, I regularly attend worship services and interact with pastors and music leadership across the country. One thing I have observed is that when the pastor and music minister or leader understand who is the true worship leader and work together, walking in unity, the songs selected for a worship service support and strengthen the Word of God that is preached or taught in the service. And when this happens, the congregation indeed benefits greatly!


Let’s read 1 Chronicles 6:
They brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in God’s presence. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. Then he distributed to each and every Israelite, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. David appointed some of the Levites to be ministers before the ark of the Lord, to celebrate the Lord God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to Him. Asaph was the chief and Zechariah was second to him. Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel played the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving
On that day David decreed for the first time that thanks be given to the Lord by Asaph and his relatives:
Give thanks to Yahweh; call on His name;
proclaim His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him; sing praise to Him;
tell about all His wonderful works!
Honor His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Search for the Lord and for His strength;
seek His face always.
Remember the wonderful works He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced, 
you offspring of Israel His servant,
Jacob’s descendants—His chosen ones.

He is the Lord our God;
His judgments govern the whole earth.
Remember His covenant forever—
the promise He ordained for a thousand generations,
the covenant He made with Abraham,
swore to Isaac,
and confirmed to Jacob as a decree,
and to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
“I will give the land of Canaan to you
as your inherited portion.”
When they were few in number,
very few indeed, and temporary residents in Canaan
wandering from nation to nation
and from one kingdom to another,
He allowed no one to oppress them;
He rebuked kings on their behalf:
“Do not touch My anointed ones
or harm My prophets.”

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Proclaim His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonderful works among all peoples.
For the Lord is great and highly praised;
He is feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens. 
Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and joy are in His place.
Ascribe to the Lord, families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to Yahweh the glory of His name;
bring an offering and come before Him.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness;
tremble before Him, all the earth.

The world is firmly established;
it cannot be shaken.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord is King!”
Let the sea and everything in it resound;
let the fields and all that is in them exult.
Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord,
for He is coming to judge the earth.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
And say: “Save us, God of our salvation;
gather us and rescue us from the nations
so that we may give thanks to Your holy name
and rejoice in Your praise.
May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised
from everlasting to everlasting.”
Then all the people said, “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

So David left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the Lord’s covenant to minister regularly before the ark according to the daily requirements. He assigned Obed-edom and his 68 relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon to offer burnt offerings regularly, morning and evening, to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings and to do everything that was written in the law of the Lord, which He had commanded Israel to keep. With them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord—for His faithful love endures forever. Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals to play and musical instruments of God. Jeduthun’s sons were at the gate. Then all the people left for their homes, and David returned home to bless his household.


Can you see in this chapter that David, God’s appointed leader, was in charge of the whole worship service (which lasted for several days)? The singers and musicians were crucial to the service. They were the lead worshipers. But the Ark of the Covenant — the resident place of the power, presence, and Word of God — was the centerpiece of worship. And the musicians were clearly directed by the true worship leader: King David.

I often explain the contemporary corporate worship experience this way: the pastor is to the worship service what the mother of the bride is to the wedding ceremony. If you’ve been to more than one wedding, you know what I mean. We all take our cues from the mother of the bride. When she stands, we stand. When she sits, we sit. When she leaves, we follow.

In the same way, members of the congregation take “worship cues” from the pastor. When the pastor is a worshiper and understands his role as worship leader, there is great freedom in worship.

Tom McCoy is such a pastor. Tom is the pastor of the church Teresa and I currently attend, Thompson Station Church. Tom and his wife, Leighann, have served the church for nearly 20 years. They started with a congregation of about 20 people; and when Teresa and I joined a few years ago, we became part of a church family of about 2,000 people.

Tom truly understands his role as worship leader. Although we have a wonderful music program with great music leadership, I believe the key to this lies in the fact that Tom is a worshiper. I enjoy being in services with Tom because I know he is going to worship. Whether he is on the front row or on the platform, Tom’s response to God’s revelation is clear: he worships! And we all follow his lead. His response to God brings great freedom to all of us.

I love attending worship services where the pastor and music leadership — the “lead worshipers” — are moving in unity. The impact on the congregation is obvious when leaders understand their God-given roles in the worship service. When they do, God’s people truly are the beneficiaries.


LESSON 3 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

Lesson 2 Expressing Worship Through Music

LESSON 2: EXPRESSING WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC
MAIN IDEA: God created music and musicians to precede and proclaim His presence, His power, and His Word; and to prepare His people to receive Him.


Worship is often expressed through a song. In fact, music and musicians were created for worship. In 1 and 2 Chronicles, we are given a clear picture of God’s plan for musicians in corporate worship. Whether or not you are a musician, it is important for you as a worshiper to understand how God desires to use singers, musicians, and worship leaders in the local church.

Musicians in the House of the Lord
In the Old Testament, God set aside 38,000 Levites for His service in the temple. Their duties were numerous and ranged from ministering to the people and taking offerings to judging and making decisions when there were controversies (see 1 Chron. 23–26).

Of those 38,000 Levites, 4,000 (more than 10 percent) were appointed by King David as musicians. Music must be important to God!

Prior to the building of the temple, when the Ark of the Covenant — the resident place of God’s power, presence, and Word — was brought from the house of Obed-edom to the tabernacle in Jerusalem, King David commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as musicians. Since these musical Levites were selected by their peers, talent and skill certainly must have been a consideration. I like to think of this group as the first church music department! It was at that time that the musician’s role was clearly defined:

David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the music leader of the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. So all Israel was bringing the ark of the covenant of the LORD up with shouts, the sound of the ram’s horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and the playing of harps and lyres. 1 Chronicles 15:25-28

As the musicians led the procession, the purpose for which they were created was revealed:
• God created music and musicians to precede and proclaim His presence, His power, and His Word; and to prepare His people to receive Him. Shortly thereafter, King David created the first church music department when he stationed the singers and musicians around the Ark of the Covenant: David appointed some of the Levites to be ministers before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate the LORD God of Israel, and to give thanks and praise to Him. 1 Chronicles 16:4. In so doing, the rest of God’s purpose for musicians was revealed:
• God created music and musicians to lead His people as they celebrate, thank, and praise the Lord. God did not create and appoint musicians to worship for the people but to lead the people as they worshiped! God wasn’t interested in a worship experience for the people to sit back and enjoy. He set the musicians in place to lead the people in their own expression of worship.

Read More About It
• David commands the Levites to appoint their kindred as musicians: 1 Chron. 15:16-24
• Musicians precede the Ark of the Covenant: 1 Chron. 15:25-28
• David stations singers and musicians around the Ark in the tabernacle: 1 Chron. 16:4
• The singers, musicians, and people praise the Lord: 1 Chron. 16:7-36
• Music is a part of regular worship: 1 Chron. 16:37-43
• David appoints 4,000 temple musicians: 1 Chron. 23:1-6


Musicians Lead the People’s Expression of Worship
The same process of worship was repeated at the dedication of the temple under King Solomon. However, this time, as the musicians fulfilled their purpose in preceding the power, presence, and Word of God, the presence of the Lord fell on the people in such might that the whole service was disrupted:

The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice. They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the LORD: For He is good; His faithful love endures forever; the temple, the LORD’s temple, was filled with a cloud. And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the LORD filled God’s temple. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

The singers and musicians were one — harmonically and spiritually — and the King of kings responded with His presence! Now that’s what I want to see in our worship assemblies, don’t you?

Music is a great gift from God. Music and musicians serve a crucial purpose in our worship expression. In this era of recorded music and digital transmission through radio, television, cell phones, iPods, and computers, we have access to great worship music that can lead us into God’s presence throughout each day. Those recordings are often the work of musicians who are fulfilling their purpose in leading each of us into worship, praise, and celebration.

So, sing along, and sing loud! Proclaim God’s love, goodness, greatness, and imminent return. Don’t allow the stones or even the finest musicians to worship for you! God created you for worship, and He loves to hear your unique expression of praise.


Let’s review what we’ve just learned:
• Of the 38,000 Levites appointed in 1 Chronicles, how many were musicians?
• Talent and skill — which must be continually developed by even the best musicians — were important in the selection of the musical Levites, but as we learned in the last lesson, God looks not at the outward form of worship but at the condition of the worshiper’s ________________.
• Do you think God has a different standard for talented musicians on the platform during the worship service?

I hope you have been utilizing worship music throughout our study together. I know from personal experience that playing worship music, even on days that I don’t feel like worshiping, leads me into God’s presence. As you have opportunity to listen, be sure to join the musicians and raise your voice of worship.


LESSON 2 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

Class 6 “Expression”

“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 Jesus, initiates our response. The only reasonable and adequate response is our expression of worship.”

Let’s begin to connect with this class by considering the following questions:
• Read Philippians 4:8 again from the last class: Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. What are some things that God taught you in this passage?
• In the last class we learned about Jehoshaphat. Is there a Jehoshaphat-like circumstance that you are struggling with right now? Are there some things the Lord has revealed that could encourage others?
• Was there a time when you were impacted by seeing God’s Word doing what He sent it out to do? Think about this experience.
• Has God begun acting on some of the prayers you’ve lifted up during this course?
• What worship activity has impacted you the most? Why?

Watch and listen as Mike sets the stage for our study on worship by explaining our “Expression” of worship to God.

Engage by reflecting on the following questions from the Word of God and Mike’s message:
• Read Psalm 100:4: Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. Can you think of times when we try to enter God’s courts in the wrong way? What does that look like?
• What are your thoughts about the comfort zone that Mike describes at Bessie’s church before her cancer trials? What do you think motivated them to accept Bessie’s new form of expression?
• Mike reminds us that “worship felt needs to be worship expressed.” With what forms of worship expression have you felt most comfortable? What are some that you personally would not feel comfortable expressing at your church?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I do want to worship You with all my heart. Please help me find new freedom as I lift my expression of worship for who You are and what You alone have done in my life. I want my response to show just how much I love You. Help us all to express our love to You. Amen.

Preparation:
Think about any terms or concepts that are new to you for this class.
• God delights in our unique expressions of worship in response to His revelation.
• God created music and musicians to precede and proclaim His presence, His power, and His Word; and to prepare His people to receive Him.
• God created singers and musicians to be “lead worshipers,” but the pastor is the true worship leader.
• Four key parts of the worship service and one special element of worship can help us to express our worship.
• We worship God by serving Him in our everyday lives with reverence and awe.

Lesson 5 Freedom in Worship

LESSON 5: FREEDOM IN WORSHIP
MAIN IDEA: God wants us to worship Him with all our heart and soul


I shared the story of a serious trial Teresa and I faced along life’s journey. I’m sure you have your own stories to tell, for we all face tests and trials on a regular basis. Tests and trials are just a part of the process of life. The issue is not the type or magnitude of any one trial we face, but our response to every test. God’s Word gives us real hope and real direction as we respond. Consider again this passage from the Book of James:

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. James 1:2-5

God really is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, as Hebrews 11:6 tells us. He is the author of our salvation and our hope. Every moment we spend in His presence and in the written Word strengthens the hope that has been deposited in us as believers. And as hope increases — as we are filled with a hope that will never disappoint — we can function as the body of Christ was designed to function: glorifying God with our response of worship.


Worshiping Fully and Freely
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have no limitations as you respond to God? I have. My desire for unhindered worship in my own life continues to grow as I understand more and more about who God is and what He has already done in my life. Experiencing the intervention of God in the cancer trial that Teresa and I shared brought us to a greater freedom in worship. When God met us at the throne of grace and intervened on our behalf, our only reasonable response was — and is and always will be — worship!

Whether we are worshiping corporately or privately, our response to God should be biblically based and unhindered. Yet within these two general parameters, we all have socially and culturally familiar elements in our worship. Our childhood training and the worship we have experienced throughout our lives often dictate how freely we respond to God.

Some members of the body cry out loudly or prostrate themselves on the floor. Some wave flags and banners of adulation and praise, while others sing hymns or worship choruses or gather quietly in solemn assembly. The style of worship, the volume of worship, and the elements of worship are not the issue. The issue is that each believer must raise his or her own unhindered expression of worship to the King of kings in response to what He alone has done.

God made each member of His body, and He wants to hear our heartfelt expressions of praise. He wants us to worship with all our heart — without reservation! When I think of that kind of worship, I think of Miss Bessie.


Worshiping Without Reservation
In the video for this class, you heard the story of Miss Bessie, a woman in my home church who lost her voice but not her ability to worship! She kept right on praising God from the front pew until she went to be with the Lord.

It’s not hard for me to picture her as a part of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem as He proceeded toward Calvary. She would have been standing and waving her arms, uttering whatever sound she could make to proclaim the greatness of her King Jesus. That’s the kind of worship the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ descent into Jerusalem demonstrated:

He came near the path down the Mount of Olives, and the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!” Luke 19:37-38

That same Jesus is present with us right now. He went to the cross at Calvary and has overcome sin and death once and for all — for all of us. Our response must be unhindered worship!

The Bible is full of specific activities of worship. In the following list, which worship activity have you have witnessed? Which have you experienced personally? Finally, which are you longing to experience as you respond to God’s revelation?
• Kneeling/bowing (2 Chron. 29:29; Luke 22:41; Acts 20:36)
• Singing (Ps. 100:2; 147; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16)
• Praying (Matt. 6:9-13; Acts 1:14; 4:31; 1 Thess. 5:16-17)
• Shouting (Ps. 95:1-2; 98:4; Zech. 9:9)
• Clapping (Ps. 47:1; 98:4,8; Isa. 55:12)
• Prostrating (Deut. 9:18; Josh. 5:14; 1 Kings 18:39; Rev. 1:17)
• Raising hands (2 Chron. 6:13; Ps. 63:4; 1 Tim. 2:8)
• Dancing (2 Sam. 6:14; Ps. 30:11; 149:3)
• Playing instruments (1 Chron. 15:16; Ps. 98:5-6; 150)
• Meditating/listening (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 77:12; 81:13; 119:15; Phil. 4:8)
• Giving (Isa. 58:7; Mal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 9:7-8)
• Serving (Ps. 100:2a; Matt. 20:25-28; Acts 20:18-19; Rom. 12:1)
• Taking communion (Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
• Fasting (Neh. 1:4; Esth. 4:3; Isa. 58; Dan. 9:3; Joel 2:12)

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Write a prayer of surrender, asking God to set you free from whatever is keeping you from worshiping fully and freely.


Points to Ponder
• Responding to God’s revelation in a manner that is pleasing to Him involves service and surrender.
• A lifestyle of worship is essential if we are to overcome in order to ”become.”
• Worship strengthens the Word in us.
• Worshiping God while we are waiting for Him to act opens a place for Him to intervene.
• God wants us to worship Him with all our heart and soul.


LESSON 5 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?


Resources used for this class:
• “Praise the Lord,” Brown Bannister and Mike Hudson. © 1978 Word Music LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
• “Bow the Knee,” Chris Machen and Mike Harland. © 1999 Centergetic Music (ASCAP) (Admin. by Words and Music Copyright Administration). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Lesson 4 Worshiping While We Wait

LESSON 4: WORSHIPING WHILE WE WAIT
MAIN IDEA: Worshiping God while we are waiting for Him to act opens a place for Him to intervene.


We were made for relationship with God. He came down to us and met us at our point of need for a Savior. He has chosen to dwell in and among us through His Holy Spirit. Our worship makes a place for His enthronement in our midst.

We have seen God wants us to respond to His love by worshiping Him even in the midst of the battles, struggles, and problems we face in life, making a place for Him to intervene. Sometimes His intervention is immediate, as it was for King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites, and sometimes we have to allow “patience [to] have its perfect work” (Jas. 1:4, NKJV) as we wait expectantly for God to step into our difficult circumstances:

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4


From time to time we all must make a decision: What will we do while we wait on the Lord? You may be facing some very serious issues in your life right now. And frankly, it’s difficult to feel like worshiping God at times. As you may remember, my wife, Teresa, and I learned a great deal about God’s grace through her battle with cancer — and we learned about worshiping in the midst of our hardships, as well.

I remember the day we got the cancer diagnosis like it was yesterday. The results of the biopsy weren’t good. Jim Futral, pastor of the church we were serving in Jackson, Mississippi, was with us. I looked at Jim with tears in my eyes. Teresa had breast cancer, and it was the aggressive kind.

I left Jim for a few moments and walked out into the hall, not knowing what to do next. I would be the one to tell Teresa when she woke up, and likely the one to tell the kids. It was a very difficult moment to say the least. As I walked through the hall, I began to hear in my head the lyrics of a song I had written with a dear friend just a few weeks earlier:
Bow the knee. Trust the heart of your Father.
When the answer goes beyond what you can see, Bow the knee.

Bow the knee.
Lift your eyes toward heaven.
And believe the One who holds eternity.
When you don’t understand the purpose of His plan.
In the presence of your King, bow the knee!

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had begun to worship God in the midst of our difficulties — to worship while we were “under the weight” of the problem. Is there a song that has affected you in a time of tragedy or turmoil?

When Teresa woke up and saw my face, she immediately knew the results of the biopsy. Sadly, my brokenness revealed my lack of faith at that moment. I was a mess, but Teresa spoke very clearly: “So God must know that our faith is strong enough to handle a trial like this.” Teresa had a revelation of who God is and what He had done in her life, and she wasn’t about to let go!

As the days went by, we had to make many decisions about medical options and the surgeries that would come. But the best decision we made, right in the midst of the most difficult problem we ever tried to navigate, was to trust God. We decided to worship while we waited and while we were “under the weight” of the problem. We didn’t always feel like worshiping, for sure, but with the loving support of the body of Christ, we walked the journey before us and received mercy at the very throne of God’s grace.

We found out that God is indeed a good God who loves us with an everlasting love. As we worshiped, we were reaching out to our loving heavenly Father who can change hearts, minds, and circumstances. The process began with Him, but we were required to respond. We learned firsthand that worship should always be our response to God’s revelation.

Teresa was right; our faith had grown to the point that we could handle this extreme test. With the loving support of our family and church family, we walked through the surgeries with confidence and faith in our truly great God — regardless of the outcome. As we worshiped, He once again proved Himself worthy of our praise. And 10 years later, we are still worshiping God for who He is and what He has done!

As we honor God’s Word, presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, God does indeed respond to our expression of worship. The cycle is set in motion:
• We are all part of the fallen human race in need of redemption.
• God responded to our need and showed His love for us in Christ Jesus.
• We respond to God’s love through sacrificial living and worship.
• God responds to our worship with His presence.
• And when the King is present, all things are possible!

What problems, small are large, are you currently facing? Life these problems or needs to the Lord in prayer. For example: Lord, You already know about my need for _________________. And I’m coming to the throne of grace once again to receive mercy in my time of need. I need You! Repeat this process for the entire list, putting a check beside each item as you do this.

Now, pray this prayer, personalizing it with your own words: Lord Jesus, I have lifted these specific needs to You, and I’m asking You for answers and solutions to each one. I acknowledge You as Lord over my life, and I trust You — and You alone — as my Savior. I will worship You while I wait for your intervention. Amen.

Now, dear saint of the living God, set aside all else and lift your voice in worship! You have just invited the King of kings to intervene in your situations. He will never forsake you. Worship Him now — and throughout the time you are “under the weight” of these issues. He has promised to be present with you as you worship. Remember, when He is present, all things are possible!

We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses … Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Hebrews 4:15-16


LESSON 4 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

Lesson 3 Worship and The Word

LESSON 3: WORSHIP AND THE WORD
MAIN IDEA: Worship strengthens the Word in us.


As we respond to the revelation of God’s great love by laying down our lives — as we become a living sacrifice — we can always expect resistance. Worship is our response to the revelation of God, and there is a heavenly battle that always centers around worship. That is one reason why worship is such a divisive element in many churches today.

As we saw yesterday in the story of King Jehoshaphat, we are equipped for battle through prayer, fasting, worship, and the Word of God. The battle is won in prayer; our strength and encouragement are found in the presence of the Lord as we worship; and the Word of God is our mighty weapon — the sword of the Spirit — with which we take the offensive:

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word. With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. Ephesians 6:17-18

In this lesson we will focus on the powerful combination of worship and the Word of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1


A Powerful Combination
God’s Word and worship are indeed a powerful combination. In worship we both receive the Word of God and strengthen the Word within us. Worship apart from the revelation of the Word (the Living Word and written Word) is incomplete. But worship in response to God’s revelation brings that Word to life in a powerful way. Worship and the Word go hand-in-hand, and this powerful combination is a crucial element in living the abundant life that Jesus promised:

“I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10

The world we live in is full of struggles, fears, and temptations. Jesus, the Living Word — the Living Two-Edged Sword — faced them all in the wilderness. He was tempted just as we are in every way, yet He was without sin. His response to the Adversary is our example to follow:

Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.’ ” Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him. Matthew 4:8-11

The battleground was temptation, but the core issue was worship. The Enemy wanted Jesus to worship something other than God, but Jesus drew upon the Word of God within to fight the battle. Do you ever stop to consider how Jesus can truly understand our temptations? Offer a prayer now thanking Him for this aspect of who He is.

Nothing has changed since the time when Jesus was in the wilderness. The Enemy still wants us to worship something other than God — Father, Son, and Spirit — and the answer to this and every other challenge or temptation is still “It is written”! The Word of God is always the answer.

As we have studied previously, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Prayer prepares us for the battle, and worship strengthens the Word that has been deposited in us — often giving us new revelation or understanding of the Word.


Revelation in the Midst of Worship
Have you ever found yourself singing a worship chorus or a great hymn — possibly one you have sung many, many times — and suddenly you recognize another truth of God that had eluded you previously? That is the picture of revelation in the midst of worship.

The song “Praise the Lord,” written by Brown Bannister and Mike Hudson and popularized by The Imperials, is a great example of revelation coming in the midst of worship. You see, every time I sing this song, I’m reminded of so many biblical truths. Just take a look at the insights this one verse brings.

Now Satan is a liar
And he wants to make us think
That we are paupers
When he knows himself
We’re children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith
For the battle has been won
We know that Jesus Christ has risen
So the work’s already done

Praise the Lord,
He can work through those who praise Him,
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise,
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him


This is the reason we gather as the body of Christ each week — to receive more and more revelation. And this is why we also must “gather within ourselves” daily to receive the Word. Worship is the key. Every time we worship, we strengthen the Word that is in us and open ourselves to receive further revelation as well. And the Word of God never fails as this verse, written by the prophet Isaiah, tells us: “Just as rain and snow fall from heaven, and do not return there without saturating the earth, and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that comes from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I send it to do.” Isaiah 55:10

How is it reassuring that God refers only to Himself and His Word in this passage, not to us? What are some ways that you have seen or heard about God’s Word doing what He sends it out to do?


LESSON 3 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?