THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORSHIP MINISTRY
Introduction:
Worship is the most important ministry in the church today. God created man first for fellowship and relationship with Him. All ministries must flow out of our relationship with God. Without this vital relationship with God, our ministries will lack the life of God.
1. Worshippers are sought by God
John 4:23 “But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father is seeking such to worship Him”
There are 2 types of people God is looking for :-
a) Intercessors
b) Worshippers
Apostles, Prophets, Pastors , Teachers, Evangelists are Ministers whom God sets into the body of Christ. They are appointed. However, worshippers are sought by God.
Who will be found by God ?
2. Worship is an eternal ministry
1Cor 13:8 “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away”
Although giftings cease, worship continues in the heavens.
Rev 4: 9,10 “ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty four elders fall down before the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne”
There are temporal things and there are eternal things. All giftings and ministries will one day cease when Jesus returns. We do not need Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists etc in heaven but we need worshippers. Worship will continue in the heavens because we were created for that purpose.
3. Man’s worship replaces the vacuum left after Lucifer’s fall
Ezekiel 28 gives a detail description of Lucifer before and after his fall. He was beautifully created, full of music and worship for God. After his fall, all was corrupted.
Eze 28: 13b,14, 15a “The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you in the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers. I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created”
Lucifer was created with timbrels and pipes (music) and was the anointed cherub who covers. The anointed cherub was the angel who covers the throne with worship unto God.
3 Archangels Michael - Warrior
Gabriel - Messenger
Lucifer - Worshipper
Lucifer fell with one third of the angels and this created a vacuum in the heavens. Man’s worship fills this vacuum left by Lucifer’s fall.
4. Worship/Music is restored_in every revival
In every restoration in the Old Testament, the temple worship is always restored first.
Jehoshaphat - 2 Chron 20 ( sends singers in front of the army)
Hezekiah - 2 Chron 29-30 (Levites, singers and musicians restored
according to the commandment of David)
Josiah - 2 Chron 35:1-19 (cleansed the temple and appointed
Ashap, Heman and Jeduthun into their places)
Zerubbabel - Ezra 3:10-13 (after 70 years of captivity, 200 singing
men and women returned and set in order to praise
God under the hand of Ezra)
Nehemiah - Neh 12:22-47 (musicians and singers placed in
companies with the musical instruments of David)
Since the 1500, many great men have restored worship in the church eg. Wesley Revival, Welsh Revival, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Toronto ,Brownsville, .FGT…, CBC. …?? . Every revival has their own songs and music peculiar to their revival.
5. Worship releases the anointing that breaks the yoke
a) Anointed music breaks spiritual bondages
1 Sam 16:23 “ And so it was whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would be refreshed and well and the distressing spirit would depart from him”
b) Anointed music brings spiritual victories
Hos 2:15 “ I will give her vineyards from there and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. She shall sing there as in the days of her youth as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt”
In the times when we are facing the Valley of Troubles ( Achor = trouble) we should sing and our songs will lead us to victory. Songs can change our troubles to hope. Prior to this verse, Israel was in deep idolatry and spiritual adultery.
c) Anointed music uplifts the defeated spirit
Isa 61:3 “ to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for a spirit of heaviness …”
Whenever we praise God, we break the defeated spirit. David constantly sung to God when he was in great trouble.
d) Anointed music quickens the prophetic word
2 Kings 3:15 “ But now, bring me a musician. And it happened when the musician played that the hand of the Lord came upon him, and he said Thus say the Lord ….”
Elishas’s prophecy flowed when the music started.
1 Sam 10: 5b-6 “ you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute and a harp before them and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man”
Saul was able to prophesy when he met the prophets who were ministering in anointed music.
e) Anointed music brings down the glory of God
2 Chron 5:13-14 “ … when the trumpeters and the singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord ……. the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud ……..for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God”
When the temple of Solomon was completed, worship began will all types of musical instruments and as the singers sang , God’s glory came down and the priest could not stand in God’s presence.
Conclusion:
1. Worship/music ministry is the most important ministry in the church .
2. God is restoring this ministry in the last days.
3. We need to be fully committed.
4. Do not miss out of this ministry because you are tired.
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Copyright : 1999 Ng Wah Lok