January 29, 2009 – There’s A Worshipper In YOU January 29, 2009

Good morning.  If someone asked you to define worship, what would you say? Would you show them? How would you make that person understand what worship means to you? Last night, my worship team and I had this very discussion and surprisingly we had a hard time actually defining what worship really meant. It was frustrating as a worship leader to not be able to convey a message in words about worship and in true “Lady Doss” fashion, I began to research and write.   My initial question became, is there one true definition of worship? Does the Bible lay out what worship is to look like? Smell like? Sound like? How do we know what we are doing is right? The book definition of worship is “reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power” or” extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem.” This definition wasn’t something I didn’t already know so I began to dig deeper. Paul is one of my favorite writers and I somehow knew his writings would hold the answer. Romans 12:1-2 reads:   I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable, or well pleasing and perfect.   This passage says it all. It speaks to the motivation to worship (the mercies of God), how to worship (presenting our total body: hearts, hands, mouths, ears, minds, etc as a living sacrifice), as well as what happens when we worship (renewal of the mind). People tend to get caught up in where to worship, or what music to sing, or even how their worship may look to other people. I’m guilty of the same. I worry that my worship may be too much for some or not enough for others. I worry that some may question my sincerity because my worship may not sound or look like theirs. However, the truth of the matter is worship doesn’t have a particular look, sound, smell, or taste but there are certain characteristics that worship and a worshipper must possess. True worship is felt on the inside long before it is ever manifested on the inside. We feel our worship and it often results in lifted hands or shouts to God. So from this point forward focus on worship from the inside out and I can assure you those watching from the outside in will be touched by you.

Scripture To Remember: Psalm 22: 22 Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship,       and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:    Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;       give glory, you sons of Jacob;       adore him, you daughters of Israel.    He has never let you down,       never looked the other way       when you were being kicked around.    He has never wandered off to do his own thing;       he has been right there, listening.

When you need a song… Worshipper In Me by Marvin Sapp            (click cd cover for audio) You are holy, I really love you In the spirit, I love to worship you Out of all the things I am, everything I hope to be if you look into my heart, there’s a worshiper in me worshiper in me You are holy, I really love you In the spirit, I love to worship you Out of all the things I am, everything I hope to be if you look into my heart, there’s a worshiper in me The spirit of the Lord is upon me and the worshiper is in me Out of all the things I am, everything I hope to be if you look into me heart, there is a worshiper in me there’s a worshiper in me I love to worship, I love to worship you

I’d love to hear from you… What does worship mean to you? Do you need certain eliments of worship? Are you more comfortable worshipping alone or in a group? As a worship leader, what are some things you expect of me during worship services? What are things you dislike? *All answers will be confidential*

Worship. It isn’t an entertaining showcase for a talented soprano or a lecture on textual criticism or a pleasant weekly reunion of friends and family. Instead, true worship is a joyous celebration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And as we actively turn our hearts toward God in earnest praise of God’s great works, God in turn speaks to us and blesses us with a healing and renewing touch. In this life-changing and dynamic book, Robert Webber declares that worship is not something done to us or for us, but by us. It is the most exhaustive demonstration of our faith and the most intimate form of relationship we can have with our Savior. Complete with a guide for group of personal study, Worship Is a Verb will show you how to leave the dull confines of the pew and enter the courts of the Living God. The Topics Include: Winds of Change Principle One: Worship Celebrates Christ Principle Two: Worship Tells and Acts Out the Christ-Event Principle Three: In Worship God Speaks and Acts Principle Four: Worship Is an Act of Communication Principle Five: In Worship We Respond to God and Each Other Principle Six: Return Worship to the People Principle Seven: All Creation Joins in Worship, Part I Principle Seven: All Creation Joins in Worship, Part II Principle Eight: Worship As a Way of Life

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