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Written by Danny Mullins
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Sunday, 23 November 2008 |
Danny Mullins gives us counsel on bringing life through our worship.
“But a mist (flow) used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground…” Gen. 2:6,7a (italics mine)
As a worship leader I have been involved with enough “dead” worship services to know that I am not interested in ever being part of another one, let alone responsible for it. You know what I mean by dead, don’t you? It’s the opposite of life! Rather than having been energized and invigorated because of offering worship that is “in spirit and in truth” I feel drained and exhausted. That’s a pretty good sign that I did it in my own strength and ability rather than in His.
The focus of worship is God. It’s a mistake to approach a worship service with the goal of what “I” can get out of it. But it’s also a mistake to imagine that having been in God’s presence in worship that I am to feel nothing. Anytime in scripture that an individual was in God’s presence they were definitely affected by it. His presence radiates life. In His presence is fullness of joy (Ps. 16.11). To have been with Him and not have experienced life makes me wonder if I have been with Him at all.
I find it very interesting that man was made out of ground that enjoyed a daily “flow” of life. He didn’t have to produce it, just enjoy it. That flow watered, or brought life, to the entire surface of the ground. I believe we should enjoy a daily rising of the life of God in us that touches every area of our being. John the Beloved wrote that if we believed on Him from our innermost being would “flow” rivers of living water (Jn. 7.37,38). It is that daily flow of God’s life in us that makes our worship alive.
Then where do “dead” worship services come from? As a result of Adam’s sin, (i.e. – his decision to determine what was best for himself, moving in his own self-interest, depending on his own reasoning) a curse came upon the ground. What had previously produced life now produced thorns and thistles. What used to “flow” so freely now required sweat in order to bring forth (Gen. 3.17-19). Sweat is something that God says He does not permit in His presence (Ezk. 44.18). When I think of how many services I’ve “sweated” over, I’m embarrassed. Am I against work? Preparation for a service? Certainly not! But the “work” we are called to do is simply the releasing of the flow of the life of God in us. It’s not about ability (though God-given) or human effort. It’s not learned methods or impeccable musical technique. It is the flow of the Spirit of Life through us offering to God a sweet smelling sacrifice.
1 Corinthians 15.45 declares that Jesus the “last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” He has reversed the effects of sin for us. We can once again enjoy that life-giving flow in this ground we call our body. There is no need for me to ever again lead a “dead” worship service. He has provided a daily, eternal flow of living water. As we continue to minister to God and lead His people let’s make sure we “tap in” to that flow.
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