New Song #4: The Burden

Lately I feel that the Lord has been sharing a burden with me. It's rather large; I feel puny and unable to initiate it. Nevertheless, I have begun to thirst for His refreshing waters; I see that I can only be obedient with what He has put in my hand.

Our land, America, is barren and hurting. They need a healer and one who can send them joy in the midst of trouble. I worry because I see less people in churches. There are so many lost. Are the people of God really in touch with God? If they were, wouldn't others be flooding the houses of God? Are they being obedient to taking His word to the highways and byways. How else will they hear this new song?

For the first time, I see this new song as more than just a new worship song. It's like a revelation or remma word that goes out of the house, car, or wherever He touches you with it. These life changing words can breath new life. It's like God changing your tune. Two weeks ago I prophesied in church that God was going to give us a new song; He was going to change our tune. He was going to do it. I am waiting to see this come to pass. When I am leading worship, I look out beyond what I see in the natural; I hope for hearts, hands, and lives connected to Jesus getting a needed download, but also just spending time with God, while letting the stream of rushing waters come to refresh our souls.

It makes me wonder how He is going to make it all happen, though an old pastor of mine prophesied over me twenty years ago that I was not called to figure things out, I still try! I think He is going to use me and you, as well as many others. Those who are sensitive to the call. He wants exuberant worship to break out all of over the United States. I know He is about to do a new thing, and I want to be on the forefront at Gulf Coast Assembly of God in North Port, Fl. It's not about breaking out and being famous at all; instead, it's about being an effective, pliable, and useful tool in the King's hand. From there, may God develop a greater passion and desire to worship and sit at His feet. If we were having these types of rich divine experiences, we would be going out and telling others about what happened. How amazing God's presence was at church, in my car, and at the doctor's office.

I also long for a time when there are no hindrances in worship. When we sin and fall short, we tend to put up a wall towards God, though He forgives us every time. This is one of the reasons that people are not as connected during worship. Sometimes it looks like a glaze is over people; they look and are unengaged in the worship. Instead, I'd like to see more people gather at the front and worship and praise. I'd like to see more people kneeling at their seat as God falls on them, though there are others standing and singing. If they feel led to dance, sing, and or whatever appropriate way they want to express their love for God, they are WILLING and able to do it. So, I am excited because our pastor is very open and has been praying that the Holy Spirit comes and touches us. This is my prayer as I prepare to lead worship tomorrow. Lord, come and meet us. Touch us! Please breath new life, new worship, and a new passion in us for You, Lord. Out of this desire, new songs will come. It's a rather complicated thing, but one can see that the principles are interrelated.

New Song Series #3

Psalm 40:3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Okay. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out. One can glean some basic and common concepts from the words: new song. One, the word "new" means that it is fresh and not old. This means that others will be writing these new songs. These songs should be centered around God. The new song comes from God. It is His song that he births in us. He can also birth a song during worship, at a prayer meeting, a youth group service, or wherever. The key is that we should be looking for the fresh and the new, while listening to the heart of God whisper these fresh new lyrics. Don't get me wrong. Old hymns and songs are good. They represent what God has seen us through; they build or faith too. We should also sing songs that our congregation can join in with. However, we must never forget that we also need to be willing and obedient to usher in the new song. We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit. We want to allow the spirit of God to move freely.

Think of the love and excitement that a new puppy brings to a household. Suddenly everything is going to be ok. Everything is focused around the new puppy. In the House of God, new songs signify what God is doing. They are prophetic and life changing in nature. It's time to to usher in the new song!

New Song Series #2-Five Morsels Associated with the New Song

Psalm 149 1 Praise the LORD.[a]
"Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people." NIV

I have been intrigued by the words “new song” found in the book of Psalms for a very long time. I have been researching these words, but also praying for God to reveal to me what this new song is. I have believed the new song to be a song of praise that comes when you come through a battle or when the Lord gives you a strong song of praise in your mouth that is new. It’s not an ordinary song of praise, but it’s personal, fresh, and radical. I wrote about this a bit last week when I remarked on the sound of praise I heard at a women’s meeting where I recently spoke. This was a corporate sound of praise that was bold, fervent, effective, and mighty.

However, this week I was reading an article from Worship Leader Magazine: Sing to the Lord a New Song- JAN/FEB 2011 entitled “The Song of the Redeemed”. I began to receive vivid insight about this new song, as well as the role of the worship leader in today’s world (pgs. 30-37). It lines up with some of the things I always thought, but there were new morsels to savor.

1. The new song is being born out of congregations who engage in prophetic praise and worship. The do not all have a set song list. Some have no song lists at all. Some reserve time to flow in lyrical worship between songs and allow the Holy Spirit to sing through them.
2. Worship leaders, not just the front person, are called to write songs and seek God for new songs for their church.
3. Worship leaders are to bring new and fresh songs that will inspire their congregations to worship.
4. Worship leaders are the key to the spirit of God breaking out in the house of God. It’s their passion for God that inspires those to worship. People are looking for real worship and meaningful church. This movement will flood our churches with people who are hungry to hear God’s word.
5. A worship community must be living!

These five morsels are enlightening and overwhelming. Yet, they also remind us that the call that is upon us to inspire others to worship is big. It comes by surrendering ourselves to it. I don’t have to worry about how this new song will come out. I know He is going to do it. I see new songs coming from our team. I see prophetic songs coming out in worship. I’m ready Lord!

Psalm 33:3

Psalm 40:3

Psalm 149:11

New Song #1- Praise Creates a Stronghold Against Satan

Psalms 8:2 says that "through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. NIV" When I read this scripture I felt like the heavens opened and revelation fell like fresh manna from my heavenly father.

I got new revelation when I read that scripture. You mean to tell me that when we praise, we create a stronghold that silences our enemy I thought to myself. Maybe you read this scripture before and saw it. Maybe you read this scripture before and never saw it. Nevertheless, it was new to me and gave me yet another reason to praise and worship God.

I believe I heard this praise through God's children this past Tuesday night at Community Life Center where I spoke to a women's group. It went on and on, and it was powerful. It was radical. There was a sense of abadonment in it. It was thick, deep, and wide. There were several times in that night when we broke out in it.

God had given me an image of women praising with their hands up the night before as I was preparing to speak. I heard a loud crazy like praise coming out of her mouth!
Little children look at things simply; we can look at praise the same way. It is clear to me that I silence the enemy when I praise. It's not a wimply half-hearted praise; it's raw and radical praise.

What about you? Are you up for it? I hope that this short article has lifted the covers off your face and given you another reason to press in and praise and worship! It has myself.