A Worship Team Special Edition: The Overflow

 

A Worship Team Special Edition: The Overflow

Friends, the worship that comes from us on Sunday or whatever service or event we are leading or participating in should come from a “prepared heart”. It should be founded in core values that we acknowledge. It should be full of non-negotiables, living our lives worshiping the Lord in everything we do. This is not reserved for the singers, but also the musicians too.  It should be a stream that is used to running and is familiar with communing with God.  Yes, I prepare for service by reading over the lyrics, seeking the Lord, praying over them, searching the Bible for scriptures, which I often use Biblegateway.com; but, it is a second level of dedication and devotion.  Don’t get me wrong, a worship leader and praise team member should know the lyrics and be able to sing most of the time without looking at them; this way they can focus on God and listen to Him for wisdom, while he or she is leading.  Know the parts for your instrument that are tricky, sing and play in the spirit at home and allow God to take you places in his anointing. However, their minds and hearts must be clear of everything else and ready to worship. This state of prepared readiness comes from a heart that seeks the Lord and has their own precious time with God.  The foundation is laid, kept, not forgotten, and seasoned daily. And out of this secret place, comes a surrendered heart that overflows. This overflow comes out like incense before God both at home etc. and in church.  If you ever worry you won’t know what to say during worship, if your heart is full with worship and the word, there will be an overflowing of new wine for the people. You will have experienced this new wine before the people. In short, you will be a refreshing spring for others to come and drink God’s living water from.  God will fill your lips. This is a surrendered life. If you bring your supplication before the Lord, you will over flow with praise” (Psalm 119:170-172). So bring your heart, your lips, your instrument, and whatever else you have before Him at home, in the car, etc. and you are sure to have a supernatural overflow wherever you go to minister.

 

God bless!

Psalm 119:170-172 (NIV)

¹⁷⁰ May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.
¹⁷¹ May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.
¹⁷² May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.

Lovesick

I am a worshipper and lover of God. I love who He is, and my devotion is entwined with passion of falling deeper in relationship with Him. As I walk through trials and see how suffering produces character and hope; I become more aware of His commitment to me to the end of time. We live in a spiritual kingdom that has no end. His love never ends; the word tells us that His love is unfailing.

His love transcends every circumstance we face, as well as the failures we experience. He is clothed in love and gentle and patient.  Romans 5 tell us that “Hope does not disappoint”.  Jesus in my friend; the evidence is a life of relationship.  The fruit of this is trust. If one never opens up this “bottle” and tries it, they will never know or experience the love of God.

I fancy Jesus and am crazy about Him. I look forward to growing old and on into eternity with Him. His love has touched me life. Each time I come into His presence, I feel more and want more of His love. Isn’t it true that when you walk with someone, you get to know them and they know you? You can’t wait to be in their presence: it’s a safe and beautiful place to dwell and visit.

When we have such a deep love for Christ, there is an overflow and freedom to express it. One cannot not hold back their response of love, gratefulness, and admiration towards God when He is near. This deluge of emotions is so great there is a physical and emotional outpouring towards God.  Hearts and minds are connected singing a love song to each other. This song has a variety of genres, though these are just a few: thinking on, singing to, and or talking to God.

When I come into God’s presence, like I did at Beef O’ Brady’s today, sitting outside reading the book: Momentum, by Eric and Bill Johnson, I felt an avalanche hit me.   I finished the book, but there was so much more than that going back and forth between him and me. It was like the sun was shining on me, but it was His love just soaking me out there; I was smiling and celebrating His “love shower”.  I was just thanking Him for the opportunity to be in a class that was assisting my spiritual development and was drawing me closer to Him.

As I draw nearer to God daily, whether though declarations, prayer, singing, meditating on God, I see that He is drawing closer to me. The cry of my heart is that this love will begin to shine and touch others wherever I am.  Call me “lovesick”, and I’ll tell you it’s true. Call me “love-struck”, and I‘ll tell you it’s true.

Worship is more than what happens on a Sunday morning or at any given service, though He can and does move. Worship is a lifestyle; it’s a tangible life-giving gift that anyone can enjoy. To be with the Master and Savior, to revel in His love, to rejoice in who He is are just a few of the things I think about when I focus on the Lord. It’s like a window opens between Earth and Heaven. My spirit skips the clouds and goes straight to His bosom. Can you tell I am in love? When we have this secure intimacy and connection to the secret place, nothing can touch us because we soar above the clouds and troubles.

Hey, I never know how or if God will move during a worship service as I am leading, I just travel to the space above; my heart searches for Him. It’s just another time to meet Him. Yes, I set my expectations high and pray before service and ask Him to move, but my focus is still on me meeting God in an encounter that takes me higher and gets me closer to Him. Yes, I want to see Him move and do miracles, but I don't worship God to attempt to manipulate Him to move. I come into his presence and worship the "Great I Am".

Take a moment and think about the concepts in this blog. What can you do to draw closer to God? If you have not experienced this kind of love, the God kind-of-love, it’s time to open the bottle and experience Him by reading His word, talking to Him, and thanking Him. If you sense a block, ask God how to get the wall down. Nothing can separate us from His love; however, we need to be aware of His love and accept it, despite any failures we may have had. So, what is God speaking to you?