Culture and Church (Worship)
What I have been sharing with you is how we can effectively impact the culture of our communities. So far we have discussed the need for transformation of our cultures and communities and then we began to share how this takes place. The thing that we need to realize is that it takes a deliberate effort on our part to change the culture. We have to say yes we want to do this. Having said that I want to share with you another way we permeate culture, worship.
Worship sends a signal. It allows us access to God and allows us to respond to His greatness but worship is more than that. Worship sends a signal into the spiritual realm. In his book "Power Shifters" Michael Pitts says "Worship is our response to the Holy Spirit by exalting God above every other principality or power in heaven or in earth." (Page 66) Worship sends a signal into the heavenlies and principalities and powers must take note. The really cool thing about this is that it takes power away from the enemy. Our praise brings defeat to his doorstep.
A very tangible image of this is found in Acts 16:25-34 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-- he and his whole family.(NIV) This is a great example of how worship altered the culture and people were drawn to the light. Wow! I can hardly contain the joy that comes from reading an account like this.
If your world is in conflict and you are hard pressed on every side, begin to praise and worship and watch what happens. Glorify God at every opportunity. People will begin to take note that your attitude does not change from day to day and circumstance to circumstance if you choose to worship every day no matter what. And when they see God at work in your life you can begin to influence there lives for the kingdom therefore changing the culture in your sphere of influence. Praise HIM today, worship HIM today, the culture will change around you. Until later.
~SO~
Worship sends a signal. It allows us access to God and allows us to respond to His greatness but worship is more than that. Worship sends a signal into the spiritual realm. In his book "Power Shifters" Michael Pitts says "Worship is our response to the Holy Spirit by exalting God above every other principality or power in heaven or in earth." (Page 66) Worship sends a signal into the heavenlies and principalities and powers must take note. The really cool thing about this is that it takes power away from the enemy. Our praise brings defeat to his doorstep.
A very tangible image of this is found in Acts 16:25-34 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-- you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-- he and his whole family.(NIV) This is a great example of how worship altered the culture and people were drawn to the light. Wow! I can hardly contain the joy that comes from reading an account like this.
If your world is in conflict and you are hard pressed on every side, begin to praise and worship and watch what happens. Glorify God at every opportunity. People will begin to take note that your attitude does not change from day to day and circumstance to circumstance if you choose to worship every day no matter what. And when they see God at work in your life you can begin to influence there lives for the kingdom therefore changing the culture in your sphere of influence. Praise HIM today, worship HIM today, the culture will change around you. Until later.
~SO~
posted by Pastor Ken | 8:37 AM
3 Comments:
ROCCK ON MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow!!!!!! I love that mental picture of what the enemy has to do when we worship, he has to back down!!! I love worship!
a
Just as in the story where Moses held his hands up during the battle, as long as his arms were up, the ey were winning the battle. But when he put his arms down then they would begin to lose the battle. So when we raise our hands to God in worship,and praise, we have power through that to be victorious? I think so.
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