Missional Worship

Just a quick Word of encouragement to the worship community (namely, all of us who have been redeemed and live to radiate authentic gratitude for the Cross of Christ)…

God has been exhorting me to concentrate less on naturals and hone in on the supernatural concerning what it means to missionally worship— yielding (not creating, for that’s God’s job and not a church’s) atmospheres to evangelistic worship. This may sound slightly intangible and different, but let me explain.

The Church of Jesus Christ — you and I — can veer off into one of two imbalances: Being too heavenly minded for earthly good, or being a “Christian” carbon copy of the world. The reality is that we are stationed in two realms simultaneously. We are spiritually positioned in Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places as voices that proceed from the Throne of God (which is such a powerful Truth concerning our spiritual placement), and, at the same time, we are on earth — strangers, foreigners, and aliens, indeed— but nevertheless, “on earth.” Until the consummation of the age when Jesus physically returns to Earth, we are anointed and charged to see that the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God.

Ultimately, God’s agenda for lost humanity is divine Kingdom-drafting. Jesus did not commission us to “go ye therefore and make converts of all nations.” He intentionally used the term “disciple.” People who are radically touched and transformed by the Living Christ to go forward and imitate Him— to literally “be Jesus” on Earth, a people who truly grasp that they are His temple, His tabernacle, His house, His vehicle, His body on Earth.

Fine and good, but what has the power to create a disciple? Programs don’t. Emotionally appealing altar calls don’t. Church-as-usual does not. What can instigate a true, lasting, supernatural change in the hearts of the once-lost, and, in a miraculous moment, transform the “chief of all sinners” into a radical Kingdom advancer?

The presence of the Awesome One. A genuine, real-deal encounter with the Living, tangible, loving, powerful, mighty Yahweh. Okay, so, where does missional worship concept come into play? Very simply, Scripture reminds us that the God of heaven inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). His presence is magnetically drawn to the fragrance of true, authentic, extravagant, selfless, yielded worship. Not “I’ll worship to get my breakthrough.” That’s selfishness and shame on us for even buying into that garbage. Not “I’ll worship because God NEEDS it.” He’s entirely self-sufficient, so let’s give up believing that mess. Not “I’ll worship because I like the music.” Nothing to do with music. Not “I’ll worship when I feel like worshipping.” David declared, “I will bless the Lord at all times…” “I will.” There’s an element of decidedly lifting one’s eyes beyond circumstance and fixing gaze upon the beautiful Savior. In short, true worship is of the Romans 12:1 caliber.

“In view of God’s mercy” we offer up our lives as living sacrifices. Genuine Spirit and Truth worship begins with a revelation of Truth — the Truth of the Cross of Christ, the blood of Jesus, and our eternal gratitude for being radically liberated from a horrific fate that we chose and was well-deserved. We don’t just worship for worship’s sake. The Cross is the ultimate manifestation of God’s glorious mercy, so that is what we fix our focus upon and in turn, respond to. We respond to everything it represents and the endless dimensions of God-revelation it has generously opened us to.

The reality is that when we understand the missional, or evangelistic byproducts of worship, something glorious happens. Now granted, we don’t worship just so that something happens in our atmosphere, personally or corporately. We worship Him because He is Jehovah. Ah, but in worship, we must possess an undergirding understanding and expectation of the sovereign move of the Spirit of God. He DOES respond to our praise and DESIRES to move in our midst.

“Change the atmosphere…” I sense that this is a phrase emerging from the Spirit. God wants to supernaturally transform atmospheres. I believe He wants to charge whole environments with a spirit of revival and evangelism. When we as believers encounter God in the midst of Spirit & Truth worship, we are revived by His presence and long to worship Him and in turn, manifest His will on earth all the more! When the lost are present in these atmospheres, in accordance with God’s sovereignty in salvation, the Spirit cannot help but go after these folks and do what He does best — powerfully introduce sinners to Jesus Christ. I’ve seen it; it is incredible.

I pray that we would be mindful of this supernatural dimension while we worship God. It can never just be about singing songs… even singing songs to God. God wants to tangible release Himself into atmospheres, by His Mighty Spirit, and awaken the sleeping, revive the dying, and save the sin-stained. So, while we gather to worship in church, or we are jamming in our cars, I pray that we would prophesy to the ever present looming clouds, be it over our churches, over our neighborhoods, over our cities, over the nations — “Let it rain…”