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The Revelation in Worship October 22, 2007 By John Hensley
Matt Redman gives a beautifully concise definition of worship: “All true worship is a response to the revelation of God.” God reveals, we respond; this is the essence of worship. Only with the same measure that we can grasp the revelation of who God is, can we respond in worship to Him.
We are too often a response-driven group of worshippers who are devoid of revelation and this hinders our worship from delving into the deeper depths of an unfathomably awesome God.
We often categorize worship as either modern/contemporary or hymnals/classics. When we classify worship as a preference for a certain type of music, I believe we are missing the point of worship. In true worship music isn’t the focal point; the throne sets the tone.
The Bible on Worship If we are to truly understand worship, we should look to the scriptures for examples of true worship and how it manifests itself. There is no better place to begin this search for true worship than in heaven itself, where sinless creatures see God for who He really is and respond accordingly.
God gives us a unique glimpse into this picture throughout the book of Revelation. One instance occurs in Revelation 4:
And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.
When the angels, the four living creatures, and the 24 elders face up to the glory of God, they soon find themselves face down in worship. They never grow weary, day or night, crying the same phrases of worship to God. Notice how there is no mention of preference of music, of self, of me; these things don’t matter in the presence of God.
How much do our regular worship gatherings reflect the picture of pure worship in heaven? Do we regularly see congregations grasping a revelation of a God so holy and pure that they find themselves face-down in worship?
Keeping Scriptural Worship Alive While stylistic change in music is inevitable, it should not be the defining aspect of worship. What many modern worship leaders and songwriters have come to realize is that worship must not be about self. Worship is about Jesus Christ, a revelation of who He is, and giving back to Him a response that overflows from that revelation.
This is not limited, however, to modern songs; many songwriters in the past understood this concept and wrote songs that echoed this sentiment. Hymns such as “How Great Thou Art” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness” were written as a response to the revelation of God.
On the other hand, in both modern and classic worship, we see songs that do not stem from this principle and tend to be me-focused.
True worship at any age, in any culture and with any style manifests itself in the same way: it is a response to the revelation of God.
Much of the success of the modern movement depends on how it embraces or rejects this principle. As a worship leader I am optimistic that many 21st century Apostolics are returning to this simple precept, seeing the evidence of this face-down worship in gatherings across the nation.
May God continue to shape us into the mold of true worshippers as we respond to an ever-enlarging revelation of His radiant glory. ninetyandnine.com © 2007, John Hensley
--------- John Hensley lives in Memphis, TN where he serves as the Minister of Worship at Bethel Pentecostal Church. He is a classically trained pianist who started his musical training at age three at the University of Memphis. While worship and classical music are his passions, he also specializes in first generation Nintendo theme songs.
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