Pure worship

I thought I'd talk today about another subject that has been on my mind because it is something with which I often wrestle. At New Life Pentecostal Church, we are blessed beyond measure with the music ministry of Laura Tracy. Let me tell you - I could go on and on. It's not often enough that we encounter people who seem to have all the important areas of their lives and ministries in such balance. Laura is one of them. She and her family have been on vacation the last two sundays and I have felt lost! "What key do we do that in...?" "Do we do parts or unison here?" "Is this where we modulate?" I am convicted to pay more attention and not just be the zombie on the organ over there.

One thing Laura as tried so hard to teach us - mostly by example - is the importance of preparation and a pure heart in coming before Him in worship. I know I need to practice to get the notes, the chords, or the words right. But what about the spiritual? Ouch. It's so easy to overlook that part. How often have I felt the prick of the Holy Spirit and felt compeled to repent for my pride, my need for recognition, my self-assurance. We always gather for 30 minutes to pray before each service - just the praise team. I love these times and I appreciate our leader prioritizing them. But I wonder: is it just because Laura requires us to be there or is it out of genuine personal desire to be cleansed and filled before I enter His presence?

I read an article in the Herald from September 2006 by Micky Mangun that has forever and permanently convicted me. I want to share a few things she wrote:

"We are spoiled. Time and again we have witnessed mighty moves of God.

We assume that He will always be in our midst. It's not that easy. We are sincere....

Sincerity is no substitute for purity......God comes to those who meet his

conditions....not because we are Apostolics....or practiced until it is perfect."

God convicted her as she went on stage to sing for an event. He gave her the scripture, Psalm 23:4. We all know it well: "Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?" It goes on to say that we must be blameless, holy, righteous and speak the truth. She felt God ask her an important question: "Was I preparing myself for worship? Or just to sing?" Ouch. I felt that. The article goes on to say that "God feels strongly enough about truth, honesty and integrity to say, "No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence." (Psalm 101: 7 NIV)

As I read this article I thought about how my pastor prepares for each service, each sermon. I don't know the details, but if I know him like I think I do, it's like preparing for warfare! I know he prays, studies, listens to God, tries to find the flow of the Spirit. One thing I know for sure is that he NEVER just preaches "old faithful" because he didn't have time to prepare for whatever reason. Now I'm preaching to myself. I've been guilty of realizing on saturday night that I had to sing sunday morning and just saying, "Oh well, I'll just sing an olie but a goodie." I got to reading in I Chronicles 25 and II Chronicles 5:13-14 about the preparation and requirements of the musicians and the results of that preparation. Seems God put just as much weight on the musicians and singers as he did the priests. That really spoke to me.

I wonder how my ministry would change if I approached it like my pastor does? After all, we've heard it many times that they'll remember a song long after they've forgotten a sermon. If that's true, then my conviction is growing even more! So I've resolved that there's no room for a casual attitude when it comes to music ministry. Real, genuine ministry.

I'll wrap up with a final word from Sis. Mangun: "God comes only to those who are prepared (emphasis mine) to enter His presence. These are the people He permits to worship Him."