PROPHETIC WORSHIP

Revelation 4:8-11  -  Key Verse 4:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Introduction

a) Worship is prophetic: it includes this concept of God's self-revelation.

Revelation 19:10b: . . . worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (KJV, NIV, NASB)

. . . It is God you must worship, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit that inspires prophecy. (NEB)

". . . Worship God. " Testimony to Jesus is the spirit which underlies Prophecy. (1912 Weymouth NT)

b) Worship must be defined by what the Lord is doing not what we are doing.

c) Our worship flows out of a revelation of the Lord.

It is impossible to really worship God unless we have had a revelation of God. Once we have had a revelation of Him, I believe it is impossible not to worship.

Prophetic worship does not need to be a "hit or miss" experience for the church. Surely it should be the norm for us to regularly encounter God in a most profound and prophetic manner in our church services. We must make a way for God to "uncover" Himself, or manifest Himself before His people. He is a gentleman and will not "invade" our services. He is patiently waiting to respond to our longings.

   Worship is a verb. It is not something done to us or for us, but by us. —Robert Webber   

Prophetic Worship And the Worship Team

a) The goal is the glory of God—not excellence. Art is a means to an end. Success is measured by the presence of God and His work in our lives.  (VIDEO ON WORSHIPPING CHURCHES)

b) Prophesy on the instruments.  Can a guitar prophesy?

c) Sing the prophetic song.

1 Chron. 25:1-7 David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals....and the sons of Asaph...prophesied according to the order of the King...Jeduthun prophesied with a harp...Heman the King's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn...All these (sons and daughters) were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord...were instructed in the songs of the Lord.

d) Craft the sight and sound of God.

e) Singers, musicians and dancers to flow as one—unity in spirit and heart

Prophetic Worship and the Congregation

a) The whole congregation is a holy, royal, priesthood. Each one is responsible for participating in the service and ministering to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (NASB)

b) The hearing of God's voice for today is one of the primary objectives of prophetic worship.  (My experience – I got a prophesy – a stirring in my heart to prophesy. – made some announcement. (next week a human special speaker is coming). Don’t rush in worshipping God. Don’t drag too long when there is nothing.

Who is speaking?  Response in faith and love.

Ø  God speaking to us about Himself

Ø  God speaking to us about us     

True worship has no room for a spectating heart — Sammy Tippet

New Testament expectation of worship—1 Cor. 14:7-8, 15, 24–26.

Worship is not a matter of skill and technique.  It is not confined to just singing some songs during a weekend service, it is a lifestyle and daily experience. True worship flows from the life of one who has an intimate relationship with God. Obedience to God is the highest act of worship – then serving and loving God follows.

In Revelation 7:9-10 – “I looked, and beheld, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb!"  

There are eight crucial areas of unity in this worship expression: Provision……… They are all wearing white robes of righteousness. Praise………….. They are all singing the same words Purpose………..They are all worshipping the Lamb Pageantry……..They are all waving palm branches Proclamation…They are all crying with loud voices Perspective……They are all beholding the Lamb Place……………..They are all before the throne Posture………….They are all standing and in unison.