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Without MusicTrue Worship
by J. Ross Greer of The Place of Grace Ministries (about the ministry)
[Note: If you'd like to read more from J. Ross Greer, be sure to subscribe to his daily e-mail list A Word For The Church.]
8And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” 9And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
So much of our worship is connected in our minds with a particular style of music. However, as we examine the worship in Heaven, we will see that music really has little to do with the concept of true worship.
These passages reveal the worship in Heaven shortly after the church in raptured from the earth. The focus is immediately upon the character and works of God. We are introduced to four creatures who 24/7 verbally declare the holiness of God. Believers are seen falling before the Almighty in worship saying that He alone is worthy because He is the Creator.
The focus of worship shifts in Chapter Five to that of the Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain they cry out with a loud voice. No orchestra, no fanfare. Nothing except verbal worship from the inhabitants of Heaven.
Is it wrong, then, to worship with music? Absolutely not! However, this does instruct us to place our focus upon the One being worship. Worship is about God, who He is and what He is doing. It is never to be about music style. That, by necessity, must change with each generation. God is not looking for old, tired, praise, but commands new songs to be sung in His presence. Our worship should always be changing, because God is always doing new things in our lives.
Copyright 2002, The Place of Grace Ministries. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About The Place of Grace Ministries: In 1992, God interrupted the well-organized life of J. Ross Greer through a study called "Experiencing God". This encounter birthed a passionate vision for local churches that has become The Place of Grace Ministries. Through teaching, music, and writing, we call believers to return to the basic principles of God's Word and participate in the work of God. For questions or scheduling information, please contact us at: theplaceofgrace@att.net Or visit our web site at: http://home.att.net/~theplaceofgrace/theplaceofgrace.html |
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