“While they were worshiping as priests before the Lord in prayer and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “I have called Barnabas and Saul to do an important work for me. Now, release them to go and fulfill it.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2-3)
First notice is says they were worshipping, but how? In prayer and fasting. We must really understand that worship is far greater than just singing along to a song. Beloved that is praise, and it’s a form of worship. “Come on, everyone! Let’s sing for joy to the Lord! Let’s shout our loudest praises to our God who saved us!” (Psalms 95:1)
We are called to be worshippers!
“From now on, worshiping the Father will not be a matter of the right place but with a right heart. For God is a Spirit, and He longs to have sincere worshipers who adore Him in the realm of the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24)
“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.” (Romans 12:1)
See how Paul says it? That living a sacrificial life, surrendered to Jesus is the genuine expression of worship! Genuine worship comes from a different place within our spirits. Worship must be reserved for Jesus alone. Worship is the art of losing self in the adoration of Him. Praise can be a part of worship, but worship goes beyond praise. Praise is easy; worship is not. Worship gets to the heart of who we are. To truly worship Jesus we must let go of our self-worship. We must be willing to humble ourselves before Him, surrender every part of our lives to His control, and adore Him for who He is, not just what He has done. Worship is a lifestyle, not just an occasional activity.
What else happens when one lives as a worshipper?
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice:” (Psalms 95:6-7)
We are to hear His voice, which leads us to obey Him. So genuine worship must lead to lovesick obedience! “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
Playlists can my no means replace prayer and true praise! I promise as one grows in the Lord, He will prompt you to shut it all off and begin to mold you in stillness and to see what praise comes from within you! Beloved this is the praise that He inhabits!
Tehillah- This type of praise is singing, but not just any type of singing. It’s the singing that bubbles up from our hearts. It’s a spontaneous type of singing. These songs are unrehearsed and unprepared. They are straight to the Lord. Psalm 22:3 these are the types of “praises'' that He enthrones or inhabits, which is interesting because it’s so specific: Jesus literally lives in the SPONTANEOUS praises of His people!; Psalm 33:1 this type of praise is “fitting” for God’s people, and it produces “beauty”; this is the only praise that brings one into His courts (Ps. 100:4); When Isaiah talks about trading garments of ashes and mourning for garments of joy and praise, the word praise literally means SPONTANEOUS praise (Isa. 61:3)!
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise {tehillah}.” (Jeremiah 17:14)