Rooted Praise and Worship
The vision of the Worship Ministry at the Full Gospel Church, Johannesburg South, is to lead others to live lives of worship in all venues of life and not to merely lead songs during a church service, and as a praise and worship team to be rooted in the word of God in our understanding of praise and worship.
In Romans 12:1, Paul the apostle writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship.” A practical definition of worship states that worship is the strategy by which we interrupt our preoccupation with ourselves and attend to the presence of God. This definition does not speak of music, instruments, singing or song, but it implies a wholehearted devotion to walking in constant relationship with God. We believe that God created us to live in constant fellowship, or unbroken communion, with Him.
The fall of man brought eternal separation from God, which the Father remedied through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, who died for our sins and for our salvation. Through Jesus we obtain eternal life and direct access to God. Worship is what we do to realize His presence and stay in communion with Him. John 4:23‐24 states, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
Whatever setting we may find ourselves, be it in the home, in the market place, in a church gathering, or in the community, we look to the Lord to live the following lifestyle:
• Living in unbroken communion with God, the sharing of our thoughts and emotions with Him
• A lifestyle identifiable by an obvious interchange of love between God and His people
• The presence of God is evident and tangible
• Aware of and eager to live in God’s presence, desperate for communion with Him
• Reaching out to God with joyful abandon
• Submissive to Him
• Living in one accord with the Holy Spirit and with each other
What Is Praise and Worship
Praise is an act or demonstration that expresses thanks, gratitude, and worth. Praise must be vocalized or demonstrated. If you are going to praise a child, you can’t just think good thoughts about the child, you must express those thoughts. Worship is recognizing God’s presence and responding to His leading.
Why Do We Praise and Worship
We praise because God is worthy. Psalms 96:4 says: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.” We praise because He has commanded us to praise Him ‐ 1 Chronicles 16:8 ‐ 10 says: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name, make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. Glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.” We worship because He’s commanded us to worship Him ‐ 1 Chronicles 16:28 ‐ 30 says: “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendour (beauty) of His Holiness.”
We worship because God is looking for worshipers! (Luke 19:40). He desires to manifest Himself to and through worshipers! (II Chronicles 16:9, John 4:23 & 24, Psalms 95:6). In doing so, we minister to the Lord (Ezekiel 44:15 & 16, I Peter 2:9). As we worship, we draw near to God, He draws near to us (Hebrews 10:19‐25; James. 4:8) and we, consequently, respond to His presence (Luke 19:35‐40). Our worship consists of personal interaction with God and of service to Him. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to Him while Martha was busy with the chores. The Lord’s own answer was that Mary chose what was better (Luke 10:38‐42). It is our sincere desire to nurture this same value in the hearts of those called to worship here.
How Do We Praise and Worship
The Bible is full of references to praise and worship. The following list of Biblical expressions of worship is not intended to be limiting or exhaustive in any way:
• Singing to Him. (Colossians 3:16; Psalms 149:1; II Chronicles 29:27)
• Singing new songs. (Psalms 144:9) fresh or unused.
• Singing or speaking with your spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:15) Refers specifically to “tongues”.
• Playing musical instruments. (Psalms 150:3‐5, Psalms 149:3, Psalms 144:9, II Chronicles 5:11‐14 and 29:25‐30)
• Shouting joyfully to Him. (Psalms 47:1, Ezra 3:10 and 11) Praising God LOUDLY for His triumphs.
• Weeping. (Ezra 3:12 and 13) Response of intimacy, joy, awe in God’s presence, etc.
• Lifting up our hands. (Nehemiah 8:6) An outward expression of our hearts. Shows dependence, gratitude or surrender.
• Bowing low with our faces to the ground. (Nehemiah 8:6, Psalms 95:6 and 7) Demonstrating reverence & respect.
• Kneeling. (Psalms 95:6) Shows humility, meekness and submission.
• Lying Prostrate. (Revelation 1: 17) Total awe, fear, reverence, humility or adoration.
• Standing in His presence. (Deuteronomy 10:8) Acknowledgement of reverence and service to royalty.
• Clapping our hands. (Psalms 47:1) “The Father’s heartbeat”. Release of joy & thanks. Also a powerful tool against the enemy’s strongholds, many times combined with shouting, praise and singing.
• Dancing. (I Chronicles 15:29, Psalms 149:3 and 150:4, 2 Samuel 6:14‐16, Exodus 15:20) Celebrates God’s victory and is a full expression of joy or rejoicing, also expresses intimacy with the Lord.
• Giving Thanks. (I Corinthians 10:16)
Worship Team Expectations
The vision, purpose, mission, and goal of the Worship Ministry here at Full Gospel Johannesburg South Church is to lead people to live lives of worship. There could be many strategies to achieve that purpose. Primarily we are a ministry team that follows the leading of the Holy Spirit to facilitate a connection with a real, living, loving God.
As a ministry team this happens when we are engaged in an authentic demonstration of devotion and we help facilitate the practice of unbroken communion with God in and outside the church through outreach programs. The emotional release of “soulful” music cannot compare to a life‐transforming encounter with the Holy Spirit. This is key to our purpose. An encounter with a real God leads to a lifestyle of worship and transformation, where good, emotional music, provides temporary feelings and entertainment.