• SHOW VIDEO: Thoughts on Worship

• Spirit & Truth – authentic worship which flows from our relationship with the Lord.

• The Father is looking . . . • God is looking for worshipers—true worshipers. • He is looking for those who are not ashamed to

worship Him. • When He looks at you, what does He find!

• This morning I want to talk about truly being free to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

• So many people have preconceived ideas concerning worship.

• Now is the time for us to throw off those weights and worship the Lord in freedom and without fear and embarrassment.

• Before we do, let’s review some of what we have already discussed about Worship.

1. God created us to worship.

2. It is not a question of if you are worshiping, but what?

3. Jesus alone is worthy of our worship.

4. Worship is a lifestyle. It’s a 24/7 thing!

5. We worship God for 2 reasons:– We worship God for Who He is.– We worship God for what He has done for us.– Remember that Who God is, is what He does for us. – He is the Healer (Who He is). – He heals our body (What He does).

6. The First Battle and the Last Battle are about the same thing—Worship!

7. The battle for man’s worship still rages. • The question is what are you going to worship?

8.God is raising up a Generation of Worshipers in these Last Days who are not afraid to worship Him.

• He desires that you be in that number and truly be free to worship Him.

• I believe we are a part of that generation God promised He would raise up!

• A generation that would be created to Praise Him!

• One of the ways the Lord is speaking to His people today—through worship songs and choruses.

• As I stated last week, there has been a literal explosion of worship songs coming out from all over the world!

• It is a global movement that I believe God desires for each of us who love Him to be a part of.

• He wants us to be free to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

• Psalm 96:1 – Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

• This verse summarizes what we have been saying.• Let the whole world sing new songs of worship to the

Lord!• Guess what?• They are!

• I used to wonder what new songs meant?• That was before I began to worship the Lord on my own

during my personal devotions. • I grew up in a church where we sang hymns about God, but

I didn’t know that I could sing songs of worship to Him. • New Songs are songs that come up out of our spirit when

we are worshiping the Lord ourselves. • This is the source of most all worship choruses being sung

today. • Shout to the Lord and Breathe came this way.

• There are 2 types of songs being sung in churches today around the world.

1. Vertical Worship – Songs that we sing directly to the Lord.

• They are personal and directed to the Lord. • Many of the simple worship choruses fall into this

category.2. Horizontal Worship – These are songs that we sing

about God or general songs about the Lord. • Most hymns fall into this category.

• Not saying one is better than the other.• Each has its place in worship.• Since the middle 1990’s, the majority of all worship

music has been vertical worship. • This is because they are new songs which are

flowing out of our spirits and are based on a relationship with Jesus.

• This is a fairly new thing that the Church is beginning to tap into.

• It has always been there, but it has been restored to front and center in this hour.

• This is something that each of us needs to move into during our own private times with the Lord.

• God is preparing the Church for what we will be doing in heaven.

• Even in heaven, they are singing new songs of worship to the Lord.

• Remember when we discussed Revelation 5:9a – And they sang a new song with these words . . .

• Remember in the Lord’s Prayer . . . Let Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven?

• It is certainly God’s will in heaven that we worship Him and sing new songs directed to Him.

• Then, it must be His will that we do it here on earth as well.

• I believe this is part of what the Apostle Paul is referring to in Ephesians.

• Ephesians 5:17-20 – Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)

• This shows a sharp contrast between being drunk and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

• Getting drunk only produces a temporary “high” but the crash afterwards only adds to your woes.

• Drunkenness is associated with our old way of life in our B.C. days.

• As a believer we have a much better option now!• Being filled with the Holy Spirit, produces joy, peace

and contentment, is a potent antidote to the depression and stress that many try to escape through alcohol and drugs.

• What happens when we are under the influence of the Holy Spirit? Ephesians 5:19 – Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

• Paul gives us 3 by-products in verse 19: – singing– making music– giving thanks!

• Part of the Holy Spirit’s role is to turn the spotlight on Jesus.

• That is why new songs are usually vertical in nature because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit.

• Their purpose is to worship the Lord and to turn our attention directly toward Him.

• There is a real calming and peace that descends when we begin to tap into worship on a regular basis.

• It takes our eyes off our problems and puts them where they belong—on Jesus!

• When He inhabits our praises, answers and solutions begin to be released and fear and worry flee.

• When I am at an impasse, I often begin to worship.• Then the heaviness & confusion will lift & clarity flows. • Paul is giving us insight into something that is very

important in dealing with our problems. • Don’t sulk, internalize them or do the opposite—blast

people. • Don’t turn to cheap escape routes like drugs, food or

alcohol, but begin to worship the Lord. • At first it may seem hollow, but as you press in, the Spirit of

God will fill your life and bring answers!

• Remember that we have established that worship is a lifestyle that we are to practice 24/7!

• This is a nugget that we are going to need as we enter into the years ahead of us.

• It will be a great source of comfort, peace and direction.

• It is really simple to break into this Generation of Worshipers that Jesus is looking for.

• Most believers who have entered into worshiping the Lord have had a breakthrough moment.

• It was a moment when you are freed from embarrassment and began to worship God freely.

• This is a time when you drop the hesitancy and begin to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

• It all begins with a choice!

• Pastor Hal – Grew up in a denominational church and only sang hymns about God.

• It never occurred to me that I could sing directly to the Lord.

• I was embarrassed about worshiping the Lord outwardly.

• I felt like if I were to raise my hands, for instance, everyone in the place would be watching me.

• Waist high, shoulder high and then all the way up!

• Lisa’s Testimony – She went all out from the beginning.

• Renee’s Testimony

• Becky’s Testimony

• Are you ready to break free to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth?

• If you do, I promise you no one will think bad of you and God will even smile!