Twinkle Star...

music sunday's just over... sat through 3 services with the choir. heard the sermon thrice but it spoke to me each time... it was a powerful message and it set me thinking about the music ministry and our approach to worship.

we should never merely respond to the atmosphere... we should never forget that it's about experiencing God's power, not let it become a ritual that we perform week after week... we should be careful not to worship worship. worship should not be the focus. God is. when our focus shift, it becomes something else that does not please the Lord.

How then, should worship be? it should be intelligent, beneficial to the strengthening of the church, instructed, encouraging, peace (not disorder), fitting and orderly...

Rev. Ng then talked about the points to note about worship...

1. worship is not only music/song.
so many times we sing the song only because we like the melody or just because it's popular. our focus is wrong. it's not about how nice the music sounds, it's the condition of the heart. mean what we sing and sing only what we mean.

2. Music can manipulate.
i always knew that music could stir emotions but i never knew that it is so powerful. when he showed us the pictures without music, it was nothing really affecting. but once the music was added in, i felt more emotional. now that we know this, we should be careful and set our focus on God. and ONLY on Him.

3. Performance vs Service.
i think this is so true... being in the music min. in YF and in church, very often i would have the chance to lead worship in YF and sunday school and sing in the choir... there would be times i would forget who i'm doing it for. it would be taken as a performance, with the attitude of expecting applause and praises. that should not be the case. we should do it for Him as a service and not treat it like a performance. there is no performer. and there is only ONE audience - God.

4. Favourite/Popular vs Relevant.
the songs we choose for worship should also be in sync with sermon topic and should help enhance the message... not to sing the songs for the sake of singing the songs. not to sing the songs because everyone else is singing it. not to sing the songs because we know it. not to sing the songs because it's nice.

5. Focus on Christ vs Self.

6. Pleasing/acceptable to God?
what we like to do/think it's ok might not be pleasing in God's eyes... it doesn't mean that we have to do what's everyone's doing. before we do anything, we should put ourselves in God's perspective.

7. "Boring service" may reflect your personal walk with God.
sunday is not the time to play catch up with God. it would be too much to digest if we haven't been walking with the Lord... we have to walk with him everyday. if the service is boring to you, it's time to sit down and have a good talk with Him.

there are 2 songs that we sang that really spoke to me. it was Let us exalt His name together and In Christ Alone, i heard the first song last year during global music sunday and it touched me everytime we sang it... the words are so meaningful and it reflects what i want to say to the Lord... i first heard In Christ Alone during the recent thai mission trip... the canadians were asking whether i know this song and taught me how to sing it... the words are just so strong...

Let's us exalt His name together

At all times i will bless Him;
His praise will be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord.
The humble man will hear of Him;
The afflicted will be glad
And join with me to magnify the Lord.

The angel of the Lord encamps round
those who fear His name.
To save them and deliver them from harm.
Though lions roar with hunger,
we lack for no good thing.
No wonder then we praise Him with our song.

Come children, now and hear me
If you would see long life.
Just keep your lips from wickedness and lies.
Do good and turn from evil;
seek peace instead of strife.
Love righteousness and God will hear your cry.

Let us exalt His name together forever.
I sought the Lord He heard me;
and delivered me from my fears.
Let us exalt His name together forever.
Oh, sing His praises, magnify the Lord.

"we do not worship God only when we sing worship songs, we worship Him all the time, 24/7."

Labels: Christian/Church