The Encounter of Worship
The Worship Team believes that worship happens when we are determined to have a personal encounter with God, and it becomes contagious and spreads to those whom we are leading. We believe that there is a rhythm of worship that begins and ends with passion, my passion. We will use the acrostic P.A.S.S.I.O.N. to illustrate:
P.A.S.S.I.O.N.
P
- (Pursue) - To pursue God means that I am actively chasing God the way He
chases me with the goal of communion on a personal level. I am exhibiting
the love for God that will help those whom I am leading in worship know what
God means to me.
which leads to
A
- (Available) - Being available to worship means that I have done the
groundwork to prepare my
mind and heart to be eager to worship. Here, I have put aside all
distractions and I am open for whatever God would have me to do.
which leads to
S
- (Surrender) - When I surrender to God, I am opening my hands and dropping
everything that competes for the God-spot in my life. I am saying to the
Holy Spirit, "Have Your way in my heart!"
which leads to
S
- (Sacrifice) - There is a time when after I have done all I can do to
prepare myself for worship that I must actually begin to give my whole self
in worship. Here, I don't leave anything behind and I thrust myself into
meeting with God. David said, "I will not offer anything to God that doesn't
cost me." Sacrifice is the cost of surrender.
which leads to
I
- (Intimacy) - This is the challenge in my life to move deeper and closer to
God. During my times of worship, it is evident that I have entered a new
arena of knowing more of God and He knows more of me.
which leads to
O
- (Obedience) - I am in obedience to God when my worship of Him reflects
that I have spent time in His Word, and I am daily reflecting on how I can
become a better Christian and worshipper. Being obedient is where I am
hungry, hungry to know what God says and I am pursuing His commandments.
which leads to
N
- (Naked) - This is where I stand before God in worship completely stripped
of everything. I am in unity and harmony with the Holy Spirit, and I am now
having and leading others in uninhibited communion. This is illustrated as
Adam and Eve were both bare and unashamed before God.
My
passion comes as a direct reflection of what Christ did for me. Jesus said
in Matthew 20:28 "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served
but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." (NLT)
The encounter of worship is a repetitive cycle that continues as I daily
"give my life" to God during my walk with Him. The Great Commission is being
accomplished as I share this experience with those around me, and I am active
in teaching and leading from my experience with the Holy Spirit.
We pray that you will join us for worship at Agape and that you will find
the encouragement you need to not just endure your week - but to ENJOY all
of the blessings of your life.
