Worship

Praise and Worship - The Essentials

One the five goals of Union Temple Baptist church is that we be a WORSHIPPING CHURCH.  This is a vital part of our ministry and an essential part of the African American cultural and biblical heritage.  As African people in America, praise is our means of celebrating, connecting and communing with our Creator. The praise and worship experience … the shout and dance… the clapping and singing have always been a vital part of our survival in America.  It has been our source of hope and strength in and often oppressing environment.  Praise and worship is particularly important for oppressed populations because is serves as an opportunity to escape current conditions and circumstances and to be submerged into the consciousness of the awesome power of God that resides within us.

The story of King Jehosophat is a great illustration of why the components of praise and worship are woven throughout the experience at The Temple.  In the 20 Chapter of 2 Chronicles, King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah are on the brink of war. More specifically, the people of Judah are on the verge of being attacked and conquered by neighboring countries. They were oppressed, a vast army stood against Jehoshaphat; three nations conspired to work together to utterly destroy Judah. “Jehoshaphat was afraid and (so) he turned his attention to seek the Lord; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (20:4).  Even though his situation seemed bleak, Jehoshaphat determines to begin offering praise and worship to God.  As he praised God, King Jehosophat confessed: “we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do”. In worship he recognized that he was limited and clueless without God—and as I contemplate all of the issues of life, it can become quite overwhelming! I find myself crying out like Jehoshaphat, “I am powerless without you God!”  God I need you. Jehoshaphat had learned the principle that Jesus would later teach in His earthly ministry, that “apart from (the Lord) you can do nothing” (John. 15:5).

In worship, Jehoshaphat implores the Lord with the words, “our eyes are upon Thee” (20:12).  God knows what is best for us; he is able to move in our lives exceedingly and abundantly above our expectations.  Yet, there is greater power is seeking after his presence.  Praise and Worship causes God to move on our behalf. In our cultural tradition, our fore-fathers and fore-mothers would praise God until they were endowed with power.  Through praise and worship, the people of Judah choose to lift their hearts into the joyous presence and peace of God, and provided God a channel for his power to operate in their circumstances.  Without the experience of praise and worship, we cannot experience the totality of Gods purpose for our lives.  The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God “dwells” in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely an emotional reaction from coming into His presence - Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God! Praise and worship is the “all access pass” which allows us to enter the sacredness of God’s glory. 

Jehoshaphat turned his eyes upon the Lord, and he was subsequently delivered from the hands of his enemies. The people of Judah were powerless, but they worshipped, and sought after, a God who was all-powerful; a God who would fight on their behalf.  The praisers went, ahead of the army declaring, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever!” And the scripture says, “...when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set an ambush against those that had come against Judah; and they were destroyed” (2 Chronicles 20:22).   I challenge you to become a person of praise, and you will experience the release of the power of God!

Sincerely,

Rev. Anika Wilson Brown, Minister of Music UTBC

What is Praise and Worship? <next>