I’m not going to sing my greeting to you this morning, but I do want to welcome you to “Mornings with Bishop Robert” — thanks for joining me. Come on in, have a seat with me in my study and make yourself comfortable.
Joy on the inside will show on the outside, it puts a song in your heart that often makes it to your lips, too. When that joy comes from the Lord God Almighty, the songs that come out are songs of worship and praise. There’s truly nothing in life that’s quite like truly experiencing the presence of God in worship. It’s not just singing, it’s so much more than that. Confusing singing with worship is like confusing marital intimacy with exercise; there may be some similarities, but one of them encompasses every aspect of who you are.
Worship awakens our inner soul, it makes us conscious of the holiness of God deep within our heart. Worship feeds our mind with the truth of God. Worship washes over our imagination with the beauty of God, and opens our hearts wider and wider to the love of God. True worship focuses upon God and His glory, and so encourages us to be fully devoted to the purpose of God in our lives.
Today’s verse says I WILL SING OF THE MERCIES OF THE LORD FOREVER
Singing of the mercies of the Lord is an expression of worship.
I love to sing. I’m not sure that I’m any good at it, and I’m certainly better at it in my head than in real life. There are many times my voice doesn’t have the skill to pull off what I hear in my head.
One of my favorite places to sing is in Christ Church Jerusalem. During my years in Israel, I often used the Christ Church facility just inside the Jaffa Gate as my base of operations. The combination of peaceful gardens, an excellent coffee shop and friendly people was enhanced by the church itself. I would often take a “worship break” in the afternoons and slip into the church. I had a playlist of instrumental worship songs on my phone; and I would sit in the front row, play the music and simply lift my voice to worship my King.
God loves to hear us worship Him in song. When we choose to lift our voices to Him in song, it is pleasing to His heart. He encourages us in His word to come before Him with JOYFUL SONGS. Some of us have been told that we have terrible voices. I have, but it doesn’t stop me from using it to worship! And even if the person who said you have a terrible singing voice was right, God says it’s fine if we just make a JOYFUL NOISE. So whether your voice would make Pavarotti jealous or not, you have the ability to lift up a song of praise. Make a JOYFUL NOISE unto the Lord!
Singing of His mercies is a reflection of God’s love for us, making known His absolute faithfulness. Worship is like a mirror reflecting the beauty of God in ways that we can behold it. So we sing of steadfast love and justice, attributes of His glory that are reflected in our lives. And we sing to Him, making music that reflects His character. We praise Him for His faithfulness. In heaven we will sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not stand in awe, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Worship brings joy to our hearts because it opens our eyes to the beauty of His majesty. When we worship the Lord our God, His blessing comes upon us. His healing flows. His power is poured out like oil and runs down our heads.
Worship is also a form of warfare against the enemy. When the battle rages and the final outcome is as yet unseen, choosing to sing a song of praise to God is a weapon of immense value. And when your heart is filled with worries and fear, you can sing them out. Raising your voice in worship will press fear to the side as God’s presence fills your heart with joy.
So, let loose! Lift up your voice and sing out to God in worship. The followers of Jesus are going to be singing His praises forever, so we may as well start now!
