Today's message at church really resinated with me. It had to do with music and how we worship God with our everyday lives. The passage that was the focal point of the sermon was in Psalm 100:1-4 from the "The Message" translation of the Bible:
"On your feet now- applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.
Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn't make Him. We're His people, His well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him."
This entire passage of scripture is active with verbs: on your feet- applaud- sing- enter. All of these things are to be done unto God. Why? Because "God is God, and God, God". Our Pastor repeated this part of the scripture a few times- mainly because I think she just wanted to make sure that we all got it!! God is God is God is God ya'll .... He longs to be worshiped by His creation- US! THIS is why we were created, to be in fellowship with Him and worship Him.
One of my favorite ways to worship God is through music. We learned today that Psalm means "a sacred song or hymn in the Old Testament". So basically this is the original Classic Rock music in my opinion. Praising God in song with our voice, our movements, our instruments, brings a joy to our souls that the world cannot match. Why is that? I believe it's because that is what we were made for- it's our calling- our true form that God intended for us. There is a song that was released by a Christian Band a few years ago called "Dance or Die". I looked up the You tube on the song tonight to read the lyrics. I am sure alot of people have different interpretations of the song, and some probably don't even see a "Christian" theme to it. I will give you my interpretation as my inner spirit thought that it really fit today's message. The Pastor said today that alot of people walk around as dead people. Their souls unconnected to God, and not tuned in to what they were meant to be as His creation. When we ARE connected to Him and our souls are AWAKENED by the joy that is given in worshiping Him in this manner, dancing could be an end result!
As a body of believers, we come together to do many things. There are stories in the Bible of believers that came together and did things unto the Lord that He commanded and He used those times to bring about life changing events for His people. Walls of cities crumbled at the praises and musical sounds for God! Enemies fled during battle when God's people sang His praises and lifted His name in worship. God's people are unstoppable when united together giving praise and glory to Him. They are not only all awake and connected to Him, but they are connected to one another as members of the body. This life that we live for Him can be looked at like a great Dance that our soul does on a continuous basis if we are living out our life in worship of the Living God.
I have listed the lyrics of the song by Family Force Five below. I have highlighted what I felt really spoke to me. This Dance is all about living out our lives for Him. It talks of Dancing as being a weapon and that we are at war. I find for myself that when I am in worship with Him, there is no obstacle or antic of satan that can trip me up- worship to God is truly powerful against satan and his ways. One of the lyrics says "They're trying to take our lives, but we will survive." "They" as referred to here, in my opinion, is the "ways of the world". "Our party pulled the trigger" simply states that collectively as believers, we are stronger and have more power in the spirit than if we were standing alone.
The lines "I'm on my way to you, way to you... we can reunite and watch the sky ignite". My interpretation of that is God talking to US- telling us that when we worship Him, He comes to us, wanting to reunite with His beloved creation...
In conclusion, it is easy to see that worship is more than just a once a week ritual that should be "adhered" to by Christians. Worship is a moment by moment, day by day, breath in, breath out action that we can give to God in every part of our lives. Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, or whoever we're with won't matter if we are "Dancing" through life. Just remember that we can touch others souls through the joy that is evident from our Dance from the inside-out. Those that are dead inside might only have to see our Dance of Love to God to want the chance to live.
Psalm 30:11-12
"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever."
"Dance or Die"
Transmission radio, radio...respond if you're aliveGive me a sign of lifeI need to say to you, say to you...I've found a way to fightOne hope for all mankind
We're gonna take controlDancing is your weaponLet your moves unfoldKill 'em with your steppin'
We can win this warIt's time to come togetherNow we're stronger than we were before
They're trying to take our livesBut we will surviveWe're running out of time, the world ends tonightUnless we dance or dieDance or die
Transmission radio, radio...take back the nightDance for your rightI'm on my way to you, way to you...we can reuniteAnd watch the sky ignite
They couldn't take the soundThey fall harder when they're biggerYeah they all crashed downOur party pulled the trigger
We won this warBecause we came togetherMade 'em wish that they were never born
They try to take your livesBut you will surviveLook into my eyes, don't say goodbyeYou gotta dance or dieDance or die
One-two-three-fourI declare a dance warDance or die
Yeah it's five-six-seven-eightNow we're gonna celebrateDance or die
~ Family Force Five
