Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Worship Leading, Worship Theology

Unbroken Worship (Show #87)

October 2, 2016

#BrokenVessels (Video Below)

4 min read

Does Brokenness Matter?

What would worship in our churches and our own lives looked like, if we focus on the things that really matter to God? As worship leaders, sometimes we are persuaded to think we must have it all together. We may measure ourselves to others and wonder how God can use us – even in our brokenness.

The Good news? Brokenness is exactly what He is looking for so He can make us whole again. This week’s theme is #BrokenVessels as we look into what means to have the love and knowing of God to heal our hearts.

In the next related article we will look at the song “Broken Vessels” by Hillsong to explore the musical depths and how to build bigger sounds. We see what other churches are doing, or read about it online. The problem is when we compare our ministries and ourselves to the things we see.

Our measurement is not determined by what goes on the outside, but only by Christ who lives on the inside. How would life and ministry be different, if we return to the things that really matter to God? So is there anything wrong with being broken, or is it just what God is looking for?  

TUESDAY MORNING 10-4-16 / WATCH SHOW #87!

Worship Is Knowing God

There’s more than just planning and leading services week-in and week-out. Yes, the service needs to be done right and led well. Our efforts may be well intended, but even the allure of our own worship services, can siphon-out Biblical authenticity. What does God really want?

What does your heart really need? Knowing God entails an intimate relationship, not just observing words through a set list. God wants us to know Him personally, actively and deeply. It’s tough to go deep. When we see what God sees, know what God knows, we see who we really are. We may see ourselves as broken, but what God sees is the need for His love to fill every crack. We are His vessel, maybe broken, but we are still His, and he loves every part of us.

There is a freedom in seeing and knowing the reality of our brokenness. It is the opportunity to invite God to do His work within us. Even before we speak, He is already here. Not some distant God, but the very God who gave us breath. He is closer than each word upon our lips.

We experience His love to cover our sin, mercy to comfort our souls and strength to heal our fractures. In this kind of knowing, we learn worship truly means and our eager to give it to Him.

“God wants to build the altar of our hearts, so we may return to our First Love.” @BranonDempsey

Why hide our brokenness?

Ministry and even doing other things we love can become escape from the brokenness we face. It may be easy to hide in our business, but it’s not easy to hide from God. But why do we hide? It’s almost silly to think we can hide from the One who created Heaven and Earth. He is the One who comes and finds us, and makes His home with us. Not to condemn us, but to redeem us.

When we keep His word, we are always in His loving presence. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” – John 14.23 We respond to God’s love by repenting and by turning to God in confession – having a genuine desire to live rightly with Him. Returning to our First Love is not an outward religious motion, it is an internal change of the heart.

The Lord says in Hosea 6.6: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice. and acknowledgment of God, rather than burnt offerings.” God is not interested in what we lay on the altar. He is more interested in how we come to Him before the altar. This is the kind of response God is seeking from those who worship Him.

Acknowledgement of God is more than a mere recognition of God’s sovereignty, it is a knowing of His divine and great love that works within us. Knowing God entails intimate relationship, not intellectual assent. God wants us to know Him personally, actively and deeply.  

We’re in repair

Even those of us in ministry, whether volunteer or staff, we wonder away from God and the things he desires for us to (really) do. Things like failure, disappointment and poor self-image can keep us from reaching forward. No matter, the true intimacy of God awaits. Calling us and drawing us. Do you hear hear His voice, even if it is in the silence? God has not forgotten us.

He is simply waiting for us. His compassion is greater than our brokenness. He is stronger than our fears. As we see in Hosea 2.14, He will heal us and restore us to relationship with Himself. “I will show my love to the one I called: ‘Not my loved one.'” – Hosea 2.23 As worship leaders and members of ministry, it’s easy to get sucked into doing the thing of ministry. When we get over-consumed of our work and even art, we lose clarity of seeing the true image of Jesus.

God does not want us build more altars, run after relevant trends, or turn our hearts to other things. He desires for us to return to our First Love. Especially, in times of our brokenness, He makes His presence strong. There was a time that my son came to me in tears because his toy was broken.

He was upset because His toy no longer worked. In looking at the problem, the toy was not forever gone. It just needed a little repair. With a measurement of care, mending of the crack and patience of time, the toy was better than brand new.

Sometimes, it may take something that is broken. You know God has the ability to make all things new, and stronger than once before. His loving work repairs what is broken. Are you willing and humble to ask Him for help? We may be broken, but by His love, we respond in unbroken worship.

Worship Unbroken

When you experience the joy of this knowing and relationship of God, how can you use it to help draw others near to Him in worship and in life? When we worship Him and ‘spirit and in truth’ we do more than just go through the motions. When we are joined by the Spirit of Christ, giving worth to Him because of His truth; because of who He is, we rightly respond to God in giving him authentic worship.

If each of us were to grow in this kind of relationship with God, how would worship then look in our churches? So then why, as churches, are we trying so hard to be something that we’re not? God does not want counterfeit praise from the lips, but authentic worship from the heart.

Worship requires commitment. It’s a kind of commitment that only comes from God, as we agree with Him to operate through our lives. He is Sovereign and Lord over all things, this also is includes Him being Lord over our souls. As believers we are His vessels. We are to move beyond mere knowledge about God, and to enter into a Biblically based relationship of worship with our living, loving holy God.

Brokenness is…

Brokenness is not something to fear; brokenness is something we need, so God may fill our hearts by His love. Brokenness is the opportunity to return to our First Love, and to have Jesus Himself come and heal our souls. In a cycle of God who restores our hearts, we respond to His grace. By His love our worship is unbroken.


@BranonDempsey @worshiptt  

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