Worship in the Right Spirit.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of true worship, which is a heart attitude of reverence and adoration towards God, and encourages listeners to seek silence and intimacy with God to practice authentic worship.
Gareth Evans reflects on a powerful experience of singing hymns with thousands at Cardiff Arms Park, emphasizing the distinction between passionate singing and true worship. He highlights the danger of mistaking emotional singing for genuine worship, stressing the importance of being 'lost in wonder, love, and praise' in silent reverence before God. Evans echoes A.W. Tozer's concern about the loss of meditative worship in favor of constant singing, calling for a return to awe-inspiring moments of silence in God's presence.
Text
I was singing as loud as I could but was unable to hear my own voice. there were almost 50 000 others singing with me in that great choir. Several had their hands in the air as we sang the wonderful hymns of the faithfulness of God and the work of the cross and tears flowed freely down many a face.
It was a most moving experience! The enemy would surely be put in disarray by this demonstration of our unity! Then the referee blew his whistle and the rugby game got under way.
I was at Cardiff Arms park, home of Welsh rugby and the singing was part of the tradition for which the Welsh are known. Many a visiting rugby team player has commented that the hymn singing before the game was worth five points to the home team as the visitors felt the awe of that moment.
But was it worship? I think not!
It was certainly the fruit of community and identity as Welshmen; it certainly was birthed in the deep passions of the heart and was certainly a tonic to the soul - but it was the carnal, human spirit that was the source, not the quickened spirits of redeemed men.
How often we too are guilty of mistaking singing, however passionate, with true worship. Feeling good about our singing doesn't make it worship! In true worship, there may be times of no singing - just a silence as we are "lost in wonder, love and praise".
It was A W Tozer who said that "we have lost the art of ineffable worship. Whenever, there is a time of meditative silence in our services, we feel we must fill it with singing!" I'm a Welshman and I love singing, but Oh, for times of awesome silence in His presence!
I have had my fill of hearing people say that they had had a wonderful Praise & Worship time when what they really mean is that the music team were great and the singing wonderful - just like a secular pop concert.
I'm not against Christian concerts or music groups - my concern is that we may substitute the emotions of those moments with true worship.
The Father is still seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Misguided Worship
- The Importance of True Worship
- Practicing True Worship
- Seeking Silence and Intimacy with God
- Focusing on the Heart, Not Just the Emotions
Key Quotes
“We have lost the art of ineffable worship.” — Gareth Evans
“Whenever there is a time of meditative silence in our services, we feel we must fill it with singing!” — Gareth Evans
“The Father is still seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth!” — Gareth Evans
Application Points
- True worship is not just about feeling good or expressing emotions, but about having a heart attitude of reverence and adoration towards God.
- Seeking silence and intimacy with God is essential to practicing true worship.
- Focus on the heart, not just the emotions, when expressing worship to God.