On Friday evening, my family and I were enjoying the Sabbath together. As part of that, my wife and I were listening to a recorded teaching by Art Katz. The kids read books quietly and hung out with us in the living room as my wife and I listened. The teaching was called “The Law of God p pt 1” and focused in on Psalm 119.
Almost 30 minutes into the teaching, Art shared a prayer that he and his fellowship once prayed with respect to worship. The prayer was, “Lord, don’t let our praise exceed the truth of our life.” As a result of praying that prayer, he shared that some of their gatherings became downright painful and that their praise seemed flat, out of tune, not harmonious - because their lives were flat and out of tune, even contradictory.
He said they prayed that prayer so that they would not be deceived by their own musicality, or by something they produced –(versus authentic praise / worshiping in spirit and in truth). I think that was a very bold and honest prayer.
Lord, let us not be deceived. Lord, if we’re not living what we’re declaring, may this thing fall flat. Lord, if we don’t have an honest, authentic, close relationship with You, let that be revealed. May we worship the creator and not the created. May our worship of You not depend on music or a leader. May the reality of our worship of You be uncontainable by songs.
Lord, let us not be deceived. Lord, if we’re not living what we’re declaring, may this thing fall flat. Lord, if we don’t have an honest, authentic, close relationship with You, let that be revealed. May we worship the creator and not the created. May our worship of You not depend on music or a leader. May the reality of our worship of You be uncontainable by songs.
If you’d like, you can download Art Katz’ teachings titled “The law of God” pt 1 & pt 2 at SermonIndex.net by clicking this link: http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=173&min=280&orderby=titleA&show=20