Worship

I have recently finished my basement. It’s taken me one and half years, but it’s finally done. My music room is one of my favorite rooms I built in the basement. For the first time, I have a place dedicated to my favorite pastime; singing and playing music.

Music has been a part of my life since I was seven when I started playing the piano. When I was 14, I took up the guitar, and since then, I’ve learned many additional instruments. Now I have a room dedicated to facilitating this passion.

A couple of days ago, I started to sing through an old worship songbook I had not used for many years. Some of the songs I did not remember immediately, but with the help of my iPhone, the songs came back to me. As I sang the songs, I felt the presence of the Lord begin to fill my heart and the room. His tangible presence overwhelmed me, and I could physically feel his anointing. These songs were not the current top 10 Christian hits; they were simple Vineyard songs, and in a moment, I was lost in adoration before the Lord.

As I reminisced about this experience, I’m reminded of a song that Matt Redman had written a few years ago called “Coming back to the heart of worship.” This is a song of repentance. Matt apologizes to the Lord for losing focus on the Lord when he worshiped. I think that can happen to all of us, even worship leaders.

I have been leading worship songs since I first became a Christian in 1976, and it’s always been a joy for me. But this simple time in my basement alone with God brings me back to the heart of worship.

Illness is an Enemy

The last few months have been difficult. Both Sue and I have been dealing with serious medical issues. These problems can rob us of the truth that God is bigger than the enemy of illness. Worship focuses you on the goodness and greatness of God and puts our enemies in their place.

This morning I felt the Lord direct me to Psalm nine. It’s a song where King David declares the benefits of worship. He starts by saying

• I will praise you, Oh Lord, with all my heart
• I will tell of all of your wonders
• I will be glad and rejoice in you
• I will sing praise your name on most high

As I read those words and the next few verses, they seemed to come alive, and I felt the Lord begin to show me the benefits of worshiping. I felt King David followed up this declaration of worship with these ten results/benefits of worshiping God:

1. My enemies turn back.
2. They stumble and perish before you.
3. You have upheld my right and my cause.
4. You have sat on your throne judging righteously.
5. You have rebuked the nations.
6. You have reviewed the nations and destroyed the wicked.
7. You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
8. Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy.
9. You have uprooted their cities.
10. Even the memory of them has perished.

The last result rang in my heart because this morning, I felt the Lord say the medical issues we are facing would just be a memory.

Sometimes I read the Bible, and it doesn’t produce any faith, but this time as I read these ten benefits, I felt faith rise in my heart. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word God. In Romans 10:17, the word “word of God” is the Greek word “Rhema”. Most of the time, “Rhema” refers to the spoken word of God. As I read these Scriptures, they became God’s spoken word to me, and faith rose in my heart.

My enemies are illnesses. But when I worship, God deals with my enemies.

Close

Perhaps like us, you’re going through a difficult time where you have an enemy who wants to destroy you. I encourage you to do what I am doing.

• Withdraw to a place where you are alone and quiet your heart.
• Think of the things going right in your life, not the issue you are facing and thank the Lord for those things. We are encouraged to come before the Lord with thanksgiving. Being thankful for the good things in our lives changes our mindset. It breaks the lies that everything is bad and our enemies have the victory.
• Focus your heart on the Lord and tell Him what He means to you.
• Rest in His presence. Let Him soak you in his hope, faithfulness, and His power.
• Don’t be in a hurry to leave Him.

This week Sue and I received wonderful news. Our medical issues are resolving. Our enemies are being defeated. Thank you, Lord.

For 20 years, I’ve tried to play the violin. I still don’t play very well, but one of my favorite things is going into the forest and playing hymns. My Heavenly Father doesn’t care that I make mistakes or that it doesn’t sound perfect. He loves to listen to me play. He loves listening to all his kids play and sing. I encourage you to do the same. Worship however you like. Your Heavenly Father loves to hear you, and as a result, your enemies will be defeated.

Your

Bill

About the Author: William Dupley

Bill and Sue Dupley have been ministering for over 35 years, preaching and leading worship on five continents. Together they minister renewal and teach adults and children how to hear the voice of God. Bill and Sue believe that the supernatural should be natural for all believers and that every believer can impact their world for the Kingdom of God as they hear God’s will and follow His leading.

Bill and Sue are certified facilitators for Communion with God Ministries and are affiliated with Singing Waters Ministries. They have conducted seminars at Catch the Fire, Mission Fest, Releasers of Life, Iris Ministries, Singing Waters, and many other global churches. Their passion is for God’s family to know their Heavenly Father and to hear His voice so that they may live in the fullness of the gifts and the freedom that Jesus bought for them. You can contact them at: the.secret.place@cogeco.ca

Cover Photo by DAVID NIETO on Unsplash