QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE WORSHIP
"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs." - Psalm 100:2
Your first reaction to a service at Evangel may be two-fold. You may appreciate the warmth and sincerity of the people, but be surprised or unfamiliar with our manner of worship. We can identify with you because that's how many of us felt in our first service. You might very well ask some questions like the ones listed below:
WHY DO YOU PRAISE GOD?
The Scriptures encourage us to praise God, for He alone is worthy of our praise.
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord." - Psalm 150:6
WHY DO YOU SING THE KINDS OF WORSHIP SONGS THAT YOU SING?
While we worship God in many ways, one of the most common forms of corporate worship is in music played on various instruments and singing songs of worship. We recognize the cherished hymns of the church, but also desire to remain open to the creative direction of the Holy Spirit and new songs he is giving the church today.
”Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him ... Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” - Psalm 33:2-3
WHY DO YOU RAISE YOUR HANDS?
This also is scriptural and often spontaneous. We raise our hands in adoration to God. The great apostle, Paul wrote:
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer ...." - 1 Timothy 2:8
WHY DO YOU CLAP YOUR HANDS?
We clap our hands as a way of "entering into" worship. The Bible tells us to do this together.
"Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy." - Psalm 47:1
WHY DO YOU PUT OIL ON SOME PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE PRAYING FOR THEM?
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well ….” - James 5:14-15
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE SPEAK OUT IN OTHER LANGUAGES (TONGUES)?
A message in an unlearned language, followed by its interpretation, often occurs in our services. It was on the day of Pentecost that the disciples first experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of "speaking in tongues."
"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." - Acts 2:4
This was the outward evidence of the Holy Spirit coming upon believers. God's Word gives much direction and understanding of this gift:
1. We are encouraged to speak in tongues.
"I would like every one of you to speak in tongues..." - 1 Corinthians 14:5
2. Often, the gift of a message in tongues is given during a worship service. This is to be followed by the interpretation.
"If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret." - I Corinthians 14:27
3. One of the greatest benefits of tongues is for our personal spiritual strengthening.
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..." - I Corinthians 14:4a
WHY DO PEOPLE OCCASIONALLY SPEAK OUT LOUD AS THOUGH HE/SHE WERE SPEAKING DIRECTLY FROM GOD?
A word of direction or encouragement (prophecy) in our language is sometimes spoken out during a service. Paul encouraged this gift to be used for the strength and comfort of the church. He wrote:
"...but he who prophecies edifies the church." - 1 Corinthians 14:4b
WHY DO YOU OFTEN INVITE PEOPLE TO THE FRONT FOR PRAYER?
Our greatest joy is to be able to explain God’s way of salvation and share what He has done for us with those who have questions and want peace in their lives. But there are other reasons for people to come forward to the altar:
* FOR HEALING AND FORGIVENESS
“Therefore confess your sins ... and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” - James 5:16
* FOR ENCOURAGEMENT
“Let us encourage one another ...” - Hebrews 10:24
* TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO PUBLICLY CONFESS JESUS AS LORD OF THEIR LIVES
“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” - Romans 10:9-10
WHY DO PEOPLE SOMETIMES FALL DOWN WHILE BEING PRAYED FOR?
During times of prayer, people may fall under the power of the Holy Spirit. This has clear precedent in Scripture, such as Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9:4, and Peter in Acts 10:10, and many times in church history up to the present time. This is a sovereign act of God, when the power of His Holy Spirit touches a person for some special purpose and he/she falls in His power.
WHY DO YOU PLACE HANDS ON PEOPLE WHEN PRAYING FOR THEM?
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will ... place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” - Mark 16:17-18
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE MOVE OR DANCE IN YOUR SERVICES?
"... praise his name with dancing and make music to him ..." - Psalm 149:3
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO GET SO EMOTIONAL?
There sometimes appears to be a lot of emotion. But not all emotion is bad. Emotion is, “a strong feeling: fear, joy, etc.” It is only natural that people experience joy and brokenness in God’s presence. True worship is not worked up, but comes as we open our hearts in praise to God.
IN CONCLUSION
During our services, you may notice other manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit. We encourage you to openly allow God to reveal to your heart His greatness. Test the spirits. Search the Scriptures. You will discover God desires to pour out His Spirit on believers today.
If you desire to know more about any of these issues or about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, please contact us by telephone (807) 345-3503 or email (info@evangelchurch.ca).