Prophetic Worship

Vivien Hibbert

Introduction

a) Worship is, by definition, prophetic: it includes this concept of God's self-revelation.

Revelation 19:10b:

. . . worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (KJV, NIV, NASB)

. . . It is God you must worship, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit that inspires prophecy. (NEB)

". . . Worship God. " Testimony to Jesus is the spirit which underlies Prophecy. (1912 Weymouth NT)

b) Worship must be defined by what the Lord is doing not what we are doing.

c) Our worship flows out of a revelation of the Lord.

It is impossible to really worship God

unless we have had a revelation of God.

Once we have had a revelation of Him,

Prophetic worship does not need to be a "hit or miss" experience for the church. Surely it should be the norm for us to regularly encounter God in a most profound and prophetic manner in our church services. We must make a way for God to "uncover" Himself, or manifest Himself before His people. He is a gentleman and will not "invade" our services. He is patiently waiting to respond to our longings.

Worship is a verb. It is not something done to us or for us, but by us.

—Robert Webber

Prophetic Worship and the Worship Leader

a) The Lord is the primary Worship Leader of the church. Prov. 8:34

Asaph—He that gathers and removes reproach.

Heman—He that is faithful.

Jeduthun—A consistent choir of praise; ancient and established in praise.

b) We must assume that the Lord has a masterful plan and purpose for every service.

c) We must have a fluid form of leadership.

d) It is not up to anyone (worship leader, musicians, pastor) to make anything happen.

e) Worship is rooted in the honor and fear of God—not the fear of man.

Prophetic Worship And the Worship Team

a) The goal is the glory of God—not excellence. Art is a means to an end. Success is measured by the presence of God and His work in our lives.

b) Prophesy on the instruments.

c) Sing the prophetic song.

1 Chron. 25:1-7 David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals....and the sons of Asaph...prophesied according to the order of the King...Jeduthun prophesied with a harp...Heman the King's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn...All these (sons and daughters) were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord...were instructed in the songs of the Lord.

d) Craft the sight and sound of God.

e) Singers, musicians and dancers to flow as one—unity in spirit and heart

Prophetic Worship and the Congregation

a) The whole congregation is a holy, royal, priesthood. Each one is responsible for participating in the service and ministering to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (NASB)

b) The hearing of God's voice for today is one of the primary objectives of prophetic worship.

Who is speaking? Response

God speaking to us about Himself

God speaking to us about us

We speak to God about God (Praise)

We speak to God about Ourselves

True worship has no room for a spectating heart

—Sammy Tippet

* New Testament expectation of worship—1 Cor. 14:7-8, 15, 24–26

Seven categories of themes that the Lord leads us in during worship:

 1. The Character of God—Ex. 33:19; 2 Cor. 3:18; Rev. 5:8–14

Talking to us about Himself:

* His names

* His attributes

The God Almighty Gen 1:1; 17:1; 35:11

The Jehovah (Yahweh) Ex 6:3

The Provider Gen. 22:13-14

The Warrior Ex. 15:3

The Healer/Restorer Ex. 15:22–26

The Banner Ex. 17:8–16

The Rock/Fortress/Deliverer 2 Sam. 22:2

The King Ps. 10:16; Rev. 19:16

The Shepherd Ps. 23; Jn. 10:11

The Light/Salvation Ps. 27:1

The Defender Ps. 94:22

The Wisdom of God Prov. 8

The Strong Tower Prov. 18:10

The Bridegroom Song of Sol.

The Rose of Sharon Song of Sol. 2:1

The Counselor Is. 9:6

The Mighty God Is. 9:6

The Everlasting Father Is. 9:6

The Judge/Lawgiver Is. 33:22; 1 Sam 2:10

The Prince of Peace Is. 9:6

The Refuge Is. 25:4

The Water Is. 44:3; Jn. 7:37-39

The Redeemer Is. 59:20

The Faithful God Lam. 3:22-23

The God who is there Ez. 48:35

The Desire of Nations Hag. 2:7

The Refiner Mal. 3:3

The Dayspring Lu. 1:78

The Word Jn. 1:1

The Lamb of God Jn. 1:29, 36

The Dove Jn 1:32

The Bread Jn. 6:35

The Light of the World Jn 8:12

The Door Jn. 10:7-9

The Resurrection Jn. 11:25

The Way Jn. 14:6

The Comforter Jn. 14:26; 2 Cor. 1:3

The Vine Jn 15:1

The Wind Acts 2:1-2

The Cornerstone Eph. 2:20

The Fire Heb. 12:29

The Truth 3 Jn. 1:4, 8

The Alpha and Omega Rev. 1:8

The Lord of Lords Rev. 19:16

The Lion of the tribe of Judah Rev. 5:5

The Morning Star Rev. 22:16

2. Evangelism/Harvest—Ps. 40:3; Acts 2:41

* The conversion of three thousand souls began as the most stirring worship event in history—Pentecost (SM).

* Believers must believe what they believe so that unbelievers will believe what the believers believe.

* The goal of evangelism is to birth worshippers.

3. Warfare—Deut. 33:7; Ps. 149:6–8

Moses' blessing over Judah before he died:

Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, And bring him to his people;

Let his hands be sufficient for him, And may You be a help against his enemies (Deut. 33:7).

The Lord shall go forth (march NIV) like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war (warrior NIV). He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud (raise the battle cry NIV); Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once (Is. 42:13).

 4. Restoration—Luke 15:20–24

 5. Healing—1 Sam. 16:23; Matt. 8:2; 9:18

 6. Intercession—2 Chron. 20

 7. Nations—Ps. 87

We might think that these days represent the first time the Lord has summoned the nations to participate in prophetic worship together. Not so. Approximately three thousand years ago, King David established his tabernacle of worship on Mount Zion. These were the songs of Zion that are spoken of in Ps. 137:3; also:

...I looked, and beheld, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb!" (Rev. 7:9–10)

There are eight crucial areas of unity in this worship expression:

Provision………They are all wearing white robes of righteousness

Praise…………..They are all singing the same words

Purpose………..They are all worshipping the Lamb

Pageantry……..They are all waving palm branches

Proclamation…They are all crying with loud voices

Perspective……They are all beholding the Lamb

Place……………..They are all before the throne

Posture………….They are all standing

And He will lift up an ensign (signal) to the nations from far, and will hiss (whistle) unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly (He whistles to those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily! NIV) (Is. 5:26).