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BONUS SHORT — When Worship Becomes Performance · PAMOJA PODCAST | PAMOJA MINISTRY, A LIFE OF CHRIST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES

• 0:00
  Welcome to Pamoja Ministry. In this new chapter,
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  we discuss the need for true worshipers, not
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  performers. This isn't criticism for noise's
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  sake. It's a call back to God's presence. I want
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  to speak honestly about worship in the church
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  today. Too often, what we are exposed to is performance,
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  not worship. And that often saddens me. Jesus
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  said, the time is coming and now is here. when
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  the true worshipers will worship the Father in
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  spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking
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  such people to worship Him." John 4 23. To be
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  a true worshiper, you must first be a worshiper
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  yourself. Those who lead others in worship must
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  first be carriers of God's presence, not just
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  singers, not just musicians. All singers are
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  not worshippers. A beautiful voice is not a qualification
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  for worship. Talent is not evidence of intimacy
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  with God. A true worshiper is someone who has
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  a personal, intimate relationship with God through
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  the Holy Spirit. What we often see today is a
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  polished performance filled with empty presence.
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  As a result, people may lead songs, but they
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  do not lead the congregation into God's presence.
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  You can only give what you have. God's presence
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  is contagious, but so is emptiness. This is why
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  people are often amazed by group performances
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  and mistakenly confuse emotional impact with
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  the presence of God. When worship becomes a routine,
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  a performance, or a moment to be seen, focused
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  on appearance, presentation, or image, It no
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  longer communicates God's presence. It communicates
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  emptiness. No matter how polished the performance,
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  how electric the atmosphere, or how creative
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  the lights and colors may be, if God is not present,
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  heaven does not recognize it as worship. From
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  heaven's perspective, the service is not celebrated.
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  It is suspended. A true worshiper is someone
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  who dwells in God's presence, is filled with
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  the Holy Spirit, walks in the fear of the Lord,
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  lives sanctified and washed by the blood of Jesus,
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  is hungry for God daily, seeks not visitation,
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  but abiding above all, a true worshiper understands
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  his truth. Leading others into God's presence
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  is not a platform, it is a service. Yes, a sacerdotal
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  service. You see, worship draws us close to God,
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  but a disciplined and intentional daily life,
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  rooted in a sanctified life in Christ, is what
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  keeps us abiding, dwelling in His presence. God
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  entrusts you with His people. That is a holy
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  responsibility. Let us all become true worshipers
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  ourselves. Because worship is not only at church,
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  it is in family prayer, in gatherings with friends,
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  in quiet moments alone with God. Before we ask
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  for a microphone, let us ask for His presence.
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  Before we lead songs, let us be led by the Holy
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  Spirit. God is not looking for perfection. He
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  is seeking presence. May we return to the secret
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  place. May we dwell before we declare. May we
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  carry what heaven releases. And may everything
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  we call worship begin with a heart that truly
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  worships Him. Let us be true worshipers at all
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  times.