When Error-Filled Emotion Envelopes the Exaltation of God in Worship Part 2
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
From our last week’s blog entry, I echoed several examples of a Church commandeered by error-filled emotion. So, today we will continue from where we left off.
A church is commandeered by error-filled emotion when:
Emotion becomes the performance. We start worshiping how we worship instead of who we worship. We exalt the moment instead of the Maker.
Why Is This Essential for Exaltation?
Exaltation is the lifting up of God’s worth. But error-filled emotion lifts our experience of God more than God Himself. It’s subtle. It’s sincere. And it’s dangerous. Because when
emotion becomes the envelope, the message inside gets distorted. We end up offering God something He never asked for, an emotional performance that is polluted by the
flesh as opposed to emotions that are policed and purified by the Spirit.
Our Lord Jesus doesn’t say: “Worship in Spirit, however you define it.” He says,” Worship in Spirit and truth”.
To illustrate for intentional instruction, truth is the anchor, and the Spirit is the wind. Emotion is the weather, and exaltation is the destination. When truth is absent, the wind blows us off course. In addition, when the Spirit is
absent, the ship doesn’t move. And when emotion is the captain, the 'wor-ship' crashes.
The Beauty of Emotion in Worship When It's in Harmony With the Spirit
Emotion is not the enemy. Emotion is the echo of truth. Emotion is the response to revelation. Emotion is the overflow of seeing God accurately. Emotion that is in harmony with the Spirit: follows truth, submits to truth, springs from truth, points back to truth, and magnifies the truth. Emotion is a wonderful servant, but left unchecked, it is a terrible master.
Some Steps on How to Guard Your Worship from Error-Filled Emotion.
*Start with Scripture, not sensation. Allow the Word to set the stage for your worship and allow truth to light the fuse of your emotion.
*Ask: “Is this emotion leading me toward God or toward myself? “Emotion that leads inward is deceptive, but emotion that leads upward is worship.
*Anchor your exaltation in God’s character, not your condition, because your feelings change, but God’s worth doesn’t.
* Submit to the Spirit and invite Him to purify your emotions, not validate them. The Spirit doesn’t rubber-stamp our feelings; He sanctifies them.
* Walk with worship that is both expressive and doctrinal.
Sing truth. Pray truth. Declare truth and allow the emotion to rise from truth, like heat from a holy flame.
Emotion should carry your worship, not define it.
Emotion should accompany your exaltation, not eclipse it.
Emotion should amplify your praise, not alter it.
Therefore, let the truth lead. Let the Spirit lift. Let the emotion that is spiritually subjected follow. And let God be exalted in the way that Jesus said He must be, in Spirit and in Truth.
Not a sermon, just some thoughts
FtGG