Prophetic Worship

This article is a sample chapter from Pastor Loren Sandford's book, Prophetic Worship. Enjoy!

Worship ought never to be just a song service. Worship should be a huge transaction between the people and God, a wonderful give and take of love and strength between two parties who passionately love one another. What a tragedy that so much of the body of Christ today regards worship as little more than the warm up for the sermon! So many churches have reduced the worship service to just a couple of songs that lead into a long sermon so that the whole thing is over in just an hour! Such loss!

In truth, worship is a stand-alone interaction with God, complete in and of itself, something to be lingered over, savored and soaked in. In fact, although I'll never devalue or neglect my preaching, I believe that worship occupies a place of importance in the church at least equal to the preaching of the Word. It actually has as much power to communicate concepts and ideas as does preaching.

Worship comes to us on at least two levels. At one level, it's simply devotional and adorational, a time of intimate communion with God. But on another level, worship can be powerfully prophetic and life-changing. In fact, I believe the age we live in cries out for worship with a prophetic edge. I don't believe revival will ever truly break out of the confines of the church to sweep our culture before it without the power of truly prophetic worship offered in a style that penetrates the culture around us.

Read more at NewSong Fellowship.