Praise & Worship

Why Do You Blow The Ram's Horn?

In the Old Testament, the ram’s horn was blown to call an assembly to war, to call an assembly to worship, and to announce a victory. We know that Jesus has won the war and we come together to worship and to proclaim the victory we have in Christ. However, for us, the blowing of the ram’s horn came from a series of sermons our Bishop taught on the Joshua Generation taken from Joshua Chapter 6. At the long blast of the ram’s horn, they shouted and the walls fell down flat and they took the city for God. We believe every wall of division must fall and we must take our city for God.

Why Do You Sing Many Different Kinds Of Songs?

We don’t consider our music to be different. “Different” is based on background and familiarity We do, however, seek to make our music lively and relevant. Others may see it as different. We believe music conveys a message. Our message is filled with hope and is lively and relevant; therefore, our music reflects the same.

The purpose of songs is to create an environment and to impart a message. People are motivated by various styles of music. Our goal is to reach everyone with something to which they can relate. Ephesians 5:19 says: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”. Variety is a biblical mandate.

Why Do You Use All Those Different Types Of Instruments?

We use different musical instruments because we believe that all things should be used in which they were created. According to Psalms 150, musical instruments were created to “Praise the Lord”. The music of the church should exceed the music of the world. Music was created for the pleasure of God.

Why Do You Clap Your Hands?

The clapping of our hands is a commandment of God. Psalms 47:1 says: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” It is difficult to clap when you lose, but because of Jesus, we have won; therefore, we clap over our victory. It is a tool of praise and worship. Clapping is a way to agree with what is being spoken or sung. It is a way to celebrate victories and successes.

Why Do You Lift Your Hands?

Lifting of our hands is a commandment of praise. I Timothy 2:8 says: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” The lifting of our hands is also an act of surrender to the Lord. The scripture describes the lifting of our hands as the equivalent of the evening sacrifice. Psalms 141:2 says: “Let . . .the lifting up of my hands [be] as the evening sacrifice.” God receives it as a sacrifice of praise.

Why Do Some "Move To The Music?

Music, secular and sacred, was created to convey a message and to cause one to feel an emotion. A part of feeling the music or the message is to “move to the music.” It is a human response to the presence of God and the joy of our music. Movement can, in and of itself, be a form of praise. Movement to music is called dance. Dance is a form of praise and worship. Psalms 150:4 says: “Praise him with the timbrel and dance.” We believe in dance as a form of worship. Spontaneous dance is the overflow of joy in the presence of God and is usually one’s way of celebrating. We also believe in using the art form of choreographed dance to communicate messages and to worship in the beauty of holiness.
 

Why Do Some People "Sing In A Different Language"?

They are not necessarily singing in a different language, they may be “singing in the Spirit,” also referred to as “singing in tongues.” This is a legitimate experience that comes from one having received the Holy Ghost into their life. Speaking in “tongues” is an initial sign of a believer having received the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44 – 46, and Acts 19:1 – 6 show us that it is a normal response for Spirit-filled Christians to praise and worship as exhorted in the scripture. I Corinthians 14:15 says: “. . . I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” It is an act of the will of a Spirit-filled believer to praise God. We are a multi-cultural church with members from other nations, so it is possible to hear another language, but most likely, it is the expressive language of the Holy Spirit.