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NOT TO US 

It sounds obvious, but worship has always been and always will be, about God. Worship is not about us.

It’s true that pure worship has an incredible impact on us. As we stand in His presence and pour out His praise, we can’t help but be encouraged and changed. We can never out-give the greatest Giver.  The words from an old hymn remind us that we can never out-bless the One ‘from whom all blessings flow’.  We can never make worship something for us. For it to be biblical and pure, our worship must be for Him alone. 

“Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115: 1

We worship what we value most.  We have an opportunity, with every decision in life, with every breath we take, to dedicate our worship to the One who is worthy of the highest praise.  We want God to build His throne in our hearts and our worship is dedicated to Him alone.

In Revelation 4 we see a very striking image of the elders in heaven bowing down, taking off their crowns, and laying them at the feet of Jesus who is seated on His throne. This can become a model for our lives, and even for our meetings. We want to come together and bow at His feet.  We want to lay down our crowns before the King of Kings.

It is freeing to have the right perspective in our lives and in the situations that surround us, but you don’t have to be in control of your life.  Let Him be. Everything falls into place when you lay your burdens down before the King of Kings. So often, when we, as a church, lift our voices together and sing 'our God reigns’, God brings us courage and peace.  His Peace.  A peace that passes all understanding. We may not know how it’s all going to work out, but we do know the Lord reigns. 

Worship always brings a fresh perspective.

Lay your crown before Him now.  

Repent of where you have made worship about yourself, or chased after the praise of man, or robbed God of His glory by praising man.

Lay your crown before Him now. 

Dig deep for the parts of your life you’re holding on to and surrender to Him.  Let Him replace your control with His peace.  He reigns and it’ll be OK. 

Lay your crown before Him now.

‘Yours is the glory

Yours is the highest praise

Yours is the power

Hallelujah our God reigns.

Not to us, to Your name

Be lifted up, be lifted up

Build Your throne in this place

Be lifted up, be lifted up.’