Pacquiao Fights and Worship

I got to talk to a Believer who just received the revelation of Christ’s Finished Work. And since he came from a very conservative church he was surprised with the praise and worship of some of the churches that I invited him to.

“It’s too loud.” 

“I don’t think people should be singing that way.” 

“The music should be slower.”

“Why, are they raising their hands?”

Let me encourage everyone who has this concern or who will be ministering people with these concerns. Some Christians motivate people to get “into” praise and worship by telling them to let go. Give yourself up to God. Let you emotions take over. At some level this type encouragement may work, but really what allows us to give ourselves to true worship is the revelation of who God is and who were are in Him.

Praise is to raise the Lord up, while worship is to lower ourselves before the Lord. Praise and worship is the acknowledgment that God is greater than our circumstances. Whatever we are going through, God is greater. It isn’t about knowing our situation, knowing that we are really in a mess, its the revelation that God is greater.

Last May 3, 2009, when Manny Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton in the second round to win the IBO light-welterweight world title so many Filipinos watched and cheered. I am sure if you were in a sports bar watching, and there was a group of Filipinos and a group of Brits, the moment that Pacquiao dropped Hatton with his devastating left punch, the Filipinos stood up, cheered, yelled at the top of their lungs, raised their hands up in victory! I’m pretty sure they did, because I did... and everyone around me did too. 

Just last March 13, 20101, when Manny Pacquiao owned Joshua Clottey, each Filipino was still cheering him on. The statisitcs reinforced how dominating Pacquiao was. Pacquiao threw a total of 1,231 punches. He landed 246. Clottey threw a total of 399, landing only 100. Pacquiao threw an average of 100 punches a round. And for every punch that connected, we still stood up, raised our hands and cheered!

They didn’t plan to stand up. They didn’t plan to cheer. They didn’t plan to yell at the top of their lungs.They didn’t plan to raise their hands up. It just happened out of a response. 

Why didn’t the Brits do the same? Well because we know Manny Pacquiao differently from the Brits. Deep down inside we know that Manny represented us. And when he won, we won.

That’s the heart of praise and worship. When we have a progressive revelation of who Christ is. How He represents us. How He won our battle. The more we respond. We don’t plan to stand up. We don’t plan to cheer for the Lord. We don’t plan to sing praises at the top of our lungs. We don’t plan to lift our hands up unto the Lord. Its just a response.

The worship experience in churches is very intimate. Some may start out as just loving the songs. Some may just be moved emotionally.... But one day, when they have the revelation of Jesus and His Finished Work, then worship occurs. Its not about how we feel at the time or worship, or whether or not our life is going as planned. It isnt about not having any conflicts. Its about knowing and acknowledging our God.

Its the point that we know that we know that we know that He is God. That He gave His life for us, when we didn't know Him. That He is the answer to everything!

Whatever you are going through, know that He is greater than these circumstances.

What shall separate us from the love of God?