The Gifts of the Holy Spirit may be manifested in a worship service at the Fountain.
- Worshippers speak in tongues for personal edifiation, body edification and as a sign to the unbeliever. A message or prophecy from God, spoken in tongues, must be interprete either by the speaker or another believer. Speaking in tongues corporately is another way to praise and worship God. "And they were all fille with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance". - Acts 2:4
- Prophecy is a message from God spoken through a spirit-filled christian to a body of believers. It usually concludes with "thus saith the Lord" or a similar statement.
Bodily expression is associated with worship throughout Scripture. Sometimes this is a spontaneous reaction to what God has revealed and accomplished.
Miriam grabbed her tambourine and danced (Exodus 15:20) while the Children of Israel bowed their heads and worshipped (Exodus 12:27). The Levites stood and praised the Lord with a loud voice (2 Chronicles 20:19) but Job “fell to the ground and worshipped” (Job 1:20) and David danced joyfully before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:5, 16).
We read of others who were ‘leaping and praising God' (Acts 3:8), and another who fell on the ground like a dead man before the angel of the Lord (Revelation 1:17).
All of these examples include immediate and spontaneous reaction to events and circumstances. However, Scripture also commands us to proclaim His greatness by means of our bodies. Here's a small sampling of ways God is pleased to receive our worship.
Clapping Hands. CLAP your hands, all peoples! SHOUT to the Lord with loud songs of joy! (Ps. 47:1)
- Worshipping the Lord. Let us WORSHIP and BOW DOWN; let us KNEEL before the Lord, our Maker! (Ps. 95:6)
- Dancing. Let them praise His name with DANCING, MAKING MELODY to Him… (Psalm 149:3)
- Standing. STAND in awe of [God]. (Psalm 22:3)
- Raising Hands. I desire then that in every place men should pray, LIFTING HOLY HANDS. (1 Tim. 2:8)
Given the variety of responses, it would be difficult to come up with a single form of expression that pleases God when we gather to honor Him corporately. Clearly, all these actions are both acceptable and appropriate and this list is in no way to be considered exhaustive.
Whether you come to observe or to enter in with your whole heart, we just want you to feel at home at Crossroads. And whatever course your worship takes, that's perfectly all right with God!
