Extravagant Worship Snippets 1

Friends, recently I've been reading a book called "Extravagant Worship" written by Darlene Zschech. She is known to many of us as the worship leader of Hillsong Church. Through this book, I realized that she is not just a powerful worship leader but also one incredible spiritual leader.

The first time I saw the book, I was thinking deep down in me, "Woah, this is an interesting book, what could be in the contents of a book written by a worship leader of a chuch? How to sing and worship in a way to get into His strong presence during service and our daily quiet time?" - Is all I thought of, but lo and behold, when I begin to read the book, something in me exploded as I begin to read her teachings about being an "extravagant worshipper".

Here are just some of the reviews by people who know her and read this book:

"God is using Darelene to impact the way people worship all around the world. My family and I have been impacted by her ministry and her passion for the presence of God. More than a gifted songwriter and singer, Darlene is a true leader who is pasionate about worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth and is committed to raising up others all the world to do the same. SHe is real, transparent, and vulnerable as a worship leader, but more importantly, she is the same person when she is not in front of thousands. I am honoured to endorse Darlene's ministry. As you read this book, I know you will never be the same again." - Don Moen

"Darlene's passion for the Lord and worshiping Him is clearly heard through her music and song. Be inspired as you read treasures from the heart of a true worshiper." - Michael W. Smith, singer and songwriter

"Darlene's passion. spirit and music have captured the hearts of millions of worshipers around the world. However, as a personal friend, I've been able to see her as a wife, mother, pastor, and leader. Darlene's humility, insight, and expereince will help you to unlock the door to the secret place. If you're ready to know God more, get ready to read!" - Alvin Slaughter, music minister and concert artist

"When chuch historians reflect on the worship revolution that happened around the turn of the twenty-first century, Darlene Zschech will be credited for playing a major role" - Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church

"... What truely blesses me is that she is the same person whether she is on or off the platform. She remains the same gracious, humble woman whose heart has always been to worship and glorify God ... If you long to become an extravagant worshiper, the this book will inspire you, as Darelene shares her journey to attain her foremost desire and passion: to be an extravagant worshiper herself!" - Brain Houston, Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church

So here I am, to share some snippets from the first chapter of her book about what true worship is about, to those who haven't have the chance to read this book.

As paraphrase from her book:

Everyone in the town knew her as a sinful woman, a prostitute, but her selfless display of extravagant worship changed how everyone remembers her now. Jesus was in Bethany, reclining at he table in the home of Simon the Leper. "When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them" - Luke 7:37-38

Imagine the depth of this woman's tears being enough to clean the dusty feet of Jesus! Imagine the gratitude that moved her to boldly display her devotion and adoration of the Man reclining at the table. With tears flowing from a sobbing heart, she washed the Lord's tired feet and wiped away the soil with tresses of her hair. Then she perfumed His feet with oil from her alabaster jar that was valued at a year's wages. Her love for Jesus knew no bounds. When the others voice their disapproval of her extravagance, Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has done a beautiful thing to me."

So what does it mean to be an extravagant worshipper?
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines it as "2a: exceeding the limits of reason b: lacking in moderation, balance and restraint c: extremely or excessively elaborate 3a: spending much more than necessary b: profuse, lavish."

Extravagant worship means to be elaborate in our offering of admiration of Him; our worship is to be over and above reasonable limits previously established. The cause of Christ pumping away in our veins should cause extraordinary praise to the Father.

When we stand before the Lord to worship Him, we are to worship Him in truth. To do so, we must ask ourselves, "How big are the debts Jesus canceled for me?" How generous was He towards me when considering the pain my sins inflicted upon Him? How much thanks do I owe Him for canceling the consequences of my past? Am I overgenerous with my worship? Do I exceed the limits when praising Him? Or am I merely doing what is required, merely fulfilling the basic level of commitment? Am I simply trying to earn my right of passage? If our worship is spiritual and truthful, we will search our souls and appraise the value we place on His love for us.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes extravagant as "wasteful." This particularly grabbed my attention, for one of the most beautiful accounts of extravagant worship in the Bible is this story of how the gift of perfume from the sinful woman was considered "wasteful" by those around her. But as she poured out her costly perfume from the alabaster jar, she must have wished she had even more to give Him. As she poured out her tears in offering, He washed away her brokenness. As she loved extravagantly, He forgave extravagantly. Her action of elaborate love toward her Lord is a powerful example of true, heartfelt worship.

Her act of worship had nothing to do with music or song, but it had all to do with being extravagant in devotion to her Saviour. What is worship, and what are we doing when we worship? True worship, the kind of worship that God seeks, is described in John 4:23-24: "Yet a time is coming and has onw come when the true wroshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Friends, true worship is when one's spirit adores and connects with the Spirit of God, when the very core of one's being is found loving Him, lost in Him. True worship is not about songs being sung; it is not about the size of the band; it is not about the size of the choir. Although music is a wonderful expression of worship, it is not itself the essence of it. The core of worship is when one's heart and soul, and all that is within, adores and connects with the Spirit of God. In fact, regardless of how magnificent the musical moments are, unless one's heart is fully engaged in the worship being expressed, it is still only music. The song of a pure heart this is yearning for more of God and less of oneself is the music that holds the key to many victories and delights the heart of our King!