I remember when I first got saved in 1986, one of the first things I began to instinctively do was make up songs of love to the Lord.
No one taught me to do it, I just did.
Later on as I began learning more about Praise and Worship, I realized that what was happening to me was a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:18-19 King James Version
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:16 King James Version
Jesus likens the Spirit of God in our hearts to a river.
38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 7:38-39 NASV
When we begin to worship from our innermost being, or our spirits, the Spirit of God begins to flow like a river! The founders of Integrity Hosanna descibed this like going white water rafting. You start out paddling at first, but as you begin to flow downstream, the powerful currents of the river begin to take over and soon you're just being carried along!
Kent Henry always admonishes worshippers to 'let the river flow'. I have found that when I do, new spontaneous songs begin to flow out from my heart. And more often than not, it ministers to me as well. It's actually the simple gift of prophecy in action. It's inspired utterence that encourages, uplifts and comforts. And there are times that it even teaches.
Psalms 46:4 says, 'There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.'(NASV)
Amen. That's us! The dwelling places of God where the river of His Spirit flows!
And that river brings us freedom and deliverence in our trials!
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Acts 16:25King James Version
Is it midnight in your life? Do things look like they are the darkest? Thank God for the River of the Spirit. Let it flow and see the chains fall off and the prison doors swing open!
Reading this encouraged me to sing from my Spirit and it transformed me these last two days. I had an ongoing love, joy and peace flowing out of me from a source that is not my own.
ReplyDeleteAmen . . .whoever you are :-)In the Psalms the phrase 'Sing to the Lord a NEW song' is used very often. In the New Testament we are told to filled with the Spirit and sing 'Spiritual Songs' or spontaneous songs. They both refer to songs that we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to sing as we are in His wonderful presecence. He encourages us, exhorts us, comforts us, reminds us of His truth and even teaches us through revelation through these spontaneous songs. Let's continue to flow in the supernatural flow of the river og God within us!
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