January 08,2025
4 Keys For Worship Encounters!
By Pastor Derrick D’souza
By Pastor Derrick D’souza
Recently, we celebrated Christmas and most people around the world sang songs of worship to King Jesus without having any understanding of what it is to Worship a King.
When Worship Changes, Encounters Begin!
The word says in Matthew 2:11, “And when they (wise men from the east) had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and ‘FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED HIM’. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh”.
Most people think Worship is about singing and praising God at church.
But the Magi gives us a new insight into their great desire to see a King which ultimately ended with them worshipping King Jesus.
I believe we will see a great difference in our lives if we understand the importance of Worship and what it can do for us- if done with the right SPIRIT and anticipation to meet the KING.
Let’s glean some important principles from this real life story of the first people who worshipped King Jesus.
4 Keys for Worship Encounters
- Wise men always stay alert to the signs of an encounter
It’s a shame that none from Israel had a clue that their King was getting ready to be birthed. It was only the Magi who knew with pinpoint accuracy the timing of this event of galactic proportions.
These men carefully studied the scriptures, prophecies, seasons and the skies for extraordinary events. It was only them who caught the STAR which led them to Jesus.
May you be that wise and diligent student of the Word so that you do not miss your season, calling or encounter with the King. It is only the ones who are prepared and are seeking, that a star will be provided to lead them to an encounter with the KING.
- Preparation prepares the way for encounters
These wise men not only studied prophecy(The Word), but they also made great sacrifices to ensure they met with the King. Their joy and gladness to meet the King made them prepare for it meticulously with the highest attention to detail.
Most people come to church just like every other Sunday and that’s why they leave the same way they came. But not these wise men!
Once they caught sight of the star they never took their eyes of it, they prepared for the journey (food, clothing and supplies), kept their gifts and offerings ready, took a perilous journey through the night all with one motive to see this KING and be a part of the prophecy being fulfilled!
The sacrifices you make and the anticipation (Faith) you carry (when you go to church) creates the environment for an encounter with the King which always results in WORSHIP.
Even the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) whom the angels appeared to and gave glad tidings that their Saviour and King was born, who also saw a host of angels, came with a haste and saw Jesus in the manger and left without worshipping Him (vs 16).
The ones who have sacrificed and paid a cost will most likely be found at the foot of the cross, and the rest will be seen far away worshipping from a distance.
- Worship is a result of Intentional Preparation
Most would agree, when it comes to worship, everyone is excited to come, but for prayer you would only get a handful of people! Yet, those who come excited to worship are the very ones who struggle to have an encounter with the King!
Could it be that true worship (not just singing songs) is always the result of an intentional preparation to meet THE KING?
If the Magi who were ‘not’ born again and spirit-filled, knew the significance of preparation to meet this King, how much more should you and I understand this since we know that JESUS is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
We saw in Matt 2:11 how they fell and worshipped Jesus. That was a result of their preparation that caused them to overflow into the encounter of worship.
The reason many don’t have any encounters during worship is because their preparation to meet the king is lacking in every aspect. Most of us would prepare diligently to take a flight or go for a movie on time.
Yet, when it comes to the Lord’s house, there is little or no attention paid. I truly believe that if you are jumping and shouting for Jesus at church there has to be a life of preparation (i.e., study of the Word, devotion, revelation, giving and sacrifices) that should back that worship on a Sunday.
Or else it is simply honouring with the lips, but our hearts are far from Jesus (Isaiah 29:13).
Because of their preparation, these Magi were the first ones who were escorted by a STAR to present GIFTS to the KING OF THE UNIVERSE.
They actually gave to God without a single miracle or blessing being given to them. That’s revelation which always leads to worship! Where there is no revelation of the WORD, there can be no true worshipper!
In other words, ‘True Worship’ can only exist where there is a daily revelation of God’s Word in the heart of the worshipper. Else, worship will only be singing of songs and clapping of hands.
- A special place for Worshippers in the Father’s Heart!
God has a special place for true worshippers in His Heart. This is what the Father loves, seeks and protects (John 4:23).
Whether it was Cornelius whose giving and prayers ascended as a memorial to heaven and an angel was dispatched to give him instructions so that his whole family could be saved.
Or, be it the woman who broke an alabaster jar and prepared Jesus’s body for burial, whose name Jesus associated with HIS Gospel and is still being preached till today as He declared (Matt 26:13).
Or be it the magi, who prepared to meet the King and worshipped Him in the manger, whom the Father would later send angels to give them instructions to save their life so that they could avoid King Herod by taking another way and safely reach back home (Matt 2:12).
So, What is WORSHIP?
True Worship = Preparation to meet the KING
Preparation prepares the way for encounters
