"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." — Matthew 18:20
Just like any normal teenager, I spent some of my college days in clubs and bars where my friends and I would dance the night away to music about sensual passions and fleeting promises.
Those weren't the proudest moments of my life, but they were fun. Why? It's because there is something about celebrating in the presence of a crowd.
I hate to relate this to worship, but it just makes sense to see why worship is so much more enjoyable when done corporately. Just like dancing to house music is more fun with hundreds even thousands doing the same, there is a powerful affirmation in worshipping with the body of Christ.
Last March, I was able to join a discipleship convergence where 12,000 church leaders gathered to worship together. The experience was majestic—infinitely better than dancing to pointless songs about things that won't last as long as our praises to Jesus.
Here are four ways that corporate worship energises the individual believer:
1. Joint Declaration
Corporate worship is a form of joint declaration of the victory that is now in Christ and the commission to serve God. I love singing corporately songs about missions, evangelism and being a light to the world because we declare together the power of God working through us to change our communities.
Hebrews 12:28-29 says, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
2. Encouragement
There is a new level of edification that comes in corporately gathering with the people of God because then we see the beauty of a faith that is not just our own but shared with so many others. It gives us an idea that we are part of something that will always be bigger than we can ever imagine. Hebrews 10:25 tells us, "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
3. Shared Joy
The wonderful thing about joy is that it is meant to be shared among followers of Christ. Not only is it suggested, but it is highly encouraged so that as many as possible will experience the rejoicing that comes in worshipping God. Psalm 95:2-3 says, "Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."
4. Vision of Our Future Glory
Corporate worship is a foretaste of the great future that we all have: the day that we can spend hours, days, or even years just worshipping in the presence of God. In a vision, the Apostle John saw all tribes singing, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:10)
That is our ultimate destination and that's how our eternal and glorified lives will be in the age to come.
