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Topics:  "In Search of the Messiah" - "Feelings Women Rarely Share" "How Big Is God?"

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Touching the Heart of God Through Dance
         Standing opposite of the "Its About Me" mentality is the true worshipper.  Using David and MIriam as our examples lets examine this.  Miriam wasn't content to praise God by herself at the crossing of the Red Sea.  She encouraged the other women to join in and dance before the Lord.  In addition, how many times in the Psalms does David command:  "Praise the Lord."  "O magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt His name together."  "You who fear the Lord, praise Him!"  Neither was David content to allow the Art of the Covenant to enter into the City of David without celebration.  Even though he was the King of Israel, he allowed himself to be an example of worship and adoration as he danced with all his strength before the Lord.  I can see David casting down his golden crown as he totally forgot decorum, protocol and position.  After the Ark of the Covenant was restored to the City of David, he appointed worshippers to stand in the temple and minister before the Lord's presence 24 hours a day.
         The heart of a true worshipper is in love with God.  What fuels their 'performance' is a heartfelt, sincere passion for God and a desire to touch His heart with every move they make.  Whether you dance in street clothes or a tutu, the performance is the same.  The make-up and hair are irrelevant because when you worship God from your spirit, they will be rearranged by the time the dance is over.  Whether there is the proper lighting or sound system or there is not, it doesn't matter.  God is guest of honor.  Judson Corwall, the noted author of 'Worship as David Lived It' says:  "Love that releases all of the heart's adoration, that expresses all of the soul's attitudes, that explains all of the mind's determination, and utilizes all the strength of the worshipper's body is worship.  This measure of worship requires a heart that is absolutely fascinated with God....A hungry heart that has fallen in love with God will be a worshipping heart."
        The true worshipper's aim is to inspire everyone in the congregation to enter into the ecstasy of worship that he has found.  She is not content or even moved by applause.  If the only response is applause then she may feel as though they have missed it somewhere.  Unless, the congregation is ushered into the presence of God and are worshipping God it wasn't successful.
        The identifying factors of a worshipper are these:  When they dance there will be no distractions, the congregation will be directed to God.  The focus will be on God, the dancer will not be gauging responses or 'playing to the crowd' throughout the performance, it will be as if they're lost in the pursuit to touch God's heart.  Third, and most important, the anointing.  God's Presence, and His burden-lifting, yoke-destroying power will be manifested.  The "All About Me" mentality has been broken like Mary's alabaster box.   The sweet ointment that flows out is a river of living water bringing life to those around it.

        So many today are brokenhearted, discouraged, and confused.  There is a call in them to bring glory to God through the talent God has given them, yet they don't know where to go to use this talent.  Door after door has been shut in their face.  They have been misunderstood, rejected, and even scoffed at for thinking that God could use such a thing as dance in the Church.  After all, God is this holy God in Heaven and you have to approach Him with fear and reverence.  There is no room for joy or liberty in the Holy Ghost.  Did you know?  Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, 'he dances with joy' over thee with singing."  [Note: translation of the Hebrew word 'yagil' = 'he dances with joy'.] 
         Let's look at several of the specific Hebrew words that are translated as dance.  The principle word for dance in the Scriptures is the word khul, which denotes a circling or ring dance.  Khul is usually used in its various forms of makhol and mekholah.  Another word for dance is raqad, which literally means "to skip" or "to leap".  The Hebrew word gil is often translated as rejoice, but literally means "to spin around in joy."  This word has tremendous significance.  As noted above, Zephaniah 3:17 says, "The Lord your God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, 'he dances with joy' over thee with singing."   The word that is translated "he will joy" is the term yagil.  The literal translation then would be that God dances with joy over us!  Can you imagine God dancing over his people?  If God can dance with joy, how much more should we dance with joy since he is in our midst?
          I believe that one day the entire body of Messiah will be dancing before his throne.  Dance is the most powerful expression of intimacy between God and his children.  My desire is that you begin to dance before the Lord today!

1 Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 18:16; 2 Samuel 6:14; Exodus 15:20; Psalm 30:11; Psalm 149:3; Jeremiah 31:13; Jeremiah 31:4; 1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6 'mahol'

Psalm 150:4; Lamentations 5:15; Judges 11:34; Luke 15:25; Exodus 32:19; Luke 7:32; 1 Kings 18:26; Psalm 20: 3,4; Psalm 66:16; Psalm 88 (intro)


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Revised: 09/26/11