What Are the Best Worship Songs For the First Time Praise and Worship Leader?
If you have been asked to be a worship leader for the first time, one of the questions you need to ask yourself is, “What are the best worship songs that I can use?” Unfortunately, there is no blanket statement or hard and fast list of songs which fulfills the criteria of the best worship songs. The best worship songs for your church may be different to the best worship songs for another church in another denomination in another part of the country, so when you get up to face your congregation for the very first time as a praise and worship leader, are there some tips and advice that you can look to which make the job easier.
When you decide to be a worship leader, you need to keep in mind that you are serving the Lord, the Pastor and your congregation, not yourself, your ego and your musical biased! To be a worship leader is to be a servant and this means that you do not have your own “axe to grind” but you should ascertain which are the best worship songs for your Pastor and your people. One of the fundamental mistakes an inexperienced praise and worship leader makes is to choose songs that they like and are familiar with.
To be a worship leader for the first time is a situation where you want to win over the people and bless them, not get them offside with yourself as a praise and worship leader. If you think that your preference as to the best worship songs is the right one, then you have a nasty lesson to learn first up. If you do songs that the congregation do not know, I can almost guarantee you that the entire worship time will fall flat.
The best worship songs to do for your first attempt are those that your people know and love, even if you find these boring, done too frequently or out of date! As I have had to be a worship leader under a variety of circumstances over the last 20 years, I can assure you that the best worship songs are always those which the audience knows and loves, rather than the latest ones that you have heard on the latest Hillsong CD!
Picture this; you go to a concert by your favourite mainstream singer or band, let’s say Billy Joel. Billy has a new album out and insists on playing every song from the new album, and does not play Piano Man, We Didn’t Start the Fire or any of his other mega hits. How would you feel? Pretty disappointed right? Well that is what it is like when someone sits through a church service where their favourite and best worship songs are not played. If you want to win people’s hearts, and have the best possible chance of leading them into an inspired and powerful time with the Holy Spirit, then the best worship songs are those that people know and love.
Another consideration if you have decided to be a worship leader for the very first time is that the best worship songs for you are simple ones that blend together well to create an entire worshiping experience. I have found that a series of songs lined up one after the other does not a great worshiping experience make! If you can roll them into one another so that the best worship songs flow from one to the other then the entire experience will be better received by your audience. The easiest way to do this is to make sure that the songs you choose are all in the same key.
So if you want to be a worship leader and want some advice as to the best worship songs to employ, I recommend well known and much loved songs, preferably in the same key. There are loads more things to consider, so if you want some more information please visit our website to learn more about the best worship songs and how you can deliver them in the best way!
Is God One? Exposing the Lies of the Judeo-Christian Religion Or Judaism by Another Name – Part 2
OK, straight in with the next Holy Scripture:
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he.
So what have we got going on here, for obviously this verse follows closely after Mark 12:29 which I covered in detail in part one and where we learnt that the Godhead is not one at all, but rather the Hebrew plural ‘Elohim’ who are united as one and yet are two separate Spiritual beings? Now if you have any doubt about the dual nature of the Godhead then this verse should remove those doubts:
Matt 22:44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
The two beings of the Godhead revealed, so what’s going on in Mark 12:32, for it is plainly causing a contradiction with Mark 12:29 when read as translated in the KJV. So let’s have a look at the Greek MSS to see if that reveals anything nearer to the Truth?
And said to-Him the writer (scribe) ideally Teacher on Truth you-said that one He-is and not is (there-is) other morely (more-than) of-Him (Him)
The Concordant Literal Translation has it thus:
And the scribe said to Him, In Truth, Teacher, Thou sayest ideally that He is one and there is no other more than He.
Now we already know that the Godhead is not one, so what’s this verse all about? Well, we know that the Hebrew word for ‘one’ – ‘Echad’, can mean two things, either, united as one or unified as one and/or totally likeminded and thinking as one, or it can also mean ‘number one’ – the premier number – none above or, as this verse seems to be saying, none more than the Godhead or none above the Godhead – none higher. The problem is, this scribe is saying ‘He’ as if there is only one God, but does this make any sense, for, at the same time, he is referring directly to the words the Lord spoke in Mark 12:29, which were: “Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord”. From part one, as already stated, we also know that the word ‘God’ here in the Hebrew is ‘Elohim’ which means plurality or more than one, so what gives? Errors are what give and the first error is to refer to God as singular, for the Godhead is not singular at all, so this means Mark 12:32 should be written: “Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one Godhead (Elohim).” Not one God. OK that’s all very fine I hear you say, but the scribe, as already mentioned, is saying ‘He’ not ‘They’. OK, so let’s go now to Strong’s Concordance for the answers to these problems:
G846 autos ow-tos ‘
From the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind; backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the compound of G1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons: – her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thy-]) self, [your-] selves, she, that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare G848.
Here in Strong’s we can see there is a Spiritual dimension to this word where it says: “a baffling wind” which is a direct reference to the Spirit. We can also see where this word ‘autos’ can mean ‘Their’; ‘Them’; ‘Those’ or ‘They’ as well as ‘He’. This, then, means that Mark 12:32 could and perhaps should have ended: “And there are no others but they (or them)” However, I do not believe that this was the original intended meaning of this verse, even though what I have translated is true. No, the real meaning is tied up in the awesome power of the Godhead. Notice, in the Greek, that the emphasis is on the word ‘morely’, meaning ‘more than’ and the KJV rendering, as per usual, is pathetically lacking.
I will use the Concordant Literal Translation and edit it for an example of what this verse is really saying:
And the scribe said to Him, In Truth, Teacher, Thou sayest ideally that the Godhead is united and number one and there is no other more than They – none higher, nor any greater (morely) than They. (My additions in italics)
Now this verse is making total sense, for the plurality of God (Elohim) is now included in its meaning. If it doesn’t make sense to you then you must be a Judaiser and a believer in one god like the Jews and the Islamics.
I will now give you an even more laughable example of this ‘God is one’ nonsense and this example can be found in the Book of James:
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Now this verse is very sly and tricky, just like its Christian religious illegitimate authors intended, and it is very easy to read over and take in the lie that they are trying to con you with. Notice, the devils also believe and tremble, but what are we supposed believe they tremble at? Why, that God is one!! Hello, excuse me, God is what? Why, that He is one or the idea that He is a single solitary God all alone in heaven. Now, what you have to ask yourselves is this: Why would God’s supposed singleness or the idea that He is one, frighten anyone? Why would this idea that God is one being, cause the devils to tremble? Can you see the stupidity that is incorporated into this corrupted verse? Why is it written that way? Easy, to get your focus off The Truth and onto their false image of a single God, rather than the real Godhead.
So what is it, if it’s not God’s supposed oneness, that causes the devils to tremble with fear? Answer – power, and nothing but awesome power, shown via the Godhead’s unanimity, their solidarity in their likemindedness and unbreakable united bond? The Godhead have other Spirit beings around them too; the twenty four elders: the four living creatures; the Archangel Michael; the cherubim and the seraphim, plus the multiple thousands of angels and all in likeminded agreement; all united in one accord in the worship of the Godhead and all of them with Holy Spiritual Power. We ‘grasshoppers’ on the earth haven’t a clue, as yet, as to just how powerful our Godhead is, but the demons know, for they foolishly tried to attack the Godhead and remove them from their seats of power, only to be cast out and imprisoned in darkness reserved for judgement. They have tasted first hand this awesome power and are fully aware of just how all encompassing it is. These demons also know what is in store for them later when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to take His Throne to rule this earth for a thousand years. They know that a period of severe fiery correction (mental anguish) awaits them and it’s this that causes them all their fear, for they are utterly powerless to stop it. I trust now that you can see the foolishness and evil deceptions incorporated into the English translation of James 2:19.
Just for the record I will copy here the Greek MSS to show you how this verse has been corrupted:
You are-believing that one is the God ideally you-are-doing and (also) the demons are-believing and are-shuddering.
Here we can plainly see that the emphasis is on the Godhead’s united strength i.e. united as one, making them all powerful, not forgetting God (Elohim) is always plural. So what this verse is actually saying is this:
You are correctly believing that the Godhead is united as one, supreme and all powerful, and so are the demons who shudder with fear at the thought.
Can you see how this verse now makes sense as opposed to the fictional nonsense as written in the KJV? I do hope so, for if you cannot, then you have to accept that God’s singleness or Him being one puts fear into the demons – chuckle, chuckle, chuckle.
OK, let’s move on to another farcical translation in the KJV:
Romans 3:28-30 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
And from the Greek MSS:
Romans 3:28-30 we-are-accounting (we-are-reckoning) for to-be-being-justified to-belief (to-faith) man apart-from acts (works) of-law 29 or of Juda-ans (the Jews) the God only not and of-nations (gentiles) yea and also of-nations (gentiles) 30 if-even (if-so-be-that) one the God who shall-be-justifying about-cutting (circumcision) out of-belief (of-faith) and uncircumcision through the belief (faith)
Now this passage of Holy Scripture is very easy to rectify, for we have two instances in the KJV where the translators have added ‘is He’ twice, but this is purely an agenda based and biased corruption on two counts. It’s wholly from their Judaised monotheistic erroneous idea of the Godhead, for notice, the two ‘is He’s’ are not in the Greek MSS. So let’s rewrite these verses correctly:
Romans 3:28-30 (my translation with help from the KJV and the NIV) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law (so far so good from the KJV) or is the Godhead the Godhead of the Juda-ans only? No, the Godhead is the Godhead of the Juda-ans and the gentiles too. This is because there is only one Godhead, a Godhead who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Now this, dear people, is the correct translation of this passage of Holy Scripture for the Godhead constitutes two beings – the Father and the Son.
Please note, I have also used the correct translation from the Greek MSS regarding the word ‘Juda-ans’, and not Jews, for Juda-ans are of Judah i.e. Judahites, whereas the Jews are of Canaan through Shelah the son of Judah’s Canaanitess wife. Please see my articles entitled: “Were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob Jews? Genesis 38: Royal Judahites and the Canaanite Jews – Parts 1 and 2″, for all the details.
Moving on, once more, what do we have next in the way of corrupted verses, for I tell you folks, they just keep on coming?
1 Cor 8:4-6 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Now there it is, yet another mind numbingly ridiculous translation of God’s Holy Word. Notice what they are saying in verse 4: “that there is none other God but one” Oh really, is that so!!?? No, is the answer to that and we can also include the dipstick translators in this answer, too, for they contradict themselves in verse 6. In verse 6 we can see that the one god, or singular god, of verse 4 has now become two. How amazing is that!!?? So let’s copy these same verses out so that they make sense and speak The Truth to us:
1 Cor 8:4-6 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the creation, and that there is none other Godhead but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one Godhead, consisting of the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. (My corrections in italics)
As it turned out, these verses were fairly easy to correct and notice how nonsensical and blasphemous these verses are without my corrections. Is it any wonder that certain spiritually blind numb skulls maintain that the Lord Jesus Christ is not God, but rather a creation of their mickey mouse Judeo-Christian monogod?
OK, that’s it for part two, I will continue with the expose in part three.
What is Acceptable Worship?
Everyone wants to be accepted by God in worship. What is acceptable worship? Churchgoers consider themselves religious people. There are several instances in Scripture where religious acts of worship were not accepted.
Cain’s sacrifice was not acceptable to God (GE 4:5). According to HEB 11:4, Able offered a better sacrifice than Cain by faith. Apparently Cain’s heart was not right. In Old Testament times God made it plain when he was not happy with worship.
I hate; I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings, and grain offerings I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harp (Amos 5:21-23).
When you come to meet with me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? (ISA 1:12) What constitutes acceptable worship? The Lord explained in Isaiah 1:15-17.
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you, even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourself clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong. Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the cause of the widow
Acceptable worship begins with righteous living! It’s not enough to worship right; we must live right. It’s not enough to refrain from doing evil. We must do good deeds.
Do we live better because we worship correctly, or do we worship acceptably because we live right? We must do both. Without righteous living, worship is just a trampling of his courts!
Beautiful prayers, perfect pitched songs, and eloquent sermons, do not make acceptable worship, but less perfect worship, and a reasonable effort in living right do. The Lord knows we are not perfect, and he has arranged for that. All he is asking for is that we try.
Christ told the woman at the well that the true worshiper must worship in spirit and truth (JO 4:23-24). This means not only to be guided by the Spirit, but to understand the significance of what, we are doing. If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind (1CO 14:14-15).
Worshiping in spirit also suggests the idea of mind set. We must have our minds set on what the Spirit desires. (RO 8:5). We must be united with Christ in spirit (1CO 6:17). We must have the mind of Christ (1CO 2:16) If we have sin in our life, it is out of harmony with this idea, and unacceptable to God. We must repent and ask his forgiveness if that is the case.