We’ve reached the high point of our arc – HIGH PRAISE! This is the Holy of Holies – it’s where we’ve been headed through our welcoming, thanksgiving, sacrifice, reflection and devotion. This is the time to declare, exalt and give ALL of our praise to God, for His magnification and honour!

Psalm 150, which we read at the very beginning of the series, is exactly this:

“Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.”

In this phase of our worship, we are joining with all of God’s people, all of His creation, and all of the angels to declare:

Day and night they never stop saying:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”

WOW! What a privilege, honour and delight to join in with Heaven to declare that God is worthy of glory, honour and power, and to exalt His holiness! We fall down in reverence to worship Him, and lay down our own crowns and kingdoms to submit to His everlasting reign – AMEN?!

Our worship here is a weapon – this is where walls are broken down (Joshua 6:20), battles are won (2 Chronicles 20:22), and chains are broken. When we’re standing in God’s Presence, there’s nothing we can do but to submit to His power and will, and be transformed!

So, what does this look like for us as worship leaders?

This is why we talk about journey SO much – because this is the place of encounter, and subsequent transformation, which is only reached through the journey we’ve been discovering over the last few weeks. It’s the place where we’re reminded that we’re created to worship, and that we live (and love!) to worship! This is the end of our worship journey, and the start of whole-week/whole-life worship. We can encourage others into this place by worshiping and responding authentically ourselves – can I encourage you to do that? Allow yourself to be led to that holy place by the Spirit too, as you lead others there – we’re all on the journey together!