Free Praise

In this article I am going to be talking about what is Free Praise Worship and what I call Prophetic Worship. Before I define Free Praise and Prophetic Worship, this define the words Praise and Worship in the arena of a song service, the worship time of a church service in a Pentecostal/Charismatic setting.

Praise

Act of singing songs that express adoration, gratitude, reverence to God. To glorify God, celebrate His attributes, acknowledge His works.

It is the concept of acknowledging God’s greatness, expressing thankfulness for His goodness, and honoring Him for who He is.

Generally, within the charismatic realm when it comes to praising God in the midst of a song service, the concept is singing songs that are energetic, more outwardly expressive. You might use the term lively.

It would be seen as worship expressed via clapping, jumping, dancing, shouting, raising of hands.

Worship

Act of loving revering, giving honor to God, glorifying in the realm of the inner man, the heart. It is primarily a state of the heart and spirit, not merely physical actions. It is generally seen as more meditative, contemplative, less energetic, lively. 

It would be seen as worship expressed via bowing, laying prostrate, weeping, raising of hands.

Praise and Worship Structure in a Church Service

Generally speaking, in a church service setting there are songs that lead to a more praise lively style of worship and other songs that lean towards a more meditative style of worship.

Generally speaking, during the song service time of the church service, the worship leader is leading out in the song service, they are singing and the congregation is following along via the lyrics on the screen. It is structured.  Overall, everyone is following the structure. Overall, the worship leader is following the worship set, the ‘planned agenda’ for the worship.

What is Free Praise Worship?

Ephesians 5:18-19 AMP
 ¹⁸ Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him. ¹⁹Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, [offering praise by] singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Generally speaking, Free Praise Worship refers to praise and worship that is not following a set agenda. It is worship where the Holy Spirit is leading the worship leader more than their song set. It is worship where the worshippers (the church congregation) are being lead by the Holy Spirit and have no restrictions on how they give praise and worship.

Free Praise Worship-Worship Leader

During a time of Free Praise Worship, the worship leader may change the entire direction of the song service. The song service may be longer or shorter than planned. There may be interruptions of the song service for prayer, prophecy, or the operation of other gifts of the Spirit.

Free Praise Worship-Worshippers

During a time of Free Praise Worship, individuals within the congregation, may be praising and worshipping with complete freedom with no hindrances. They may be expressing words of praise and worship that have nothing to do with what the lyrics are to a song. They may be shouting out words of praise, expressing prayers regarding the lyrics of a song. They may be contemplative while others are more expressive.

The worshippers may feel led to minister to others during worship.

There may be singing in tongues.

New Song

In the midst of Free Praise Worship the Lord may give the worship leader lyrics for a new song. Lyrics that the worshippers can easily follow along. There may be singing in tongues.

What is Prophetic Worship

Free Praise Worship and Prophetic Worship or similar. There is the freedom for the Holy Spirit to be the worship leader rather than worship leader. The worship leader and the worship team are flowing with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In the midst of worship there may be prophetic words over the congregation or individuals. There may be a sudden change in the style of worship from more of a praise, lively worship, or more of a meditative worship.

There may be a sudden change of ‘theme’ regarding worship and the songs sung.

It may turn out the song service is more of a ministry time than a worship time.

Be Aware

Be aware if you are more use to a very structured song service, Free Praise Worship may seem disorderly, not follow the structure you are use to. If you are not careful you will be focusing more on people and what they are doing than entering into worship. If not careful, you can become one who quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit in your life and others.

If you are not able to enter into a time of Free Praise Worship, if you must have lyrics to praise and worship God you may be more of a spectator than a worshipper. It would be good to check what is going on in your heart. Maybe much of your worship has been all about singing songs, not praising and worshipping God. Maybe it is time to worship in Spirit and Truth.

John 4:23-24 AMP
²³ But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. ²⁴ God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Free Praise Podcast

There is Hope Radio

You can listen to There is Hope on all the major podcast channels, even on Alexa. To learn all about There is Hope Radio, to obtain links to Podcast Channels, to donate to keep There is Hope on the air, to listen to the latest podcast, go to There is Hope Radio.

#preacherrichd #thereishope #creatingfutures #praise #worship #propheticworship #freepraise