Challenges in Worship: A Conversation with Seer Abraham Richard

The journey continues as Seer Abraham Richard opens up about his personal experiences as a worshipper and worship leader. In this insightful session, he reflects on the challenges he has faced, the lessons God has taught him through those experiences, and his understanding of what true worship means.

In this session, he speaks about rejection, division within the Body of Christ concerning worship and praise, unity in the Body of Christ, the leading of the HolySpirit, and the vital role that praise and worship play in creating an atmosphere for God’s presence. His testimony is both a challenge and an encouragement to believers who desire to worship God in spirit and in truth.

Interview part 2:

QN: What are some of the major challenges you have faced as a worshipper and as a worship leader, and how have you overcome them?

RESPONSE:

You know that anything which comes close to the Truth, and the Truth is Jesus Christ will face opposition. The world will love you if you do what belongs to it. It will praise you, honour you, and speak well of you. However, the moment you begin to do the Will of God, you will experience rejection, whether you believe it or not.

Today, I believe the ministry of praise and worship is under attack. Many people even wonder whether there are still genuine worshippers of God because true worshippers are rarely given the platform they deserve.

The challenge of rejection in the Worship and praise Ministry:

One of the greatest challenges I have faced, and one I have seen repeatedly in the ministry of praise and worship, is rejection.

The moment you step somewhere and desire to minister in the worship of the Spirit, you are often denied a platform. Some Ministry leaders will say, “You are wasting time.” Others will ask, “Which umbrella are you under for you to minister in worship here?”

To me, this shows that we are still very ignorant about the ministry of praise and worship. In addition to that, often times, many people make you feel as though you do not know what you are doing. They tell you that your way of ministering is wrong or that worship should not be conducted in that manner.

How the Church is divided in Worship and Praise.

There is something that deeply concerns me. We often hear statements such as, “This choir belongs only to this church,” or, “That choir belongs to another ministry” This is still division. When will we ever gather together as one congregation to worship God?

When will we ever sit together as one congregation and worship God? In Heaven, we have one choir; that is the unity the Word of God is talking about (Revelations 4 chapter 8, Isaiah chapter 6 verse 2 to 3).

One thing I have discovered about myself is that I enjoy visiting different places of worship. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love fellowshipping with believers from different churches.

Whenever I arrive at a church, I do not begin by introducing myself. Instead, I simply walk over to where the instrumentalists are and remain there. On one occasion, I entered a place of worship and sat with the worship team. Someone asked me, “Do you know how to play?”

I replied, “Whichever instrument you give me, I will play it for the glory of God.”They handed me an instrument, and together we worshipped the LORD.

After the praise and worship session, someone asked me, “Where do you fellowship?”I answered, “TVC Ministries.”Immediately they said, “Leave that ministry and come and join us. We will even take care of your needs.”

They did not realise that TVC Ministries is the assignment God has given me. When I heard those words, I realised just how far the Church has drifted. We are meant to be one Church under Christ, not many competing churches.

How Worship brings unity in the Body of Christ:

What will help us live together in true harmony in the Body of Christ is the Ministry of praise and worship. When we make room for the HolySpirit, He reveals what we should do next. Yet many of us (worshippers) have been rejected. We have been denied opportunities to minister.

Some have even called us mad or claimed that we do not know what we are doing.

The reality is that the HolySpirit often leads us in ways that are unfamiliar to people. Unless someone is walking with the HolySpirit, they may struggle to understand what God is doing.

It is similar to speaking in tongues. People may call you all sorts of names simply because they do not understand what you are saying. However, the fact that someone does not understand what I am doing does not mean I am wrong.

What we all need is the revelation of the HolySpirit. Without the HolySpirit, we do not know what to do next. It is He who directs us, teaches us, and leads us into God’s purpose.

Praise and Worship invites the presence of God:

One truth I have learned is that praise and worship are what first attract the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is why, in 2 Kings chapter 3 verse 15, the Prophet said: But now bring me a musician.

As the musician played, the Prophet’s spirit came into harmony with the Holy Spirit, and he received the Anointing to prophesy.

This teaches us that our spiritual gifts cannot flourish without the ministry of praise and worship. If there is no unity, harmony, and appreciation for this Ministry, our gifts will gradually lose their effectiveness.

Praise and worship prepare our hearts for the HolySpirit to move, reveal God’s Will, and release His Power among His people. When the Church recognises and values this Ministry, it creates an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can work freely and where believers can grow together in unity under Christ.

Coming Next

In part three, Seer Abraham Richard shares with us how being a worshipper transformed your life spiritually and physically.