March 2003 Table of Contents

In Spirit And Truth
The River of Life - Currents in the River of Life

By Steve Phifer
Worship Arts Evangelist
St. Petersburg, FL
stphifer@aol.com
www.WorshipArtsResources.org

I have found seven biblical models for worship.¹ Of these, the most helpful in understanding the flows of worship is the River of Life.² The image is powerful—water headed toward the sea. A mighty river has more than one current. Out in the deep channel it flows with great strength. Nearer the shore the currents are slower and the water not as deep. There is even back-water where the current flows in the opposite direction.

According to Ezekiel, the River of Life is an ever-deepening flow: ankle deep, to knee deep, to waist deep to waters-over-the-head. If we think of it as a description of worship, we see in the main currents of worship, an ever-unfolding manifestation of the Presence of Jesus. For me the four levels of the River refer to four levels of praise and worship:

1. Ankle deep water is Thanksgiving—the refreshing starting point. (Psalm 100:4)
2. Knee deep water is the Proclamation of Praise—declaring the Lord's excellence. (I Peter 2:9)
3. Waist deep water is Adoration—we move from praise to worship, from talking about God to talking to Him. (Psalm 99:5)
4. Over-the-head water is Communion—times we are lost in the presence of the Lord; unaware of things around us. (2 Corinthians 2:12:1-6)

This is an order of worship: Thanksgiving–Proclamation–Adoration–Communion. Change and deeper revelation come when we move from praise (thanksgiving and proclamation) to worship (adoration and communion). Healing is found in the deep water, not in the shallow places.³

Ezekiel's river flows inexorably to the Dead Sea. This illustrates the result of true worship—the flow of God's Spirit to the needs of a hurting humanity. The test of our worship is people finding Jesus–the presence of a healed humanity. "...where the river flows everything will live."⁴

Two Currents

Jesus said the River of Life has two main currents: Spirit and Truth.⁵ For me "spirit" relates to the musical elements of worship (key, style, melody, harmony, tempo) and "truth" corresponds with the textual elements (theme, language, direction, mood). For worship to flow these currents must move in complimentary ways. When two currents in a river collide they form a whirlpool. When spirit and truth fight each other, the whirlpool can draw a worship plan under in a hurry. I have seen some worship plans actually back up and flow away from the River's destination. As Spirit and Truth flow together whirlpools and backwater eddies are avoided.

The Flow of Truth

At the heart of the flow of worship is thematic planning. In every service, there is a truth the Spirit wants emphasized. The knowledge of the theme comes through prayer and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. However, I may not see the theme until after I have started stringing songs together. Some recent themes I have used are: "Jesus Is the Cornerstone", "World Missions", "The Holy Presence", "Give Thanks", and "In Spirit and Truth." With a theme, we have a basis for selecting from the elements of expression: traditional and contemporary songs, scriptures and prayers. How wonderful to read the scriptures together as a congregation! How powerful it is to hear the people recite the Lord's Prayer or the Apostle's Creed! While songs remain our chief liturgy, scriptures and prayers can help transition between sections of worship. Whatever you choose, make sure one thought flows to the next.

The Flow of Spirit

This is no less important, nor less spiritual, than the flow of Truth. God made music to flow in certain ways. One is the flow of key relationships I call "musical gravity"–the circle of fourths/fifths.⁶ This tonal flow is the musical expression of "decently and in order". If your songs jump from key to key without good key relationships, your worship will flow in fits and starts. Let me apply the "musical gravity" idea:

• We don't have to make water flow downhill.
• To get it to flow uphill, we have to pump it.
• I don't like to pump my song sets—I like for them to flow as naturally as water to the sea.
• There are other elements of Spirit as well:
• Styles and meters should not change on every song; they should flow together in logical ways.
• Group songs of unusual styles or meters together (Latin, 6/8, swing, etc.) The same can be said for tempo.
• Direction (singing about God or to God) should not change on every song.
• "Flex Points" are places in the worship plan where we wait for the Holy Spirit to lead us into the unexpected.

When He does, this is not a failure in our planning, but a completion of His plan! We prepare in order to be flexible.

As the song says, "Let the River flow!"7 Poor leadership can divert its flow, create whirlpools where thoughts, images and ideas get all mixed up, or even stagnate it or make it flow backwards, far from the healing force of the Spirit of God. Skillful and anointed leadership can see a hurting humanity find healing at the Throne of God.

¹The Tabernacle/Temple Model, The Tabernacle of David, the Holy-Royal Priesthood, the Living Sacrifice of Praise, the Throne of God and of the Lamb, the Lord's Office-place, and the River of Life

²Ez. 47; Rev. 22:1-5 A quick reading of these descriptions of the River of Life, flowing from the Throne of God, will be helpful in understanding the truths brought out in this article.

³Ezekiel 47:11

⁴Ezekiel 47:10 NIV

⁵John 4:24

⁶This is the natural flow of key relationships: C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb(F#)-B-E-A-D-G-C

⁷"Let The River Flow" Daryl Evans, ©1995 Mercy/Vineyard Music

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