When God Interrupts The Performance

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

A worship service is not simply an offering to God. That is the Old Testament model. A New Testament, Spirit-filled church is enjoying an encounter with God. That means not only that we worship, but that He speaks. Not only that we dance, but that He will dance with us. Not only that we pray our prayers, but that He will answer.

And of course God is not British, or addicted to 21st-century cultural niceties. God is God, and He wants to dance into our auditoriums with all His glory, lifting the disabled out of wheelchairs, opening blind eyes, lifting depression off the downhearted and the broken, and breathing new life into weary saints.

This will only happen if we long for Him, invite Him, listen to Him, and agree to dance with Him!

Overwhelm-able Excellence

I was once ministering in Mexico at a church of 6,000 that was in a blazing revival. It was a conference, and every evening several dozen dancers would dance along to the worship at the front of the church, brilliantly choreographed. What amazed me most was that within 30 minutes of worship, the dancers would become so overwhelmed by the power of God that they would fall to the floor, one by one, as what they had practised gave way to His presence. All they could do was worship, bow and pray!

They were excellent, but had overwhelm-able excellence. They were brilliantly practised, well planned, and had beautiful execution, but the moment the glory of God entered the room, they were more interested in relationship than in dancing their routine. Their act of worship had been to plan well, to be creative, to give time to excellence, but there was also a greater dynamic at work. When the kiss of the Creator flowed into the room, you could see that these dancers weren’t in love with their dance, they weren’t proud of their choreography; the main thing on their heart was that God had received the gift of their creative offering. All they then wanted to do was bask in His glory.

These dancers were flexible, open to the spontaneous moving of the Holy Spirit.

All houses of glory need not mere excellence.

They need overwhelm-able excellence.

Presence Above Performance

There is nothing wrong with preparation, creativity or skill. In fact, excellence can be an act of worship when offered humbly to God. But the danger comes when our plans become more important than His presence, or when polished performance leaves no room for holy interruption.

Throughout Scripture, whenever the glory of God truly entered the room, human agendas were often interrupted. Priests fell to the floor. Prophets trembled. Worship turned into awe-filled surrender.

The goal of worship was never flawless execution alone.

It was encounter.

God is still looking for churches, worshippers, musicians, creatives and leaders who are willing to lay even their excellence upon the altar if His presence begins to move in unexpected ways.

Because the greatest compliment to our worship is not applause from people.

It is the nearness of God Himself.

An extract from The ALTAR by Jarrod Cooper. Order Your Copy Below 👇

Believe & Confess Meditation & Declaration

I will pursue the presence of God above performance, routine or personal recognition (Psalm 27:4). My worship will remain flexible, yielded and responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). I will offer God my creativity, excellence and preparation as an act of worship while remaining fully surrendered to His presence (Romans 12:1). The glory of God will always matter more to me than polished performance or human applause (John 12:43). I will make room for holy interruption, spontaneous encounter and the moving of the Spirit in my life and worship (Acts 2:1-4). God will breathe fresh life, healing, freedom and joy into weary hearts through His manifest presence (Isaiah 61:1-3). I will remain hungry for genuine encounter and open to the overwhelming nearness of God (Psalm 42:1-2).

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THE ALTAR

Creating lives & cultures ready to host the glory of God.

Something is stirring.

Across the world, hunger for God’s presence is rising—and many are asking: how do we truly host His glory?

In The Altar, Jarrod Cooper calls us back to the place where heaven meets earth—the altar. A place of encounter, devotion, and transformation.

This book will help you:
• Deepen your personal encounter with God
• Build a lifestyle of worship
• Hear His voice clearly
• Create cultures that carry His presence

This isn’t just a book—it’s a call.
When the altar is restored, the fire falls again.

 Order Your Copy Here