Life of Worship: When Faith Becomes Love

by Asaph Borba, Donald Stoll (Foreword by)

Overview

“How good it is to see Your church restored in worship
And to see that You have renewed her in love,
That is why, O Father God, with nothing stopping us,
We worship Your Son that has made us one.”

Worship is a way of life, not just a style of music.
A music performer and producer, Asaph Borba has been teaching on worship for more than three decades throughout his native country of Brazil and in more than fifty other nations. But his message is about much more than music. For Asaph, worship is a way of life: God wants so much more than a PowerPoint of praise songs. To the Father, the most essential thing is being rather than doing.
Asaph Borba draws from his rich personal experience to explain why God is interested in our heart and its motivation far beyond any action or practice. His insights minister to a global church reeling from rapid changes in the way worship is done by bringing home this foundational belief: if we learn how to transform our daily faith into a motivation of love, we will learn how to truly worship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629113432
Publisher:	Whitaker House
Publication date:	06/01/2015
Edition description:	Worship CD included
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Asaph Borba was born in Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1958. Born into a Christian home, in his teenage years he became involved with drugs but had an experience with Christ in 1974, in the Wesley Methodist Church in Porto Alegre. Under the pastoral care of Erasmo Ungaretti and Moysés Cavalheiro Moraes and the close fellowship of American missionary Donald Stoll, Asaph became a well-known worship minister in Brazil and worldwide. Over the past three and a half decades he has composed many songs that have become part of the new Brazilian hymnology and brought great impact to his generation. Through discipleship and pastoral ministry, Asaph cares for the lives of musicians and pastors in cities around Brazil. A graduate in journalism, by the Methodist Brazilian University, he is the director of Life Communications, married to Lígia Rosana, and father of Aurora and André.

Table of Contents

Foreword Donald Stoll 17

Foreword Moysés C. De Moraes 19

Introduction 23

1 Whom Do We Worship? 29

2 Why Do We Worship? 41

3 Where Is the Place of Worship? 53

4 Caring for the Temple 65

5 When Do We Worship? 75

6 How Do We Worship? 83

7 Worship in Truth 95

8 Music 103

9 Singing 117

10 Playing Instruments 129

11 Dance 137

12 Enemies of a Life of Worship 143

13 Gathering Together to Worship 155

14 Worship: A Stage or an Altar? 167

15 Worship: The Glory and the Presence of God 175

Conclusion: Worship: When Faith Becomes Love 185

Notes 193

Acknowledgements 205

About the Author 207

Editorial Reviews

Throughout this book, Asaph Borba, musician and composer, shows that his talents are not limited to poetry and melodies alone. Whoever is acquainted with him as a worship leader cannot but admire the energy and charisma evidenced as he plays his guitar and sings the praise songs he has composed. He carries along with him those who also have the glory of God as their priority. In this book readers can gain a better understanding of the secret to his life and gifts. There are few Brazilian evangelicals who haven’t sung at least one or more of his creations.

This book has a unique message that resounds loud and clear: worship is not just a few moments devoted to a Sunday liturgical service, worship is a way of life. It has more to do with being than with doing. We were all created “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Ephesians 1:6). Asaph thus motivates his readers both to live for and sing to the glory of God. The worship that God seeks, according to the author of this book, is the expression of an intimate knowledge of God through Jesus Christ—a knowledge attained by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, as well as through fellowship with the body of Christ. God is intent on convincing us that idolatry robs Him of the worship due Him.

The fact is that in the church, often that which should be music and words to honor God becomes a mere show. Instead of people being drawn closer to the Father of glory, they are attracted by performances by famous singers. How many times do the lips make declarations of love to God while the heart is far from Him (Matthew 15:8)! According to the author, the true motivation for worship is love. The reality of that love, however, is demonstrated by true obedience and worship. We worship because we love and believe in the God of the Bible and trust His declarations and promises. All this is preparation for the worship that will last throughout eternity in the presence of other redeemed saints and the angels.

The true worship that God is searching for, then, involves the setting aside of self so that God can move without any hindrances. When the self is not denied, it demands worship. This happens even to one who acknowledges the dignity and majesty of God. Borba describes how all people in their inner beings are searching for God, even those who are idolaters or animists bowing down to the sun. He firmly believes that God created all human beings with a capacity for worship. Only those who are children of God, however, can be true worshippers. False worship is that which exalts the god of this world—the one who blinds the eyes of unbelievers so that they cannot see the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Asaph Borba is convinced that young people are attracted to that which is full of vitality. The danger of liturgy is that it lacks this basic element. This is made evident by the resulting lack of interest shown by those who cannot tolerate hypocrisy when
attempts at worship are made without enthusiasm or passionate feeling. No one who has participated in an event with Borba singing and playing and serving as worship leader can imagine a similar gathering without such passionate worship. These are just a few glimpses of the riches of the gold mine to be found in the pages of this book.

Borba has been diligent in his exposition of the elements that make up true biblical worship, adding the observations of numerous other authors to his own experiences. He makes his own valuable contributions as he reflects on and includes his own perspective.

In conclusion, I enthusiastically recommend this book, because it glorifies God.

To God be the glory!
Russell Shedd, Ph.D., São Paulo, October 2012

From the Publisher