Paga'

Getting pushed out of  your comfort zone can bring unforeseen rewards.  This was certainly true when I asked my new friend, Connie, to team up with me in leading a worship dance ministry back in 2001.  When she first starting worship dancing her spirit exploded.  I should have known then that it would only get bigger and brighter.

As we ventured into this ministry we were given an opportunity to speak about worship dance at a Vineyard Church in Mariposa, CA.  Our ministry theme verse was Isaiah 61:1-3. I asked Connie to speak on this verse at the conference. After all of our conversations about what this verse meant to our ministry I thought I knew what she would share.  Boy, did God have other plans.  More than either one of us could imagine.  What God showed her changed our lives and our dance ministry from that point on and, as we heard from the group for months after our visit, we know this revelation changed the hearts of those at the conference as well.

When she explored the verses she was pressed by God to research the meaning of intercession.  In doing so she found that the Isaiah passage was saying, as the anointed, we are to make intercession for those things outlined in the passage. Connie found that “making intercession” was also known as Paga in Hebrew (Strong's #6293: Paga' - pronounced paw-gah'. To impinge, by violence or by importunity, cause to entreat, lay light upon, meet together and pray, reach).

Here is Connie’s break down of making intercession using Paga and Isaiah 61:1-3:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to

Preach – preach the good news to the poor – Paga - impinge

Bind – He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted – Paga - meet together and pray

Proclaim – to proclaim freedom for the captives – Paga - cause to entreat

Release – release from darkness for the prisoners  - Paga - lay light upon

Announce – to announce the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God - Paga - by violence or by importunity

Bestow – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair– Paga - reach

As Connie matched these verses with the definitions of Paga, she found that intercession now sounded more like war than a sweet silent prayer time or our well-choreographed worship dances.  It was now a side by side stance of warriors violently bringing heaven’s power to earth against the enemy.  It also was sounding more physical than spiritual.  But how can that be if this is a war in the spiritual realm? Well, we all know that attacks of the enemy do impact our physical lives as well as our spirits, so the battle has to meet those attacks in both ways. 

Connie encouraged us to adopt a different mindset; to take on the stance (or in our case – the dance) of a warrior, physically and spiritually.  Her encouragement was found in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies (physical) as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (spiritual). Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (stance) by the renewing of your mind (mindset). Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

And now, I encourage you to adopt a new stance as a warrior and make intercession as God leads. Be on the lookout for those He puts in your path that you are anointed to touch on His behalf through the sharing of God’s word, the comforting of hearts, the breaking of chains, the shining of light, the speaking of blessings, and the providing of alternatives to despair with Hope. Lastly, a warning: Don’t be surprised, like Connie was, if God moves your comfort zone.  Let Him lead the dance and you’ll see the reward!

**Lord, Take me, Mold me, Use me, Fill me. Please open my eyes to see opportunities for intercession.  Hold me, Guide me, Lead Me, Walk beside me. I give my life to your hands. Forgive me for being fearful of what your anointing might bring. Today I take my stance as a warrior for you.  As I move forward, give me a new mind set to seek physical and spiritual worship. **

“I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’.”  Ezekiel 37:14    

Click here to see an Awesome Worship Dance