Praise and worship in the presence of the Almighty God is an awesome experience. Never in my life has the music been so powerful and abundant as it is today. As a youth, growing up in a fundamentalist and very conservative church, we didn’t have this type of expression of our faith. My life was born old and this never bothered me; but most all of my church friends walked away from the church. Long hair and rock bands were of the devil, even if they were praising and worshipping Jesus! That was a fatal stand for my church to take. That church was not grounded in Christ and ultimately went from one extreme to the other. They lost me as well at age thirty three.
For the past twenty years; my praise and worship has taken on a new dimension in apostolic churches that live the freedom of Christ and the Gospel, yet still teach the Apostles doctrine. The music is powerful and driving to the disarming and scattering of the devil. Yet the driving music is also contrasted with equally powerful songs of repentance and brokenness; just whisper His name, Jesus! A typical worship service in an Apostolic Church today can lead the people into the Holy of Holies. The level of the music today is definitely much more advanced and professional; but is it anointed? We must be careful to make sure that we are not just working up human emotion and being carried away on a human level.
As a youth, powerful traditional anthems would bring me to tears, repentance and into the presence of God; and they still do today; just as praise music can today. All of my life; praising God in song and worshipping Him through music; has taken me into the Holy of Holies. So what is the common factor between these two divergent eras and styles of music? What brings the anointing of God?
At one time, it was only through driving praise music that my soul could enter God’s presence during Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday night worship services. Then there was a time when my ride either would get us to church late and after the praise and worship section; or would forget to pick me up. At first this was frustrating; these were my appointments with God. Then God spoke to me and reminded me that He is ever present and that access to the Holy of Holies is available 24/7. God reminded me that my life, my physical body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and that Jesus lives inside of me.
1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
The anointing of God falls upon the musicians and the congregation during a worship service when the people have stopped just going to church and truly become the church. The anointing of God will be ever present with a true believer who is not just talking the talk; but who is walking the walk. If you can only be filled at church; and if that anointing fades as you leave the building; then you were only coming into the presence of God momentarily instead of the presence of God living in you continually. This only happens when you invest the time daily in prayer and Bible Study.
Ephesians 3:16-21 KJV That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
The Bible is the WORD of God. You may have noticed that it is my convention to put in all capital letters WORD and LORD. That is because these words refer to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the WORD. The Bible is the WORD. The Bible is a living book and Jesus will speak to you through it. Serious study of the WORD is more vital than physical nutrition. When we internalize the WORD; we internalize Jesus and the Holy Ghost becomes engrafted to our soul. Coming into the presence of the anointing of God is not nearly as exciting and fulfilling as the anointing of God living within us 24/7. This didn’t happen for me over night any more than a new born infant can grow to be an adult in one year.
The Christian life is a process of becoming more like Christ; that is being transformed by the Holy Ghost. The destination will be reached if we stay on the right path.
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