Please allow me to be transparent and share a portion of my life to illustrate a point. Several years back began another process of deep brokenness. It seems I was unsuspectingly enrolled into “the school of hard knocks.” It was a very dark time in my life. Questions. Seeming empty pursuit. Searching for answers. Examining the depths of my soul. I was battling confusion and disappointment. Asking why? What if? And at the same time realizing my desperation for God and humbly saying, “Here I am Lord, do whatever you what with me.”
To be honest, here it is 2016 and I’m still not at the end of the process of maturity—a surrendered life. Do you ever feel like you’re in the winepress of God—the crucible of wrestling in your soul? Well, in reality, we are always in the process of maturing to “the stature of the fullness of Christ.” The good news is there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The Father spoke, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
The days of darkness—my mother was being ravaged by cancer; my wife and I were in the middle of a very hard transition in ministry, and we were in the process of a stressful move to another home. Internally feeling discouraged, betrayed, alone, misunderstood, broken, and disappointed. It felt like God was a million miles away! We prayed our best prayers, fasted, renounced demonic influences, examined our hearts and repented for everything known and unknown. We were desperate for a breakthrough! We were surely walking through the “valley of the shadow of death.” In that hard place, we kept holding on to faith and the grace of God to make it though day-to-day. The catalyst in this process was the “emotional rollercoaster” over watching my mother waste away before my eyes. Cancer was a cruel and ruthless foe. This shouldn’t be happening! God is our healer! With every prayer, literally contending for mom’s life, the results where increasingly more and more painful and disappointing. My heart had become callous, little by little, almost undetectable. No more tears, just numb. I noticed I became more sharp in my words and irritable. The deadly poison of doubt and unbelief was eroding the very fabric of my soul. Like wolves circling their prey before devouring it, I felt a demonic heaviness breathing down my neck trying to deal the deathblow to everything I’ve stood for. This persisted for over six months! God kept me.
YAHWEH is faithful. Even though I was sitting on a pile of ashes, not exactly the “man of faith and power for the hour,” God showed up. An unexpected “suddenly” happened. It seems that in some of the most “fleshed out” and unspiritual times, God moves. I was sitting on the couch talking to a friend about how everything is going wrong. We were basically complaining to each other about the trials of life and at that moment I got a wild idea—why don’t we pray together? By faith we began praying, and instantly I felt my heart begin to soften. Tears began to flow for the first time in six months. I felt a demonic weight tangibly lift off of me. Measures of freedom began to increase more and more. I was weeping and praying and worshipping all at the same time. My friend went to our little “cheesy” keyboard and made it sound like a grand piano! We worshipped and cried out fervently! The prophetic songs came and revelation was downloaded into my spirit.
The Lord told me about the power of worship. He said, “Worship is the principle thing.” He said, “What you lack is faith. And ‘faith worketh by love’ (Gal. 5:6). Worshipping Me is the love expression of relationship. It’s a love feast. It’s spiritual romance. When you worship Me, I will scribe more faith on the tablet of your heart.” I will never forget the simple yet profound revelation of what the Lord spoke to me that day. Faith is increased by loving Him in intimate worship. The Scripture says, “It is impossible to please the Lord without faith (trust).” “The just shall walk by faith.” “Walk by faith and not by sight.” Through that encounter my entire perspective changed to give me courage and strength to walk through the challenges ahead. In the midst of many trials, less than a year later, my wife and I walked mom into eternity where she finally received her healing. We can overcome the worst of pain when we understand the power of being a worshipper.
Recently, the Father spoke to me and said, “Son, when you worship me it is like oil to help you in the midst of trials.”
Oil smooths out the rough areas, it supplies a lubricant to loosen that which is stuck. If you’re going through a hard time, keep praising! If you are wrestling with change, keep worshipping and the love of God will bring it to pass. Never give up.
Worship and praise is eternal. Many “gifts” will pass away when the Messiah returns to physically reign as King in His Kingdom. 1 Cor. 13:8-13 says, “Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect (Messiah) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away… For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love in action).” Also read Eph. 4:11-16. Notice the purpose of the five-fold ascension gifts. Verse 13 says: “till we all come . . . ” In essence, when we reach the maturity of Christ-likeness the wonderful gifts will no longer be necessary. “Then shall I know even as also I am known.” Please keep in mind the sufficiency of Christ NOW on our journey. I will say it to you the way the Lord spoke it to me, “You are becoming who you already are.”
When Ya’shua comes back and physically reigns, we will no longer need the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher because the fulfillment of all things will be accomplished. There will be no need to cast out devils, heal the sick, have words of wisdom, miracles, etc. because we will be with our King in our eternal bodies who completes all things. Mortality is swallowed up by life (2 Cor. 5:4) and the mortal puts on immortality (1 Cor. 15:54). The “gifts” are for NOW! With this understanding, to maximize our effectiveness “in the NOW,” embrace that which is eternal–worship! To effectively function in our gifts and design can only happen by being connected to the Life Source–Christ (Jn. 15:4). From this perspective, as worshippers, we have the revelation, “He inhabits the praises of His people” (Ps. 22:3). “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). “In His presence is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11).
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9)
Here’s my point: Other things will pass away but OUR LOVE EXPRESSED AS WORSHIPPERS, WILL NEVER PASS AWAY. Heaven is full of love songs of worship, the angels are singing right now, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty!” LOVE will never cease! It is eternal. We will worship and love our King forever. Everything we do comes from the core revelation of worship. So I feel compelled by the Holy Ghost to “hold the line” with prioritizing the message, “be worshippers.” Worship isn’t some “add-on” to our lives–it’s central, loving and being loved. It’s a love relationship between you and your King. When we understand the significance of being worshippers, it will revolutionize our entire worldview. It’s like breath to our lungs, food to our bodies, and life in our blood. We are, and will, rule and reign with Him in His Kingdom forever. We are not only bondservants, but we are citizens, friends and sons. Heirs and joint heirs with Ya’shua the Messiah. Don’t miss it! Worship isn’t just some shallow song service—it’s our expression of love to the One who SAVED OUR SOULS. The One who redeemed us from “the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Col. 1:13). Worship isn’t just “a Sunday gig.” It’s a lifestyle that requires a shift in our mindset and sacrifice.
There’s a principle in hermeneutics (Bible interpretation) of “first mention.” The first time worship is mentioned in the Scriptures, is when Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac. It required Abraham’s total trust and prioritization of YAHWEH in his life. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” This was a great sacrifice for Abraham and the Father looked at it as WORSHIP. Read the story in Gen. 22 for your own edification. It will bless you.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Ps. 100:4).
I believe every time you sing a heartfelt song to the Lord it is worship. Every time you give sacrificially it is worship. Every time you win a soul it is worship. Every time you love your brother or an enemy it is worship. Every time you work hard “as unto the Lord” it is worship. Every time you exercise character it is worship. Every time you relationally submit yourself one to another or leaders it is worship. Every time you feed the hungry it is worship. Every time you pray for others it is worship. Every time you cry at the altar, it is worship, etc. EVERYTHING WE DO, LETS DO IT UNTO THE LORD. “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom. 14:8).
A great example in the scriptures of a worshipper is King David. Read the account in the Book of 2 Samuel.
“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts” (2 Sam 6:14-18).
The Kingdom of God is full of love, praise, and worship for our majestic King. As you journey through life keep this in mind because we are in an age of great temptation and tribulation. Staying the course is imperative–we will worship no other gods, systems, mammon, or self.” We only worship Ya’shua with everything in us. Love that looks like obedience. Being enveloped in Him as we navigate through the troubled seas of life. We are overcomers. We are sufficient in Christ. We have dominion. We are worshippers.
