1-800-HEAVEN  Essence of Worship

In 1966, Costa Mesa was a town you wouldn’t have a clue about unless you had a map. That year, something extraordinary happened: God visited a small group of young people, and the world changed in an instant. Before the visitation, newspapers ran headlines asking, “Is God Dead?” and young people asked, “Who am I?” and “What am I doing here?” Woodstock happened the next year, 1969, with thousands of young people expressing their feelings about the war in Vietnam, the lack of adults taking an interest in their discontent, and, in general, the reason for living. This brought about total dropping out of society, and in came sex, drugs, and rock and roll. 

Life at this time was divided into segments of discontent. There was rebellious youth, drugs, free sex, and head-pounding music. It seemed every song produced at that time was both anti-government and anti-life. There was the draft, which saw thousands of young men put in uniform and brought back in body bags. Some young patriots thought it was their duty to serve. Some took the thump escape to Canada, far from the draft. There were mothers and fathers, scared to death that their child would be one of the heroes who never returned. All in all, the 1960s were a disaster on all fronts.

Just when everyone thought the world was about to go up in flames, Jesus visited a few young people, and everything began to change. It didn’t last long, but it was powerful. Those young people who thought drugs, sex, and rock and roll were the only way out soon discovered that God was not dead and that His love for them was the light they truly needed in dark times. You would think all the excitement started right there in Costa Mesa, but soon everyone would discover that God was already at work in spots all over the world. It took years of fasting and prayer by people of all ages, especially a group of grandmas up near the Canadian border who would not take no for an answer. Their dedication to fasting and prayer was the key to God’s redeeming move among the youth. 

I came to the Lord in 1972, back from Vietnam, thinking I would never make it past 30, but God had a different plan. I was one of those volunteers for the Vietnam War. I was proud of it, but my eyes were soon opened when I came back. I was not accepted by people my age, nor did I fit into the adult world. One saw me as a murderer, and another as having served in a war that was not a war, and my service was degraded for that reason. Not fitting in, I spent my time bouncing around, never telling anyone what I had done for the previous four and a half years. Drugs, drinking, and hate were the recipe for my life.

I soon found myself lost and dying in a corrupt life of hate. Then one day, in front of a TV, I heard words that made me sink. (I had known the gospel; I had heard it from my grandmother.)  I broke down and quietly received Christ as my Savior. I didn’t tell my wife anything about my surrender. Later that week, she was saved at a meeting we were asked to attend, and we both went forward to share our new life with everyone in attendance. From that day forward, Jesus was the center of my life through good times and terrible times. It made no difference; he was our center.

We eventually attended Bible college in San Diego and found the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced: WORSHIP. I want you to understand the word "worship"-real worship. Getting lost in the presence of the Holy Spirit, engulfed in such close fellowship that all life disappeared. Experiencing real freedom in Jesus, set free from everything around me. Walking as if there were no other life on this earth. And in this time, music, real music, from truth in Christ, not off-key, quarter notes, nothing fractured or distracting. Real music, a real present to the Holy Spirit, pure love being experienced, dynamic understanding, and unquestionable belief that I could walk from this dead world into the throne of God in an instant and sit before the God of my salvation.

 Read; John 4:23-24

              2 Cor. 11:13-15

              Col. 3:5 & 16

It has been 54 years since that day when Jesus took me into His arms and said, “I love you.” Nothing has ever been greater. A lot has changed in the 54 years since. But there has been a devastating development that has fueled destruction within the church, affecting most of it. I know God is not pleased, but under the church’s present leadership, they have fostered this deception to gain legitimacy, both inside and outside the church. Worship no longer means the same. It has devolved into entertainment, feeding of the flesh, and a distraction from the Holy Spirit, leading to sensual movement within the church. This is repulsive to the Lord of Glory. There are numerous warnings about such actions, but many refuse to recognize them for what they are. 

Read:

Matt. 5:8

The church has refused to consider the harm it has caused its members. I hear, "Give me proof, show me the bad results." OK, let me present it this way. If you do anything to cause just one to fall, God says He will make you accountable. Here it is. Do you know just one young person with great singing potential who became famous, starting in the church? Does that person still live for the Lord and sing for the Lord, or has that person maintained their talent for the Lord? And can you say that the world of ungodly entertainment now owns that person, soul and all? I tell you, all who helped that person lay down the cross and pick up Satan's staff will be held accountable.

Did you know that Satan's responsibility before his fall was the ministry of worship? Yes, and wouldn’t you know that he would target this area of the church to do the most damage? Don’t be fooled by all the excitement happening around the country in churches today. What you see is very fleshly in its design. The church is warned that you must function in the proper order of your makeup as a human. First, your spirit, in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, must be in charge. Second, your soul, the center of you as a person, your understanding, and your mind, must be submissive to your spirit. Finally, your body (flesh) must be brought into submission to the soul and spirit to function in the right order in your life. This is said, but there is so much more to understand. The church is failing to teach this order that God commands for your spiritual and daily life in Christ. The flesh is always demanding and selfish, and every part of it conflicts with your spiritual well-being. The mind is always fantasizing about its own greatness. It feeds on deception. The serpent in the garden said it first, “Did God?” Satan used deception to bring sin into man. Now he brings deception into the church through the world's ungodly music. Don’t be fooled. It was not from God, and if you search the Word of God as you should, you will discover that these things do not happen out of the clear blue sky.

Read:

            Rev. 12:7-12 Satan was described as a Covering cherub, the head of the order of 

          Cherubim, the angelic order of cherubim (Choirs).

          1 Thess. 5:23

This has been tough to write. I take no pleasure in rocking the boat, but I am compelled to tell the truth. There is no escape from the truth in the body of Christ. Yet there is a deep blindness in man. It is that blindness that sets in the moment one begins to hear what is true, but that rubs against their desire for what keeps them from enjoying the sins of the world. Then there are the eyes that see nothing wrong with having a bit of fun. Fun is entangled in the world and gives pleasure to the mind and flesh. Yes, you and I are constantly under attack, but God has given us the armor of God if you are willing to put it on. 

With all my heart, I pray that you deeply consider this writing and research everything you can about worship in the Old and New Testaments. God is calling out for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. Be blessed, and may the peace of God be upon your heart.