Into the River
We
are being urged more and more to praise and worship as a way of approaching the
throne of God and opening the portals of heaven to allow Holy Spirit free rein
in our meetings. There is an anointing on worship right now that supersedes
anything we have previously seen and the presence of God is becoming more
tangible than ever before. We are urged to ‘get into the river’.
The
Bible picture of the river of God in Ezekiel 47:1-12 is quite clear and, from
where I stand, it is clearly a present move of the Holy Spirit that is leading
our worship and our direction into His river. Yet I feel a warning flag in my
spirit saying that, the enemy being who he is, there will be great swathes of
the church lured into a counterfeit river.
When
does praise and worship become entertainment rather than praise and worship?
When do we carry it just too far so that Holy Spirit becomes grieved enough to
withhold the fullness of His presence from the meeting? When does our dancing,
singing, clapping, and shouting turn the corner into self indulgence and
entertainment? When does the flesh take over from the spirit? It really is a
fine line. Yet it is the difference between a ‘good meeting’ and a habitation
fit for the Lord. After all, the Lord dwells in the praises of His people.
In
order to avoid any divergence from the presence of the Lord, I believe we have
to die to self and allow Holy Spirit complete freedom in our meetings. Then and
only then can our worship rise as incense before His throne and our raised
voices will mingle with the angels. Then and only then will His Glory fill our
sanctuary. Then and only then will we experience all that God has for us in
worship and in our walk with our Saviour.
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