Excerpt from "Ground to Powder" Page 32

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

Is it possible that while we have been rejoicing in our walk "Down the King's Highway" that we have become so engrossed in where we are going and enthralled with the "Highway" that we are on, that we have left the King, Himself, by the wayside?���Have we been so busy singing about how "No Grave's Gonna hold Me Down" and how, "I'll Fly Away" or "I'm Going Up in the First Resurrection!" that we have detracted the attention from the One Who said, "I AM The Resurrection"?

It is easy to understand why we have become so pre-occupied with, "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder" "When The Saints Go Marchin' In" "When We All Get To Heaven" but we should not be ignorant of the subtle devices of the enemy lest he divert the subject of our praise and worship off of Jesus Christ and onto our destination, being watchful also of the tendency to develope an escapist mentality instead of taking heed to Jesus' admonition to be watchful that our "houses are in order" as servants who are prepared for the Master's return.

The painful truth is that (according to what the Lord showed me in this) we need to stop lusting after, "streets of gold" and coveting our "Mansion Over Hill Top" and get our eyes .& praises directed back to THE mansion-Builder! ���Yes, it is written that we are to "comfort one another with these words" but comforting one another concerning the coming of the Lord and allowing an event to become the object of our attention by allowing it to supplant the focus of our praise & worship is not the same.���When the focus shifts from Him Who was sent to where we are going, then there is something drastically out-of-focus.���That something that we've gotten "out-of-focus" is the Lord.

It is also written, "Look up for your redemption draweth nigh" but should "we be standing gazing up into heaven"? (Acts 1:11) Of course it is written, "Look up for your redemption draweth nigh" but should "we be standing gazing up into heaven" (Acts 1:11) when there is yet so much work to be done? ���We ought not to allow our longing to be with the Lord to become a disabling case of "Rapture-itis."���From our pulpits, we constantly proclaim it and our songs name & claim it, to the point that the church has made a shrine or idol out of it!

We need to stop singing the praises of our final destination and stop lauding the trip "we're going to take" and savoring "the meal" (feast) we're going to have and instead, re-direct our attention and affections back to the One Who purchased our ticket.

How many of the songs which we call "Praise & Worship" are nothing more than disguised, well-camouflaged self-exaltation? ���(How many are even willing to humbly and honestly consider that question?)

We sing about who we are in Christ and about what we are going to have and/or get when we all "get to heaven" ...we sing about our crown, our reward and the power "we" have.���Try really listening to the words of so-called praise and worship songs, what do you really hear: I'M going up ... When I get to heaven ... I'VE got a mansion...I'VE got peace...���("I, ME, MY" this... and "I, ME. MY" that!)���No one is questioning the intent of the heart but good intentions or not, -without getting offended in the flesh, it is high time we all step back and honestly examine: Who or what really is the subject or focus of most of the so-called "praise & worship" songs we sing?��� Many songs are in fact not really praise of the Giver so much as they really are "rejoicing in the gifts".

For instance, in the song entitled: "WE'VE got THE POWER! in the Name of the Lord." Who or what is being lifted higher in this song, the LORD or the POWER?���The gift and us or Jesus?���Songs such as: "TO GOD be the glory" . . . "Great is THE LORD"... "For THOU Oh Lord art High"... "HE hath done Great Things"..."I exalt THEE"... "I Love You, LORD"... "Glorify THY Name"... "Without HIM, I Could Do Nothing"... "Great & Mighty Is The Lord our God," and, "Magnify the Lord."����These songs keep the focus on the Lord Himself and do lift up our praise OF The Lord, TO The Lord and lead the hearts of His people into worship OF THE LORD and consequentially will minister TO THE LORD.

Rather than ministering to the Lord as we ought with songs of true praise & worship, with songs of adoration to the Savior, we have developed a tendency to substitute a long list of songs about OUR position (as sons of God, or children of Abraham), OUR power, OUR peace, OUR love, OUR reward and gifts WE have.���We are not to preach ourselves but Jesus Christ and so to we ought to do the same with our praise and worship.���If the truth were known the shift in focus of our songs (out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks) is indicative of a growing shift in the focus of the gospel, from a Christ-centered gospel (Christ in us the hope of glory) to who "we are" in Christ, a man-centered gospel.

Shouldn't we be singing about Jesus Christ, and HIS grace, HIS mercy, HIS love, HIS sacrifice -and of HIM, as the gift Giver, rather than rejoicing in the gifts?���Some may defend these songs of self-exaltation and "rejoicing in the gifts" by saying the songs teach truths or that they have an important message.���To this I would have to agree, they could be utilized as "a teaching tool" but the over use and shift in focus to these kinds of songs has gone far beyond "teaching tools" -to the point that we are inadvertently using them to teach things that ought not to be taught!���(Gifts supplanting the place of the Giver and the gospel "of man" in Christ, instead of Christ in us!)���The churches are in fact allowing these kinds of songs (and the doctrines these songs teach) to supplant the truth, making idols out of power, gifts and even spiritual things... in place of praising & worshiping God, we are lifting up these things in place of and under the guise of, lifting up the Lord Himself!

One of the primary reasons for the shift in focus is the subtle activity of the spirit of divination that has crept into the churches unaware:���It is not that these kinds of songs (and teachings) do not contain some truth, but truth "by what spirit"? -and "who or what" is that spirit really lifting up?���We must remember that the soothsaying damsel (in Acts 16: 16,17) spoke some truth. She spoke � truths about Paul and his companions.���They really were servants of the "Most High God" but the "men themselves" did not "show the Way of Salvation" but rather God by His Spirit pointed men to "Jesus Christ" as The Way, and as our Salvation, --not through "these men themselves" but THROUGH CHRIST by His Spirit!

The spirit of divination wrested the truth to lift up men as "way-show-er's" and to shift the focus off of the "Lord Jesus Christ" and onto "these men" themselves; much like this same spirit lifts up men in ministry today: lifting up the men themselves, and/or lifting up "their ministry" and/or drawing our attention (away from the Lord) to their giftedness!

Some might try to justify what that spirit of divination said (through the woman) simply because she spoke some truth, and you might even say that she had what seemed to be an important message but it was of the wrong spirit, and that spirit clearly was drawing attention to "the men" (which at first might seem right since they are servants of the Lord) but that spirit was pointing people to "men" and not God, directing the attention of the crowd to these men, and to the importance of their ministry, to these men and their work for God, --not the Lord Himself!

Let us not deceive ourselves simply because our songs "proclaim truth" --so did the proclaimation of the soothsaying damsel with the spirit of divination!���What or whom are we lifting up in our songs? -and is it of the Spirit of God, or of ourselves? Just as the spirit of divination hid behind a facade of partial truth, so can we deceive ourselves and we can hide ourselves from our own flesh.���We can try to hide our pride and refuse to acknowledge the manifestation of self-exaltation, and we can try to ignore the operations and devices of this spirit if we choose to do so.���Instead of singing about where we're going, what we have, who we are and/or what we want, shouldn't we be concentrating on HIM?

Lest you think that this is just an overly critical view of song services, first I must tell you that this teaching was not of my own mind nor borne out of any personal dissatisfaction with any church's songs, but instead this teaching was given to me of the Lord for the correction of these things in the churches.���Secondly, stop and scripturally consider this: Our songs (of praise & worship) are to be an opening and out-pouring of our hearts to the Lord. It is written, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."���Set aside what ever offense there may be in the flesh and examine these things before the Lord.���In reality, just what are we really pouring out of our hearts before the Lord.���(In His Sight is it really what we think it is?)���Jesus said, "If I be lifted up...I will draw all men to Me" ���ARE we really lifting HIM up in song?

In the scriptures we can find guidelines for the content and focus of our praise and worship:��"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another IN PSALMS, AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, singing with grace in your hearts TO THE LORD." (Col.3:16) (See also Eph.5:19)���"Let the word of Christ dwell in you" What is to be utilized? (The word of Christ! And where is the word to be utilized in order that it may dwell in you, teach you and admonish you?

The word of Christ is to be utilized in: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs!���Scripture also tells us who and/or what is to be the subject or focus of our song: "I will praise the name of God with song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving." (Thanksgiving for who He is, not merely for the power gifts He has given us!) (cf. Psalm 69:30) "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty..." (sang the four beasts with six wings) (Rev.4:8) The four and twenty elders fall down (i.e., on their faces) before Him that sat upon the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying, "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord to receive glory and honor and power..." (Rev.4:10 & 11) What is being heard in many church services today does not sound so much like "casting down of crowns" as it does casting FOR crowns!

Without a doubt, what we are seeing in the churches today, (particularity among, but not limited to, the Pentecostal and Charismatic circles) is a fulfillment of a prophecy given in connection with the Azuza Street Revival at the beginning of the great "Pentecostal Movement" here in the United States.���In the beginning (of the outpouring) it was prophesied by the Spirit of the Lord that "In the last days" three things will happen in the Pentecostal Movement:

1. "There will be an over-emphasis on power, rather than on righteousness."

(example: "We've got the Power, in the name of the Lord" --or in the words of another popular song: "When I stand in the name of Jesus, demons will have to flee, when I stand in the name of Jesus, I have the victory." If we begin to emphasize our power and our authority, don't we begin to sound just like those who came back rejoicing because demons were subject to them?)

2. "There will be an over-emphasis on Praise, to a God they no longer pray to."

(The Choir lofts are full, fellowship halls are crowded, pot luck socials rarely suffer for lack of attendance and restaurants are frequently packed for ministry Breakfast, Luncheon or Dinner Seminars, whereas the Friday night or Monday morning prayer meetings are nearly deserted.)

3. "There will be an over-emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit, rather than on the Lordship of Jesus Christ."

"This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." What doctrines of men are we teachings? --doctrines which magnify man.���We have given ourselves wholly unto the development of doctrines that emphasize man, man's authority, man's power, man's spirituality, man's giftedness etc.���We have set about teaching man how he can be "like the Most High God" (aka, "like Jesus") ���Are we willing to examine these things?���Are we willing to ask: what spirit our "praise and worship" is really of? Is it as "of God" as we imagine or like to think it is? It is time we all examine our "doctrines of men" and our "praise and worship" in the Light of His word, in Spirit and in Truth!���It is time to humble ourselves to seek His Face and to reconsider: Is our "Praise" --really of Him, and is it "from our lips" only?���Who or what are we really lifting up in our many songs of worship?

A WORD ABOUT "LORDSHIP"

It has been said, "It matters little how often you "go down" under the power, ie. are slain in the Spirit. What does matter is: when you get up, - is there an (inward) change?"

Another thing the Lord instructed me several years ago was concerning: submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.���Departure from the Lordship of Jesus Christ is part and parcel of a series of steps in which our "departure from the truth" has occurred (as I mentioned earlier these subtle changes are reflected over time in subtle changes in focus of our songs of praise and worship, and also seen in changes in our prayers!)

The Lord instructed me to "Listen carefully" (over time) to the leading of the sinners prayer at altar calls and (I was told of the Lord) I would begin to hear many people being led to accept Jesus, as their Savior only.���I was told that I would see people routinely accepting Jesus Christ as Savior, instead of as "SAVIOR AND LORD" (i.e., more often, as "Savior" only)���You might say, even though that happens, it's just an unintentional omission or accidental oversight, but oversight or not and intentional or not, I was told to watch for it.���I was told that it would become increasingly more frequent as time went by --and so it has.���And I was shown that it is a subtle change that the Lord told me was indicative of the times and season, and however subtle it may seem to us, it is related to the (global) "falling away" of His people.���(falling away, here a little and there a little...then line upon line, soon afterward, precept upon precept, going backwards and not forward...)

Accepting Jesus Christ as "Savior" (but not confessing Him as Lord!) is in fact what a lot of people want to do!���Many want to be saved but do not necessarily want Him to be their Lord & Master.���Many say they want Him to be Lord, and they say He is their Savior, but they do not want Him involved in some of their personal choices or interferring in certain areas of their lives.���Some say they have accepted Jesus as their Savior, and they believe that is enough, in reality many do not want Him to be their "Lord & Master".���Many want to make their own choices about where they go, what they do and who they are with (choosing to believe decisions about little things has nothing to do with His Lordship.)

Many want to be their own highest authority, deciding for themselves according to whatever they deem to be "scripturally acceptable in their own sight" -many these days really defer to the LORD for the counsel of His Spirit but walk instead in the counsel of their own minds.���It has become common place for believers to "use the scriptures" however they see fit. ���Many see nothing wrong with getting what they believe would be good for them, using the scriptures (like faith mantra's) to obtain what ever seems profitable to them, freely wresting (turning & twisting) the written word to justify themselves in whatever seems ("biblically") right in their own sight (doing even as their apostate teachers do!)

The increasing trend toward accepting Jesus Christ as Savior but really not acknowledging Him as Lord is symptomatic of our changing commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.���Many pray to "receive Jesus Christ as Savior" (so they may escape Hell) but not as many want to accept Him as Lord.���Jesus however has much to say in the word of God about those who call Him, "Lord, Lord" yet refuse to take up their cross and deny self. He has much to say about those who want to accept Him as Savior but not necessarily as Lord.���The obedience of Christ in us and for us, the Lordship of Jesus Christ (by grace through the faith of Christ) is our highest praise!

Excerpts from "Ground to Powder"���(M. Weiland 1986, posted July 1998) ���A prophetic outline for the "judgments of God which He will use to grind the idolatry of all men to powder" (except we repent) cf. Mt. 21:44 KJV ���"And whosoever shall fall upon the stone shall be broken: but on whosoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder"