1WORSHIP

John chapter 4. Let’s start at verse 5. [John 4:5] So he came to a city of Samaria, which is
called Sychar, near the plot of the ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well
was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from his journey, sat thus by the well: and it was
about the sixth hour. Now we know that the number six represents man. Amen? A woman
of Samaria came to draw water and Jesus said to her, Give me to drink. For his disciples were
gone away to the city to buy food. They must have missed that one again. [Laughter.] Where
you guys going, man? Then the woman of Samaria said to him, How is it that you, being a
Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For the Jews have no dealings with the
Samaritans. Now isn’t that powerful. So you know, one of the things I want to express right
now: Jesus came as a Jew. Hello. That’s the bottom line. I mean I’ve gone all over places,
and I seen pictures of Jesus and all different kinds. All different cultures. He chose to come
as a Jew. Now it’s relevant in one aspect and irrelevant in another. It’s relevant because we
acknowledge that he chose the Jews. Amen? To declare the gospel and to bring the truth.
The other thing is that when they rejected him, he went to the gentiles. Amen? So he was
not only the God of the Jews but now he was the God of the gentiles also. But the powerful
thing is that it says— Jesus said, Give me a drink. What he was trying to do was cause her to
ask him for a drink. Okay. You see there was something common that they had there.
Water. So she was a little— like wait a minute, Why are you asking me this. I’m a Samaritan
and you Jews have nothing to do with us. Well he broke the ice there didn’t he. Jesus
answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give me
to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water. If you
would have really understood. If you had gotten it, you would have been asking me for
something different. Living water, not just natural water. The woman said to him, Sir, you
have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from where then do you get that living
water? She was in the flesh, right. Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the
well and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock? Jesus answered and said
to her, Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again: But whoever drinks of the water that I
shall give him will never thirst; but the water that I shall give him will become in him a
fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman said to him, Sir, give me this
water,— Give me this water!! —that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw. She said forget
it,. I don’t want to drink this anymore, I want something else! Jesus said to her, Go, call your
husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to
her, You have well said, I have no husband: For you have been shacking up with five other
guys before— you have had five other husbands; and the one whom you now have is not your
husband: and that you spoke truly. She was in fornication. What was he trying to do? Cause
her to repent so she could get some of this water. The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that
you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you Jews say, that in
Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me,
the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the
Father. You worship what you do not know. We know what we worship: for salvation is of the
Jews. But the hour is coming and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in
spirit and in truth— The word “spirit” means breath and “truth” is who you know. —for the
Father is seeking such to worship him. Everyone say: The Father – is seeking – me – when I
worship him. For God is Spirit: and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth. The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming, who is called Christ: when he
comes, he will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he. Man, she got
direct contact. One of the things he expressed so importantly was worship. And tonight’s
teaching is Worship. Now we have talked about worship over and over because this is a
ministry of worship. And those who worship him must worship him in truth and spirit.
Worship is a representation of whether you know him or not. Whether you really know him.
It separates the religion and relationship arena. There are people who start out worshiping
God and backslide and stop worshiping him. They get caught up by the letter instead of
caught up in the Spirit. There is a correlation between drinking and worship. And you know
what? You cannot live without water. You can live without food, you know. But you can’t live
without water. Hello. You cannot live without water. And you and I cannot live without
drinking of the Spirit— and that’s through worship. Worship. John 7:37. On the last day, that
great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying,— Now he stood and cried out saying.
I think he was trying to get their attention. If Jesus stood and cried out saying something, it
was very important. If anyone what? Thirsts. Oh, another correlation. If anyone thirsts, let
him come to me and what? —drink. What was he trying to do? Give him living water. But
the one thing we must maintain is a thirst. One thing the devil wants to do is quench your
thirst. And it prevents you and stops you from worshiping. You know many people say, Well
you know I have a hard time trying to get in the presence of God. God’s presence is here.
You know where is God’s presence? Where are you? The reason why people have a hard
time getting into God’s presence is because they lose focus. That’s all it is— is focus. They
begin to look at everything else— me, myself and I. What I have to do. What I’ve done. How
I’m going to do it. Whatever. And they miss God’s presence. Oh, hallelujah. And Jesus said,
If anyone thirsts, let him come to me, and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has
said, out of his heart will flow rivers of what? —living water. So let me tell you, we are
supposed to be a fountain of living water. Rivers of living water are supposed to flow out of
me and you. We’re supposed to be like— you know when you get thirsty and you are walking
through the park and you see a water fountain, Yeah man, Whoa! Well you are supposed to
be that way. You are supposed to the light and the salt where people are drawn unto you.
That’s what God wants us to be. Rivers of living water. People get dry real easy. They begin
to look to other areas to get fulfilled and drink. Work, you know. Relationships. All kinds of—
projects. All kinds of other things. You know it’s amazing because some people are really
afraid to seek God in his fullness. In his fullness— because they may get healed. They may
get delivered. There’s a lot of people on disability and all kinds of other stuff. Some of them
do not want to get healed. Believe me I’ve spoken to some of them. They don’t want to get
healed. And then there are those who are seeking God who want to get healed. And God’s
going to do it in his way, isn’t he. However he’s going to do it. Amen? But there are some
who would just rather cash the check and say, That sounds good. I’ll play religion for a while
and that’s that. But then there are those who really want to seek God for a healing. And let
me tell you as you continue to seek him and worship him you will find healing comes.
Sometimes in bits and pieces and chunks and sometimes instantaneously. But you have to
want it and you have to stay thirsty for his presence. Amen? Oh, hallelujah. Let’s go on. But
this he spoke concerning the what? The Spirit. The Spirit is his presence. —whom those
believing in him would receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not
yet glorified. Therefore, many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, Truly this is
the Prophet. Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this
is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, will Christ come out of Galilee?
Has not the scripture said, That Christ comes of the seed of David, and from the town of
Bethlehem, where David was? So there was what? Division among the people because of
him. Now some of them wanted to take him; but no one laid hands on him. Now listen, as
you become a worshiper, you are going to find that you are going to have resistance. Not
only are you going to have resistance from the devil but from others who are truly not
worshipers. They’re going to criticize you. They are going to look at every fault they can
because they are associating with the spirit of accusation. They are not associating with the
spirit of truth— where there is freedom. God is seeking true worshipers. The Father. See
that brings a relationship, doesn’t it. The Father is looking for those who will worship him in
Spirit and in truth. The Father. I can’t imagine— you know if Jesus walked in this room right
now, we would all be going, Whoa!!!! We would want to worship him no matter what. But yet
the bible says when two or more are gathered together in his name, he is in the room. You
know what the problem is? It’s because some of them are still carnally run instead of spirit
run. There is a difference. There is a difference! See even though you have the spirit. Hello.
You must make the choice to walk in the spirit. Just because you have the spirit and pray in
tongues doesn’t mean you are walking in the spirit. You still have a choice as to whether you
are going to walk in the spirit. You must make a conscious effort to walk in the spirit. Does
everybody understand that? You must make a conscious effort to hear his voice and receive
his correction. And stop rebuking the Spirit when he corrects us— and blaming the devil.
There’s a difference. There’s a difference in the relationship when you worship God. It’s our
responsibility to maintain thirst. It’s our responsibility. There’s a lot of people who can quote
scriptures inside and out. They come in and hold their hands up for a couple of songs, then
sit down and think that they have done their best. It’s because they really don’t know him.
Because if you really know him, you love him. And if you really know him and you really love
him, you will worship him. Because you worship everything you love. Worshipers always
seem to cause division when they go in those religious places. You know Jesus’ main problem
with demonic activity was the religious demons. In fact, they are the ones that killed him. He
didn’t even bother with them. He just rebuked them, called them hypocrites and walked
away. He said, Your father is from hell and my father is from heaven. It was real simple— He
said, you go around making big prayers on every corner, you wear nice robes, and you sit in
nice restaurants. But you put your burdens on other people because you don’t tell them the
truth. They weren’t worshipers, were they. They were those who had a form of godliness but
denied the power. The power is in worship. You and I cannot be who he wants us to be until
we get the anointing and the power of the Spirit of God and learn how to maintain that
anointing through worship. Worship. Oh, hallelujah. Go to Matthew 5. Let me share
something with you. There is going to be such a wave of resistance from darkness that if
you’re not in the spirit, you’ll be pushed out. It’s already begun and it’s going to increase
greatly. It’s going to be a wind that’s going to flow through of darkness— that’s going to push
people out, right off the rock if they are not attached to him. And the only way you can stay
attached to him is in the spirit. Oh, hallelujah. And the purpose of it is to expose. Because
God is going to expose those who don’t worship him in truth and in spirit. And as they
become exposed, his hope is that they will come to repentance and get back in position.
Amen? Oh, hallelujah. Yes, Lord. Matthew 5:6, would you read it with me. Blessed—
Everybody say “blessed.” Blessed. Say it again! Blessed. You know what blessed means?
Divine favor. Blessed. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they
shall be filled. Well what are you going to be filled with? God’s presence. His Spirit. So you
and I must maintain a thirst and a hunger. And if you lose it then you better go pray— I don’t
care if you have to fast— whatever you have to do. You need to go get it!! TV will not fulfill
your thirst and hunger. Hello. Playing sports will not fulfill your thirst and hunger. Working
overtime will not fulfill that thirst and hunger. Working for that bonus will not fulfill that thirst
and hunger. Looking for that spouse will not fulfill that thirst and hunger. You know why
people have problems with marriages? It’s because they are not right. Hello. Because they
need to be an example to one another. But if they would just take time— in the presence of
God and worship him and do what they are supposed to be doing, their marriages — no
matter what way — would be established. No one said it was going to be simple but you
know what? You won’t be affected if you’re walking in the Spirit. Amen? You would be
taking care of God and God will be taking care of your spouse. [Laughter.] That’s why it’s
called ministering to the Lord. Amen? That’s worship. Samuel was one who ministered to
the Lord. David ministered to the Lord. The great men and women of God learned how to
minister to the Lord in worship. They didn’t go— they didn’t make a choice— let’s see, today
I can’t worship the Lord because I really don’t feel like it. I’m just too tired, I really worked
hard today. Resistance. You know you need to tell the devil resistance is futile, get behind
me. Did you ever notice when you pick up a bible when it’s time to come to bible study, the
spirit of heaviness comes on you and you get real sleepy. Man!! And the devil tells you, Why
don’t you go get a cup of coffee. If I just had a cup of coffee.... No, if you just prayed in the
Spirit and started worshiping the Lord a little bit, you would get quickened. That’s what the
Holy Spirit says. Quicken me, Lord. David said, Quicken me. I ask that every morning,
Quicken me. I start praying in the Holy Ghost, thanking him. It’s just a ploy of the devil to
make you go to material things instead of the real thing. [Pastor sings: “Ain’t nothin like the
real thing baby ....”] [Laughter.] Hallelujah. HALLELUJAH! Hey don’t mind me tonight—
Hallelujah!! That’s all I’ve got to say! My Daddy came and touched me. It only takes a
touch. Just a little touch. Remember Jesus breathed on his disciples. And said, Receive ye
the Holy Spirit. He breathed on them. Remember when Jesus was getting ready to be taken
up. What did they do when he left? They worshiped Him! They went in the synagogue and
worshiped him! He didn’t go. He sent his Spirit. Oh, to God be the glory! Revelation 21. A
lot of things happen when you worship the Lord. Now we have a spiritual warfare teaching
that’s called Spiritual Warfare #7 - Praise and Worship. It talks a lot about warfare and what
goes on as you praise and worship. I’m not going to go into all of that tonight but I would
suggest that you might want to get that teaching and listen to it. It’s very powerful. —about
spiritual warfare praise and worship. Amen? Air attack. F-14s, stealths and so forth. Praise
God. Revelation 21:5, are you with me? Glory to God. Verse 5, lets’ read it together. Then
he who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Whoa! You think God is
making something new? Amen. He’s making all things new in me and you. And he said to
me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Is he true and faithful? Oh, hallelujah. And
he said to me, It is done. Hey he said it’s done. What’s the problem? You just have to get in
position, right? It’s done man! What are you worried about? I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who what?
Thirsts! Whoa— got to maintain that thirst. He’s going to give it freely. He who overcomes
shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. So what is he saying?
Listen, you have to drink to overcome. That’s why people don’t overcome. Their focus is in
other places. They can’t really worship the Lord in truth and in spirit. Because they are too
caught up in themselves. They are not willing to lay and cast their cares upon the Lord and
get released. Hello. He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I shall be his God and he
shall be my son. But the cowardly— Hello — unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers [which means drug users], idolaters, and all what? —liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the what? —second death.
Staying thirsty will overcome the world— worldly thirst. You’re fighting sometimes for what
thirst. You are fighting for what arena you want to drink from. Worldly thirst or Godly thirst.
Philippians 3. The word says that when the flood of the enemy comes, then lift up the praise.
When the spirit of heaviness comes, put on the garment of praise. Why? Because as you
praise and worship the Lord, light is actually coming out of you. So is darkness. First the
darkness, then the light. That’s why it’s a little rough getting started. It’s like kicking a
Harley without an electric start. [Pastor does sound effects of the pipes on a Harley as it’s
kick-started.] What you’re saying is, “Come out, come out, come out, come out!” [Lots of
laughter.] “Come out, come out, come out, come out!” [Pastor says that faster.] [More
laughter.] Next thing you know you’re cruising, man! Praise God, you’re in overdrive, light is
flying out of you and the demons are running like hell! Hallelujah! Glory to God! Oh, you’re
so good Lord! Did you ever notice that in his presence there is fullness of joy? [Laughter.]
Glory to God. Philippians chapter 3. You can remember that the next time you want a kick
start, right. “Come out, come out, come out, come out!” [More laughter.] Praise God.
Hallelujah. Read with me, starting in verse 1. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For
me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. In other words, he is
repeating the same thing. Come on, you don’t have it yet? What’s the matter with you?
Come out, come out, come out, come out. You better go kick that Harley over, man. Beware
of what? —dogs, beware of evil workers [same thing], beware of mutilation. Whoa! What
were they trying to do? Mutilate the ways of God. Hello. They are trying to distort. They are
trying to bring confusion. They are trying to prevent you from getting in God’s presence.
That’s why Jesus said to beware of the leaven of the pharisees. They thought the pharisees
had turned to baking. No they were not bakers. Amen? He meant the evilness of what they
were preaching. Oh, hallelujah. In verse 3, read it with me. For we are the circumcision, who
what? —worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Let me share something with you. Those who don’t worship have confidence in the flesh.
You know that’s considered dry land. And the bible says that when a devil comes out of an
individual, he is seeking dry land. Hello. Some of us may have picked up somebody else’s
demon. Yes, they have a right to dry land. That’s why we try to get everyone to worship.
Did you ever notice sometimes in the beginning of worship, that fight. Hello. Sometimes
there’s that fight. It’s like— what do you call those— bull-riders. You’ve got a demon on you
that just won’t shake off of you. Bucking broncos or whatever. Bucking broncos. It just won’t
come off of you and you’re struggling. In fact, the devil starts telling you, Man we’ve got to
go to worship service again! Man, I’m tired— and all of this stuff. You know, I just can’t wait
until this service is over. You have a demon. Well, I just don’t believe that stuff. Of course.
That’s called a religious demon. I read my bible. I do my prayers. But do you worship? Do
you drink? Remember you can’t live without living water. You can’t live without living water.
You know as the Spirit was giving me this teaching today, I was making music at the same
time. Of course, I didn’t get this teaching until later on. I was trying to get to it early this
morning, but things are always happening. So around 3:00 p.m. I finally started getting some
of it and the Holy Spirit put this music together for us specifically tonight. Because we don’t
usually play all of this— some parts of it, but praise God. So it says, For we are the
circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no what? —
confidence in the flesh. Remember if you are resisting worshiping the Lord, you have
confidence in your flesh. And you don’t know it! Because deception is satan’s greatest what?
Weapon. And what’s his power? Fear! Some people are afraid to come up for prayer
because they are afraid what might be revealed. Amen? What if he sees what I’ve been
doing? Don’t be afraid of what I see, you had better be concerned with what He sees! Hello.
Oh, we can become foolish flesh creatures. Oh, hallelujah. Worship. What is worship?
Worship is reverent devotion to God our creator. Reverent devotion— that’s a representation
of respect and honor and adoration. When the captain comes into the room, we stand at
attention. Amen? We salute him. Amen? When the King of Glory comes into the room, you
bow down to him. No bucking - but bowing. Amen? Worship is reverent devotion to God as
our creator. It’s a representation of respect, honor and adoration. Gratefulness of who he is,
for what he has done, and what he is going to do. Amen? It’s expressed reverence. That’s
what worship is. Expressed reverence. Worship is the only way that you can really truly
minister to the Lord. When we gather together to worship, we are ministering to the Lord.
Reverent devotion to God as our creator — respect, honor and adoration. Gratefulness for
who he is and what he has done. Expressed reverence. That’s what worship is. Expressed
reverence. Oh, hallelujah. When there is an opportunity to worship. Worship. But I don’t
feel like it. Praise God, that’s when you really worship. That’s when it counts. It doesn’t
count when you feel like it. That’s when it really counts man, is when you don’t feel like it.
Because you know what you’re doing? You are mortifying your flesh! You are taking
dominion. You are saying to the devil, Loose me! Oh, hallelujah. Genesis 12, verse
something. Verses 7 and 8. Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, To your
descendants I will give this land: and there he built an altar to the LORD, who appeared to
him. In the old testament one of the representations of worship— especially in Abram’s time,
they built altars and they made sacrifices unto the Lord— that was a representation or
expression of worship. And he removed from there to a mountain on the east of Bethel, and
pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an altar to
the LORD, and called on the name of the LORD. So there was an area where he was building
an altar as a form of worship. And that’s where he would call upon the name of the Lord. You
know so many times God will speak to you, impart in you, as you worship. You may not hear
it right away but he is impressing in you something and as you settle down and worship and
you sense his presence and his impression, he will speak to us. Because finally— all that
garbage, it’s like getting showered. And we have picked up so much stuff from the day that
we’ve got all this kind of worldliness on us— because we are like light bulbs, right. We’re the
light. And light bulbs pick up dust and the light doesn’t shine too good until we get polished.
So as you worship the Lord, the Holy Spirit comes and cleanses you, fills you and brings you
clarity so you can hear. Amen? And it lasts for a couple of days. It depends on what area
you are at. You know it’s a time to get recharged. We are like Ever-ready batteries - eternal
batteries. You know that little rabbit that beats that drum? It finally dies out, doesn’t it. And
what’s happening is darkness is drawing energy from you. They’re trying to drain you. And if
you allow that to happen long enough, you will seek the worldly ways to get energized. Hello.
That’s why it’s important in fellowship. You know I heard a preacher preaching the other day
and it really blew my mind because he had it. He said there is such a spirit of independence
that’s causing separation in the body of Christ. There is such a spirit of independence.
People are not being sent, they are leaving. There’s a difference. Starting ministries when
God has not ordained them to. Amen? Hallelujah. So we see here that Abram— in the old
testament one of the forms of worship was building altar and sacrifices, wasn’t it. Exodus
25:1 - 9. Then the LORD spoke to Moses— Now he spoke to Abram and Abram started
building altars. And then he spoke to Moses. God wanted to dwell with man. So he spoke to
Moses, saying, that they bring me an offering— God likes an offering. Everyone here likes an
offering. Everyone here likes to receive something. He said from everyone who gives it
willingly with his heart you shall take my offering. That’s why sometimes you have to fight to
mortify that flesh, then you can truly give that willing offering. Now will means choice,
doesn’t it. So you and I have a choice to make, every time. And this is the offering which you
shall take from them; gold, silver, and bronze— Man if we asked for that today they would
call us– thieves. My God, you’re out for money! Look what they asked for then— gold. Okay
everybody bring your gold in, bring your silver in and bring your bronze. That’s what they
asked for, right. Blue, purple, scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red,
badgers' skins, and acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet
incense, onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them
make me a sanctuary [a sacred place]; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I
show you, that is the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all its furnishings, just as
you shall make it. So the Lord was telling them, listen— we are going to come to another
level of worship. Now they had alters— now he was going to start to bring them certain
rituals. He was going to cleanse them more so that they could come in from the outer court
to the Holy Place— and where the priest could come into the Holy of Holies for the offering
and the covering of the sins of the nation once a year. Okay— So that God could still dwell
with them. So there was a place where God was beginning to dwell with mankind. And he
was expressing— Here’s another way of worship. Does everybody get it? Of course, he’s
always improving worship, isn’t he. Go to Exodus 34:10 - 17. And he said, Behold, I make a
covenant [Wow!]: before all you people I will do marvels, such as have not been seen in all
the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the
LORD: for it is an awesome thing that I will do for you. Now the Lord was saying, I’m going to
do an awesome thing. Now this was right after the tabernacle, right? This is where he is
building the tabernacle and now he is making covenant with his children. Worship is a
representation of maintaining covenant. Does everybody get it? It’s a representation of
maintaining covenant with God. Because If you are maintaining relationship, you are
maintaining covenant, aren’t. If you lose that relationship you begin to— break some of that
covenant yourself. You begin to fall away from the promises of God. Because the devil
comes and steals, doesn’t he. Isn’t that his job? Well see he is exposed in light. But he is
hidden in darkness. Does everybody get it? So where there is deception, that’s how he has
access to you. Observe what I have commanded you this day: behold, I am driving out from
you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the addictite, the pervertite, the
Hivite, the Jebusite, the lustite, the fleshite, the pornoite, the nicotineite. Hello. The
afflictedite. The infirmityite. Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the
inhabitants of the land [or the world] where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst:
But you shall destroy their altars,— Hello. You shall destroy their altars, break their sacred
pillars, and cut down their wooden images: For you shall worship no other god: for the LORD,
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of
the land, and they play the harlot with their gods, and make sacrifice to their gods, and one
of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice; And you take of his daughters for your sons,
and his daughters play the harlot with their gods, and make your sons play the harlot with
their gods. You shall make you no molten gods for yourselves. That’s why he says come out
from among them and be separate. Then I will be your God. Amen? Oh, hallelujah. Worship
is obedience and honor of his covenant between God and man or God and you. Worship is a
representation of offer— sacrifices. There is always a sacrifice in worship. You sacrifice when
you worship. God honors that. Now he is not just interested in your sacrifice, right. He is
interested in your obedience. But sometimes obedience is a representation of sacrifice, isn’t
it. Amen? Now we talked about the tabernacle. We know that there is the outer, the Holy
Place and the Holy of Holies. The three chambers. And you’ve got to be careful because
some of this alternative music that we are listening to will just keep you in the outer courts.
Sometimes people listen to more alternative music than they do worship music. And you
know what happens? They are not changing. But I’m listening to Christian music. Not all
Christian music brings you into God’s presence. How many times do you want to hear the
message. Now it’s time to meet the messenger. Amen? It’s called alternative. I think it’s
altermotive [WADE: I don’t know about that word. I was not certain what Pastor
was saying. Please check it out at the beginning of Track 11.] It’s an excuse to keep
from worshiping God. Well I’ll just listen to it for a while. No, there’s a difference. There is
music that will keep you in the outer court. And there is music that will bring you into the
Holy of Holies — where in his presence you will change. Psalm 100. Let’s read it together.
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands. You’re the lands now. It says shout to the
Lord, doesn’t it. You know it’s amazing when people say, Let’s give reverence to God -
everybody be quite for a minute. I mean there is a time when, you know— it’s like, Let’s pray
for someone but let’s be quiet. A moment of silence. Or you’re in my thoughts. Oh,
wonderful. Keep me in your prayers not your thoughts. Lift the name to the Lord, not the
thought to the Lord. Hallelujah. We get cards from people saying, You’re in my thoughts.
Praise God. I want to write them back, Put me in your prayers, man! Make a joyful shout to
the LORD, all you lands. Serve the LORD with what? —gladness. There is nothing worse
than miserable servant. If you are miserable, don’t tell anybody you are a Christian. Go
home, worship the Lord until the oil of gladness overtakes you and you become joyful. Jesus
was happy! He was never miserable. In fact, he laughed and had a great time. The only
time he was silent was when he was crucified. When he was being tormented, he was silent.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Hallelujah. Knowing
that the LORD he is God [and you are not]: it is he who has made us, not we ourselves; we
are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with what? —thanksgiving,
and into his courts with what? —praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name. For the
LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations. Praise God.
We see now that there is a new transition. There is a transition going on from the altar and
the tabernacle— now there is a transition to praise. Praise. Now you become the instrument
of praise. Amen? Hebrews 13. In fact the new covenant— the new testament is a
representation of the celebration, isn’t it. We are joyful and thankful for his coming! And that
he came. And that he’s coming again! Hebrews 13. Well how was your day? Well I’m
alright. [Pastor mimics whining believer.] Go to your closet and worship the Lord until you get
right — until you get blessed! Well I just don’t feel like it. Man are you still led by your flesh,
your feelings? Forget it! Thou shalt have no other gods before him— don’t let your feelings
become your god!! He is not the god of feeling. He is the God of truth!! The feeling you
want is joy. Hello. Peace! Hallelujah! Righteousness. Praise God. Hebrews 13:15.
Therefore by him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God. Does everybody see
that? Continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God. Some people just— they get really
irritated when they always say something to me and I say, To God be the glory. Praise the
Lord. What am I doing? I am constantly offering up sacrifice to the Lord. I’m offering praise
to him. He’s the one that did it. Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of
praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of what? —our lips giving thanks to his name. You
know your lips are now the altar of God. Your lips are now the altar of God. That’s where the
sacrifice is, isn’t it. But do not forget to do good and to share. For with such sacrifices God is
what? Well pleased. Hallelujah. He’s well pleased. New covenant— A sacrifice of praise with
our lips, our mouth and our breath. Hallelujah. Don’t kill anybody, make sure it’s clean
breath! You want to make sure they get slain in the Spirit. Right? Not passed out by
someone’s breath. John 9:28. Now there was a guy that was blind. Jesus heals him. He goes
to the pharisees and they’re trying to steal his healing. This is when he is in front of them—
they said to him, Then they reviled him [this is the guy who got healed], and said, You are his
disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses: as for this fellow, we
know not from where he is. They’re talking about Jesus. The man answered and said to them
[this is the guy who got healed], Why this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where
he is from, yet he has opened my eyes. In other words, he was telling the pharisees, Where
have you been! How come you don’t know where this guy is? He’s going around healing
people! And that’s all you’re doing is bringing people in bondage, you religious demons! He
said this is marvelous. In verse 31, Now we know that God does not hear sinners: but if
anyone is a what? —worshiper of God, and does his will, him he what? —hears them. If he’s
a worshiper and does his will. Since the world began, it has been unheard of that anyone
opened the eyes of one who had been born blind. This guy was born blind. If this man were
not from God, he could do nothing. They answered and said to him, You were completely
born in sin, and are you teaching us? They were upset— like they weren’t born in sin. Right?
And they cast him out. Get out! That’s what happens when God touches people— those
religious demons can’t stand you! You’re too zealous. You have too much of God’s love.
You’ve got revelation knowledge. You’ve been baptized in the Holy Ghost and speak in that
funny language. You don’t take any garbage. You are a threat to them. Because you expose
them. Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said to him,
Do you believe on the Son of God? And they answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might
believe on him? And Jesus said to him, You have both seen him, and it is he who is talking
with you. And he said, Lord, I believe. And did he do? He worshiped him. Real believers
worship! Followers worship! Followers worship! Don’t tell someone you’re a follower, if
you’re not a worshiper. You will know a believer and how close they are to God when you see
how they worship. Not just a form of worship but worship from the heart. They go after him.
Oh, hallelujah. God does not hear sinners but worshipers, right? Oh, hallelujah. Let’s go to
Revelation 4. Lets’ see what they do in the throne room. Now we want to bring the throne
room to us, don’t we? Hallelujah. In verse 2, And John said immediately I was in the spirit:
and, behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And he who sat there was
like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance: and there was a rainbow round about the
throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones and on
the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightening and thunder and voices: and
there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Before the throne was a sea of glass like crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and around
the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and in back. This is the throne room
of God. The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature a calf. The third
was like the face of a man and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. The four living
creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest
day or and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to
come. And whenever the living creatures give and honor and thanks to him who sits on the
throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him [this is
worship] who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne saying, You are worthy, oh Lord to receive glory and honor and
power, for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created. That’s
powerful. That’s powerful. Oh, hallelujah. Go to Proverbs 18. That’s in the throne room. We
want to bring the throne room of God into our presence. If the Father is searching for those
who are willing to worship him in truth and in spirit, don’t you think the whole crew comes?
Amen! Amen! Oh man, I had a vision one day in worship and they showed up— and they
were above. I was in this place in Ashland, Virginia and I was worshiping the Lord and it was
like — it was like a platform that just showed up and their were angels all around it and the
throne. And the glory of God and all of like these colors and whatever. And I saw one of the
angels take this silver like pitcher and begin to pour it and was pouring it out— and as it
poured out it came on me and it started pouring out all over. It was like liquid gold but then it
was like water, a refreshing water too. But it was like as we began to continue to worship and
dance before the Lord, people were just getting drunk in the Spirit— Just getting drunk in the
Spirit and every once in a while I see that happen in some of the services sometimes. I see
that happen. Not very often but every once in awhile I will see this angel pick this pitcher up
and pour it out — and it doesn’t stop, you know. It’s constantly pouring out. And you could
see the Father and the Son sitting next to each other up there and these brilliant rainbowish
lights— it’s just glorious. I can’t explain it. It just like this platform that’s up there and the
living creatures and these angels that are just pouring out these bowls of living water. And
sometimes it would turn into liquid gold or liquid fire. Things would just change in the
atmosphere and the atmosphere just changes in His presence. And God is trying to bring us
to this place where we begin to see what’s going on in the Spirit. Sometimes I sense the
angel of the Lord come up. One day I was in New Mexico and we were in this one room and
people were chanting and I didn’t like this chanting stuff and I walked out of the room and I
went in the hallway like in the lobby and I got on my knees and I started praying in the Spirit
worshiping the Lord and then all of a sudden— all I know is that angel of the Lord comes up
and puts his hand on me— huge. And him and I start worshiping the Lord. These things are
true. These things are there for me and you. All you have to do is get in the Spirit. You have
to become a worshiper. You have to thirst and hunger and love his presence more than
anything. Oh, hallelujah. Where are we at? Proverbs 18. Glory to God. In verse 21. Would
you read it with me. Is everybody there? Death and life are in the power of the tongue and
those that love it will eat its fruit. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. The bible
says he who sows to the Spirit reaps life. He who sows to the flesh reaps corruption. So
you’re sowing— and the word “Spirit” is capitalized. You know reading your bible strengthens
your Spirit. Worshiping the Lord is sowing in the Spirit That’s why the bible says the Word is a
lamp unto our feet and a what? Light unto our path. Because it becomes a light unto our
path as we speak the Word. But as you read the Word, you’re strengthening your Spirit so
that you can worship. Everybody understand that? You’re increasing faith because faith
comes by what? Hearing the Word of God, so you can step in. Oh, hallelujah. So you have
the choice of speaking life or speaking death. Sowing in the Spirit or sowing in the flesh. And
that choice is what you do with this tongue. Psalm 47. One of the things the devil does not
want you to do is get in God’s presence. O clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with
the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is awesome; he is a great King over all the
earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. He will choose
our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loves. God is gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises to our
King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing praises with understanding.
Those who worship him in truth and in Spirit have understanding. God reigns over the
nations and sits on his holy throne. The princes of the people are gathered together, even
the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong to God: he is greatly
exalted. Psalm 16:11. You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at
your right hand are pleasures for ever more. Praise God! Fullness of Joy. You know the bible
says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. So don’t be a wimp. Get in his presence! You
get joy, you get strength. Hallelujah. 1 Samuel 10. Oh, hallelujah. 1 Samuel 10. Glory to
God. In verse 1. Now Saul had been chosen to be king— and he couldn’t be king in the flesh.
He was the first king. Then Samuel took a flask of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed
him, and said, Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over his inheritance?
So Samuel begins to tell him what he needs to do before he can get in position. In verse 5 he
says, After that you shall come to the hill of God, where the Philistine garrison is, and it will
happen when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming
down from the high place with string instruments, a tambourine, a flute and a harp, before
them; and they will be prophesying. Why? Because their worshiping the Lord is ushering in
God’s presence. Ushering in God’s presence begins to manifest the gifts of the Spirit. He
says, then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them, and
be turned into what? —another man. Every time you get in God’s presence you begin to be
turned into another man, more and more and more. Well you may not feel it— But you will
know it. Remember you can sit there and worship God all day— you’re sowing in the Spirit.
But there is something when you begin to make a conscious effort. Do you understand that?
It’s like getting in the Spirit, you must make that conscious effort. You must make that
conscious effort to get in— and fight to get in. It’s not three songs and sit down and you’ve
done your duty. It’s not about duty. It’s about death. Death. That’s why there are some
people who will never go out and cast out a devil. Because they will still be led by their flesh.
When they get unction to go pray— they will never get that. They will go miss it because
they are in the flesh. The only time they will pray is when there is a need. And it’s usually
their own. Oh, hallelujah. In verse 3— Oh, we already went there! Glory to God. Let’s go to
1 Samuel 16. Hey man, this is free. He paid the price! Now there is a price you must pay.
Repent, renounce and receive! The process of healing. Hallelujah. Who needs an
anesthetic? Hallelujah. Lee needs an anesthetic— see me after service and I’ll give you an
anesthetic. Hallelujah. Praise God. 1 Samuel 16:14. Praise God. Verse 14. Now we know
that Saul obedient. Right? So Daddy chose another king to replace him. And the Spirit of the
Lord came upon David. In verse 14 it says, But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul,
and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. Hey listen, you have to be careful who
you are fellowshipping with. When you resist the Holy Ghost the distressing spirit is right
there. He’s called a familiar spirit and he loves to fellowship with you. It’s his good pleasure
to give you the kingdom of darkness. Oh, hallelujah. And Saul's servants said to him, Surely
a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. Even his servants knew he picked up a demon.
Let our master now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man, who is a
skillful player on a harp: and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing
spirit from God is upon you and you shall be well. This is powerful. Go to verse 23. So as it
was when the spirit from God, that distressing spirit was upon Saul, that David would take a
harp, and play it with his hand: then Saul would become what? —refreshed, well or healed.
And delivered. The distressing spirit would depart from him. So we see that a lot of things
happen in God’s presence, doesn’t it. We talked about joy, strength— we talked about
healing, deliverance. Refreshing. Gifts of the Spirit— prophesy. Amen? Becoming a new
individual. You are going from glory to glory in his presence. Oh, hallelujah. Go to chapter
17. I Samuel 17:32. Now David was a young man. And that philistine Goliath was out there
— mocking God’s army and God. And in verse 32, And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart
fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine. He said, Hey king Saul, I
will go fight since the rest of your army won’t. And Saul said to David, you are out of your
mind. He said, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for you are but
a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. Ohhhh, maaaannn. I wanted to do outreaches
in the drug infested areas and I had the religious pastors come out and tell me, You can’t go
against them. How long have you been a believer? When did you get saved? Who’s this?
Who’s that? I shared with them what happened to me. They said that can’t be. It’s against
the scripture. In other words, you couldn’t get baptized in the Holy Ghost and pray in
tongues. Of course there were still drug infested individuals all around their church! Some of
them were probably sleeping in their parking lot and still not getting healed. I’m sharing with
you that only in the Spirit are you able to take out the Goliaths. In fact, you are looking for
them. In verse 34, But David said to Saul, Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and
when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went after it and struck it and
delivered the lamb from his mouth. And when it arose against me, I caught him by his beard,
and struck it and killed it. In the Spirit there is no fear. There is no fear in the Spirit. One day
I was trying to do some paperwork and make some copies and stuff. In fact, we were doing
some brochures— and this place, Kinko’s downtown, they had my cassette and they were
supposed to have stuff ready. And it’s wild, because that movie Matrix, you know— he’s got
this long black coat. And it was cold out and I had this long black coat on. And I go to Kinko’s
to pick up this stuff and they must have had a flood— people were sitting around a lunch
table. And I really didn’t notice what was going on and I came up and I asked. Of course
when I went in there I was binding the strongman and I asked an individual and he was sitting
there and one of these dudes turned around and gave me a real wise remark. And I felt the
presence of the Lord come upon me of holy anger. I’m telling you the power of God came
upon me where I could have ripped people in half in that place. I had no fear. And the
presence of God that came upon me was like— the only thing I can imagine, was what came
upon Samson. And everyone at the table turned around and looked at me. And one guy
bowed his head, not wanting to look at me. And that’s all I did— I stood there. And they all
turned their heads and I’m telling you I could feel the presence of God— I don’t know how
many angels were with me or whatever, but I had no fear. I mean I knew— I didn’t have
hatred. I just knew that power was all over me! All over me!! And as I stood there and they
looked at me, they turned their heads. I didn’t know what to do. I just knew that the power
of all over me— and strength. And I turned around and walked out. And when I turned
around and walked out, it lifted from me. And I thought, LORD! And he let me know that was
what was coming on Samson. Because the bible says that the seven-fold of the Holy Spirit—
one of them is the Spirit of strength. Hello. Oh, hallelujah. And that’s what happened with
David. No fear. Amen? No fear. Right? Oh, hallelujah. Go to verse 41. So the Philistine
began drawing near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him. And when
the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him [in other words, he mocked him
and stuff]: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and good looking. And the Philistine said to
David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his
gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of
the air and the beasts of the field. It didn’t matter what they said, did it. Those words had no
penetration. Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a
spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the
armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand; and
I will strike you, and take your head from you; and this day I will give the carcasses of the
camp of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air, and the wild beasts of the earth; that
all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. He wasn’t playing games. I’m telling you
that’s how I felt in this place in Kinko’s. I didn’t say a word though. But the power and the
strength of the Spirit of God came upon me. And man was I---- whew!!!! Then when I saw
the Matrix movie I thought, Cool man – I know what that’s about!! Hallelujah. 2 Chronicles
20. A couple more scriptures and we are out of here. Praise God. In verse 1, 2 Chronicles
20:1. It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others
with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the
king of Judah. He was totally outnumbered. He could not physically, naturally fight and win
this war. Amen? In verse 3 it says, And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the
LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help
from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. Now when you
seek God, he sends his Spirit to give you counsel, correction and direction. Either through
someone, through his word, through dreams, revelation, through vision— through something
he is going to give you direction. He sent the prophet to him— and he told him what to do.
In fact, he told him to position himself. He told him the battle was the Lords— he said, Don’t
fear. Amen? In verse 20, So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness
of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah and you
inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe
His prophets, and you shall prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he
appointed those who should what? —sing to the LORD, and who should what? — praise the
beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:— Come on, they went
out before the army. Try and tell our armies that! Try and tell our commanders, Hold on,
we’re sending the praise and worship team out ahead of you!! [Laughter]. They try and give
you— between state and religion– church and state or whatever. Hold on– send the church
out first! Praise God, victory would have been over with! —and they went out saying, Praise
the LORD, For His mercy endures forever. Now when they began to sing and to praise, the
LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come
against Judah; and they were defeated. Let me share with you, as you praise and worship the
Lord— here is another thing about getting in his presence– He will ambush your enemies!
He’s going to ambush your enemies man!! For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up
against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had
made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. Man, talk about
confusion in the camp. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they
looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one
had escaped. No one. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they
found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry,
which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were
three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. Hey, there is blessing in his
presence!!!! It may not come the way you expect, but there are blessings and promises in his
presence. Go to Acts 16. Oh, there are a lot of things that happen as you praise the Lord.
Acts 16. You can’t give up though, can you. You have to keep going, you’ve got to keep
pressing in. In verse 25. Now Paul and Silas were in jail being persecuted. They were locked
up, bound up, chained up— Hello. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. They were praising the Lord, even in
their circumstances. Amen? Praising the Lord even in their circumstances. You know, that’s
when you really find out where you are at. If you are able to praise the Lord in your worst
circumstance. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison
were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Hallelujah! Sometimes your praise and worship releases others. See the purpose of this
ministry is to bring people in God’s presence so they can get free. Man cannot free anybody,
only His presence can. Oh, hallelujah. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep
[yeah I’ll bet] and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had left, drew his
sword and was about to kill himself. Because he knew he was going to get killed anyway.
But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. He must
have freaked! Man, these guys are too honest. What are they doing in jail! Then he called
for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Oh, how God turns your
enemies— to come with you instead of against you. And he brought them out and said, Sirs,
what must I do to be saved? So they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be
saved, you and your household. Oh, man do you understand that praise and worship not only
ambushes your enemies but releases you and makes a way of escape from your trouble.
Makes a way of escape from your trouble and brings freedom from bondage. One of the
greatest bondage people have is trying to worship. What if someone sees me? Praise God–
what if you get healed! Then let somebody see you! Amen? I want to close at Psalm 103.
Hallelujah. Don’t care what people think. Come on, we didn’t care what people thought
when we were out there serving the devil! Come on, you used to go to those football games
and those basketball games and soccer games and worship that pigskin— scream like crazy
[Pastor mimics screaming fans.] When it comes to worshiping the Lord people turn silent.
Silent night .... [Pastor begins to sing Silent Night] Silent lips! Psalm 103. Hallelujah! We
have a great, great reason to celebrate! A great reason! Now you have to remember
something— It’s about a choice, isn’t it. It’s about a choice! That’s all it is, man. Just make
the choice. Don’t go by what you feel!! Yeah, but I’m just getting all beat up. So what! Get
un-beat! Get in His presence! Hallelujah. Yeah, but you don’t know my circumstance. God
does. Man doesn’t need to know it. God knows it. Amen? Let Him work on you. Read this
with me, Psalm 103. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy
name! Well how do you bless him? Praise and worship. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And
forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who
redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Praise God!! We all need a little renewing. Amen? Worship— An expression of reverence to
the creator of all. Worship. NEVER stop ministering to the Lord! When you begin to
compromise it, you’ve already bit the bait. Worship. As a believer it is one of the most
important things for me and you to do— is to worship the Lord. Amen? It brings you in God’s
presence and we just read about a lot of things that happen in God’s presence. Again I want
to encourage you to get the teaching Spiritual Warfare #7 - it’s about the warfare of praise
and worship. Amen? Father we thank you for your Word. We love you. We exalt you. And
we ask Holy Spirit that our spirit would worship you, even as we sleep tonight. That we would
wake up refreshed, healed, full of joy and that the rivers of living waters will flow through us—
FOR YOUR GLORY. In Jesus’ name. And everybody said? AMEN and Hallelujah!!
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