Soaking - A Cautionary Tale

There is a phenomena, perhaps a movement, within the Church today that promotes the idea of "soaking" in the atmosphere created by continuously playing certain worship recordings. By simply playing a collection of songs made for this purpose, believers only need to close their eyes and relax in the atmosphere which is so effectively created by today's artists.

A case can be made for soaking - the human condition could be described as substantially "broken" and soaking in hot baths has been used for centuries as a healing therapy. However, I have noticed an alarming phenomenon - it appears to me that those who do this on a regular basis seem to lose their ability to enter into the anointed presence of God in worship unaided! And in public services, by letting the "professionals" do it, their voices do not contribute to establishing the anointing, thereby diminishing the overall effect.

Meditating on this phenomenon I recalled a summer church outing years ago where the hosts had a hot tub. At one point I joined some others in the rather warm water and soon lost track of time because of the pleasant fellowship. Finally, I realized I had been "soaking" for perhaps twenty minutes and should at least give my place to someone else. I was shocked to find my muscles had relaxed so much that they became "rubbery" and I had to crawl on my hands and knees to the nearby steps to sit and cool down!

This is a cautionary tale. The scriptures say we are all part of a royal priesthood, a holy priesthood and kings and priests unto our God. It was only when the people refused to go with Moses to meet with God on His holy mountain that He called out the tribe of Levi as a separate priesthood. Because of the finished work of the Lamb of God, our precious Jesus Christ, all now have direct access to God. There is to be no separate priesthood, no separate clergy. And, when we gather together, we all are expected to "give the calves of our lips" in unified worship. Christianity is not a spectator sport!

When King David first attempted to to bring back the Ark Of the Covenant to Jerusalem he put it on an ox cart. He tried to carry it the easy way. God was NOT pleased! A man died. Today the Church still tries to bring the anointing the easy way. Let the professionals do it, in effect, re-creates that old clergy, laity - split which is not pleasing to the Father. After examining the scriptures David found that the Ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites. There is a "weight" to God's presence - and we priests of God must take personal responsibility for bringing it forth. Withholding your voice would be the equivalent to letting one of the staves drag in the dirt!

Consumer Religion

During the latter part of a recent evening church service I was enthusiastic as the pastor encouraged the people to press into worship in order to bring a substantial anointing upon the assembled group. I happened to be standing on the right side of the sanctuary and had good visibility of the congregation. I was astonished that the people did not respond to the pastor and seemed to have no clue what to do! A few moments later the pastor said, "You guys aren't ready for this!" And the promise of a wonderful anointing vanished.

I pondered about this for a few days afterward and I think the Holy Spirit gave me understanding as to what was - and continues - happening in our day. Romans 6:2a says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...." The word "world" is usually rendered "age" in modern translations and it is consistent with the original to use the word "culture." The truth is that we Christians are more conformed to this culture than we would like to admit. Proof? Television!

Our present culture has been trained, primarily by television, that we can have any experience we want, at our convenience, by calling it up on our modern media devices. Not only have we become "couch potatoes" but we have unwittingly become willing consumers to a vast array of vendors. And, unfortunately, we have also become "consumers of religion." The idea of actively participating in a shared experience of worship has somehow gotten lost. The platform has become the stage and the people on it have become the performers. The congregation has become the audience and when beckoned to participate look at you like you are crazy. With many, if they don't like the show, they can just "change the channel" and go somewhere else where no one makes any demands of them and the "performance" is more to their liking.

What separates us from any other group of people on the face of the earth is the tangible presence of God. We have become the Baptist Church - with an orchestra. We are to be "the people of His presence" and so many of God's people are seemingly unaware. "What channel is THAT on?" I weep for the Full-Gospel!

Who Are the True Worshipers?

In John 4:23-24 we see what I call the "rabble-rouser Jesus."

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

If Jesus says, "true worshipers," then there must be "worshipers" of another kind! For many years I thought He was referring to "false" worshipers but I now believe He was referring to the adherents of the One, True God who participate in a common religious ritual service, who sincerely believe they have worshiped God! There is no intent on their part to deceive anyone, however they are definitely deceived themselves because His tangible presence is missing.

I can imagine Pharisees standing there, who may have asked within themselves, "Is He talking about me?" What exactly does He mean by "true" worshipers anyway? The implication that the religious man's activity before God is somehow lacking must have been galling to the religious professionals of his day. It must be so today, as well. God's illumination to my understanding is that true worshipers are those who understand what God really wants and move to satisfy Him by their activity.

Notice Jesus says the true worshipers shall worship the Father "in Spirit and truth." For many years I thought being 'born again,' thereby receiving the life-giving Spirit and having the Word of God satisfied this verse. But I have come to see that 'true worship' cannot happen without a "coming upon" enabling of the Holy Spirit. 'Truth' in this case might be better translated as 'reality.' Even though we are grateful for what God has already accomplished for us and we hope in His promises for the future, true worship does not depend upon the past activity of God nor does it depend upon the future activity of God but focuses upon the reality of an intimate encounter with the Living God - right now, in the current moment.

Is the believer experiencing the tangible presence of God during personal or public times of devotion? Indeed, has the believer EVER experienced the tangible presence of God? If not, then it is likely the individual has not been properly introduced to the King! It is the King of King's tangible presence we ought to seek. He is seeking that intimacy with us! Participating in religious rituals will not satisfy Him.

What Happens in the Outer Court?

The Outer Court of the Tabernacle of Moses represents the first step believers take in their approach to God. The first article of furniture inside was the Brazen Altar. Here the flesh is laid upon it, sacrificed and burned. Romans 12:1 instructs us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice which is acceptable to God.

You may have noticed the flesh resists the Spirit. However, the flesh can be trained. The flesh derives a certain satisfaction from being in the presence of God and repeated visits diminish the resistance you may feel. In fact, the Hebrew priests were instructed to give the evening and morning sacrifices and if you habitually come before God evening and morning the flesh in time will cease having any resistance at all.

At times people feel as though there is an oppressive covering holding them back. This is usually just a manifestation of flesh and can be overcome by a vigorous and sustained application of praise.

Why Do We Sing?

There are many things which we have learned, growing up as kids, just by observing and doing what our elders did. This is as it should be. But along the way there is usually the assumption that the reason for doing things "that way" eventually becomes clear to us. None of us plays ball near a busy street - at least none of us still alive!

But it has occurred to me that few of us truly understand why we sing in church. The Bible does say for us to lift our voices unto God and our traditions certainly reflect that. But do we really understand why our God wants us to sing unto Him?

My exploration of what happens when we sing led me down an unusual road. As it turns out, science has already identified and measured what happens when we just listen to music. Science can measure our brain waves and has divided the observed measurements into at least four 'states' - alpha, beta, theta and delta.

Sitting in a quiet room our brain state is described as being in the 'beta state.' But introduce music into the room and our brain wave frequency will gradually go down and eventually the brain will enter what is called the 'alpha state.' Scientists say that when we are in the alpha state we are more suggestible. In Christian terminology what we have done is to open up our inward man. Singing along with the music amplifies, magnifies, multiplies the effect and makes it more efficient!

When we open up our inward man all the influences of the world, the flesh and the spiritual realm more easily affect us. Are there undesirable influences even in a church service? Of course! How we approach a holy God is very important if we don't want to be led astray. That is the reason the Bible instructs us to come to Him first through the Outer Court. Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Some Must Enter

We don't really know what the Glory is, at least not as we should in its fullness. Nor do we know exactly how our God is going to bring it forth in the earth. All we know is He will, for He has said so. Isaiah 40:5 says, "And the Glory of Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."

We should also remember the promise in Acts 15:15-17 where Peter quotes Amos 9:11 saying, "And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."

Since our God has been moving upon His people over history in preparation for the time of this event I believe we ought to review where He has brought us to this point and make sure we have learned the lessons well. It is one thing to read in scripture what God desires from us but it takes times of great illumination to know more exactly what He means. 

Praise God, He has already shown us what He desires in praise. We are to praise with our singing voices until the Spirit of worship comes and we can do that whether we "feel" like it or not. All we have to do is choose to do so and continue until our flesh is subdued.

And, He has already shown us what He desires in worship. Once the Holy Spirit lifts us higher, into that special atmosphere, we are to pour out our hearts in sweet adoration always looking to maintain that wonderful atmosphere represented by the incense. 

But, it remains that some must still enter into that rarefied atmosphere of the Holy of Holies, which we simply call His Glory. We are told that King David pitched a tent for the Arc of the Covenant, in which it remained for 33 years. The flaps of the tent were tied back and the arc was openly visible to everyone who participated in the worship.

The fact that nearly all of our full-gospel churches have pulled back from "true worship" means that a faithful remnant ministry, representing in type the high priest designated to enter in to the Holiest of All on the Day of Atonement, must prepare himself for the sacred task.

It will not occur without the application of blood. And, we have the incense of our perfected praise and worship to carry with us.

Introduction

I believe that Ruth Heflin gave us an excellent description of our approach to God. In her book, "Glory" she said, "Praise, until the Spirit of worship comes; worship, until the Glory comes; then, stand in the Glory!"

In the 1948 move of God, Biblical praise was restored to the Church. In the Charismatic Renewal Biblical worship was restored to the Church. The next phase that has to be restored is Biblical "Glory," an entering in to the Holy of Holies. 

The Scriptures tell us that when the once-yearly Day of Atonement came the High Priest would take the container with the blood sacrifice and the golden censor with him into the Holy of Holies. But, before he did so, all the other priests had to withdraw outside the Tent of Meeting from the Holy Place to the Outer Court.

I believe this describes where we are in the timeline of the Church. ALL (or almost all) the Spirit filled churches have ceased to offer the kind of worship that was in practice during the Charismatic Renewal. They have withdrawn from the kind of worship that is appropriate in the Holy Place and have adopted what some have called "super rock band church" worldly music to attract a crowd. It is Outer Court music - at best.

We have longed-for a day when a faithful remnant will be called into the fullness of the Glory of God. Let us be even more diligent to prepare, to be found in the perfect will of God, because I believe that day has finally arrived. I believe the next couple of years will be some of the most difficult yet rewarding for those who are found "in Him."