Wonder and Warfare

Ray Hughes is the man....

I was just reading this article from Ray Hughes website. If you don't know who he is, he is a pastor/prophetic/singer/songwriter who has traveled for decades releasing a new sound in the realm of prophetic worship. Needless to say when I read his article I think it's dead on. Read below to see what I'm talking about.....

"If the enemy could not destroy the people of God, the second-best plan was to put them into captivity, thereby controlling their worship. (The story of Moses and the children of Israel is a prime example of this scenario.) One of the primary purposes for praise and worship is to cover the throne of God and create a habitation that the Lord can enthrone Himself upon. The enemy has always attempted to thwart this purpose of worship.

Lucifer was the “anointed cherub that covereth the throne” of God. Within his very being he had the ability to make music. When he rebelled he said, “I will be like the Most High.” What most people don’t know is that he pulled it off. He is like the Most High; he is a counterfeit. When he was cast down, he took a third of the angels with him. He also left the throne uncovered. Therefore, God said, “I will raise up a people who will worship me, a people who will cover the throne. I will enthrone myself upon the praises of my people.” We take the place that Lucifer once had. As a result, he is so angry and jealous toward our place that he will do whatever it takes to stop us from fulfilling this purpose.

Since then it has been his purpose to make sure that we don’t walk in the reality for which we were created. Lucifer creates fads, trends and soulish excitement around releases of emotion that distract from the One who is worthy. He sets us up for fights and arguments over musical styles and preferences, he creates big music productions that simply emulate real worship and perpetuate the regurgitation of soulish displays. These things are all to steal, kill and destroy the true releases of worship that penetrate the spirit realm to change things in the heavenlies. As a result of the enemy’s devices, we now have huge musical extravaganzas that can attract man, not God. So now God is raising up a generation of people who are releasing a sound that He is attracted to. This sound is untainted by the destructive devices and obstacles that the enemy has effectively used in past generations."

This is awesome to say the least!

My A.D.D. ( I like it)

The band and I played at Anderson University for their chapel service on Wednesday morning.  It was good!  We had guest piano player Jeremy Barber who played with us, who plays at New Spring Church in Anderson. Chad Norris from Wayfarer gave the message of the Kingdom yesterday, so good!  Which by the way, this coming Monday at the Handlebar we are going to be launching a new series at Engage called "Lovevolution."  We'll start at 7pm so you don't want to miss it!  My wife fixed "Man-wich's" tonight for the first time, yummy, yummy, shes a great cook!  DId some songwriting today with a friend of mine from Charlotte NC, his name is John Mark, you can check him out here.  The are having a big benefit-relief show in Charlotte at Warehouse 242 for the digging of wells in the Sudan.  My heart is pounding to see revival break out even greater in the city of Greenville!  This might be the most ADD blog I've done yet.  Blessings!

The Spirit falls on whomever He pleases.

Whew, this weekend was intense and filled with some incredible spirit filled moments!  I tought/lead worship this past weekend for First Baptist Spartanburg's Jr. High.  To be honest I really didn't know what to expect going into this weekend in regards to what the kids where going to be able to grasp and hold on to.  Well, I was awakened to a new experience, which is the Spirit of God can fall on whomever He pleases regardless of their age!   Saturday night we had about a 2 hour long spontaneous prayer/worship time where middle schoolers where laying hands on one another praying, weeping, and singing to Lord.  I spoke on singing a new song to the Lord and releasing a new sound that is created through "unhindered worship."  Needless to say these students got it.  Seth (youth pastor) came up to me and said "This doesn't happen with Middle School." Well, it did, we give all the praise to the Lord, moments like this cannot be conjured up. I'm pumped about what the Lord has done and is doing just in the last 48 hours!  Praise Jesus!

When the door is shut....

This question has been stirring in my heart all day today. "How can I lead worship for others if I can't even lead myself in worship?" I just find myself realizing that I can't take anyone to a place that I haven't been myself with the Holy Spirit. The secondary responsibility of my role is to lead others in worship. What is primary is me worshiping in the quiet of my worship room when the door is shut and it's just me and the Lord. Sometimes this takes time, and you have to MAKE time to do this. I can be in worship for ten minutes and the manifest presence of God shows up, but sometimes it takes a lot longer than I would like. I just don't want to be one of those leaders who tries to take other people to a hypothetical place that I, myself have never been. I talk a lot about revival and awakening in worship but If I'm not proactive in pursuing it in my own life when the door is shut how can I lead others there with authority and authenticity. Jesus knew something about the secret place with the Father. Throughout the gospels Jesus made it a point to get alone with the Father because he knew this was where the cultivation of anointing and authority came from. Jesus said himself, "I only do what the Father does, and I only say what the Father says." This is huge because this very thing is what enables us to pursue Jesus' lifestyle. In Acts 2:22 it says that "Jesus is a man accredited by God to you through miracles, signs, and wonders." He is the Son of God yet He emphasizes the humanity of Himself as if to tell us that where the power and anointing lies is with the Father behind the shut door in a place of intimacy with Him. This is what is available to you and I.

today, again....

Today, mmm, well I got up this morning and drove to Cumming, Georgia to meet up with a producer buddy of mine, Jon Duke. It was good times, we talked about anointing in worship and how the Lord is stirring up something deeper in the hearts of so many worshippers in the area. Tonight was intercession and prayer at CrossRoads, the place was packed. It was good to see so many people wanting to cry out to the Lord for city transformation and revival.
I've been listening to a new CD I bought called "We Cry Out." Its my new favorite worship CD, you can get it here. It also comes with a DVD which is really good, I've only been able to watch it one time because people keep borrowing it!

A Glimpse of Real Freedom and McDonalds....

Okay, Okay, so tonight the band and I led worship for the Youth at CRCC. I will be honest, after a long day of playing in the morning and then driving back and forth to Spartanburg from Greenville, the day gets a little long and exhausting. Tonight made it all worth it because the Lord showed up in an unexpected way! "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom." Those are the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians which we like to quote a lot as worship leaders to express to people they are free in the Lord, and they are, Amen! Tonight for the youth and for myself, it was as if the Lord initiated something deep in our hearts. As if the Lord was asking us the question; "how free do you want to be in Me?" For some this was the first time they'd experienced true freedom in the Lord! I am excited about what God is doing in the Youth of CRCC, they are becoming militant in their worship of Jesus regardless if the music keeps playing, it's becoming an unhindered lifestyle for some! Dustin's message was simple and completely Spirit led, all about the Love of Jesus! SO GOOD!!!!

So on a lighter note as I left the church around 8:30 I found myself wanting to indulge in something I do about once a year which is splurge and get a Big Mac Meal from McDonalds. I was all excited as I was going through the drive-thru, I quickly got my food and proceeded to drive home. I got home and opened the box the Big Mac was in. As I picked it up I noticed the bun seemed a little hard and thought maybe they started toasting there buns for their infamous Big Mac. As I looked closer and noticed this brown wrinkled stuff sticking out the sides in which what used to look like lettuce possibly. I wanted the Big Mac so bad that I almost ate it anyway. I know, I know, right, how could I, but I didn't. I took it back, and it was if the people working knew they had given me the old Big Mac that had been sitting in their restaurant ALL DAY. Instead of getting upset I just told them the facts and in response they gave me two Apple Pies along with my new food for FREE! YAYA, like I need two Apple Pies. Needless to say my experience that I take about once a year to Mcdonalds was confirmed as to why I only go one time a year. So if you're a McDonald's fan and you get a burger with the hard bread, its probably old and not toasted!