Fall 2003
The Value Of Pure Worship
Wade E Taylor

True worship is born of, and directed by, the Holy Spirit. This is the reason why Christians, who have never been together before, can worship the Lord in beautiful harmony and flow of expression. A casual observer might think that they had been worshipping together for years

Worship will bring unity into a Christian meeting. It releases the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the service, and stirs an awareness of the Lord’s presence within those who are worshipping. The Holy Spirit readily imparts the anointed power that lifts “corporate worship” into a flow of harmonious expression. As worshippers rise into the “manifest presence” of the Lord, as they continue to worship, they will progressively come into a greater purity and flow of spirit, and begin to move in prophetic revelation.

Our ability to flow together in audible worship relates to the fact that, as a part of our salvation experience, we received the ability to express worship to the Lord. This “spirit of worship” quietly abides deep within each of us, and awaits an opportunity for expression. All that is needed for us to begin worshipping the Lord, is the proper atmosphere and a little encouragement.

Within the Body of Christ , there are many different levels and expressions of worship. The first time I attended a Full Gospel meeting, I was greatly disturbed by the loud audible praise, and desired to leave. I understood “blessed quietness,” but I had never heard everyone in a service singing and praising the Lord freely, and loudly. Today, I am eternally thankful that the Lord had His way, for I have entered into this same spiritual freedom and expression of worship.

Worship increases our desire to be in the Lord’s presence. It is a key to our becoming sensitive to His presence, and to our learning to recognize His voice. As we are faithful in our expression of worship to the Lord, we will become increasingly more aware of His abiding presence, and we will more easily discern His voice. Our vocal worship will do much in helping to develop these spiritual qualities within us.

Moses both knew and valued the presence of the Lord.

“And He (the Lord) said, My presence shall go with you, and I will
give you rest. And he (Moses) said to Him, If Your presence go not
with me, carry us not up hence.” Exodus 33:14-15.

This intense desire within Moses to have the presence of the Lord abide with him did not just happen. It came through circumstances that caused him to diligently seek the abiding presence of the Lord.

Though Moses was “learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts 7:22), he failed in his attempt to fulfill his calling and deliver an Israelite, and fled into the wilderness. Here, while keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, he pursued the call that rested upon his life, as he journeyed toward the mountain of God.

As he traveled, he noticed, at a distance to the side of his path, a bush which burned with fire but was not consumed.

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out
of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned
with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” Exodus 3:2.

After Moses noticed this burning bush, he said,

“I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush
is not burned.” Exodus 3:3.

“I will now turn aside.” This speaks of something within Moses, that both desired and was responsive, to the presence of the Lord. Notice that the Lord appeared in a bush that was “a distance to the side” of the path that Moses was taking, even though he was moving toward the mountain of God. This is because the Lord desires to be wanted, and seeks a response from us that indicates our desire for His presence. He chooses to reveal Himself in such a way that it requires a deliberate action on our part, as an indication of our true desire for His presence.

Our having this “bent of spirit,” or “spiritual aptitude” toward the Lord’s presence, does not come easily. It must be actively desired, sought after, and cultivated. “Worship” is a key to our developing this spiritual sensitivity and aptitude for His abiding presence.

“When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him
out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said,
Here am I.” Exodus 3:4.

Although Moses was intent on moving toward the mountain that pertained to God, he desired the presence of the Lord so much that he willingly responded to this manifestation of the supernatural, and turned toward it. He was obedient to the voice of the Lord, though at the time he did not understand what was taking place.

Each of us are affected by the worldly environment that surrounds us. As a result of this, we develop varying amounts of sensitivity to “earthy” things. When we became “Born Again,” we received the capacity to recognize and respond to, “spiritual” things. Through the working of the Holy Spirit within us, we began to understand that we are now a new creation, and have entered a new and higher realm of life. We learn that the purpose of the Lord is not to build up the temporal, but rather, to introduce us to the spiritual. This understanding will help us to turn aside from lesser things, and to focus our attention on cultivating an increasing sensitivity to His presence and voice.

There is an urgent need for an increase in the quality of our worship. As our worship increases in harmony and purity, the presence of the Lord will also increases in our services. Those who are spiritually hungry will be drawn by this manifestation of His presence, and will turn aside to worship the Lord with us. The presence of the Lord will draw those who are truly spiritually hungry.

While I was a student in Bible school, I learned a very important spiritual principle from one of my teachers, Walter Beuttler. He said, “The Lord appreciates being appreciated.” This expresses something very close to the heart of God. We all desire to be appreciated, but the Lord uniquely appreciates, and responds to His being appreciated. He shares His presence with those who let Him know they appreciate Him, especially through their worship.

Our worship is tremendously important. Our music, our worship, everything that we do in a service, should be directed toward coming into the experience of His revealed presence. We should develop our spiritual sensitivity, so we will be able to recognize His presence and turn aside, as He comes into our meetings.

When Moses responded and turned aside, the Lord imparted instructions, which led to the deliverance of His people from bondage. As Moses stood in the manifested presence of the Lord, he was both enabled and empowered to lead them into a land that flowed with milk and honey.

Worship hinders the functioning of demons and principalities, and leads to deliverance. As we respond to His presence and worship Him, there will come the deliverance we so desperately need.

The value of our worship is far more than we may realize, and brings deep inner satisfaction.