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The Doorbell Of Heaven

Danny Steyne

Danny Steyne There is a place where we can be mesmerized by the Presence of the Lord. It’s that holy place that Abraham found after talking with God, and remained “standing in the Presence of the Lord.” (Genesis 18:22) It’s the place Moses found, when for forty days He was in a cloud with the Lord (Exodus 24:18). Paul expressed it as being caught up to the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2). It was a place where the reality of God’s realm overwhelms the natural realm that we are so accustomed to.

That place is entered into by the bold; those who dare to remain standing in the Presence of the Lord after we have already discussed all the issues of our lives with God. It’s the place that we enter into after we have gotten out all that we wanted to get out of our time with God. It’s the place where God gets what He wants out of our time with Him. It’s the place of mesmerizing worship and adoration of the love of our lives… it’s the place where our thoughts, attitudes, opinions and dreams meet the God of All and simply rest and abide in His Presence, knowing that nothing is more important, nothing is more valuable that simple being with Him. It’s that place of complete capture and enthrallment in the One we adore… it is the place we all seek for, the place we all want to get to, but so few enter, and when they do, it’s so rare.

Is Worship really the highest priority?

For years I have taught that Worship is the highest priority that we as Christians can have. I have held that opinion for about twenty five years, knowing that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord with all your heart!.” Nothing should pre-empt our adoration of God… not teaching, not evangelism, not ministry … nothing! As a result of this foundation I have encouraged worship everywhere I have gone, either by doing it, or encouraging others to do it. My hope had been that people would see it modeled and then do it. By and large I became extremely frustrated when I realized that although modeling may have helped produce the “activity” that surrounds worship, very few actually entered into that place of mesmerizing worship that I described, and fewer actually could even see the value of “giving it all” in worship. I wondered how people could hear and feel the Presence of God without entering that place of mesmerizing worship and being captured by God.

We have developed incredible avenues for worship, so much so worship has become the “hottest Christian music genre”. I remember when the only way I could get a Vineyard song was through an employee of Vineyard Christian Fellowship singing songs into a cassette tape player, because they didn’t have an recordings made. Today we have all the bells and whistles, we have the projection and computer systems, we have the best sound systems money can buy, we have incredible musicians, and singers whose voices are wonderful… but do we really have that place of mesmerizing worship? Do we have that place where we are captured more with the Father’s presence than we are with the technical production?

I have thought that surely the “priority” of worship is taking place. All over the world people are singing to Worship CD’s, all over the world the songs of love for Jesus are being sung… we did it… we made worship a priority. But one thing … one very important thing … is often missing from this worship experience.

The Priority of Faith

Recently the Lord gently corrected me. He told me although it was the highest priority of what we must do, the higher priority of what we must have is faith… because without faith we can’t please Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. ~ Hebrews 11:6. It’s not enough to worship, we must believe He will reward our faith born worship with His Presence and His Power.

When Jesus returns the question on His mind is “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) In fact, it’s the only question we find that He will ask when He comes back! It’s not, “is everyone singing worship songs and buying worship CD’s, singing the latest and greatest?”

It’s not the songs that make worship… it’s the heart that loves Him, the life that lives Him, the thoughts, attitudes, and opinions that are overwhelmed by Him. Without this small thing called faith, all our worship is simply a new genre of music that is acceptable to the church community… but with faith… the simplicity of our songs and lifestyle can move us to a place right in front of the Throne Room.

One of the deepest frustrations of worship leaders’ and pastors’ hearts is opening their eyes and realizing that they are worshipping alone. No one seems to get it. It becomes very easy to judge and wonder what on earth is wrong with these people who won’t worship.

But the revelation for worship that explodes came on a recent worship venture. I had been in a number of churches, but in one in particular, the people seemed to be “there” in worship. I opened my eyes as I was leading worship and realized, “I’ve got to catch up with them!” They were already there. You could look at their faces and realize that “they were not in this world”… they were with Jesus…

I asked the Lord about it because I’ve been in places with great sound, great acoustics, great musicians, and where the “big boys” have led worship and not experienced what I experienced that night.

“Lord what’s the difference?” His gently reply spoke so specifically to me. “They expected me Danny, they didn’t expect a concert, or perfect sound, or a name, or a style… they believed I would show up in their midst because they were showing up to worship me… they had faith to enter in, and because of that faith, they did!”

Years of frustration rolled off of me. As a worship leader I had always thought if I could muster a better song, a better “groove”, more anointed musicians, better sound… then surely the people would enter in. I was totally wrong.

God wasn’t looking for better anything… he was simply looking for hearts given to Him in adoration, knowing they would be fulfilled by His Presence. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that “…the eyes of the LORD pass back and forth throughout the earth looking, seeking, desiring to be with those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

I personally believe that this faith born worship is the Doorbell of Heaven. We can clamor and make noise; we can have great worship music, an incredible band, use the latest and greatest methods, songs, styles, and technology and never see the inside of heart of God in worship. When faith activates our worship it is born of the Spirit, it has wings to fly and the Presence of God fills the house. For those who have found this doorway into the mesmerization of God, it is no surprise that He is there! We get all excited when we see a cloud, haze or mist in the building after worship… those who enter by faith don’t seem so moved, they expected it in the first place!

“Of course God was going to be there, I entered His Presence through faith and worshipped Him, He promised to reward me. Why would it be such a huge thing that His Presence actually comes?”

But here is the kicker. If we don’t enter by faith, and so never get to the Throne Room in worship… we’ve totally missed it. We’ve missed the location of God (God inhabits the praises of His people ~ Psalm 22:3) … we went to the wrong address!

There really is a way to recognize those who want God… and who will be found by God. They are the ones who are pressing through by faith… they believe that when they do, He will be there, and will reward them. It’s the reason we exist. It’s the reason for your salvation. It’s the reason you gather … it’s the reason you worship… not so that you can get to heaven… but so that He gets you! It’s that place where we are captured and caught away for the Presence of the King!

Danny Steyne functions as a part of the emerging Mountain Of Worship. Check out the Danny's Itinerary at http://www.mountainofworship.com/itinerary.htm