Did you ever hear the question "What turns you on?" or the phrase "Different strokes for different folks"?. Each implies that something gets to you, sets the wheels in motions, pleases or maybe irritates you. There is truth in the idea in the natural and in the spiritual. Different things appeal to different people or groups of people. Sometimes this is by divine design, somtimes because of growth levels, and sometimes because of religious structure. And, different buttons turn on different things as well. Testimonies, songs, sermons about God's gifts to us may inspire us to give thanks. Others, about the greatness of God, may turn on the praise button. There is also in us a worship button. Testimonies, songs and sermons that speak directly to and of God, if you are a worshipper, will turn your worship button on.
Nothing is as opposed by the enemy as is worship. It is opposed in every way imaginable. Perhaps the most clever opposition is to just keep the worship button hidden. Ever listen to a song, a prophecy, a sermon that hit the button and suddenly you were so aware of His presence? So aware that things beyond words just flowed out of you and time stood still? A lot of folks haven't. They may be turned on by songs about victory over the devil, their salvation, maybe a trip to heaven, but not God. It is why nine out of ten songs in the church world are not about God, not addressed to God and don't inspire worship. They were written to men, about men, intended to at best, turn on the thanksgiving or praise button in men. Unfortunately, many don't even do that, they just focus man on man.
Every now and then a song comes forth that instantly connects the spirit of a worshipper to God. I remember one such song that so affected me powerfully. I played it for some other folks and they just went "duh". They said "it didn't affect me like it did you". I puzzled over that for a while until I think I realized the answer. I know those folks are great Christians but their worship button is not activated yet. They will have a shouting spell over the blessings of God. over victory, etc., but not so much over God. They may have been trapped, as so many are, in responding to music or other things that are designed to express what it is they happen to like. Youth music, a fine way to reach the youth, often gets substituted for songs that might reach and please God. Old hymns, old songs of another generation are often intended to reach an older audience. All that is fine, but it may never lead to worship.
Every move of God brings new worship music because every move, no matter the outer wrappings, is about God. As God reveals Himself, we tend to adddress our self to Him. As the move wanes, so do the worships songs. Soon, we are only excited over the wrappings, the periphals and not God. Our worship button is never pushed. Songs that connect us, spirit to Spirit don't come from the talent of the musician. They come from the spirit. They are not meant to appeal to young people or old people or in between people. but rather express our inner man to God. They are the expression of the spirit in communion with the Holy Spirit.
There are a number of reasons why worship seldom happens for so many. The biggest one is the continuous resistance to the Holy Ghost. Where He is not resisted outright, He is resisted by minimization. We have the grace of the Lord, the love of the Father but communion, the realm of interchange, the realm of intimacy and worship, is with the Spirit. Explicitly Jesus told us that God is a Spirit and we are to worshp Him as such. Worship is within that Spirit realm where we are connected and communing with Him. When God taps your worship button, my friend, it can be breathtaking. It can be joyous. It can be awesome. And, it is always about God and you. Not His stuff, not your stuff, just Him and you.
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