The following views are those of the author and not necessarily those of POA or it's ministers, [:winkgrin but should be if it's not :tiphat ]

For the record, POA has a Orientation program that all new folks to POA are encouraged to attend. They use the lesson plans "From an Acorn to an Oak". It's a 12 to 14 week course. Good stuff. My wife, eldest daughter, and myself, all who have attended a UPC church since shortly after birth :happydance , completed this course. POA makes it known that if you wish to be used in any capacity at POA you should attend and should also attend Ministry Training. It is an 18 week course. We believe that everyone is born into the Kingdom to minister. This is a very good in depth course.

POA baptizes folks at church, on the street (outdoor meetings) with a portable baptismal tank, and in our prison ministry. It is not about numbers it's about reaching out with the Gospel. Could we be more effective at retaining those that are baptized? Sure, just as any other church could. We have many ministries in place to do just that, but folks have to make up their own mind.

An examination of the events which transpired at the Azusa Street Mission during the early part of the last century, reveals that MANY "messages in tongues" and their "interpretations" were realized. As we Oneness Apostolic Pentecostal folks know quite well, these are the means through which God conveys important information to His chosen people. One such "message" that was received during this renown historical era which stands out as extremely meaningful while reading through the many posts tendered here, concerned the very issue which started this thread - that is to say, WORSHIP!

The "message in tongues" given of God during the Azusa Street Revival to which I refer was PROPHETIC in its essence, and it went something like this (bear in mind this is paraphrased, of course, since I do not have the text at hand to provide an exact quotation as I write this): "In the closing days of the present age, a greater degree of emphasis will be placed upon WORSHIP than upon RIGHTEOUSNESS!"

Are we witnessing the fulfillment of this prophetic message in this perilous hour? The answer, I am persuaded to believe, is a resounding YES, as evidenced by the things that are found posted here regarding this matter.

I beg that my words not be misconstrued. In no way am I either asserting or suggesting that WORSHIP should not be a vital part of activities whenever we assembles together as a corporate body of God's chosen people. Worship is altogether proper, for God is certainly worthy of ALL the praise and worship we are capable of rendering unto Him. However, I am also persuaded to embrace the belief that we should not concentrate upon WORSHIP to the exclusion of RIGHTEOUSNESS!

I am not convinced that God takes great delight in how high one might jump, how loud one might shout, or how many times one runs around the hall or dances in the aisles. I am also not persuaded to believe that He is greatly impressed with the number and variety of musical instruments we employ in our worship of Him. I am convinced, however, that His attention is upon that man, woman, or child who is of a contrite heart and broken spirit, who lifts their hands and hearts up to Him in faith!

Just a couple of weeks ago I was in attendance during a worship service at a local UPCI assembly. This service began with singing, as is the usual order of things when we assemble together, but it seemed that the more the chorus was repeated, the louder the musicians began to pound the piano keys and beat the drums. Being cognizant of the prophetic message mentioned above, I took particular note to the actions of the ministry as this continued. I noted that the person leading this activity would, from time to time, make eye contact with the one playing the piano, and he would rotate his index finger in a circular motion, as if he was directing him to continue playing. At no time during the entire service was there a sermon preached, or words of edification forthcoming from the ministry. The service ended that evening without anyone ever opening the covers of their Bibles, or any discussion of the Word of God ever was spoken. I ask, was this a fulfillment of the prophecy given of God in the message that I have noted during the Azusa Street Revivals?

May God awaken us to the urgent need of the perilous hour in which we now live! There exists a great multitude of humanity outside of the walls of our church buildings who have never heard of the eternally life-saving message of Acts 2:38. The church has a crucial message that it needs to be busy about the duty of delivering to the lost among us, and I fear that we are simply not exerting our best efforts towards fulfilling that grave responsibility! Indeed, we expend more of our valuable time in debating whether or not this or that is right or wrong, and far less time in reaching out in love to our fellow man, warning them of the impending danger which confronts them for their continued rejection of the glorious gospel of Christ!

Submitted with brotherly love for your prayerful consideration of its merits!

we are definitley living in a perilous hour I don't think anyone denies that anymore. everyone i talk to can feel it in the atmosphere.
but I think we can have BOTH. Worship and Righeousness. who is unrighteous??? who was unrighteous on the stage that evening that caused you to cease from giving God praise ?
my church shouts a lot and is very exuberant BUT there is hardly a service where we do not have preaching. it is rare

In nothing I have written did I ever state and/or intimate that I did NOT WORSHIP! Indeed, I clapped my hands and sang along with everyone there, however, as the activities of the evening continued, I could not help but take particular note of the manner in which it was being conducted, especially after I had only recently become aware of the prophetic message that I mentioned.

And, I did NOT suggest/assert that ANYONE there committed an UNRIGHTEOUS act!

Tell me, how do you interpret the significance of the "message in tongues" that I mentioned? What do you think its significance is to the hour in which we presently live?

I think it pertains more to the Charismatic movement. the worship music has just about totally taken over the market yet what do you see in their churches??? NOT to say that our churches are perfect either.

as far as the music goes and who is not in the spirit, I think we have to let God be the JUdge. If it's suppose to be for him, let the LOrd decide what is acceptable.
from time to time I hear members say " I saw her shouting but was she really in the spirit"? " was that just emotionalism"? and I tell them, that is not for me to decide. Everytime I clap my hands and say amen or sing a song, is every word and deed in the spirit ? So what if the are being emotional in their worship?? maybe God likes it that way.
I know that what I said diverted from the topic slightly, but my point is, I think there are often too many nip pickers sitting in our pews with no life and no joy and it shows too

Tell ya what. I'd much rather have shuckin and jivin than to have to fight to stay awake!

interesting how he ran straight for the platform once he got up....

IF you knew this great man....KNEW HIM...you would not say that!

Hey, what are you doing on here? I thought you were floating away somewhere by now!!

Dead Churches
 

Thanks Dan - I was not trying to be rude. I just can't stand it when people get on here and talk against great Men of God that are affecting the whole world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Some are there are so passive - they think anyone with a little PASSION is rude and then they can disrespect anyone they want and its OK - but because I am not with them - I can't say a word.
Why let the Dead Heads rule and reign and get on here and knock true worship and praise! If you don't like a Hammond Organ - you have a PROBLEM!

Another thing - I am a worshiper and a preacher of the Word of God. I am a praiser and if you have ever heard me play - I play the Organ and Keyboards as passionately as I WRITE! I planted this church almost a year ago - and have not had a service YET - where there was no ministry of the WORD OF GOD! We are a WORD CHURCH & a Worshiping Church - It takes BOTH!

Did I say - I CAN'T STAND DEAD CHURCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lord have mercy - I will not go to one and will not pastor one. Anyone that has ever been in one of our services knows that we do some slow worship and we do some fast Praise and we use a HAMMOND ORGAN AND DRUMS and everything else we can use to Praise God with.
I might be rude - I certainly did not mean to be - but I can tell you this - I am passionate about EVERYTHING I do and that includes writing!