Worship Is Not A Sunday Morning Stage Performance | Derek Prince

Let’s explore a few key parallels. First, as mentioned earlier, both Israel and the church experienced desolation due to disobedience and the rejection of God’s word. Second, the instrument of desolation for both was an invading force, symbolized by locusts for Israel, which represents demons for the church.

Now, let’s examine the motive behind God’s promise of restoration. Why does God grant restoration? One of the clearest explanations is found in Ezekiel 36, which we will revisit in later discussions. In this passage, God promises to bring Israel back to their land, gather them from all nations, and restore them.

God declares through His prophet in Ezekiel 36:23, “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.’” God continues, saying He will sanctify His great name, which has been profaned among the nations. When God is hallowed in the eyes of the nations, they will know that He is the Lord.

So, what is God’s motive for restoration? It is to restore the honor of His name. We must never assume we deserve this restoration; none of us do. But in His sovereignty, God has chosen to restore the honor of His name, and it will be demonstrated in what He does for us and in us. His two peoples will serve as a demonstration of His faithfulness, holiness, wisdom, and power to all nations.

This is a significant calling. I encourage you to take it seriously. Restoration is not for selfish indulgence or to promote human personalities—this is an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. When individuals take the place that belongs only to Jesus, God withdraws His blessing. Unfortunately, this issue is quite prevalent in the United States.

As I’ve emphasized before, restoration is a sovereign act of God. The word “sovereign” means that God does what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants, without asking for permission from anyone. He doesn’t wait for the agreement of churches, bishops, or organizations like the United Nations. He simply says, “I will do it.” In Ezekiel 36:24-30, God declares “I will” eighteen times in just seven verses. His actions are driven solely by His will, and we must relate to God with this understanding. We must bow before His sovereignty.

In the church in Jerusalem that I mentioned earlier, the worship is beautiful. Older churches, with their high ceilings and stone walls, often create an atmosphere where worship feels heavenly when done in the Spirit. One day, they sang a popular new hymn with a chorus that deeply resonated with me. It said, “Here I am, wholly available.” That’s how I feel—available to God with no conditions or stipulations.

Sadly, a false concept of worship has infiltrated the Charismatic movement, turning worship into a form of entertainment. Worship is not about entertainment; it’s about total surrender to God. In the Old Covenant, Israel engaged in music and worship, not for entertainment, but for participation. Everyone took part, there were no spectators. Today, some people say, “I go to that church because of the worship,” treating it like a performance that happens for two hours on Sunday morning. But this is not true worship.

Worship is not limited to two hours on Sunday; it is a lifestyle. If you don’t worship God in your private life, then worshiping Him in church is simply hypocrisy. The word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek meaning “actor,” and there are many “professional actors” in today’s church who only put on an act when it seems appropriate. This is not what God desires.

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