We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 1 John 5:19

The Lord has given us a place of citizenship in His Kingdom, and the Kingdom of God.  We serve Him there through His Spirit. Romans 8.  We cannot live in the Kingdom of God if we live also according to our fleshly desires.  In fact, when we choose to live according to our fleshly desires we are living according to this world and are at enmity with God! James 4:4.  Often the believer in Christ has no concept let alone a distinguishing of these two kingdoms and the reason why for much confusion and debate in the doctrines of Christ.  Access to the Kingdom of God is through Faith in Jesus Christ and His cross, death, and resurrection. John 3. The entry is simple enough that a child can comprehend it.  When we believe, we come OUT from the Kingdom of this world by denying ourselves and we become His disciples.  Jesus told us plainly what this means:

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24

Satan’s power accesses and operates through our lusts, desires, and fears, and why we must deny ourselves because we (our human nature) are the enemy of God and must get ourselves out of the way! 

We now rely on God’s Word through the Holy Spirit’s leading in us. 

Paul gives us a picture of an invisible spiritual battle every born-again believer has and our need to suit up – God’s way:

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephes 6:14-17.

When we are sober and in battle uniform, we will not be easily deceived.  One of the areas that I believe Satan attempts to deceive us is through music.  We often believe that since it makes us feel good, then God must like it too.  This kind of understanding reveals that we are ignorant of the wiles of the devil in the area of music.  

When King Saul was tormented by evil spirits David would be called to play music for him and his mind would be calmed. 1 Sam 16:23.  When music is used for the glory of God, it is powerful against the kingdom of darkness, equally so can it be used against the Kingdom of God.  We only need to look at the cults such as voodoo, African witchcraft, and Native American shamanism to see its manifestation of evil.

Many of the modern worship songs sing about how good we feel, how wonderful our life is, and what really is about us and come from our soul and flesh and not of God at all. This is the invitation that Satan looks for so he may enter in.

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 1 John 2:6

God commands us to worship Him in Spirit and Truth; John 4:24. When we do this, we will be able to discern the counterfeit that Satan authors and is the recipient of.  Remember, worship is not merely singing. 

We worship God, not to get from Him we worship Him to give to Him honor praise, and thanksgiving -let us not forget this.  Let us also ask ourselves,

• Is our life, an offering of worship to the Lord? 
• Before we worship in song with others do we worship Him alone where no one sees? 

Do not worship to seek revival, a feeling, or some needed ‘breakthrough’ but worship for no other reason but to magnify and glorify the Lord. 

If you are looking for revival, ask the Lord to come and break your heart in the light of His presence, and you will truly experience a great awakening.  Amen.