The Reset

1. Modern Worship is Infected by Worldly Ambition

I don’t believe there has been a moment in history when the temptation to be a worship leader for all the wrong reasons has ever been greater, never a moment where the seduction of personal glory, fame, followers, adulation, money, self-gratification and earthly reward has more surrounded and infected this precious thing we call worship.

Grief over corruption. The author expresses deep grief over how modern worship has become infected by worldly desires like fame, money, and personal glory. This seduction is seen as a major threat to the purity and power of the worship movement today. The enemy actively works to destroy worship's purity by introducing idolatry, pride, celebrity culture, and selfish agendas.

Trading birthright for a brand. The church, including worship leaders, has often traded genuine devotion and covenant for superficial things like reputation, platforms, and personal brands. This focus on external appearance and performance over internal heart condition has led to a loss of vital spiritual substance. The author laments that expressions are often greater than true affections for God.

Counterfeit glory. The enemy seduces a generation into pursuing celebrity, a counterfeit of the eternal glory they were made to carry. Capitalizing on God's glory for personal gain is a dangerous trap. The idol of influence, measured by social media metrics, is a cheap substitute for the weight of heaven's glory resting on a life.

2. A Reset to Purity is Desperately Needed

We must re-adhere our lives and ministries to the standard of Scripture instead of the current “worship” culture that has made corruption common.

Standing in the valley of decision. The worship movement is at a critical juncture, needing a quick and decisive return to purity. Stewarding the current worship awakening requires abandoning worldly pursuits and consecrating lives, gifts, and platforms to God's glory. Failure to do so risks squandering the moment and silencing a future generation.

Reclaiming prophetic edge. The author challenges worship leaders to forsake formulas, Christian music games, and writing for perceived market needs. Instead, they must cry out for the Holy Spirit's empowerment and reclaim the prophetic edge in songwriting and leadership. This involves abandoning earthly ambition and returning to the purity of first love.

Cleansing the temple. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple of trade and corruption, a similar cleansing is needed in modern worship. This involves removing everything not aligned with God's heart, such as:

• Platforms focused on man
• Efforts at popularity or promotion
• Using ministry for wealth or importance
• Exploiting people for personal dreams
  This reformation is necessary to restore worship to its intended purpose.

3. True Power in Worship Flows from Purity

Something can only be as powerful as it is pure.

Purity's exposing power. Purity isn't forceful but powerful simply by its nature, exposing all lesser, compromised things. In worship, pure offerings are the most powerful and reveal the hollowness of impure ones. The power of worship doesn't come from external trappings like stages, bands, or production, but from God's presence.

Presence requires purity. Significant measure of God's presence is found only through purity and holiness. The farther worship moves from purity, the more hollow and lifeless it becomes. Many movements start in purity but few end there, highlighting the constant need to guard against compromise.

Protecting the heart of worship. Guarding the heart of worship with vigilance is key to preserving its life and revival power. This means keeping worship solely focused on Jesus – loving, glorifying, exalting, honoring, and ministering to Him. Allowing worship to become about leaders, songs, agendas, or industry tramples out the life it carries.

4. Wholehearted Surrender is the Path to Life and Authority

Becoming wholehearted requires a death we resist dying, and a full surrender we resist yielding.

The best life is wholehearted. God designed us for a wholehearted life of freedom, joy, and deep communion, fully given over to Him. However, achieving this requires a death to self and a surrender of conflicting desires and ambitions, which many resist. The author's personal journey highlights the struggle and eventual peace found in total surrender.

Death precedes resurrection. Like baptism into Christ's death, experiencing His resurrection power and new life requires first being united with Him in His death. Many try to bypass the cross and the cost of discipleship, seeking shortcuts to "kingdom pursuits" that are often self-serving. True following of Jesus means surrendering everything daily.

Authority through abandonment. Spiritual authority is a missing mark on many leaders today, directly linked to their level of surrender. It rests on those who are fully abandoned to God, whose hearts are single-focused and undivided. This authority flows not through powerful people, but through surrendered ones willing to become weak in themselves to be filled with His power.

5. Dreams Must Be Birthed in Sanctified Intimacy

your dreams will only be as healthy as your level of surrender and intimacy with God.

Sanctified vs. un-sanctified dreams. Dreams fall into two categories: sanctified (birthed from intimacy and surrender) and un-sanctified (birthed from the flesh, orphanhood, and self-centered ambition). While God places desires and giftings within us, not every attempt to express them is His will. The birthplace of the dream is crucial.

Attempting dreams apart from God leads to ruin. Pursuing dreams before God is the life source only leads to destruction. The author's rock stardom dream, though rooted in a God-given musical gifting, was un-sanctified because it was birthed from a need for significance apart from God. Surrendering it led to the fulfillment of God-given dreams that brought blessing, not ruin.

Stewardship in fulfillment. Even God-birthed dreams can become un-sanctified if we move outside of intimacy and try to control the outcome. The greatest surrender is often required in success, not just failure. Entrusting dreams to God is the only way they are truly safe and can bear fruit, leading to deeper connection and worship, not just accomplishment.

6. Worship Leaders Must Be Led by the Holy Spirit

The difference between a song leader and a worship leader, is the Holy Spirit.

Desperate need for Spirit-filled vessels. The greatest need today is not for gifted singers or songwriters, but for people full of the Holy Spirit. True worship leading is a Spirit-empowered activity, going beyond simply leading songs to moving with the Spirit's touch that opens hearts and releases God-desired fragrance.

Life with the Spirit ruins for the ordinary. Experiencing the Holy Spirit's leading transforms ordinary moments into encounters and average sets into heavenly ones. It empowers people to do things beyond their natural ability. The author's journey shifted dramatically from little spiritual activity to seeing the impossible when he intentionally pursued and obeyed the Spirit's promptings.

The Presence is a Person. It's vital to understand that the "Presence" is not an abstract force but the Person of the Holy Spirit. Impersonalizing Him misses the invitation to know and move with Him. Many have encountered the Spirit but few have learned to walk with Him daily, cultivating a heart continually seeking His guidance in all areas of life, not just ministry times.

7. Worship Must Be Grounded in Truth and Knowledge

worship is only worship if it pleases God.

Worship in spirit and truth. Jesus highlights that true worshipers worship in spirit and truth. God desires to be worshiped for who He actually is, not based on ignorance or falseness. Worship that lacks truth fails to attract or honor Him.

Knowledge fuels worship. All worship begins with knowledge of God. Without knowing Him through His Word, we don't know how to please Him. Revelation informs worship. The author argues that worshipers should be the greatest theologians, deeply studying Scripture to fuel their doxology (praise).

What you study reveals what you love. Genuine love for God is evidenced by a desire to know Him deeply through studying His Word. Many in the worship community express ardent love but neglect studying Him, potentially being in love with an idea rather than the truth of who He is. Prioritizing self-knowledge over knowing God is a dangerous trend.

8. New Wineskins Are Needed for God's New Move

The previous ones we created may have served a season and a purpose, but they will not take us into the future.

Old wineskins ruin the wine. The greater move of God in worship requires new structures ("wineskins") because the old ones (current industry models) are hindering the flow of the Spirit ("wine"). Every detail in the creative process matters and must be spiritual, not just the end result.

Critique of the "Christian" music industry. The author argues the current Christian music industry is an unfit wineskin because:

• It mimics the broken secular industry's ethics.
• It's often controlled by secular leadership.
• It lacks true witness, confusing identity and purpose.
• It lacks accountability within the church.
  While God's grace works through broken systems, this doesn't equate to His approval.

Building new vineyards. The mission is not to fix broken constructs but to build new ones on biblical foundations. These "new vineyards" (creative enterprises) should be more homegrown, holistic, and pastoral, focused on nurturing the "wine" (people and their sound) rather than serving the "wineskin" (structure). This requires courage to break with old patterns.

9. Specific Practices Need Reformation and Cleansing

Without course correction, the same things that gave worship its global wings will become the things that undermine its mission and pervert its purpose.

External challenges require specific action. Media, production, and industry practices, while enabling global reach, also pose significant threats to worship's purity. Leaders must establish clear guidelines based on their mission as houses of prayer, not entertainment venues.

Reforming specific areas:

• Stage Production: Often driven by comparison or entertainment, it can distract from vertical worship. Production should enhance unity and focus on God, not mesmerize horizontally.
• Church/Event Media: Capturing moments must be done with spiritual sensitivity and reverence, not just for content or momentum. Leaders need wisdom for when not to film.
• Excellence: Should be subservient to higher values like love, witness, and being Spirit-led. True excellence in worship is found in faith and obedience, even if messy.
• Social Media: A powerful tool that sifts the soul, testing purity and fostering addiction to likes/numbers. Leaders must create distance and guardrails to protect their hearts and influence.
• Influence: Must be stewarded for God's glory, not personal gain. Mimicking worldly methods nullifies true influence.
• "Worship Artist": Confusing worship leaders with performing artists is an unholy mix. Worship leaders are priests, entrusted with God's glory and bride, a far more sacred role.
• Worship Events/Ticket Sales: Charging for worship events can create a consumer mentality and performance expectation that wars against devotion. While understanding logistics, the author feels it's a holy violation and seeks better, kingdom ways to finance events.
• Worship Songwriting: Writing songs with the primary motive of generating royalties or cracking a corporate code is not pleasing to God.

10. Love for Jesus is the Only True Foundation

Love is the only qualifier in worship.

Love is the greatest power. Love is the ultimate force, capable of overcoming anything and expelling negative forces like comparison, pride, and fear. It is the only thing strong enough to lift the seduction of influence and selfish ambition.

Worship reclaimed by lovers. The future of worship belongs not to the most skilled, but to lovers of God. "Little love" produces "little worship." Love is the necessary reset and reformation. It is the only thing that truly carries the anointing and gives authority and meaning to life and sound.

Rooted in love. If feeling broken or inadequate, the reset is a new foundation built on love for Him, not gifting or success. Like Peter, reduced to only his sincere love after sifting, love becomes the new foundation. This pure fire ignites the church; a performance never will.

Last updated: May 11, 2025