Zion Thunder Drum

Harvey Woods helped me to make this Zion Thunder Drum. We made it based on Micah 4. This is a prophetic sound calling for worshipers to arise from all nations and come to Zion. There are 2 tones - 25 feet and 15 feet of PVC pipe. If you have suggestions to help us improve the instrument...please let me know. Make sure you listen with speakers or good headphones, and you will hear the great sound:

Ps. 15 - 11 Things That Give You Access To God's Presence

I have been meditating on Psalm 15 this morning – Here we find such an interesting perspective on the people who are invited into God’s presence. I’m not sure that we would prioritize some of these qualities in quite the same way,  nor would we list them as attributes that need to be found in those who worship and long to be found in the presence of God! Sure – they are all important, but not necessarily things that spring to mind initially.

Also note that the psalmist begins the psalm with 2 questions and answers with 4 verses – each has 3 components. I know that the verse markings were not originally included in the Bible – but it is always interesting to me to see the symmetry of the poetry:

Psalm 15 (NLT)

1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?

Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

2 Those who lead blameless lives

and do what is right,

speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

3 Those who refuse to gossip

or harm their neighbors

or speak evil of their friends.

4 Those who despise flagrant sinners,

and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,

and keep their promises even when it hurts.

5 Those who lend money without charging interest,

and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.


Such people will stand firm forever.

So…here is the list of 11 qualities that need to be found in worshipers:

• Holiness on the inside

• Holiness in our actions

• Always speak the truth

• Don’t gossip

• Don’t hurt your neighbors

• Don’t speak evil of your friends

• Hate sin and those who are blatant sinners

• Honor those who follow God

• Keep your word even if it costs you something

• Be generous and lend without charging interest

• Never take a bribe – especially to lie against the innocent

If you do these 11 things you will never be moved from God’s presence!

If you look at this list again, it really does make sense - these things center around the way we govern our hearts, mouths, attitudes and finances. All these things are important to form the heart of worshipers.

The Father Seeks Three Kinds of People

The Father seeks three groups of people in the Bible:

—Intercessors Is. 59:16; Ez. 22:30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

The Lord has put the power of prayer into the hands of the Church. But…He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor" (Isa. 59:16) The Lord has the power to do whatever He wants, but He has called us to partner with Him to bring His will and Kingdom to pass. Through the power of prayer and intercession, we accomplish great things. Nations can be changed, individuals can be set free, demons can be vanquished, sickness can be healed and prison doors can be opened. There is nothing that is beyond the power of God working through praying saints.

—The Lost Lu. 15:11-32; Lu. 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Also Ez. 34:12)

The heart of God is never still in His search for those who do not know Him, or receive Him as Savior. Ever since He looked for Adam and Eve in the garden, He has been searching for rebellious and broken lives. In the verse above, Jesus makes it known that His purpose for coming was to seek out the lost and bring salvation to every life.

—Worshipers John 4:23–24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus makes seven references to “worship,” from verses 21 to 24. Up to this time, worship was centered around a specific place, mountain, or building. Now Jesus is telling us that true worship is centered in our hearts through relationship with Him. Worship must be “born” and made steady by the truth of the Word and “fired” by the passion of the spirit.

He is seeking those who will worship in spirit and in truth.

• To worship God from the heart ("in spirit")

• To worship God as He directs in His Word ("and truth")

Jesus was giving a contrast to the worshipers of that day who were more concerned about where, when and how they worshiped, than putting all their heart, soul, mind and strength into adoring the Lord.

“We might be wise to follow the insight of the enraptured heart

rather than the more cautious reasoning of the theological mind.”

A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

7 Things - A Call To Worshipers

2 Chronicles. 29:11

“My sons, do not be negligent now,

for the LORD has chosen you

to stand before Him, to serve Him,

and that you should minister to Him

and burn incense.”

This verse has seven secrets for those who are serving the Lord as worship ministers:

• We are sons - Hezekiah is speaking to his priests and Levites, and we can see his tenderness towards them, as he calls them his sons. Our foundation for ministry is from the perspective of being sons of God. 

• We must not be negligent before Him - our goal is excellence in our ministry and in being pleasing the the Lord. To serve the Lord in worship ministry is a holy calling, and we must not be negligent in any areas of practical service or spiritual passion.

• We are chosen by Him - this is not any kind of choosing, as it is the Lord who has chosen us to be His ministers. This word (bachar) doesn't just mean "chosen," it also means

  - that He has approved of us

  - that He loves us

This same word is used in Psalm 65:4 where we can see the same call given to those who are chosen to be near the Lord. Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.

• We stand before Him - The meaning of this word ('amad) also gives us a picture of what the Lord is requiring of us. It means to present oneself to the Lord, to be ordained, and to abide. There is also a call to standing still before HIm included in this meaning.  We have the honor of being the ones who abide in His presence and remain firmly planted in worship before Him. The word for "before" is paniym, meaning "face.' We stand right before the face of God as we minister to Him.

• We serve Him - What a privilege to be this who wait upon the King of kings! We are His personal attendants. Our worship is continually before HIm. We wait on Him as those who attend His will and minister His decrees in the earth.

• We minister to Him - Not only do we serve Him, but we are His personal ministers and priests. There are no others who are called to be this close to Him. This is our daily delight and the greatest privilege of the universe.

• We burn incense before Him  - Our worship makes a fragrant sacrifice before Him. This word "burn" also means to make perfume (YLT) or to turn something into a fragrance through the fire of worship, and to make a smoke that drives out the enemy.

The Father Seeks Three Kinds Of People

Just a quick note today -

According to the Word - The Father seeks thee different kinds of people:

Intercessors - Is. 59:16; Ez. 22:30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

The Lost - Luke 15:1-20 (Also Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost)

Worshipers - John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

These three groups of people are dear to the heart of God - He actually seeks them out.