Hype or Holy?

Today we are faced with a dilemma in the church. As we seek the moving of the Spirit in our midst, we can mistake emotionalism for genuine anointing. We need to ensure that what we are experiencing is truly of God.

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. Zephaniah 3:14 (KJV)

Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. Psalm 149:3 (KJV)

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. Psalm 134:2 (KJV)

It is a good thing to shout and praise God. It is a good thing to dance and sing and leap before the Lord. It is a good thing when the preaching of the Word encourages and edifies us and prompts us to react with excitement and joyful acts of praise. These things are biblical. There is nothing wrong with this if it is done in order and in alignment with the Word of God.

However, the issue arises when we are not receiving the meat of the Word, but when we receive a feel-good motivational message only. Counterfeit anointing can be manufactured by stirring our emotions and getting us worked up. It is not wrong to feel moved by God in our emotions, but how do we know that our church is experiencing the real anointing of the Holy Spirit or if we are just getting caught up in emotions only?

First of all, are we experiencing something described in the Bible? When something is confirmed by the Bible, it lends credibility to it. In the Psalms and in other places in the Scripture, we see examples and encouragement regarding physical acts of praise and worship. There is nothing wrong with praising God with our voices and our bodies.

Secondly, does the experience glorify God? Did it point to Jesus Christ, or did it draw attention to a man or woman or something other than the Lord? Did it remain orderly or did it get out of hand and chaotic? Chaos and confusion are not of God.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3 (KJV)

Next, did the gifts of the Spirit manifest or did things become fleshly? The gifts of the Spirit such as working of miracles, healing, prophecy, and the others noted in I Corinthians 12 will often manifest in the midst of the anointing. If things got goofy and people acted in the flesh, then it was not of the Spirit of God.

Additionally, are we changed by what we experience? Any true encounter with God leaves transforms us. If we leave a service and do not experience lasting change, it is possible that we took part in an emotional experience and not one that was anointed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Change Agent. Spending time in His presence does not leave us the same.

We should desire to praise and express our love to God. He is worthy of our praise. In our churches and other Christian gatherings, let us be discerning and seek to participate in holy and legitimate expressions of adoration instead of emotional hype.