Monthly Archives: October 2026

Defining Worship

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Defining Worship

Is it the band, the smoke, the lights, or the stage? Is it pop, rock, electronic, acoustic, or a cappella? Worship is a way of behaving. It’s a lifestyle. Are you a worshiper? Let’s find out.

Shachah (shaw-kaw’) in the Old Testament means to prostrate and give homage to royalty. Proskuneō (pros-koo-neh'-o) in the New Testament refers to kissing the hand of royalty, or to prostrate oneself in adoration. Therefore, worship has less to do with music, and more to do with lifestyle.

One might assume that every musician on a church stage is a worshiper, but such is not the case in our culture. Churches know so little about it today that Zach Neese of Gateway Church described worship as the next frontier.

When we gather and sing praises, all Christians are to bring the sacrifice of praise as priestly participator, not a spectator; yet the scope of our worship is much larger.

Moses set up the tabernacle or tent of meeting, where the Levitical priests helped Israelites draw close to God. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16, New Testament Christians are now the temple of God. Wherever you go becomes a meeting place between God and people. As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have become the living breathing tabernacle where people can meet God.

Deuteronomy 10:8 affirms the duties of a Levitical priest were to carry the ark, stand before the Lord, serve Him and bless people in His name. 1 Peter 2:9 declares that we are now the royal priesthood. We are to:
1) Bring God to people, for we are His living temple.
2) Stand before God and serve Him, not ourselves.
3) Bless people by bringing and revealing God to others.

Whatever you thought about worship, understand is not for, or about us. Worship is for God. When it comes to singing, “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips.”

Hebrews 13:15
Pastor Huck

Declarations From Deuteronomy

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Declarations From Deuteronomy

Have you ever asked the Holy Spirit to help you pray through the scriptures? This morning I would like to pray the promises of Deuteronomy 33:24-27 over each one of you. The actual verses are in bold type.

“Asher is most blessed of sons.” Father, I ask that You grant exceptional favor to the saints at Calvary Chapel Black Canyon City, causing their continual increase of grace and health. “Let him be favored among people and dip his foot in oil.” Inspire our congregation live in harmony with one another, receiving abundant provisions and overflowing with Your Holy Spirit. “His sandals shall be of iron.” Help them to stand firm in their warrior’s cleats (Roman Caligae), maintaining boldness as they share the gospel of peace with everyone. Surely, they are most blessed. “

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun (Israel) who rides the heavens to your help, in His majesty on the clouds.” Since we are Your children of affection, quickly connect heaven to earth with intense velocity, bringing help quickly in time of need. Lead and protect us as You did Israel with the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. “

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” You have ever been, You forever are, and ever will be our unlimited, conquering Father, exerting the might of Your strong arm on our behalf.

"He drove out the enemy before you, and said ‘Destroy!’ ” Be pleased O God, to cast out the spiritual forces of wickedness over Black Canyon City, which You have warned us about (Eph 12). Sound the alarm that Your angelic army may infiltrate our town, break every stronghold, bind the ruling demon and incarcerate all its subordinates.

Fully cover us with Your spiritual armor. Grant mercy on our community and church. Dismantle all demonic rebellion, sorcery, witchcraft, hate, heresies, idolatry and pharmakeia (drugs) which plague Black Canyon City, Az in Jesus’ mighty name.

Glory to You Our God
Pastor Huck

Dear Abba

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Dear Abba

Thank you for Your Holy Spirit who guides me in praying through the decisions and direction in Your church; but the most staggering issue of prayer is the willful arrogance of lost humanity surrounding us. They spend thousands attending seminars to discover how to get rich, find peace, live longer, or buy your own island.

We hear famous celebrities telling the world how we must have their own cups full, without a word of being filled with Your Holy Spirit. You saw the Barna Report indicating only 37% of pastors have a Biblical World View today. Many declaring to be Christians are hoping to hear You say, “well done,” while many have done little to nothing without a conviction. For such a time as this o Father, please rise up in the name of Your Son Jesus. Deliver us from this worldliness and into Your holiness. The dead literally are burying the dead because, so few are in love with You at all.

For Your glory, will You please awaken the people of Black Canyon City concerning who You really are. May our Lord not allow the blood of Jesus Christ to be split in vain for these people. You have invited all to come now and reason together with You. Though our sins are as scarlet, You and only You can make them white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). They’re not convicted of sin, so they’re not willing to be corrected.

Jesus said the Holy Spirit will come and, “He will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).” O Father, for all the suffering on earth, these people are going to weep without end if You don’t pour out Your Spirit on us soon.

Much of today’s church gropes in the light, while the world gropes around in the dark. “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought we to be in lives of holiness and godliness (2 Peter 3:11).

In Jesus’ name
Pastor Huck

David’s Army of Worshipers

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David’s Army of Worshipers

The man after God’s own heart appointed an army of worshippers in 1 Chronicles 6. I believe it would be nothing short of spectacular if we ever discovered David had left a handbook of qualities required of a worshiper?

In Acts 13:22 God described David saying, “I have found in David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will fulfill all My will.” A man after God’s heart has a hunger to fulfill God’s will, God’s way. A worshiper embraces that hunger, and delights in the closeness generated by praise.

A worshiper waits on the Lord. To wait on the Lord means to intertwine hearts, much like a vine gaining strength by weaving around a trellis. As the vine draws its strength from the trellis, the worshiper likewise enjoys God’s strength and closeness, as two communing hearts are becoming one.

Although David played and made many instruments, being a skilled musician does not make a worshiper. You may play no instruments, yet be an affectionate worshiper of God. The word pronounced shaw-khaw’ for worship means to lay our self, our desires, and our will, down before God. In Genesis 22:5, Abraham declared he and Isaac were going to worship, but there were no instruments. He was laying down everything dear to his heart.

Psalm 107:8 affirms, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness. It is as though our Father is saying, “I wish that you were telling Me thank you all the time,” for all the time God is giving us of His goodness.

Listed in Chronicles, Asaph and Heman were brothers who understood worship leading is a sacred service, dedicated to God. As leaders, they were called to dedication and hard work; to play, sing and express their love as well as one can.

May our Father move us to greater expressions of honor and respect for Him, in both our private and corporate worship.

Malachi 1:6
Pastor Huck

Crash Course on Spiritual Strongholds

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Crash Course on Spiritual Strongholds

Paul wrote, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Destroying imaginations, and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2Cor 10:4-5).”

Mental strongholds are formed when we accept unbiblical lies as truth. These lies thenbecome thought patterns until we believe Biblical truth. Strongholds form as we embrace patterns of thought. Jesus declaring, “the truth will make you free,” is meant for daily living right now.

Scripture memorization is mandatory if we want to live a life of freedom. Does anyone really want to live a life of confusion or religious bondage? Without Biblical knowledge you have nothing to battle your demons with. You have no bullets in your gun. You don’t even have water to squirt.

All spiritual bonds are first rooted in spiritual deception. We become deceived when we believe the lies which demons use to influence us, and the stronghold begins to form. The Word of God declares, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2Cor 3:17).”

Eve listened to the lie and once she believed it, she was deceived, lost liberty, and got nothing but sorrow and loss. There is no ritual, or ancestral history to uncover. When you were born again, you became a brand-new creation in Christ. Old things passed away. Remember, the only way to eliminate deception and error, is to apply the truth that makes men free. Deliverance is past tense (Col 1:13).

The enemy has often planted erroneous structures in the mind of believers, by feeding us lies which develop faulty patterns of thought. Allowing thoughts of lust, pride, greed or that God forgot about you are all strongholds that only deliver more bondage.

We pull down strongholds and take destructive thoughts captive by believing what Goddeclares about us, not anyone else. Remember,

Every Stronghold is Based on a Lie
Pastor Huck

Confidence in Our Captain

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Confidence in Our Captain

Sooner or later we all come face to face with rivers of impossibility, and insurmountable circumstances. Whether its family, health or economic difficulties, or concerns over the wobbly world we live in, God offers a wise approach to facing current challenges in Joshua chapter 6.

Joshua was both general and commander in chief of Israel as he surveyed the impenetrable walls of Jericho. After his meeting with the Lord, he was simply reporting for duty as second in command. Joshua fell face down before God. This would be step one for all of us.

The Lord said, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.” God wanted Joshua to see this great victory through eyes of faith before it transpired. Joshua was able to see because first he bowed. If we fall to our knees, we won’t fall in our lives. Fight the urge to forsake intensive praying.

Israel was camped at Gilgal where memory stones were stacked reminding them of the miracle working God they served. Reading the Word is our daily reminder of the same (2 Pet 1:13).

The strategy made no sense, but God was his Captain. These were the Captain’s orders. According to God’s orders, Israel circled the walls of Jericho for six days without letting their voices be heard. God taught disciple. Exodus 14:14 declares, “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” No words of doubt nor complaint were heard.

God worked patience into His people. They were not to fall back as they marched around walls of impossibility for six days. Long before you heard of Jesus Christ, He had His eye on you, and He wants your eyes on Him more than the opposition.

On day seven the walls fell before God, not Joshua. God will always give His best to those who leave the choices up to Him, even against all odds.

Confidence in the Captain
Pastor Huck

The Casual Christian Casualty

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The Casual Christian Casualty

Temptation to sin is not always felt as a piercing pain, a strangling choke or a twisted ligament, but more of a dull drifting away from a clear focus on Jesus Christ and our promised future. The casual Christian who becomes more concerned with lighthearted amusement and the length of a Sunday service, stunts his own spiritual growth. He retreats, as satan re-enters the arena to lure us back into darkness.

The first three gospels note the cleansing of the temple at the END of Jesus’ ministry. Only John reveals a temple cleanse at the BEGINNING of Jesus’ ministry. Why? Demons never stop fighting for dominion and neither should we. The same filthy practices that polluted the temple, which was intended to be a house of prayer, had returned. Luke 11:24-26 warns that any demon cast away is sure to return with seven others more evil than itself. If there is no evident presence of God, they re-enter the territory, and there is nothing casual about that.

I have hardly heard a pastor declare that the crowds were huge for their prayer meetings. When it’s all over, how many of us will wish with regret that we had prayed more? That’s what Billy Graham claimed before he passed away. Praying is the most neglected God-given weapon for today’s Christian. Pastor Adrian Rogers once said, “Give satan an inch and he’ll be a ruler.”

Professional baseball player and Evangelist, Billy Sunday said, “Listen, I'm against sin. I'll kick it as long as I've got a foot, I'll fight it as long as I've got a fist, I'll butt it as long as I've got a head, and I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old, fistless, footless, and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to glory and it goes home to perdition.” Humorous for sure, but the laughter will end for the Christian who neglects the call to prayer. The casual Christian usually becomes the casualty.

Go Forward Praying
Pastor Huck

Brighter and Brighter

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Brighter and Brighter

Gratitude is the attitude that sets the altitude for living and working. God had installed a system in Israel which, if followed, would trigger their expression gratitude. This system called for the mandatory appearance of all Israeli men at three specific feasts; Passover (which includes Unleavened Bread and First Fruits), Pentecost, and Tabernacles. Here’s how it plays out. 

Deuteronomy 16:1 declares that Israel left their enslavement in Egypt, “by night.” Obediently following God’s leadership by faith would now provide for a brighter and brighter future, after experiencing a life of darkness in this world. 

Passover is celebrated in the spring around late March to early April. The observance of Passover indicates what God has done to set us free. It stimulates the memory of God’s miraculous power in delivering Israel from Pharoah, a world of idolatry, and slavery. People were delivered from darkness by faithfully applying the blood of the lamb. 

Pentecost is the second mandatory feast celebrated fifty days after Passover. This feast acknowledged the agricultural harvest God provided. We see Pentecost as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers, resulting in the harvest of souls. Pentecost indicates the anticipation of what God will continue to do. 

The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, is commonly referred to as, “the season of our joy.” This feast commemorates God’s provision throughout the wilderness wandering. Tabernacles indicates the blessings God has already provided in our past. 

If we train ourselves to remember what God actually has done to deliver us through blood of the cross, and by faith trust that He will continue providing our needs regardless of any economic condition, and reminisce often of how God truly provided for us throughout our born again lives; our gratitude will soar. 

The formula for burn out is placing work first, and worship whenever. When we place worship first, life becomes brighter and brighter. Worship enhances our walk. Anything that hinders worship, and what God has for us, will hurt us.

Looking unto Jesus
Pastor Huck

A Warning Shot Across Our Bow

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A Warning Shot Across Our Bow

Is this not what the story of Samson is to our lives today? This is a warning shot reminding us to seek the face of God in these last days. When Samson should have been on his knees he was on Delilah’s. When he should have been alert, he was asleep. When he should have been in fellowship and friendship with like-minded believers, he was gone with the wind and crushed by the whirlwind.

When we leave the place that God has appointed for us to a place of indulgence, we are always weakened. Satan loves to get us alone and isolated. Samson had no accountability or friends to encourage him in the Lord. He even had to rent thirty Philistines to attend his wedding to a godless woman. His downward slide is recorded in Judges 13-16.

Samson didn’t fall headlong into sin and despair overnight. He played with pride until he could not break his appetite for sin. Chapter 16:21 records Samson’s unfortunate end. “The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes, bound him with chains, and made him a grinder in the prison.

”The results of sin are always the same. Sin will blind you, bind you, and grind you. When we are mastered by lust, fornication, adultery, porn, lying, or drug and alcohol abuse a point comes when we say, “I can’t or don’t want to stop.” That’s when the blinding, the binding, and the grinding, will manifest, and our life becomes a drag. It’s never a good ending.

Samson finally cried out to God in the very end, but hopefully none of us will wait that long. No matter how far we have fallen God still hears a genuine cry for help, but why wait and waste a God given life?

Lord awaken us to love You wholeheartedly. Like the song; “Lord I want to be like Jesus, in my heart.”Believe in Jesus;

He loves you
Pastor Huck