Praise and Worship
The birth of “Praise and Worship”
In 1946 Pentecostal churches had begun to lose their fire and had drifted from their original power. However, God was stirring the hearts of a number of his servants to pray for new life. Reg Layzell, a Christian businessman from Ontario was invited to speak at meetings in churches in British Columbia. His first stop was in Abbotsford. After a couple of very flat meetings, he cried out to God for revelation. He was led to Psalm 22:3, “God inhabits the praises of his people.” He felt this was a key to seeing God move in power. He began praising the Lord during the afternoon, the dinner hour and for an hour before the meeting. As the first song began, a lady was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues and soon after was joined by others. The whole congregation began worshiping with enthusiasm. He had never seen anyone baptized in the Spirit in the first part of a service. He felt this was a confirmation of the word from Psalm 22:3.
my paraphrase from - “A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship” - Lester Ruth and Lim Swee Hong
A Revival broke out in the Sharon Bible School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada in February, 1948.
Then subsequent “camp meetings” attracted many from Canada and USA. One of the hallmarks of this movement was the Praise and Worship and “singing in the spirit” that carried a remarkable sense of the presence of God. Many who came and experienced this were able to see it multiplied in their own churches.
Reg Layzell, who had received the revelation about “praise” in 1946 became one of the leaders of the wider “Latter Rain” movement.
Some of the theological “rough edges” of the movement have attracted much criticism from others in the Body of Christ. Unfortunately this has resulted in many dismissing everything that occurred and ignoring the key blessings of God being received to this day. The praise and worship begun in the Latter Rain became standard practice in the Charismatic Renewal and Jesus Movements of the 70’s.
What they taught us . . .
• Receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. (Previously Pentecostals required you to “tarry” until it was received.)
• Praise and Worship
• Singing in the Spirit (in tongues)
• Personal prophecy confirming ministry direction/gifts
• Recognition of Apostolic and Prophetic gifting