The Beginning Of True Worship: A Circumsized Heart

My Bible reading time is getting so good. I'm so close to The New Testament that I can taste it but the journey has been astonishing, slow paced but full of meditation. As I read through the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel there was one similar focal point that I tuned into: God was telling these anointed men that what He most desired was the heart. The Lord went on to pour out prophecies about how He planned to recapture Israel's hearts, how He desired for His people to circumcise their hearts. God gave them so many literal examples and symbols for what true worship really was but they (with an exception of a few) never got it. The prophet Samuel understood this when he reprimanded King Saul for choosing sacrifices over obedience. David got it when he sang in one of his Psalms about how he finally realized that The Lord takes no pleasure in sacrifices and offerings, but instead, delights in a broken and contrite heart. For a while God used these literal expressions as a shadow of the true meaning of the beginnings of worship. Before anything else, God desires to have our hearts in His hand, because to give someone your heart is to give them all of you. Change came and God was behind this transformation, ready to reveal to all that what He was trying to do this whole time was win over their hearts. The few men that understood this did life with God: walked with Him daily, invited The Lord to be where they were, and followed The Lord wherever He wanted them to go. It's so easy to recognize a move of God when you spend intimate and public time with God. In your secret place as well as the grocery store, church, between classes, at work, and during lunch conversations. This is a picture of what doing life with God is and it all begins with a rendered, devoted, circumcised heart. You see, a circumcision removes the natural protective covering and what God was saying was this: for a while guys I asked you to circumcise your children because I was giving you a picture of what I really wanted and that was for that wall in your heart that you use to keep me out to be removed so that I could come in. God wants to come in to our hearts and dwell there. Worship first involves us giving our hearts over so that His Spirit may dwell there. When Jesus came He later gave the next revelation and that was this: guys, the temple was a symbol for a long time but now I've been sent by my Father to tell you that when I leave His Spirit will now not just be with you and in you...now He's gonna be upon you because your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The Lord tells us in The Book of Daniel that God is the revealer of mysteries and that He is.

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(Ezekiel 11:19-20) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

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My favorite example so far in The Old Testament of what a circumcised heart looks like would have to be in the life story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they're put on the spot and about to be thrown into a burning furnace because they refused to worship anybody/anything else but their God. I mean, I felt empowered as I was reading this.

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(Daniel 3:17-18) "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 

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God loves and honors that heart that has let Him completely come in to the point of living a life that screams: My God is the living God and He can do anything for me but even if things don't work out the way I envision I will still love Him and keep my heart open to Him. God just can't resist this genuine heart because we were all created the same fierce and bold potential to love. This is the beginning of true worship that is born from doing life with God.

Leadership

Wise is the one who seeks the Lord's council first. Fall to His feet and you will rise in victory.

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Now, before you read the first few parts of the scripture bellow and then skip to keep reading...I challenge you: Read it slowly and really reflect on these words for a while before you keep reading on. One of the many verses that never ceases to blow my mind.

(1 Timothy 4:12-16) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I love how God sees the heart. I love how he gazes into its depths. God chose you and I. He chose us to represent Him here on earth by the grace of Jesus and His amazing mercy. Jesus is the perfect example of the first part of the scripture above, glorifying God at each and every stage in His life. Though some of us lead bands, teams, congregations, or groups, what about those who feel like they have no purpose and are spiritually living in a secluded desert where there is nobody to lead but themselves? Nobody has to have a title or an assigned place to lead. One has the authority to lead in any and every season and in any and every place. I have this quote that the Lord gave me a few years back that I live by, "If your life is a song that God and those around you are waiting to hear, then what does your lifesong say about you?" This always keeps me in check and has always resonated in my heart. I think about my life's lyrics and how I hope that they touch my Father's heart. Like I've said before, our relationship with our God is the wellspring to everything else, from how we react to how we lead. I really wanted to address leadership because it's such an important role to both spiritual and natural growth. I've seen my fair share of both good and bad leaders but those that I've learned so much from and dearly admire have placed God as their number one and first love. Fear of (respect for) the Lord is their foundation and there lies the reasoning behind their wisdom and knowledge that develops discernment and good decisions. Be the kind of leader that you would want. If you would like a good example of someone who's unashamed of Christ and who boldly represents Him then who better than you? God placed that desire in your heart, so don't neglect that gift. You are what you've been searching for. Start developing that gift and fan it into flames. Where to start? Seek God and go to Him for direction, fill yourself with the Word of God because, trust, after you read other's downfalls and triumphs you-will-learn. Surround yourself with people who will inspire you along your walk with God and remind yourself each day of who you are in Christ so that you never think for a minute that you have nothing to contribute. You lead with your whole life in speech (every single word that you speak and the way you talk), in conduct (the way you act and respond to situations), the way you love (God, others, and yourself), your faith (trusting God and fixing your eyes on God's promises), and in purity (live a holy life, set apart). You and I have something to give and show. Though we can lead in a ministry, the best way to lead is by example with our very lives. 

Now, let's talk about those of you who are in charge of a Praise and Worship team, band, or group and you're looking to be the best leader you can be. First things first, Know that God did not choose you because of your knowledge or abilities, God chose you because he knew that you were a person after His own heart. You're not perfect but you are loved and love covers over a multitude of sin. I always tell myself that if I wake up every morning and strive for a 10 then I'm more likely to reach somewhere in that range, verses striving for a 6 or 5 and reaching something lower. In short, what I'm trying to say is that though we are not perfect in the natural,  fixing our eyes straight on what God says we are and His will and promises will cause us to accomplish more because of our high expectations. Trust, an expectant heart is such a powerful weapon that the Holy Spirit loves to respond to.

What are some qualities of an amazing leader?

1. A person after God's own heart- These kinds of leaders will always have their eyes firmly fixed on God, so though they stumble they will no longer fall (Psalm 37:24). These people always, always, always seeks God's council first because He is the giver of all wisdom and has created order out of disorder (Genesis 1:2).
2. A humble person- These kinds of leaders realize their self worth in Jesus. These people confidently shine in all aspects and give the glory to God by recognizing Christ as their head. This means that they do not have to constantly remind others of the position that they hold because they knows that it is apparent to those around them. They realize that being humble is not about playing small, but rather, making known the One who is anything but small. "Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."
3. A person with discernment- These leaders can recognized when to speak and when to remain silent, knowing that there is a time for everything. They know how to distinguish those times. Their reactions do not depend on what they see and they are not emotion-led because their reactions are based off of what God says.
4. A person who keeps it real- Originality is key because God made each person different and assigned a special calling and purpose to each and every person. These leaders are confident in their identity in Christ Jesus and don't need anyone but God to remind them of how special they are. These leaders do not compare themselves to anybody else and proudly shine and radiate Jesus in them. They rejoice in knowing that they are the salt and light of the world. Be exactly who God has called you to be because you have a different lifesong meant for those that God wants you to share it with.
5. A teachable person- These leaders remain open to the Holy Spirit and know that God can use anybody to teach them, regardless of age. They know that the minute they close themselves to the Lord's new revelations stagnation will take over. Never think you know it all because even King Solomon learned from insects. So soak up every single thing that God is leading you to so that your well will never run dry.
6. A good communicator- These leaders do not permit language to be a barrier between their team and them so they addresses any issue clearly with backed up information if needed. The key to being a good communicator is being a good listener. If one has practiced this in one's private time with God then listening to other's concerns with spiritual eyes and ears wide open will stop any type of misunderstanding.
7. A person who acts in God's love- These leaders know better than to let any offense spring up weeds in their heart because God's love is the medicine that this world needs. They act in love the way Jesus would in all good and bad circumstances, knowing that they must not let anything come between their relationship with God, which Jesus came to reconcile. Acting in love is about loving others the way you love yourself so be that person with others that you desire to have around you. Don't just chat with people and move on, befriend your team because they should be like your family. Love and honor them no matter what.

Callings & Roles In The Worship Ministry

Ministry- The act of serving others; This word derives from the Latin word "Ministerium" which means service. 

Worship Leader- In a congregational setting, one who guides the congregation through praise and worship. Worship Leaders are in charge of organizing songs, they sing and/or play an instrument, and take the lead. The relationship between the Worship Leader and the congregation most resembles how a shepherd leads his/her flock toward the stream and green pastures and then lets them enjoy their feeding while keeping a close eye on them. Worship Leaders lead others through songs, offering praises (which God inhabits) to the Lord , creating the spiritual atmosphere for an encounter.

Worship Minister/Pastor- One who ministers on the specialized topic of "Worship" by serving others. Worship Ministers serve by leading, teaching, and providing spiritual guidance. The relationship between a Worship Minister and the congregation most resembles how a pastor leads, guides, and cares for his/her flock or any other group of people.

Psalmist- One who writes and/or composes poems out of one's own thoughts and feelings. These poems can be turned into songs and the best example of this is The Psalmist David who wrote psalms (poems), sung, and played them.

Christian Music Artist- One who writes, performs, or composes christian music. Some examples would be Francesca Battistelli, Kari Jobe (also an example of a Worship Leader), Natalie Grant, Jeremy Camp, TobyMac, and David Crowder Band.  

* (This is a new one for me) Worship Evangelist- one who spreads "The Good News" and brings revival of personal commitments to Christ through worship music. An example of this is:
(Psalm 108:1-5) My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

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So let us remember that "Worship" is the act of responding to God's love with love by offering one's very life as a living and breathing sacrifice. Anyone who has been called to the Worship Ministry is leading, serving, and guiding others in a way that shows them how to respond to God's love with their very lives. They help others know the meaning of Worship. A great majority of Christian music artists are not in the Worship Ministry but they are impacting the world with what God has given them in a way that glorifies God. Being in the Worship Ministry means that one is serving, and like my Psalmist School directer says, "Ministry is really the record of your service. Many want the title but they don't have the proof of the work to back it up." You see no matter what ministry we're called to it doesn't become a ministry or our ministry until we have a record of our service, until we have invested of our time serving others.

(2 Corinthians 6:3-10) We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

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Specifically I wrote this post because we all have questions. What's the difference between this and that? What does this really mean? I personally ask God all the time, "how can I define this?" And then...comes wisdom. The definitions that I decided to share above are some words that I myself have asked God to clarify because I'm a lover of knowledge I guess (I thank God for such an inheritance). These are cut to the chase sort of definitions to just supply a purposeful answer but of course with all things involving God we can go on and on, and deeper and deeper. I just wanted to clarify some of the visible callings that fall within the category of "Worship ministry". First off, the question I want to answer is, what sorts of things can we do that are considered to be part of this particular ministry? Just like I talked about how there are expressions of worship these same expressions, no matter what they may be, can be turned into a Worship Ministry the moment that a person begins to serve others through their artistic expression of worship. Some do spoken word, others write music or psalms, some dance, and some play an instrument or lead worship services, or maybe even act—these are all expressions of our worship to God and become a Worship Ministry only when we begin to serve others through these expressions in a way that pertains to the subject of "worship". So whatever you have been called to do, this calling turns into a ministry when you begin to serve. Maybe you've been called to be a songwriter, a worship minister, or an actor but this becomes a Worship Ministry when you, for example, teach others about worship through your songwriting, ministering, or acting. It has nothing to do with being in a church because some ministries are specifically for the congregation but others are born outside of the church for different reasons. The disciples had their own individual ministries but they all worked and served with the same purpose in mind, and that was to spread the word of God and the message of salvation. So whether some ministries are meant for the church, for a local group of people, or for the nations a Worship Ministry has to do with presenting "worship" and it's detailed branches to others through service.