Luke 13:18-19 - Then Jesus asked, "What is the Kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."
Think about a dollar bill for a second. Think about how often we use a dollar bill. A beverage or snack from the vending machine. Candy at the checkout lane of a grocery store. We never hesitate in lending out a dollar when someone needs it.
For most people a dollar bill has become relatively valueless. We don't feel much loss in giving it away or spending it on meaningless things.
But consider this: If you invested one dollar bill into a stock and that stock averaged an annual return of 12%, in 183 years one dollar has become one billion dollars! That's right one dollar becomes one billion dollars in 183 years. Now I know 183 years is a long time to wait, but consider how little a dollar is compared to a billion dollars.
Despite this mathematical marvel, I know of no one that has earmarked dollars bills for their great great great great great grand kids. No one is eager to eliminate those trips to the vending machine to save a few dollars, and if they are, then is is to save for a new TV or a vacation.
The problem is this: Most people see only a dollar and treat it like a dollar instead of seeing the billion dollars and treating it accordingly.
If we only see a dollar as a dollar it will never become a billion dollars for us. We see it for its current value instead of its potential. If we flip the script and see and treat things for their potential we will see that potential realized. This is what the Kingdom of God is like.
In the Kingdom we see things for what they can be and not what they are. This is called faith. And we're called to also apply this principal to people as well. We're called to see people as God sees them not as they currently are. We're not called to treat the drug addict as a drug addict, we're called to treat them as a son or daughter or God. If we do this, they are much more likely to realize that potential.
Think about our worship teams. We all want to have the amazing musicians with the perfect heart to serve. Most people do not come into our teams as finished products, most come as raw materials. It is our job as worship leader to pastor our teams, and one of the best ways to do this is by seeing and treating our team member as if they were the perfect addition. As we see and treat people according to their potential, we actually begin to draw that potential out of them. This is the kingdom of God.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
April 8, 2014: Staying Ready
Luke 12:35-36 - Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
The Lord requires that we stay ready for Him to return at any moment. There two ways that we are to stay ready. First, we are to be dressed for service; as if we are in the middle of a war. The second, we are to keep our lamps burning.
Eschatology aside, there is incredible richness in these verses for us as worship leaders. The very idea that we can open a door for the Lord is amazing. As Christians we're more accustomed to believing that God can open doors for us than we are believing that we can open door for Him. But in truth, this is the privilege we have as worship leader.
We can lead people in such a way that worship allows them to experience the presence of God. We can open that door for God to come and touch a persons life and restore it. And it's refreshing to note that while we're being described as being at war, Jesus is being described as coming from a wedding; a celebration. In other words, no matter what we are experiencing in the battler, He comes to where we are from a place of peace, joy, and love. Wherever a door is opened for Him, good things follow.
As worship leaders, if our goal is to open the door for Him; to lead people into His presence, then the way we do that is by being dressed for service and keeping our lamps burning.
Being dressed for service means that we are wearing armor suited for our battle. To be without armor is to be defenseless. And if we are defenseless, how can we be ready to open a door for him? Being dressed is also about having the right weapons to advance.
We also need to keep our lamps burning so that we can maintain our watch. If our lamp goes out how will we see when He's coming? If we can continue to look out for Him we'll be ready to open a door for Him. If we stay in a lifestyle of worship we'll always be able to see through the storms. When we let go of worship we lose our vision.
The presence of God is looking for open doors through which he can touch and transform people around you, including yourself. Live a life of staying ready so that you can open doors for him. Let it transform the way you lead worship.
The Lord requires that we stay ready for Him to return at any moment. There two ways that we are to stay ready. First, we are to be dressed for service; as if we are in the middle of a war. The second, we are to keep our lamps burning.
Eschatology aside, there is incredible richness in these verses for us as worship leaders. The very idea that we can open a door for the Lord is amazing. As Christians we're more accustomed to believing that God can open doors for us than we are believing that we can open door for Him. But in truth, this is the privilege we have as worship leader.
We can lead people in such a way that worship allows them to experience the presence of God. We can open that door for God to come and touch a persons life and restore it. And it's refreshing to note that while we're being described as being at war, Jesus is being described as coming from a wedding; a celebration. In other words, no matter what we are experiencing in the battler, He comes to where we are from a place of peace, joy, and love. Wherever a door is opened for Him, good things follow.
As worship leaders, if our goal is to open the door for Him; to lead people into His presence, then the way we do that is by being dressed for service and keeping our lamps burning.
Being dressed for service means that we are wearing armor suited for our battle. To be without armor is to be defenseless. And if we are defenseless, how can we be ready to open a door for him? Being dressed is also about having the right weapons to advance.
We also need to keep our lamps burning so that we can maintain our watch. If our lamp goes out how will we see when He's coming? If we can continue to look out for Him we'll be ready to open a door for Him. If we stay in a lifestyle of worship we'll always be able to see through the storms. When we let go of worship we lose our vision.
The presence of God is looking for open doors through which he can touch and transform people around you, including yourself. Live a life of staying ready so that you can open doors for him. Let it transform the way you lead worship.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
April 6, 2014: Doing Dishes
Luke 11:39-41 - Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
Confession…doing dishes is one of my least favorite chores. I somehow always manage to get water on the floor leaving me with wet socks. I don’t like the smell of dishwater and I don’t like the feeling of pruned hands. It’s just an unpleasant job.
But when I do clean dishes, I make sure of one thing..the inside of a dish will be clean. That is what is important. If the inside of a dish is clean, then the whole dish is clean because the inside is what holds the food or drink.
Jesus scolds the Pharisees because they are concerned with keeping the outside clean but do nothing to guard the inside. In truth, they cannot do anything about the uncleanliness inside, Jesus himself is our dishwasher, cleansing us from the inside out through the cross.
Notice that Jesus never implies that we could clean our own dish. He says that “everything will be clean for you“. Jesus will clean everything for us. But the Pharisees are concerned about being contaminated from the outside in. They are concerned because Jesus did not wash before he ate. This was not a concern about sanitation or germs, it was a concern about spiritual contamination.
Jesus had just spent time with the crowds, whom we can assume were the sinners, the poor, the tax collectors, etc. These people were considered unclean and by spending time with them, it was believed that a righteous person could contaminated from the outside in.
Jesus gives us insight for how we can stay clean in any environment. ”But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you”. The secret for staying clean is to give! In other words, keep flowing from the inside outward. Don’t feed the inside with what is outside!
The pipes that bring freshwater into a house are laid through mud and dirt, yet as long as the water is under constant pressure from the source, it is impossible for the water the be contaminated. The pipes can have cracks and leaks, but dirt will never contaminate the water inside as long as a pressure is maintained from the source.
So with us as worship leaders, if we ensure that we have a constant source of God’s love, His Spirit, and His power flowing to us and through us, it is impossible for anything unclean to come in and penetrate us. We must constantly receive and give. And one of the best ways to practice this style of living is to worship. In worship we receive from God and we give back to Him. And when we live in this constant worship and love to others, everything will be clean for us.
Friday, April 4, 2014
April 4: 2014: Casting Busyness Aside
Luke 10:41-42 - "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered , "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
There are few things that make for a productive day more than having a planned schedule. Planning is essential for life, it is essential for pursuing a vision. But you can also measure the importance of something in your life by its ability to disrupt your planned schedule.
We make plans because we decide in advance what the most important things are to accomplish in a given day. But when something unexpected comes up, we evaluate its importance based on our plans. If it is more important, we change our schedule. If it's not, we keep our schedule.
Mary and Martha both had things to be doing. Both apparently were supposed to be handling the preparations. But it Mary's mind, Jesus' arrival rose above all other things and she let go of her 'to-do list'. Martha kept on with the preparations and was bitter about Mary's change of plans. To Martha, Jesus was just another distinguished guest to come into their home, nothing more. If Martha had valued Jesus' presence the same way Mary did, no doubt she would have been found at Jesus' feet as well.
As worship leaders, we also need keep our values in front of us. We need to remember that we lead people into God's presence and when those moments happen, whether they fit our plan or not, it deserves to be the focal point.
When we come face to face with people's brokenness, let's not pass by because we don't have the time. Let's be willing to deviate from our schedule to meet with Jesus, whether it's when we're leading worship or going through our daily tasks. Because as Jesus said, "whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me"
There are few things that make for a productive day more than having a planned schedule. Planning is essential for life, it is essential for pursuing a vision. But you can also measure the importance of something in your life by its ability to disrupt your planned schedule.
We make plans because we decide in advance what the most important things are to accomplish in a given day. But when something unexpected comes up, we evaluate its importance based on our plans. If it is more important, we change our schedule. If it's not, we keep our schedule.
Mary and Martha both had things to be doing. Both apparently were supposed to be handling the preparations. But it Mary's mind, Jesus' arrival rose above all other things and she let go of her 'to-do list'. Martha kept on with the preparations and was bitter about Mary's change of plans. To Martha, Jesus was just another distinguished guest to come into their home, nothing more. If Martha had valued Jesus' presence the same way Mary did, no doubt she would have been found at Jesus' feet as well.
As worship leaders, we also need keep our values in front of us. We need to remember that we lead people into God's presence and when those moments happen, whether they fit our plan or not, it deserves to be the focal point.
When we come face to face with people's brokenness, let's not pass by because we don't have the time. Let's be willing to deviate from our schedule to meet with Jesus, whether it's when we're leading worship or going through our daily tasks. Because as Jesus said, "whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me"
Thursday, April 3, 2014
April 3, 2014: Revealed to Children
Luke 10:21 - At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said "I praise you, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father for this was your good pleasure."
Jesus was not referring to literal children, he was referring to the 72 disciples who had just returned after Jesus sent them out. They had returned to Jesus full of excitement because they were successful in the assignment that Jesus had given them, to heal the sick and cast out demons.
Jesus told them to rejoice not because the evil spirits obey them, but rather because there names were written in the book of life.
Jesus reveals this one simple truth to them: It's not what you do, it's where you belong that matters.
God desires to reveal things to us as children rather than students. It seems counter intuitive that in order to know more we need to study less, but the reality is that God is a person and He teaches through relationship. He wants us to stay in awe of him like children in awe of their parents.
How do children learn? They understand first that they belong, and therefore have access. We need to become like children again, believe that we belong to our heavenly Father. When we live with that daily reality, we then will recognize that we always have access.
This is how God reveals things to us and teaches us. We worship by acknowledging that we belong to Him. And as we more fully embrace that reality, we can more effectively lead people into that reality. We can actually lead worship in a way that brings people into an understanding that they belong as well. Worship is meant to be a refuge for the weary, a place of strength for the weak.
Jesus was not referring to literal children, he was referring to the 72 disciples who had just returned after Jesus sent them out. They had returned to Jesus full of excitement because they were successful in the assignment that Jesus had given them, to heal the sick and cast out demons.
Jesus told them to rejoice not because the evil spirits obey them, but rather because there names were written in the book of life.
Jesus reveals this one simple truth to them: It's not what you do, it's where you belong that matters.
God desires to reveal things to us as children rather than students. It seems counter intuitive that in order to know more we need to study less, but the reality is that God is a person and He teaches through relationship. He wants us to stay in awe of him like children in awe of their parents.
How do children learn? They understand first that they belong, and therefore have access. We need to become like children again, believe that we belong to our heavenly Father. When we live with that daily reality, we then will recognize that we always have access.
This is how God reveals things to us and teaches us. We worship by acknowledging that we belong to Him. And as we more fully embrace that reality, we can more effectively lead people into that reality. We can actually lead worship in a way that brings people into an understanding that they belong as well. Worship is meant to be a refuge for the weary, a place of strength for the weak.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
April 2, 2014: Working Our Land
Proverbs 12:11 - Those who work their land will have abundant food,
but those who chase fantasies have no sense.
They key to this proverb is learning how to work our land. Especially as a worship leader, we want to work the land of others. We see worship leaders who lead thousands or bands that play for stadiums and it becomes easy for us to want that to be our land. But the proverb says that this is chasing fantasies because this is not our land.
God has given each of us our own spiritual land. It is territory that has been put in our charge to steward for Him. It is our responsibility to work that territory and the bible promises we will have more than enough if we do.
As worship leaders we need to recognize where we have favor and commit to grow and serving in those areas. Sometimes we overlook the areas in our life where we have favor and pursue ambitions where we have not yet found favor. It is better to take ownership of the areas of our lives where there is fruit and press forward.
All of us as worship leaders have different gifting and abilities. We're all unique. Lead people in worship in a way that is yours! Not someone else's. Step into to your place and your calling by working your land.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
April 1, 2014: The Sanctuary of God
Psalm 73:16-17 - When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me, till I entered the sanctuary of God.
In the midst of life circumstances we often seek clarity and perspective to help us deal with the challenges. The way we naturally seek these things is through our thoughts. Thinking on a matter until we can understand the situation.
But consider the difference between roads and destinations. A road leads us to a destination and not the other way around. If peace and clarity are the destination, then understanding that comes from our thinking is not right road to take. It becomes oppressive to us.
We cannot think ourselves into a lifestyle of faith. We cannot rationalize peace into our lives. We need to take a different road. And the psalmist has discovered it. It was when he abandoned the road that leads to understanding to take the road that leads to the sanctuary of God that he found relief.
I would call the sanctuary of God the presence of God because it is the place where God dwells. It is when we stop seeking understanding that I can find peace in His presence. I can find everlasting joy and freedom.
Then the very thing that was troubling to me no longer has power over me. Though I may not have understanding I have a peace that surpasses understanding. To worship God in the middle of confusion is to take the road that leads to his presence, to his sanctuary. It takes me of the road that leads to oppression and puts me on the road that leads to life.
In the midst of life circumstances we often seek clarity and perspective to help us deal with the challenges. The way we naturally seek these things is through our thoughts. Thinking on a matter until we can understand the situation.
But consider the difference between roads and destinations. A road leads us to a destination and not the other way around. If peace and clarity are the destination, then understanding that comes from our thinking is not right road to take. It becomes oppressive to us.
We cannot think ourselves into a lifestyle of faith. We cannot rationalize peace into our lives. We need to take a different road. And the psalmist has discovered it. It was when he abandoned the road that leads to understanding to take the road that leads to the sanctuary of God that he found relief.
I would call the sanctuary of God the presence of God because it is the place where God dwells. It is when we stop seeking understanding that I can find peace in His presence. I can find everlasting joy and freedom.
Then the very thing that was troubling to me no longer has power over me. Though I may not have understanding I have a peace that surpasses understanding. To worship God in the middle of confusion is to take the road that leads to his presence, to his sanctuary. It takes me of the road that leads to oppression and puts me on the road that leads to life.
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