Last night, I read a blog entry from Worship Matters, where Bob Kauflin shared an excerpt of a interview he had with Tim Smith asking him questions on worship. I was struck by the content of the interview. Bob Kauflin shared this:
"I said that if worship leaders simply lead people into a desire to repeat what we just did, or the 'worship experience,' we haven’t done what we’re called to do. I make the point that for worship leaders in the church, our job isn’t to lead a worship experience, but to build a worshiping community."
This a convicting statement for me as a person sitting in the pew. If this is the goal of every worship leader to help encourage us to lead a life of worship, not just feeding off an experience, I can't help but be praying for these guys! Its not just about good music or the right song selection, but its about edifying me and the rest of in the pew to live life worshiping God, not just on Sunday, but everyday, even until our Lord returns and then after!
I can't help but be led to the the passage in Romans 12:1-8, where the Apostle Paul writes to church in Rome about worship. Worship is our response to God's mercy, where we live our lives as holy and living sacrifices to God. This looks like, at least in the context, us serving one another with the gifts God has given. This seems to be where Bob Kauflin's worship paradigm is founded, according to the movement of the interview.
May the Lord provide me the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the heart to understand what it means to worship Him. May he bless all the brothers and sisters out there using their gifts to lead the body of Christ into a worshipful lifestyle, not just an experience. May Christ get all the glory.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Abba! God the Father
Last night, I was up till 12:30 spending time with two brothers in Christ. We shared. We prayed. We fellowshipped. It was a refreshing feeling, where we felt God's presence and love and where I faithfully believe the Lord loosed spiritual bonds that were hindering us from experiencing the relationship Christ promises.
By the end, one of the brothers began encouraging us to experience God the Father as 'Abba' Father, not just that far away 'Dear God' type of prayer life that I know I have gotten used to. Oddly, out everything spoken the whole night, this encouragement/exhortation was the hardest to accept. Perhaps, it because its the most important and critical aspect of my walk that must be rearranged or perhaps just the feeling that I know right now, 'I'm not there yet'. However, I want that relationship.
So, pondering this, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a couple of verses. Romans 8:12-18, tells us of the assurance of the Holy Spirit's change in our being, witnessing to us that we are God's children, being able to call to God the Father as 'Abba' or 'Daddy'. This for me is very challenging. Though I know that this is true, I must confess I need to experience this tremendously more.
Another verse is Luke 11:1-13, where Jesus describes how to pray and the attitude we must have when we prayer; primarily of perseverance, of faith in the Father's character, and of knowing He will provide that which is best and not something fake or dangerous. Even more awesome is that Christ tells us God's desire and intention is to give us the Holy Spirit, if we indeed dare to ask for such a wonderful thing.
Abba, I am poor and weak, but you have called me to yourself through Jesus Christ. Abba, please give me the Holy Spirit to empower me to be your child, to do what your child does, and most importantly to help your child experience you as Your will desires. Please bless your children.
By the end, one of the brothers began encouraging us to experience God the Father as 'Abba' Father, not just that far away 'Dear God' type of prayer life that I know I have gotten used to. Oddly, out everything spoken the whole night, this encouragement/exhortation was the hardest to accept. Perhaps, it because its the most important and critical aspect of my walk that must be rearranged or perhaps just the feeling that I know right now, 'I'm not there yet'. However, I want that relationship.
So, pondering this, the Holy Spirit brought to mind a couple of verses. Romans 8:12-18, tells us of the assurance of the Holy Spirit's change in our being, witnessing to us that we are God's children, being able to call to God the Father as 'Abba' or 'Daddy'. This for me is very challenging. Though I know that this is true, I must confess I need to experience this tremendously more.
Another verse is Luke 11:1-13, where Jesus describes how to pray and the attitude we must have when we prayer; primarily of perseverance, of faith in the Father's character, and of knowing He will provide that which is best and not something fake or dangerous. Even more awesome is that Christ tells us God's desire and intention is to give us the Holy Spirit, if we indeed dare to ask for such a wonderful thing.
Abba, I am poor and weak, but you have called me to yourself through Jesus Christ. Abba, please give me the Holy Spirit to empower me to be your child, to do what your child does, and most importantly to help your child experience you as Your will desires. Please bless your children.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Eagerly Waiting in Grace
Last night at bible study we studied Hebrews 9:11-28. It was very gory passage talking about blood of animals and the blood of Christ and how a will and covenant are enacted only when certain conditions are met, being death or a sacrifice of life. But as it winded down to the end the passage, the words that really help me experience the awe of God's plan of salvation was verses 27-28.
In verse 27, the writer of Hebrews in very simple words lays down the utter hopelessness of man, destined to die and to be judged by a Holy God with a verdict of guilty for sin and thrown into the fire of eternal punishment. But in verse 29 this same God before the world was created planned to become man and planned to die that He may bring salvation to those he had chosen.
The interesting thing is the very last part words from verse 28, which says that Christ brings salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him. I have been hearing the term the 'truth of now and not yet', where there exists a scriptural tension where a concept is true right now, but will realized truly later on. Such is our salvation. I am saved through faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone right now, but the true experience of salvation will not occur until the return of Jesus Christ. So the question I've been asking myself is whether I am eagerly waiting Christ's return.
Lord please give me a desire to not just experience you now, but also to desire to see you truly when you return as our Lord of lords and King of kings. Please change my motivations and actions that they may reflect and revolve around your return Lord Jesus.
In verse 27, the writer of Hebrews in very simple words lays down the utter hopelessness of man, destined to die and to be judged by a Holy God with a verdict of guilty for sin and thrown into the fire of eternal punishment. But in verse 29 this same God before the world was created planned to become man and planned to die that He may bring salvation to those he had chosen.
The interesting thing is the very last part words from verse 28, which says that Christ brings salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him. I have been hearing the term the 'truth of now and not yet', where there exists a scriptural tension where a concept is true right now, but will realized truly later on. Such is our salvation. I am saved through faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone right now, but the true experience of salvation will not occur until the return of Jesus Christ. So the question I've been asking myself is whether I am eagerly waiting Christ's return.
Lord please give me a desire to not just experience you now, but also to desire to see you truly when you return as our Lord of lords and King of kings. Please change my motivations and actions that they may reflect and revolve around your return Lord Jesus.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Gratitude, Obstacles, and Seasons
Tonight's 4th installment of Soul Care Class taught by Pastor Freddy Baez was again a refreshing time of receiving care and learning more about how to care for others. What was taught was both deeply practical, but also deeply spiritual. The following was what I learned and took from the class tonight.
Expounding from Psalm 119:27, Professor Baez shared that sometimes we fall into situations where we do not feel the truth of God in our own fractured reality. Because of this, as we experience times when things are going against us, we must set our hearts to thank God and worship God for who He is and what He was done. He then shared one very practical way that helps him see the reality of God. Every night Pastor Baez practices what he calls the 'Discipline of Gratitude', where as he is laying down to sleep, he counts and names the blessing God has provided for him this past day. He simply begins this time with God by thanking God for allowing him to come back to his own bed to sleep, not a jail cell bed, nor a cardboard box on the street, nor a friend's couch do to some unfortunate circumstances. He just thanks God for a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight, then continues to thank God for every blessing both big and small.
Another topic shared tonight was 'Obstacles that cause a Non-Growing Spiritual Life'. First was guilt or not having a clear conscience before God, caused by unrepented sin or incorrect understanding of God. Second was lack of personal pray or not spending time with Christ, sharing time in simple deep fellowship with God. Third was a lack of spending time in the Word or not knowing the mind of Christ, where we live life not feeding spiritually from God or still drinking milk even though we should be working on meatier understanding from the Scripture. And lastly was lack of purpose or understanding of our part in God's ministry in the Body, where a believer is not serving God and being part of God's community, using one's gifts.
And the last thing I left with was homework to think about what season of our spiritual walk we are in based on a biblical character. The Pastor shared about whether we might be Nehemiah, where we are working on rebuilding ourselves or helping to rebuild something spiritual. Or perhaps, Jonah, rebelling against God's command and experiencing the repercussions of disobeying God. I have been pondering this and trying to evaluate who I feel I am in the scripture right now.
May the Lord help me to have eyes that see His blessings and give thanks for them. May the Lord help me spot what obstacles lay in from of me in growing closer to Christ. May God help me to understand where I am spiritually in my walk so that I might study and see how God is using me, training me, and/or changing to be more like His Son, my Lord.
Expounding from Psalm 119:27, Professor Baez shared that sometimes we fall into situations where we do not feel the truth of God in our own fractured reality. Because of this, as we experience times when things are going against us, we must set our hearts to thank God and worship God for who He is and what He was done. He then shared one very practical way that helps him see the reality of God. Every night Pastor Baez practices what he calls the 'Discipline of Gratitude', where as he is laying down to sleep, he counts and names the blessing God has provided for him this past day. He simply begins this time with God by thanking God for allowing him to come back to his own bed to sleep, not a jail cell bed, nor a cardboard box on the street, nor a friend's couch do to some unfortunate circumstances. He just thanks God for a comfortable bed to sleep in tonight, then continues to thank God for every blessing both big and small.
Another topic shared tonight was 'Obstacles that cause a Non-Growing Spiritual Life'. First was guilt or not having a clear conscience before God, caused by unrepented sin or incorrect understanding of God. Second was lack of personal pray or not spending time with Christ, sharing time in simple deep fellowship with God. Third was a lack of spending time in the Word or not knowing the mind of Christ, where we live life not feeding spiritually from God or still drinking milk even though we should be working on meatier understanding from the Scripture. And lastly was lack of purpose or understanding of our part in God's ministry in the Body, where a believer is not serving God and being part of God's community, using one's gifts.
And the last thing I left with was homework to think about what season of our spiritual walk we are in based on a biblical character. The Pastor shared about whether we might be Nehemiah, where we are working on rebuilding ourselves or helping to rebuild something spiritual. Or perhaps, Jonah, rebelling against God's command and experiencing the repercussions of disobeying God. I have been pondering this and trying to evaluate who I feel I am in the scripture right now.
May the Lord help me to have eyes that see His blessings and give thanks for them. May the Lord help me spot what obstacles lay in from of me in growing closer to Christ. May God help me to understand where I am spiritually in my walk so that I might study and see how God is using me, training me, and/or changing to be more like His Son, my Lord.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
When Feelings Try to Rule
Today I have been feeling distance from the presence of God. Perhaps its some unresolved sin in my life. I am in the process of evaluating. Things do feel a bit different than before. When I felt this distance from God, there was always this feeling of inadequacy, which would lead me to various addictive vices to try and fill the emptiness. Now, as I try to focus on the cross rather than my feelings, I have found myself running to God's Word, realizing his presence may not be felt, but His Word is a constant reminder of His presence and desire to speak with me.
Today, my men's group went over the 2nd part of the Gospel of John. I couldn't help being encouraged by Christ's promise to give us joy, to give us peace, to allow us to pray, and to give us a relationship with God the Father. We also read Psalm 139 in our weekly church prayer meeting, which helped me see the amazing truth of God's knowledge. Then at the close of the meeting, I felt God lead me to dwell on Psalm 23.
May God help me to persevere and to lean on truth more than feelings. May pour into my heart his peace, love, mercy, kindness, patience, and joy than come from His Holy Spirit.
Today, my men's group went over the 2nd part of the Gospel of John. I couldn't help being encouraged by Christ's promise to give us joy, to give us peace, to allow us to pray, and to give us a relationship with God the Father. We also read Psalm 139 in our weekly church prayer meeting, which helped me see the amazing truth of God's knowledge. Then at the close of the meeting, I felt God lead me to dwell on Psalm 23.
May God help me to persevere and to lean on truth more than feelings. May pour into my heart his peace, love, mercy, kindness, patience, and joy than come from His Holy Spirit.
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