Strategic Plans

Sometimes while I am out cutting my grass, I can calm my mind. I find a place of peace even in the 100 degree plus summer heat. It is a place of simplicity. A place of rest in my mind, soul and emotions. In these times I hear the Lord speak so clearly to me. I was in such a mood yesterday.
I have been on a quest in my life to simplify and focus on what the Lord has called me to. I am pruning away much of the things that take my time and energy. I have also begun to seek outside influences to give me direction and constructive criticism to help me develop. I am determined to be the best I can be in service to the Lord. Not to be arrogant but to give the Lord what He deserves.
My morning began with the word "Strategic". I spent the day pondering the word.
In defining the word Websters online dictionary states :of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect . I then went to 2 Samuel 5. Here we find David becoming king over all Israel. Verse 6 is where we will start.

David Captures Jerusalem (New Living Translation)
6 David then led his men to Jerusalem to fight against the Jebusites, the original inhabitants of the land who were living there. The Jebusites taunted David, saying, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!” For the Jebusites thought they were safe. 7 But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.
David was beginning his reign as king and knew he had to unite the tribes. The Israelites were going through civil war fighting between the old regime and the up and coming regime. Jerusalem was right in the middle. David new that if he could take Jerusalem it would be the most strategic place to rule from. He knew he could make it the center of the kingdom. He also knew that the city was never conquered and if he could accomplish that it would greater solidify his rule. Also we find how confident the enemy was. Jerusalem was a place that was so well fortified that they believed no one could overcome them. David had a plan!

8 On the day of the attack, David said to his troops, “I hate those ‘lame’ and ‘blind’ Jebusites. Whoever attacks them should strike by going into the city through the water tunnel.” That is the origin of the saying, “The blind and the lame may not enter the house.”
Here David lays out the strategy for taking Jerusalem. To go in a way no one had gone before. Some theologians believe this was the sewer. There was a tunnel that all the waste water would run down from the hill that Jerusalem was built upon. David gave them the order to attack. and they took the city.

9 So David made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David. He extended the city, starting at the supporting terraces and working inward. 10 And David became more and more powerful, because the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies was with him.

The strategy was all about building the Lords Kingdom. Here we find that David became more powerful because the Lord was with Him. He was in the Lords Strategy. David was a part of bringing the purpose of God into maturity. As we press onward in our journey to serve the Lord we have to know that we have a strategic purpose. Our purpose is so much greater than we know. It is not left only to our personal achievements but also for us to achieve with those around us. We are the body of Christ! Each member with it's own purposes and together individual purposes become one master purpose in the kingdom of God. We believe our God is sovereign, there are no coincidences or happen stance. He is in control of all things. The people who are placed in your life are there by the sovereignty of God. Our friendships and acquaintances are there for a purpose.

As members of a worshiping community we work together to achieve corporate worship. Our expression of worship is meant to be seen or experienced with and by others. When the bible gives us a picture of worship in heaven it talks about all of heaven rejoicing. It mentions all of creation singing. We are placed here strategically to have strategic relationships to achieve the strategic end of the Masters Plan. The person next to you is part of this plan from the Lord. Lets focus on becoming the individual that can influence our surroundings. Let us be a Jerusalem that unites and binds those around us.

We Serve an Uncommon God

I have often found myself in a predictable position where I seem to follow a ritual way of thinking. I have found myself traveling to work on a day off or waking the kids up to get to school on a Saturday. Maybe it's just me but I get stuck in routines.
I began a regiment of worshiping the Lord in the mornings many years ago. I would get away in my music room,play the keyboard and sing and pray to the Lord. As my life changed so did my worship time and as time went by I got in a routine of praying at night and my musical worship time began to fade into only when necessary. Not a place I want to be. This blog post is to encourage those of you who have let that time slip away to re instill that private time of worship.
My realization of treating God common came one morning in telling my wife Rae "I love you" as she was leaving for work. As I spoke those words I realized they were just words. A ritual had formed from the saying of "I love you" everyday. Not that I don't love my wife but the words "I love you" in that moment were words without depth.
In the book of Samuel we find the voice of God had dimmed. Time had passed were man had put God on the side. Not that they didn't believe in God but they didn't look to Him for answers.
1 Samuel 3 (New Living Translation)
The Lord Speaks to Samuel
1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

In verse 1 we find Samuel serving the Lord but assisting Eli. What Samuel knew of the Lord at this point was through the words and direction of Eli. The Lord was not a personal part of Samuel's life. Notice the Lord calls out to Samuel but Samuel doesn't know His voice.

2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle[a] near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”
“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”
7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

Samuel Runs to Eli thinking it is Eli who is calling. All Samuel knows it what is common to him. He knows he serves Eli and Eli serves the Lord. He has a relationship with God but through service to Eli not God Himself. Here in verse 8 and 9 we find something begin to happen.

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.

Eli realizes who is calling and explains it to Samuel. Now Samuel has an understanding of who is speaking. A relationship is beginning to develop.

10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 12 I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. 13 I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God[b] and he hasn’t disciplined them. 14 So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”

Here an uncommon God address how common He has become in the eyes of Eli and His family. God say "I am about to do something shocking". There have been threats made and warnings given but no attention paid to them. Eli and his family are still caring on without regard to a Holy God. All the miracles and wonders God has preformed in the past are now just great stories. His voice becomes uncommon because He has become just god.

The God we serve is so much greater than we can imagine. All of His characteristics are uncommon. His Love for us knows no bounds. A common love will only extend itself so far. His Grace is endless. Common grace will only put up with so much and then shut down. His Forgiveness is limitless it counts no wrong. Common forgiveness only forgives if there is something worth gaining.

There is nothing common about our God. Our God became man and suffered for the sins of mankind. Gave His life by being ridiculed on the cross. He rose back to life in 3 days. He rose into heaven and intercedes still on our behalf. He gives His Spirit to guide, direct and comfort us. Calls us His children and gives us an eternal inheritance. Promises us a life with Him in a perfect Heaven.

In the next verses God makes Samuel and uncommon man because he serves an uncommon God.

15 Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then got up and opened the doors of the Tabernacle as usual. He was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him. 16 But Eli called out to him, “Samuel, my son.”
“Here I am,” Samuel replied.
17 “What did the Lord say to you? Tell me everything. And may God strike you and even kill you if you hide anything from me!” 18 So Samuel told Eli everything; he did not hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. 20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.

Samuel begins his ministry here. He begins Speaking for the Lord. Samuel becomes the mouth of God. He tells Eli what the Lord spoke. Verses 19-21 state what an uncommon man Samuel became. The Lord was with him in everything he did and said and everything Samuel said became reliable. Some translations state The Lord made sure that none of Samuel's words fell to the ground. What an uncommon man Samuel became.

We need to seek God for ourselves. We need to have an understanding of how uncommon He is. That He lives in us and is concerned about us. When we truly see how uncommon God is we will have no choice but to worship Him. We will have new eyes and hearts and our lives will be filled with passion and purpose. As Tommy Walker sings "only a God like you could be worthy of my praise and all my hope and faith." We serve and uncommon God. Let's worship Him accordingly!

Worship Leading a design of the Future

I have often wondered where the pattern for our worship services appears in the bible. I have never noticed the term "worship leader" mentioned in scripture. I have wondered, How has this term and current format of how we use music as worship in our services biblical. I have recently began reading a great book on worship by A.W. Tozer in titled "What Ever Happened to Worship". I have only read the first chapter but in that the Lord began to show me what i have searched for. It begins in Revelation chapter 5.

Revelation 5 (New Living Translation)
The Lamb Opens the Scroll
1 Then I saw a scroll[a] in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.
4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne,[b] has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit[c] of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become
a Kingdom of priests for our God.
And they will reign[d] on the earth.”



I believe Here is the example of our term "worship leader". The elders and the living beings begin to sing a new song. They give a voice and a method of expressing the worthiness of the Lamb of God. The overwhelming truth of the moment gives birth to a sound of worship in a musical manner. They use their harps and voices and begin singing, a heart felt revelation expressed in passion to our Lord Jesus Christ. It begins a progression of worship that is followed in verse 11.

11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”

Here we find the progression of worship from the elders and the living creatures being passed on to the "Choir of Heaven". I believe this is the worship band, choir, singers. All the people who make up what we consider or "worship team". I also see how the revelation passed from the "leaders" the elders and living creatures express a little differently. Their words represent the vision the heavenly choir sees. The progression continues in the next verse.

13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
belong to the one sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

This is a great verse to me. The Whole of Heaven and earth. Every creature sings a revelation to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I see this as the "congregation" if you will. The whole worshiping in Truth to the revelation passed on from the elder and living beings, to the angelic hosts, down to every creature in heaven and on earth.

In Tozer's book he makes a statement which I find to be profound. He states "If you have trouble worshiping the Lord here on earth then I don't believe you are ready for heaven". In heaven we will worship the Lord for all eternity. We will truly see how marvelous and amazing the God we serve truly is. I am sure it will be the most amazing experience we as worshipers of God could ever have.

I don't believe worship is all about singing and music. I do believe that they are vehicles of expression the Lord has given us. There is something that moves us in music and inspires us to to participate. It is also an expression the Lord uses in Heaven.

14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

This last verse brings the experience full circle. As a worship leader when the congregation truly worships God it causes me to worship more. It magnifies His greatness in my own eyes. It intensifies how awesome He truly is. Here the elders and living creatures fall down and cry "Amen!" Jesus is worthy of our worship. Worship is giving our lives to the One who gave His life for us. Jesus has called us to follow and make a difference in the world around us.

From a quote I read once, "Let us tune into the worship service already in progress in Heaven". I believe what we know as worship leading is a future or prophetic action of what to expect in Heaven when we find ourselves before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All praise, glory and Honor to the Lamb who was slain!