Elevation Worship Blog

We just finished our Get Back series this past weekend where Pastor Steven taught on how to recover your spiritual momentum. In my opinion, it was some of the best teaching our church has ever received. One of the foundational concepts in this message that really spoke to me was utilizing the natural to position yourself for supernatural breakthrough.

In 2 Kings 3, the kings of Israel, Judah and Edom brought Elisha to prophecy to them in the midst of war and their armies having no water. When Elisha enters the scene in the midst of this dire situation, the first thing he calls for is a harpist. Think about if you were the king who had brought Elisha in and instead of giving you a message from God he asked for mood music?

But after the harpist began to play, the word of the Lord came to Elisha in a powerful way. Pastor Steven’s point was this – there are natural means in each of our lives that position our hearts to hear from God. Maybe it is music for you. For some of you it might be spending time in nature. We should all ask the question -what is the thing that recharges and refreshes your soul? And when you know the answer, make sure that it is a regular part of your life.

As a worship leader, I am reminded of the power of music to open people’s hearts and emotions to hear from the Lord. Yes, worship is much more than music, but when we lead people in musical worship, I believe God uses the natural of our music to bring about supernatural change when the truths that we are singing about begin to open people’s hearts to Jesus.

So worship leaders, my bring excellence to your harp playing, because God uses it in a mighty way to prepare the hearts of His people.

-Wade

We’re all probably familiar with the truth from Psalm 22: “God inhabits the praises of his people.” If you’ve ever felt a little aimless when you’ve approached God in worship. If you’ve ever had a hard time getting in a proper frame of mind or posture of worship, then here’s the quickest way to get into the presence of God: Begin to recount the goodness of God, and declare out loud how grateful you are for Him.

Pastor Steven is a strong teacher and leader in the field of gratitude. And worship leaders, this is key for you to grasp and have rooted in your heart as a leader of God’s people. Gratitude is never invisible or silent. If something is in your heart, it will come out. If thanksgiving is really in my heart, it will be on my lips constantly. Being truly thankful is a key component for a worship leader’s heart. Wherever you are today, whatever situation you’re in, whatever the state of your church, or financial situation – find a reason to be grateful for it. I just got back from Haiti, where there’s destruction everywhere your eye looks, but I still found a grateful people there. But I still find myself getting caught up in my “first world” problems, and losing perspective. And perspective is what it’s all about. Pastor Steven says, “Gratitude is not based on how good my situation is, but on how good I perceive my situation to be.”

So worship leaders, lead the way. Be people who can find a blessing and create a blessing in almost any and every situation. Be on a scavenger hunt today for the blessing of God in your life. And make it a habit. Don’t step out your door without being grateful for waking up in a warm home. Don’t step onto the stage without thanking God for the blessing of being able to do what you love. And eventually, it’ll consume who you are. And naturally, you’ll be leading others more effectively. Because you’ll not only be teaching, but demonstrating what it looks like to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”

There is a tension that we all face in ministry. The Church should always be moving forward as more people are changed by the grace of Jesus. Our faith should be active and always advancing.

We are also called to be still before the Lord and know that He is God. To find regular moments to quit the chaos and center our hearts and priorities around the God who we worship and serve. Our work should flow out of our love.

It is all too easy to fall into one extreme here, but God is teaching me more and more that life is about managing tension, and not necessarily finding perfect balance.

If you prioritize seeking the presence of Jesus in your life, and cultivate the skill of recognizing His voice, you can be fruitful and effective in even the busiest season of your life.

On the flipside of that, if you ignore that relationship with the Lord and operate out of your own skill and ability, no matter how much margin you create, you will not bear lasting fruit because you are not connected to Jesus.

So here is where I want you to chime in. Are you facing this tension right now, and if so, how are you trying to manage it?

-Wade

One of the most inspiring things about Pastor Steven’s leadership is how seriously he takes preaching the word of God, no matter the event or venue. When he stands on stage, he has saturated his heart and focused his mind on some key Scriptures that prepare him for what God has called him to do in that moment. He talks about that in the new Sun Stand Still short film called FAITH CONFESSIONS. If your role in ministry requires you to stand on a stage and preach or lead worship, you should stop what you are doing and watch it now.

His example has really challenged us as worship leaders to do the same. One of the Scriptures that I meditate on going into the weekend is John 3:30 – He must become greater; I must become less.

It is such an important reminder for me that my role as a worship leader is to draw people’s attention to Jesus, not my skill or performance. I should definitely bring my best because God deserves excellence, but the goal in that is to make the name of Jesus great and not my own.

So what are some of the Scriptures that mean the most to you as you prepare your heart for worship? How do you align your heart with God’s heart?

-Wade