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 | Branon Dempsey of Worship Team Training
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 | June 30, 2010 Unto God "When you have learned God's secret of trusting, you will see that a life yielded up to His working is one of rest and power." - Catherine Jackson What challenges you the most as a worship leader? Sometimes, it feels that the weight is all on our shoulders. What if they don't sing? What if they don't like the songs? Are they really taking me seriously? These self-talk questions can really be a burden as it robs the joy of worship itself. Plus, it can be downright demotivating when we have doubts about the calling He has placed on our lives. This is not limited to worship leading or ministry service, but every fiber of daily living. Joshua 1.9 is one of my all time favorites. God asks a serious question: "Have I not commanded you?" Like Joshua, The Lord has called you to a greater vision beyond yourself. In other words, God does expect us to do the work, but ultimately, the plans belong to Him. He breathes in His dreams and orders our steps. When we learn to trust Him and yield our ways to Him, we find rest and power in His leading. It's been said before: "worship is for God." This is true. Our services of worship belong to Him, at the same time, they are to be tangible for the congregation. We are to do our best in preparing our teams in our rehearsals, just as much as we are to effectively lead people in worship. There will always be comments and critiques. Ultimately, when we seek His kingdom, He will add to our leadership, preparation and delivery. Like Joshua, we are to be strong and courageous. Has he not called you? Has he not gifted you? Then take heart my brothers and sisters and lead as unto God and not unto men (Col. 3.23). Reflection: Do you believe that He sends ordinary people, like you, to do extraordinary tasks in His name? How can you learn from God's lead to live a life that is worthy of His calling? |
 | June 28, 2010 Togetherness "I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love." - Henry Ward Beecher The essence of our relationship with Christ and our relationship with one another is through a committed spirit of love. This kind of love is the strongest bond of friendship. From the words of Hebrews 13, brotherly love was in danger of being lost. The writer tells us to "keep on loving each other as brothers," (v.1). It does not say we must love or need to love, as this would be some kind of a new thought. No, Hebrews charges us to "keep on" loving one another, as Christ taught us to love. The love that Hebrews expresses is a devout kind of relational love - being knitted together. We see this Old Testament example in the relationship between David and Jonathan. It is a commitment. It is a harness that says, I am with you no matter what. It is a deep care that is not shaken by pride, condition, worry or inconvenience. When we see this kind of love expressed from our Father, we are filled with a knowing of God's commitment to us. We have His promise as indicated in Hebrews 13.5 where He says: "I will never leave you; never will I forsake you." God graciously invites us to draw near to Him - daily - mommently. Are we inviting our neighbors in the same way? To approach His throne of grace with confidence is through the humility of Christ. Acknowledging the holiness of God and remembering the frailty of our own humanity in worship, will bring us to a richer understanding of His mercy and the mercy we are to show to one another. When we learn how to love one another unselfishly, we learn who to love God more authentically. Reflection: When you are in the presence of God, how do you respond to Him through the humility of Christ? When we meet for worship, we are instructed to wait for one another as seen in Cor. 11.17-22. As you are in the presence of friends, neighbors and strangers, how is your brotherly love witnessed by God and a testimony to the Church? Branon Dempsey Photography by Spencer Burke monotation.com |
 | June 26, 2010 Losing to Gain "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot We live in a competitive world. Our thoughts are challenged and our senses are distracted. To live in this world by having an eternal perspective is one of the most highest and yet difficult task in the Christian life. I confess, so often I want it my way. Many times I'd like things to take shape according to my preferences. Becoming impatient or to seek one's own glory is an old curse dating back to the days of Adam. Thank the Lord that he is able to save me from my feeble attempts and prideful nature. When I set my focus on a personal outcome, I set myself up for failure and disappointment. The tragedy is that I gain nothing but self and lose the essence of Christ in my life. In Matthew 19.16-28, Jesus calls us literally to drop everything and follow Him. This is a wonderful invitation to gain a life filled by Christ. The call to follow Jesus also helps dissuade us from seeking our own agendas. Just has a child studies the work of his father, our eyes are intent in watching what the Savior is doing and learn from His ways. Every-time when we do, our strength become his, our minds become more like Christ and our love for one another increases to be more like how the Father commanded us to live and love. In this by-product, we gain Christ and lose self. Our success, wisdom and money cannot get us into heaven, but only through the blood of Jesus. Not based on our merits, but only on the grace and forgiveness through Christ our Lord. Everyday we begin anew, learning from His ways and walking in His love. Jesus gives us this charge: "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" - Mark 8.36 May we not follow Christ out of selective obedience or follow Him in order to gain something other than His glory. Reflection: Are you willing to set aside everything that you are, everything you treasure and everything you dream about, for the unsearchable riches of Christ? Are you able to let go all your gains and losses for the surpassing greatness of knowing and following the LORD? |
 | June 24, 2010 Promise of Victory "God gives us the grace to accomplish what He calls us to do. His commands are also His promise of victory." - Floyd McClung Jr. There is no great effort of work apart from hardship. Building or rebuilding your dreams and/or work for God can seem like a towering wall. However, where faith begins is when we are at the wall of impossibilities. Nehemiah and the people of Israel were under attack in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The enemy waited for the workers to tire. Their objective was to take advantage of their vulnerabilities. But God, had strengthened the Israelites through prayer and spiritual means as well as resources and physical means. He used Nehemiah to speak words of encouragement to the people. The people obeyed God's commands in finishing the wall, which later led them to victory. As long as we are engaged in ministry and/or spiritual work, we are also engage in spiritual warfare. Nevertheless, God equips us with spiritual armor as we find in Eph. 6. He also provides gifts for our work as he shields us under His hand. He then leads us to victory in accordance to His plans. As we continue our work in the Lord, may we follow His commands under His protection. Let us find spiritual strength as we remain diligent. As we seek God's victory, may we serve faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit. Reflection: It's easy to throw in the towel when battles get tough, how do you remain in the strength of God? What has God promised you that He will do (from His Word) as you seek Him first? |
 | June 23, 2010 Desolate to Delight "our Christian life hinges on one thing...taking God at His word, believing that He really means exactly what He says, and accepting the very words in which He reveals His goodness and grace, without substituting others or altering the precise modes and tenses which He has seen fit to use." - Francis R. Havergal Ever feel defeated? Even while doing the Lord's work? It seems that we can give so much out to serving others, that sometimes, all you get in return is grief. This can leave a person tired, spent and even depressed, while others demand more and more without end. In Isaiah 61, the writer speaks of how the enemy had plundered Israel. The people were devastated as their cities were burned, ruined and shattered. Farms were destroyed and livelihoods were damaged. How did the people of God responded? They persevered in the Lord by taking God at His Word, even when times were at their darkest. God says in verse 8: "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them." The people of God knew, that though they suffered much, the journey was not over. God provided a hope through His faithfulness. He is a God of justice, as He is a God of mercy. We see Jesus doing the same in Luke 4.18-21. What did he do? Jesus, came as the Living Word, to restore, bind and heal the broken hearts and the wounded. This comfort is what brings us a new joy. This restoration of loss, fills us with a new purpose. Now we worship and wait once more through faith, for Christ to come again in power and glory. This is why Isaiah says in verse 10: "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God." As you serve God, persevere through His faithfulness. You are not alone and you are not without. Most always, God uses the broken to demonstrate His power. Let the Word of God provide the needed hope and comfort. Take Him at His Word, as He takes you from desolate to delight. Reflection: Do you believe exactly what God's Word says He will do? How do you find this significant in your life experiences? What will help you stay close and abide in His Word? |
 | May 12, 2010 Beyond Sight "Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see." - William Newton Clarke Christ came to bring light to a dark world; He also gave sight to the blind, which is our souls. In Luke 18.35-43, we read about the blind man by the roadside. He was not only blind but poor; this is fitting for the analogy of those whom Christ came to save. Despite this man's ability to not work, the eyes of Christ found favor on this individual. He sat begging, as it was his daily occupation. This poor man could only hear and sense the commotion of the multitudes that followed Jesus. He asked what it meant. We can see that he made better use of his hearing than seeing; his blindness drove him to seek Jesus. As he asked the people around him, he was able to see through other's eyes to visualize the Messiah. The blind man could see that this Man came in full Power and full Light. Like the blind man, we too stumble to find our way. It is difficult. Sometimes we do not find what we seek due to our earthly limitations. However, faith dares us to go beyond what we can see. The worship of God calls us into a greater intimacy. In continuing in the Gospel story, the blind man called out to Jesus in a loud voice, "Have mercy on me." (v38). Instead of begging for material things, this man is now begging to live, to be healed and to see. In the presence of the Savior, we too are captivated by the splendor of His glory. Our cares fade and the mercy and grace of God is all we see. The man's calling on Jesus was a fervent prayer of faith. Against all opposition and rebuke, this man cried louder. In amazement, Jesus commanded the beggar to come to Him. Here is another thumbnail in how Christ invites and receives sinners. The Lord knows all our wants and needs, and He gives us what is best. Jesus asked the man anyway what he wanted. The man simply uttered that he wanted to see. Not a complicated request. Jesus healed and the man received his sight. In response, this man and the people followed Jesus and praised God. Reflection "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," (2 Cor. 5.7). Worship is a response; not just in cooperate service, but in every fiber of our daily lives, as well as every fiber of our daily needs. Are you taking more time to listen, pray, walk and call out to God rather than searching for what you do not have? The healing of Christ cannot forbear people giving praise to God; neither should we remain silent, as His mercy fills us completely and overflows to call on Him in praise. |
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