Elevation Worship

Since day one of this internship, God has poured so many things into me from of our awesome leaders here at Elevation Church. Every session, class, project, or teaching never fails to be a life altering experience. Here in the last couple of weeks God has been dealing with me about one of the greatest weaknesses I’ve had for most of my life and is challenging me to step out of the old and into new found faith in Him.

I have come across so many musicians and vocalists that say that they know they have a calling of God on their life, but a lack of confidence in themselves holds them back. For years, I personally allowed the lack of confidence I had in myself and who I was in Christ hold me back from doing things I knew God wanted me to step out and do, and the fear from the root of that would paralyze my ability to accept opportunities that God had for me. This week at Elevation Pastor Craig Groeschel has been teaching from his new series, Soul Detox. In this first part of this series he speaks about taking negative thoughts and things that are not of God captive, taking authority, and removing them from who we are and what we believe. I have been doing some personal soul detoxing and I really feel that removing the negative influences around you and in your mind is the key to breaking through into who God has truly called you to be. This word from Pastor Craig came right on time for me! My supervisor, London Gatch, has been teaching me and investing into me more and more about leading worship. She knows that this is the call God has put on my life and she is helping me bring that to its greatest potential. Here recently she has presented me with a few new opportunities and challenges that normally fear and insecurity would keep me from pursuing. That’s how I KNEW this was God telling me it’s time to step out onto the water. She has been pushing me and stretching me and refusing to let me detour from walking in the call on my life. This new plan of action of eliminating fear factors and being surrounded by amazing leaders who believe in me has made me braver than ever, and has prepared me for this part of my walk with God.

2 Cor. 3:4-5 says, “Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” I recite these scriptures every time I feel fear trying to hold me back or when I am taking those negative thoughts captive. Every day now, I can feel that my confidence in Christ is being built up because I am no longer relying on myself. I used to sometimes wonder how Wade Joye and the Worship Leader Team did it. But from being around them and learning from them, I now know that their confidence and fearlessness in what they do comes from the foundation of their calling being built upon the confidence and validity found in their identity in Christ. They know who they are and they know what they have been called to do and they don’t take it lightly. They KNOW that the same God that they sing about week in and week out is the same God who radically intervened and changed the course of humanity through His Son Jesus! Pastor Steven is able to get up every week and preach a word that changes our lives- not just because he is an amazing communicator, but also and mainly because he BELIEVES in what he is saying to us. He is totally confident in what God has given him and that confidence in God’s truthful words pierces out hearts and changes our perspectives.

So to all who are called to serve in the kingdom of God through worship or music, we must serve confidently in what we do. Confident in the One who has called us and redeemed us! The world needs to see believers who are completely confident through the Spirit of Christ Jesus stand for His Kingdom. We cannot do things for Christ effectively if we cannot do them confidently. When we sing songs of worship, we sing them with power because we KNOW that we KNOW that what we are declaring about our Savior is true. Detox your soul, read and speak out what the word of God says about you, and step out on faith and confidence in Christ alone.

Brittany

My paint plastered hands raked a worn brush across a wall as I smiled and thought on how incredible it is to be serving. All around me, the Elevation intern group was hard at work cleaning, painting, and moving furniture around The Summit apartments. In this moment, it hit me how much my perspective had shifted since the first day here this summer. I have come to realize how much life is not about me.

As an intern, I get a unique insight into the work put into the weekend worship experience while also being taught from some of Elevation’s lead Pastors. Last week, Worship Pastor Wade Joye shared with the worship team a few verses from Deuteronomy 8. Verse 18 says, “Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful…” Wade reminded us that it’s not our strength or skill that produced any of the remarkable works the worship team has done. All things good come from the Lord and we cannot rely on our own abilities to obtain it if we want to make an impact for His Kingdom. I learned here that a continual posture of prayer and humility is the only position that makes us usable to write a song or point anyone far from the Lord to Christ.

Needless to say, my view of humility has been stretched and altered. It is not something we attain when we gain more understanding of ourselves, but rather when we give ourselves away. Campus Pastor Larry Brey challenged the interns to write out our weaknesses and to be intentional to share them with someone. Just like in worship, if we do not keep our confidence in the Giver we will find our assurance in our own gifts and talents. As a group, we have been incredibly active serving around the Charlotte community and working here at Elevation Church. Being vulnerable about my weaknesses while constantly being the hands and feet of Jesus has moved my heart into a complete reliance on God for strength. All leading me in full circle back to Deuteronomy 8.

God is the power plug for success and I am merely an outlet. Whether I am singing a song of worship or in action painting an apartment building, it is through His might that I am able to be a light. Jesus can shine the brightest when the concern for my own light is the weakest of my desires. So far, being an Elevation intern has taught me that life is not about me; it’s all about the Lord.

Kaley