Elevation Worship Blog

**FYI** THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM OUR PRAYER AND WORSHIP TIME WE’RE HOLDING TOMORROW AS A CHURCH. WE (Wade, Mack, London, and Chris) ARE PRAYING TOGETHER TODAY AT NOON SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU AND YOUR REQUESTS.

The Elevation offices are a flurry of activity and filled with an overwhelming sense of anticipation as Easter approaches. Sunday is the day we celebrate the single greatest event in human history. The day that changed everything for our world. The day that changed everything for us.

This is also the time when people who never darken the doors of a church are most likely to come and hear the gospel. So we want to present a vibrant time of worship and a powerful presentation of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and what He offers us through his resurrection.

We have made our plans. We have practiced and prepared. But none of it amounts to anything without the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Steven has led us in some very special times of prayer all week.  Following his lead, today at noon we are going to spend some focused time in prayer as a worship department for Easter. During that time, we want to pray for you and your ministry. Leave a comment and let us know the name of your church and how we can pray for God to move through your ministry.

We can’t wait to see how our God moves through HIS CHURCH as we lift the name of Jesus high together. Happy Easter!

Our worship team recently read “Forgotten God” by Francis Chan. Although it’s not specifically aimed at worship leaders, it’s probably the best book on worship leading I’ve ever read.  The essence of the book is, in large part, the North American Church talks about and focuses on “God the Father” and “Jesus the Son,” but we rarely approach (we forget) the third, and equally as important part of the Trinity, the “Holy Spirit.” God’s Spirit distinguishes us from every other religion in the world.  How different would our lives look if we tapped into the power that lives within us?  The book is a call to all believers, but it’s got some tough questions for the leaders of God’s Church.

Worship leaders, one of the biggest dangers I took from the book is that we could walk through this life without relying on the Spirit, or following his leading in every arena of our lives.  Going through life not listening to the Spirit will eventually turn out to produce a fruitless life for me.  If people aren’t seeing the fruits of the Spirit in my life, then that’s a big problem.  I could use my God-given gift of music and leading, and continue to lead worship at Elevation, and probably get by relying on my ability, but if I don’t demonstrate LOVE then no amount of leading worship will matter.  If I’m not patient with people, leading worship doesn’t “make up” for my impatience.  If I’m jealous, or greedy, or unkind, but I get out there on the stage and pretend it’s ok and just trust in my gift, then it’s worthless. (1 Cor 13).  Love, joy, peace, patience…..must accompany my gift.

“1 Cor 13 is so powerful b/c Paul redirects the focus from supernatural gifts to love.  He specifically says that without love, speaking ‘in the tongues of men and angels’ and ‘prophetic powers’ and understanding ‘all mysteries and all knowledge’ mean nothing.”

There’s more to the believers’ life than just “getting by.”  And there’s more to worship leading than making good music on a stage.  Allow yourself to be characterized by the Spirit’s activity in your life on and off stage.

Over the Christmas break I was having a conversation with a friend over breakfast about girlfriends, good coffee, the Holy Spirit, and our dogs. Later on I had simple, but profound realization. In the midst of the conversation, I shared 2 or 3 different principles and practices that I have in place in my life that were relevant to what he was talking about. Then I realized that these practices have come about in my personal life because Pastor Steven first introduced them to us on a staff level. Here’s what I mean:

It’s become a habit of mine and my wife, Beth’s life, to IMMEDIATELY return thanks to God when he shows out in our lives. Not an earth-shattering principle, right? Pretty basic. Probably should’ve already been in this habit? We were in the habit of returning thanks to God…but it was typically delayed a bit, almost an afterthought. But things don’t work like that at Elevation. Pastor has led us into the habit of not letting a moment go by without capturing it, shifting our attention to God and making much of Him. Celebrating Him. And celebrating big. So Beth and I have understood the importance of recognizing God’s activity immediately in any and all circumstances.

Then there’s the practice we have in place of reflecting and remembering where we’ve come from. Or better put, how far God’s taken us. Ps 124 says, “If the Lord had not been on our side…..” This happens regularly over dinner for us. “Remember when______ Can believe how God’s provided for us then?” “Remember when______ Man, God was protecting us.”

Then there’s the Proverbs 27:2 practice: “Let the lips of another man praise you, and not your own mouth.” What good is it for you to think highly of yourself and your “accomplishments?” The staff regularly goes around and praises one another for achievements. Potentially the most encouraging thing we do. I’ve led my band to do the same – go around in a circle and praise each other for how they see God in their lives. Beth and I do the same. She’s much better at it than me. It’s best to get uber-specific, to show that you notice the small details of what they do day in and out.

Here’s what I’m saying: Make good habits. Put them in place. Practice makes perfect. Then they’ll surprise you one day when they turn up naturally in conversation.

-Chris

One of the things that we do often as a church, as a staff, and as the worship department is pray for Pastor Steven. We’ve got his back. We all know that as the leader and visionary of this church, not only does he carry a heavy weight, but he’s got a target on his back. We want to do whatever we can to protect him.

But I’ve also become more aware that, as leaders in the church, if Satan can’t target our Pastor, he’ll come after us.

Because of that, I’m realizing recently the importance of surrounding myself with people who can pray for me as well… people that will surround me with protection, that are fighting for me. This isn’t just about having a prayer request and sharing it at the end of small group, but asking friends or family to pray for you regularly. Get around people who will protect you, hold you accountable, pray for you, and fight along with you.

You need it.

-Mack