In our first post we saw the big picture: When our ministry is characterized by Godly, anointed, thoughtful, and excellent leadership, in full measure, it's a gateway to seeing empowered worship gatherings.
One word of caution: we do not determine the Lord's actions; He determines our steps. Our faithfulness does not cause God to do things. He is God and we are not. Just because there's a gate fashioned by our leadership, God does not have to walk through it. There are a myriad of other considerations: things like individual and corporate sin, a church culture of entitlement (preference on steroids?), or even the disciplining hand of our loving Father. As one preacher says, "we can't make people fall in love with Jesus, but we can set them up on a date." The gate is setting up the date. But those we serve make the choice to fall in love with Jesus... or not? That's up to them.
These four principles are part of what Godly leadership looks like. It's an invitation, not a requirement. God does the requiring; we do the testifying. Every time I violate this concept, I lose. My ministry loses. The church loses. A mentor of mine says our job is not to control outcomes: "Be fully obedient and leave the results to God," Steve says.
Books have been written about how to be a Godly leader. We don't have time for that sort of exploration, so let's focus on the three areas in the previous post: thinking shaped by God, feeling shaped by God, and actions shaped by God.
To think like God thinks, we have to become Romans 12:2 people. "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." In my experience and observation, the process of changing the way we think starts with surrender: "Let God transform you." God does the transforming; we do the surrendering. Perhaps the biggest surrender is our time. We must take time to read, understand, meditate on, and memorize scripture. There is no better way to think like God does than to fill our minds with the words He gave us. I suspect you have experienced what I have. The more I fill my mind with scripture verses, passages, and stories, the more often they come to mind as I interact with people in conversations, meetings, rehearsals, and services. The only way they can come to mind is to get them in our minds. Not long ago I heard a guy interviewed on a podcast who said he and his buddy committed that they would make sure they spend more time reading the Bible than any other book. I have a friend who doesn't read much, but she reads the Bible a lot. I suspect they are experiencing Godliness in ways I have yet to.
To feel the way God feels is a little harder to articulate, but no less important. First, let's remember that we are made in the image of God, and God is emotional. As you're reading through the gospels, pay attention to the sweeping range of emotions Jesus experiences. If Jesus, who was fully God, felt joy, sorrow, anger, amazement, compassion, and more, we can too--and be Godly. Even anger is not forbidden! "Don't sin by letting anger control you," Paul quotes Psalm 4 to the church in Ephesus. We are controlled by the Spirit, but we can still be angry. (Preaching to myself here!) I haven't done a word study to confirm this, but when I think of Jesus, the characteristic emotion in His life is compassion. When you are leading on the platform, do it with compassion. When you are frustrated by someone who seldom prepares the way you wish they would, treat them with compassion. When you get crossways with someone in your congregation, beg God to give you compassion. Feel the way God feels. And please, remember to have compassion for yourself.
Finally, to act the way God would act must be the hardest of the three, but it is the most visible. As I have learned, even in the last few months, just because I love someone (feel) and because I know how valuable they are to me, the church, and the Father, that doesn't mean they experience me that way. They have to see actions that communicate truth. Much as James (Jesus' younger brother) said "faith by itself isn't enough," for us to think and feel like God. We have to act like He would, which is why getting to know the God of the Bible is essential. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. In other words, Jesus in action is what the actions of God look like. Spend time getting to know Jesus through the gospels. Interact with the stories of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Use your holy imagination. And then you'll discover that every time you act like you know God would want you to, you make the world better... answering the model prayer of Jesus that God's will would be done on earth like it is in heaven. Another preacher I listen to says everything we do either brings heaven down or brings hell up. I want my actions to bring heaven down. I know you do too. So let your identity as a beloved child of the most high King determine your actions.
My favorite preacher, Tim Harris, says that the deeper you go in to the mysteries of God, the deeper the mysteries of God go. I am reminded of his words as I attempt to conclude this long--yet too short-- post. All of this is needed. None of this is easy. The only way to get there is to surrender to the grace and work of God. Remember, and remind others often, that you are God's masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus so that you can do good things He planned for you long, long ago (Eph 2:10).
Relay Worship is committed to helping those in our tribe grow in all four areas: Godliness, anointing, thoughtfulness, and excellence. If you want to know more about specific practices you can participate in to help, please reach out to us!
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