O Lord!
May the passion of my life’s breath serve You.
May each day be an investment gained by giving something valuable away.
May the work and creativity of my hands – everyday, sing a new song to You.
May my existence and presence be a constant reminder of who You are.
I delight in Your commandments.
I will declare Your Word with joy and song to all generations.
Because of You, I will rejoice and sing in the valleys of despair and I will mourn on the mountain tops of victory. For I know that while I live in this world, I am away from my true home – with You.
Blessed is the man who hears the voice of truth and follows it.
Blessed is the man who sacrifices self for the sake of Christ.
Blessed is the man who walks in the ways of our Lord Jesus.
Blessed is the man who sings a new song unto our Lord Jesus.
Blessed is the man whose life cries out “Come to the Lord for He is good! “
Blessed is the man whose brothers proclaim and praise his heritage from the Lord Jesus.
Blessed is the man whose family continues in faith and trusts in the Lord Jesus.
Heaven is filled with these men.
The whole embodiment of Christ’s teachings focuses on a true understanding of love. Jesus said the greatest commandment was to “love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and to love each other as yourself.” But, if your concept of love is unclear, you may grammatically know the words but not faithfully practice the action. To righteously love God, Christ teaches about sacrifice and priorities: “Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
Furthermore, Jesus said that the greatest measurement of love is directly related to personal sacrifice.
“John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
God gives us our spouses, our children, our families to help teach us how to love. Yet, ask yourself, would you lay down your life for a family member? He increases our faith by giving us a church family and says:
“Matthew 12:48 -50 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
To truly understand the love Jesus instructed us to display, to show, to put into action, we must be willing to lay our lives down for others – even our enemies. Sacrifice means to let others have their way no matter how selfish it may appear. Sacrifice means to deny yourself! Deny your personal ambitions, goals, and agendas to serve someone else — God first, then each other, you LAST!
Remember always! Jesus gave up His life even though we were sinners. He never complained as we prosecuted and convicted His innocence, as we flogged and scourged Him, as we gouged Him with a crown of thorns, as we mocked His struggle up Calvary’s hill carrying the cross, as we used hammers to nail Him naked to a cross, as we scoffed and scorned Him in His agonizing embarrassment on the cross, as we demanded a display of miracles to prove His divinity while He was upon the cross. Through all the notorious torment and affliction we laid upon Him, He still prayed for us. “Father, Forgive them…” That is Love! That is Sacrifice! He put us first – before Himself. What a Savior! What a Wonderful Maker! What a God!
Saying “Thank you!” is the will of God for our lives.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.”
It is my belief that as a servant of Christ we should not expect people to thank us for what we are supposed to do. This is not to be construed as being ungrateful, but as honest Christian humility and character. I am always grateful for everyone who works along side me in the ministry for Christ, His Kingdom, and His Church. It has always been my belief that actions speak louder than words and I pray and hope that my actions always say “I love you. You are special to me. I will always need you. What an honor to work with you! What a privilege to do ministry for Christ with you!” I truly hope those are the words spoken individually to each you through my actions. I will never be able to say “Thank you!” enough.
Matthew 6:2 – 4 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 18:1 – 3 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
I love you and I am thankful to the Most High for each of you.
For how you grow me in Christ
For how you challenge me to be better each time we are together
For how my world lights up every time you are with me
For your forgiveness, patience, kindness, and gentleness towards my frailties and weaknesses
For how you show me His Love
Thank you!
Marshall
A seed is only as good as the bounty of its harvest. For anyone to know the true quality, nature, integrity of a man it will be evident in the legacy he leaves behind. It is my heart’s desire that “the love of Christ” be my legacy. Not me but Christ!
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – (1 Corinthians 13, NIV)
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – (1 Corinthians 13, NIV)
Our lives serve only one purpose: “To glorify God through Jesus Christ!” Everything else is just vapor. A mist seen for a brief moment — then vanish. But – everything done through the love of Christ will remain. A little of His love can go a long way, but even better, a lot of His love can cause multitudes to stumble into eternal life. Let us serve our Lord by loving one another as He commanded. He was only with us for 33 years. His earthly ministry only lasted 3 years. Yet for two thousand years, the love He poured out from His sacrifice on the Cross has brought countless sons and daughters to glory. No name is more famous! No name is more glorious! No love more enduring! There is no greater love than His!
I hate lukewarm Christians. I’d rather be in the company of the lost.
In Psalm 5, David speaks about the type of man God hates.
Psalms 5:4-9 (from KJVR)
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.
Psalms 5:4-9 (from The Message)
You don’t socialize with Wicked, or invite Evil over as your houseguest. Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you; you shake your head over Mischief-Maker. GOD destroys Lie-Speaker; Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you. And here I am, your invited guest– it’s incredible! I enter your house; here I am, prostrate in your inner sanctum, Waiting for directions to get me safely through enemy lines. Every word they speak is a land mine; their lungs breathe out poison gas. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides.
Jesus loved the Pharisees but hated their self-righteousness, their restrictedness, and their double standards. They knew the Law and used it to elevate themselves in the sight of man, rather than humble themselves in the sight of our Holy God – the One who gave us the Law. Jesus makes it very clear concerning where “lukewarm Christians” will spend eternity. Apathy, indifference, laziness, lethargy, slothfulness, indolence, unexcited, unresponsive, half-hearted are all words that are synonymous to “lukewarm.” They are like vomit in the mouth of God. (Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.)
Jesus loved the Pharisees but hated their self-righteousness, their restrictedness, and their double standards. They knew the Law and used it to elevate themselves in the sight of man, rather than humble themselves in the sight of our Holy God – the One who gave us the Law. Jesus makes it very clear concerning where “lukewarm Christians” will spend eternity. Apathy, indifference, laziness, lethargy, slothfulness, indolence, unexcited, unresponsive, half-hearted are all words that are synonymous to “lukewarm.” They are like vomit in the mouth of God. (Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.)
I know we hear this all the time, but where is it written in God’s Word that He loves the Sinner as much as the humble, passionate, God-chasing believer? John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world…” God draws closer to those who seek Him with “all their heart.” (Jer 29:13 You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart. 2Ch 15:2 … The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.) The world according to Isaiah 61 is the poor in spirit, the meek, the captives of sin, those made lame by sin, and the blind. The lost and the lukewarm are not the same.
We have allowed the current culture of comfort, tolerance, and luxury to mislead our perception of the holiness of God. Many churches and false prophets have deceived us in believing in these compromises. Our God is Holy! He is Love! He is Truth! He is Just! He is unchanging! He is the same God who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and because of His unfailing love He will let you live a life without Him and choose the course to Hell. Where do think the residents of Sodom are going to spend eternity?
Christian integrity is a value that few people in Church have in today’s world. We still compromise our worship and obedience to our Lord’s commands due to fleshly desire, power and money. They are still our foremost temptations. Satan mercilessly uses them to regain his fatherhood and control over us. Today’s Christian integrity is what scars the beauty and purity of Christ. Bono, the lead singer of U2 said “I left church because of lukewarm Christians.”
Our faith is best demonstrated by our actions. We need to stop pointing fingers and blaming others for our failures (like Adam and Eve), and take personal responsibility for our disobedience. We need to pray for revival. We need to start repenting and praising God for His gift of salvation through belief in Jesus Christ! Humble yourselves before the Lord! Get on your face, get prostrate before the Lord – then get up and shout for joy then get face down again! In your pursuit of Christ, you will find the comfort that you truly seek and need to live an abundant life. You will find rest for your soul. You will realize that in our own strength we are frail and weak. We are poor reflections of His image and integrity. But when we faithfully love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8) we take on His image and we become the pure Bride of Christ.
Music is a special form of communication that allows the heart, soul, mind, and strength to be jointly engaged in an outwardly expression of inner emotions, thoughts, convictions, beliefs and feelings. Music is essential and necessary for the worship service because it is a unified expression of gratitude and love; it is an effective teaching tool for the congregation of Saints; it serves as an example of respect and honor to a tradition of hope and truth of the Church. Where else can Church unity be so vividly expressed by the believer and be an outward example for the seeker? Nonetheless, of all the praises and songs we could sing, our Holy Father always receives the sacrifice of a broken and repentant spirit.
- Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
- Isa 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Isa 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
The chief aim of all worship music should direct repentant saints to the Cross and place them at the feet of Jesus. (Amidst all the celebration, Mary’s place at Christ’s feet was the better place than toils of labor in this world.)
John Piper wrote, “Do people go see the Grand Canyon to build self esteem?” Is it an attempt to develop their pride, to increase their personal ambitions and agendas? The stars and vastness of the universe amazes us. The wonder of God’s awesome and magnificent creation continually cries “Glory to God in the Highest!” We appreciate and enjoy His tangible splendor. However, I believe this is only scratching the surface of our inward desire to see Him, to know Him, and to love Him.
He gives us air to breathe, light to see, food to eat, clothes to wear, but more importantly, time to live, and the choice to obey His commands. Scripture says that He does not withhold any of His goodness from us. Yet, we withhold giving Him all our heart, mind, and soul to Him. This is a simple request for us to receive the goodness of God.
Laying down self is a daily battle — it is our cross to bear. In the midst of this confused and lost world we must realize that we are aliens. It is not God’s creation that alienates us. It is the destructive choices throughout man’s history that has corrupted the world. Yet, when we look at the vastness and power of His mighty oceans, the purity of a clear, blue sky, the grandeur of the Grand Canyon, we get a glimpse of the pristine beauty that God had intended for us to enjoy and sing with.
“He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38 39)
My former Pastor, Dr. Jim Clemmons, once said to me, “Marshall! In 30 years of ministry, I have never had it my way.” He was gently telling me that being a Christian leader, a pastor, was a life of self-sacrifice. As Christians we are commanded (Phil 2:3-4) look to serve the needs of others over our own – no matter how great or pressing, demanding or sacrificial.
Do the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one? Martha was busy trying to serve the needs of the many, yet Christ said Mary had chosen the better thing. Sometimes we can make ourselves believe we are doing good work and ignore being at Jesus’ feet.
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3 4).
Christ came to serve — not to be served. He came to humble Himself to “even death on a cross.” Have you ever thought about serving someone(s) so much it cost you your life? Dr. Clemmons was saying that in this very moment we are given God-opportunities to serve. Even if it’s just one! In God’s economy everything we do is “foolish and backward.” Leadership is being an example servant. Greatness is to be less, seeking to get underneath people – so you can lift them up. We may think we are doing gospel work to serve the needs of many, but in that busyness, many times we lose the moment to serve the critical need of the one. If you want to lead – serve! If you want to be lifted up – fall down! If you want to live – die!
As worship leaders, we are tempted to believe that our talents help bring people to the knowledge of the Truth, the Way, the Life – the Gospel. The truth is “No man comes unless he is called by the Spirit.” Furthermore, only God can draw you nearer to Himself. When a believer believes he/she had any part in their salvation – they are lost. Our all-powerful, omniscient God set things in motion at the foundation of the world and knew then – the names of His children. Be an empty vessel for Him to fill with His Spirit! Give cheerfully instead of take. Give cheerfully instead of want. Give cheerfully instead of need. An emptied life, void of self, will be filled by the Light of Christ and “bring many sons to Glory.” This is the true character of a Christian leader.
Praise the Father! We are delivered by His mighty right hand – Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!
Hypocrisy consists in an attempt to “imitate” the people of God, or to assume the “appearance” of religion, in whatever form it may be manifested. (Albert Barnes, “Notes on the Bible”)
We can not worship God without fear. Jesus commanded us not to fear man, but to fear God who can throw our eternal souls into hell. There is no magic formula to the definition or meaning of “worship.” It is certainly not limited to the praises we sing. Worship is simply – “obedience to God’s commandments.” Jesus said “if you love me you will obey my commands.” We all know the opposite of obedience is “sin.” Either you live a life of worship or you live a life of sin. Worship is our way of giving back to God out of a thankful heart for all He has done. A life of worship manifests out of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
We can not worship God and be disobedient. Our lives were created by Him for His pleasure. We can not worship Him in truth and spirit — if we have idols. Nothing should take our attention from pleasing our Holy Father.
If we are giving back to the Lord, our sacrifice must cost us something. I once heard it said that in order “to find divinity you must lose your dignity.” Worship must never get comfortable. If raising your hands causes you to feel undignified, raise your hands! Not out of fear for your soul, but in submission to your belief in His worthiness to be praised and honored. Furthermore, it signifies that your dignity in the sight of man means nothing compared to your humbleness in the sight of God. Be careful in your worship, raised holy hands are clean hands, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. You must not worship or pray in public in a manner contrary to how you would worship or pray in private. Your worship must have integrity to be in “truth and spirit.”
Fasting is a way for man to deny the desires of his flesh, for the strengthening of his spirit. Undignified worship is a way for man to deny his own pride, to free his spirit to worship. Reckless abandonment may be the ultimate intimacy in worship for the prideful and arrogant.
It is a worship leader’s goal to know God’s heart. Comfort is not an option in the pursuit of this quest. To know God, we must forfeit all that we have gained and loved in order to devoutly follow after Him. We must learn that life is about giving and not receiving. The more we try to hold on to things in this world, the more we keep ourselves from getting closer to heaven and our King Jesus. A broken and contrite spirit is what God can use and honor. In the heart of an undignified worshipper with a passion to praise our Holy God is where He lives and He is blessed.
Worship requires a true humbled attitude in awesome reverence towards His holiness and blinding glory. We can not come into His sanctuary without reverent fear. It is a journey each of us must make alone. There in is His awesome presence; we will have no complaints, no excuses, and no plea. We will have no words at all. We will have a speechless heart of praise. We will be amazed and awed. But, we will be still and know that He is God!
The evolution of worship can be pictured like this: I tried to describe this process in terms of our attitude, our outward body posture, our inward feelings, and our spiritual position in relation to His holy sanctuary in our hearts. If you notice, this progression should resemble the pattern of a life of worship.
- Praise (standing and singing, hands lifted, gladness and joy, outer/inner courts),
- Prayer (on our knees, humbleness and humility, The Holy Place, offerings, supplication),
- Stillness (prostrate, facedown, awed and amazed, Holy of Holies)