[Worship] Transforming Talent to Ministry

["Gary and Renee Thomas" <thomasg@interquest.de>]

"I will bless the Lord at all times and His praise shall continually be in
my mouth."

Praise the Lord, Saints!

I have really enjoyed my subscription to this worship list.  I have learned
so many things and have been inspired to worship and praise with a greater
intensity and vigor.  I believe without a doubt that we are living in the
last days and the Lord is calling and seeking for the TRUE WORSHIPPERS.  He
is seeking His sheep and searching them out.

I have really been studying and inquiring of the Lord concerning the
ministry of music in the church.  I believe the reason the ministry of music
has become such a focal point in most churches these days is because the
Lord is restoring the five-fold ministry throughout the body of Christ.  I
believe this is the hour of the prophet.  The prophet declares to the bride
of Christ "Come let us return to the Lord" (Hosea 6:1).  Worship and praise
releases and accompanies the prophetic anointing.  II Kings 3:15 says, "But
now bring me a minstrel.  And it came to pass, when the minstrel played,
that the hand of the Lord came upon him."  The prophet Elisha requested a
minstrel and afterwards, the prophet began to speak the Word of the Lord.

Not only does music accompany the prophetic, but I believe that it is
powerful in spiritual warfare.  I Samuel 16:16 says, "...seek out a man, who
is a cunning player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil
spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou
shalt be well."  Verse 23 of the same chapter says, "so Saul was refreshed,
and was well and the evil spirit departed from him."

I understand the first and major priority of the thee music ministry is to
bring glory and honor to God.  But, there are 'side effects' from this
ministry to the Lord.  It releases the power and spirit of the TRUE and
LIVING God!

In order for us to make a difference in our local church and the world, we
must allow God to transform our talent to MINISTRY.  Musical and vocal
Talent entertains, while music ministry brings a WORD from the LORD;
musical and vocal talent touches your emotions while the music ministry
changes your heart which changes your emotions; musical and vocal talent may
cause you to move physically, but music ministry causes you to move
SPIRITUALLY; music and vocal talent may impress the sinner, but true music
ministry will convict the heart of the sinner.  A lot of music today is
'inspirational' but does it edify the spirit of the listeners.

We should be ministers who are cunning and skillful  --  but without the
ANOINTING of God, we are just another good musician or good singer.  We
don't need another musician or singer -- we need ANOINTED MUSICIANS and
SINGERS.  We want, we NEED a word from the Lord.  We want the 'high praises
of God to be in our mouth, and a two-edged sword in our hand; to execute
vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their
kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute
judgement written; THIS IS THE HONOR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS.' (Psalms 149:6-9).
The anointing makes the difference

We have been given a holy calling and we must walk worthy of the vocation to
which we have been called.  We must have fellowship with God and be deeply
rooted and grounded in the Word of God.  We are doing Kingdom work! Ministry
does not begin on Sunday.  Ministry does not begin at rehearsal.  Ministry
begins on our knees in the presence of God.  Ministry begins in our heart.
I believe their is another level that I have not experienced because my own
personal fellowship is lacking.

Finally, two last scripture references have been in my spirit.  II
Chronicles 5:12-14 gives the account of  how the trumpeters and singers WERE
AS ONE in their praise and worship to the Lord so much so that the house was
filled with the glory of the Lord so that the priests could not stand to
minister by reason of the cloud.  What an awesome account.  But, Haggai 2:9
says, "the glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former."
I not only want the glory of the Lord to fill the temple... I want the
LATTER glory!

Are you just performing/entertaining or do you usher in a word from the
Lord? (I know we've had this thread about entertaining/performing, but keep
it in context)

Have you allowed the Lord to change your talent to ministry?

Hungry and Thirsty for the LATTER GLORY,
Renee
------------------------------------
Reach me by ICQ. My ICQ# is 880492 or,
* Page me online through my Personal Communication Center:
http://wwp.mirabilis.com/880492 (go there and try it!) or,
* Send me E-mail Express directly to my computer screen
880492@pager.mirabilis.com
For downloading ICQ at http://www.icq.com/
For adding similar signatures to your e-mail go to:
http://www.icq.com/emailsig.html
Renee Thomas
----------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Worship List sponsored by WorshipMusic http://www.worshipmusic.com/ -
 Visit the Worship Resource Center at http://www.praise.net/worship/ -
 Need help with your subscription?   Contact worship-help@praise.net -
----------------------------------------------------------------------