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Reality Check:
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But Jesus had a different agenda. His Father had a different way of bearing fruit. Jesus talked of a different qualification for those wanting to serve Him. Curiosity about Jesus is not enough. His reply to their request to see Him, was to talk about a 'kernel of wheat' falling into the ground and dying so that it can produce many seeds. Christ, by His death, became the grain of wheat which fell into the ground, to die and thereby to produce many grains for the church.
(Speaking of His own death to produce 'many sons' : "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering." Heb 2:10 NIV ).
In John 12, Jesus went on to say that 'whoever serves me must follow me'. The Greeks didn't see Jesus, because they weren't prepared to follow Him.
Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
-(John 12:24-26 KJV)The prerequisite for 'seeing Jesus' is to 'follow Him'.
The Prelude to a Vision for Fruitfulness in Music Ministry is to follow Him.
(Mat 16:24 NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Ulch! But this 'cross to bear' is not just some burden, or inconvenience that we have to patiently endure without complaint all our days. No! the cross means DEATH!
Death to self, selfish ambition, death to the world. All too often, we don't even make it to the plate, let alone to first base! We are too comfortable in our lifestyle, too bound up in our own opinions, too preoccupied with our own ambitions, to be willing to die to self, and simply follow.
Do you want a Vision for
Fruitfulness in Music Ministry?
Are you then
willing to Follow Him?
Then, are you willing, as Paul said in 1 Cor 15:31 to "die every
day"?
And as the song of Philippians 2 says, will you take Christ as your pattern,
humbling and emptying yourself, even unto death?
This is not the false humility and look-at-poor-me-I'm-a-martyr approach that some of us adopt so that we appear 'spiritual'. Neither is it dwelling in the Death state and never overcoming, because once we're dead, we then can claim the glorious resurrection Life where Christ is our Life.
(Rom 6:4-5 NIV) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
We are attracted by the 'Life' with a capital 'L' part. In fact we have been eager to take that verse about having 'life abundantly' (John 10.10) to mean that Christ came so that our life would be abundantly pleasurable and prosperous, neglecting to note that He was referring to our 'zoe' life, (eternal, spiritual life) and not our 'psuche' life, (soul, breath, human, life) which is the life Jesus went on to say He would lay down (John 10.17).
Our 'psuche' life - selfish desires, ambitions, comforts, and personal pursuits and opinions are huge stumbling blocks to seeing, pursuing and fulfilling a vision of a fruitful music ministry. We need to lay this life down, and live the 'zoe' life. This will equip us for fruitfulness. In fact, death to the soul-life is one of the three factors that characterise the overcomers who will ultimately bring down the 'Accuser' in Revelation 12:11.
(Rev 12:11 NIV) They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
So our baptism symbolises following Christ through death to resurrection and to Life. Let us continually and willingly lay down our soul life and be open to the Spirit of Christ to live in and through us. [see also Romans 8 and Philippians 3] Can we say with Paul:
(Gal 2:20 NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Well actually, I've said and sung that many, many times, but how often do I live it? I still see many signs that I'm not dead yet.
Signs that I'm not dead yet:
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But we need not only to hear this word, but to DO it. There are so many thorns which choke the growing plants, and destroy the fruit of music ministries. Being driven by the cares, riches and pleasures of our daily lives, will clearly choke the life out of any music ministry.
(Luke 8:14 KJV) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Or perhaps we give up following and serving because we are like Demas, whose love for the world was stronger than his heart for serving the Lord.
(2 Tim 4:10 NIV) ...Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
But we don't have to be like Demas. Instead, let's lay aside the cares, riches and pleasures of our soul life, discarding all the things that weigh us down, don the team colours, and stride confidently to the plate, with a clear vision of the coach and his game plan. This is the first, and perhaps the hardest step towards a fruitful music ministry. History is littered with many who dreamed of being a winning pitcher, or of hitting the winning home run, but were too comfortable and self-sufficient to let go of self, empty themselves, and pay this price to get to the plate, and to follow. I have too often been such a dreamer.
But let's be perfectly clear here. The concepts of death to self and taking up one's cross and following Christ have been interpreted in many different ways over the centuries. So what does this mean in practical terms for us? To help clarify the situation, may I suggest some things that I believe it doesn't mean.
What this doesn't mean for me:
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If these things aren't true dying to self, what is?
What this does mean for me:
- Life is too short to hang around waiting for something that isn't going to happen. Let go!
- Death of selfish ambition:
- to be somebody
- to make a name for myself
- Death to fallen nature:
- "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Col 3:5 NIV)
- "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." (Col 3:8 NIV)
- Life is for living. Wholeheartedly pursue and embrace Life in Christ.
- to enjoy Him,
- to be vital because of Him, and not of myself
- to be renewed and energized through God's Life in me, to live wholesomely and with passion
- Daily seek after God,
- more than sleep, comfort, money, security...
- To be real and not just one who seeks and only talks about trivial and passing things.
- To let go of preoccupation with money, material things, and a comfortable lifestyle.
- To Live it and not just talk about it.
As followers of Christ, we then can Focus on Him.
Starting Line:
"Look, the Lamb of God!"
(John 1:35-36 NIV) The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. {36} When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
A Heavenly Vision.
We must all start our ministry with a vision from heaven - a
vision that strikes us down, and changes our lives. John the Baptist had such
a vision. He pointed Him out to others as well. "Look, the Lamb of
God". Have you truly seen Him?
Saul saw Him on the Damascus road, and that vision changed him completely. He
was transformed from the zealous persecutor of Believers, into the apostle
Paul who said: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Gal 2:20 NIV)
Our vision may not be as dramatic as Paul's, but nevertheless, we all must be struck by the
same life changing, and
about-face encounter with Jesus, and go on to live Christ by faith.
(Acts 26:15-19 NIV) "Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. {16} 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. {17} I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them {18} to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' {19} "So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.
Paul's steps:
A vision of Christ
Struck down
Called to the Lord
"Get up and stand on your feet!"
Appointed tell and show
Sent to open eyes, and turn people from darkness to light
Obedient to the vision
Reality Check:
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So, having responded to the vision, and called to the Lord, it's time to run the race!
"Get up and stand on your feet!"
Throughout the Race:
Fix our eyes upon Jesus.
(Heb 12:1-3 NIV) ...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. {2} Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. {3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
It is not sufficient, just to sort out your philosophy of music ministry during your training or study, or during the first years of your ministry. As important as it is to do that, it is only the beginning.
Runners at the starting line might look at the finishing line, visualise their technique for negotiating all the hurdles, and go over details of the race plan in their mind. But that is not enough to complete a race. They also have to run the race, hurdling each and every obstacle, with their vision firmly fixed on prize.
At every step, the guiding vision is freshly applied. Adjustments are made in every stride in order to keep you striving towards the goal of your guiding vision.
Finishing Line:
For we shall see Him.
(1 John 3:2 NIV) Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Don't you long to really SEE Him as He is?
"The Bride eyes not her garment
But her dear Bridegroom's face
I will not gaze at glory
But on my King of grace
Not at the crown He giveth
But on His pierced hand
The Lamb is all the glory
And my eternal stand!"
-Anne Ross CousinFruitful ministry begins, continues, and ends with a continually Fresh and Refreshing Vision of Christ.
It is not enough to KNOW this, we have to LIVE it daily:
PRACTISE His Presence
PARTICIPATE in His enjoyment
PERSEVERE in following Him.
Let's not be those who:
once 'saw Jesus'
once had a vision for music ministry.
But rather, let's be those who:
are 'fixing our eyes upon him' every day as we run the race He has set before us
daily are seeing Him, loving Him, enjoying Him
seek continually are seeking Him
daily serve Him
will ultimately see Him as He is
Focus on Christ from the start to the finish!
What does this mean for me?
- Turn to the Lord every morning, but not because of religious duty or because guilt drives me to it, but simply to open myself to Him, enjoy Him, and be fed by Him.
- Call on Him regularly throughout each day, even when things are going well.
- Acknowledge Him and be guided by Him for every step, big and small.
FOLLOW
FOCUS
Death to Self
Christ, my LifeLook to God
Christ, my Light
- It is all about Christ and Christ alone [see 'Followership']
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