Exchange and Be Changed

One thing I personally love about the atmosphere worship sets is the healing and deliverance that takes place when the Father's presence is welcomed into the place of meeting. As a lead worshipper myself, it is what I desire to see happen every time I enter a corporate worship setting, regardless of whether I be on assignment to lead or not. Scripture declares that where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17). If the Set Apart Spirit is indeed present, then there also should be the manifestation of liberty. And it goes beyond the freedom to praise and worship. If nothing else is evident, the signs of the times should be clear enough for us to see that people are in desperate need of so much more than a "hallelujah good time."  There is a desire for the liberation to live--and might I add to live life more abundantly, as the Savior Himself said (John 10:10).

As we endeavor to become atmosphere changers and not just atmosphere readers, it is imperative that we become intentional worshippers. Each time we enter into the holy of holies, it should be our aim that we welcome the presence of Almighty GOD in to repair every broken place and mend every torn space in us as well as those around us in worship. When we worship with an awareness that there are others around us in need of repair and mending, we'll be more inclined to take the intensity of our worship up a notch or three because we understand that the healing virtue of GOD flows freely in His presence. As worshippers--whether we be onstage behind microphones, playing instruments or singing among the congregation--we must be fully engaged in the moment, so the right atmosphere can be created.

It's All In The Hands

Most people like the idea of pursuing their visions and prospering therein, but great ideas--no matter how likable they are--are unfruitful without willful, decisive action (i.e. faith).  We must renew our minds in this area because ideas are only as good as their execution.  If an idea does not produce fruit, then it's essentially worthless.  Let's go even deeper: if your faith is not producing the fruit of righteousness, then it's worthless.  Now to be fair, ideas--and even faith--do carry a degree of intrinsic value.  However, the worth that can be attributed to them is based solely upon how valuable they are in the respective individual's hands.

One of my favorite statements throughout the Bible is found at the very end of Romans 12:3 (KJV): "...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."  This blesses me EVERY time I hear it because it reminds me that every individual has been given the same amount of faith to work with. No one has more or less than anyone else!  It's all in what you do with the measure you've been dealt.  Therefore, faith requires action in order to harness its ability to produce fruit.  Your faith is purposed by design to bring forth that which has the ability to sustain you.  But it's not just going to appear out of thin air!  There must be preparation before manifestation, which means you've got to work what you've got with all you've got.

Worship Brings Transformation

One of the greatest things that can happen in your life is the inner transformation that occurs as evidence of your life of worship.  Believers often talk about themselves being worshippers, but their lifestyles will sometimes make you wonder if worship is really at work in them.  And it's not that there is an expectation for GOD's people to be without flaws and issues.  (Because GOD never promised a life void of flaws and issues, only a life in which His people would be empowered to live victoriously over them all.)  There is, however, an expectation that the sensitivity the life of worship imparts frees the believer to acknowledge their shortcomings without becoming victim to them.  The barriers that separate people, causing mankind to pay more attention to our differences than our similarities, are ultimately destroyed when the Creator and who we are in Him becomes our main focus.

As any true worshipper can confirm, the transformation that happens in those sacredly secret spaces of the soul is all the proof you need that GOD is in you and you are in Him.  His presence stirs the mind, will and emotions in such a profound way that you begin to see Him, yourself and everything (as well as everyone) around you differently.  Internally, what was once closed off amazingly opens and experiences a power so supernatural that your humanity hardly has the strength to stand in such an overwhelming presence.  Walls built in response to past hurts and disappointments literally topple beneath the weight of GOD's everlasting love, and the Father's reassurance provides the encouragement necessary to walk by faith in the newness of life when physical senses would find safety in the bondages of those old fears.

When Love Must Be Questioned

It's been said that when you love something enough, you'll never give up on it.  Love indeed inspires a steadfastness within the will to press past the seasons of difficulty encountered.  It keeps alive your belief in those outcomes your heart has already embraced as real and true, so your passion's fire remains lit and you continue giving it all you've got in hopes of seeing the desired results manifest.  If faith without works is indeed dead (as stated in James 2:26), then love becomes quite the necessity for ensuring your faith's vital signs remain intact.

However, when the thought of giving up comes to mind, are you brave enough to check your vitals?  Would you honestly have the courage to ask yourself something very important: "Just how much do I really love what I'm thinking about giving up on?"  It's--no doubt--a question that cuts straight to the core of what's being experienced and rightfully demands a response so real that--depending on the subject at hand--it will grip your very soul with fear.  But what must be understood is that this questioning is about YOU coming to grips with WHY you're willing (or unwilling) to do what is necessary to achieve the desired outcomes.  If you can't manage to express how much you love what is now hanging in the balance, then why should its pursuit consume so much of what you have to give?