Author: Randy

The last area to cover of the linked ones I referenced (Vision/Meaning, Framing/Reframing, Energizing, Connecting and Engaging) is Engaging. On the surface it may sound a lot like connecting, yet there is more going on. In fact it could just as easily be described as presence.

So what is it? Have you ever had the awareness of how things, for better or worse, shifted when certain people entered a room? While it may not be something all of us are aware of it is something I am sure we have all had the opportunity to experience. A good example in a church context is when a true shepherd/pastor is leading a congregation. While many have the title ‘pastor’ not all have the anointing. If a true pastoral anointing is present and operating through a leader the congregation has a sense of being settled or at peace. When that individual is away there is a sense of restlessness or discomfort in the congregation unless someone else with that anointing is present.

On the negative side I remember working in one government ministry where I talked to people about what I saw when the government minister in charge came and went. This individual went on a lot of trips and generated a lot of projects. When they left on a trip the lowering of tension in headquarters was palpable, yet when their return drew near the tension level and anxiety rose significantly because of how they functioned and engaged with others. Their presence did not bring calm or peace.

These are two examples of higher profile leaders, yet to bring this home, what do we release through our presence as we engage with others? Do we release calm and peace or increase anxiety? What is our responsibility in this area and how do we exercise it well? What do the scriptures have to teach us in this area?

When I first mentioned this concept I referenced the scripture below. However, is this just an anomaly?

⁵  But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. Luke 10:4-6 (NKJV)

It is not an anomaly, we are called to carry His presence to those around us.

¹⁸  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) ⁸  For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed – ⁹  lest I seem to terrify you by letters. ¹⁰  “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” ¹¹  Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present. 2 Corinthians 10:8-11 (NKJV)

Given we are called to carry and release His presence where we go it is important to Jesus. Consider that in the example above from 2 Corinthians 10 the preceding verses tell us that the context of Paul’s statements is spiritual warfare. Jesus is in us and the degree to which He has been formed in us (Gal. 4:19) is the degree to which He is able to be released and touch those around us. In addition to his own walk Paul shared this truth with Timothy as well.

⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)

¹⁴  That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2 Timothy 1:14 (NKJV)

What we have and what we release is connected to our choices. We may not normally see things like this in the scriptures but they are there if we look. They are important to see as we need to walk in them in leading our lives and impacting our generation. I pray we will walk in wisdom for His glory!

Connecting is the next leadership area I want to address. In my overview I referenced the connection between Paul and Barnabas that enabled the gospel to go forth. There are many others in scripture and I invite you to look for them. We need connections with others to move forward in our calling and purpose and we also need discernment to recognize what is before us. Clearly Barnabas saw something in Paul that others did not and the fruit of that seeing continues to reverberate through the centuries and into eternity.

Many years ago I heard Billy Graham’s response to a question. He was asked about the key to success in ministry and responded, “Find a group of people and grow old together.” This is true in life as well as ministry. What is one of the first things Yahweh had to say in scripture?

¹⁸  And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)

While this verse refers to the joining of the first couple the principle applies to leadership. We cannot do things alone. We need to walk with others as that is how He designed us. We need one another to accomplish our purposes but also to celebrate our accomplishments. Imagine an awards ceremony with a single person on a stage and no one in the auditorium. It would be both literally and emotionally empty.

There is an expression, “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” We need to go far and I have had the privilege of consistently walking with friends in ministry, some for decades (perhaps that just means I am getting old) ) and know the depth of fellowship in a common purpose.

Let’s take a deeper look at Paul (Saul became Paul over time) and Barnabas

²⁵  Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶  And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26 (NKJV)

We see here that they were joined together. If we go a little further we also see something else.

¹  Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ²  As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³  Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV)

¹⁴  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out Acts 14:14 (NKJV)

Paul (Saul) and Barnabas were both prophets and/or teachers in the church at Antioch. When they were sent out by the Holy Spirit they are then referred to as apostles (the word means ‘sent ones’). The point here is that these two great apostles in the early church were only fully released into their callings after they were joined together.

Are there others we need to connect with to see our calling and purpose realized?

The next area I want to talk about is Energizing; what things can we do to optimize our energy and what are the scriptural principles we need to apply? He knows our days and frame. As I noted in my overview I want to look at how we use the energy and ability He has given us and I also want to address practical strategies to manage our energy.

In managing our energy there are some obvious areas to reflect on; rest, nutrition and exercise. They are important but I think we need to also contextualize them and use reflection to consider what we need to do within our personal makeup, the way in which He has uniquely formed us (Ps. 139:15-16). For example, there is a lot of information available on nutrition, rest and exercise. If I apply reflection to my own life I can tell you that I generally eat healthy with some ‘junk food’ and at times too much food. I also know that I often don’t get enough sleep and exercise more than the average individual.

Awareness of these things help me to manage my physical and emotional energy. Yet, when I think about my average workday how do I manage my energy there? I have a rather demanding job. To offset extended sitting I have a sit/stand desk and spend the majority of my time at my desk standing up. However, I recognize that sometimes I need to sit to really concentrate and edit something. I also work in an office with a glass door and wall that I look out of, think ‘fishbowl,’ and recognize that I don’t concentrate well in that type of environment. For some projects I need to seek out a secluded space.

These are practical things and to lead my own life well or to lead others well I need to be skilled at managing my energy. That means knowing what gives me energy and what things drain my energy. My chart below provides some examples.

My list is illustrative rather than exhaustive. I also know that I tend to introversion rather than extroversion. I am drained by casual conversations in large groups while extroverts tend to be energized and stimulated by busy crowds. I love to teach but my motivation is not being at the front or being in control, rather I have a sense of excitement when I see that people are learning and benefitting.

So why share all of this since you may be different? I share it as an example to illustrate the need to reflect on the things we individually need to do to manage our own energy to serve His kingdom.

What are some examples in scripture? I think Paul and Peter were extroverts. We see in the gospels that Peter always spoke up, rebuked Jesus when He spoke of going to the cross, and boldly preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). He often acted without thinking things through. Paul was also a bold man of action, he immediately began to preach the truth he so strenuously fought against as soon as he was converted. Yet Paul was also one of the great thinkers and intellects of history, very different from Peter in that regard. Yet they both had to learn how to manage their energy to be effective in Jesus service. Paul for example said,

¹¹  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹²  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

Paul learned how to lean into Jesus. What did Jesus do?

³⁵  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35 (NKJV) ³¹  And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. Mark 6:31 (NKJV) ¹⁸  And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Matthew 8:18 (NKJV) ¹²  Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. ¹³  And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Luke 6:12-13 (NKJV)

Jesus recognized the need to manage His own physical energy and the need for His followers to manage their energy so they could continue to minister to others and His own habits were twofold. He started His days early in prayer seeking direction from His Father and prayer for direction was a pattern in His earthly ministry. He also often got away from the crowds and there are many examples of that in the NT.

So what do we need to do? We first need to imitate Paul and learn to lean into Jesus. Next we need to reflect on our lives to determine what we need to do to best manage our own energy to serve His kingdom. Lastly, we need to heed the advice of James in our leadership of self and others.

⁵  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (NKJV)

In my last post I looked at some areas of leadership. I want to spend some time on each of them in a bit more detail. I had previously looked at the first area, Vision/Meaning. The next one I want to look at is Framing/Reframing.

Something that is not readily obvious is that what we see depends on how we look. Sound strange? Think about it. When pictures are framed the colour of the frame brings out certain aspects of the picture, as does matting. The frame and matting greatly influence what we see. That is why the framing of art is an ‘art.’ For us to see things differently we often have to ‘frame’ them differently or ‘reframe’ them entirely.

Think of James and John. Jesus nicknamed them the ‘Sons of Thunder.’ What was their problem? The way they viewed the world, more specifically the way they viewed other people. What made the problem worse was that while they thought they were promoting the kingdom of heaven they were actually moving in the opposite spirit to Jesus. They were opposing the very one they claimed to love and serve. Their actions, in opposition to Jesus ministry, flowed from how they viewed the world around them and His kingdom. They were sincere but were sincerely wrong.

¹⁷  James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Mark 3:17 (NKJV) ⁵¹  Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, ⁵²  and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. ⁵³  But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴  And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” ⁵⁵  But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ⁵⁶  For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. Luke 9:51-56 (NKJV)

What spirit are we operating in? Do we need to reframe areas of our lives so that we are actually moving in unity and harmony with the Holy Spirit? There is no question about whether we influence those around us, the only question is how we are influencing them.

The key to a right influence is found in two things in the scriptures. We need to submit to the Leadership of the Holy Spirit and have our minds renewed. I have heard songs and teaching on the need to be controlled by the Spirit. It is bad theology. He wants to lead and guide us but He chooses not to control us because He wants us to choose to follow Him. Being led along in handcuffs while struggling is not submission!

¹⁶  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) ¹⁸  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18 (NKJV)  

We need to actively cooperate with the Word and the Spirit to think like Jesus.

⁵  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:5 (NKJV) ¹⁷  This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, Ephesians 4:17 (NKJV) ²³  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Ephesians 4:23 (NKJV)

Recently I went through some of this. I have been reading a book and disagreed with some of the theology of the author. Yet when I read it again and set aside my judgements and sat with the Holy Spirit I began to question the rightness of my perspective. I haven’t reached a final conclusion but am seeking to be led by Him in this area because I want to be like Jesus to others. I have had a lot of my perspectives changed as I have walked with Him over the years. This is the path to spiritual maturity.

I pray we will all be teachable and have His frame on the situations and people we encounter. Having the Holy Spirit lead us and transform our minds is simply wise reflective leadership of self and others.

After one of my leadership posts a friend jokingly emailed and asked, “If you make us all leaders who will follow?” A good question, the answer is that good leaders started out as good followers, and unless, and until, we are willing to truly embrace submission to the leadership of others we will never be a truly effective leader in His kingdom. David is a great example. He was such a strong leader because he was first willing to submit and be a follower. The scriptures document David’s ‘mighty men’ (2 Samuel 23), all strong leaders in their own right who chose to follow and submit to David’s leadership because they were drawn to the anointing on his life. Yet this anointing was forged in the fire of submission to a fallen and ungodly king and prior to that being the neglected brother and son who his father never even considered as a potential leader and king (1 Sam. 16:1-13).

Prior to being a leader of others David first learned to lead his own life. In learning to lead our own lives there are some things that are helpful to embrace, they also apply to leading others but we need to first apply them to ourselves. I have already spoken about vision, our pursuit of meaning. It and the other areas that I will address more fully in the future are below. I will cover each of these areas in order over time.

Vision/Meaning – this is rooted in our purpose, His call upon our life and aligned with His gifts and calling.

²⁹  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 (NKJV)

Framing/Reframing – this is rooted in self-awareness, reflection and adaptability. In walking out our calling what is our perspective? Does everything look hopeless or through interacting with the Holy Spirit are we able like Ezekiel to see a great army in a valley of dry bones? (Ezekiel 37) As the old saying goes, “Two men looked out through prison bars. One saw mud and one saw stars.”

⁹  Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ‘ ” ¹⁰  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37:9-10 (NKJV)

Energizing – do we understand how to use the energy and ability He has given us? What things give us energy and what drains us? For example strong extroverts like to be around people and are energized by them. I like people and being with them but after awhile I feel compelled to get away to recharge. I don’t do well at large parties or gatherings unless I have clear purpose and connections with others there.

What practical strategies do we have in terms of our own energy? What do the scriptures teach us? Are we being wise stewards of what He has given? (1 Cor. 4:2) Managing our energy requires wisdom around how to use our energy and developing or maintaining sustaining practices so that we intentionally are able to manage and restore/renew our energy.

²  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV)

Connecting – what are the key relationships we have? Who believes in and supports our vision? For example David and Jonathan or Paul and Barnabas. When Paul (then still called Saul of Tarsus) was a new convert and the church had difficulty trusting and believing in their former persecutor, Barnabas reached out to Saul and developed a friendship and ministry partnership.

²⁵  Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶  And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Acts 11:25-26 (NKJV)

Engaging – what is released through our presence when we are with others? What do they encounter in us? In the passage below Jesus was sending out His followers to minister and told them that how to release peace, a practical blessing to someone’s home. He would have said ‘shalom,’ which implies much more than our concept of peace. Yet inherent in the passage was that Jesus expected those He was sending our to be spiritually sensitive to what they were carrying in the spiritual realm. That awareness should extend to us. How do are we cooperating with His my anointing to further His Kingdom?

⁵  But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶  And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. Luke 10:4-6 (NKJV)

These are the things we can apply to lead our lives and the lives of those around us. Enjoy the journey.

So far I have talked about the need for self-leadership and vision and introduced the idea that good leadership requires Character, Awareness and Wisdom. Prior to building in some other concepts I want to build in more of the reflective part because it is a skill to continuously apply in leading ourselves and others. There is the old expression, ‘If you don’t know where you are going any road will get you there.’ What I have often added to this over the years is the corollary, ‘And you will never know when you have arrived.’ Clearly if we do not know where we are going it is rather difficult to measure either progress or success.

Given that most of us will not have an experience like David, the most well established prophet in the nation coming and anointing us with oil and declaring our destiny, (see 1 Sam. 16) how do we determine our destination? I believe we need to sit with the Holy Spirit and apply reflection. For example, I try to begin each day by getting quiet and focusing on His presence in and around me. As we get quiet and focused with Him what is our heart drawn to? What memories of past and present longings and desires come up? He already knows our thoughts and hearts. What is He showing us about them? These are the areas where we need to direct our attention. After all, He is the one in, ³  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 (NKJV).

As an example of a vision for our lives, I have a desire and gifting in the area of teaching. I was aware of this calling within me before I was walking with Jesus. When I began sitting with Him it only deepened as I began to know Him and mature in Him. It is now so built into me that I have to be careful not to teach. When I exercise I have to resist the desire to ‘help’ others when I see them doing something I view as incorrect. I constantly see opportunities to ‘teach’ others. At the same time this vision in me grew through spending time with Jesus, focusing on it and being diligent to develop it. I applied some things Paul said and there is a firm conviction in my life around this area of calling.

¹⁴  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. ¹⁵  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:14-15 (NKJV)

¹⁵  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

Another aspect of vison and calling is that we need to look to the scriptures. There are specific things He will speak to our heart to direct us but there are things we are all called to walk, things that should be part of our vision. For example, every believer should have a vision to walk in holiness and purity.

⁸  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)

³³  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

²⁰  But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²²  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NKJV)

Individually this should be part of our vision and corporately we should be exhorting one another to walk in this manner while leading by example. So I pray that we will both pursue His specific direction for our lives through time with Him and embrace His word and apply it to our lives as we deepen our leadership.

In looking at leadership I will cover a few areas. Again they are focused first on leading our own lives. Some areas I am going to cover are to some extent my adaptation of topics addressed in a leadership course I attended. They are however greatly informed and influenced by my own life experience and reflections on leadership.

Vision is often introduced as a foundational part of leadership, which it is. In Christian circles we often quote Proverbs 29:18 from the King James Version, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” However that is not the most accurate translation, and often the application being touted is the need for vision. This can easily miss the point of the verse. It isn’t about having vision, it is about having Yahweh’s vision.

¹⁸  Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV)

The centre column note in my bible says the word ‘revelation’ here refers to prophetic vision. I believe that is accurate. The best way to understand the scriptures is to let scripture interpret scripture. Let me illustrate. The phrase ‘cast off restraint’ or ‘perish’ in the KJV is a single Hebrew word. It is used twice in the verse below and is translated as ‘unrestrained’ and ‘not restrained.’

²⁵  Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), Exodus 32:25 (NKJV)

This verse comes from the golden calf incident. What is important is that the people in this incident were not unrestrained from a lack of vision. In fact they weren’t even unrestrained in the sense of a lack of focus. They were very focused, just on the wrong thing. They had a clear vision, they wanted to continue their journey and wanted a visible ‘god’ to lead them. They even held a feast to Yahweh to celebrate their golden calf. Their problem was they had a wrong vision around the how. Their vision was to have gods like they knew in Egypt and as a result 3,000 of them died. The scriptures are not clear on what happened in terms of their behaviour in ‘worship’ but the inferences are not good.

What is the conclusion we can draw? I coached basketball for a decade and during that period the concept of ‘practice makes perfect’ shifted to ‘practice makes permanent.’ I presented this in my own way and used to tell the boys that they could get really good at doing the wrong thing. We don’t just need a vision. If we are going to follow Jesus we need His vision! What vision are we presenting with our lives? What vision do we have for our lives?

Are you a leader? Is that a question we generally think about? If it isn’t perhaps we should. Many people, myself included, view leadership as influence. This concept relates to the leadership of others. I will address this in some detail in this series. The other aspect of leadership that I think is even more important is self-leadership. How are we leading our own lives? What is drawing us?

I of course want to address all of this from the perspective of the scriptures. I believe that good and godly leadership requires Character, Awareness and Wisdom. A key part of character is that difficult word discipline. I believe the fruit of leadership rises and falls on character. We can have great leadership skills but lead in the wrong direction. Years ago when emotional intelligence (EQ or EI) was becoming well known and being trumpeted as just as important as the traditional IQ I wrote a paper for my Master’s degree and raised the need for not just IQ and EI but also for MI, what I referred to as moral intelligence.

There have been many strong leaders in history who have led in the wrong direction, which is why I have highlighted self-leadership and character. This is the starting point. This doesn’t mean we need to have perfect character to lead our own lives or others. It does mean that it needs to be a focus in our life. Which is why I have titled this series Reflective Leadership. I believe if we are wise we will pay attention to our motivations and outcomes.

Strong leaders are known for their vison, focus and purpose. Let us apply this to ourselves as individuals. What is our vision, focus and purpose? Moses, one of the great leaders in biblical history, wrote one of the Psalms. One verse of that Psalm particularly stands out for me and I have provided it below in two different translations.

¹²  So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NKJV)

¹²  So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NASB)

Moses was praying that Yahweh would help us to pay attention to the brief time we have on earth so that we would exercise wisdom in how we live our lives. When we step from time into eternity how we have lived our life will be assessed by Jesus.

There are variations of the following message but this is how I heard it many years ago.

Sow a thought, reap an act.

Sow an act, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a character.

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

I believe our primary leadership goal in our own lives and in the lives of those we influence was expressed very well by Paul.

¹⁹  My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19 (NKJV emphasis mine)

It is about Christ being formed in us and thus revealed through us. May we exercise wisdom now in the leadership of our lives!

What does worship have to do with hearing His voice? If we believe the scriptures, and the experience of multitudes of believers down through the centuries, worship has a great deal to do with hearing His voice. Music, in particular worship, does something inside of us that enables us to more easily discern His voice. Part of what helps us to hear is that true worship pushes back the darkness. The clearest example of darkness being pushed back is in 1 Samuel.

²³  And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. 1 Samuel 16:23 (NKJV)

A verse that has frequently been on my heart over the years that further supports this is below (see also Ps. 140 and 150 and reflect on the spiritual application).

⁷  You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah Psalm 32:7 (NKJV)

I have had the privilege of helping lead a small group for a number of years with a gifted worship leader who regularly pushes back the darkness with her worship leading. This type of worship creates an atmosphere that welcomes His presence and opens our spirits to hear His voice.

We like David need to understand that worship and warfare are intertwined. David understood this and because of that most of the Psalms flowed from the continual worship he established before the Ark of the Covenant when he set it up in Jerusalem for the last 33 years of his reign. Interestingly something else in scripture lasted for 33 years, Jesus time walking on earth.

Another example of hearing His voice is the prophetic release that Elisha knew would come through worship.

¹⁴  And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. ¹⁵  But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. 2 Kings 3:14-15 (NKJV)

When worship took place Elisha heard from the Lord. Lest we think this is only an Old Testament practice see the verses below.

²⁶  How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NKJV) ¹⁹  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV) ¹⁶  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 (NKJV)

In the verses above numerous things are connected to worship. I believe the context of 1 Corinthians 14 is that of each person having ‘a psalm’ on their hearts because of the revelatory gifting this church body functioned in even in spite of their failings and errors. Of note, if we look at the New Testament and the abuse of spiritual gifts in Corinth how would we respond? Would we suggest limiting or banning the exercise of these charismatic gifts until other issues were addressed in the congregation? How did Paul respond in his role of apostolic oversight? He exhorted them.

¹  Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NKJV)

Paul exhorted this body of believers to pursue an attitude of love while asking the Holy Spirit for a greater release of charismatic gifts. Why this approach? True prophetic words would bring correction and focus. Given that these gifts are enhanced through worship I think Paul envisioned a great deal of worship taking place in Corinth.

When we move forward from the New Testament we can see in church history that the release of new worship has always accompanied revival/renewal movements. It is still the same today.

In my own journey to hearing His voice two scriptures have been important to me.

¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) ¹⁵  For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV)

I personally find that I need worship that stirs without overwhelming. When worship enables me to become internally quiet I hear His voice and receive direction. When I can physically dial down in an atmosphere that promotes an internal stillness and rest through intimate worship He comes near to my heart.

May we worship Him in spirit and truth and clearly hear His heart.

I have addressed the need to hear His voice and the fact of His speaking along with some of the ways He speaks. Now I want to address the need to discern whether He is the one speaking.

While the Holy Spirt communicates to us do we always hear accurately? Have you ever heard someone reporting what you said in a situation and thought, ‘I never said that.’? How does the Holy Spirit respond to all of the things, some of them conflicting, that we attribute to Him? Consider the passage below.

¹  Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. ²  And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ³  “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them? ⁴  Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, ⁵  that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.”’ Ezekiel 14:1-5 (NKJV, emphasis mine)

What is the message here? If we come to hear from the Holy Spirit while hanging onto our own agendas what we hear will be filtered through and distorted by our idols. To hear clearly we need a clean heart. That means when we come to Him we need to invite Him to examine our hearts and then lay down anything He puts His finger on so we can hear. Repentance and conviction are words not often heard in the modern church but are much needed.

In seeking to hear His voice we need to prepare our hearts and plan. As our hearts come to rest in Him so too does His wisdom rest in us.

 ¹  The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:1 (NKJV) ⁹  A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV) ³³  Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known. Proverbs 14:33 (NKJV)

Having right motives is important and then we need to weigh what we hear by the Word.

²⁰  To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20 (NKJV)

What we hear needs to line up with the truth of scripture. However, there isn’t a verse that tells us who to marry, what house or vehicle to buy, which job to take and numerous other things. We need to hear His voice in these matters. However, say I am a young man ‘in love’ with a young woman. I want to marry her but she is not a believer nor really interested in the things of the Lord. I pray and believe the Holy Spirit is telling me to marry her. If I asked a wise believer they would tell me I was not hearing from the Lord because the scriptures tell us to not be ‘unequally yoked’ and say ‘what fellowship has light with darkness?’ In this scenario my emotional desires would be interfering with my ability to hear from the Holy Spirit.

We need to discern together (1 Cor. 14:29) and it is unwise to make major decisions without the counsel of scripture and the counsel of other mature believers (2 Cor. 13:1). Another key factor is that if we feel great emotional pressure to rush and make a decision we need to stop. Jesus lives outside of time and is never in a hurry. As Isaiah said,

¹⁶  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily. Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV emphasis mine)

In conclusion, this is not an exhaustive teaching on discerning, more of a primer and I encourage you to dig deeper.

NOTE – I will close this series with my next post by laying out the connection between worship and hearing His voice.