Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Podcasts / Devotionals, Worship Leading
The Power of Words (Show #62)
#LionAndTheLamb (Video Below)
3.5 min read
Lead Like A Lion
When it comes to leading worship, besides the singing, how do you use your words? To lead like a lion, the leader has to be in the words of Christ. Out of which, we make melody from our hearts. (Col 3.16). How we live His word by following, obeying and doing, makes a difference in what people hear, by the words we sing and the music we make.Our theme this week is #LionAndTheLamb, based on the great song by the group Leeland. This article is a follow-up to our Sunday article about leading worship through the confidence of Christ. The key word that comes to mind when it comes to leading with authority is confidence. To lead like a lion, the leader has to have confidence first in Christ, and also in his or her own ability to lead the team, with the strength given by Christ.
We have a powerful and mighty God! How does confidence grow in a leader? Is it something that comes naturally, or can it be cultivated in a leader? One of the most powerful tools someone can use to instill confidence in another is the power of words. Words can build someone up or they can tear down. When it comes to leading worship, besides the singing, how do you use your words?
Are You Serious?
God is serious about our words in songs and our words in worship. We find this importance in the verses of the oldest, yet the fresh book of them all: The Psalms.This portion of the Scriptures is the most original writing for songs in worship. Listen to the heart of David as he gives what is called a “Poetic Psalm,” because it expresses the value of living life by the instructions of God preserved in the Old Testament.
In Psalm 119, God is celebrated as the gracious provider for all blessings and life. It goes like this: 171 “May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. 172 May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.” – Psalm 119:171-172
The Power of Words in Worship
You can hear the heart of David in this prayer. His lips overflow with praise in thanking God for his decrees. His commands are so treasured that David sings of His word. He makes a request for protection, forgiveness and redemption.If you were to set this text to melody and music, it would literally be a sung prayer to God. It’s honesty and biblical expression can move the heart of the worshiper. Personally, my heart is moved to prayer by the lyrics of a good biblical song.
The song itself becomes a tool or a vehicle of worship to God. Just as we have seen from Scripture, we can agree with the writer. When a good song expresses sound theology, it is easy to agree and recite the words back to God.
Songs take on a richer meaning when we are able to identify with them. Worship takes on a deeper meaning to God because of the authentic expression of our words. From our heart, mind and spirit, our words have meaning because they mean something to God. [tweetthis]A good word can bring affirmation, power and belief.[/tweetthis]
Zoro the Drummer – SnapShot
“I was 17 and had been playing drums for only a little over a year when I heard one sentence that would forever change my destiny. It came from Danny Wilson, the bass player of The Jeff Lorber Fusion, one my favorite jazz-fusion bands at the time. Chances are good you’ve never heard of Danny, or his band. But that’s not the point. Go check them out.. but again, not the point.Being a very tenacious young man, I somehow finagled my way into the concert venue where the band was doing a sound check for a show that night. Right after sound check was finished, I asked drummer Dennis Bradford if I could play his drums.
I wanted to show Dennis what I could do; I figured some feedback from such a player would further my career as a drummer. Amazingly, he granted my request!
When I was done playing for the band, Danny the bass player exclaimed, “Man, you’re going to be one of those superstar drummers.” Bam! Those words sounded a bell in my heart equal to Quasimodo’s ringing bell in the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
I was totally blown away by what I heard. That simple little sentence lifted my spirit to a place it had never known, and those words remained etched in my heart. To this day I don’t know for certain whether Danny meant it. In retrospect, I like to think he did because he had this overwhelmingly huge and sincere grin on his face and really lit up with enthusiasm when he said it.
In any case, it didn’t really matter if he was sincere or not, because at the time I believed that he meant it. And that helped me believe in myself and visualize my future success.”
Words – Say Them Over and Over Again…
American soldier and author Claude M. Bristol reflected, It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. That, my friends, is exactly what happened to me as I replayed that one powerful sentence Danny said to me in my head countless times. This was especially helpful in the early days of my musical pursuits when my dream of becoming a successful drummer looked rather impossible.In those times of doubt, it really helped infuse a steady stream of confidence in me. Listen to what encouraging words did for the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso: “My mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll become a general; if you become a monk, you’ll end up as the Pope.’
Instead, I became a painter and wound up Picasso.” Words carry with them great power. And throughout your life, you’ll be given ample opportunity to speak words of life to all who come across your path.
Hold on to words that mean a lot to you, and that reinforce positivity, for when held closely, these words will drive you towards success, and retrain your mind to think in a positive manner. Words are free, but their meaning is priceless.
“The power of a good word can restore the soul.” @BranonDempsey
How are you cheerleading others?
There is no questioning that words can have tremendous influence in someone’s life, as we saw in Zoro’s story of his own life. Our confidence should come from Christ, as we learned on Monday. It is also our responsibility to use the words from our own mouth to build up others.Leading like a lion is not only leading with confidence, but it is also instilling confidence in others by the words you speak. Take every opportunity to build others up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Lead like a lion by building others up.
@ZoroMinistries @BranonDempsey @worshiptt
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