You are ready to begin to grow in your music ministry. You have felt in your heart the pull to serve. You have arrived to this blog with a hint of skepticism and I am positive it is one of many online locations that you are navigating in order to search for a way forward. I am here to encourage you but know that I am here to share with you my spiritual journey as well.
If I am typing it, I am growing in it—which means we are on this journey together.
On the continuum of doctrinal understanding, I am pretty ignorant. I am the first to admit it. While I have been around the church my entire life, my study of theology is limited to the past year or so. I don't have a seminary degree nor am I a pastor, evangelist, deacon, elder, or really anything that would lead me to blogging about spiritual matters related to music ministry.
As I stated in my first post,
“Stepping Out: About Resonant Music Ministry,” blogging is the last thing I thought I would be doing at this point in my life, yet God has placed it upon my heart to encourage you in your own pursuit of ministerial excellence.
Within the last few months, He has also placed on my heart a deep love for Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. This is where I am going to begin.
“Stepping Out” is going to become a three part series (or more!) on how to remove fear from your ministry, making way for new and exciting beginnings. Let’s begin starting with an excerpt from Philippians:
For context, Paul is writing this letter to a church that he planted in Philippi—Greece, not West Virginia. He is writing while imprisoned under Roman authority.
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content, I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:10-13 (ESV, 2016)
Famous passage, yes?
The last 10 words are found in every Christian-lifestyle tchotchke imaginable, and that’s not saying anything for all of the mountain-clad Instagram posts heralding the phrase. It inspires because of the deep, yet simple truth behind the message. In full transparency, this is possibly the first time I have ever really thought about the passage so let’s dig in deep for a second, break it apart and see what it could mean for our stepping out journey together.
Let’s read the passage one more time and take note of the verbs and specifically to whom (I/me=Paul, you=the church in Philippi, Lord= Lord/Him) the verbs are referencing.
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content, I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:10-13 (ESV, 2016)
From that reading, the following observations pop out at me:
1)
Paul rejoiced while speaking of his own needs because he learned how to be content (informed by the highs and lows of his own life) and to how abide in Christ.
2)
The church of Philippi proactively renewed their affection of Paul after a period of time where they were left unconnected to Paul’s ministry. Paul makes it clear at the beginning of Philippians that he loves this church and has amazing memories of his time with them (Philippians 1:3-5).
3)
The Lord was working through Paul during this season of his life to strengthen his faith, build his testimony, and energize his ministry.
4) Paul is writing here about the effect of the Providence of God on his joy here on earth.
So what could this mean for us?
If you look at Merriam-Webster (I know, I now sound like a high school graduation speech but hang in there), the word
providence can be defined as
concern or preparation for the future. It is a very active verb that defines one situation as it relates to future growth.
The providence of God=
God’s deep concern for you as He prepares you, throughout each season of your life, for His future plan for you. In seasons of great sorrow and in seasons of unrivaled happiness, God is equipping and forming you in His image, if you let Him.
Paul’s calling on earth was to carry the Gospel, most successfully to people outside of the Jewish faith. His ministry was instrumental in establishing the early church. He was imprisoned several times because of his ministry. When he wasn’t in prison, he was scolded and ridiculed away from several of his stopping grounds. Paul’s life was anything but smooth. He didn’t have a beautiful house, nice cars, private planes, or even the latest and great sound equipment and worship technology.
What he did have was a deep understanding for the providence of God in his life and it was through this knowledge that he changed the lives of thousands of people.
Knowing that submitting to God’s providence was the key to Paul’s joy and success on earth, he pleaded with the church of Philippi to seek submitting their lives to the same calling:
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9 ESV)
Take away
We must first submit our calling, gifts, talents, training, aspirations, anxieties, trials, reputation, and ego before God and into his loving providence.
This has to be our next step in music ministry for only a submitted heart can freely praise through song and boldly lead people to worship.
Stepping Out
1) Read the scripture for evidence of how God cares for his beloved people.
2) Pray for God to help guide you towards understanding how He has provided for you in the past.
3) Use this knowledge as a living testimony towards how He will provide in the future.
4) Sing praise for your renewed understanding of how God’s love is unchanging day after day.
5) Step Out, boldly, into the providence of God and see His plans for your life unfold into new and glorious beginnings.
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13
Always Remember:
Be Encouraged, Be Inspired, Be Resonant
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