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Famous or Fruitful: Development Over Discovery

Famous or Fruitful: Development Over Discovery

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  • Lead your teams, churches, and services with great zeal knowing that He is the one to please and that He will truly give you the desires of your heart!

As worship leaders and creatives, social media and church culture bombards us daily with the temptation to compare, try to get discovered, and the desire to become famous or well-known. But is that the goal? Should that be taking space in our minds, and governing our daily tasks? Of course not.

Our main desire as Worship Leaders is to be fruitful with the gifts that God has given us, not to be famous. We are to seek His development in our lives, not man’s discovery. I have found that a lot of worship leaders long to be discovered and not developed. As you settle for man’s discovery of you, then you bypass God’s vital development of you.

WHAT GOD DESIRES

As Worship Leaders, we must let God develop us as He sees fit. This ongoing desire to be known, famous, and discovered did not originate from God. God is desiring for His children to be fruitful, not famous. His plan is that we would be Developed, not discovered. Now, I am not saying that you could not be famous or well-known when you are following God, I’m just saying it must not be our focus. In fact, in the beginning of time, we see in scripture that Satan fell from Heaven for adopting this same focus of wanting and needing to be known.

You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Isaiah 14:13–14

STOP DESIRING FAME

In the world we live in, there is an overwhelming culture of “wanting to be known,” and “wanting to be famous.”  From Facebook, Instagram, & Youtube, this desire is constantly screaming for our attention and seeking for us to conform.  If you are not known, branded, and verified, then who are you? But, we must remember that this culture of self-promotion that is prevalent in the world today, is not of God. Unfortunately, this worldly culture of self has crept into our churches, worship nights, and conferences. Worship Leading was never intended to become an industry, it was designed to bring people to God. The lights and stage for some have become an opportunity to build a career and not a calling. If not careful Leading Worship can be seen as a position of importance instead of a position of serving. In the verses below, we see that there is a prevailing culture in this world today, that is not of God.

I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 

John 14:30

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it (everything the world desires); but he who does the will of God abides forever.

John 2:15-11

DESIRING SUCCESS OF THIS WORLD

There is a success standard that the world has, that is in direct opposition to the Kingdom of God. In the world we live, mass gatherings of people, huge amounts of followers, and wealth equal true success. But, just because we have a lot of followers and can fill a building, is that how God measures success? Of course not.

I am not saying that big crowds, lots of followers, and influence is negative. I am just saying that if we use those factors alone to determine Godly success for our lives, then we are greatly mistaken.

Famous or Fruitful: Development Over Discovery By Marcus Criner

DESIRING IMPACT FOR THE KINGDOM

There are many unknown, unnoticed, and unfollowed believers that are making huge impacts for the Kingdom of God that we may never know about. Not everybody who is famous is fruitful, and not every person who is fruitful is famous. This is what continues to wage war with our souls as creatives.

We began to believe the narrative that we are not doing anything for God unless everybody knows us, sings our songs and follows what we do. But let me remind you, that our identity and security must be tied to who God says we are, and not what others say or don’t say. Our success depends on us faithfully saying “Yes” to the call of God every day. Our success depends on us passionately leading our teams and churches with all our heart, and leading them as God directs, not as culture demands. 

THE DESIRE TO BE KNOWN

I really want to hit on this “wanting to be known” mentality that is prevailing in our churches. It’s a culture that is wanting to be discovered, a culture that is needing to be verified and acknowledged, and a culture that is constantly looking for the affirmation of others to determine their success. Friend, you are already successful if you are doing what God has called you to do! I’m here to tell you… You do not need to be discovered, because God has already discovered you! 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

We are so soon to forget that He created us and knows us by name. Shouldn’t that be enough? We must learn to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn to let that bring all the satisfaction we need while we lead. We must adjust our thinking to the fact that He knows who we are, knows where we are, and allow being known by Him to govern what we do.

I am in no way saying that we don’t need people, I’m just saying that we must not live off of the comments, likes, follows, and subscribes of others. We must learn that doing what God has called us to do with all our hearts is true success!

Read “Duplicating Yourself: Raising Up Worship Leaders” by Darlene Zschech.

IMPACTING WORSHIP

If we are not careful, we can begin to lead worship on Sundays with all these unnecessary pressures of trying to sound like someone, be like someone, or build what others have built. Just strive to be all of who God has created you to be. Don’t compare every ones social media account to your ministry. Get your eyes off what they are doing and get busy with what God has in store for you…..the world needs your gift! 

A lot of times as Worship Leaders we can get so frustrated, and it’s really just because our perspective is off. We must remember that we’ve been gifted for one reason…. To bring glory and Honor to our King. Nothing else. Using our gift for any other reason will always cause confusion, heartache, and frustration.

FOCUS YOUR DESIRES ON HIM

So many times we get unsettled where we are at because we continue to take our eyes off of what is before us and all the possibilities that it holds. Sometimes you don’t need a new church to lead at, you just need a fresh perspective. We only see the problems, lack of volunteers, and issues at hand. But, greatness doesn’t always look great when you are in it. There is more opportunity before you than you know. If God has placed you there, it matters.

The enemy would like nothing more than for God’s gifted people to feel inadequate, irrelevant, and unimportant… But you are important! God has gifted you with a mighty calling! Keep your head up and remain faithful wherever you are!

REMEMBER YOUR NOW

What you are doing for God now is not only extremely important but vital.

You’re “now” will pave the way for your “next.” But our “next” will never come if we are always looking for what is ahead and comparing ourselves to others while passively embracing our “now.” Oh what an opportunity we have before us.

Ask God to give you a fresh vision for your current season. How you are leading now, is so important. Lead your teams, churches, and services with great zeal knowing that He is the one to please and that He will truly give you the desires of your heart!

Listen to “Patrick Mayberry: The World Doesn’t Fight Fair” on Spreaker.

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