Our Ultimate Goal as Worship Leaders

What can we accomplish every single time we stand in front of others to lead praise and worship? To begin to “unearth” what we so desperately need to discover, we need look to 2 Chronicles 20. In verse 29, the Children of Judah had just returned from winning their “battle-less battle.” According to that verse, the result was that every one of the world’s other kingdoms got a healthy dose of the fear of God as the news spread rapidly of Judah’s amazing victory over “the enemies of Israel.” Note that it doesn’t say those nations necessarily fell down at that moment in repentance and began to worship God. But nonetheless, they were undeniably and directly impacted by Judah’s praise.

Consider this question: What are we supposed to do as God’s chosen people? 1 Peter 2:9 gives us the answer. We are to “declare the praises of Him who called (us) out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (NIV) Do you realize we just discovered the key that unlocks a hidden treasure chest of wisdom for us as lead worshipers?  Once we see that our ultimate responsibility is simply to declare or show forth God’s praises to those around us, we are only a “turn” of the key away from clearly understanding our ultimate goal.

So let’s insert that 1 Peter 2:9 key into the “treasure chest” now. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we are within seconds of discovering an amazing and little known truth.

Do you remember Moses’ request on top of Mt. Sinai those forty days with the Lord? He asked the Lord, “Show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18) When Moses returned to his people at the bottom of the mountain, it was obvious to all that Moses had been with God because he had the “glow that shows.” In the same way it should be evident to others that we have been with the Lord. Worship leaders are not into show business, but we are in the glow business. And people need to see us shining for Him.

When the Sanhedrin court looked at Stephen as he sat there on trial, they “saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15)  It was evident that Stephen had been in God’s presence. When Peter and John stood before the Jewish council, they were amazed that these “uneducated and untrained men” were so bold. It was evident to them that Peter and John “had been with Jesus.” (See Acts 4:13)

True, we cannot force others into God’s presence; however, like these men, we can always bring God’s presence to them. Dan Dehaan put it like this: “Today we must do the same thing that Moses did. Those of us who are leaders must carry God’s presence into the lives of people. Most of us do the opposite. We carry people into the presence of God. We must come down from His presence to minister with anointing from above.”

There is one more question we need to have answered: How can we know if we have reached our highest goal when we stand to lead praise? How can we be sure that we have illumined those watching? The nations weren’t talking about Judah; they weren’t giving the Jadeites the credit. They were talking about the Lord! That’s how we know that the People of Judah reached their ultimate goal: God got all the praise in the end! The Children of Judah showed forth His praises, and the world stood up and took notice – not of their great accomplishments, but of God’s great power! When people are merely impressed, inspired or instructed, they may leave talking about us. When they are influenced they may leave talking about how God used us to help them. But when they are illumined, they will be in such awe of God’s glory and greatness that they may not even remember we were in the service!

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