It is an awesome topic, I like hearing from you about it Worshipper.
I've been wondering what my skills are and what purpose I serve for God, and I only have a sincere passion for Him, and things of the spirit, not of this world.
I will be praying the the Lord will reveal His desire for your life; He knows your heart and loves your passion for Him...your desire for the things of the spirit rather than the things of this world shows a consecration/ holiness/being set apart for His purpose. Whatever your talents are; your "hobbies" and your favorite things to do...think on them and "give them" to the Lord...they might all give you a clue as to what the Lord has given you to use for Him. Let me warn you...you may not be lead to do something that you "want to do" or think that you "do well"...God has a sense of justice and humor. Just trust Him; do the humble things, nothing is unimportant or small in the Kingdom of God; serve Him with all your heart.
I have always been a singer but I had to delve to deep levels of self-sacrifice to lead worship. Before the Lord "moved me in praise and worship", he put songwriting on my heart (GOTCHA!!! is what I hear now when I think of it), I then began to pray for someone to help me with my music; ended up at our place of worship; fit right in and was asked to join the praise team without having been heard!!! THAT is faith! It has taken years of allowing and following the Holy Spirit to teach me what man can not teach us; HOW to serve God. We must serve Him by trial and error at times, with a heart that wants to serve excellently and humbly; and when we error; in music or ministry; He lets us know gently and corrects us. It is an awesome life to serve God and be led by His spirit, as I know that you are my brother...
Do you ever find you can't possibly sing properly cause the emotions get too much? Does it ever become impossible to sing in english any longer, and you have to praise in tounges?
Just this past Shabbat; we sang "Kadosh"..."Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come". I was on my knees and after a little while I was getting up and I see my friend on her knees as well.
I have had experiences when I heard the the Lord speak to me "be silent before me", fortunatly this doesn't happen often when I am required to sing but if it does; I speak out an admonition to the congregation; with a scripture of "being still" or silent before God as He wants to speak with a "still small voice" and sometimes we just can't hear well when we are singing. I figure if He is leading me to be silent that His spirit is ministring to others in the same way and I am to be obedient to "listen" and lead as He wishes. Many times; in the past, when I was "not up front", I felt more of a release to "sit still" and I would even sit and allow the Lord to minister to me by His Spirit.
Our keyboardist has stopped playing and gotten on his face before, quite a while ago...it was the only instrument at the time...we ended up with some a cappella praise and then prayer and then he got back to the keyboard...let me remind you that THIS does NOT help with the music part of the worship. The Lord was dealing with him and it was "fine".
At times like that, I may feel led to "sing in the spirit" (with actual words; that sometimes make sense and rhyme even )which comes so easily to me as a songwriter. The Lord is giving me a "new song" to share with the congregation...
As far as singing in tongues...yes, I try to hold back a bit when I am leading but when someone else can take the lead, I can get lost in worship and sing in tongues, softly, as not to misdirect anyone else sometimes. I told you that I can talk ALL day about worship...to love and honor and admire my Lord is the most awesome, most priviliged position I could ever dream to have; whether in praying for others (in prophetic altar ministry), serving some juice or food at our time of fellowship, ministering to our elderly, widows or children, in intercessory prayer meeting or sisterhood fellowship...everything that we do BECOMES worship as we present ourself as a "living sacrifice" to Him.
ray: Your awareness, desire and passion tells me that the Lord may be wanting to reveal things to you to use for Him. I will be praying...look at the spiritual gifts that He has given you. Sending you love and a holy hug today....
I Cor 12:4-14
4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5And there are differences of
administrations, but the same Lord.
6And there are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8For to one is given by the Spirit the
word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another
faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of
healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the
working of miracles; to another
prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another
divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues:
11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts,
seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Romans 12:6-8
6Having then
gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7Or
ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on
teaching; 8Or he that exhorteth, on
exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that
ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.