How Do You View Promotion? (Holland Davis)
-- another great article written by Holland Davis Saturday, May 22, 2004 WORSHIP LIFE Thanking God in all seasons of life Special to ASSIST News Service COSTA MESA, CA (ANS) -- All of us love to love God when life is good and filled with laughter. But, when life is hard – it becomes more difficult to live out the exhortation of scripture to give thanks in all things. I’ve recently watched a friend of mine go through a period of transition that forced me to look at this subject of gaining a perspective of praise in the midst of a difficult time of life. HOW DO YOU VIEW PROMOTION? Psalm 75:6,7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. This is one of the most frequently used scriptures for job transitions. When we see someone get a more prominent position in a company we say – they have been promoted by God. When we someone get a less prominent position in a company we say – they have been put down by God. But have you ever wondered if God views promotion the same way you and I view promotion. We know from scripture that we serve the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3.24). We know that everything that occurs in the context of our daily life is used by God for our best (Rom. 8.28). But when difficulties come into our lives – perhaps a tragic circumstance or the loss of a job – it is easy for us to think that God is somehow judging us and then we are being “put down” as the Psalmist writes. I wonder if our perspective is too influenced by what we see, feel, touch, hear and think and not influenced enough by the bigger picture of God’s will for our lives. JOSEPH’S PATH TO PROMOTION Consider Joseph. I wonder if he knew that he was being promoted when his brothers threw him in the pit and sold him into slavery. I wonder if he knew that God was trying to make him second in command under Pharaoh when he was thrown into prison. Would you have paid money for that kind of training? I could only imagine what the advertisement would read – NEW TRAINING PROGRAM WITH GUARANTEED PLACEMENT. STUDENTS WILL BE SOLD INTO SLAVERY, THROWN INTO PRISON AND HAVE THEIR CHARACTER ASSASSINATED. THOSE THAT GRADUATE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENTAL POST! I think Mel Gibson captured this thought best in his movie the Passion. One of the most powerful scenes in the movie was when Jesus is carrying the cross through the streets of Jerusalem; he stumbles and falls, his face bloody, his body trembling. His mother meets him at that moment and he looks at her and says – see, I’m making all things new. Would you have chosen that path of promotion? To be falsely accused, tortured, beaten and then violently killed for things you did not do? And yet, here is what the scripture tell us…And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2.8-11). As a young Christian a preacher told me to write into my Bible three words. These three words have helped me keep a proper perspective and more specifically a heart of worship during difficult times of my life. Those words are – BE ETERNALLY MINDED. If I am eternally minded, then I realize that every experience of life is ordained by God as His divine training program in my life. It means that every trial and tribulation is hand selected to form in me the heart that Jesus desires to see formed in me. It means that failures are not terminal and successes are not trophies – but all are well orchestrated learning experiences by our Father in heaven who has our best in mind. STEPPING STONES TO JESUS Alan Redpath used to say, "Christians are stepping stones to be walked on on the way to Jesus". As I reflect on my past successes and failures, I have to admit that I do see the hand of God at work. Things that I didn’t understand at the time have now been transformed into those golden moments of God’s faithfulness. Perhaps you’re experiencing a time of forced transition in your life. Maybe you’re experiencing a time of forced change. There are two classic ways to view your current condition. You can view it politically – God is promoting or demoting me. God is pouring out His favor or withdrawing His blessing. I am loosing prominence, prestige and influence. To view promotion this way puts you forever in that torturous state of making sure you are connected with the right people, invited to the right parties or dropping the right names. It puts you under the tyranny of insecurity and fear and the illusion of success. Because your success is not based on the power of God at work, but your own cleverness and talent. Or you can view it strategically – God is working in my life both to will and to do His good pleasure. What peace! What gratitude! To know that every situation that occurs has a purpose and a plan. That God desires to use it in my life to grow, mature, strengthen and equip for the next season of life. I look at my own experience as a worship leader. When I was 15 years old I was given the first four records of the Praise Series by Maranatha! Music to learn. How did I know at 15 that I would later go on to work at Maranatha! Music and then end up leading worship at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa where those songs were written? When I lost my job with my second child about to be born, how did I know that it would be the turning point that would focus me to develop a vision for training worship leaders that would later be the foundation for the School Of Worship at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa? WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE I can’t tell you what the future holds for my family and myself. But I can tell you that I know the One who holds the future in His hands. That gives me the freedom to say blessed be Your name when life is good and blessed be Your name when life is tough. How about you? Do you know the One who holds your future? Today, you can begin your worship life with God by simply entrusting Him with your life and surrendering your past, present and future in God’s hands. Then, together we can say – blessed be Your name. Holland Davis travels internationally as a worship leader and conference speaker. He is the originator of the Top 25 Praise Series and is published by Maranatha! Music, Vineyard Music, Word Music and Rolltop Music. His most popular song - Let It Rise - is featured on the platinum selling WOW Worship Blue. Other noted songs are I Will Stand, Who Is Like The Lord, Healing Word and At The Cross. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend. written by Holland Davis maranatha geno
-- another great article written by Holland Davis Saturday, May 22, 2004 WORSHIP LIFE Thanking God in all seasons of life Special to ASSIST News Service COSTA MESA, CA (ANS) -- All of us love to love God when life is good and filled with laughter. But, when life is hard – it becomes more difficult to live out the exhortation of scripture to give thanks in all things. I’ve recently watched a friend of mine go through a period of transition that forced me to look at this subject of gaining a perspective of praise in the midst of a difficult time of life. HOW DO YOU VIEW PROMOTION? Psalm 75:6,7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. This is one of the most frequently used scriptures for job transitions. When we see someone get a more prominent position in a company we say – they have been promoted by God. When we someone get a less prominent position in a company we say – they have been put down by God. But have you ever wondered if God views promotion the same way you and I view promotion. We know from scripture that we serve the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3.24). We know that everything that occurs in the context of our daily life is used by God for our best (Rom. 8.28). But when difficulties come into our lives – perhaps a tragic circumstance or the loss of a job – it is easy for us to think that God is somehow judging us and then we are being “put down” as the Psalmist writes. I wonder if our perspective is too influenced by what we see, feel, touch, hear and think and not influenced enough by the bigger picture of God’s will for our lives. JOSEPH’S PATH TO PROMOTION Consider Joseph. I wonder if he knew that he was being promoted when his brothers threw him in the pit and sold him into slavery. I wonder if he knew that God was trying to make him second in command under Pharaoh when he was thrown into prison. Would you have paid money for that kind of training? I could only imagine what the advertisement would read – NEW TRAINING PROGRAM WITH GUARANTEED PLACEMENT. STUDENTS WILL BE SOLD INTO SLAVERY, THROWN INTO PRISON AND HAVE THEIR CHARACTER ASSASSINATED. THOSE THAT GRADUATE WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A HIGH LEVEL GOVERNMENTAL POST! I think Mel Gibson captured this thought best in his movie the Passion. One of the most powerful scenes in the movie was when Jesus is carrying the cross through the streets of Jerusalem; he stumbles and falls, his face bloody, his body trembling. His mother meets him at that moment and he looks at her and says – see, I’m making all things new. Would you have chosen that path of promotion? To be falsely accused, tortured, beaten and then violently killed for things you did not do? And yet, here is what the scripture tell us…And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2.8-11). As a young Christian a preacher told me to write into my Bible three words. These three words have helped me keep a proper perspective and more specifically a heart of worship during difficult times of my life. Those words are – BE ETERNALLY MINDED. If I am eternally minded, then I realize that every experience of life is ordained by God as His divine training program in my life. It means that every trial and tribulation is hand selected to form in me the heart that Jesus desires to see formed in me. It means that failures are not terminal and successes are not trophies – but all are well orchestrated learning experiences by our Father in heaven who has our best in mind. STEPPING STONES TO JESUS Alan Redpath used to say, "Christians are stepping stones to be walked on on the way to Jesus". As I reflect on my past successes and failures, I have to admit that I do see the hand of God at work. Things that I didn’t understand at the time have now been transformed into those golden moments of God’s faithfulness. Perhaps you’re experiencing a time of forced transition in your life. Maybe you’re experiencing a time of forced change. There are two classic ways to view your current condition. You can view it politically – God is promoting or demoting me. God is pouring out His favor or withdrawing His blessing. I am loosing prominence, prestige and influence. To view promotion this way puts you forever in that torturous state of making sure you are connected with the right people, invited to the right parties or dropping the right names. It puts you under the tyranny of insecurity and fear and the illusion of success. Because your success is not based on the power of God at work, but your own cleverness and talent. Or you can view it strategically – God is working in my life both to will and to do His good pleasure. What peace! What gratitude! To know that every situation that occurs has a purpose and a plan. That God desires to use it in my life to grow, mature, strengthen and equip for the next season of life. I look at my own experience as a worship leader. When I was 15 years old I was given the first four records of the Praise Series by Maranatha! Music to learn. How did I know at 15 that I would later go on to work at Maranatha! Music and then end up leading worship at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa where those songs were written? When I lost my job with my second child about to be born, how did I know that it would be the turning point that would focus me to develop a vision for training worship leaders that would later be the foundation for the School Of Worship at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa? WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE I can’t tell you what the future holds for my family and myself. But I can tell you that I know the One who holds the future in His hands. That gives me the freedom to say blessed be Your name when life is good and blessed be Your name when life is tough. How about you? Do you know the One who holds your future? Today, you can begin your worship life with God by simply entrusting Him with your life and surrendering your past, present and future in God’s hands. Then, together we can say – blessed be Your name. Holland Davis travels internationally as a worship leader and conference speaker. He is the originator of the Top 25 Praise Series and is published by Maranatha! Music, Vineyard Music, Word Music and Rolltop Music. His most popular song - Let It Rise - is featured on the platinum selling WOW Worship Blue. Other noted songs are I Will Stand, Who Is Like The Lord, Healing Word and At The Cross. ** You may republish this story with proper attribution. Send this story to a friend. written by Holland Davis maranatha geno