Imagine all of the energy you put into preparing for the service, working with lighting cues, working with volunteers, etc. Repairing and preparing. What if you put that type of energy, that devotion, into your own worship time? Photo by Frankie Lopez on Unsplash
“In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev 4:6-8)
This passage embodies complete selfless worship. It's the picture of total devotion. In this earthly realm, worship is often defined as attending a church worship service or worshiping only in song. Along the way, it's also been defined as optional. Working in the tech ministry, it's easy to develop that attitude. Your job is about presenting an environment conducive for worship. But, it's not a reason for you to eliminate your own time for worship.
Worshipping While You Work
When I first started working in church audio, I had a church elder ask me, "Chris, can you worship while you are working?" My answer was "no." But, the more I thought about it, I figured I could worship some of the time, as long as I kept my eyes on the stage and the service schedule and the faders and, and, and who was I kidding!?!
Warren Wiersbe says, "Worship is the believer's response of all that they are – mind, emotions, will, body – to what God is and says and does." Mind, body, emotions, will, and I was trying to shoehorn it in where I could. Worship, as seen in Revelation 4, wasn't done when possible or when convenient. It was intentional and it was done with reverence and devotion.
If you are working full-time in tech production, alternate church services might be out of the question --- all the more reason for your personal worship time to be important.
Serious Worship
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev 4:9-11 NIV)
The Lord is worthy of your worship and He desires it. Imagine all of the energy you put into preparing for the service, working with lighting cues, working with volunteers, etc. Repairing and preparing. What if you put that type of energy, that devotion, into your own worship time? Being involved in worship production does not mean you are exempt from worshiping.
Take a glimpse at what God sees when you worship Him with complete devotion. He sees your gratefulness. He sees your humbleness. He sees your love for Him. He sees you reaching out to Him. It's in the time of worship when you are most likely to hear from Him. In the words of James, "Come near to God and he will come near to you" (Jam 4:8 NIV).
I used to think I could worship as long as I kept my eyes on the stage, and the service schedule, and the faders...
When Can a Techie Worship?
Worship gets broken down into two types; corporate and personal. As someone on a tech crew, your corporate time is eliminated on the days in which you serve. Consider other means of corporate worship; attending a mid-week or other alternate service when you aren't on duty. Consider going to a different church that offers a service on a day you are free. I've been blessed on numerous occasions when I've visited elsewhere for a Saturday evening service.
Next comes your personal worship time. If you are working full-time in tech production, alternate church services might be out of the question --- all the more reason for your personal worship time to be important. Worship through song alone with recorded music. Worship through praying scripture back to Him. Worship through praising Him. The key is setting aside the time to worship Him. John 4:23 reads, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." (NIV)
Your Challenge
My friend, Kevin Layton, presented a sermon on worship recently. He concluded it with three questions which you need to answer for yourself:
1. Is my worship time pleasing to God?
2. Is my worship a response of love and honor to God?
3. Are my actions displaying love and honor to God?
This week, reflect on these questions and be reminded of the words of Psalm 99:5 (NIV), "Exalt the Lord [y]our God and worship at his footstool; He is holy."
