Now some will debate whether music is a gift. I tend to believe that music is a tool rather than a gift. You are able to take our Spiritual Gift and apply it to music. If you are a teacher - use music to teach. If you are an evangelist - then use music evangelize.

The best way to learn about spiritual gifts is by reading Bible. Reading and learning should be helpful in discovery of your spiritual gifts. First read following bible verses:

Romans 12:4-8 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 Ephesians 4:7-12 1 Peter 4:7-11

Each of these verses categorizes each gift that makes up Church body. Each one is important.

God Given Responsibility

Matthew 25:13-29 Tells is a story about a man who gave his servant each a talent according to their individual ability. Two out of three invested their talent and it grew. The third one who happened to have smallest portion did nothing with his talent. This did not please man in story. What I glean from this is that we are responsible to take what God gives us in talent and use it.

Responsibility is about stewardship. Stewardship is effective management of resources that God gives us. It is a matter of "taking care of business" for Kingdom. In kingdom of God you have no rights. That's opposite of our society today. We are led to believe that our rights are paramount in everything. But, in reality God has given us worship leaders a responsibility. The Bible makes it clear that we are to be "Doers of Word". Responsibility requires commitment to do what God has called you to do.

We can look at parable of talents and see that God requires us to be responsible steward of what He has given us. The main lesson here is that you must take what God has given you and make it profitable for Him. Otherwise there will be severe consequences. You have spiritual gifts and natural abilities. Now it's time to take those gifts and use them for God purpose. Of course, nothing is done in a vacuum. Therefore you must take responsibility for your action. Both good and bad.

To serve a specific group of people

John 13:13-15 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Jesus was perfect example of a servant. He washed feet of disciples. This was a radical move on part of Jesus. The lowest person on social scale did washing of feet. It was Jesus who came to serve us. And by His example we are to serve others.

Look around you - Who do you see? People! At least I hope that your church has some people in it. This is your specific group of people. God in His wisdom and Glory placed you in exact spot that He chose for you to minister.

Now we can examine people a little closer. There are big one and small ones - There are young ones and old ones - There are men and there are women. People come in all shapes and sizes.

Moses was called by God to serve a specific group of people. He took Israelites out of Egypt and delivered them to Promised Land. As you know there were a few snags along way that caused these people to wander in desert for forty years. But, these were exact people that Moses was created to serve.

As a worship leader in your church, you have a responsibility to serve that group of people for season of time God keeps you there. Spiritual Leaders are servants to those around them. Jesus was perfect example of this.

Directing this group of people toward God's Purpose

Help people become effective tools for Kingdom - do these three things…

1. Help them to Discover their place in Body of Christ
2. Help Them Develop spiritually
3. Help them Deploy their place in church.

Three things to remember… Discover -> Develop -> Deploy Once you know your team member's individual Spiritual Gifts it is your responsibility to help nurture those gifts. Discipleship is key in development phase.

Nothing is worse than unrealized talent. Or talent that is wasted sitting on shelf. Therefore it is vital that each person deploy. That is "go into all world." You see someone with a calling on their life; you do a disservice to church by hindering execution of that part.

To Bring Glory to God

The ultimate Goal it to bring Glory to God. As musician it is tempting to pursue ego gratification. Your performance in judged not by how well you did - It's based on how well you related to God and His purpose. The object of your worship is God. It is our job to take our Gifts and Talents and use them to give God glory.

There are entertainers and there are worship leaders. Each one has a different objective. An entertain often times bring glory to themselves. And music is entertaining. Yet it is also a tool used by God to be used by Church to worship Him. There is a distinct dividing line between doing something by our own strength or allowing God to do it.

You bring glory to God when you die to self and serve people with song. You bring glory to God when people are able to focus on their Creator and Savior. In many respects you are a tour guide. Helping people to have an intimate relationship.

This article is an excerpt for the new book by John Pape, Jr titled "Building a House of Worship" You can get a copy of this book at...

http://www.mediatunes.com/bhow/

Thou shalt fan them, and wind shall carry them away, and whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in Lord, and shalt glory in Holy One of Israel. For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

I will greatly rejoice in Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with garments of salvation, he hath covered me with robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as bridegroom rejoiceth over bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor voice of crying. Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and hand of Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies. Then shall virgin rejoice in dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for Lord will do great things. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Lord your God: for he hath given you former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you rain, former rain, and latter rain in first month. Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

The Lord thy God in midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in midst of thee, saith Lord.

For who hath despised day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see plummet in hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are eyes of Lord, which run to and fro through whole earth.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt foal of an ass.

And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in Lord. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they prophets which were before you.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. For we are circumcision, which worship God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in flesh. Rejoice in Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for marriage of Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Glimpses of God © by Joyce C. Lock http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/ This scripture selection may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact, for non-profit ministering purposes.