Make A Joyful Noise

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." I Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
Romans 12:4-8 (NKJV)

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;" Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)

One of your purposes in God's Orchestra is to edify, or build one another up, through the use of your instrument with your gifts. If you don't use yours, why not? Is there an area where you can serve? Can you pray about how/where to serve? Look around at the ministries in your local church, where can your gifts best be utilized.

Do you know what your gifts are? The Lord invites you to call upon Him.
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)

He encourages His children to ask for good gifts.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:7-12 (NKJV).

When you know your gifts and how to use your instrument to edify one another, you are able to show Christ-likeness to one another.
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

And as a church, we will see the reality of God's word, "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:27 (NKJV)

Once you see Him at work through you, the way you work for the Kingdom will never be the same.
"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)

Signs

It began with a message about signs.  Everywhere there are signs.  I couldn’t get a popular song out of my head.  Signs, signs, everywhere there are signs.  But you have to look for them.  You have to recognize them.  You have to respond to them.

“Show them the signs,” rang loudly in my head.  I wasn’t sure what to do about it, so I waited and waited and waited.  I felt as though I was being moved towards something, but I wasn’t sure what that something was so I waited and listened for God to tell me what He wanted me to do.  

Slowly, He put people into my life who would help me show the signs.  Conversation after conversation, I heard the same word, orchestra.  Then it made sense.  The signs that are all around, the people in our lives; every conversation we have; the books we read; the songs we sing; every action we take; they are all individual notes within God’s Orchestra. 

You are God’s song.  As His people, we are called to be a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, by telling of all the good he has done unto us. 

“Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.” Jeremiah 33:9 

"It is written: 'I believed; therefore I have spoken.' With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak." 2 Corinthians 4:13

It is by our testimonies that we play music in God’s Orchestra.  It is my prayer that the testimonies shared here will remind you of (or perhaps introduce you for the first time to) our awesome God who is involved with every detail of your life.  He knew you in your mother’s womb.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 

  

The following is an example of God’s Orchestra in my own life.  

One morning several years ago during my prayer time, the Lord told me, "If you ask God 'Who, What, & Where?' he'll answer and GIVE you the 'When, Why, & How!'"

I thought, "Really God?" 

He knows I like to ask a LOT of questions, so He said, "Go ahead, and try it!"

Sure enough, I began to think of all the times I have asked God, "Who do you want me to minister to? What do you want me to do? Where do you want me to go?"

Next, I thought of specific incidences and quickly He brought to my remembrance the time He told me to, "Sell everything and move to Canada." 

At first, the "What" seemed scary, but was eventually replaced with excitement for a new adventure.  He told me "Where" but the "Who" wasn't for me to know, yet. He provided the "How,” and after I had been there a short time, the "Who" and "Why" emerged. 

A woman in an abusive relationship was put in my life.  She had vaguely heard about someone named Jesus, but had no clue who He was or what He had done for her.  Her parents died when she was young, and had raised her older brothers and sisters as atheists.  

After reading the Bible with her, we prayed and she asked Jesus to be her Savior.  She had a newborn and decided to leave the abusive relationship, and move across country.  She was so happy to know she could raise her daughter to know and love the Lord.  

Her life changed, dramatically; and I continue to be humbled by the experience of surrendering my will to His. 

As a postscript, I realize that it can be so easy to miss His leading for us.  For example, I am not supposed to only write and share this with others.  He's saying, "Deanna, don't miss it.  I have answers for you!" He is saying to you, too "Don't miss it!  I have answers for you.  Just ask me!"

Your body is your instrument; your life is your opus.

“for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” Acts 17:28

Make music!  

Share your stories with us on how you play your instrument in God's Orchestra at info@godsorchestra.com