Facing the Wall Sermon

One of the books on worship (aside from scripture) that has had the most impact on me as a worship leader has been “Facing the Wall” by Don Potter.  Below is a link to the the message I shared this past Sunday at church on the subject of worship entitled “Facing the Wall”.

Why do we worship? What should it look, sound, and feel like? What are the results of worship?

Sermon Audio

Sermon Notes

America and the Church – Decision Time

Here we are, it’s the evening of November 3rd and tomorrow we, as a nation, head to the polls.  We will make a decision.  We all have a vote, but it is a national decision.  The inhabitants in this great land will arrive at a conclusion after many months of bickering, backstabbing, hatred, fear, doubt, ambiguousness, loss, and self-centeredness.  Then we will have to move forward to November 5th and live with the decision the nation has made only to prepare for the same process 4 years from now.  America has a decision to make tomorrow.

Yet, so far beyond America’s decision is the one that the church can make in this hour.  So much of the church (the Body) has been entirely hung up in America’s decision, that it is missing the huge, eternal opportunity laid out in front of it.  Given, we must align ourselves with scripture, pray, and vote.  However, it’s not America, Obama, McCain, the Congress, nor the economy that has the final say on us or the move of God.  God alone is God.  God alone has the defining final word.  

So what is our decision in this hour?

Are we as the Body of Christ going look out into the sea of anger, fear, uncertainty, pain, and hatred and through the Great Commission and Great Commandment begin to reap the great harvest?  Where there is great need, there can be great moves of God.  When there is uncertainty and fear, it is the hour that sharing our faith and communicating the love of God is most readily received.  People are hurting, they are afraid, THEY WANT CHANGE.  THEY WANT SOMEONE TO FIX THEIR LIVES.

The deal is neither Obama or McCain can do this.  People at a root level are looking for a Savior.  His name is Jesus.  It’s time for the Church to DECIDE to be the Church.  Love your neighbor, even if they don’t vote like you.  Meet the needs of people – be Jesus with skin on.

I want to make a passionate plea tonight – Pray and Vote, BUT MOREOVER, Rise and BE the church.

An Important Message for Believers

Click the link, watch this message, take it to heart.  The first minute alone addresses a plague, in my opinion,  that has gripped us as believers – we care about the messagand delivering it with passion, but do we really care about the ones we are carrying the message to?

PLEASE WATCH THIS MESSAGE from Craig Grochel at LifeChurch.tv: http://www.lifechurch.tv/message-archive/kaleo08/1

Looking for It

This past weekend, I helped host Mark Lowry’s “Be A Miracle” tour at our church.  The tour is based around Mark’s latest album, of which “Be A Miracle” is the title track.  At the show, he shared a number of rather funny stories about how each of us need to be the miracle in the lives of those around us.  When we love and help meet the needs of others – miracles take place.  Lives are changed, needs are met, and people see a reflection of Christ in us.  Miracles.

I am a firm believer in the present day move of God.  God heals, today.  God speaks, today.  God gives revelation, today.  I also believe that there is a movement among the young generations today where God is rasing an army of intercessors and worshippers for this vastly important moment in history.

But . . .

I want to issue a thought to you (not necessarily a warning, but a thought)

What are you looking for?  It seems to me that some of my fellow believers are roaming to and fro for signs, wonders, and miracles (which I DO believe happen today) and are consumed with only that.  The problem with being consumed with only one aspect of something is that you tend to miss the wonder of the rest of it.

Sometimes our sign is seeing a deficient area in our local church family and filling the need instead of complaining about it.  Sometimes our wonder is an encouraging phone call at just the moment you need it. Sometimes the miracle is you choosing to be used by God to love your neighbor as yourself.

Let’s maintain our focus on lavishing God with our worship, obeying His commands, and carrying His love to others, and help meet their needs.  I believe when we do that, the miracles of all types will take place!

John 20:29

 

“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That was nice . . .

Hang on cause this might hurt . . .

Yesterday morning as I was driving to church to prepare for the service, I was spending sometime with the Lord and I had the following encounter with Him.

I began to meditate on the worship and practices that took place in the tabernacle. I could see in my mind’s eye the hustle and bustle of the outer court; the animals bleating and screeching, the loud cries of worshippers, the smells of burning sacrifices rising in the gritty desert air, blood being spilled, priests assiting the high priest prepare to enter the Holy of Holies, washing and burning incense, the blood being splattered on the Mercy Seat of the Ark – loud, intense, and really messy stuff. I mean can you imagine, the loud crys of praise, the overwhelming lament at times, the striking of blades into the flesh of animals, the acrid smoke – not your average, comfortable worship service.

I bet you, nobody left the tabernacle, the “house of worship”, and said, “that was nice . . .” or “gee, I really enjoyed those songs today” or even things like “I didn’t like the scripture reading today”. Ever heard or felt any of things at your church? In modern, western Christianity, we easily fall into spectator sport church. We sing and raise our hands when it’s like we like, we shout amen when it tickles our ears. Are we pressing in even when we don’t like it? Are we receiving into our hearts a sharp convicting challenge even when it’s hard to swallow?

I heard Jonathan Helser say one time, “worship is messy and it offends humans”. I don’t want a nice service. I don’t want to be satisfied with songs that people enjoy. I don’t want to be comfortable. I want to press into the Holy Place where the God of the Universe purifies by fire and loves with passion. I want to offer songs for His renown and glorify His name. I want to fear the Lord and be drawn to the deeper place.

I want to see the body, His bride, rise and declare the Glory of the Lord. To call out to the nations with abandon that He is mighty to save, He loves us, He is near!

I don’t want nice . . .

Scott

Behold . . . He is Coming!

Last night I had a dream.  When I actually remember my dreams, there is usually something the Lord is speaking, not just bad pizza.  So what follows is what took place in my dream and what I feel like the Lord is saying, at least to me.

In the first part of the dream, Lisa, Victoria, one of Victoria’s friends, Joseph and myself were going to an amusement park for the day.  While we were there, we were walking along a boardwalk that lined a small lake.  Out of the water rose this animatronic/robot dragon that was roaring and moving back and forth towards the boardwalk.  I thought that Joseph, whom I was carrying, would be scared of the show.  So I took him around a small corner so he couldn’t see.  Then, Victoria, her friend, and others on the boardwalk came out with water guns to shoot the dragon.  As the dragon was doused with water he sank back into the lake.  We all laughed and enjoyed the show/game.

In the second part of the dream, we were inside of a large mall atrium.  Rodney (a worship team member at Eagle’s Nest Church) came up to me and asked, “Do you believe in prophecy?”  To which I said, “Remember the I.H.O.P. (International House of Prayer) CD I gave you?” I was referring to the CD called “Breathe Prophesy“.  He said, “Listen, I love this part.”  He turned and placed the CD in a player and began to play a section of the song “Saturate My Soul”.  He looked me in eye and began to sing the words along with it, “Behold . . . Behold . . . He Is Coming!”  I could feel the presence of God in that moment.

First, I feel like there are many fights we encounter in this world that we make way more out of them than they are.  We get consumed with fear, and miss the fact that God is in charge and wants us to enjoy Family, Community, and life. Our fears of the unexpected things that arise in life (the fake dragon in the water), when placed in Him, are simply like driving away that fake dragon with water guns. I’m sure there are many more analogies that can be made here, but this is what resonated in my heart.

Second, He Is Coming!  Believe it.  Not only is he coming physically again . . . SOON, he desires to be made known in the circumstances of life.  He is coming in our church, He is coming in our home, He is coming in the circumstances of our lives.  Behold – watch, see it, apprehend it, believe it – He Is Coming!

Blessings

Scott

You and I Need This . . .

Watch these two videos and allow God to Shake You and Let Him Love You . . .

The Song is by John Mark McMillan.  The first video is John telling the story of the song and leading some of it at the Call 7-7-07.  The second is the song lead by Kim Walker.  Please take time to watch them both.

Words of God in the Shower

Does that ever happen to you? I was taking a shower this afternoon and I was just praying about some things. I have really been humming through one of Jonathan Helser’s songs where we sing “God comes down as the praises go up”. It has been my heart cry. So I’m in the shower, focusing on God, humming the tune, and God spoke strongly in my spirit. I’m used to God speaking to me, but this was so strong it caught me off gaurd. God’s cool like that.

He said, “I Am Coming . . .”

I have been feeling tremors in the Body of Christ for a while and I’ve been watching the raising up of the Nameless Faceless army. I really feel, at least in my own life, God is opening a new season of out pouring. The Lord is Coming! Get our houses in order, open up our windows, BELIEVE the word (that means to actually do what it says – THE LORD IS COMING. He’s coming to flood our sanctuaries, to stir up gifts, to unleash this generation in all of it’s passion and creativity, the Lord is Coming!

Go Up, Go Up, Go Up, Go Up, Go Up!

Joseph Andrew Sasser – to God be the Glory!

One year ago today. The memories of that day have filled my heart today. The call, the hospital, the wait, the news, the heartache. But quickly chasing those memories are ones of celebration, good thoughts, so much learned, a life forever changed.

With out the gift of Joseph Sasser there would be many less children in the Kingdom. With out him there would be less children walking in the freedom of the Spirit. With out him there would have been a lot less laughter. With out him there would be fewer songs of intimacy and God’s glory. With out him there would be at least one less worship leader with the Father’s heart (I am so grateful for the impact on my life!). With out him we would be without Oasis Camps. With out him many of us would not have been forever changed. With out him we would be less a Benjamin. Thank God for Joseph Andrew Sasser..

Please take the time to write a note to Beth and Benjamin Sasser and share your memories and how Joseph impacted your life. Please take the time to continue to pray for them as they walk out this journey. Please take time and give Glory to God as Joseph so loved to do.

We miss you Joseph and our heart longs to see you again soon.

Abiding,
Scott and Lisa Hobbs

Better or Closer?

I woke up from a dream this morning and was really disturbed by it. In the dream, I was with a few of my friends leading worship for a conference. We were having all kinds of techincal problems and it was taking a long time to get it straight. I looked up and noticed that almost all of the congregation was gone or heading for the door. I asked the guys that were with me, “Did we miss something? Is it over?” and a lady on the front row spoke up and said, “We were looking for someone more professional, we want someone who is not trying to get better, but is drawing closer.”

Wow. I honestly was a little wounded when I woke up. It is always my deepest desire to draw near to the Father and lead others there as well. I asked Lisa about it and and two things came to me. One is, knowing what my heart is, Lisa said to remember that the criticism means nothing. It is the Father’s pleasure we want, not man’s. Two, the Father reminded me of a deep need in this world. They have better and best by the world’s standards. They need closer. They are always looking for better, but the root need is closer. Closer to His heart. To be embraced by the agape love of a mighty King who rules and reigns with justice and mercy. Closer is better.

“Draw near to me and I will draw near to you . . .”

Abiding,

Scott and Lisa