Our goal in everything we do – teaching, counseling, and music – is to be led by the Holy Spirit.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14 (NIV)

Being led by the Holy Spirit is an ongoing work. Practically we make the best plans possible under the leading of the Holy Spirit. We do this in our teaching by preparing a teaching outline. In music we write songs and pick out song sheets.

The first step of being Spirit led is to make Spirit plans.

The second step of being Spirit led is to make changes in the middle of our plans.

The second part is challenging. When we are in the middle of our plans we are to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to additions, subtractions or special emphasis to the plans made in the first step.

It is scary to change your plan in the middle of your plan. It takes bravery, clarity, and practiced skill. But this is often where the most dynamic, fresh, and exciting moves of God happen. This step requires humility and dependency on the Holy Spirit. Doing this in music is challenging. When you see music leaders stray from the words of a song and sing a new song ( Psalms 40:3 ) given spontaneously to them by the Holy Spirit it is hard, takes courage, and great skill. It is challenging to get a whole band to flow with their instruments to make this work.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (NIV)

In the area of Spirit led music we are discovering there are 2 parts in this second step.

First, what we are calling Apostolic Declaration and second, Prophetic Worship. Both of these parts are spontaneous new songs given by the Holy Spirit but with different emphasis.

Apostolic Declaration is declaring over us who we are in Jesus Christ. It is declaring our potential, inheritance, and identity. It is often aggressive, bold, and loud. The purpose is to banish the voices trying to bring us down. Declaration is tearing down the gates of the world and hell that stop us from encountering Jesus. Declarations are generally at the beginning of worship.

Prophetic Worship is sitting in His presence and enjoying the intimacy with Him. It is about encountering Jesus. This is a time of sitting in the same room as our Bridegroom. It is often slower, softer and happens at the end of worship. This is our and His reward.