What’s Worship – As a believer and then a pastor, I loved congregational worship. We practiced the music and sought God for a prophetic flow in every service. Those services taught me a precious aspect of hearing God’s voice and learning to glorify him. I will always love congregation worship that magnifies the name of the Lord and engages the people to a degree that gives birth to the prophetic in them.

Now I’m learning something new. There is another whole realm of worship in our life’s work. Worship is not confined to the church mountain. God is exalted with victories in business, government, the arts, etc. Here is the headquarters verse for ultimate worship.

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. KJV Rev 5:12

Notice the King of Kings receives power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. In worship, we give those things to God. When a believer excels in his vocational / ministry mountain he receives acclaim… power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. God and men give those things to us when we do well. Worship is when we give God the glory for the those things. Like Moses, our countenance shines when we receive glory from our work as Kings, and then we pass that glory on to the King of Kings. In a very real way Kings and nations bring their glory to Jesus… now, not just in heaven.

…Kings of the earth will bring their splendor (glory) into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Rev 21:24-27 NIV

Are you willing? – Many believers carry an attitude that it would be immodest to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. The reality is that if our work in the marketplace is anointed and it blesses or ministers to people, we will receive glory from men and God. It’s part of God’s plan to make our names great, as evidenced in the life of Solomon.

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour… 2Chron 1:12 KJV

“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Gen 12:2

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:16 NASU

God has created us for good works… starting great businesses that bless our city, creating great art that touches hearts, governing with liberty and freedom for all. Those successes draw people to us and ultimately to our Lord. That’s how the Kingdom is built in the marketplace! Both God and all of creation are waiting for glory to be revealed in you and me through our work.

but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isa 60:2-3 NIV

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 NIV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. Rom 8:18-20 NASU

What it feels like – I was raised in a small farm and ranch community where everyone knew everyone else. The Lord allowed me to find personal success in small areas that prepared me to handle glory in a right way. Horses I trained won their classes twice in 4-H; my basketball team never lost a home game in my last two years at high school; we won our championship twice; I made game-winning shots several times; as a senior, I was the first pick on the all-conference team selected by coaches from the other seven teams. I learned to receive glory and carry it with gratitude and humility,  partly because I had seen the consequences of arrogance in others in that same small community.

Here’s my real point – This process isn’t magic. The desire in your heart isn’t just your own invention, it’s your calling. It was put there by God to lead you to a specific mountain and vocation where you will find the expressions of excellence that fully utilize your unique skills, talents, and personality. That’s when you will stand out and receive glory.

Carrie Underwood is a singer who was honored publically with “glory” for her excellence in singing. She’s a believer who is exactly where she should be in the marketplace. The performance that launched her career in a national competition is here.

We each have a measure of faith and a specific sphere of involvement (“metron” in the Greek and “mountain” in our marketplace vernacular). When we find that area of our dream, we find our destiny or calling. That’s when life starts to come together. We feel empowered with the wind at our back. Synchronous events, divine appointments, God’s Spirit and great ideas flow toward us. We are challenged, but not stressed. We work hard, but have fun doing it. Setbacks redouble our resolve. Our efforts bless others and result in glory… power, influence, riches, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. We allow our name to be made great and our countenance to shine during the day. People are attracted to the spirit of Jesus operating inside us. And then every night when we go to bed, we simply thank God for another great day and give him all the glory – that’s worship… and we hear his voice, “Well done. You are my son or daughter in whom I am well pleased.” It feels good to have the Lord commend us. I’m still winning championships!

But we will not boast beyond our measure (metron), but within the measure (metron) of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure (metron), to reach even as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, 16 so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. 17 But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD. 18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends. 2 Cor 10:13-18 NASU

Summary – Everything on earth glorifies God when it’s fully developed, including you. If you hide your glory, you are robbing God of His glory. Allow yourself to be appreciated, celebrated, and seen. You are God’s creation; you carry the Spirit of Jesus. Being who you are and fulfilling your dream is exactly enough.

“Lord, beginning today, I will no longer be invisible. I will no longer hide behind a cause or a need or another person. I’m giving my heart permission to dream and hope. I’m going to step out in front because I have my own theater (metron) and I’m the main actor and I am living a beautiful and adventurous script. I know that I’m called and empowered to be the hero and the star in the land that God has given me. I will allow my name to be made great so that I too, can bring glory to God.”

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, Eph 1:18-19 NIV