Keith Green 28|28|28
Event Report
You Can Still Watch if You Missed It!
Dear friends,
I’m happy to report that Keith Green 28.28.28 was a huge success! It was seen in over 40 nations, and many took off work early or got up in the middle of the night to watch it LIVE – in places like Iceland, Korea, and the UK. I hope all who tuned in felt the presence of the Lord as much as we did in Hawaii. I think it was a perfect blend of remembering who Keith was and what he stood for – and honoring the God of all glory – which we all determined to focus on.
One viewer, Gerry, wrote me and said, “Tonight as I was listening to 'Oh Lord Your Beautiful' and Keith tell of the condition of his own heart, I was so able to identify. I saw how even though I wasn't doing anything wrong, it's just that I wasn't doing anything and my heart grew hard. Thanks be to God of great grace and mercy, He broke through and the tears of repentance broke through as the Lord broke my heart.”
If you missed it, you can still watch it on our home page in three sections. The streaming glitch during Keith's first video is now fixed. Just click on the TV icon that says DID YOU MISS IT? I know you’ll be blessed and inspired. We’ll keep this link up for at least a few more weeks so pass the info on to your friends and family.
I believe the anointing and the power of the prayers is alive and will impact anyone who watches with an open heart, at any time. God is doing something great around the world and it’s exciting that LDM got to play a part in His calling to greater boldness and deeper intimacy. Let’s all grab hold of what God has for each of us and "go for it" like never before!
Thank you for being my brothers and sisters in life's journey. Let us continue to learn how to live in Radical Obedience, and Intimate Love with Jesus.
PS Be sure and scroll down this email...I am sharing with you Keith's first article he wrote for the Last Days Newsletter, "Music or Missions?" It's just as relevant for today as it was then!
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A Challenge to all Worship Leaders, Christian Artists and Musicians for Jesus
Music or Missions?
by Keith Green
For as long as he could remember, the late Keith Green's greatest dream was to be a musical success. After he gave his life to Jesus, however, he felt the need to surrender those aspirations. Ironically, when sometime later he sensed God was directing him to pick these abilities back up, his music soared straight to the top of the contemporary Christian charts. The following message was birthed out of his personal struggle to strike a balance between music and missions, humility and fame.
Today, so many people ask me if I can tell them how they can start or enter into a music ministry. At concerts I get countless questions about this, and I also get lots of letters and even some long-distance phone calls from many people who feel they are only "called" into the music "ministry" One day I began to ask myself why so few have ever asked me how to become a missionary, or even a local street preacher, or how to disciple a new believer. It seems everyone would prefer the "bright lights" of what they think a music ministry would be, rather than the mud and obscurity of the mission field, or the streets of the ghetto, or even the true spiritual sweetness of just being a nobody whom the Lord uses mightily in small "everyday" ways.
Are You Willing?
My answer to their question is almost always the same. "Are you willing to never play music again? Are you willing to be a nothing? Are you willing to go anywhere and do anything for Christ? Are you willing to stay right where you are and let the Lord do great things through you, though no one may seem to notice at all?" They all seem to answer each of these questions with a quick "yes!" But I really doubt if they know what their answer entails.
Star Struck
My dearest family in Jesus...why are we so star struck? Why do we idolize Christian singers and speakers? We go from glorifying musicians in the world, to glorifying Christian musicians. It's all idolatry! Can't you see that? It's true that there are many men and women of God who are greatly anointed to call down the Spirit of God on His people and the unsaved. But Satan is getting a great victory as we seem to worship these ministers on tapes and records, and clamor to get their autographs in churches and concert halls from coast to coast.
Can't you see that you are hurting these ministers? They try desperately to tell you that they don't deserve to be praised, and because of this you squeal with delight and praise them all the more. You're smothering them, making it almost impossible for them to see that it's really Jesus. They keep telling themselves that, but you keep telling them it's really them, crushing their humility and grieving the Spirit that is trying to keep their eyes on Jesus.
Ultimately, what we idolize we ourselves desire to become, sometimes with our whole heart. So a lot of people who want to become just like their favorite Gospel singer or minister, seek after it with the same fervor that the Lord demands we seek after Him! And again, we insult the Spirit of Grace and try to make a place for ourselves, rather than a place for Jesus.
A Thankless Job
How come no one idolizes or praises the missionaries who give up everything and live in poverty, endangering their lives and families with every danger that the "American dream" has almost completely eliminated? How come no one lifts up and exalts the ghetto and prison ministers who can never take up an offering, because if they did they would either laugh or cry at what they'd receive?
How Come?
Because (1) we're taught from very early on that comfort is our goal and security… and (2) that we should always seek for a lot of people to like us. Who lives less comfortably and has had less friends and supporters than the selfless missionaries who have suffered untimely, premature deaths trying to conquer souls and nations for the whole glory of God? Do you really believe we're living in the very last times? Then why do you spend more money on Gospel records and concerts than you give to organizations that feed the poor, or to missionaries out in the field?
There are ministries all over the world where "penniless" people are being saved and transformed. They are broken people who have promise and qualities, but just need someone to bring them God's light during the times when their lives seem so completely hopeless. I repent of ever having recorded one single song, and ever having performed one concert, if my music, and more importantly, my life has not provoked you into Godly jealousy (Romans 11:11) or to sell out more completely to Jesus! Quit trying to make "gods" out of music ministers, and quit desiring to become like them. The Lord commands you, "Deny yourself take up your cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). My piano is not my cross, it is my tool. I'd never play it again if God would show me a more effective tool in my life for proclaiming His Gospel.[God gives us each our own unique tools. But we may never use them if we become more interested in someone else's. Seek God, ask Him for His plan for ministry (true, God glorifying ministry) in your life.]
Conclusion
To finish, let me say that the only music minister to whom the Lord will say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant," is the one whose life proves what their lyrics are saying, and to whom music is the least important part of their life. Glorifying the only worthy One has to be a minister's most important goal! Let's all repent of the idolatry in our hearts and our desires for a comfortable, rewarding life when, really, the Bible tells us we are just passing through as strangers and pilgrims in this world (Hebrews 11:13), for our reward is in heaven. Let's not forget that our due service to the Lord is "... not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake"(Phil. 1:29). Amen. Let us die graciously together and endure to the end like brave soldiers who give their lives, without hesitation, for our noble and glorious King of Light.
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