To sing in front of thousands: That’s the hope of just about every Christian music artist or band, is it not? You dream about it. You visualize it. You know that God placed that desire in your heart, but yet, you just can’t seem to get that break you need. If you truly have that desire to sing in front of thousands and you are not doing so just yet, the next two questions are likely the questions that you have been asking yourself. Why would God place that desire in me if I just can’t seem to expand my ministry into a larger platform? Why are others ministering on a national or international level when I am not, even though I am just as qualified or talented?

5 Simple Questions:

I’m going to ask you five simple questions that very well could give you answers to the questions you’ve been asking yourself. How is your prayer life and personal devotion time? What are your motives? Have you been faithful to your calling at the level you are at right now? Who do you promote? How is your attitude toward others? Let’s look at these questions more in depth and then see what the Bible has to say about each one.

1) How is your prayer life and personal devotion time? To many, prayer consists of a simple prayer before meals and at bedtime with their kids. Why would we not pray more when we know God hears us? When was the last time you had personal devotion time (personal time that you devote in conversation with Him, study and meditation of His Word)?

Without intimate conversations with God, how are you going to know what His will is for your life? If your desire to play in front of large crowds is due to selfish reasons and is not in God’s will for your life, you may have missed your calling.

“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12 (NLT) He hears your prayers. Talk to Him and listen. Find out what His will is for your life first and foremost.

Additional scriptures to read and study: John 17, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, James 5:16

2) What are your motives? Have you truly examined your purpose for wanting to sing in front of thousands? Do you simply want to make a full time living singing and know that you will have arrived if you are singing in front of thousands? If that is the case, you might as well sing as entertainment and not as a ministry.

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:1-3 (NLT)

Additional scriptures to read and study: Psalm 26:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5

3) Have you been faithful to your calling at the level you are at right now? I am not even necessarily talking about your own church platform. First, let’s begin with your own household. How are you treating your family? Are you doing everything in your power to see to it that they are taken care of? You can not expect to minister on stage if you are not even ministering to your own family and taking care of their needs. They should be your first priority.

Now, let’s look at your local church platform or immediate audience. Are you giving 100% every time you are on the stage? Do you give the same attention to detail with the small crowd of 25 than you would to a crowd of 1000? How can the Lord trust you with the large crowds if you are not faithful with the small crowds?

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.
Luke 16:10 (NLT)

“‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’”
Luke 19:17 (NLT)

Additional scriptures to read and study: Matthew 25:21-23

4) Who do you promote? Is your conversation full of “me, myself, and I” or do you wholly and sincerely promote Christ? Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32. I realize that He was talking about when He was lifted up on the cross, but He also told us in Matthew 16:24 to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.

It only makes sense that if you lift up the name of the Lord rather than you own, you will draw people. What better way to sing in front of a crowd? Jesus is worthy. Sure, you can have some radio stats on your website. You can have a few details about yourself in your bio. Those details are necessary so people can get to know you better. But, when it comes to singing, regardless of the size of the crowd, promote Him, not yourself. That is what will draw a crowd.

Let’s compare this to healing. Why does the Lord choose to heal someone? So that He can be glorified. I believe the same goes with playing in front of a large crowd. If you truly promote Him instead of yourself, the crowd will come so that He can be glorified.

Additional scriptures to read and study: John 3:14-16, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, Colossians 3:1-4

5) What is your attitude toward others? Do you have an attitude of humility and compassion or an attitude of arrogance? I’m just being honest. I don’t know very many people that likes being around an arrogant person. Do you? Jesus has an attitude of humility and of compassion. If He was arrogant, I doubt He would have drawn a crowd.

“Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:10-11

Don’t treat others well just to be nice. People can tell when you are sincere. Have a true heart of humility and compassion. That’s the kind of person that draws people.

Additional scriptures to read and study: Matthew 23:11-13, Proverbs 15:32-33, Mark 6:33-34

Summation

What does it take to sing in front of thousands?
• Pray and devote yourself to the cause of Jesus Christ. He will reveal to you whether singing in front of thousands is His will for your life.
• Check your motives. The Bible promises you that when you commit your actions to the Lord, your plans WILL succeed.
• Devote 100% to your family and to your immediate audience. When you build God’s trust at the level you are at right now, He will advance you according to His will.
• Promote the name of Jesus Christ in every thing you do. He is capable of drawing a much bigger crowd than you could on your own.
• Treat everyone with an attitude of humility and compassion. Nobody likes a horse’s butt.

Blessings,
Jeff McLaughlin