The conductor began the laborious task of demonstrating numerous styles of leading the orchestra and their response to his leadership. Mandy and I were ignorant to the importance of the conductor. We never really understood his purpose but now we clearly understand. We get it, so to speak! As the conductor would make ever so slight changes in his style of leadership, it would greatly impact the musicians for good or for bad. He demonstrated their ability to play a piece of music with no conductor and their ability to do it quite well. Then as he stepped into lead, we watched, we listened and we felt the difference in the various styles. The conductor would ask the musicians for feedback on how they were impacted by a particular style. At times, the feedback was that they felt controlled and frustrated. Their unique expression and creativity was stifled. Other times, they were bored and checked out. One of the musicians said she felt fear due to the fact that they were not seated with one another, in close proximity. There were "strangers" among them. We were amazed at the impact that such subtle changes in style could have on the orchestra.
The conductor interviewed "the spies" and they testified that they could feel the difference in the atmosphere and could hear a different sound with each style of leadership. As this process was going on, for an hour and a half, the Lord was speaking clearly to me that this is what He was asking of me. He is asking me to steward a move of God, with each of you and with those we have yet to meet. He showed me that the conductor has no instrument (although, he probably plays numerous instruments) but that he needs to "know" the musicians and the sound that each are to produce in order to be able to guide them to make the beautiful sound that they all want to come forth. Each person in the orchestra has to be postured to bring forth their sound, at a moment's notice. The conductor can't make the sound of the violinist, or the percussionists, or the winds, or the horns, etc.. But, he has to know their sound to be able to call them forth and cause them to work with the other musicians to bring forth the One Sound. The Spirit was impressing on me that this is the Sound of Heaven. The Spirit desires to lead and draw out the sound of His Body, in harmony, with one another to impact the earth with the Kingdom of God.
The last demonstration was when the conductor led the orchestra in his natural way that he was designed and skilled to lead in. The sound that came forth was glorious! I was in tears as I witnessed what God wants to do with us, His Body, here on earth. He has a powerful and beautiful work to do through us, individually, and collectively. It requires that we know "our sound", our identity in Him. It requires that we follow His lead and that we work together as One, knowing and respecting each other's sound. It requires that we value what each have to offer, and recognize that is unique and like no other. To bring forth the fullness of the sound we need to get "close" to each other, by the spirit and by our souls.
I was overwhelmed with the awareness of needing to know each of your "sounds" and how to draw you out with one another to make a melody that only God could create. I am humbled and I am clinging to Jesus for each and every step. I have NO IDEA how to do this! I pray that the Spirit will teach each of us and that we will grow in this area, as He makes us into One, His Body, to do mighty exploits in His Name! Glory to God! It will be awesome and it will be beyond anything we can imagine! Hang on...for He is ordering our steps towards an adventure of a lifetime!
