A group of artists came together to participate in a very unusual art project. Phase one, the artists were tasked with creating their best “Crown of Thorns” piece. Phase two, which was kept secret, became a very unusual, powerful experience for all those involved. The paintings themselves were done on a 2′x2′ piece of plywood in the medium and style of the artists choice.

Every good and perfect gift is from our father, but lets not make idols of them. Remember the golden calf? The gold was plunder from Egypt which the Lord gave them, yet they crafted idols from God’s gifts & blessings.

We are reconcilers, reformers, co-laborers, ambassadors for Christ that means we are re-presenting Christ and His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Our time, talent and affections are to be his, and is agenda is knowing Him and making Him known; seeking and saving that which is lost.

Above: Artist Susan Gromala Crary

Above: Artist Jim McMahel

Above: Artist Jerryl Kain

Above: Artist Jeanne Smith

Above: Artist Antonio Santos

Above: Artist Keelan

Above: Artist Scott Howe

Above: Artist Cody Duncan

Above: Artist Neysa Millan Santiago

PHASE TWO

After presenting their finished paintings to the group, the artists are challenged to their surprise, to offer on the altar as a sacrifice, the very paintings they just created, as a representation of giving Jesus Christ full lordship of their creative abilities.

God promises Abraham a son, (Gen 17:15-21) and  that nations and Kings will come through him. After Isaac is born, God tests Abraham (Gen 22:1-18, asking him to surrender Isaac back to Him, by sacrificing him on the altar. God asks Abraham to release back to him the very thing he has blessed him with; that which he holds most dear, that for which he has hopes & dreams and even a word from the Lord! We believe God is asking us to place ultimate trust into His hands; to release what we hold most dear and personal, our creative ability, for His purposes alone – to make His name known in the earth not our own.

Pastor Larry Ramirez was the one-man wrecking crew who volunteered to smash the paintings. As he starts the dirty work he begins sharing about the sacrifice of Jesus and the atoning work that took place on the cross of Calvary. Almost immediately we feel the breath & presence of God. We began to get just a slight understanding of God’s love and the cost of Christ’s blood to buy us back.

Almost all of us are moved to tears as we experience God’s love for us, the sacrifice of His son and the ongoing furious pursuit for the souls of all men and women.

We gathered together on the altar and offered ourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES to our Lord and King. Our creativity, our hopes and dreams, our very lives offered to Him for His purposes!

Something significant happened in our lives that day. Something shifted in our perspective that will drive us in a greater way to do all things for the glory of God and no longer to the glory of ourselves.

It’s time for creatives to get serious about Godly character as they are about their art form. Many creatives put much more thought into the technical aspects of their craft than into their personal commitment to God. Many have a vision as to how they want their music to sound, art to look, creative endeavor to go, but have no real vision how to press in deeper to the things of God. This shouldn’t be. Hours and hours are spent finding new music, going to shows, art openings, movies, to study the industry greats, but somehow a lack of motivation sets in for prayer, bible study, and gathering to discuss Jesus Christ. Being a creative myself, I understand the draw of industry performances and whatnot, but we cannot be wooed away from our first love by it.

Our God is longing for us to sit before him (luke 10:38-42), meditating, confessing, casting cares, interacting with the living God and coming to know him (John 17:3). We must be willing to recognize when our creative interests are becoming idols that consume much of our time.

In his book, “How Saved are We?”, Dr. Michael Brown says this,
“We spend hours watching TV and movies but minutes watching in prayer”
” We are hungry for sports, but have little taste for the scriptures”

What good is it for us to excel in our creative talents but have a calloused heart toward God. What will it profit us to be exalted for our talents but have nothing to say. We need the burning words of Jesus on our lips! We need a flaming heart of compassion for our generation! Spending quiet, intimate time with our God, beholding his face is essential to a life with Him. I urge you to become a genuine, diligent seeker of Christ before the diligent study of your craft. (Mat 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Scott Howe
evoke ministries