There's something about the atmosphere there. I can't wait to get there to hear what God is going to say and see what He is going to do. I always try to arrive about 45 minutes early to insure myself a good seat near the front and on the isle, otherwise, it ends up being standing room only. I'm here to touch God... well, be touched by Him. I'm here to worship Him freely, without rush. I'm here to see what happens? What will God say through the minister? What will He say through the testimonies and words of His people? What will He do? Will someone give their life to Him today? Will someone be healed? Will someone be set free of the things of this world that so easily hold us back from experiencing the fullness of what God has to offer?The first time I arrived at this church, I got as close to the front as possible. I wanted to see what was going on. Was it true? Was God really doing something in this place? I wanted to know! I wanted to see it with my own eyes. I wanted to judge for myself. And if I found it to be true... then what must I do to be a part? What would God require of me? Forget all the rituals and traditions that I so dearly love. I'm not going to let my self, my routine or the way I prefer things... get in the way. I can toss those out the window if it's really God. Yes, if God is moving, I want to move with Him. I don't want to miss out! God forbid that I become a modern day pharisee and miss Christ in my midst. No way! I wont let that happen. I would see for myself, test it with God's Word and know if it was truly God.
So there I sat, upfront, with a view of everything. I didn't really know the music, so I found myself being a bit more of an observer than I care to admit to. Of course I would proceed with caution until I knew it was undoubtedly God. Even though the music was not what I was accustomed to, I recognized the atmosphere immediately. It was the same as that of a revival I attended decades ago. People would line up outside my home church, a couple hours in advance, just to get into the house of God. Then they would stay sometimes til after midnight. So much for a 7:00 - 8:30 pm midweek service. Not during revival! This went on for months and months and months! Without argument, people's lives were changed for the better!
When I sat and looked around the front of the church here, I saw people singing and dancing, lifting up their hands, praying, hugging, some crying tears of joy, some were even laughing. They all seemedso happy.
Happy about God. Happy about Life. Happy to be there. Yup!
Happy. Happy. Happy. And you know what? I found myself to be quite happy. Even as an observer, I found myself happily content, satisfied, and filled with wonder. I felt like I belonged there. I felt home. (And you know that there's no place like home. Right?) It was really nice... really nice!
Shouldn't church be like that?
Here's what I didn't see. I didn't see fancy clothes. I didn't see sour puss faces. I didn't see people eager to leave. I didn't see contention among the people.
I just saw a lot of smiles... a lot of people pressing in to God... a lot of people hungry for God and waiting for Him. And while they were waiting, they seemed to be celebrating Him. Wow! It was all about Him! Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
So here I am, back again today. I don't know... I think this might be my 4th or 5th time now. Does that mean I'm becoming a regular? I can't seem to stay away. Like a magnet, I find myself drawn here. Up until now, I've told everyone that I'm here for the "Special Speakers" that they have had. But today, there is no special speaker. The pastor is speaking today. And boy did he speak. And WOW did God speak through Him. Oh my gosh... it was great! So what made it so great? What made it so God?
Well... let me see. For one thing, the anointing was all over this man. Do you know what the anointing is? That's when God's Spirit clothes himself in someone. It's a perfect example of Divine Partnership. The speaker may be good or not so good on there own... it's irrelevant, because when God partners with them, that Divine Touch and Infilling brings the whole experience to a stratospheric level that's humanly impossible. It's pretty funny because you can see the personality of the man or woman involved. Yes, their unique characteristics are right there in front of you. But you can also see the Love and Power and Wisdom of God as well. When you know the person, it's even more intense, because you know that's not them!
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord."
Zechariah 4:6
It's as if God is speaking to everyone specifically, even though it's just one message. Sometimes the person will speak to a specific individual about things that only God could know. People feel God tugging on their heart so powerfully that they can't help themselves... next thing you know, they're running to the altar. They are praying. They're praising. They're dropping everything... their agenda... their life... their sins... and turning to God. They're stopping their life and following Christ! But people don't do that for people. They only do that for God! God makes himself known, and people can't turn away... they can't leave like they came. If they do... they end up unhappy. And... if they don't walk away... they end up at the front the next week and the week after, dancing and singing with the happy people. (You get the picture.)And what about me? Well, I guess I'm up there in the front because I mean business too. I want whatever God wants. So, like anything else in life, I'm wearing my RED shoes to this church and taking one step at a time, one day at a time, one service at a time.
God spoke to me today through that pastor. The pastor said some general things that could have meant a number of things to a number of people... BUT inside my head, God was zoning right down to the specifics of My Life and My Heart. No one else could hear what He was speaking to me, but His voice seemed to be on loud speaker within me... challenging me to take action!
Yeah... so I was one of those people running to the altar, hands lifted high and shouting out to God, "Jesus!" There I was confessing to Him in my mind that I heard Him and that I wanted His way, not my way! Why? Because I know His way always works out best! A deeper happy is a good thing. It's a God-thing!
Gail
