11/21/2018
Do you regularly go to church, and if you do, how do you worship God? More to the point is this... do you worship God together as a church body? Do you lift up your praise, worship, and prayers as one, and then wait on Him? Congregations that don’t worship together might contain specks of brilliant faith scattered within the pews, but never really meet God as He desires.
“It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."”
Isaiah 25:9 ESV
It is tempting for us to go to Church on the Sabbath, take our place on the pew, and sit there observing the ritual unfolding around us, sometimes we might worship alone, while at others we will just bide our time until at last the pastor says “Go in peace!” We leave for home in the same sad condition as we arrived, never having met God, and with little to no change in our lives. In our scripture passage from Isaiah we read twice of the people exclaiming they met God... did your congregation meet God last Sunday? Did your church rise up as a whole in worship and experience the Holy Spirit? Did you tend to the needs of the many, as well as the individual, through joint prayer and waiting?
“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:44-47 ESV
There is purpose in our gathering together, and there was purpose in the formation of the church. Jesus called 12 disciples, and then continued to gather others to Himself. He told Peter that he would be the rock on which He would build His Church... even at a time when people were receiving and worshipping Jesus individually, and in small groups. God deals with us as individuals, but specifically calls us together for collective worship. Andrew Murray spoke to this power of coming together in prayer and waiting when wrote these words...
“The purpose would also be to bring everyone in a praying congregation to a deeper sense of God’s presence, so that when they go their separate ways, they have a consciousness of having met God, of having left their requests with Him, and of knowing that together they can do what individually is not possible.” - Andrew Murray
Do we leave our church with that communal sense of having met God, or is our congregation comprised of a few glowing sparks scattered within the pews... struggling to stay lit amidst the cold dark embers that surround them? There is power and strength in praying and worshipping together, and when we do so with all our heart, mind, and soul, amazing things begin to occur, our body of believers is reignited, and the Church is restored as a fire in the night... leading the lost to itself.
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
Jeremiah 29:12-14 ESV
So individually we are like candles, but together we become a raging fire of faith which can’t be easily snuffed out, and whose light shines as a beacon... even seen by the host who reside in Heaven. Our flames join and feed on one another to the glory of God, and by so doing save us as one, and together as we shine around the world.
“"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for hearing our prayers as we worship you as one body. I thank you for your Holy Spirit that quickens us and gives utterance to the needs and desires of our spirits, and I thank you for Jesus Christ who redeemed us, and called us together as a Church to worship you in power, to strengthen even the weakest in faith among us, and to reach out into the dark world that surrounds us. We lift up our hands and our voices in praise, and give all glory unto you. Help us to establish our individual faiths Father, but open our eyes to the blessings and strengths we receive by worshipping you together. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you the God of all who would bow before you, and approach you in love, and great faithfulness. Send your Son Jesus for us as the one lost sheep, but shepherd us together as your flock. Praised be your name Holy Father... now and forevermore by all men as one.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."”
Matthew 18:20 ESV
Rich Forbes