WHEN GOD DRAWS NEAR

I grew up in a church where worship was vibrant and meaningful.  Sunday mornings were a little more formal, but Sunday evenings were more relaxed and casual with a good bit more singing.  Testimonies were common in the evening service where people would give a report of how God had helped or blessed them recently. 

These testimonies were often expressed with great creativity and passion.  Significant joy would be expressed over the way God had intervened in their life to solve a problem, meet a need or answer a prayer.  Some had a unique ability to tell a story with great suspense – even cultivating humor. Occasionally the congregation’s response would be with applause and a chorus of ‘Amens’! 

The congregation clearly had favorite hymns or gospel songs.  Even as a child, I observed that certain songs were highly likely to create a deeply spiritual response.  These times were frequently described as moments when the Spirit fell on the people.  The congregation would sing with passion and enthusiasm!  Full attention was brought to the worship of God!  Even when I was very young, I was sensitive to these times and knew that something supernatural was going on.  Some songs that had great potential to evoke this response were:

·         “It Is Well With My Soul”

·         “And Can It Be”

·         “The Wonderful Grace of Jesus”

·         “Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord”

As the years passed, I went to college, married, attended seminary and then entered the ministry.  Being a twenty-three year old pastor was a challenge.  But gradually, I gained experience and soon started to see kingdom growth in the churches that I served. 

Eventually, I learned new language for what I had experienced so often in my childhood.  It was largely initiated by a book I read titled EXPERIENCING GOD, by Henry Blackaby.

What I had experienced as a child/youth growing up in my home church were simply incidents of experiencing the presence of God!  He drew near to His people – often initiated by the creativity, sensitivity and passion of His people! 

I learned that my role as pastor was to plan and prepare in such a way that we would hopefully be enabled to experience His presence frequently in our worship.  This in no way implies that we could or would manipulate God!  Rather, It meant trying to create an environment of sincerity, deep meaning and worship that would somehow open a divine portal that would allow us to sense the presence of the Divine One! 

This became central to my planning for worship, preaching and involvement of others in the leadership of our worship! 

While leading the Free Methodist Community Church in New Middletown, Ohio, we received an odd request from an organization that was conducting a survey of growing churches across America.  After deliberating on their request to have our people fill out a 10-minute survey DURING WORSHIP, we agreed to participate.  Part of our motivation was that we would receive a complete report of our people’s responses along with an analysis of these responses.

In spite of the awkwardness, our people cooperated on the designated Sunday and the forms were packaged up and mailed the next day.  Weeks later, our Ministry Council received the results and poured over them with great interest!

We gained so much insight from this report and reviewed it repeatedly over the next year. 

The one thing that pleased me most was the fact that a large majority of our people reported that they EXPERIENCED THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN WORSHIP either regularly or frequently!

This became nearly our sole purpose for times when our people met for worship.  How could we plan and prepare in ways that would de-emphasize any one person or group of people – but, instead, keep the focus on God and His consummate goodness!

OBVIOUSLY, at times we were more effective at this than others times.  But our goal remained the same! 

For six years, I served as the Lead Associate pastor of the Cornerstone Church in Akron, Ohio, under the leadership of Pastor Brenda Young.  The church had doubled in size by the time I arrived on the scene, and would double again in the next six years! 

There is no way that I can describe this church adequately in a brief form!  It involved:

·         New converts EVERY WEEK!

·         Three packed out services every Sunday!

·         Powerful, educational, need-meeting preaching!

·         Dynamic prayer ministry!

·         Focused discipleship opportunities – with dynamic, dedicated leaders!

·         Massive, highly organized lay leadership!

You get the picture – right?

Brenda and I had frequent new attenders approach us and report that they couldn’t stop crying throughout the service.  Repeatedly we had the privilege of explaining to them that what they were experiencing was the PRESENCE OF GOD!

I am currently reading through Leviticus in the Old Testament.  It’s a dry, hard read that involves lots of rules about how the sacrificial system worked.

After four verses giving detailed instructions for how the priests should sacrifice a bull and a goat, I ran across these words in chapter 9:

[Moses speaking to Aaron – the high priest – and his sons]

Offer all these things to the LORD, because the LORD will appear to you today.

THAT CAUGHT MY INTEREST!

Then it immediately became boring again as the people were instructed to bring their sacrifices, prepare them properly and – with the help of the priests – offer them to the Lord!  This consumes seventeen verses!!!!!!!!

But then “Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them.” [v.22].

Then Moses and Aaron went into the Meeting Tent!!!!!

Then they came out and blessed the people, and the LORD”S glory came to all the people.

Fire came out from the LORD and burned up the burnt offering and fat on the altar.

When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and bowed facedown on the ground.

[vs. 23-24]

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WOW! WOW!  I’m thinking that nobody ever forgot THAT day!  What a memorable experience of the presence of God!

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I wish I could end this differently, but I have to admit that I don’t experience the presence of God very often anymore. 

One of the most disappointing things for me when I attend worship is when we are asked to sing songs that we don’t know!  Singing is one of the most engaging ways for me to enter into the vibrant worship of my God!  I’ve noticed that more hands are raised – in praise to God - while singing, than at any other time during worship.  What does that tell us? 

When I can’t sing [because I don’t know the song], I am deprived of the opportunity to worship!  Needless to say, this frustrates me!

In New Middletown, we introduced new music through offertories, special songs, and pre-service recordings for weeks before we ever asked the people to sing it in worship!  And we never introduced more than one new song at a time!  This allowed the congregation opportunity to be familiar with the song before being asked to sing it.

With music being so crucial to the effectiveness of worship, there is no room for ‘performers’ to ‘show off’ their skill and ability!  Worship teams can be very effective in facilitating meaningful worship, IF THEY MAINTAIN A HUMBLE SPIRIT AND SERVANT ATTITUDE! 

Worship is about PARTICIPATION not PERFORMANCE! 

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There’s SO MUCH MORE THAT I COULD SAY HERE, but I must limit myelf to keep this from becoming a book!

Another important factor to helping people to experience the presence of God is by allowing them an opportunity to respond!

My ‘growing-up-church’ encouraged altar prayer!  Everyone knew that you could go to pray at the altar at any time during worship.  If you did go to the altar to pray, there was a high likelihood that someone would come and offer to pray with you.

ALSO – after the message, there was almost always an opportunity given to respond to what we just heard!  Typically, this response was signaled by a raised hand [with all eyes closed and no one looking around], or by coming forward to kneel [or stand] at the altar [where someone – perhaps even the pastor would come and pray with you]. 

It’s easy to notice that many churches are being built today with NO ALTAR!  What does that scream?

Why bother preaching if there’s no call to change?  In so many churches that I’ve attended, the sermon is delivered and then the offering is taken.  WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT COMMUNICATE?  Common sense seems to have gone out the window! 

I hope you realize that there are so many other things we could discuss regarding experiencing GOD in worship:

·         The order for worship: three songs, announcements, prayer, the message, another song and the benediction!  Where is the creativity that is so marvelously illustrated in creation by our AWESOME GOD?

·         Lay participation: In some churches the pastor does just about everything – except for the music.  What about the gifts, passions and ability of our people?  Don’t they have something to offer to the leadership of worship? 

·         Efficient technology: How many times have you been unable to sing in worship because the words aren’t on the screen when you need them?  Make no mistake about it – anger and frustration are the response to this problem!

·         A message that is well-prepared and engaging: This is NOT a Bible study time.  It is a planned, prayed-over, carefully and creatively constructed message designed to educate and challenge people to follow Jesus more faithfully!  Being boring is unacceptable!

This is obviously a topic that I am passionate about. There is so much more that could be said. 

BOTTOM LINE:

People need to experience the presence of God regularly!  Churches and pastors need to prepare with great focus and effort to make the worship experience something that meets people at their points of greatest need! 

Bring your hurts
needs
questions
problems
anxieties
brokenness
frustrations
anger
disappointments
sorrow
grief
pain…

This place is not about a dynamic pastor
an amazing facility
a talented worship leader
an awesome worship team
a gifted speaker

This place is for meeting and experiencing a loving God!  He cares about YOU and wants to walk with you through this life and into the next!

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD - 6 [FINAL]

If you’ve followed these blogs about experiencing the presence of God, then you will have realized that this has been an experiential response to the subject and not a biblical or theological attempt to understand it. 

For most people, experiencing God’s presence is not a biblical or theological issue.  It’s experiential!  It’s closer to a sensing, feeling or awareness.  It’s noticeable and memorable!  It’s difficult to describe – yet you realize that it was real!  Frequently – when in a group – others with spiritual sensitivities will also sense it!  Comments will be made:

•         “Wow! The Spirit of God was really here tonight!”
•         “Whew! God drew near today, I could feel His presence!”
•         “The power of God was so real today, you could feel it!”
•         “What a blessed service! God came down!”
•         “I’m glad I didn’t miss this service! The presence of God was amazing!”

My personal experiences of God’s presence certainly aren’t limited to those described in the previous blog articles.

• i’ve experienced His presence many times at Family Camp!
• In the 1980’s and 1990’s I attended a lot of worship conferences where God became real to us!
• Minister’s Conferences were frequently visited by God’s holy presence!
• I’ve participated in small group gatherings where His presence became tangible!
• On my many retreats, I felt His presence and was left in awe!
• While viewing vistas during hikes, I’ve become overwhelmed with awe for God and felt His presence! 

I don’t believe there are limitations to when or where He might make Himself known!  It probably has a great deal to do with our openness and sensitivity! 

When I was very young, I paid particular attention to these times of God’s nearness while I was growing up.  I actually made an acute observation that I’ve never shared before.  I simply noticed that God often drew near when we sang the hymn, “When Peace Like A River”, by Horatio B. Stafford in 1873.  I observed outbreaks of shouting praises to God, humble weeping that prevented people from singing, and raised hands during the singing of this hymn.  To read the remarkable story behind this hymn, follow the link:  

https://steemit.com/steemchurch/@maycoded/when-peace-like-a-river-hymn-amazing-story-behind-the-hymn-you-don-t-wanna-miss-this

God dearly loves us!  He wants to bless His children!  He will make His presence known, if we will simply tune in and yield to the tender work of His Holy Spirit!

May you experience His presence soon and often! 

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD – 5

Working with Brenda Young at Cornerstone Church in Akron, Ohio, was exhilarating and foundational.  I learned a lot through her teaching and modeling.  By 2003, it became clear that she was leading the church in new directions and was beginning to target a younger age group than we had previously focused on. 

Coordinated with that, Superintendent Charlie Young offered me the opportunity to lead a church in the conference.  I believe his words were something like: “You’ve been operating under the radar long enough; the conference needs you to step up and lead a church.”  I didn’t accept his first offer.  However, when he mentioned the New Middletown Free Methodist Church – Debbie accepted the offer!  [Her family farm and five of her seven siblings lived in proximity to this church.] 😆

Actually, I had made an attempt to move to New Middletown when we were leaving East Liverpool in 1995, but the superintendent – at that time – appointed his son instead.  Subsequently, we moved to Maryland. 

So, after much learning and amazing experiences, we quit our job with Shelter Care, packed up and moved to New Middletown, Ohio. 

Turns out, it was the hardest start at a new church that I had ever faced!  The church was deeply divided!  It’s a story of its own, but not a story for now.

Within six months, unity had been restored.  There had been some losses, but there had also been an equal number of gains. 

For the first several years, I tried not to change much, but to be dedicated to serving the people and discerning leadership potential.  Ultimately, the people began to respond and the congregation began to grow.  With the approval of the Ministry Council [think Leadership Board], we made a number of significant changes that would change the dynamics of the church considerably. 

Before long, we were averaging over 150.  We had developed two capable worship teams:  One Generation and Here’s Life!  Actually, we had a third team that played occasionally; we referred to them as the Gospel Team. 

Lay leaders were utilized heavily in the leadership of worship!  I had several that I used for preaching from time-to-time.  Our staff – of about ten leaders – met every Tuesday morning for evaluation and planning.  They were a very dedicated group and hard working! 

We tried hard to avoid predictability in worship.  Without being extreme, we made subtle changes in the worship format from week-to-week.  The music we learned and used was primarily upbeat and joyful.  My only participation in the service was to bring the message.  Other leaders did everything else.  I began writing dramas/skits to illustrate the messages.  I would turn them over to my sister-in-law, Laurie Mahosky.  She would recruit participants and add her own embellishments.  These were often humorous and sometimes quite powerful!  They were always well-received! 

Before long, our pews were being filled every week and we were breaking the two-hundred-barrier!  It was exciting.  For over a year we experimented with two services.  We saw explosive growth among our target group of individuals and couples in their twenties and thirties.  We had to expand our nursery shortly after to accommodate all of the new babies that were part of the congregation! 

We were recognized by our denomination two years in a row as a ‘Multiplying Church’.  It was about this time that we were asked to participate in a national survey of churches.  It was awkward because we were asked to have our people fill out a form during worship that would take nearly ten minutes.

We decided to participate, and our people took the awkwardness in stride.  The responses were immediately placed in an envelope and sent in.  Weeks later we received the results and our leaders pored over them to see what we could learn from these vital responses. 

We were delighted – above all – to see that when asked:  “How often do you experience the presence of God in your church’s worship?”, our people resoundingly responded “Regularly!”

It was a vital affirmation that we were on the right track! 

The worship was vibrant!  Prayer was highly prioritized!  All age groups were fully represented.  There were no open conflicts among the body of believers.  New people were attending regularly; not all stayed, but many did!  Leaders were being continually recruited and trained.  The entire ministry was led by teams! 

I have many memories of sensing the moving of God’s Holy Spirit during our worship times!  And I am grateful for His leadership and for His blessing! 

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD - 4

In February, 1997, the hand of God moved us to Akron, Ohio.  We had passed through deep waters as a family and had completely disrupted our lives for four months by essentially becoming homeless by choice.  I had left my appointment to the Spencerville, Maryland Free Methodist Church mid-year due to a family crisis.  After months of struggle, financial distress and utter dependence on God, we landed a job in Akron that provided a home and an income. 

We knew upon our arrival that we would attend the Akron Cornerstone Church, where seminary acquaintances of ours were the pastors: Charlie and Brenda Young. 

From the very first Sunday, Debbie and I, Troy and Tracie were wonderfully received.  Being in this new environment – where few knew me – catalyzed me to change my name from Harold to Hal.  😊  Within weeks, Brenda invited me to join the Cornerstone staff as a part-time associate.  Within a few months, she lost another pastor, and I became the Lead Associate Pastor of the church. 

This was the beginning of nearly six years of engagement that would challenge and grow me in ways I could never have imagined! 

Cornerstone had been led for years by Pastor Charlie [and Brenda].  It had become a healthy church that had built a new sanctuary and a strong, congregation of new believers.  Pastor Charlie had also planted another church during his tenure near Dalton, Ohio!  His passion was recognized and he was elected to be the Ohio Conference Superintendent.  Brenda became the new Lead Pastor at Cornerstone.

The already healthy and growing church nearly doubled in size in the next two years.  Brenda built aggressively on the foundation that she and Charlie had established through many years of persistent and excellent leadership! 

The Haire family arrived in the midst of this growth to see a vibrant church of four hundred with a busy schedule and a staff of part-time leaders. 

LET ME TRY TO DESCRIBE CORNERSTONE CHURCH AT THAT TIME

It was a vibrant church that was packing two services every Sunday morning.  Brenda referred to the congregation as having a mall make-up.  It was as though you went to the local mall and just randomly selected four hundred people and put them together in a church!  There was no common social definer. 

Brenda’s teaching/preaching style was a big key to the growth!  Her profoundly understandable manner of presenting the Word in practical terms simply drew people! 

The worship of the church was dynamic!  For one thing, having a worship center packed with people every Sunday does a lot to generate excitement!  The worship team was amazing!  The raw talent and fresh love for Jesus was evident in this group!  The mood of worship was praise and joy!  A prayer time was always observed when people would come forward and kneel around the altar four-and-five people deep!  It represented a passionate outcry to God and an utter expectation that He would draw near and help! 

[For a vivid picture of Cornerstone at that time, read my blog describing our family’s first visit to the church:  https://hal-lelujah.blogspot.com/2020/04/first-sunday.html]

THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING CHURCH THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN PRIVILEGED TO SERVE!

During my time of service with Brenda, we saw new converts every week!  The church’s outreach was largely based on several ‘feeders’:

1.       Brenda and I each did counseling.  Our intervention in failing marriages was significant! 

2.       The church operated Cornerstone Care, an in-house counseling center that was staffed by several counselors who were an integral part of our congregation.

3.       Jesus Said Ministry was a lay-led outreach to the homeless in downtown Akron every Saturday morning that provided – in an outdoor setting – hot food, free clothing, and vibrant, live worship!  The crowd often numbered around 150.  Many volunteers from various churches participated!

4.       The church offered a free meal every week in our fellowship hall to anyone who needed it!

5.       We operated a Sunday evening program called ‘Champion’s Institute’ that offered classes to help new believers grow in their new-found faith! 

6.       Cornerstone offered several crowd-gathering events each year on the property to gain an influence in people’s lives!

·         An annual outdoor music festival with food booths.

·         An Easter-Egg Hunt that drew hundreds of children and families!

·         A Trunk-n-Treat event over Halloween weekend that engaged the children creatively and generously!

·         A mid-summer cook-out that featured meat grilled by a couple of well-known Akron police officers! 

·         An outdoor Christmas Light-Up event that featured a famous Nativity set that had previously been featured on the roof of a downtown department store.

7.       Cornerstone offered an ongoing NA group, Divorce-Care group, prayer groups, Grief Share group, and a number of other specific opportunities for growth and self-improvement!

Forgive me for failing to mention so many other outreaches and programs that I simply am failing to recall! 

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD!!!!!!

Experiencing God’s presence was the norm at this amazing church!  It’s the only church I know of where 75% of the congregants were first-time believers!  Expectations were high! 

First-time attenders frequently reported that they couldn’t stop crying during worship.  We explained to them that they were experiencing the presence of God!!!!! 

Things got rowdy!  😂

This congregation had NOT been steeped in the traditions of the church!  They didn’t know ‘how to behave during worship’.  😆   Baptisms were greeted with vigorous applause, hoots, clapping and cheers!  People danced in the aisles on occasions to the thrill of the upbeat praise music!  When the doors were opened to the worship center, people ran to get the best seats and save them for others! 

Eventually, the church grew to over seven hundred!  We acknowledged that no one knew everyone anymore – not even Brenda! 

God showed up every Sunday and at every special event!  His presence blessed, healed, renewed, challenged and rescued hundreds of souls! 

There’s so much more that could be said and I feel that I’ve failed to truly and effectively describe this remarkable movement of God.  I know that my family was honored to be a part of this ministry.  When we left Akron, our son, Troy, stayed and became part of the young adult leadership who were beginning to take the church in new directions.  This engagement helped to ground him during critical years of his development!

I haven’t attended Cornerstone Church for a long time!  It is currently under the leadership of Jacob Young – Charlie and Brenda’s youngest son.  Their daughter, Rachel, is also a worship leader and major contributor to the ministry.  I’m confident that the passion is still high and the influence is still great.  When my current responsibilities at The Foundery FMC in Wellsburg, WV end, I hope to visit Cornerstone to reconnect with old friends and make new ones! 

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD - 2

At the age of thirty, I was appointed to lead the Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool, Ohio.  This church had a beautiful, relatively new building just off a main boulevard in the east end of town.  They owned nearly an entire block.  It included a pleasant foyer, lovely worship center, educational wing and a fellowship hall where you could feed one hundred people at a sit-down meal!  

Unfortunately, we arrived in East Liverpool simultaneous to the shutting down of the Crucible Steel Mill in nearby Midland, Pennsylvania.  As a result, sixteen hundred families had lost their main source of income!  

In addition, the community was significantly torn over opinions regarding the projected building of a Waste Technologies Industry facility within 1,500 feet of the church!  

These factors combined to make our arrival in East Liverpool a challenge!  Every church and business felt the stress of a community that was struggling for its very existence!  

But, remarkably, this was not the major cause of concern in the Oakland Church!  

The church had experienced a blessing of growth and new converts under the ministry of Harold Estel.  It was under his leadership that the new property was purchased and the new building erected.  

However, the growth of this period was devastated by several years of conflict and a mass departure of congregants, resulting in an older generation with a congregation of around seventy people.  

Upon my arrival, the leadership of the church was constituted by people from my parents' generation.  Some younger families and people remained, but they were not leaders or shapers of the future.  My leadership began in the summer of 1982.  

For a few years, I struggled to create changes.  Most of my ideas and suggestions were rejected.  

There is a general observation that a pastor will tend to reach those who are within a range of ten years younger or older.  This is, of course, not a hard-and-fast rule, but is a commonly accepted phenomenon.  Consequently, the growth we did see in those early years began to populate the church with couples and people closer to our age group.

One of the key teachers in the evangelical Christian community at this time was John Maxwell.  He was leading a seminar at this time called 'Breaking The 200 Barrier'.  I attended it alone.  Then, I attended it a second time and took two Oakland leaders with me.  Then, we went a third time with about eight leaders.  Finally, we went a fourth time with nearly a dozen leaders.

We began to see a wave of new converts.  As the worshiping congregation grew, there was some transfer growth [which is inevitable].  Within several years, we were a worshiping community of nearly one hundred fifty.  

However, the tension between generations continued.  Every gain came through opposition and conflict.  My role became one of being a moderator between the two groups: one that had led the church for decades and a newer, younger group with charismatic leanings that were eager to work, innovate and see Kingdom growth!  

The 1980's saw an explosion of new worship innovations as a result of the 'Praise & Worship Movement'.  Integrity Music, Hosanna and other creators contributed to this period.  The concept of leading worship with a team was beginning to become popular.  Oakland had enjoyed a rich tradition of music led by a song leader with an accompanist at the organ and piano.  We began experimenting with  new approaches in our Sunday evening worship.  It was well-received!  Gradually, we transitioned our morning worship as well.  The church continued to grow and we occasionally saw our attendance exceed two hundred!  It was a blessed time!  Too many stories to tell!  

Key lay leaders emerged who became significant influencers!  Gifted musicians partnered to create a free-flowing worship environment that energized our people and cultivated a deep love for God!  

The use of simple choruses and new musical forms catalyzed our worship experience.  All of this took place without abandoning the much-loved hymns of the church!  

As a result of the growth, the opposition became somewhat less intense - although it never ended!  The victories were gained by a simple, overwhelming growth - especially in the area of new converts!  

Many of my most noteworthy times of worship took place in the sanctuary of the Oakland Church!  I have purposely avoided mentioning names for fear of omitting someone who was key to this time of spiritual renewal!     

KEY FACTORS:

• MUSIC  -  Fresh, new, exhilarating music was a key factor in this renewal.  Capable, dedicated and willing musicians made it all possible!
• FAITH  -  The teaching propagated as a result of this renewal was faith-based!  Healings and expecting great things from God became a hallmark of this church's worship!  

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A Monday evening prayer group formed in a parishoner's home.  It's focus was worship and faith-based teaching.  It was characterized by healings and focused prayer!  This group had a dynamic impact on the church and the community!  It carried on its ministry for most of my thirteen years at the church!

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• TOLERANCE  -  We were bound together by our love for Christ!  There were many who held differences of opinion about theological matters and certain biblical perspectives.  However, these were not allowed to become divisive!  We maintained a passion for God and a desire to see His Kingdom grow!  

I am grateful to the many who contributed to this season of my life!  It was a corporate experience!  The fingerprints of so many allowed it to become a movement of God!  Most of my richest experiences of the presence of God came during those years!  I am forever grateful!  

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD - 1

Some reading this blog may be able to identify with my childhood experiences - others will find these descriptions foreign or strange.

I grew up during the 1950's and 1960's in a very spiritually oriented home.  I was the youngest of four children who were spaced over fifteen years.  I never really knew my oldest sister and brother very well.  My parents were very devoted to the Lord and this took its form through faithfulness to their church.  

Our church was a large church by 1960 standards.  A layman [Joe Douglas] was devoted to visitation and outreach and almost single-handedly grew the Sunday School to a record-high 614 one Easter Sunday around 1968!  The church operated three old school buses and brought [mostly] children in from neighboring towns.  

Another layman [Morrison Baker] was a charming and talented man who led the song service consistently throughout my growing-up years.  [The 'song-service' was the time of worship preceeding the giving of the message by the 'preacher'.]  We always had a pianist and organist to accompany our singing and they were equally capable at their assignment.  Consequently, this congregation loved to sing as an expression of their worship!

Although we did not sing through the hymnal, at one time or another we sang nearly every hymn!  I recall these times of singing with great favor - even those of us who were part of the youth group sang enthusiastically.  We loved the occasional Sunday evening when 'Brother Baker' would open it up for us to call out favorites.  We automatically hollered out number 106, which was "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" [written by Haldor Lillenas].  Our church was blessed to have people capable of singing all four parts enthusiastically, so - to our ears - we sounded like a grand choir!  

Something happened frequently during those 'song services'.  It's difficult to describe, but at some point I would sense that there was something more going on than just singing a song together.  In my childhood and youthful zeal, this experience simply caused me to want to sing louder and more enthusiastically!  I had little language to express what I was experiencing, other than to say that the service was really blessed that night.

As a theologically trained pastor reflecting back, I can now observe that these were genuine experiences of the presence of God through His Holy Spirit!  These experiences were fairly frequent, very powerful and usually came in the midst of our act of worship!  

These were simple, ordinary people who sincerely loved God and were trying to live their lives to His glory!  They had excellent leadership that fostered a great passion to see the Kingdom of God grow and expand!  

I am deeply grateful for these experiences of God's presence!  I hold these memories as precious!  They elicited in me a desire to continue to be in environments where God would draw close and we could sense His nearness!  That desire became a drive in me as I grew into the role of being a pastor!  I desperately wanted the churches that I led to be places where people would frequently experience the presence of God!  

JOIN GOD IN HIS WORK!

The second attempt also was removed with the title GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK!  This is really getting frustrating!  I've been posting my blog on Facebook since 2011 without a problem.  But in the last several weeks, it is being consistently removed.  If you're reading this, I hope you'll start coming directly to this blog regularly since I seem to be having problems promoting it on my main traffic system - Facebook!

It happened AGAIN!  Facebook removed this when I posted it to my page.  I had lowered the text so that no words were visible.  Apparently the title alone caused it to be rejected.  The title was JOIN GOD IN HIS WORK!  I guess that title suggests that I was seeking 'Likes'.  I'll change the title and try again...😤

When you read through the Old Testament, it is clear that God works in many places and in many people's lives at the same time!  

It is possible to deduce that God may not only have one, single, solitary plan - but many diverse plans that are independent of one another.

Let me illustrate:

In Genesis 14, Abram's nephew, Lot, was taken captive by a coalition of four kings and their armies.  Abram - hearing this news - leapt into action and rescued Lot and all his family and possessions from these opposing forces.  That's when something extraordinary happened.  

The priest-king of Jerusalem [at that time known as Salem], Melchizedek, came out to meet him as well and brought out bread and wine for them.  Melchizedek was a priest of the One whom he called 'the Most High God.'  Priest-king Melchizedek offered a special blessing to Abram:

"May Abram be blessed by the Most High God, Creator of the heavens and earth.  Blessing and honor to the Most High God, who has clearly delivered your enemies into your hands!"

Abram gave the priest-king a tenth of the captured goods he was bringing back with him.

[Genesis 14:18-20  All quotes from The Voice Bible unless otherwise noted.  Remember that in this version the words in italics are not in the original texts.] 

So, our question is:  Who is this Melchizedek and how did he find out and receive a calling from the God of Abram?  

Clearly, God had made Himself known to Melchizedek independently from the work He was doing in Abram's life! 

We should NEVER limit God!  We will never know all that God is doing nor in whom He may be working to advance His purposes!

Let's consider another instance of God's diverse work:

It occurs in the next book of the Bible: Exodus.  We may remember the story of Moses.  Adopted as a child by a princess of Egypt, he was raised in the royal family.  But as an adult, he was repulsed by the treatment of his people [the Israelites].  He killed an Egyptian and was exiled from Egypt.  After wandering in the wilderness he came to the land of Midian and found an encampment of the priest of Midian.  Moses married one of his daughters and spent forty years working for him as a shepherd!  

Who is this priest of Midian [Jethro]?  Who made him a priest?  How did he come to hear about the one true God?  He later played a vital role in giving Moses excellent counsel while Moses was leading this massive crowd of Israelites out of Egypt!  

We can not and must not put boundaries on God!  God does what He wants to do, when He wants to do it.  His ways are above our ways!   [Isaiah 55:9]

The Apostle Paul speaks to this issue as well in Romans 10.  He does so by quoting Deuteronomy 32:21.

[God speaking to the Israelites] 'I will make you jealous with a people who are not a nation.  With a senseless people I will anger you."  [Romans 10:19]

 [God speaking to Isaiah] "I showed My face to those who never asked for Me." [Romans 10:20]  

Even in the New Testament we find the apostles being upset because they came across a man who was casting out demons in Jesus' name!  

[John speaking] "Master, we found this fellow casting out demons.  He said he was doing it in Your name, but he's not one of our group.  So we told him to stop.

[Jesus responding]  "What? No! Don't think like that!  Whoever is not working against you is working with you."  [Luke 9:49-50] 

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I have been tremendously impacted by books that I've read through the years.  For a long time, I kept a 'Top Ten Shelf' of the ten books that had impacted me most!  Although it's difficult to choose, probably the number one book was EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry Blackaby and Claude V. King.  

The following are the premises that they present:

• God is always at work around you.
• God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
• God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
• God speaks through the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
• God's invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
• You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
• You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.

God is not satisfied that Franklin Graham is following Him and doing great things through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association AND Samaritan's Purse.  God is pleased - but not satisfied!  

God is active in the area where you live and work also!  God desires to have you join Him in His work!  He likely has work that you are ideally suited for!  When you and I fail to move out in faith to follow His leadings - it must be SO DISAPPOINTING to Him!  

Of course, God works through His Church!  Despite your bias, God even works through churches that you think have their theology wrong!  

But - believe it or not - God does a lot of His work through vehicles and people outside of the Church!  God is not limited to working through ecclesiastical systems!  Are you kidding?  There are NO RESTRAINTS on God!  

He has always been working independently and aggressively through the lives of those who are genuinely committed to Him and AVAILABLE TO HIM!!

Are you one of those?  How have you responded to God in the last year?  Where have you joined Him in His work?  Is your fruit basket full or empty?  

Are you consciously looking around to see where - in your world - God is working?  Are you eager and wil work?  

Don't just look in your church!  He may be working in your school, or neighborhood, or family, or small group, or work place, or sports team...

Wherever you see Him working - make whatever adaaptations you must to join Him!  You'll NEVER be sorry!

EXPERIENCING GOD!

In the final chapter of Isaiah (66), God declares how displeased He is with the worship of His people.  God finds it to be vain, meaningless, and self-serving!  The people ignore God and His messages and do the very things that God has declared evil!  Some have remained faithful, but they are hated by their families who mock God and ridicule them! 

Here we have an incidence where the people are faithfully exercising the practice of worship and suddenly receive a message from God that their worship practices are missing the mark! 

How would that go down in our churches today if we were to suddenly get a message from God telling us that our worship is a colossal disappointment to Him? 

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I learned so much about worship over my years of leading the church!  My education began in my home church during my growing-up years.  It was impacted by worshipping in a very large campus church while I was in college.  Then it was further tempered by the seminary communities that I participated in for over a decade.  Then, suddenly, I was forming and leading worship in small Free Methodist churches.

I prepared studiously and read voraciously.  I experimented with various forms from liturgical to charismatic.  I sat at the feet of those who seemed to be most successful in growing great churches.  I read their books, visited their churches and attended their seminars.  I was not lacking in zeal or effort!

Over time, my passion became focused.  I wanted people to experience the presence of God the way I had experienced it so many times! 

During my thirteen years at the Oakland Church in East Liverpool, Ohio, I found quite a number of kindred spirits who worked with me to create a vibrant worshipping environment.  This coincided with the explosion of the praise and worship movement of the 1980’s and 1990’s.  God taught me so much during these years!

One example:

I began to notice that there were three sensitive women in that congregation who would often manifest the presence of God moving in our midst through the expression of tears.  As I would close services, if I saw these three women using handkerchiefs to wipe away tears, it was a signal to me that God was moving and I should tarry!  This signal never led me astray!

Then, in 1994, the book, EXPERIENCING GOD: HOW TO LIVE THE FULL ADVENTURE OF KNOWING AND DOING THE WILL OF GOD, came out [by Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King].  It was one of the most formative books I ever read – and I consumed it! 

I began to form and shape worship with the hope and intention that in the process of our worship, the people would ‘experience the presence of God!’  Frequently, I experienced the presence of God even while I was preaching!  I often had to take a moment to compose myself before I could continue!  Although a man who rarely experienced tears, they came frequently as I was trying to proclaim God’s Word!

My personal pilgrimage led to being the Lead Associate Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Akron, Ohio, where I eventually became the worship leader.  Under Brenda Young’s superb and passionate leadership, this church was exploding with new believers!  Three packed-out services every Sunday were characterized by passion, spontaneity, and spiritual hunger!  People were clearly experiencing the presence of God! 

First-time attenders would often ask us why they couldn’t stop weeping throughout the service.  Over and over, Brenda and I got to explain to them that they were experiencing the presence of God!  It was something brand new to them!

When I returned to being a solo pastor in New Middletown, Ohio, after several years we participated in an awkward national survey where our people literally took about ten minutes during worship to fill it out.  It was sealed in an envelope and sent back to the creators.  Months later, we received the results of the survey and were totally blessed to find that a large percentage of our people reported that they regularly experienced the presence of God during worship!  By God’s grace and through His faithfulness, we were hitting the mark!  PTL!

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Years have passed.  I am now retired.  I no longer form worship.  I sit in the pew with everyone else.  I am worshiping in a tradition that is very formal and predictable.  I have great respect for the leadership of this church and am learning to love the people.  This church is growing – although some of this growth seems to be ‘transfer growth’ – which is inevitable when a church begins to see good things happen.

I yearn to experience the presence of God!  Don’t you?  Experiencing His presence exceeds any other thing I am capable of knowing in this world! 

Fanny Crosby [1820-1950] knew what I’m talking about.  She wrote about it in her hymn, “Blessed Assurance”:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Lord,

If these little glimpses/experiences I’ve had are a foretaste of glory divine, then I can’t wait to be with You forever!  Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Amen.

EXPERIENCING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Matthew 5 starts out with the remarkable story of Jesus teaching from Peter’s boat.  We know that they already knew one another because in the previous chapter Jesus goes to Peter’s house for dinner and heals his mother-in-law.  We have no way of knowing from scripture just how long they had been acquainted, but we would be safe to assume that the relationship had some length to it.  Maybe Jesus had worked on Peter’s boat for him?  We can make the same assumptions about Andrew, James and John. 

You know the story.  After the teaching session – which took place a short distance from the shoreline – Jesus turned to Peter and told him to drop his nets again.  Now, Peter had just cleaned the nets after a fishless night on the lake.  He responds:  “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.”  [v.5 NASB]   Wise decision, Peter! 

Upon letting the nets down, they immediately filled with fish to the point of breaking their nets!  We’ve seen this portrayed in movies – it was a joyous and amazing moment!  Peter quickly calls for help from James and John and both boats end up filled with fish!  The financial benefit of this is never mentioned in the scripture, but it had to be significant! 

But the story is not over yet.  Peter fell to his knees in front of Jesus and said:  “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”  [v.8 NASB]

Have you ever been there?

I know you have. 

Experiencing the presence of God is an essential part of our worship.  I led a nearby church for nine years that grew substantially – enough so that we went to two services!  When we polled the people, they reported that they regularly experienced the presence of God in our worship!  It was SO EXCITING for our leaders to discover this!  It was our goal and the people confirmed that we were reaching our goal!  All our planning, prayer and preparation was worthwhile!  PTL!  Woo Hoo!

When you experience the presence of God, it is mystical and overwhelming!  It just happened Sunday while I was teaching a small Sunday School class and was so filled with awe for God that I could barely speak the words of my testimony!  Everyone sensed it!  We KNEW God was present!  We all left with a greater determination to follow Him more faithfully!  That’s what happens when we experience His presence! 

In my mind’s eye, Jesus reached out and offered Peter His hand.  “Get up, Peter!  You’re still going to be a fisherman!  Your catch is just going to men and women now!”  Then, He probably pulled Peter into His chest and wrapped His arms around him in a bear hug of joy!  After that, Andrew, James and John all probably came and hugged him too!  It’s a ‘man thing’!

PRAYER

Lord,

Experiencing Your presence is something we live for!  Someday, we’ll live in Your presence for all eternity, and we can only imagine the joy and fulfillment of that experience!  We rejoice that some of our loved ones are already there! 

But, for now, we simply yearn for moments when the divine touches our lives, minds and hearts.  It does occasionally occur when we’re alone with You and our Bible is open before us with tear-stains on it’s pages.  But, more-often-than-not, it occurs when we’re with others of kindred faith in a worship setting – small or large. 

You visit!  We sense it!  And we never want it to end! 

It purges us, renews us, determines us, and strengthens us. 

It doesn’t happen near as much as we’d like it to, but we live for the next time! 

The last words in our Bibles:  “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.”  [Revelation 22:20-21 NASB]