The Spirit of the Lord

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord. (Lamentations 3:25, Psalm 27:14)

The Spirit of the Lord was with us Sunday! It's as if God is beginning to turn our mourning into dancing. It's been a long time since there was truly a joyful noise made unto the Lord there. 

Our church has had its share of troubles over the years and it seems like we've just been getting through the tough stuff (the series Pastor Rory Grooters has been preaching on since the beginning of the year). Sometimes you get used to feeling dry and lifeless. But you get through. That's what God wants us to do. He wants you to tough it out and just wait...on Him. He promises good things to those who love Him enough to wait for Him (1Corinthians 2:9).

His plans are not like ours. His thoughts are not like ours either. He sets the plans in motion behind the scenes. He doesn't always give clear vision as to what He's doing. He wants us to trust that what He does will be good, even if in our eyes we think things are not.

As followers of Christ we are not immune to difficulties in life or in church. Times and seasons change and sometimes not quite to our liking, but we muddle through in the lasting power of Jesus.

It seems like we knew something was missing and Sunday's weren't like they used to be...because our hearts were weary and oppressed in a way over the changes, disturbances, whatever, in our Sunday routine. But it has also brought us to that place where we should be anyway, in prayer...seeking God and His mercy over us, asking forgiveness for our faults and even our own desires as a church, praying His will be done here on earth, in our church, in our lives, as is in heaven. What, O Lord, is Your desire?

It's during those difficult times, in the valleys, that changes are actually being made. Hearts are being changed, minds renewed or even being shown how this change is oh so necessary. I looked back this very morning and saw how things have changed in our church. Subtle changes, almost imperceptible on a day to day basis, but when you look back...amazing.

We have gone from a larger congregation to bare bones. We have fallen on hard times. But God...has had a plan all along. Although we only see bits and pieces right now, we know there is, as I like to think often "there's something brewing in God's atmosphere."

Our church has gotten down to nearly a remnant. Those whose hope all along has been in the Lord, knowing He has a plan, not willing to back down or flee because of the difficulties, but rather waiting to see what God has planned. It's an important plan for those who have been willing to stick it out, for those desiring more and willing to wait. I heard someone say a couple weeks ago on TV that it's not about the numbers in a church. Do you want the presence of 10,000 people...or do you want the One Presence? Oh, how I know this. 

Years ago when we first went through an upheaval I poured out my heart to God and all I heard was, I want you to stay, dig in your heels, get involved...and wait and see what I am going to do. The word "I" had a very confident soundness to it. I've hung on to those words and that promise. I've been waiting, sometimes not so patiently. It's not always been easy. I've been tempted to check out other churches, but could never do it. Those words would come to mind.

There is something well worth waiting for, of that I am convinced. A heart that doesn't give up even when things feel dry or dead is a heart after God's. God is always at work, if not only to see who is willing to wait on Him.

Our pastor said on Wednesday night as we discussed more in the Book of Revelation that there should be shouts of joy to the Lord. He's convinced that heaven will be a delightfully noisy place with all the worship we will be doing day and night to God. Revelation 19:1,3,4,9 - After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! Again they said, Allelujah! ... And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, Amen! Alleluia! And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Pastor Rory believes, and I think he's right, we should be practicing here on earth!

Look how easy it is for us to become enthused over our favorite sports teams. Turn that kind of enthusiasm and joy over to God! He desires it. Why should we feel uncomfortable? He's not some tyrannical God expecting us to grovel in fear at His feet. When we've made amends with Him we should have a reverent fear but also an exuberant joy, a shout of joy, from what He has taken us from and to what He has delivered us.

Think about it, if there are saints, angels and "creatures" in heaven right now worshiping Him, why shouldn't we be demonstrative here on earth? A precursor to what heaven will be like! Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, said David:

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and  bless His name. (Psalm 100:1, 2, 4) 

Who said church had to be solemn? Why not show joy? Why not clap and shout...even dance to the Lord? If it was good enough for David, why not for us? Let's get over the feeling that well look like idiots! If we are doing this in spirit and in truth it's the right thing to do. Let me add that our pastor also mentioned either Wednesday or Sunday that raising a shout or a joyful noise unto the Lord shouldn't be done to rev up the church. It's our own personal show of devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords. It must come from a pure heart of worship, not show.

I'm quite quiet by nature. But He may have other plans. The key is obedience. The key is worship. I don't know where we're headed as a church, but there are plans in motion. Maybe there has been a spark that will one day become a flame to become a fire. If it's of the Lord, I'm all for it. It's been too long, this desert.

Isaiah 40:31 - They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.