Scripture
– NIV
Exodus
20:21 –
The
people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where
God was.
Hebrews
12:18-19, 22-24 –
You
have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire;
to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking
words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,
But
you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,
to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have
come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to
Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a
better word than the blood of Abel.
Exodus
32:1 –
When
the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they
gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As
for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has
happened to him.”
Exodus
33:7-11 –
Now
Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away,
calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the
tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all
the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until
he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would
come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the
people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all
stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The Lord would speak
to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to
the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Exodus
33:14-15 –
The
Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Then
Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up
from here.”
Matthew
18:20 –
For
where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.
Hebrews
10:25 –
Not
giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging
one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Revelation
21:3 –
And
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God.
Romans
12:2 –
Do
not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will.
Bob’s
thoughts:
When
we pray for God to lead us to where we can meet with Him in worship and the
opportunity arises to visit with our daughter and her family, it’s an easy
choice.
With
a lot of interaction with our grandchildren, my note-taking was poor. The
message was “Gathering in His Presence” and I surely felt that today.
The
message raised the question, do I really want to meet with God or am I
worshiping something else? There was a time in my life where my tools were my
god, and His great gift was to help me find my way home.
We
were encouraged to come expecting to meet God, and I would extend that to
everywhere at any time. I had a great ministry time today during the service
with my grandchildren and then later in the narthex with a sister in Christ.
God can and will talk to us and use us. Be prepared!
Jan’s
thoughts:
We
were invited by our grandchildren to attend worship, so of course we were
there.
This
church is typically welcoming and cordial, and as many times as we’ve been
here, we meet new people each time. Some members introduce themselves and
others recognize us as visitors when they see us with our grandchildren and stop
to greet us.
The
sanctuary has been rearranged since our last visit: the rows of chairs are
still in place and new square tables enhance the back for an appealing and
slightly different seating option. The sanctuary was newly decorated for the
Christmas season including trees, poinsettias, and lighting in the appropriate
Advent color of purple. Everything looked sparkly and full of joy, much like the
people.
The
music was led by the excellent praise team…I wish they had a name but if they
do, I don’t know it.
The
Advent sermon series is “Come Let Us Adore Him” and today’s part one was “Gathering
in His Presence.” The pastor began by defining worship as connecting with God,
and stated that we should always expect to meet God and experience His Presence.
He
suggested if we are not meeting God in worship, asking 1 – Do I truly want to? and
2
– Am I worshiping something else? He stated that worship is a response to God’s
Presence, and that God promises to be present when we gather together.
In
order to experience God’s presence in worship, he advised, 1 – Arrive expecting
to meet God; 2 – Be alert for God’s presence; 3 – Be open to different
expressions of God’s presence; and 4 – Say “yes” to his lead.
Sensing
God’s Presence in worship transforms the hour (+/-) into a holy time that
rejuvenates and fills the soul with joy and purpose. It paves the way for God’s
Holy Spirit to speak to the heart and can change everything. If these practices
can help me experience God’s Presence more often, it’s worth any effort necessary.
Our
prayer for this church:
Lord,
we feel the excitement in Your church and ask that You sustain them as they
grow closer to You. Amen.
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