Yesterday, as I revisited a post, I had shared a few days earlier, I felt compelled to add comments. As I started to write down the comments some kinds of heaviness came over me and some points started flowing incessantly, and I found myself jotting down those thoughts one after another. Unexpectedly, Bible verses began surfacing in my mind. Although I thought I had captured most of these thoughts last night, doubts crept in about whether I should share them, fearing controversy. I deliberated and entrusted the decision to God through prayer.
Upon attending church, I was struck by the alignment between the sermon, the songs, and the concerns articulated in the article. The scripture from Matthew 21:13 resurfaced: “And He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a “den of thieves.”‘” It became evident that when God desires to bring about revival or communicate with His people, He does so in diverse ways— we just need to be attentive.
As the pastor preached, the message echoed the need for believers to restore the altar and reinstate God to His rightful place. Drawing insights from the book of Luke, the lesson underscored that acknowledging Jesus as Lord is insufficient; the essence lies in surrendering to His lordship and letting Him rule over us. For God to rule over us there are things we must let go. The preacher poignantly posed the question: while we profess belief in God, are we genuinely willing to submit to His rule and authority over our lives?
Coffee in the Sanctuary
I invited a friend to a fellowship, and everything was going smoothly until she suddenly started coughing. To worsen matters, it was during the COVID pandemic, even though I was confident it wasn’t anything contagious, possibly just due to dry air or some other factor. I promptly got up to get her a hot drink to soothe her throat while the service continued. This is one Peculiarity. But when this becomes a regular practice, it is worth giving attention to. The enemy will build up anything from nothing to distract the true worshippers.
I recently posted a question on some platforms on whether you would rather finish your coffee before entering the church or sipping it during the service. I got some different interesting responses. This type of topic is not for everyone. It will make no sense to people who have nothing to do with God or the church. Some babes in Christ might still need some milk for their growth.
But for the people like Mary who would prefer to sit at Jesus’s feet soaking in the words, rather than be with Martha her sister in the kitchen cumbered with entertainment and food- (Luke 10), they understood and valued their faith. We are talking about people like David who will say I will not give anything to God that cost me nothing – 2Samuel 24:24. People like Jacob who wrestled with Angel saying “I will not let you go unless you bless me” – Genesis 32:26. We can’t do such thing with drink in our hand. Even if we are so addicted to coffee, we don’t drink it 24/7. We should be able to give God the essential rapt attention during 1 or 2 hours of service.
Sing a little, sip a little, listen to the sermon a little, sip a little. This might not only distract us from getting the best but could also distract the people around us. The concerning aspect is that if it is encouraged it will spread like wildfire, it’s a matter of time. Walking with King requires some levels of discipline, and our attitude toward God’s things will determine how far we can go with Him.
We wonder why revival tarries, and why it seems that God is far away in some situations. How much respect do we have for God? How much do we sincerely value His words and the company of His fellowship? Does God care about what we do in the church and fellowship? Is He so gentle and accommodating that He will take whatever we offer before Him or to Him? Is God a God of standard or everything-goes-God? Do we treat our work, bosses, and meetings better than we treat God? God said in His words while addressing some things like this, if I am your Father and Master, where is my honor and reference.
“A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?…”
Malachi 1:6
I remember attending a meeting where the prime minister of Germany then, Angela Merkel, was to give a speech, and some groups of people were invited. We were all spoiled with drinks, snacks, and all kinds of foods, but you can’t take any drink or food inside the meeting place. There were guards at each entrance door who stopped people right away. You want to go in, you get to finish your drink and drop the cup or stay outside. In some stores, buses, and meetings, it is not allowed to eat or drink inside. Why can’t we give much more respect to our God, just for 1 or 2 hours?
We see our world breaking apart to our faces and the generation to come is being hijacked strategically by the people who meant business, but for some Christians, we can’t part with our phones, drink, or our comfort for a few hours. If revival must come, we need to individually repair our altar of worship and begin to take God more seriously.
As outlined by the preacher as we await the Easter period, and studying from the book of Luke 19, the preacher outlined: On Sunday, Jesus gloriously and triumphantly entered Jerusalem, on Monday, He cleared and cleansed the temple, and on Tuesday, reaction and controversy. God has expectations.
Many Bible passages were read during the service but one stood out uniquely:
“Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of the highest quality. How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?”.
Jeremiah 2:21 NKJV
How is our vine doing as individuals, family, church, etc?
For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrew 12:6
LIVING WORDS OF LIFE 