Wow! Today at Preston Wesleyan we were ministered to by the Holy Spirit. Our service was literally transformed by His presence. I began the service by sitting at the piano and singing the song, “Does Anybody Hear Her?” by Casting Crowns. This is part of a series that we have been doing titled Lifelong Lessons. As I sang the song, the sanctuary became quiet as the congregation reflected on the words. Our theme was evangelism and the songs that we sang reflected that. Our worship set included “Since I Have Been Redeemed,” “Days of Elijah,” “Go Light Your World,” and Rescue the Pershing.” I love to try to theme the songs to the message when possible. Everything was going along as planned (following the bulletin) when we came to our prayer time. As is our custom of late, I opened the service for praises and prayer requests. Several got up and gave prayer requests and praises. What happened next was cool. Before we began to pray, one of our leaders stepped up to the altar. I was checked in my spirit and invited anyone else who would like to come to the altar to come as well. I was not prepared for the response. It was so cool. At that point the Holy Spirit overwhelmed the room and flooded us with what we needed. What would have happened if that one person would not have responded to the Spirit’s call to go to the altar? So much for a well planned service. The Holy Spirit had other plans. As I followed the Spirit’s leading from there, it was neat to watch the service unfold from there. I did get a chance to preach and we went into overtime. We looked at how many around us, just outside of our church are lost. We need to be Christ’s ambassadors. Christ is counting on us to take His gospel to a dying world. We finished with a wonderful paraphrase of St. Patrick’s Breastplate.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
What a wonderful thought that Christ is the only thing that people would see when they see us. It’s my prayer for myself and the prayer for the congregation of Preston Wesleyan Church. It is my prayer for you as well.
Wow! That sounds like a wonderful service.