What a magnificent time we experienced together yesterday at Fellowship Baptist Church in Thonotosassa. Our worship service was full (522 in attendance) and so was our hearts. The fellowship, music, guests, and hearing the Word all came together to bring us corporately into the presence of God. Praise Him for the one who was saved as well!
Thought for the Day
Nehemiah 8:1, 6
(1) And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
(6) And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
To me there is nothing more powerful than gathering with a group of believers around God's Word to worship Him. The people "gathered themselves as one man". This shows the voluntary unity that is required for corporate worship to take place. It can not be coerced or manipulated, it must come from the heart. Beyond the voluntary unity, we see the collective desire to hear God's Word. There was no "force feeding" here; it was pure desire to hear what their God had to say to them. Finally there was humble worship. Their cups became so full that they poured them out in adoration to their God. Oh that this would be our normal experience as we gather each week as a church body to worship "the great God."
Application
So Pray each day this week for the coming Lord's day at your church. Ask God to prepare your own heart to receive from Him and to be a blessing to Him and to those who will be present.
often we do not receive a blessing from our corporate worship because we do not prepare ourselves in advance.
