I understand that many
young men are leaving the
church scene and becoming
Muslims. Why? There’s some
challenge
there.
There’s
opportunity for a fight. They
can defend a cause. They can
risk their lives. Adventure
attracts them.
When I read my bible, the Early
church seemed exciting and adventurous.
Saints were being martyred for their faith.
They were a part of an expanding body
of believers. Here nothing seems to be
expanding. It’s the same group that meets
week after week. I don’t see that we are
bringing new people in. Most believers
seem comfortable to just listen to one man
week after week. Where have we gone
wrong? Can someone tell me?
I’ve been going to this church since
I was in Sunday School. I could tell you
what will happen at each step. The Praise
Team will come on, the secretary will give
the notices, the offering will be taken,
someone will give a special solo, the pastor
will take over, preach, make an altar call
and the service will be dismissed. It flows
like clockwork. There’s no variety. And
I feel I am watching a show, 52 Sundays
every year.
THE EARLY CHURCH WAS
EXCITING
O.K. so you see what I mean. I’m an
active young man. I work hard at my job
in drawing plans for constructing city
housing. I work out every other day at the
gym. I go cycling every morning before
going to work. What am I doing just
sitting down and watching the same show
week after week?
HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLLED
MEETINGS
Perhaps I can share an experience. Years
later I attend a conference in Bognor Regis
in England.
There I saw the Spirit of God moving
upon a thousand or more people. The
minister said, “God is about to liberate
those molested sexually or those with
deviant behaviour.” Young men and
women came hurrying to the front seeking
deliverance from demons.
The Monday night at an elders’ meeting
in a home in Malden along with elders
from our Jamaican fellowship, a brother
walked across the room and prophesied
to me; “Brother, don’t worry about those
six people. They are like six shoots that will
spring up!” How did he know what was in
my heart? I had been worrying about six
of the members I had been pastoring. He
was dead right!
Later, at a fellowship in Bristol along
with my wife, best man and his wife, as a
visitor I decided to keep my mouth shut
and just listen. Suddenly a young woman
with a guitar began ministering under the
anointing. We were blessed. Someone else
prophesied that God would provide for
three or more people who needed jobs. All
three stood up and received ministry too.
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While worshiping, the Spirit fell
upon me and I begin singing a
song God had given me years
before. Near the end of the
service a brother stood up and
remarked, “Brethren, when I
came in I was sick, but when
that West Indian brother sang,
I was healed instantly!”
At another point there was dancing
and rejoicing as we moved around
sometimes arm in arm in tremendous joy
and free worship. At the end I asked, “So
who is the pastor?” I had not heard a word
from anyone who was projecting himself
as the leader and was curious. Somebody
pointed to a black brother, “That Nigerian
brother over there. And that Irish sister is
his wife!”
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP
Funny! For he had not spoken a word.
This was a New Testament assembly like
the Early Church. They also met in homes
like the early disciples. Each person was
a priest and could rise and minister. The
pastors and elders were all priests.