The Holy Spirit in worship – don’t forget to pray.
Prayer undergirds worship. It seems funny to say we need to undergird our prayer with prayer, but we need to do this. Prayer leads to prayer. Jesus said: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 (NRSV) [more scriptures at the end of this post].
The key to prayer is our heart. How close is our heart to God’s heart? Are we praying for the things that God would have us pray for? When we are in alignment, then Jesus says we abide in him and whatever we ask for will be granted to us. And it will be granted to us because our requests are inline with Jesus’ heart.
The day comes for our first Intergenerational worship experience. People came in; and stumbled back at the doors, as they saw the tables; everything was different. There was a willingness to experience something new; after all people were here to experience what we had been talking about and teaching on for six weeks. No one knew it wasn’t coming; but everything was different. It came as a shock. We opened with prayer and the Holy Spirit descended. It was one of those pentecost moments. We weren’t alone, the God of the universe was there with us.
I’ve contemplated that moment for the last 9 months. And I wonder why? Why was God present in such a powerful way? Why could we all sense God’s presence to palpably? I have two reasons which might be right.
One, that we needed the Holy Spirit to bring us peace. The peace that would hold our congregation together as we journeyed. It was only God who could hold this transition together.
The other. God wanted to bless this moment. We were, we thought being faithful to the biblical story and how God wants to work with all the family, all the community, all the generations together. And here we were, being faithful to God’s call on us. God’s call had changed for us and God was blessing the moment.
We worship a faithful God who wishes to bless our endeavours.
I have learnt over the last 9 Months that my ministry and the ministry of SMbtS needs to be re-aligned. As we re-read the scriptures with Intergenerational glasses on we hear a different story. We hear the story where God gathered all the people together of all ages. We hear the story of all people holding all things in common. All people. Not the youth here, the kids there, the parents there, the elders there; but all. My ministry is being re-aligned. I have new glasses and I will never see the same again. The Holy Spirit is at work in my, within us, and between us. Drawing us together. What a ride.
Our older people who remember the charismatic renewal say that the first service felt like that.
I have had to re-evaluate my ministry. I have had to re-evaluate how I see others.
I pray that the grace of God will grow within me, within others and draw us together so that we can be the community that God is calling us to today.
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 18:19 (NRSV) – Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
Matthew 21:22 (NRSV) – Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.
Mark 11:24 (NRSV) – So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
John 14:13 (NRSV) – I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 15:7 (NRSV) – If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:16 (NRSV) – You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
John 16:23–24 (NRSV) – On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
