As I got ready for church this morning I was fully expecting to hear a word from God, my Father. I had not physically been to church for the last two weeks due to family vacation and beach trips, so I was eager to praise and worship Him with other believers. God surely gave me what I needed but in a way that I was not expecting.
It was my second time visiting Elevation Church, so I was clueless as to what might take place at this morning as I filed into the auditorium. I was seated on the first row, I believe God really wanted me to receive what He was about to share with me, right in front of the action. I prayed before worship began; I started doing this some months ago to ask the Holy Spirit to enter. I noticed that if I didn't I would become resistant or distracted and wouldn't receive the Word that was being shared. Sometimes I would forget to do this, but Im glad I didn't this Sunday. God knew that I would not have been able receive the message and let it do its work on my own.
Worship began and as I followed the words on the screen I could feel God's presence...simply an amazing experience each time I worship Him in song, its totally new and refreshing each time. When the worship began to come to end and the lead pastor Steven Furtick came on the screen to explain Love Week ("An opportunity to unify and inspire the Charlotte area with a spirit of compassion, unity, selflessness, and service. With the goal to impact the city by serving throughout the community during a weeklong outreach initiative, putting words into action, and demonstrating the love of God for the people in our city"), my mind began transitioning to being fed. Being fed something that could help me on my journey and get me through this upcoming week. But as he began explaining Love week, and then explained that he would be preaching next week and we would be watching a documentary I began to get upset. To be honest I was getting mad, in my mind I complained that I could watch a documentary at home; I came to church to hear a word to help ME. Thankfully the Holy Spirit calmed me down (trust me, it wasn't me. I could have stayed mad the whole service). I wasn't excited about looking at the documentary, but I had an openness just to see what it was about.
As tears flowed from my eyes, I knew that God was working in me and I was being redirected. The documentary highlighted the many different areas that the donations and gifts from Elevation touched. From the streets of Africa to across the states in our backyard. Giving is something that must take place, but in my mind it was done after "church". I didnt think that we needed to watch a documentary during church, how was it going to feed me. However, God placed in my heart that 1. Church extended beyond four walls and 2. Church is not solely about coming to receive what you want to hear from God or how to get it your blessing. I had come to church Sunday after Sunday with the intent to see what God could do for me and how I could change to better position myself. Not how I could position myself to help others, or be a blessing to others. Church is not a place to simply get but to give; its an opportunity to let your purpose be revealed in the most powerful way. I am the Church, you are the church. In Ephesians 6:24 it explains that Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. We are that her that Christ sacrificed His life for.
God redirected me, He allowed me to see that it is not all about me. In fact, it isnt about me, its about Him. Yes we should go to church to be revived, loved on, and cleansed. However, these should not be the only reasons. Jesus states clearly in Mark 1: 17 that if we are followers of Him we will also become fisher of men. We will "Go out into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."(Mark 16:15). We shouldn't hoard the Word, the love, and the cleansing within the four walls that we received it in. It should go in us and then be fed to someone else who needs it. There are people everywhere that need God's Word, and we are the vehicles that will transport that Word. Thats exactly what this mornings documentary was about; sharing the wealth of God. Whether that wealth be in the form of money, time, resources, or love, it should be shared with others so we can all grow closer to Christ. Giving is a humbling experience, and I realized that it will give me the cleansing, love, and Word that I need but in a unique way.
God helps us to examine our life, and helps to realign our focus if we get off track. What does Church mean to you, whats your reasoning for going into a building every Sunday. Would your definition change if the building was destroyed and you had to meet on the sidewalk?
I think this post was all over the place, but I really wanted to share with you all that Church should not be limited to Sunday mornings and a building, and we shouldn't always be focused on what God can do for us, but how we can be a blessing to others.
Let God redirect you if need be...love you all dearly....fly closer sisters!
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