Service at PCC today was incredible.
Attendance was way up (don’t ask me why because I don’t know), and the excitement in the room was spine-tingling.
Most importantly, we broke with the normal template of a typical Sunday morning service and did something spontaneous: We had special prayer (laying-on of hands and anointing with oil) for anyone who desired.
It was powerful. And….
It flowed seamlessly.
A direct result, I think, of experienced ministers knowing how to yield to the Holy Spirit.
Hats off to the worship team for “turning on a dime” being so skillfully responsive on short notice.
If tears and weeping are any sign of a deep (and comforting) move of God, then I can say confidently that this is exactly what happened today.
I absolutely had no way of knowing this was going to happen… but I’m very thankful that it ‘did’ happen.
What I mean is this: On Sunday mornings during the song service I am sitting in the pew completely dialed-in to the message (sermon) I am about to present. I’m sitting there thinking about ‘my part’ in the service, (you’d have to be a preacher to fully appreciate that). After all, I spend the better part of each week preparing myself for this moment.
Today, it was different.
It just happened.
I’m glad it did.
GET READY, GET READY, GET READY!
I passed the anointing oil to a layman in the church and asked him to lead in the first prayer. He did. And he did an exceptional job.
Thank God for people in the church who know how to pray and are not “preacher dependent.”
Then I led in prayer. Then Phillip led in prayer.
By the time it was over, people were streaming forward and half the church was laying hands on one another.
Then people started moving up the isle to pray for people who couldn’t get out of their seats.
Yea. It was a good day at PCC.
After the altar service was over we took up an offering… sang some more… then I preached for 10 minutes. Didn’t need to go any longer: because there was nothing I could have said that would’ve improved upon what the Holy Spirit had already done!
I even picked up the bass guitar and played it (spontaneously) for the offertory.
GET READY, GET READY, GET READY!
For the month of November and December we have a great plan on the calendar. There will be a Baby Dedication Service, Communion Service, Children’s Choir, a couple of guest speakers, and much more.
IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME TO INVITE YOUR IRRELIGOUS FRIENDS TO CHRUCH WITH YOU, IT WILL BE IN NOVEMBER and DECEMBER.
Next Sunday’s message is: Rubbing Shoulders with Irreligious People (Part 2)
We are on the verge of a breakthrough.
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