Last night at church was perhaps one of the greatest services I have ever participated in. Throughout the service, I was a witness to what can happen in a church in which Jesus Christ is truly in control. In it we truly got to see what happens when the Lord is our Shepherd. For when we throw off the brakes, drop the formalities, and simply let the Lord have His way, He will do great things. As our pastor stepped aside and simply encouraged the body to minister to one another as the Spirit guided us, Christ took the reigns and showed Himself as Lord of the church.
The meeting was very much along the lines of the apostolic pattern given to us in 1 Corinthians 14, where each had opportunity to contribute to the building up of the body of Christ according to the gift bestowed upon them. There was some teaching, some exhortations, some singing, some confession of sin, testimonies regarding the sovereignty of God, some prayer accompanying the laying on of hands, etc. Signs and wonders followed.
A woman was healed of what appears to have been a chronic hip problem. She testified to having had much pain for some time, but, after we prayed for her she said she felt entirely well. There was one man who was seeking for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He testified before the church that he believed that baptism was for him and that he wanted to receive God's wonderful gift. He said,"Some have likened it unto receiving a Christmas present... well I'm here to say I want to receive my present." Shortly after laying hands on him he began speaking in tongues and fell to the floor like a dead man.
God was greatly glorified as with great unity and joy we sang hymns and praised God for who He is and what He has done. Our service lasted nearly four hours, and we ended it by celebrating the best we knew how: through eating the Lord's Supper. After that, the congregation was in no hurry to leave. Many went to the fellowship hall afterwards and lingered for some time, eating, drinking, and fellowshipping with one another. Great joy was upon us all.
What I learned from last night is that when Christ is the Lord of the church and is free to shepherd His sheep entirely apart from man's interference, then we can confess with the psalmist, "...My cup runneth over." (Psalm 23:5) Amen!