When we gather as a church on Sunday, what are you expecting? Mike Mills preached a wonderful sermon from Exodus 25:8-9 about God’s intention to dwell among his people. He highlighted how the Apostle Paul wrote that ‘the church, the followers of Jesus, have become Gods holy dwelling place’:

1 Cor 3:16 – 17 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (NLT)

Mike said, ‘the church is not an organisation, the church is where heaven and earth meet’. When we come to together, ‘we enter the reality of God’s holy presence’. If you missed Mike’s sermon, it is worth listening to.

Is this what you expect when the church gathers? Is this what we experience? Generally, our expectations inform our experience. When we anticipate God’s presence and power, we experience God at work. This principle follows the teachings of Jesus where ‘seekers find’ (Matt 7:7) and the ‘hungry are filled’ (Matt 5:6). Gladly, this is only generally true, because God in his grace can also turn the hard hearted, thick headed, and never seeing. Maybe you have experienced God meet you in this way?

Can we lift our expectations and prayer for every time we gather? When God’s people gather, this is no ordinary time. How exciting! God is among us, His Spirit lives in us, this is his Holy space and time to work through us. When people come into the presence of the church, they encounter God’s presence to be transformed by him. Is that what you are expecting?

In Him,

Jason

Photo by Luan Cabral on Unsplash