I am not one who senses things “in the spirit” much, but, during the service this morning, in the sanctuary, I believe something enormous in the spirit took place. After most people had placed their idols or representations of them on the altar, and while swcr6h and the team were still playing the first song [before “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”], I felt a solemn and awesome [in the Biblical sense of the word] Presence fill the room. It seemed to come from above and behind and to descend upon us and into us.....in fact, it seemed to come right through us as though there were no division between solid matter and air. It brought a profound awareness of our defilement to the core, both individually and collectively, in the Presence of a Holy God. It was as though our spiritual poverty before God as a whole congregation were being exposed because of His actual Presence. I felt like there was an urgent need for a corporate response, right then and there, ......like we HAD to bow down to worship Him, and to corporately acknowledge verbally His Presence, thanking Him for coming and for His forgiveness and mercy and grace. I believe He had been pleased with our action and hearts, and had actually come down to us in a manifest way like He had to the children of Israel when their repentance and offerings pleased Him.
Some passages to ponder in relation to this sort of thing:
1 Chron. 21:25-26
2 Chron. 7:1-3
I believe true and complete humility and brokenness before God is like a magnet that draws His Presence close to us, and when a whole congregation humbles themselves as we did today, His Presence can’t stay away.