My Church will be called a house of prayer —Jesus
Excerpt from The Praying Church:
Something wonderful happens every Sunday as believers from every nation, tongue and tribe gather together in their various local churches. While there are many expressions of church life around the world, all believers gather together to worship God. We do this with singing and music. Many believers are carrying various burdens, losses, failures, sin, shame and guilt. As they come, by faith, to their various congregations to worship, they are also coming to the “throne of grace”. They are singing and praying to the Living God, our Father, and His Son Jesus. As they engage their hearts with God through worship, awesome things begin to happen.
For those who come to worship in humility and with even a little thirst, God does something wonderful. The music begins to play and these believers begin to sing the words of the worship songs that are sung every week in churches around the world. Faith is restored. A connection happens. These humble believers make contact with the heart of God. Unpretentious human beings who are singing simple worship songs that describe God’s power, mercy and love, begin to experience the presence of God. Their sin is forgiven, their burdens are lifted, their shame is washed away and any loss is put in the right perspective. This all happens in a few minutes, as hearts and minds are set on “things above” where Christ is seated. As we sing to the Lord with engaged hearts, His presence comes to comfort and encourage us. This is, in fact, a mini-miracle. God is meeting with man. His presence comes in response to the truth in these songs that we sing by faith.