Think Spot

4th June 2012

G'day and welcome to Partakers ThinkSpot on Monday, the 4th of June 2012. Play the audio and see how Jim and Joy are challenging you to live your faith out this week!

Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file The missing jewel of worship Recently in the UK as well as in many others in numerous countries, we settled down to watch a programme entitled 'Britain has talent'. One performance and its affect upon millions of people will stay in our memories for a very long time. When these two shy young teenagers came on stage, sniggers of laughter rippled through the audience as well as some wry smiles among the judges. "Things cannot get any worse" one of the judges muttered under his breath. Little did any of us know what was about to happen within seconds of those thoughts. The song entitled "The Prayer" has been sung many times by a variety of famous performers but this night's performance was incredible right from the start. When asked if they thought they could win Jonathan aged 17 and Charlotte aged16 offered a quiet hope so with a shrug of their shoulders. However, as the first five notes were sung the whole audience were on their feet clapping and shouting with hands lifted high above their heads as they enjoyed the beautiful outstanding voices of these two young performers. Loud as the applause was when they began singing the volume increased as the pure notes continued, the high notes so clear and warming all of our hearts. Tears were flowing in the audience unashamedly and when they concluded the judges and all stood to their feet applauding continually. The four judges, the whole audience and many millions who viewed it on TV were overawed as indeed my wife Joy and I were. "A future star for sure" Simon Cowell said and the other judges were in total agreement. Amanda Holden one of the other panel judges said "What a privilege it has been to be here to night to hear you." On Youtube afterwards nearly 2,000,000 have already seen the replay and this is only four days after the performance as I bring these words to you. As I pondered this momentous occasion and its effects I thought "What are we doing?" as we clapped and cried and longed to hear more. Is this not a form of worship? I considered. Are we so thrilled with what we have seen and heard? They were brilliant, they deserved our praise. So then, do we feel the same on a Sunday in Church as we come to worship God? Are we caught up with the occasion as we stand to worship? God is invisible but we know He is present in our gatherings, isn't He? Someone has described worship as 'to feel the wonder of God in our hearts." Do we do that? I am not necessarily thinking of the singing time but the prayers and the preaching also. Do we come away saying it was a Wow!! Meeting as we caught a glimpse of the beauty of the Lord and His magnificence? Were we compelled to say to others afterwards "Wasn't that fantastic" I can't wait to come back again tonight to sing, to worship my wonderful Lord and to hear more about Him I cannot get enough of Him." Only today I heard of a church in London, a church that has grown phenomenally over the past few years and huge crowds of people, especially young people are arriving 30 minutes before services to make sure they get a seat. And I am referring to a church in Great Britain. This church has 800 children in Sunday School. Packed to the doors morning and evening for the services. What is the Wow Factor? Why aren't all our churches like that where people just cannot wait to get into their seats in church? Yes I hear it from individuals here and there who talk like that. But why some and not all? I shared this thought with a man who is a director of a mission. He said from his knowledge of many churches in Great Britain it all comes down to one thing. A deep love for God. In Revelation 2-3 we find churches are rebuked by our Lord for "luke warmness". Of "leaving their first love" In the book of Joel in the Old Testament this was the deep concern of the prophet Joel as He said "You are a religious people but your heart is not in it, return to God that He may bless you" Should this not be the cry from each one of our hearts from the worship leaders down to all worshippers. Do we really love God deeply for are there not many reasons why we should do so? "Unto God be the glory great things He has done". The Theatre audience, I think, fell in love with Jonathan and Charlotte on Saturday I am convinced of that. They were so humble and putting their souls and hearts into their audition, the quality of the singing was unbelievable and they are so young!! Coming back to our churches are we getting so used to the method of worshipping God in our churches that even if He withdrew His Holy Spirit we would not notice. Could that really happen? As I read Isaiah from chapters 60-64 on revival surely the cry from our hearts should be the same as the evangelist Prophet "Lord rend the heavens and come down and enflame our hearts to love you more and worship you seeing your greatness and responding with passion. Let me know what you think? I am sure I am not alone with my concern for all the churches. Joys Prayer Dear Loving Heavenly Father Have we simply come to church to sing hymns and listen to the sermon in a mechanical fashion? Have we held on to passions of our own that have taken first place instead of Sunday worship? We still attend with our feet but our hearts are not in what we are doing. Maybe whatever our involvement is in church is we have only done our duty without feeling the wonder of God in our hearts and desiring to express it. Lord forgive us and give us a heart for worship and a desire for a fresh commitment to You with all our hearts In Jesus name Amen Right Mouse click to save this as an audio mp3 file To help financially support Partakers, please do click the Paypal Donate image below. Thank you. Click on the appropriate link to subscribe to this website iTunes