(This is an account of what happened at my church this Sunday as seen through the eyes of faith.)
I don’t want you to be jealous, but you really missed something at my church this week. The crowd, the movement, the music, the guests of honor, and so much more.
Our numbers were through the roof this week, a number so high my mind could not even capture it on the small slip of paper we use to count. Don’t believe me? Read this firsthand account of the event.
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
—Hebrews 12:22–24
I know that’s very poetic language, but you had to have been there to understand.
Angels filled the room, and they were not the angels found in Angels in the Outfield. Not a single one looked like Christopher Lloyd. They were more akin to the throne room of Isaiah and the awe-inspiring glory revealed in the cherubim in Ezekiel.
With eyes of faith, we sing and tremble.
Saints from every tribe, tongue, and nation, spanning generations and traveling through space and time to enter the same place together. A great cloud of witnesses watching in that moment. Wheels within wheels, wings upon wings, heavenly voices echoing down the praise and glory of our God that we lifted up with our poor, lisping, stammering tongues.
The great saints, known and unknown, were there: the martyrs killed for their faith in the early church, Stephen, Paul, Spurgeon, grandmas, and grandpas of believers present.
The greatest guest of honor was the King of kings, who came down and gathered with us this Sunday. He was revealed by his Spirit in the Word of God and in the truths sung before his holy name. He spoke to us, and he listened to us.
What a wonder and what a glory!
You missed the thousands of answered prayers for those leading the service, how God gave them strength to proclaim a sliver of his glory with strength and power. Even in faulty sound equipment and failing projectors, God moved and answered and again and again worked to defeat temptation and idols.
The worship was powerful and mighty, with the choirs of heaven joining us. The mouths of angels, children, and gray-haired saints joining together to testify of the goodness of our Savior. You could hear the heartaches and joys. You could hear the glory as we grew closer and closer to the throne room. Joyful noises echoed down from former alcoholics, those whose marriages have held firm, and those whose marriages have fallen apart. God was praised by widows who have buried their husbands, parents who have buried children, those in prosperity and those in poverty. The praise pointed to the glory of the Lord that was far beyond our circumstances.
You missed all the opportunities to encourage. In the simple handshakes, in the foyer conversations, in a prayer request passed along in Sunday School. You missed the answers to prayer and praises offered to God both in voice and song. The proclamation that our God reigns and that he rules and hears. The opportunity to pick up the burden of a believer who is falling down.
Don’t worry. There were others there, but they got the blessing and reward of giving.
I can hardly think about what was placed in the offering plate. I state this not to brag, but the One who owns all the cattle on all of the hills was able to give us what we needed this week, and so many, out of joy and praise to him, offered up their time and wealth. The One to whom it was from and to whom it belongs plans on taking what was taken up not only to enable these weekly heavenly meetings but to spread amongst our community, nations, and the world the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What a glory it was, a multigenerational affair.
Children were there crying, singing, laughing, and watching. Seeing with childlike faith that their parents or grandparents, or mentors, were there lifting up praise to God despite all they had been through this week.
You missed the opportunity to take your eyes off yourself and your situation and place it all in the hands of Jesus. You missed the Word of God being proclaimed in power, not originating from the preacher but from the Holy Spirit, who took up his Word as a double-edged sword and pierced hearts and souls in ways unseen.
What a display of power and wonder.
Causing new believers and older believers to remember and see and believe the knowledge of the glory of God in Jesus Christ. You missed the opportunity to be reminded of the glory awaiting you in Jesus Christ.
You missed hearing by faith the prayers of the saints and the echoing of those prayers by our great Intercessor. How our Father sees not our failures but the body of Christ together, purified in Jesus’ name, and the wonderful righteousness of his Son who made a way. This Sunday, the God who spoke and stars came into existence heard our prayers. We didn’t get to go before the governor or president or Congress or all of the world’s leaders. We went above all of them and directly to the source of all of our life and the One who sustains and upholds the universe.
I tell you all of this not to judge or condemn. There is no condemnation in Jesus’ name. Rather, I want to share with you all that we get to do every single week.
What a mighty and majestic meeting, that for just a few minutes each Sunday we gather with the saints and are transported across time, space, and the universe to encounter the Holy of Holies. We only saw it through a mirror dimly. We got to step into his presence amongst his people.
If you are reading this far away and long to come travel to the little town of Bristol, Florida, in the backwoods of the backwoods in the Panhandle, know that you are always welcome. But we are an international organization and have outposts where you can meet locally to you.
We are a part of the church of Jesus Christ. You can meet with us in India, China, New York, Pakistan, Turkey, or even Blountstown across the river.
Find one of these heavenly outposts and attend regularly, and ask God by faith to show you what is really going on. Find one that believes the Bible and proclaims the truth of God.