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| Maumee Bay State Park, Ohio |
It's late Saturday night. I am preaching tomorrow morning, again, on Calling the Church in America to Revival and Awakening.
I am filled with expectation.
Because God is going to manifest his mighty presence among us.
God is going to do great things as we gather together.
It's going to happen as people are arriving. It will happen as we worship. It will happen as I preach. It will happen afterwards. I can't wait to gather with my people tomorrow!
But how do I know this? Is this not presumption on my part? I don't think so.
Consider the alternatives.
Alternative 1: God is going to do nothing among us tomorrow.
Alternative 2: God may do something, but we can't be sure.
Alternative 3: God is going to do some decent things, but nothing spectacular that might make us feel uncomfortable.
Alternative 4: God will be doing things, but they will be hidden from us.
Alternative 5: God has decided he will not be with us tomorrow morning, because it is Labor Day weekend.
Alternative 6: God is a cessationist, and stopped doing miraculous things hundreds of years ago.
Alternative 7: God is a deist who did not really do the things attributed to him in the Bible, and apologizes for the misunderstanding.
Alternative 8: There is no God.
With alternatives 1-8, expectations run low.
But if it is true that, wherever two or more are gathered, that's "Church," and Church is where Jesus says he will be, then people get ready.
And where God is, there is overwhelming, life-changing, earth-shattering, bondage-breaking Presence. God doesn't do "decent." God has no potentiality. God is pure actuality. Actus purus et perfectus. Unsurpassing greatness, eternally.
And where God's people humble themselves, pray, seek his presence, and turn from their wicked ways, God says his eyes and ears and face are there. Indeed, his Name is all over that gathering place.
So, it's going to be very, very good, when my people meet together Sunday morning. Because our all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good, Creator God will not only meet with us, but will lead the service.
