Well, my “New Beginnings” did not go for very long, as you can clearly see. So shall we begin again? I do have in mind a study here – like the one I had started last July, and we will see if that is what my Lord appoints. He desires me to share in this post some of what He has done in and with Psalm 19 Ministries in the past year.
As with all ministries, Covid has had its effect. Many of us have lost dear ones and it has been extremely hard on all. I took the months of January and February of 2021 to seek the Lord about what Psalm 19 was to do. I had heard several prophets speak to the period of beginning again by saying, “Do not try to go back to normal. The Lord has allowed the shaking of the church, and we need to be doing what He instructs – not just trying to return to the old “normal.” Well, I had just gone back to normal. I took the two months off so I could hear Him. I felt helpless in it as I didn’t have any idea what to do differently. So I prayed and listened!
He is so wonderfully faithful. He began to speak and I began to understand. He and I had an awesome time as He reviewed for me His instructions regarding worship, teaching, ministry in general, and fellowship. I will not try to explain here all of it, for it is continuing to unfold as we move forward. However, because our time of “worship” is so different, I want to explain why we do what we are doing. I am aware that “worship” is to be our entire life expression in His love. However, I am talking about the time we sing and praise together as a body in our meetings.
The Lord reviewed for me what I was seeing in the church (and I speak broadly – as what I am about to say is very broad and includes all expressions – but especially the born-again, Spirit-filled communities). The time of “worship” is assigned to a “worship band” or at least as many instrumentalist and singers we can get out of our congregation. They lead the songs and we sing what they have (hopefully) prayed with and selected. The musicians do a good job, musically, and at times really do follow the Holy Spirit. However, except for a few (front row, upfront, first few rows of people) the “audience” is minimally involved.
He highlighted to me the truth of 2 Corinthians 3:17 (which the KJV translates it almost correctly. However, I have not found another translation that even comes close). The verse in the Greek reads: “Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit is Lord, there is liberty.” I will only introduce this, but will in another post teach the passage.
So in our meetings at this point in time, we sing only what the Holy Spirit leads, not what is generated by a leader, or leaders, or instrument, or group, but by the congregation that has gathered, either large or small. Honestly, this is tough- on all of us. It takes effort. We have learned to sit passively and receive, but not to engage. Worship is not about receiving (although it is impossible to truly worship and not receive. Another post will follow).We do have one instrumentalist backing what is done in the congregation, and we are expecting that number to increase, but the primary worship is done from out of the congregation. There are no words fed to us on our beautiful 65” TV. We shout, sing in tongues, sing a chorus, read scripture, give a prophetic word and do as the Lord leads, according to 1Corinthians 14:26.
His instructions about worship are to bow, clap, dance, make a joyful noise, make melody in our hearts to Him, shout, sing +. So we are choosing to actively be involved together and flow together in it all.
This is effectively training all of us to not only be actively involved with the Holy Spirit in worship, but also to hear and to listen Him and one another. The congregation is also not sitting in rows with all looking toward to raised platform. Instead, the chairs are arranged in a tear-drop design on each side of the platform, facing one another. Our instrumentalist is on the platform simply because we need the room. The teaching and all other activity occurs in the middle of the tear-drop on the floor.
Our teachings are shorter and more fully releasing what the Spirit is saying in His Word. It is always from “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” as written in Ephesians 1:13.
Immediately following the 30 minute (give or take a minute or two) teaching, we have ministry to the Body that has gathered. The Lord has brought a powerful Holy Spirit-moving ministry team together to work in His flow in all the miracles that are and will follow. It is not uncommon for some to fall in the power of the Holy Spirit even before they get to us to minister to them. It has been awesome!
Then (oh yes, still going), we have some announcements and fellowship together with some light refreshments. It is such a joy to get to know folk we have not known before, and or, the catch up with those who we already know.
There are other “new” expressions that are beginning to occur, and I will share those as I can.
If you live in the Syracuse, NY area, please feel free to come and experience Him in this dimension.
The Gathering, 3 PM every 2nd and 4th Sundays – 6138 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13205 – psalm19.org.
Mannaword 