Matthew 25:37-40
Then the righteous ones will reply, "Lord, when we did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?"
And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
The two young men came to the meeting last night, arriving just as worship was beginning. They came straight to the very front row and found seats. Never seen them before, but grateful that they had shown up. Didn't know their story but that didn't matter.
A familiar face to Saturday night came in and found himself a seat. He'd brought someone with him. They chatted back and forth, getting up to meet and greet during the opening of worship. Somehow, I felt that this was going to be a good service. This was going to be a "GOD" service.
It was my turn to lead worship, and whenever I do I like to watch as the songs progress. I watch what is happening in the room. You can tell when God is moving by the posture and faces of those who have come to the meeting. For the two young guys, one of them was intense as we went through the worship songs. Almost as if he were hanging on every word that was being sung. As for our other visitor that came with one of our regulars....he was weeping. Hmmmm..what are you really doing God?
Worship lead to ministry and prayer time.
Keep in mind that this particular part of our meeting goes on long after the closing prayer. There are those who will come up afterwards requesting prayer, sharing their story, or just to thank us that we have this meeting to go to on Saturday nights.
Well, the man who came with our regular came forward for prayer, and as the core team gathered round and began to pray for him, he nearly collapsed under the weight of God's Spirit. Tears and more tears...God was at work in this fellow's life. Afterwards he shared his story of how he'd been a truck driver for a good while,driving the lower 48 states. He had experienced the lifestyle that comes with this job to the point that it was killing him. His cry...his only cry on this night was for freedom from all the baggage that he'd been carrying around for some time. Freedom and healing....the man had been saved years ago,but as we all have experienced, if you don't guard your salvation, you'll slip back into old ways, old thoughts and old behaviors. Tonight, God brought him back from all of this. God reset the clock, so to speak, and put him back on the path. Now that's some kind of good.
As for the two young men who came in.
One was struggling...I ask him how much clean time he had. Twenty-four hours was his reply. His friend was trying to help him get into treatment. The friend had seventeen months clean time, but was frightened that he might fall and go back into the old life himself. Much prayer....much direction...much healing. We help to point him in the direction he needed to take. By the way, here's a big old shout out to Steve Brewster for sending these two to us.
After the prayer, there were many hugs and "thank you's" from these two.
If you would, please join me in praying for Rocky, the young man seeking treatment. It is going to be hard times for the next few days and weeks. And pray for the friend who loved Rocky enough to be arms and legs to help him in this journey to recovery.
As with every Saturday night, as I left the building, I turned to look back into the room. "Wow God! How are you going to top this?" The one thing I've come to know and believe..............He will.
God on you...
mbb
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