11/26/21 EXPECT THE EXCEPTIONAL

11/26/21 EXPECT THE EXCEPTIONAL

The presence and work of God, when believers gather, should never be taken for granted or seen as something that we have created. An audience with the King is always remarkable and awesome whether personally or corporately.

But we should understand that the blessing and favor of God's loving, kind, gracious presence is bestowed on a gathering of His children when they come together humbly, submissively, thankfully, expectantly. Individuals can experience the miraculous presence of God, even when other folks in a gathering are oblivious. It is a gift of God when He draws near to us. Remember, He promised to draw near to those who draw near to Him. How much more awesome when we experience the beneficent presence of God as a family of believers.

Though we should always recognize a blessed encounter with God and His goodness as a special Divine gift we should live in such a way that the extraordinary becomes the expected. We must not allow anything to break a living, loving relationship with God. Not only will we lose the personal encounter, we will not realize the Divine presence in a group. When God prepares a love feast with His children, don't be the enemy of God's children or you will not even recognize the heavenly banquet you are missing.

With that being said, feasting with the King should not be a rare event, though it should always be a precious experience. Not only should individuals live in constant communion with God, each believer in a congregation should live in spiritual unity with one another and walk in loving submission to God. Remember, God's plan for us is to ABIDE in Him.

Think about the manifold blessings and advantages of an entire congregation being available to Divine manifestations of love and light along with the holiness and wholeness that comes from His presence: what it would mean to the children and youth of the church, what would it mean to those in the church with heavy burdens and those facing exceedingly great trials. Think what it would mean to the backsliders and to a watching world.

Don't take Divine presence for granted, but live in such a way that you expect the exceptional when your church gathers.