We're going to experience a different kind of church service soon.  Most of the time we come into the sanctuary--I'm down, you're up, he's needing healing, she's needing strength for the coming week, he's needing respite from the week he just barely made it through, he's only here because his wife is here, she's only here because it's a chance to socialize, kids are here only because mom tossed them out of bed.  Most of us come to church service in some state of need, or out of compulsion, or desperation, or guilt, or "I want", "I need", "Lord, when are you going to...?"

But, there is coming a Sunday when the only reason you step across either of the sanctuary thresholds is to worship and praise and thank the Lord.  Instead of pleas of "I want", "I need", "where is?", the words that tumble from your lips will be filled with "Lord, You are so faithful", "You are so righteous", "I will honor You", "I adore You".  You will try to say the name of Jesus, but it is so sweet and so precious that you literally feel unworthy to even speak it aloud.

Acts 2:1 says, "When the day of Pentecost had had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place."  To me, the phrase "with one accord" doesn't mean that they simply agreed that their commonality was Jesus Christ.  It means they had only one thing on their minds and in their hearts:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit deserve praise, respect, glory, and awe; and that agreement was followed by action:  voices, spirits, bodies, thoughts, and wills praising, respecting, worshipping, and honoring our Holy God.

There'll be no agenda that day, because all we'll be able to do is worship and honor Him.  It will be a day when our spirit tells our aching knees, backs, and whatever else is ailing us at the time to be quiet and honor their Creator, and surrender to His authority; and our spirit tells our mind, will, and emotions to settle down and focus on Christ.  Thoughts, desires, and emotional extremes from either end, are appraised only at the foot of His cross.

And there won't be a need to collect an offering, because random people will be throwing money and all kinds of things onto the floor at the front.  The altar has two purposes:  one, to bring our money and ourselves to the Lord, the other being to bring Him all the stuff we want to get rid of that's not of Him, and all the things we previously wanted to hold onto or felt we had a right to have, everything we think is so "good" and "right" about ourselves--all is surrendered to Him.  And our legalistic obedience to His commandments becomes loving submission to Him because we have come in contact with some aspect of His personality and character, and have come to know Him in a personal, life-changing way.

The only announcement for the day will be each of us crying out from our hearts that Jesus is Lord!

The band will be playing, but if you listen carefully, it's not the same song--because each member will be playing their own song to the Lord; yet it will have a sound of brilliance and holiness because it's a song straight from heaven.

And the pastors can take a break that day.  They won't have to preach a single word, because the Living Word of Life Himself will be in our midst.  And because He came in response to our desperation and adoration, all that you need for the next day, the next week, the next month even, will be manifested to you.  If you're hungry, He will be the Bread of Life.  If you're trying to make a decision, He'll come to you as the Counselor.  If you're sick, the Balm of Gilead will pour out Himself onto you.  If you've lost your way, the Banner will go before you.  If you're caught in the darkness, the Bright Morning Star will light your way.  If you have strayed from His path, the Good Shepard will leave the 99 and come after you.

All you ever need is Christ.  All that you need Him to be, He will be for you.

I truly believe, with all my heart, that such a Sunday is possible.  But, it won't happen because any one of us tries to organize or plan it.  It will happen because God deserves it, and our hearts will be in one accord.

~~Jackie Branch