Christian Living

STAND DOWN

by paul hoffmaster
02/21/19
Free to Share

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

One of the strongest desires that I have in life is to be part of a body of Believers that has pushed beyond the theatrics of Christian expression to a faith that has moved to a God centered experience.  I have spent a great deal of time searching for that spiritual conduit in which I can travel into the presence of God by way of Biblical Faith instead of through manufactured faith.  So much of our Christianity is humanly manipulated.   What I mean by that is that so many of our church services center around what people want instead of what they need.  People want to “feel” the presence of God to validate His presence.  What about when we don’t feel His presence?  It seems we are so busy entertaining ourselves that the Holy Spirit has a hard time getting involved.  I have been in churches where people falsely identify emotional expressions as the moving of the Holy Spirit.  I have heard sermons and teachings that were nothing more than regurgitated messages from books and recordings.  I have listened to the editorializing of the Word to the point that the real Word was abused.  I have entered churches in search of revelated Truth, and have left with a broken heart.  I am no longer a pastor, but a simple Believer in search of “manna” in a wilderness of drought. 

I remember years ago, when I stepped away from the pastoral ministry, that I began to experience “withdrawal pains.”  I loved to preach and teach God’s Word, but the opportunity no longer availed itself.  One day, I was driving and saw a sign on a sand mound that had the name of a church on it.  I could not see the church itself, for it was back in the trees.  I told my wife that I would like to try it out.  The next Sunday we attended that church, and the flickering embers of my dwindling fire came back to life with a vengeance.   The message that was preached bypassed my mind and went right into my spirit.   My heart beat so loud I wondered if those around me heard it!  The pastor spoke with such an anointing that I could hardly stand when the service was over.  Those next few months were the post pastoral highlights of my life.  The Apostle Paul stated that the Word presented by him was not something he was taught, but rather it was by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:12)  This is what I long to hear from the pulpit today.   If a pastor/teacher does not have a revelation from God, don’t waste the people’s time by working up a message to please the flock. (Galatians 1:10)  Worship teams/song leaders need to spend time hearing what type of songs God wants.  People need to get out of the way and let God be God!  Spirit filled services begin from the heart, not the head.  When the anointing comes upon the worship experience, you are not the initiator, but the recipient.  When you leave the church service, you will not forget what happened for the rest of the week.

The best way to build up a church is to “stand down” and let the Lord be lifted up!  Those in leadership must remember whose church it is!  If a pastor has not heard from God, “stand down” and wait on the Lord with the people.  If the music is just a time filler, “stand down” and let the Holy Spirit lead the worship time.   Let God arise and the people be scattered from their self centerness.   I am searching for a body of Believers whose desire is to eat at the “buffet” table of God’s blessings, instead of the issued “sack lunches” which they hoped will fulfill one’s appetite.   I desire to find a body of Believers that hunger and thirst after righteousness.  I want to be part of a church that understands Isaiah 40:31.   For those who have found such a church, I rejoice with you, for you have found where the remnant gathers!