June 14: A SURPRISING CONCEPT

When was the last time you went to the church house and were afraid? Or when was the last time you became afraid in a Worship Service? Probably never! We just don’t connect fear and worship. Sometimes when people first go to a service in a church or a Bible class, they may feel a little nervous or anxious, but fearful? No!
Maybe that’s the difference in church today and in the first century. In Acts 9:31, the Bible says “then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”
The first churches had a great impact on the world because when they came together there was a sense of awe and reverence for God. They knew they were handling “holy” things when they dealt with God.
They did not come to worship just to feel happy. They did not come to Bible study to make new friends. They did not go to the preaching of God’s Word because they enjoyed the Choir. “Church” is for many people a diversion, a social event, a neighborhood political rally; anything but a confrontation with the Living God. Church will be a boring experience until there is a recovery of a sense of the Holy. A sense of fear, if you will.
In Acts 5, there is an account of Ananias and Sapphira dying while at a church service because they lied to God. Again, the record says, fear filled the church. But, please note this fact; when this sense of fear was in the church, the church had her greatest impact on the world. Awe at the working of God!
When the church recovers a core of people who have “seen and heard and touched” (1 John 1:1) the Word of Life, she will recover fear and wonder. A second-hand Christian experience knows no fear or awe. A sense of the Holy Presence of God would create a feeling of wonder.

“Restore to Your Church, O God, a sense of awe and wonder in Your
presence; give us again a ‘holy ground’ kind of inspiration. Amen”