EASTER WOWWWWW!!!!!!!
Posted by James MacDonald on April 13, 2007 11:40 AM | Comments (11)
We had the most amazing Easter service this past week. Over 12k in attendance--but that is the smallest part. A dear friend of mine, Chip Ingram, Bible teacher on "Living on the Edge," came to the service with his wife and commented to me that they had agreed it was 'the most powerful Easter service they had ever attended.' Quite an assessment coming from such a fruitful pastor! What made it so?? What do Christians mean when they say that such and such was a 'powerful' meeting? I think they mean that God really showed up in some obvious ways. But why is that true at some times and not at others? Is there nothing we can do to affect the manifest presence of God in our church services???
The power of our service this year was not in the number of people. I believe the power of this Easter service was in the following:
1) The power was in the prayers of God's people: Countless people said to me last Sunday and since that the presence of God's Spirit was almost 'tangible,' nearly 'palpable,' immediately 'felt.' This is not surprising when you consider that many people were on their knees throughout the night calling out to God in faith, asking Him to meet with us, and move and stir the hearts of those who came. I believe God blesses fervant prayers offered in faith with the power of His manifest presence.
2) The power was in the unapologetic proclamation of truth: We didn't give compelling arguments for the resurrection other than our own joy and heartfelt worship. We didn't apologize for the message of God's Word, or package it in a presentable, unoffensive way--we just proclaimed it, right from God's Word, in the power of God's Spirit through the mouths of people who know that they know that they know it's true: He is risen!
I believe God blesses unapologetic proclamation of His truth with the power of His manifest presence.
3) The power was in the passionate worship of the people: You could sense from the moment you entered the arena that the people were there with a strong, Spirit-given desire to worship the risen Christ. From the first note of music, the people rose to their feet and sang from hearts overflowing, hands raised to the Risen One. They clapped and shouted and screamed at the top of their lungs the message of His glorious resurrection. The focus was on what we knew to be true about Jesus, not upon those among us that entered unpersuaded. I believe God blesses passionate worship with the power of His manifest presence.
4) The power of authenticity: With a 200+ voice choir, a 15-member band and many worship leaders, vocalists, and countless technical participants in sound light and video, the quality of the music and video was such that it could easily be recorded and sold (it won't be). When you heard and saw the flawless presentation of all that they led us in, you might conclude that many were hired professionals, "brought in for the Easter Extravaganza." If you did think that, you would be wrong. Every participant was a deeply devoted follower of Jesus Christ from within the ranks for our own congregation. The vast majority were volunteers and the rest were the staff that God has gathered to lead them. Nobody gets on that platform or even behind the scenes but that they are growing personally in their commitment to Jesus Christ. Not perfect, just sincere and growing, going forward in their walk with Christ. I believe God blesses authenticity with the power of His manifest presence.
5) The power of glad and sacrificial participation: The Sears Center doesn't just sit vacant waiting for us to show up. There was a lacrosse match in there the night before Easter and we didn't get access to the massive set up of chairs and nurseries and sound/light/stage until well after midnight. Twelve thousand cookies were baked and bottles of water were placed by every chair. Signs were put out every where. Eighty parking attendants, 200 ushers and greeters, countless volunteers worked and prayed through the night. The massive number of participants gave up a night's sleep, and did a lot of thankless jobs gladly and 'as unto the Lord.' That level of enthusiastic participation always warms a venue and sets the stage to welcome . . . yes, the people, but more importantly the Lord Himself. He loves to go to church, and attends many services in many places every weekend. I believe God blesses sacrificial service with the power of His manifest presence.
Nothing really new here. We have been working on these things--the things that promote the powerful manifest presence of the Lord--for more than 18 years now. A few friends have asked me how it felt to see so many thousands of our people worshipping Christ under one roof. Actually it was very confirming; God's Word is true; John 12:32 "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." Praise the Lord!!!!
Comments
Posted by: Ryan | April 13, 2007 03:33 PM
James,
I for one am one very praising the Lord with how your Easter service went and I wasn't even there! I totally affirm the message you preached on "The Easter Principle" and I totally support you and your church in prayer. I listen to your weekend messages at Harvest usually after I get done preaching at my church. I am a student at SEBTS here in North Carolina and I am encourage people to listen to WITW every chance I get. I am a Change Partner and I am totally behind your ministry. As a young preacher looking for "older" (lol) preachers to look up to who boldy and unapologetically preach the word, you are one of them for me. Your preaching content as well as your preaching style give me encouragement to preach God's word without apology. I know I can only be me in Christ and not James Macdonald, but I have personally learned so much about preaching from listening to you and your 20 Things About Preaching CD.
You may not look at yourself as an "instructor" to preachers, but you are definately like a Paul to this young Timothy in that regard. I have learned more from you about preaching than any seminary professor and I aim to make the 4 Pillars of your Church the personal convcitions of my ministry.
Stay fired up for the Lord and stay humble. I love you brother!
Posted by: traci | April 14, 2007 02:42 AM
James,
I was there. I served with a joyful heart and was amazed at how wonderful it went. The teams all pulled together and everyone really did a great job. I invited non-believers to the service and sat with them during the message. I ushered. I wanted to ask them what they thought afterwards but there was still so much to do that I did not have a chance........
A few days ago I finally caught up with them and asked what they thought.
"It was the best funeral I have ever been to!"
We talked for over a hour and I could see the change in this person. I felt it.....
Like they commented, "There was no way that you could leave there the same person you walked in as.........'
Praise God James.
In His Grace.
Editor: Yeah, it was funny how many people picked up on my suggestion that we tell people we went to a funeral at the Sears Center, and when they ask who died, tell them, "I did," to my sin, or my situation or my need to control others, or whatever . . . I think we will all remember what we buried Easter "07 PTL!!!
james
Posted by: deborah | April 14, 2007 06:30 AM
I was there. I have been a follower of Jesus Christ for some time, but this service kick started something in me that needed kicking. You wrote, "The focus was on what we knew to be true about Jesus, not upon those among us that entered unpersuaded."
This is as it should be. Promise me that Harvest will never "emerge".
Posted by: MWorrell | April 14, 2007 04:59 PM
The message was great, the worship was great, the music was great, but I have to say I was amazed... AMAZED... at how smoothly it went. I've never attended an event so large that was so free from hassles and problems related to traffic, crowds, etc. The work that went into everything was very, very obvious. What a great job!
Posted by: Tom | April 14, 2007 11:12 PM
James... WOW! I was one of the chosen ones to be a part of a AWESOME message from you on the resurrection of Christ.. If that did'nt start a fire in your soul then your wood is wet man... I arrived early.. 7:40am and was able to get in the front row. As i entered into the arena from top, The choir, Heather, Nicole and the worship team were practicing... And man let me tell you i could feel the Lord present with us then.. Welling up on the inside and the Holy Spirit working! Hosea 6:3 Says "So let us know, Let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn, And he will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." PTL !!!
What a awesome job by every single Christ follower in serving him (Joshua 24:15) On the day he rose as he promised to save us that have put our faith in him (Acts 4:12) I pray fervently for you James for the Holy spirit to continue in showering you with what God has called you to do.... "PREACH THE WORD"
(2 Timothy 4:2) And awesome at that i may add !! See ya at God's house Sunday morning.
Posted by: Mike Lee | April 17, 2007 05:33 AM
I am reading a lot of comments about "feelings" and "God's presence". While I am happy people experienced God in a wonderful way, I have to ask a couple questions because I, too, was once in that same position, dependent on feelings.
(1)How many times have we been to crusades or special Christian events only to have the same result in our lives as a pep rally? I hear a lot of Christians say, "Wow, I'm on fire now!", only to watch them flicker to a candle flame (or none at all) in a matter of days or weeks.
(2)Why do we not "feel God's presence" at any other weekend gathering? Didn't He say, "Where 2 or 3 are gathered in My name, there I am also"? James, you wrote that many believers were praying for God to meet with you...isn't that redundant? Hasn't He has already promised to do that?
Posted by: Andrea | April 17, 2007 02:27 PM
I think I may have to have the funeral for wanting to live in Chicagoland and worship at Harvest. ( I live thousands of miles away....) I listened to the Easter service on-line ...it was great!!! Thanks so much!
Andrea
Posted by: deborah | April 18, 2007 10:05 PM
Hi Mike,
You wrote, “I, too, was once in that same position, dependent on feelings.†What do you mean? Dependent on feelings for what?
Feelings are personal so I can only talk about my own. I have never been to a crusade or Christian event like you are describing. I can imagine, however, in my falleness, I could get all fired up and then have the fire dwindle once the high of the event was out of my bloodstream. I’m guessing it would be something like getting all excited at the New Year about finally losing those last 10 pounds, going on the diet, hitting the gym and then quitting after a week or two. I don’t think the Easter service was like that, though. I think there was something more substantial and lasting about that service.
It’s not the case that I don’t “feel God’s presence†at any other weekend service, as you wrote in your entry. I do. Sometimes my awareness is more acute than at other times. I think that has everything to do with me and nothing to do with God’s being present. Sometimes I am so distracted by all my responsibilities and burdens that I just go through the motions of getting myself and the kids to church, singing the songs, standing up, sitting down, etc. etc. But as I hear the Word being preached, something happens that has everything to do with God and nothing to do with me. I become aware of Him. He is there, speaking to me through His Word, reminding me of things I’ve learned a million times but need being reminded of yet again. Rebuking me, convicting me, reassuring me, like the perfect Father He is. And I leave the church strengthened, in awe of His ability to stir my heart and change me and sustain me in the race.
I do believe that God was at the Easter service in a powerful way for all the reasons Pastor James suggested and probably more. James didn’t write that the believers only prayed for God to meet with us, he wrote that they prayed also that God would move and stir the hearts of those who came. Again, I can only account for my own feelings, but God definitely stirred my heart. I moved from thinking things like, “Wow, that Heather Headley sure can belt out a song†and “Those young men should tuck in their shirts†to an overwhelming feeling of God’s greatness and my own unworthiness. I felt a profound sense of gratitude to Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do. I had the most intense desire to please Him with our worship. Ultimately, it wasn’t about being at the Sears Centre, or the thousands of people, or the cookies and bottled water. Ultimately, He was the target of the service, not us, in the spirit of Romans 11:36.
So should it be like that every weekend? Well, sure. It should be like that every day of our lives. Everything done for His glory. Oh, that I could live that out every day! But even if we had a service like the Easter service every week, I doubt I could. I am way too fallen. But I am further along in my sanctification than I was a few years ago and I expect to be further along in another few years. God uses the services, whatever the magnitude, to grow me and shape me for His glory. I don’t get too many of the highs like on Easter Sunday. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever had an experience like that. Mostly my Christian life is about taking up my cross daily. It would be great to have more of those highs but I am not expecting them to happen or living for them to happen or thinking that if they don’t happen God is not present. He is. He tells me in his Word that He is present and I believe Him irrespective of how I feel. I have evidence of His presence apart from my feelings. I don’t need the powerful feelings of the Easter service to know that He is present and active in my life, but they sure were nice and I thank Him for manifesting Himself in such an obvious, powerful way to me and to my church. I didn’t leave the service “fired up†like after a pep rally. I left the service in speechless wonder of Him and the mercy He has shown me, the sinner.
Posted by: Kim Sabatoni | April 27, 2007 03:35 AM
Hi James,
All the power principles you mentioned are equally important and you cannot have one without the other. I do believe, however, that principles one through three play a crucial role in determining how the Word is received.
Powerful praise and worship, along with fervrent intercessary prayer, literally clear the air so that the minds and hearts of the people can recieve the Truth that is so faithfully presented each time you preach. You can be sure (as I know you are) that the enemy is not going to just sit back and allow an event like this to take place without launching an all-out assault against the move of God, especially one of this magnitude. We know from Scripture that the praise and worshippers went before the army of God. We, as believers, are that army and it's essential that we never forget that as we authentically enter into heart-felt praise and worship. The kingdom of darkness will most certainly be pushed back, not only in the outer realm, but in inner realm, as well. Minds and hearts are cleared in such a way that the penetrating truths of Scripture will have their intended effect, and only God knows what the the far-reaching potential of that will be.
God bless and keep you, James, as you continue to be poured out wine and broken bread for His kingdom.
Kim
Posted by: Vidya | April 28, 2007 02:00 PM
Hi James
I really appreciate your walkintheword that comes in faith fm in Kitchener, On, Canada. Thanks for sending email everyweek I am empowered by your ministry i listen to it on internet as well. God Bless you James.
I am growing because of your ministry. I will pray for you and your family and your ministry. Thank you for letting me be part of Change partner.
Posted by: Rachel | May 1, 2007 12:26 PM
I was really amazed at how everything worked together for good. The cookies meant alot to me because I have stomach problems and have to make sure i have food every two hours. I was so blessed by that.
I know that God was speaking to each individual heart that was there.