Just across the street from our outreach building was a "hippie" with guitar and girlfriend... and our music leader's wife said to her husband... "Go out their and invite him to come over and play some with you" ...then she said, as if someone would have something to say about it... "Well, isn't that's what we are here for?" Awesome! Rick when out and invited him over to play... well, within minutes this guy was joining our worship team... seriously!! He felt at home jamming and he joined our team in worship in front of everyone... he felt at home.
Finally Jesus was at home in our midst! I mentioned in the message time that we were expecting God to show up... and He sent us his Angel! Who knew? This guy and his girl were touring Canada, and stopped long enough at the 7-11 to accept an invitation to perform in Church. This is the way Church should be... this is how I remember it!
AN OPEN DOOR.... this also attracted some skateboarders and some guy who wouldn't divulge how he hurt his knee....
Our message was on the "type" of people God live through, paralleling Jesus in the New Testament to King David in the Old. 2 Samuel 23:13-17 reveals how David's mighty men fought through the Philistine strong-hold... just to get their King a drink of water from Bethlehem... David's home town. Here men risked life and limb to bless their King with a cup of water... it was loyalty and love that inspired them. The King was humbled by their willingness to die for a whim of his heart... so David poured the water out before the Lord, saying that he would not disgrace his men... because the water was representative of their blood.
"...During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim (Giants). At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. "Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it."
These were just common men... not trained in war, not skilled in battle... what they learned about fighting was on-the-job training! One thing that they did have was HEART...and a love for their commander... who would lay his life down for them in a heart-beat. This parallels Jesus' words in the New Testament... words of His own desire for a "cup of water" if you will. But not for Himself, rather that the water would be shared with anyone in His Name...
Jesus said... "whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward." (Mark 9:41)
...this is God's heart... "Love one another" ...is repeated by the Lord countless times. This is what God's greatest desire, that we show love to each other, and He is willing to reward anyone who treats one of His followers with so much as a drink of water!
Well, today we were blessed with more than a glass of water... a stranger became a brother, and we were blessed with his music and fellowship. Do you know how intimidating Church can be? This man came in and felt welcome... and pulled up a seat at the the "table of the Lord" ...where he should be! It may be difficult for some to imagine allowing "street performers" onto the worship team...
all I can say is "You are missing out!"
I can't wait to see what this week has in store...