O LORD, Revive Thy Work (II)

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. … O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, …” (Habakkuk 2:20, 3:2)

When the Temple was built and dedicated, “the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself …” (II Chron. 7:12) God chooses when and where He will meet with His people. His sovereign choosing is not based upon man’s grand designs, emotions, or imaginations; His choosing is motivated by the spiritual condition of the assembly of people saying they desire His presence in their midst. God is not obligated to be in a location just because gatherings of folks decide to put the words “church, assembly, anointed, Holy Spirit” and the like on their signs. Many are far too presumptuous in this matter. Words in themselves are empty if there be no truth for a foundation. Has God chosen your place of worship, or have you chosen under the conviction that He must meet with you at the place of your choosing? God will choose His own place or He will have none of it!

The place where God meets with His people is His place. It does not belong to the people, the association, the convention or anyone else. It is His possession! It is also His presence that makes the ground or space of a gathering HOLY. If no man on earth were there it would still be holy, because the business of making holy is not in the hands of man but in the sovereign purpose of God.

Oh what a marvelous thing it would be if our spiritual relationship with the Father as a church were such as to motivate His loving presence every time we came together. What exciting transformations would take place if the LORD would consistently choose our gathering as His holy dwelling place? God is always in His holy congregations; but the question is, “Is God in our congregation?” We gather together, when we feel like it, at some of the scheduled services; but is He consistently or even at all coming into our midst? Many think that He must, however, God is a sovereign God and chooses for Himself. Is there enough reason amongst us to warrant the coming of His holy attendance?