Sermon Central
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Changing The Atmosphere
Contributed by Richard Cook on Sep 12, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: In this day when the churches power seems to be diminished, this message will persuade our listeners to change the atmospere of their place of worship to one where the presence of God will be invoked, and His power realized.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14 KJV 13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
I enjoy watching the weather, as I listen to the meteorologist every morning I’ve noticed that there is always one thing that affects our climate and our weather.
It’s the atmosphere.
Atmosphere speaks of a pervading or surrounding influence or spirit.
Atmosphere for us can be our general environment or mood or even a spirit, maybe even our own spirit.
Not only do we deal with atmospheric changes directly affecting the weather and our individual lives, but the atmosphere WE create also has a direct affect on the church.
Today I want to talk about 12 goals that we should reach for or pursue as a church and as individuals.
THE FOLLOWING ARE TWELVE GOALS THAT WE SHOULD PURSUE.
1. No spiritual hindrances. An atmosphere of the Heavens being open.
We all have seasons when we are pressed on every side, when darkness seems to abound, and the heavens seem as brass.
Sometimes we let our circumstances dictate our mood.
When we come to church we are coming to worship, but if we let our problems and the situations that we are dealing with, hinder our spirit, ------then there is no true worship.
It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers WERE AS ONE, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; AND WHEN THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that THEN THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH A CLOUD, even the house of the LORD;
We need to learn to come to church with one thing on our minds, WORSHIP.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We need to learn to give our cares to the Lord and let Him fight our battles for us.
1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; for he careth for you.
We shouldn’t allow anything to hinder us in our worship and thanksgiving.
Before we come to this house on any given day, we should cast off every care, every worry, and anything that might come between us and our worship.
We need to come with out anger, or resentment.
We need to come with out any fear or entanglement.
We need to come without any concern, except for the things that concern our great and mighty God.
2. No “business as usual services” An atmosphere of unified Expectancy.
We should be coming together with excitement, and believing for great things to happen.
If you announced that Jesus was going to appear in bodily form at your next service, no doubt the atmosphere around the church would be a lot different.
People would arrive early ------ and there is no doubt these alters would be filled with people praying,
Lost love ones would be physically dragged through the doors.
We need to come to church every time the doors are open expecting Jesus to show up in our midst.
After all the Bible says; Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
This is a promise from our Lord and Savior and we know that He can’t lie.
We should receive Him in our presence by faith, ------- knowing that He is in our midst when we come to this place to worship Him..
And we should expect something to happen!
Forget about a meeting Itinerary, or a program,-------- we should be looking forward to the Holy Ghost taking charge of each and every service, and having His way.
We should be expecting the Lord of Glory to fill this place with His presence each and every time we gather together to lift Him up and glorify His mighty name.
3. An atmosphere of the supernatural
“Our God is no common, ordinary God.”
Come expecting, and come with the right attitude.
The Lord responds to our faith,
