I was having a conversation with a church leader and we were talking about various methods used by churches. We discussed music styles, methods of building relationships, organizational methods, preaching, etc. Words like relevant, contemporary, traditional, and generational were thrown around.

Then, the conversation turned when I asked this question: "What would it take for you to get excited about church again"? With conviction and passion he answered, "I want there to be the annointing of God". The annointing of God? What does that mean? It refers to God's presence and power being evident in a gathering of His people or in a person individually.

Throughout scripture, something special happened when God's presence was evident. The world was created, people were saved, healed, and delivered. Although God is All-Present, human beings are not always aware of His presence. We know it in our minds, but don't always experience it in our lives.

To say that people want "annointing" at church is to say that we don't want to just go through the motions. We aren't just doing church. God makes His presence and power known and felt and it impacts us, changes us, and leads us to worship the Lord.

Here's the catch. We can't manufacture or fake this. Humans can't produce it or conjure it up. It must be sought from God, asked for by His people and wanted by His people. God can reveal His presence in the quiet of solitude or in the celebration of song in church. It can be in a large group, small group, in the life of an individual. His annointing melts our hearts and transforms our minds. It touches us at our place of need and areas that must change.

Although it is an assumption that we want this, we have made this a more intentional part of our prayers for the church. We have been praying for this in the lives of the people of the church. When you leave church on Sundays, you enter your place of representing Christ to others. This includes family, school, work, and all parts of life. If people see His presence in our lives by the way we live, work, and serve others, it points them toward Him.

So, here's the invitation of this blog. Ask God to make His presence and power more evident in your life, home and church. Ask Him to "annoint" your worship, work, and relationships with His guidance. Believe that He wants this for you because He does. I warn you though. As the light of His presence shines on your life, it reveals where we are still a work in progress; where sin and self are still the focus. He loves you right where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there. But isn't that what we know we need? More of Him and less of us.

What do you think? Post your thoughts.

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