Thursday, March 28, 2024

ALTAR CALL: God’s altar call

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THERE WAS AN unusual buzz at Revival Time Assembly in Maxwell Hill, Christ Church, last Sunday morning.

Reverend John Forde and the congregation engaged the attention of psalmist David Rowe as he shared on the subject God Is Seeking Worshippers.

The message was well received as some members put aside their inhibitions and truly worshipped in an atmosphere which was charged with the anointing.

Rowe took his main text from John 4:23-24: “But the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

It was clear that Rowe was sent with a message to declare, “God is seeking worshippers.”

It may have been misunderstood as a redundant statement since all churches are filled weekly with worshippers. However, in his explanation of the term worshippers, he pointed to mature believers in whom the spirit is dominant over the flesh.

Members and friends of Revival Time Assembly worshipping last week Sunday.

revival-time-assembly

The service began with a riveting hour-long praise and worship session led by a mixed team of men and women, young and old. The resident pastor also participated in leading the final worship song.

As Rowe expounded the benefits of a mature believer as a “true worshipper”, he drew attention to Paul and Silas who worshipped in prison after a trying ordeal that left them bruised and weak. He spoke of how God answered their call at midnight with an earthquake that set them free.

Other examples included Revelation 3:7 where it is recorded that the church at Philadelphia, which had the key of David (worship), was granted open door access to the things of God.

Another powerful example given was that of Mary Magdalene in John 20:1-17. Psalmist Rowe explained that she was granted a special visit by Jesus at the resurrection before He visited His Father, and that He revealed himself to her by calling her name “Mary”. He told her, “Don’t cling to Me because I have not yet ascended to my Father” (John 20:17).

Mary was cited as a true worshipper who was desperate to understand Jesus’ death. Jesus later revealed Himself to her, even before Peter, John and the others.

The reference to maturity in the believer was underscored by Romans 12:1-2 where the Apostle Paul urges Christians to present their bodies a living sacrifice unto God.

Rowe explained that the more one’s flesh dies on the altar, the more the Spirit lives to be strengthened in God. Of course, he noted, “this results in the renewing of the mind that gives us a new structure for reference in our lives”.altar-call-2015

In relating worshippers to the Throne Room in Heaven (Revelation 4:5), the psalmist pointed out that God’s elders were all musicians who sang songs at appropriate times.

Rowe further shared that worshippers had access to God to intercede, and he called for intercession on behalf of the youth joining ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) and those currently involved in killing Christians.

He likened the current situation in Syria to the days of old when Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church, even killing believers.

“In those days intercession was made for Saul by the church, and God interrupted him on the road to Damascus (which is in Syria). Saul was saved and became the Apostle Paul.”

Rowe also called for intercession to be made for Mohammed Emwazi, also called “Jihadi John”, “so that he too will be saved and become like Apostle John”.

The service ended with an altar call.

 

• To have your ministry featured in Altar Call, please email cherylharewood@nationnews.com.

 

 

 

 

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