Around 18 years ago we started a night of worship at Elim Grace. The goal was simple: come and worship Jesus for one hour. We would gather one Sunday evening a month and our one prayer was that He would “touch down” in our midst to His glory. I remember those first few nights. It was a group of musicians and about 6 people from the congregation. It was small in number but the vision was there.
Fast forward 18 years to our Touch Down last night. Every row was full (TD has become our best attended meeting of the weekend and of the month). 11 people were baptized. In the end it was a night of moving testimonies to God’s grace, deep powerful moments in worship and a congregation singing their hearts out to Jesus. In fact, the voices were the loudest instrument! My heart is full of thanksgiving for all that Jesus is doing in and through so many lives at Elim Grace.
As I reflect on last night in particular and Touch Down in general, these words come to mind:
LIGHT – The sanctuary lights are on. There is no spotlight and the focus of the evening is not on the stage. We can see each other’s faces. If you look around, you can see other people worshipping. This is a personal conviction of mine as a pastor, that a darkened room hides an important aspect of worship. That not only do we sing our songs to God but we also sing or address our songs to one another (Ephesians 5:18-20). We do so because this is part of our fellowship and how we are to build up one another in the faith and in the grace of Jesus Christ. We tell and show, and we hear and see, through our corporate praise and worship what Jesus has done. It moves us to worship Him not only for what He’s done in “me” but in “us”. Worship is something we do together not only individually.
LIFE – The gospel was declared! The good news of what God has done in Christ was proclaimed! New birth and life was visible! Jesus was exalted! New beginnings were celebrated! Every generation bore witness and every generation was impacted. Children were baptized, women in recovery were baptized, an entire family was baptized (led by dad being the first). Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is praise and worship (Ephesians 5:18-20), because where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and new life.
HUGS – Touch Down is not a concert where no one participates but the band. Where everyone immediately leaves after the event. Where the topic of conversation is the show or the performance or my favorite moment or song. Afterward, the topic is Jesus. The topic is caring for one another. The topic is pointing out and celebrating God’s grace at work in one another. No one immediately leaves. Everyone lingers. We find one another and we hug each other as a family should. Young and old. All walks of life. Greeting one another. Engaging in conversation. Encouraging one another. Praying for one another. Last night the longest standing member of our church (her family helped found the church over 50 yrs ago) was present and worshipping alongside young mothers with infants. A family that worship together stays and grows together.
THANKSGIVING – It was hard to find words to express what one was feeling or thinking afterwards, but the overwhelming sense and most common word used was “grateful”. There was an attitude of deep thanksgiving to God for all that He had done, was doing and would continue to do in and through so many lives at Elim Grace. But thanksgiving is the fruit of humility and humility is the fruit of thanksgiving. Touch Down, like all gatherings of God’s people, should lead us (back) from US to US AND GOD and then further on to GOD AND US. God being the highest, the utmost. The focus of every heart. The One Thing we seek and pursue. The First and the Last. The Beginning and the End. The Source and Center of all things, including and especially, the salvation of sinners. His is the glory and the honor and the power forever and ever. Since the highest cannot stand without the lowest, God’s glory abides in the midst of a humble people.
GOOD WORKS – Many of the testimonies we heard during baptisms were the fruit of friendships sown through the good works of many present there. Those good works became a sign of the goodness and glory of Jesus to others. A LIVING SIGN. Those served came into contact with more than the good work itself. They came into contact with a living God. God for sure has prepared good works for us to do, but it is through those good works that He seeks to reveal Himself. As an example, the women in recovery at Touch Down were present (as were their friends and families) because of the women who have given themselves daily to serve and to walk alongside them. To point them to Jesus.
Dear Elim Grace, in relating these spontaneous reflections, I am without a doubt certain we have nothing that we have not received by grace. Every good and perfect gift comes down from God the Father. Nothing of what has occurred in any Touch Down (or any gathering of God’s people) has been earned by us. God owes us nothing. Yet, He does seek and desire to dwell with His people. We alone are not His people. We are not more favored than any other church in our community. Still, we are each called to be faithful to God, to not receive His grace in vain and to give Him all the glory. So, Elim Grace, let Him find in us a people of His own making. A people devoted to Him. A people for His own dwelling:
“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15)
Let us hear the promise and heed the call:
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)
Let our prayer continue to be simple and let our pursuit continue to be one thing:
Touch down in our midst, Lord Jesus, to the praise of your great name!