I went to church!

[Apple]

Has Talk Jesus helped me? Well, Tonyb via TJ has helped me, so I am sure that that counts.

He gave me a link to Kensington Temple in London. So via the internet, I went to church this morning. Whoopee!

It was a live webcast and I had a video link.

It was amazing. They started by singing songs that were really good.

I could really relate to the words eg

"I want to know you
I want to hear your voice
I want to know you more.
I want to touch you
I want to see your face
I want to know you more"

(The words came up on the screen, but it had no copyright mentioned so I hope that it is OK to write this here :embarasse).

Now it was great to see that other people must want more of God in their lives and that I am not the only one who hasn't 'got there' yet.

Another song said:

"You alone are my heart's desire"

- Yes, Yes, Yes!

Another song spoke of trading my sickness and pain for the joy of the Lord and the chorus kept on saying:

"Yes Lord!" - I was with them on that one!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was really amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

One thing that puzzled me though was that the people were lifting their hands up high and at one point the vicar told them to do that - well, he said "Stretch our hands out to him".

What do you think that was all about?

 

[stephen]

That is good news to us, Amen. Tony shared the link with me and I have visited now and then. And also enjoyed.

God Bless You

 

[Apple]

Thanks Stephen for the post, but you didn't answer my question!

 

[stephen]

Sorry I missed that.

When folks lift their hands as they worship in whatever way, they do it in an expression of love, of exaltation of Jesus. Lifting up His holy Name. We hold out our open hands also to receive from Him.

Our focus is upon Jesus. When the preacher asked his congregation to lift up their hands, he was encouraging them to draw nearer to Jesus, in this expression of worship.

Jesus is the one who fills with the Holy Spirit. As we draw close to him in whatever way, He fills us with the Holy Spirit.

 

[Chad]

I'm very happy for you sister. I do encourage you to go physically to a church local of you as well. This way, you can have a personal face to face fellowship with other believers.

 

[Tonyb]

Hello Apple,

I was really pleased for you, to hear that you had got to a church service, all be it on line, fantastic. I just look forward to the day when you can go to a German church like KT.

People lifting there hands to the Lord is found mostly in the Old Testament scriptures. You might notice it from time to time in the Psalms. The Hebrew word thanks, 'Todah' is derived from a root meaning an open hand. The idea is you express your thanks to the Lord by opening and raising your hands to Him, it can also signify abandoning yourself to His will for your life.

In the Old Testament and almost certainly in the early church, worship was very expressive, it involved the whole body as well as the heart and mind.

In the last 100 years or so it has tended to be the revivals in pentecostal churches and charismatic elements of some of the old denominational churches that practice these things. It's part of the restoration of all things. Besides that, God our Father loves to party, in a godly sense of course.

Blessings,
Tony

 

[Apple]

Thank you Stephen, Chad and Tony for all of your replies.

I now understand about the raising of the hands - thanks!

As far as going to a church is concerned, I first of all need to get well enough to go!!!!!!

 

[ladylovesJesus]

I have never visited Kensington Temple either physically or via the internet.

I am happy to know that you were able to see it via the internet today apple. God is so good. Those songs you spoke about are ones I am used to and have sung many times. The song I want to know You more was one I was typing in chat when you were with us yesterday and I heard it via allworship.com

You are learning so much and we all are on a learning experience. We had a good time at alpha today too.

I am glad there were people around to answer your questions too.

God bless

Love in Christ :rainbow: :rose: