Here is a liturgy I wrote for our new group, Immanuel to attempt to put into practice what I have been talking
about the last two days. Enjoy!
Note: I passed out the texts in advance to others so I was not the only one leading.
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There are many things that we need from God. One is how he is leading us. In the Old Testament, we are told that under Moses, the People of God followed God in a cloud and a pillar of fire. They refused to move until the cloud or pillar moved and when it did move, the people packed up and went forth.
I hope we can always receive fresh revelation from God, but also discernment. One thing that we have looped back to several times is the potential of, instead of launching something new, joining something else that is going.
3 thoughts:
1) Joining God where he is already working.
2) Supporting a need that is clear we can assist
3) Seeing ourselves in a humble manner.
Listening exercise.
Breath – Breathing is one of the most vital and involuntary things we can do. It is both required and innate. Most of the time we are completely unaware of its rhythm. We just do it.
When we move into an anaerobic state, we become completely aware of our breath, because we are heaving for more. There just isn’t enough air around us to satisfy our need. It is more like gulping, then breathing. It is like we are reaching out for just a bit more so our body can recover.
It is noticeable when we are still as well. When we are completely still many things that are happening become apparent. Noises that are unnoticeable become glaring when we stop. For me, I can hear my “tinnitus (a ringing in my ears from listening to music too loud).” I also become painfully aware of my thoughts swishing around at break neck speed. I touch on things that are unresolved, insecurities I have, and dreams that I long for. I also notice my breath.
For a moment, let’s just concentrate on that...our breath. It is a sign of life. If you can sense your breath, it is a sure sign that you are still on the earthy side of living.
Psalm 146:1-4 - Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Psalm 104:24-30 - O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it. These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
Stop…
Breath is a gift from God. In fact, the Greek and Hebrew from breath is the same God chose for His Spiritual manifestation – the Holy Spirit. It is the same word. Both are a gift.
Job 33:4 - The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life
Stop…
Let me state some core beliefs.
- We believe in the Holy Spirit, His indwelling and attentive leading.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit not only desires to speak to us individually, but as a community.
I Samuel 3:1-9 – The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
This is our prayer – Speak to us Lord, WE are listening.
Stop…listen (I gave an unusual amount of time on this one, bordering on awkward, attempting to do my own listening to the Holy Spirit for when to conclude the silence)
After, spend time to debrief what people have heard.
One other practice that is related to breath in the Bible is praise…
Psalm 150 - Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
End by going around the group allowing people to express praise or gratitude to God in response to last reading.
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Peace,
r
