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If you have
never had the opportunity to be in a Spirit-filled service
before, you will discover that the oldest worship on earth is a
brand new experience for you. Join in with us as we praise God
together in spirit and in truth. We do not ask visitors to
imitate us, but we encourage all to worship God sincerely with
an open heart in their own way.
In a Spirit-filled service at New Hope Lighthouse, you can
expect to see people clapping their hands and shouting just as
the Scriptures describe: " O clap your hands all you
people; shout unto God," (Psalm 47:1).
You
will also see people: "Lift up their hands in the
sanctuary," (Psalm 134:2). This is a form of praise and
of yielding to God. For this reason Paul wrote, "I will
therefore that men pray every- where, lifting up holy
hands," ( I Timothy 2:8)."Lift up their voice with
one accord," (Acts 4:24).
This
means that our church will sometimes worship the Lord
"aloud". Just as the early Christians did, we may
worship with a "loud voice" (Luke 19:34), or at
times worship solemnly as the holy hush of God falls upon the
congregation. At these times the Lord seems to whisper "
be still and know that I am God," (Psalm 46:10).
Another
way we praise the Lord is with musical instruments. Just as
King David, a man after God's
own heart (Acts 13:22), the church may: "Praise Him with
the stringed instruments and organs...Praise upon the loud
cymbals," (Psalm 150:4-5).
Sometimes
the Spirit of God moves in such a way that someone may even
"Praise His name in the dance," (Psalm 149:3).
A
very important part of every service is the operation of the
gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:6-10). Oftentimes the
Lord will speak to the congregation through the gifts of
tongues and interpretation of tongues: "If any man speak
in an unknown tongue...let one interpret," (I Corinthians
14:27). (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH OTHER TONGUES OF ACTS 2:38).
One
person will speak a message in tongues, often in a bold
booming voice, and another person will interpret that message
so that all may understand (I Corinthians 14:22).
If
someone gives a message without there being tongues, it is
considered a prophecy (I Corinthians 14:1-15). These messages
come directly from God, and the Bible says, "Forbid not
to speak with tongues," (I Corinthians 14:39).
A
Spirit-filled service will almost always include prayer for
the sick. The Bible says: "Is any sick among you? Let him
call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him,
anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord," (James
5:14).
The
healing of the sick is one of the signs which Jesus said would
follow believers (Mark 16:18). It is made possible by the
marks of the whip laid upon Jesus' back (Isaiah 53:5, I Peter
2:24,Matthew 8:17).
The
pages of the Bible do indeed come alive in a
Spirit-filled service. We love Spirit-filled worship and it is
our desire to share it with the entire world. Please feel free
to join us as we lift the name of Jesus together.
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