When a Christian meeting is controlled by Christ, without human programming and agendas, the Holy Spirit takes over and the glory of God is on display for all to see.  However, when a meeting is directed and run by a human being, God’s direction is overridden.  The meeting feels more like a human performance than like a movement of God’s Spirit.

I have seen this happen many times.  A human leader opens a meeting up to a time a testimony or prayer and lets people spontaneously participate.  The Spirit begins to move and to stir people up.  Everyone begins to sense His presence.  Then the human leader redirects the meeting back to his/her agenda and the sense of God’s presence gets weaker.

That’s what the New Testament means when it says:  “Quench not the Spirit” or “Don’t put out the Spirit’s fire.”  God wants to, personally, lead His people when they gather in His name.  That’s what happened in Acts chapter 2 when the Holy Spirit moved on the first Christians — man’s plans and agendas were overridden and the Spirit took over.  Joy flooded the disciples.  A huge crowed gathered to watch them spontaneously celebrate and praise God.  And 3,000 people’s lives were transformed by Christ that day.  Wow!

Perhaps we should set aside our Sunday morning methods and instead allow the Spirit to flow freely in our midst unhindered and unhampered by our prearranged programs.  Why not give God a chance this Sunday.  If you are a pastor and lead a church service, why not step aside?  Stand up on Sunday morning and say:  “We are going to let the Holy Spirit lead the meeting today, so I am going to sit down.  Then, each one of us is going to listen to the Spirit and do whatever He tells us to do this morning.”

Some people say:  “That won’t work!”  “It would be chaos!”  “Someone might say something off the wall.”

However, after 5 years of participating in unprogrammed  church, I can say, it does work!  The results are truly amazing.  God really does show up and take control.

Come and see for yourself.  Visit us this Sunday at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207 at 10:45 am.  Experience what God will do when we set aside our program and let Him lead.