I often complain to my friends that theological studies can be a faith-killer because we learn so much "about" God, and are so tempted to leave it at that and not get to know the living God personally. Well, last night was a welcomed exception. It was a Regent first, "Pray for the World," an all night prayer vigil.
It began at 9pm, with an hour of worship in song. Afterwards, we confessed our sins, wrote them down on small sheets of paper, and nailed them on a cross. After all, how dare we intercede on behalf of a sinful world without first confessing our sins? How can we approach God with the needs of the world unless we ourselves acknowledge our need for Him and place ourselves in a state of grace? What assurance, to know that our wickedness has been dealt with once and for all by our Lord in his death and resurrection!
Then we ripped off all the sheets of paper and went outside in the cold wind and rain, and proceeded to burn all our "sins" into oblivion, the way Almighty God does. It was very powerful.
At 10 we began praying for Regent College and Vancouver. We thanked God for the wonderful work he's done here in the past, present, and for what he will accomplish in the future. We also thanked God for our lovely city, its beautiful surroundings, and its people. We brought before God the complacency of the church, and asked for mercy and grace in reaching out to a city that is engulfed in self-worship, self-improvement, self-obsession. We prayed for the poor as well as the wealthy. We claimed God's promise to guide our every step, and declared our allegiance to seek and discern his will for our city.
From 11 until 12:20am we prayed for the world: Canada, USA, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We thanked God for such a diverse world, made evident in the multi-cultural presence at school. We prayed for peace and justice. We prayed that God would grow his kingdom here on earth.
From 12:20 to 12:40 we had some much needed refreshments: coffee, tea, bread, chips, popcorn, and cake. I juiced up on caffeine.
Then, for the next 2 hours we divided up into numerous groups and prayed specifically for individual nations: Zambia, Germany, Kenya, and Korea were only a few examples. I joined prayer groups for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Albania.
At 2:45 we sang some more, and then shared the Lord's Supper together. What a blessing, to take in the body and blood of our Lord, assuring us of his grace, assuring us of his love, assuring us of his very presence. We also divided into small groups and prayed for one another.
At 3:30 praying ensued, until 5:30, at which time breakfast was served. However, I left early, at 3:30. I was exhausted, encouraged, tired, excited, overwhelmed, and sobered.
This was surely one of the highlights of my time at Regent so far. I acknowledge the importance of asking hard, academic, conceptual, abstract questions. Our mental faculties are to be used for the glory of God. God can handle intellectualism. However, when they become an end in themselves, we miss the point of doing them in the first place.
It began at 9pm, with an hour of worship in song. Afterwards, we confessed our sins, wrote them down on small sheets of paper, and nailed them on a cross. After all, how dare we intercede on behalf of a sinful world without first confessing our sins? How can we approach God with the needs of the world unless we ourselves acknowledge our need for Him and place ourselves in a state of grace? What assurance, to know that our wickedness has been dealt with once and for all by our Lord in his death and resurrection!
Then we ripped off all the sheets of paper and went outside in the cold wind and rain, and proceeded to burn all our "sins" into oblivion, the way Almighty God does. It was very powerful.
At 10 we began praying for Regent College and Vancouver. We thanked God for the wonderful work he's done here in the past, present, and for what he will accomplish in the future. We also thanked God for our lovely city, its beautiful surroundings, and its people. We brought before God the complacency of the church, and asked for mercy and grace in reaching out to a city that is engulfed in self-worship, self-improvement, self-obsession. We prayed for the poor as well as the wealthy. We claimed God's promise to guide our every step, and declared our allegiance to seek and discern his will for our city.
From 11 until 12:20am we prayed for the world: Canada, USA, Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. We thanked God for such a diverse world, made evident in the multi-cultural presence at school. We prayed for peace and justice. We prayed that God would grow his kingdom here on earth.
From 12:20 to 12:40 we had some much needed refreshments: coffee, tea, bread, chips, popcorn, and cake. I juiced up on caffeine.
Then, for the next 2 hours we divided up into numerous groups and prayed specifically for individual nations: Zambia, Germany, Kenya, and Korea were only a few examples. I joined prayer groups for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Albania.
At 2:45 we sang some more, and then shared the Lord's Supper together. What a blessing, to take in the body and blood of our Lord, assuring us of his grace, assuring us of his love, assuring us of his very presence. We also divided into small groups and prayed for one another.
At 3:30 praying ensued, until 5:30, at which time breakfast was served. However, I left early, at 3:30. I was exhausted, encouraged, tired, excited, overwhelmed, and sobered.
This was surely one of the highlights of my time at Regent so far. I acknowledge the importance of asking hard, academic, conceptual, abstract questions. Our mental faculties are to be used for the glory of God. God can handle intellectualism. However, when they become an end in themselves, we miss the point of doing them in the first place.
I yearn to put to use the things I learn about God. May these things lead to a closer, more intimate knowledge of God. I yearn for closer communion with God, as the Psalmist says in one of my favourite Psalms, 130:5-6:
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning."
No comments:
Post a Comment