If I was only a member of LAT and not a pastor, I would still speak with Godly pride of my church for this one reason: we rarely miss it when it comes to singing the songs of the hour and preaching the word of the season. The worship team and the preachers are steadily perfecting the art of downloading the messages and songs that heaven wishes for the day.

The most recent example is last Sunday. Teddy, Albert, Zoe, and Juliana ushered us into God’s presence as they led praise and worship. Of course they were immeasurably helped by their counterparts: Andrew, Bruce, Jade, and Praise. When they were done, Carol preached the anointed word of the season. Just like the worship team, she got her message straight from heaven. Her sermon, for those who attended and heard my closing remarks, attests to that. Joan also has foolproof evidence that Carol was a Gabriel of sorts who spoke on behalf of God.
 
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). This verse accurately describes the “word” spoken and sang by Carol and the worship team respectively.

I often purpose to assess the corporate joy levels of services. Last Sunday was one of those days when the house was full of joy. This is always as a result of the presence of God that is majorly determined by the worship team and the preacher. You see, the Bible says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forever more (Psalms 16:11). When the presence of God invades a place, joy and pleasure come along exactly as it happened on Sunday.

Now, as I have always said, our desire as LAT should always be to make God welcome when we gather. How can this be achieved? Very simple: we must assemble every Sunday (and Thursday) with the primary reason of bringing pleasure to Him. This is what we were created for – His pleasure.

One of the things that please God is when we worship Him in Spirit, truly, from the heart. And for each service there are specific words and melodies He would prefer to hear. That, therefore, means that the worship team has to be in tune with heaven; they must ascend to heaven in order to download the songs of the moment. They have done a fabulous work in that respect so far. We should pray for them that they continue that way.

The other thing that pleases God is when the preacher’s message is “as it is in heaven”. If a person is going to speak to God’s children on His behalf, s/he must receive what to speak from Him. When that happens, the presence of God comes into a place as evidence that the speaker is sent from above. Carol was evidently the woman from heaven on Sunday. Let us pray for our preachers – including myself – to imitate Carol.

Now, please note that it is not only the worship team and the preachers who are responsible for pleasing God so that the church can experience His presence and joy. The congregation, too, has a huge role to play.

If you really mean business with God, then you should endeavor to come to church on time. And when you do come on time, please praise and worship God. Even though you suspect you might have bad breath, please open your mouth wide in song. And when a song has a line like “may our homes be filled with dancing”, please decently shake your body a little bit or big time regardless of whether or not you “eat like a horse” (please smile). Our worship team does not prepare to entertain anybody; so do not act like you have come to watch them. Also, encourage your children to open their mouths when praising and worshiping God.
 
When the time comes for preaching, open your heart to receive God’s word for the day. How eager you are to receive from God determines how much of the presence of God will be released to back up the message.

So, every one of us has a role to play.

Last Adam Tabernacle is God’s house. That has evidently been the case the last four and a half years. Our worship team, preachers, and many of the congregants always welcome God to “tabernacle” with us. That pleases Him and we receive His joy. May that always be so. As for now, He is, and we too should be, proud of LAT.

God bless you.