Holy, Holy, Holy

An Encounter with the Presence of God

This morning, the doors to the auditorium opened and women rushed to find a seat. Intercession before the service started with proclamations declaring freedom to the captives, thanking God for breakthrough and asking that The Glory of the Lord fill the temple today. The declaration “God’s given you permission to PURSUE everything He’s promised you” resonated with the crowd and a mighty shout of agreement rose as the prayer and intercession moved into the opening praise song, “God of the Breakthrough.”

Praise transitioned into a more prayerful tone as everyone sang together, “We need the Blood, We plead the Blood..What tore the veil, what empties hell, what never fails, what testifies, what prophecies, your death is life, only the blood…only the blood of Jesus Christ.”

Pastor Judy talked about gardening and how her mom consistently planted a garden and used the “first fruits” of the harvest to sell in the local market. She would turn around and use that money to seed ministries across the country. Judy credits those seeds as the reason she has a ministry now. She reminded everyone that our seeds don’t leave us, but instead they go into our future and multiply and come back. Her momma’s tomatoes and collards made a difference in ways that her mother could never have imagined. 

David and Nicole Binion took the stage after he was introduced as one of the greatest songwriters of our time. The reputation the Binions have is that of passionate worshipers. David went on to say that he appreciated the accolades, but he didn’t know if he wrote songs as much as songs wrote him.

Just before they started leading in worship, it was revealed that today is David’s birthday! Everyone sang Happy Birthday and he blew out the candles on the cake and shared his birthday wish…that people today would take a hold of the healing Jesus has for them. He expounded on the title Jehovah Jireh-The Lord will provide. That name is often connected to money or financial provision, but it first appeared in the Old Testament when Abraham was taking Issac up the mountain. The better translation is “The Lord will provide an offering.” David shared that Jesus was the offering and because of his sacrifice, we stand free from sin, but also free from sickness and disease. “Jesus already paid the price, so my wish for you is that you would walk in the healing Jesus has for you.”

The tone of the service became very worshipful as they led the crowd deeper into the presence of the Lord. Psalm 84 set to music had the ladies crying out, “Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere. My soul follows after you”  Amen, my heart echoes that cry. Lord, Wherever you lead..I’m going. I trust you.

David broke into the song to offer an ingredient that always brings the glory. “It always begins at the place of hunger. Hunger always opens the door.” When Jesus comes into the temple after the triumphal entry, he turned over tables and the disciples said, “See how the zeal of the Lord consumes him.” The zeal of the Lord, a hunger for more. There is always more for us if we are hungry.

David went on to talk a little bit about Jacob's ladder..the dream Jacob had at Bethel. Jacob said, “How awesome is this place. Surely the Lord is in the place.” This inspired David to write the song Heaven’s Gate. As they led the crowd in this song, women spontaneously knelt at the altar in reverent worship.

The transition to “You are Worthy of it All” continued the reverent worship. The room was filled with the incense of the prayers and worship of hundreds of women lifting their voices in one accord to fully surrender. The next chorus, Only Jesus, take this world and give me Him drew the focus more sharply onto Jesus.

At this point, using only keyboards, David led the crowd in several familiar songs. The beautiful voices of the crowd rose declaring the holiness and majesty of Jesus. 

Holy, Holy

Are you Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

You are Holy, Holy,

Are you Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Your name is the highest

Your name is the greatest

Your name stands above them all

All thrones and dominions

All powers and positions

Your name stands above them all

And the angels cry holy

All creation cries holy

You are lifted high, holy

Holy forever

David broke back into leading, singing “ Behold he's coming. The end and the beginning. He's coming on the clouds, he's coming here and now and the only word I can see is holy.”

“Here comes the glory of the Lord, sweeping in the room…Heaven is on the move, healing is breaking out. Miracles, signs and wonders are happening right now. Heaven is here right now, what we long to see, it is happening! Here comes heaven!”

What a morning spent in the presence of the Lord admiring his Holiness.