Saturday, November 29, 2014

Listening Day Summary - Nov 2014

LISTENING DAY SUMMARY - NOV 22, 2014

THE TABLE - by Calvin Miller

In this secluded place I meet a King
He comes alone to drink reality
With me. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we sit
And sip a life that passes by the crowd.
As inwardness is born--a felt thing
Of power--a commonality of grace--
A union where untended hopes are knit
Where silence roars as quiet sings aloud.
Oh Christ, I love it here! It is our place.
Speak loud or not. Touch me or not. Show then
Your will or bid me wait in patient grace.
Fill all my hungry need with joy again.
With simple loaves of bread and chaliced wine
Heaven, earth, and all of God are mine

As most of our New Wine fellowship gathered together on a late November Saturday at Mt. Zion Center for a quiet day retreat we gathered around the Lord’s Table to start the day.

This was the third Listening Day of 2014.  Each day  carried its own theme as set by the Spirit.  The first was a word to “walk” with the Lord as we engage the culture and attempt to be agents of healing and restoration.  The second to “love deeper and work harder” as we keep our relationships with Him first.  At Saturday’s gathering the Spirit seemed to be saying “be present” with the Lord.  It seemed to be an invitation to “come to the table of presence” and just rest in Him.

A prophetic word was shared in our debriefing time was:

“The time has come -Pray.  Pray with Me.  Seek My face.  Hear My voice that you may do My bidding.  You are My beloved children.  I am with you and will not fail you.  Go out now with My blessing”   


17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength  20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.  (Eph 1:17-20)


“Now is the time to pray” seemed to be the message of the day.  Come to My table not just occasionally but regularly.  This is not the time to get lax or to think just because your time seemed none productive to give up.  The Father is calling us to the table.  “Sometimes we talk, sometimes we sit.”    

When Dave+ first sat down in quiet the words that came to mind in a very strong way was “Sit down we need to talk”.   This was not just a one time imperative,  this is a call to a season of intense and disciplined meeting, will we be obedient?   Will we heed the call to come to the table?   Not just literally each Sunday morning but regularly, daily, perhaps even more than our current habit.   If we want to hear God we need to be listening?  What does that mean for you?

We read several texted about gathering at the table.  Exodus 25:23-30 which was a description of the Table of Presence located at the heart of the Tabernacle.  Psalm 78:17-22 an account of Israel’s rebellion or resistance to meeting with the Father, doubting if God would be faithful to His promise  to be near.   Luke 14:12-23  reaffirmed the Father’s desire to invite not just Israel but all who believed to His table which includes us.  Then a picture of our final destination in eternity of being at the Table of the Lord was read from Revelation 19:6-9.

Are we really serious about meeting with the Lord.  “Sometimes we talk, sometimes we sit…Speak loud or not. Touch me or not. Show then Your will or bid me wait in patient grace.”

There was a power demonstration of the significance of our gathering around the table together when we literally engaged in the Eucharistic Prayer around the altar at Mt. Zion.  All pressed near, some even touch the altar and held tight.  As we prayed our voices seem strong and united much more than our normal experience of worship.   There seemed to be a very real sense of His presence and our presence together as His children.

During our sharing time after our time of quiet retreat.  There seemed to be consensus that  we need to be particularly intentional about gathering together in the weeks and months ahead.  (As Pat suggested:  “To-Gather To-Gether”)   Hence we will try to be intentional about increasing our opportunities  to gather.  Someone has since suggested we have “Prayer and Feasting” gatherings to pray and break bread together perhaps on Sundays or even at peoples homes.  Also it was suggested  when we gather that we try to “worship in the beauty of holiness” which may get work out in being intentional about what our worship space looks like.   

Some felt like this time was a very sweet time. Others were distracted or unable to focus and felt like they “heard” very little.  Perhaps the lesson or the invitations from our day is “I want you to just come”!   Do not neglect the gathering of the brethren which is the habit of some, and make it a regular habit to come to His table in your quiet daily devotional time or on Sundays with the brethren of New Wine.  Or even when you meet with brothers and sisters in your small groups.  The word of the day was “Come”.  If we are obedient we may be surprised to see what happens.