Facedown - May 20th

Yesterday I met with our Facedown creative team to continue dreaming and planning the next edition, which is just a month away. I am so pumped! God has already started inspiring us with some really cool things. You will not want to miss it.

One of the things I love about Facedown is to watch how God puts each edition together and how each one He makes completely unique. I have people talk to me all the time and say "remember that one with the glowsticks?" or "remember the one where the singers were no where in sight?"

Through it all, Facedown still has a very simple focus. Leviticus 9 says that the Israelites were at the foot of the mountain of God after they left Egypt. They were instructed precisely how to present the first offering to God and they followed it to the "T". And then, after Moses and Aaron had met with God in the Tent of Meeting, they came out, blessed the people and then the God showed up!

"...and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown." (Leviticus 9:23-24)

Here is a basic definition of worship. Worship is our response to the revelation of God. You can see that in this verse. God shows up, the people respond. And they respond in two ways, which brings us to the two pillars of Facedown.

First, they shouted for joy. They celebrated. They went crazy. Ever been to a football game and the home team scores a winning touchdown at the last second? The crowd goes wild, right? Well, that doesn't even compare to how the people of God responded in this Leviticus passage. Why? Because God accepted their offering. He found it acceptable. You know what? God has accepted an offering that blows theirs away. Jesus Christ. He's our offering, once and for all. And we've done nothing to deserve it. Which brings us to the second response...

Secondly, the people of Israel fell facedown. And get this...it's for the exact same reason. After their celebration, I imagine a moment when an eerie silence falls over the people. There's a light switch flipped or something that causes them to realize that God accepted their offering. He found them acceptable. And it's the same for us. But here's the difference. The only part we (humanity) had in presenting this offering is that we crucified God's Son. The Lamb of God spilled His blood to cover us and make us acceptable in God's sight. When we truly realize that, we can't help but fall on our faces in awe of God.

In a few weeks, I will begin a daily journey to Facedown. I'll post thoughts to help prepare our hearts to meet with God as May 20 draws closer. I hope you'll join me!