Shout It Out!

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." (Psalms 32:8-11 KJV)

The microphone was turned a little high last night. I am usually speaking from the pulpit; but, last night I was at the lectern and the mic has been set for people who speak much softer than I do. Following the service, I was told that I don't really need a mic. For most people I don't. However, the average age of my congregation is about 80 and a few would not hear even me if I did not use one.

My grand-children often thought I was hollering at them even when I was not. I just talk that way. I usually speak pretty confidently; although, some may describe it as speaking a little too assertively. I speak loud for many reasons. The primary one is that so many people that I speak with have hearing impairments. It makes no sense to speak to them if they cannot hear me. It would be a waste of my breath and a waste of time on everyone's part.

But, there are others reasons to speak loudly and confidently. I believe what I say; otherwise, I would not say it and so I speak confidently (or assertively depending on one's point of view). I believe that God is our Father and Creator; that God is also the Son who died for our salvation; that God the Holy Spirit guides and empowers me to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God. I believe this and so I speak confidently. 

I believe what I say. I rejoice that Jesus is my Lord and so I would shout it not just from the pulpit; but, from every mountain so that all would hear and by hearing come to faith in Jesus; that all would trust in him for their life and salvation.

"Be Glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." Shout for joy so all may hear that Jesus is the Lord of Lord's and rejoice with you!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Fill Us Up, Lord!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. Rom 15:13-14 NIV

More than a few times over the last few decades, I have heard the lament that congregations are aging and there are just too few people to do the ministry of the church. Hogwash! I don't buy that excuse for not joyfully participating in the ministry that we have been called to. I am just not accepting of that story.

Of course, we are all aging. Everybody ages. But, that does not mean that the Spirit of Christ cannot continue to minister through us. Even the five-year old is aging. As we age; as we mature, we may receive different gifts to serve. No matter what age, we can all still serve in various ways. It might be as a prayer warrior in your recliner at home or as an usher or reader at worship. It might be that we are called to visit shut-ins. There are just an infinite number of ways in which God might call and empower us to minister to others. When I hear things like we can't do this or that because there are too few of us willing to serve and we're all too old, it brings be great pause; because in fact it is not we who does the work of God; but, Christ who abides in us who does these things. And, we ought not be thinking that there are too few of us. There are many. But, we need to acknowledge that Christ works through others as well as ourselves and be very careful about building up walls that might hinder the ministry of others within the church. It does not matter how old or young we are. It doesn't matter where we come from. The Spirit of Christ abides in us and we in him. How can we do anything but serve the Lord and the people around us?

If we're busy trying to sustain the congregation or church on earth under our own power, we are all in trouble. We cannot do it and deep down in our hearts we know that. We become afraid that because of our own inabilities the church on earth is on a decline.

Do not be afraid! It is not in decline! Jesus began the church on earth with twelve men and one of them a traitor. Do we really believe that what started with twelve disciples and in 2000 plus years has grown to what it is today, through the shedding of much blood and many tears, that God would let the church fold? We must remember, though, that those first disciples did not go out into the world until they received the promised Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit they could do nothing. But, with the Holy Spirit they were empowered to go forth to bring the Good News to all people. They were filled with hope no matter what adversity they faced.

May God fill us with the Holy Spirit and with His power that we might continue with hope to that which we are called; to instruct others in The Way of Jesus the Christ, that they everyone might enter into our Father's presence in His Kingdom.

Fill us up, Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J.