Shepastor: "Justice and Peace..."

34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matthew 10:34 KJV

Our Nation is reeling from the events of recent days. While some, unfortunately are taking advantage of communities, looting, burning, robbing, etc., many more are calling for calm while they lift their voices in a cry for justice. The families of those who have been treated unjustly are calling for “peaceful protest.” They are not, however, asking for resignation or passivity. They want justice.

Peace is defined as, “freedom from disturbance, quiet and tranquility.” But the scripture also places us on notice that Jesus did not come to bring “peace,” as we have commonly come to define it, but a sword.

The above verses were spoken in the context of Jesus’ dialogue with his disciples about taking up their cross and following Him. Jesus was letting His disciples know that those who follow Him, those who speak truth and stand for justice, those who live and preach righteousness , those who take up their cross daily and follow Him will find themselves at odds with the world. Unfortunately, in the name of “peace,” people avoid addressing issues. They leave words unspoken. They allow wrong to persist. In the name of peace, people look the other way from sin. In the name of “peace,” people hide feelings, silence justifiable complaints, and want to shew away protestors…all in the name of “peace.”

We must be careful how we view and press for “peace.” Godly peace does not ignore injustices. Godly peace confronts, in truth and in love. Godly peace does not look the other way when people are hurting, when people are hungry, when people are marginalized, when people are treated less than human. Godly peace stands in the gap…speaks truth to power…does what it can to lift heavy burdens.

God is the God of the oppressed. The Lord rebuked Israel for having false religion…false peace. Amos 5: 21-24 declares,

21I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. 22Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. 23Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. 24But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

What kind of peace are you looking for? Behaving as if nothing is wrong? Behaving as if everything is ok? Behaving as if nothing is happening? As you walk by your brother or sister on the road and see them perishing? As you stand back and allow excessive force and police brutality? As you allow unfair labor practices among multi-billion dollar enterprises, refusing to pay workers a living wage and provide any form of benefits?

What kind of peace do you want? For the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer? For Countries to rape and rob the land of other poorer countries, experiment on the vulnerable and leave them war torn, diseased and filled with famine? This is not peace – godly peace!

May we seek godly peace and pursue it.

I leave with you a song from yesteryears, by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes…

Wake Up Everybody

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “Addressing the Elephants in the Pew: Pursuing Knowledge, Wisdom and Healing…”

“For she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.15
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”
Proverbs 3: 14-15 NIV

Did you know that there are “elephants” sitting in our pews? Women in ministry frequently wrestle with them. Not so much what others do in our churches, but what we face alone and often in silence. For a variety of reasons, many female clergy face isolation due to issues that are unique to women.

In order to gain acceptance, at times, female clergy may deny the extent of their struggles in general as well as those related to their femininity in particular. For fear of being categorized as “weak,” “emotional,” or “incapable,” women sometimes ignore their feelings, the realities of changes in their bodies and “stuff” their frustration.

Loneliness, singleness (not by choice), depression, menopause, lack of financial stability, minimal support, jealousy and envy between, “sisters,” etc., all contribute. These issues become “elephants,” in the pews because we behave as if they don’t exist, yet they are looming large.

This year, three female clergy groups have come together to expose the proverbial elephants, discuss them, be transparent about them and together, receive wisdom from God’s word about how to address them.

Friday, July 31st – Saturday, August 1st, 2015, “Sisters United in Christ," (Founder/Facilitator, Rev. Dr. Crystal Walker), “Encouraging the Prophetic Woman,” (Founder/Facilitator, Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Ragin) and “Women Together in Ministry of Greater Cleveland – WTIM,” (Founder/Facilitator, Pastor Chris Smith) will host,

Our prayer is that women will have the opportunity to share their experiences openly, discuss the realities of their pain, and turn to God’s Word and “sisterly fellowship” for healing, guidance and wisdom.

Please pray with us as we seek to reach, bless and encourage as many as possible.

For more information or to register, visit Addressing the Elephants in the Pew

Pre-Registration, May 18th – June 3rd , 2015 (register now and receive a discounted rate!)

Regular Registration, June 4th – July 24th, 2015

After July 24th, 2015 (space and meal options limited)

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: "The Neglected Practice of Prayer..."

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26: 40-41, NIV

The hymn writer declared, “Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pains we bare, all because we do not carry EVERYTHING to God in prayer (“What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” by Joseph M. Scriven, 1855). What victories might we win, what obstacles might we overcome, what pitfalls might we avoid if we would spend dedicated time with the Lord in prayer? In this text, Jesus is toiling, laboring, heavy with dread, before the Father as He prepares to sacrifice His life for our sins. He asked the disciples to “watch in prayer” with Him for an hour. The scripture says that when he returned unto them, he found them sleeping.

Jesus then gave them this somber warning…

41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26: 41, NIV

Over the years, the people of God have come to equate “temptation” with “BIG” sins. We have developed categories of sin. We deceived ourselves into believing that “sin” is something that other folks do! But “sin” is simply, disobedience to God.
Disobedience takes on many forms. Sometimes it is ignoring God’s still small voice that speaks to our spirits and says, “do this, not that…” Yet we follow our own way. Sometimes it is using our words to hurt instead heal. Sometimes it is allowing fear and cowardice to govern our action or inaction. Sometimes it is a refusal to give when we know there is a need. Sometimes it is laying in the bed when the Spirit has beckoned us to get up, read God’s Word and pray.

Yes, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” While our hearts may have every good intention, we are no match for our own flesh. Without the power of prayer, seeking the will, way and work of the Lord, without the power of His precious Holy Spirit, without our request for the Lord to order our steps, set a watch over our mouths, keep our feet from stumbling, keep our minds stayed on Jesus, without the Lord’s blessed hand to keep us, WE WILL enter into temptation.

The Lord told Peter, “satan desires to sift you as wheat…” the devil desire no less for us. Our only true weapon is communion with the Lord through prayer.

Through prayer, we gain strength
Through prayer, our spiritual sensitivity is sharpened
Through prayer, our hearts of convicted of wrong and we are led to repentance
Through prayer, the Lord speaks to us and leads us in the way that we should go
Through prayer, our eyes and ears are open to the will of the Lord
Through prayer, we are empowered to overcome the tricks, traps and tactics of the enemy
Through prayer, we become more than conquerors.

May we diligently pursue the practice of prayer so that we will not be governed by the whims of our flesh.

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com
Stop by my new website, www.shepastorchris.org

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "Faithfulness, Yet the Battle..."

II Chronicles 31: 20-21; 32: 1-8
20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

II Chronicles 32: 1-8 (English Standard Version)
Sennacherib Invades Judah
32 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and jthe brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 He set to work resolutely and built up kall the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it,1 and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the lMillo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke mencouragingly to them, saying, 7 n“Be strong and courageous. oDo not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, pfor there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is qan arm of flesh, rbut with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

In this text, a righteous King named Hezekiah has led the people of Judah in tearing down the “high places,” those places that were temples of idol worship. The priests and the Levites have reclaimed the temples for the Lord. The people gave a tithe of all that they possessed. Because of their dedication to the work of the Lord and the rebuilding of His temple, the Lord made them to prosper greatly. They were faithful…they tore down that which was evil and dedicated themselves to rebuilding that which was right, holy and good.

The Chronicler, however, begins chapter 32 with an interesting statement. He declares,

iAfter these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.

“Faithfulness and Yet the Battle…”
There is something within the human psyche that tells us that if we do this, then we will have that. If we eat the right foods and take good care of ourselves then we won’t get sick. If we love, care for and nurture someone, then we will get love, caring and nurture in return. If we are faithful, doing what is just right and good, then we won’t have to face any turmoil or trouble.

I did not say that that is reality. I said that somehow, in our human psyche, we believe or we feel that if we do these things, we will have certain results. We realize, however, that that is not always the case! Many have eaten right, exercised, drank plenty of water and still got sick. Many have loved, cared for and nurtured somebody and they were still mistreated and or disrespected by those same individuals. Many have been faithful and made a practice of doing what is right and good and still were confronted with turmoil and trouble.

I imagine King Hezekiah and the people of Judah were just as confused and befuddled by the ensuing attacks of the enemy as we are when things don’t go quite as we’d planned or thought – especially when we called ourselves doing what was/is right!

You’ve been faithful and yet…sickness still comes, you’ve been faithful and yet the child or the sibling or co-worker or spouse still acts like a fool…you’ve been faithful and yet satan’s attacks seem stronger than ever! We find ourselves asking, “What’s going on?”

The answer to what’s going on comes in the next line after verse 1:

Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.

The enemy sees the fruitfulness of your proverbial land…he sees your gifts, he sees your talents, he sees your power…even when you don’t see it for yourself. He sees what you have and desires to own it for himself. His job is to “steal, kill and destroy.” Isn’t it interesting that the enemy didn’t want it when it was overrun with idol worship, lewd and crude behaviors? Now that it is clean, now that it has been beautified, now that it is filled with the glow and glory of the Lord, the enemy wants it!

I am reminded of when I worked as a chaplain at a local hospital. All of the chaplains were given small box shaped offices. They were all of same size and configuration. But in my office, I chose to set it up a little differently. I requested a used couch from the basement. I went and bought some inexpensive pictures and hung them up on the wall. I added a few of my own little nick nacks from home and even brought in a small stereo system to play soothing music.

When I sat in my office, I would leave the door open so that if someone needed an encouraging word, prayer, etc., they would see that I was available. Interestingly, people would come by and say, “What a nice office!” I was just drawn to come in! When the time came for me to leave my hospital position as a chaplain, something strange happened. Other employees were literally arguing over who would take over my office space! It was no different than the other spaces. But they believed something was extra special about this space. They didn’t realize that it wasn’t the space. It wasn’t even me. It was the glow of God’s glory and the special anointing he had placed upon that space, using some creativity, warmth and love that made it so special.

They didn’t realize that once all of those things were packed up and gone, it would revert back to small office shaped like a box! The enemy looks at you and desires what you have, even who you are, not realizing that he can never possess what you have because we belong to the Lord and it is the Lord that makes gives us the gifts!

If you go back and read the rest of this chapter, you will see the tactics that the enemy tried to use to get God’s people to “cut and run,” surrendering what God had for them. He tried to intimidate them and even began speaking their language in order to get them to listen!

“Don’t allow yourself to believe what the King Hezekiah is saying…no one can save you from my attacks. Your god cannot save you from my attacks!” He began to speak their language and use things that were familiar to them, against them. Sometimes the enemy will take your own fears, your own words, your own thoughts and turn them against you. In the book, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones asserts that we spend too much time allowing our minds to talk to us, verses talking to our minds.

In other words, we allow inner doubts, fears, voices from the past, comparisons, criticisms, etc., govern how we think and feel, rather than stopping those thoughts and images in their tracks, slamming the door in their face and speaking God’s Word and promises over our lives. We must practice the spiritual tactic of “pulling down strongholds” in our minds.

II Corinthians 10:3-5 declares,

3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

When we are under attack we must claim the promises of God over our lives and stand upon God’s holy Word. That is what King Hezekiah did as the King of Assyria tried to threaten, intimidate and destroy the confidence of the people of God. Listen to what Hezekiah said,

7 n“Be strong and courageous. oDo not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, pfor there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is qan arm of flesh, rbut with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

The real test of faithfulness does not come when all is going well. Although we may think that because of our faithfulness, we shouldn’t have to face trials and tribulations. But that is not so. Jesus said, in this world we will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world. The real test of faithfulness comes when the odds are against you, when the wind is not at your back, but in your face, when trials come, when sickness comes, when financial difficulties come, when family and friends forsake you, when it looks like there is no way out – that is when the test of faithfulness is at hand.

Anyone can praise and shout when times are good. But can you dance before the Lord when all hell is breaking loose in your life? Can you like David, “bless the Lord at all times?” Can you remind yourself that “greater is he that is within me than he that is in the world!” Can you say like the psalmist, “the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

As children of the most high God, we must remember that faithfulness does not exclude us from the battle. The enemy sees you…he sees what you have, he sees your potential, he sees your anointing and your blessing and he wants them. He wants to steal, kill and destroy – that is his mission. But like Hezekiah told the people of Judah,

7 n“Be strong and courageous. oDo not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, pfor there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is qan arm of flesh, rbut with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

Even when we are faithful, we will face battles, but remember, “with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com
Also, I invite you to visit my new personal website, www.shepastorchris.org

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "What Shall the Righteous Do?..."

For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
2The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
3The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?” Psalm 11: 1-3, NLT

Our Nation is in an uproar…apparent police brutality and severe miscarriages of justice. Looting, burnings, broken curfews, bricks through police car windows, rampant violence in the streets – major unrest in the land. Earthquakes, landslides, adults and children buried alive…terrorism, horrific assassinations, beheadings, bombings, mass murders…hunger, disease, famine, deep, deep sorrow.

“If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?”

The Psalmist begins with a proclamation of faith and then raised a question…

1I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!

Despite all of the horrendous realities that are plaguing our Nation and world, “the righteous,” those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ must “trust in the Lord for protection,” and move as the Spirit of God says move. We cannot allow ourselves to be governed by fear. We must trust the Lord for our protection. We must lift up a spirit of hope and faith. We must continue to preach, teach and practice the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

What shall the righteous do? We must be “responders” and not “reactors.” We must pray for wisdom, strength and direction. What shall the righteous do? We must pray together, work together, address City Hall together, speak truth to power together, give together, love together and serve together.

Together may we pray for our homes, communities, schools, leaders, Nation and world. Together may we have the courage to speak corrective words to wayward children and adults. May we have the courage to look in the mirror, admit our faults and pray for the grace to repent.

May we resist the urge to “fly like a bird to the mountains for safety.” May we resist the urge to hide our heads in the sand like an ostrich. May we speak up when warranted. May we stand up when needed. If the foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do?

May we seek to “be” the Body of Christ…His hands, His feet and His heart.


Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "How Well Do You Know the Shepherd?"

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

1“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”6Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.a They will come in and go out, and find pasture.10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full John 10:1-10, NIV

The other day I was having a conversation with someone about how times have changed. We were reminiscing about our childhood and how our parents did not have to send us to expensive day or summer camps because the “camp” was the neighborhood. All of the children would come out and play during those hot summer months to play baseball, kick ball, jump rope, hopscotch, hide and go seek, tether ball, “jacks…” you get the picture. If we were thirsty we might run in the house and get some Koolaide. If we were hungry, we might run in and get a hotdog or baloney sandwich, peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and jelly or whatever happened to be available! The ice cream truck would play its music, rambling down the street and kids from everywhere would run to go and get a Popsicle or an ice cream sandwich.

If we wanted candy, we might run in the house and ask momma or daddy for a penny, nickel, dime or if we were a “big spender” a quarter. We’d run off to the corner candy store a few blocks away and come back with a bag full of candy that we might share or we might keep all for ourselves.

We did these things everyday from early in the morning until the street lights came on. At that point, you knew it was time to go home! But every now and then, we might get so caught up in whatever fun we were having that we ignored the street lights. Then all of the parents came out on their porches and started calling….Eric, John, Shan, Chrissy, it’s time to come home!

It didn’t matter how many voices were yelling at the same time, all of the children knew their parent’s voice. There was something distinct about their parent’s voice. So they jumped up and got to running! They knew the voice of their parents.

Now let me bring this concept up to 2015. For better or for worse, I am now a part of the “Facebook Family!” On Facebook, people can post just about anything. However, in general, people post things that most reflect who they are – pictures, quotes, good news, interesting articles and in the faith community, prayer requests. There is a general pattern to what a person does and does not “post.” However, in this highly technological age, from time to time, there are those who have developed skills that enable them to “break into” another individual’s account. Those wicked persons seek to impersonate the real account holder and to give the impression that the real account holder is sending messages, when in fact it is an imposter.

Well, recently I was the victim of a hacker. Some strange person, through their technological wicked, but ingenious skills was able to crack my secret code/password, break into my FB account and begin to impersonate me. They sent messages to my family and friends. They tried to give them the impression that it was me. But there was one problem. They did not know me well enough to trick my friends! Because I have a certain pattern, character, persona, delivery style etc., a style that they did not study or consider, they thought that they could fool my family and friends but could not!

My family and friends knew that I would not invite them to join a crazy pyramid scheme that would ask them for money to so that they could enter a sweep stake to win a million dollars! My friends and family know that I am a writer and an author and work hard at using the King’s English with verbiage, spelling, content and context. Immediately, I started getting messages from my friends and family, alerting me to the fact that I’d been hacked. They all said, “We knew that was not you!”

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus did not have a Facebook account! But the message remains the same. My sheep hear, know, discern, recognize my voice and they will not follow a stranger, a hacker, an imposter, a personality hijacker! Jesus said the “thief” who is the devil, satan, comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy, but I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly!

The devil is an imposter. In other words, the devil pretends to care about you, pretends to have your best interest at heart, pretends to know you, to love you, to be concerned about you. Otherwise, he could not attract unsuspecting souls. He tells the young person, “Do all that you want to do. Lie, cheat, have sex before marriage, try some drugs, quit school, hang out with some ‘bad’ guys etc. You can always get yourself together later in life.” But what they don’t understand is that death is waiting at the door to snatch them. They don’t understand that the prison is waiting to get them looped into a system that is almost impossible to escape once involved. They don’t understand the hardships of single parent hood and poverty.

But we cannot spend our time trying to figure out all of the tricks and the traps of the thief. There are too many schemes for us to comprehend. We have to spend time getting to know the Shepherd. I once heard that those government officials who are trained to recognize counterfeit money are not focused upon counterfeits. There are too many scenarios! Instead, they spend time training them how to see, recognize the pattern of the real thing. They study the real so that they know it so well, when a fake comes along, it is readily recognizable.

How well do you know God? In an article entitled, "Transformed by Knowing God,"
a Discipleship Journal writer made this statement:

“We often think of knowing God as learning facts about Him. Yet the Bible reveals that knowing God isn’t a matter of collecting and believing information. Rather, when we know God, who we are and how we act is fundamentally changed.” End quote

In other words, when we know God, something within us is transformed. Our behavior, our attitude, our deportment, our character all begin to change as we seek to know God better and prayerfully seek to develop the mind of Christ.

How does this happen? How do we get to know God? How do we get to know His voice, His character, His movement? His Spirit? How do we discern the difference between God and the voice of the devil?

We must develop and intimate prayer life with God. In other words, daily we must seek the face of the Lord through prayer. Jesus gave us a wonderful pattern for prayer in the Model Prayer. We have used the acronym, “ACTS:” Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.”

Adore God: Praise Him for his mighty acts and His excellent greatness!

Confess: Ask the Lord to forgive you of sin, search you, try you see if there be any wicked way in you and lead you in the way everlasting

Thank Him: Thank the Lord for all that He has done…

Supplication: Pray for yourself and others

As you practice this pattern of prayer, your heart will begin more and more to be open to the things of God, the purposes of God, the ways of God.

Study God’s Holy Word. You will learn and understand more about the Love of God, the Mercy of God, the Will of God, the Judgment of God, the Forgiveness of God, the Warnings of God, the Grace of God and Salvation offered by God when you spend time in God’s Holy Word. Individual study and cooperate study are necessary for the child of God to grow. The Bible is the child of God’s instruction manual about how the Lord wants us to live the abundant or fulfilling life.

Obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. When you accept Jesus as your personal savior, He fills you with His precious Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guide, our helper, our counselor, our intercessor. He speaks to us and convicts our hearts when we are looking to go in the wrong direction. You know His voice. However, if you choose to ignore His voice, the imposter will trick you.

When you will not listen and obey, when you will not study and yield, when you will not follow the ways of the Lord, you open the door for the imposter. Disobedience brings about confusion. My sheep hear my voice and a stranger they will not follow.

How well do you know God? By faith, make a decision to get to know the Shepherd’s voice better today!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until Next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris

Shepastor: "Are You Robbing God of His Praise?"

Praise the Lord
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord. Psalm 150, NIV

The Hebrew term, “Halal” which is a primary Hebrew root word for praise. Our word "hallelujah" comes from this base word. It means "to be clear, to shine, to boast, to show forth, to rave, to celebrate, to be clamorously foolish." Line 1 of Psalm 150 uses this term at least three times. It says,

Ps 150:1
Praise (halal) the Lord! Praise (halal) God in his sanctuary; Praise (halal) him in his mighty expanse.

The difference between a thief and a robber is that a thief will take what is yours when you are not looking…they will steal from you behind your back. You may not even notice that they’ve taken what ever it is from you until you go to use it or you need it or want it.

But a robber is different. A robber will point a gun in your face and will take what is not theirs, but yours and will dare you to say anything about it. People go to prison for both, but there is something so insidious about armed robbery that criminals frequently pay a heavier penalty for doing so. Robbery is ugly, it is scary, it is so disrespectful – “in your face,” if you will. The robber didn’t work for, sacrifice for, struggle for, give themselves for what they take. They circumvent the normal process to take what they don’t deserve.

We are angered and appalled when we here about people being robbed. But have we been guilty of robbing God by withholding our praise? There may be times when we don't feel like praising because of life circumstances. But praising God may be just the medicine that we need! Praise can aid us in refocusing when the struggles of life press in. Just as physical exercise releases endorphins into our system that gives us boosts of energy and lifts our mood, giving God praise energizes our spirits and lifts our hearts by reminding us of God's love, mercy, grace and power.

Praise is to be expressive. Praise is to be demonstrative. Praise is to be exuberant. Praise is to be joyous. Praise is to be open. And yes, praise is at times to be loud! This does not mean that we have to. Be loud and expressive every Sunday. There are times and scriptural support for quiet, meditative contemplation. However, there are also times to open our mouths, lift our hands and shout "Hallelujah!!!"

When we get in the habit of just coming to church and sitting there half a sleep, waiting for something to tickle our ears or prompt us to raise our hands, or urge us to shout, “amen,” we are robbing God of His praise. You are holding it back as if it is yours. It’s not yours, the praise belongs to The Lord! When you won’t praise, you are telling God, “it’s my mouth, and I don’t feel like doing all that…it doesn’t take all of that!” But you are robbing God of His praise.

Heaven is not a dull and somber place.

Revelations 4: 10-11 declares,

10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

When we refuse to open our mouths and worship and praise God for who He is, for what He has done, for His excellent greatness, we are robbing God of His praise. Satan wants you to sit quietly and just stare off into space. He wants you to just sit with your hands folded, half asleep so that you miss the blessing that comes from praise. When we make up our minds that we've come into His house to magnify His name and worship Him, something happens inside of us.

When we begin to “halal” God, in other words, when we begin to "to be clear, about who God is, about what God has done, about how God brought us thus far, when we begin to be clear about God’s favor upon our lives, how it was God, not our strength, God, not our talent, God, not our education, God, not our families, God, not your business connections, God who blessed us, God who saved us, God who rescued us, God who delivered us, God who carried us through, we can’t help but to give God the praise! We can’t help but give God the glory due His name!

When you are clear about why you are praising God, you will begin to shine. Your light will shine, like the old song writer said, “this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, every where I go, I’m going to let it shine, Jesus gave it to me and I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!” When you become clear about who God is and all that God has done, nobody will have to beg you to praise, nobody will have to prod you to praise, you will BREAK OUT in praise! You will begin to boast in the Lord. As you are driving down the street, thinking about God’s goodness you'll break out in a praise. At times you may be sitting at your desk and begin to think about God’s goodness and you’ll break out in a praise. You may be in the kitchen cooking, in the shower bathing, in the garden weeding and you’ll break out in praise!

When you come into the sanctuary, you’ll be so thankful and so ready to bless the most high God that you will rave about His goodness, celebrate his greatness and at times act clamorously foolish about His blessings!
The psalmist said that when we think about the goodness of God, the greatness of God, the loving kindness of God, the mercy of God, the grace of God, the forgiveness of God, the healing power of God, the protection of God, every now and then we ought to break out in a dance, break out in a shout, break out with the instruments.
When you won’t open your mouth to say, “thank you Lord,” you are robbing God of His praise. When you sit week after week and just stare off into space, you are robbing God of His praise. When you won’t lift up holy hands and tell of His excellent greatness, you are robbing God of His praise.

Make up your mind to praise the Lord. Open your mouth and praise the Lord. Lift up your voice and praise the Lord. Even when you don’t feel like it, praise the Lord. Even if all hell is breaking loose in your life, praise the Lord. Praise him when times are good. Praise Him when times are bad. Praise Him when you are up. Praise Him when you are down. Give God the honor and glory due His name.

For when you make up your mind to worship and praise the Lord, something happens. God sees your faithfulness. God sees your pain. God sees your toil. God sees your tears and God is honored by your determination to praise Him anyhow. God will dispatch His angels to come and minister unto you. God will pour out His blessings as showers upon you. God will send His comforter the Holy Spirit to re assure you. God will lift you, God will strengthen you, God will bless you. God will empower you. When the praises go up, the blessings come down.
Let everything that hath breath PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Post a comment or send me an email at Shepastor1@hotmail.com

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris