Remember the Robert Redford movie from a few years back called, "The Horse Whisperer"? Redford's character trains a traumatized and rebellious horse, not through dramatic displays of power and control, but through whispering. It is truly amazing.
The key to obeying God is hearing His voice. The problem is that we want God to write our instructions on the wall, speak to us through personal prophecy, or shout with a loud voice from heaven. The reason? It's the easy way.
Elijah was a man that was greatly used by God. God revealed His power to Elijah through an earthquake, wind, and fire, (the original Earth, Wind & Fire!), but He communicated to Elijah in a gentle whisper (Read 1 Kings 19:8-14). God's not usually in the dramatic, but in the small voice.
Take John chapter 10, where Jesus is giving the Parable of the Sheep. Read it. Verse 27 says , "My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me."
We are His sheep. We must take time to listen to Him and obey His voice today.
5 comments:
Pastor Ross,
I am truly happy with this series of One Prayer and I am so glad to see that you have started back to asking people to come forward to receive Christ as their personal savior. I know that some people feel embarrassed about coming down to the pulpit but I just felt in my heart that there were people in the church that wanted to step out and acknowledge Christ. I noticed in some of your sermons that you mention songs from the hymnals and I was wondering why we don't sing some of those songs. I was talking to an older member of the church and they commented that they usually tune out the band and just listen to the words but it would be nice to hear something I know for a change. Songs like, "Something about that name" or "At the Cross", "Just as I am". I had to agree with them because I miss those songs too. If possible could the choir incorporate just one hymnal for each service just to let my generation feel like they are a part of the church as well. I love your preaching and this church and if I just felt that I needed to share this. Thank You
from: Old Time Religion
Pastor Brian,
I sympathise with Old Time Religion, and while I wouldn't want the older generation to feel left out, I have a real problem with people putting The Church in a box stamped with a date. The only thing in society that still does things like it did in the 60s & 70s is the church. Believers who want the services the way they were are the same people who use debit cards, drive new cars (newer than the 60's), use a microwave, have cable, computers, cell phones, dishwashers, and all things modern.
One reason I have a problem with this is because I was like this. "The lost should be like us. They should like to worship, pray, and go to church," I sincerely thought this and heard it preached. The reality is they are just NOT there. Their God conscience level is well below the seasoned, A/G steeped Christian.
To be honest, there have been several times that I've not known one song we sang. It can be frustrating because I want to sing and worship with everyone. Pretty hard to really do that when you have to focus on the words and learn the song, but my comfort and WANTS are out weighed by the fact that at the end of the service people are accepting Christ.
I think this holding on to what we want and think is RIGHT is one reason we lose those who grew-up in church. Christians tend to make church about them and forget their biblical directives to train and lead. You can't train people if they won't come, and they won't come if they don't think you care about them on a personal level.
One thing I love about Englewood Ministries is the fact that we have multiple campuses each with their own styles and methods. Eastpoint Family Church would be a great place of worship for those that enjoy a more traditional worship experience. They sing hymns, have potlucks, and are small enough to allow everyone to know one another. They also share the same heart of reaching lost people, yet their methods are different than the Englewood location.
It's that diversity that allows the church to reach all people. Because ultimately, it's about the lost coming to know Christ.
From: 4th Generation Pentecostal
Have you not been listening tp Pastor Brian talk about diversity and unity? This is exactly what satan wants is fo us to sit back and argue about what a church service should be like. Instead of having church for us let's have church to see people get saved. Imagine that, not a sanctuary for saints, but a hospital for sinners.
Anonymous,
While I can appreciate your obvious loving spirit and sarcasim, I don't believe either OTR or 4GP were trying to be devisive.
If you read 4GP's comment it appears they are sympathic (or has compassion) for OTR's feeling, and just because OTR doesn't care for the style of music doesn't mean OTR is more concerned with themselves than seeing the lost saved. Is singing on hymn really going to keep a person from accepting Christ? Last time I checked it was the preaching of the Word that was the power for salvation.
Also, 4GP points to that diversity and embraces it. They're not trying to cause divsion, but point to how that diversity of culture and generations is handled by Ewood. I think 4GP has an excellent point about the multiple campuses.
For what it's worth, this has been my observation as an innocent by stander to this posting.
From: Innocent by Stander
Thank you so much for your comments, bystander. We are all certainly entitled to our comments.
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