SEND IN THE PRAISERS! CAN WE SEE BEYOND THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I have a pastor friend that often says: I WOULD LOVE PASTORING IF IT WEREN’T FOR PEOPLE!
My family’s first time we attended a new church in the area where we had moved. The church was a very nice group of people. We were directed to the nursery and we checked in our 10 month old son. We really enjoyed the service. When the service was over there was a crowd standing around the nursery and a lot of whispering. We waited and waited… finally the pastor took us in his office and explained there was a troubled family and it seems they had a son that loved to bite people. The other boy took a bite out of our sons face. They could not get the bleeding to stop. Our son was bruised, crying and bleeding. As we were leaving the pastor asked: WILL YOU COME BACK TO CHURCH AGAIN. I lied and said: SURE! As we got in our VW Bug I explained to Linda we can’t not attend a church where their kids are cannibals.
Let me tell you about the family of the biter. The mom and dad had many problems and their history involved alcohol, drugs and many other terrible issues. The children were passed around like dogs. Later the dad of the children was murdered by the wife’s boyfriend. This is 40 years later. I often wonder what became of those children. We attended that church for years. I was elected as board member there and was a leader. We often tried to help this family. We saw them as broken and spilled out.
I was a young school teacher and I had to learn much about people. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO WALK IN OTHER PEOPLE’S SHOES AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A WAR ROOM AND PRAY FOR “MEAN” PEOPLE!
DO WE PRACTICE PATIENCE WITH EACH OTHER? JESUS WE NEED YOU TO HELP US UNDERSTAND NOT TO BE IMPATIENT WITH PEOPLE.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
They people we are called to work with are often hurting, and have sin diseases and very rebellious. Hurt people hurt people. Angry people are angry and tend to anger other people. HURT and ANGER are contagious. We know people are not wolves. They need guidance, leadership, examples and a plan and a path to follow. QUIT WHIPPING THE SHEEP WITH CLUBS AND STICKS… REMEMBER PEOPLE BELONG TO GOD…
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
SHEEP ARE MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE MORE THAN 500 TIMES… Sheep are discussed in the Bible more than any other animal… The Bible discusses sheep as animals but often sheep are used symbolically as people. The shepherd finds food sources, water and rest places…He guides the sheep.
Patience is not just the ability to wait… It is the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting…
WHILE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WE FIND MANY THAT DON’T CARE FOR PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO DESIRE TO USE FORCE AND PRACTICE BEING SHORT TEMPERED AND BEING HARD AND SEVER.
Jeremiah 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
WHEN WE WERE IN ISRAEL THE WERE TWO SHEPHERDS WITH MANY SHEEP. The shepherds meet in the middle of the road. All the sheep came together. Our guide said watch this: HOW CAN WE EVER SEPARATE THE TWO GROUPS? It was easy as the bus slowly approached… One shepherd when to the right and softly spoke… The other went to the left. The sheep followed their shepherd and the group divided.
ARE WE IMPATIENT WITH PEOPLE?
Often we compare people to sheep… When dealing with sheep shepherds use the minimal amount of restraint as possible. A good shepherd does not lift, push, drag or pull sheep by their tail, ears, legs neck or by their fur. To treat a sheep by force can seriously bruise or cause much pain for the sheep. Shepherds lead sheep … COWBOYS DRIVE COWS…
A good shepherd uses his ROD or STAFF’S CROOK TO CATCH AND DIRECT THE SHEEP by using the crook to catch the sheep by the neck or the leg.
There IS A TRAINED LEAD ANIMAL. SCAPE SHEEP OR SCAPE GOATS ARE COMMON PERSUADERS TO ENCOURAGE THE SHEEP’S DIRECTION… THESE SCAPE ANIMALS ARE TRAINED TO LEAD THE SHEEP AND AFTERWARDS THEY RETURN to lead others. There are sheep paddles but they are never to be hit… One just shakes the paddle or flag.
A GOOD SHEPHERD GUARDS THE SHEEP FROM ANIMALS AND THIEVES. When sheep follow the shepherd they are not afraid. A good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep. THE ARE HIRED HANDS THAT FLEES IN DANGER.
SHEEP RECOGNIZE THE voice OF THE SHEPHERD… CAN WE SEE BEYOND TODAY?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
THERE COMES A SEPERATION DAY… sheep follow, goats do as they please. Be patient!
Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
WE MUST LEAD OTHERS TO HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE. Are you teaching hurting people that God will perform His word… There is HOPE AGAINST HOPE…
PEOPLE SEEMS TO BE WALKING THROUGH DARK VALLEYS… FEAR, PAIN, WORRY, PANIC ATTACKS… TRAUMA… FAMILIES HAVE BECOME WAR ZONES… PEOPLE ARE NOT FAITHFUL TO CHURCH… Be patient with people and yourself!!
Fear? Fear! HEY KING JEHOSHAPHAT WHAT IS THE BATTLE PLAN… BUY BOMBERS, TANKS… NO HE CALLED FOR PRAYER… AND HE PRAYED… THERE WAS A CALL TO PRAYER… THERE WAS A CALL TO FAST…
2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
WILL WE FOCUS ON THIS TERRIBLE ENEMY? …. WILL WE FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN’T DO? WILL WE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEMS? WILL WE FOCUS BEYOND TODAY’S ISSUES? LET US LEARN TO SEND IN THE PRAISERS. THE LESSON IS PRAISE!
2 Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
CONCLUSION: GOD CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGE… INTERNAL, EXTERNAL! GOD CAN TAKE NEGATIVE SITUATIONS AND BUILD PATIENCE, HOPE, JOY, LOVE. AS THE ROCK WERE BEING THROWN AND HITTING STEPHEN… EACH BLOW OF THE ROCK BROUGHT GREAT PAIN… STEPHEN WAS LEARNING A NEW ATTITUDE
Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Jesus was standing, moved with compassion. Standing at the right hand suggest authority and power… Jesus maybe was rising from the throne to welcome Stephen home… GOD OPENED THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN SO STEPHEN COULD SEE THE REALITY…
SAUL OF TAURUS WAS STANDING THERE HOLDING COATS… SAUL WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN… BE PATIENT WHEN THE ROCKS ARE FLYING TRUST GOD’S PLAN.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Catch me on YouTube and FaceBook.
