Another Monday.....and I'm hoping to hear reports that our pulpits are waking up.....for they have been sound asleep. The following posts were from October of last year and October of 2017. Somewhere in the past....I couldn't find the particular post....I wrote to pastors who might read this that lest they think that they are somehow immune from any criticism....because they have a piece of paper....that God could raise a Jeremiah from the man cleaning out the drain in their basement to warn them that they are neither feeding nor protecting the sheep.
It May Come This Way....Or It May Not
It may come in this way....the last great movement of God in America....the preacher....any preacher....many preachers across the America....arrive at church a little disheveled....as if they hadn't had any sleep the night before....for they hadn't.....in fact they have been tossing and turning all weekend trying to prepare a sermon that they believe God may have put on their heart. The congregations detect something as the uptempo music ends....but the preacher's shoulders are as if they are sagging. Is something wrong they wonder....has the sale for more land for the addition fallen through? The pastor begins by saying that the holiness of God is an awesome thing to be confronted with. He's not looking at the congregation while talking as he usually does but his eyes are lifted to heaven. Maybe this is the setup to a humorous but informative anecdote....he's done that kind of thing before....but his wife is sitting in the front pew....and her lips are moving in prayer. This is no humorous but informative anecdote coming! The pastor reads the Parable Of The Ten Virgins....while his eyes lower to meet those in front of him....and he begins his sermon...."Beloved....how much oil do you have available to trim your lamp.....for you may need it soon....and even if our Lord tarries in His return....we must have oil for our lamps at all times!" It may not happen this way....but each Monday I look for reports on how this preacher or that preacher was extremely solemn in the pulpit....and the congregation responded to his message with equal solemnity.
THERE IS AN UNCTION
Oh pastors....there is an unction
.....if you do not know what it is I cannot explain it to you
.....but if you have seen it in others then you must go to the Lord and plead for it
.....for you are a shepherd
The wolves have returned to the valleys
.....they prey on the sheep
.....they have slaughtered whole flocks
.....the sheep do not fear them
The streams are poisonous....many of them
.....drinking from them brings illness
.....bathing in them causes distempers
.....even smelling the water sickens
You surely have read of those shepherds who tended the flocks before you
.....maybe that is why you desired to be a shepherd
.....bring back to mind the fear you had of such a great responsibility.....but also
.....remember His calming hand upon you....when He said He will strengthen you for the task
Walk the valleys by yourself
.....listen for the echo that still reverberates in the clefts
.....look up to the heavens
.....picture the host of heaven that once sang out in praise to those glories
Fall on your knees.....call down that unction.....to proclaim His majesties
.....cry out for the sheep.....for they are God's.....and you are their shepherd
.....plead for words....for magnificent words....for words with power
.....He will hear you....not for your sake....and not for the sake of the sheep
He will give you that unction....that His name will be glorified among the people
.....but you must seek it.....you must pant for it
.....the wolves will then know you
.....and the sheep will follow your lead....for they will recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd
