preachers

The best preachers are the ones who receive a particular word, message for their upcoming audience. Then, at the given time, they deliver those special words from God. If this person shouted and screamed you might be tempted to leave, or at least tune them out. So how words are spoken is everything.

What if that preacher is your spouse? I know. It’s harder to hear the words being spoken because they are coming from someone who you might also hear nagging, complaining, or gripping from. You may be thinking, don’t lecture me! Or, why are you on my case? But if the words are spoken in a loving way then you should probably listen. After all, this is your helpmate. He or she is there to be used of God to guide you, direct you, comfort you, and yes even speak words of life into your soul.

This happened to me recently. We were driving in the construction zone I have spoken of a few posts ago. I was trying to merge into the line of cars, and I got cut off. I started fussing and my wife gently, and in a loving way said, “Your problem is this; you expect others to treat, or do for you the way you treat or do for them. And when they don’t, you get mad or hurt.” Her words made sense, because they were true, but because they came from her I dismissed them somewhat.

Fast forward to last night:

I couldn’t fall asleep, so I got up and came into our home office and turned on the TV. I soon sensed God directing me to watch Joel Osteen. I tuned in. Wouldn’t you know he started preaching similar words that my wife was speaking just a few days earlier? Coming from him it seemed easier to hear and accept. Then some guilt creeped in, so this morning I confessed to my wife what had happened and that I was sorry I had not heard God’s message from her first, but I vowed to begin listening to the one on earth who loves me when she begins to speak words of life into my soul.

The lesson here is to listen to the message God is trying to say to us despite the vessel he chooses to use. God likes to work with people to do his business. They don’t have to be on TV either or come with credentials in order to deserve your time and respect. If the message is on target then listen with your heart wide open. It’s God loving on you, because He cares about you so much.

Have you ever said, “This is too hard. I can’t do this anymore!”? Or something similar indicating you were giving up? I have. But what happens when you quit something God has chosen you to do?

I read that when Billy Graham started preaching there were two other young men who had been called about the same time. One of those men was an excellent preacher. I read he could preach up a storm. So what were their names? I don’t remember either. You think Satan didn’t attack Rev. Graham, and do you think he never got discouraged, or thought for a minute, “Why am I doing this?” He kept at it because God called him to do a task, and Rev. Billy Graham was not going to stop until his body did, and he knew what would happen if he did, Satan would win.

Are you in a position or place and you know you were there because God put you there? If so, please don’t stop. Be encouraged, that you are anointed, for what you are doing, for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14) And yes, if you quit, people will get hurt, until God raises up someone else to do what He has already chosen you to do. So put your big boy pants on, and just do it!