My Outcry
Greetings!
I would like to share a short story on what I experienced and hopefully it would encourage you.
About 5 months ago, I was experiencing: I would call it: ‘Spiritual Drought’. a time where I would even question: “if God is really listening ”. I walk in my room frustrated & weary–crying out in my soul “LORD WHERE ARE YOU?”
At that time, I left my church– I prayed diligently for guidance & confirmation. My life & my path was questionable.
I began to have sleepless nights. I would wakeup early morning with my mind wandering: Questions Like– (“You have called me to be a pastor, what do I do now?” “How do I begin?” “I want your heart Lord, the MIND OF CHRIST.” Thinking about all the people who thought i was crazy leaving a church & started one—How young I was…How i didnt go through certain leadership to see if it was really my calling.). That morning, I went straight to my prayer closet–I got down on my knees crying & begging God for answers & his wonderful presence.
Again, It seemed like no response.
A few minutes later as I was wiping the tears, a small voice sayed “Lean on me, Trust in Me”.
A scripture came to mind “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5
The majority of my questions became really clear. All the lies were shut down.
The Lord Jesus Christ has called me specifically to be a pastor and preach his word without compromise & with all his love. He’s been showing me ‘Its not what you say that matters; its the servants heart that matters” & “its not the title thats going to let you go afar…its the one who gave you the title”
That leads me right to what the Lord has put on my heart. My mission……Gods Heart.
The church of Jesus Christ today has been experiencing spiritual drought. Thousands of starving sheep (people) are crying out to their shepherds (pastors) for some life-giving food, something that will keep them in troubled times. Yet all too often they are not given even a scrap of something spiritual. The Lord has said that this is not what he has intended for his people. Ministries who proclaim their name first! rather than, Jesus Christ FIRST! Soo many churches our so lost in their numbers, leadership agendas. What happened? what happened to the soul-searching preachings?
What happened to the church where people are running toward the altar–in anguish of their sin. All we hear today is “Gods love, Gods nice, God is good!” ..but where’s the true repentance?
It is astonishing but true: “The most convenient and conscience-easing place to hide from the flaming eyes of a holy God is inside a DEAD CHURCH.” Its pastors serve more as pallbearers than apostles of life.
Instead of guiding starving believers to the abundant life Jesus offers, they give soft assurance that try to ease the hunger. “ALL IS WELL!!!. YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO. DON’T BOTHER ABOUT FEEDING ON THE BREAD OF GOD BY ABIDING IN PRAYER, OR DUSTING OFF YOUR BIBLES, OR ALIGNING YOUR HEARTS WITH HIS!!.”
Some preachers kick that,… FAR FROM DEAD, their churches are full of brilliant praise & worship. Yet not all high-spirited, emotion-stirring churches are necessarily full of life. Worship from unclean lips is actually an abomination to God. Praise that flows from hearts full of adultery, lust or pride is a stench in Gods nostrils.
In the city that I live in, Pastors are not preaching MEATY OR HARD TO SWALLOW sermons. In fact, they are “FUN”!
The stories are well-told, the program is easy & practical, and nothing said: ever offend anyone. No one has a problem taking along a non-christian friend on Sunday because they wont be embarrassed. They wont be confronted about sin. No hot coals from God’s altar will burn their conscience, no flaming arrows of conviction from the pulpit will drive them to their knees. No prophetic finger will point straight into their hearts. And if the hammer does come down against sin, the blow is quickly softened.
“The days are coming,” declares the sovereign Lord,”when i will send a famine through the land–not a famine of food or or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. They shall wander…they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it.” –AMOS 8:11-12
Does that not sound like today?
I sure DO want to listen to God & hear his voice…I sure do want to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I sure do want to get convicted of my sin…and turn from my son. I sure do want to love people and encourage them and uplift them.
The Words of Jesus: “I live because of the father, so he who feeds on me will live because of me.” Jesus was in a communion of the father, and was so committed to doing only his will, that the fathers words became his very own food & drink each day. Jesus was kept daily by hearing and seeing what the father wanted–& this was the result of spending much time alone with him.
God is raising up a generation–young people who will be teaching & preaching the whole truth of the Word of God. Leaders will be rising up to take the true gospel to our very own land. Our cities, OUR churches.
Seek the face of God daily. Pray, study your word, take time to fast. Get to know the Living God..not only on SUNDAYS…but in your quiet place.
I also encourage every pastor and leader reading, keep focused on God and being obedient to him. Don’t look to the right or to the left. Pray with your friends (leaders) encourage them and direct them to the word of God.
Take Refuge in him.
God Bless,
Mike Lucero
