21/11/09

Cleansing should start with the shepherds

Joel 2:27 - And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.


We, who are called to lead the people, keep telling people to change, repent and turn to God, so that they can see the glory of God. But the Word of God says it is not because of them that people do not experience God's glory or do not know God.

The Bible say it is because the people who are called lead others to God, they themselves do not live a like of holiness therefore people suffer.

In Joel chapter 2 God says if we who are called to lead, lead a life of holiness people will experience the glory of God much more then they did in the times of Moses. During Moses' time also people were very much as people are now. The problem is the leaders are not like Moses who had great relationship with God, on a one to one basis.

We need to truly repent in our hearts and getting down on our knees crying out to the Lord to forgive us. We need to turn from our worldly ways and give up our desires for worldly things. Though we all are not called to live a hermit痴 life but all are called to live on need basis. Not to desire things which are not necessary for our daily living and being humble before God, walk in His ways.

When we see people lost and suffering we need to look inside us and we will know why they are lost and suffering. We may have problems; just put them aside and concentrate on the people's problems.

During Israel's second exodus from Babylon to Jerusalem, there were about 50,000 people with animals, servants blessed also with riches, who went to rebuild the Temple of God. After a few years instead to concentrating of rebuilding the Temple they were more concern about their comforts.

We who are brought out of our Babylon after some time also, most of the time think more about ourselves, our wants, our desires, our family, our work, more than God's Temple (His people). That 'ME, MY, MINE' needs to be crucified on the crucifix, dead with Jesus and we need to be living a new life of spirit like the resurrected Jesus Christ; dead to the flesh and full of Spirit.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, You saved us from destruction and showed us the way to light. You called us to lead others unto You. You enforced us with your Spirit. Holy Spirit, forgive us that we still work in our flesh and not in You. We have not been a good example to You and your people. Help us to overcome our flesh, to repent and show Christ unto others, so that your glory be visible to your people, your light shine on all this earth...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Haggai 1:2-10
2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

Joel 2:12-17
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

Joel 2:23-30
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)