There is a beautiful song by Pastor Bruce Parham entitled "Hide Me" that speaks volume to my soul. To "hide" means to put out of sight; to conceal for shelter or protection; to keep secret; to turn (the eyes or face) away in shame or anger; and to remain out of sight. After reading and meditating on the very core of these definitions, I unequivocally understand what Pastor Parham is conveying to his listeners through this song. Personally, it ensures me that since Jesus loves me so that He is willing to hide me in Christ - under the shadow of the Almighty. This testimony of Pastor Parham should also be the testimony of every Christian who loves the Lord.
The words of the song are - "Lord hide me in thy glory, in the secret place of your holiness and grace; That's where I'll worship in thy presence, I'll bless your name and give you reverence; Hide me where your hands of mercy covers me from the enemy . . . Hide me from circumstance; Hide me when I want to take one more chance, Hide me when my strength is weak; Hide me when my eyes want to take one more glance . . . Oh hide me, hide me Jesus, Hide me from the enemy; oh, I'm asking you Lord to hide me Jesus; hide me . . . hide me, even if the enemy you hide is me." These are some of the most powerful words in the song that makes the plea to Jesus so profoundly humble and submissive.
Just think about it. When we are hidden in Jesus, He covers us; we are surrounded by Him; we have nothing to fear because He protects us; He assures us that He is always there; we are not alone; and we will produce spiritual fruits. Colossians 3:3-4 says, "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." So we must first and foremost die to the flesh and ask Jesus to hide us from everything that hinders us from allowing Him to direct our path - "even if the enemy you hide is me."
Being covered by Jesus' blood sustains us when Satan rears its ugly head up seeking to destroy us. But, be encouraged. Psalm 27:5 assures us that "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me upon a rock (out of the reach of my enemy)."
Be still, and know that I am God . . . ." (Psalm 46:10)
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE?
Almost three years ago, Pastor introduced Pilgrim to the slogan of moving from "I Can" to "I Will". And even though that slogan was ushered into the hearts and minds of the congregants, it is far removed from its original intent. I believe that we forget that when we make a vow of commitment, it is to God Almighty and not entirely to the person responsible for introducing it. Pastor has no magic wands to "make" people do the work of the church, but he can hold us accountable. Remember, where there is no vision, the people perishes. If anyone perishes under Pastor's watch, it will be because of their failure to fully commit to God and for fear of change. Prayer is an important component in situations involving fear. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths". The same God who is able to make rocks cry out is still inviting us to follow Him.
And now that 2009 has arrived, let's take a "Holy" examination of our relationship to God; our fellowship with one another; and as leaders our commitment to lead, follow, or move out of the way. When we lead falsely, it causes people who may not be as astute in the Word as they should be, to follow the wrong path, and can cause them to fall out of fellowship with God and his/her brethren. There is a saying that, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". We are falling for those things that hindered us in the past; we are falling for acceptance at any cost; we are falling for something new in Jesus which will never happen. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever more.
So, Fellow Christians, I challenge you to stop gazing up into the sky; look around you; embrace that individual whom you have not spoken to in months or even years; embrace that individual that sits next to you each Sunday without uttering a word; embrace that individual who may feel inferior because of a perception of us having uncaring hearts. What if Jesus treated us the way we treat each other, or the way we deserve to be treated. Nobody is better than anybody else. Unfortunately, some may think they are, but in Jesus' eyesight, we are all the same. Only what we do for Christ will last - the other superficial things outside the realm of love is "vanity".
Solomon, the old Preacher, says "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil". (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) The best is yet to come!
And now that 2009 has arrived, let's take a "Holy" examination of our relationship to God; our fellowship with one another; and as leaders our commitment to lead, follow, or move out of the way. When we lead falsely, it causes people who may not be as astute in the Word as they should be, to follow the wrong path, and can cause them to fall out of fellowship with God and his/her brethren. There is a saying that, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything". We are falling for those things that hindered us in the past; we are falling for acceptance at any cost; we are falling for something new in Jesus which will never happen. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever more.
So, Fellow Christians, I challenge you to stop gazing up into the sky; look around you; embrace that individual whom you have not spoken to in months or even years; embrace that individual that sits next to you each Sunday without uttering a word; embrace that individual who may feel inferior because of a perception of us having uncaring hearts. What if Jesus treated us the way we treat each other, or the way we deserve to be treated. Nobody is better than anybody else. Unfortunately, some may think they are, but in Jesus' eyesight, we are all the same. Only what we do for Christ will last - the other superficial things outside the realm of love is "vanity".
Solomon, the old Preacher, says "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil". (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) The best is yet to come!
Abonohu te:
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