Spring IS Coming!
Pray to God for rain—it's time for the spring rain— to God, the rainmaker,
Spring thunderstorm maker,
maker of grain and barley.
"Store-bought gods babble gibberish.
Religious experts spout rubbish.
They pontificate hot air.
Their prescriptions are nothing but smoke.
And so the people wander like lost sheep,
poor lost sheep without a shepherd.
I'm furious with the so-called shepherds.
They're worse than billy goats, and I'll treat them like goats."
God-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in
and take care of his flock, the people of Judah.
He'll revive their spirits,
make them proud to be on God's side.
God will use them in his work of rebuilding,
use them as foundations and pillars,
Use them as tools and instruments,
use them to oversee his work.
They'll be a workforce to be proud of, working as one,
their heads held high, striding through swamps and mud,
Courageous and vigorous because God is with them,
undeterred by the world's thugs.
I've addeded emphasis to the be above quote... We have been walking through a season where many (not all) spiritual leaders have been unfaithful to their calling. Pastors have sought their own ends rather than God's, have edified themselves rather than the Lord and His people. False prophets have fed the flock with words that make them feel good rather then preparing them for the hardships ahead. Verse 2 of the above quote is translated in the New International Version as:
The idols speak deceit,
diviners see visions that lie;
they tell dreams that are false,
they give comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
But the Lord will not abandon His people! He will not abandon us to self-serving leadership or leave us unprepared when false prophets offer a false, prosperity gospel. No, He will strengthen us and continue to lead His people into victory!
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Spring thunderstorm maker,
maker of grain and barley.
"Store-bought gods babble gibberish.
Religious experts spout rubbish.
They pontificate hot air.
Their prescriptions are nothing but smoke.
And so the people wander like lost sheep,
poor lost sheep without a shepherd.
I'm furious with the so-called shepherds.
They're worse than billy goats, and I'll treat them like goats."
God-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in
and take care of his flock, the people of Judah.
He'll revive their spirits,
make them proud to be on God's side.
God will use them in his work of rebuilding,
use them as foundations and pillars,
Use them as tools and instruments,
use them to oversee his work.
They'll be a workforce to be proud of, working as one,
their heads held high, striding through swamps and mud,
Courageous and vigorous because God is with them,
undeterred by the world's thugs.
Zechariah 10:1-5 (The Message)
I've addeded emphasis to the be above quote... We have been walking through a season where many (not all) spiritual leaders have been unfaithful to their calling. Pastors have sought their own ends rather than God's, have edified themselves rather than the Lord and His people. False prophets have fed the flock with words that make them feel good rather then preparing them for the hardships ahead. Verse 2 of the above quote is translated in the New International Version as:
The idols speak deceit,
diviners see visions that lie;
they tell dreams that are false,
they give comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
But the Lord will not abandon His people! He will not abandon us to self-serving leadership or leave us unprepared when false prophets offer a false, prosperity gospel. No, He will strengthen us and continue to lead His people into victory!
You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Psalm 68:35 (NIV)
