Will You Heed the Voice of the Prophet?

I like so many of you have been trying to make sense of the past several months as well as predict where we may be headed. I’ve listened to doctors, pundits, reporters, people on the streets, and prophets. As of tonight we continue to be besieged by pandemic, peaceful and non peaceful demonstrations, riots with looting, burning buildings, Marxist ideology, idealogical clashes on social media turning brother against brother, accusations of systemic racism in both the secular and ecclesiastical cultures, unbalanced reporting, cancel culture, political posturing, growing global threats, and suspicion. The list is actually much longer.

I must admit that I’ve questioned what should my posture be in all of this. As a regional denominational leader how do I best serve my region? What do I say to pastors and laity alike who like me are trying to make sense of these times and find their footing? Is there some new prophecy, method, idea, or word that I can share to uplift spirits and bring clarity? Honestly, the answer is NO!

You see, our answer is not in something new but in something ANCIENT! Let me remind you of Jeremiah 6:16 where the prophet speaks to Gods people as though they are travelers who have lost their way. (Let me remind you that we too are travelers. This world is not our home. We are travelers looking for an eternal city made by God). Jeremiah instructed the be-wielded and beleaguered travelers to choose the old paths which were walked, tested, and proven by their patriarchs as safe. The benefit of the old paths, should they follow, would be rest for their souls. Don’t you feel like your soul could use some rest right now?

For the sake of brevity allow me to point you again to the proven path.

• Fervent and consistent prayer (praying in the Holy Ghost

• Feast on the word of God as a starving man hungers for bread

• Starve the carnal man through vigils of fasting

• Avoid the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life . Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God

• Love your neighbor as yourself

• Bring your thoughts into captivity and practice the mind of Christ

• Be wise as a serpent (discerning) and harmless as a dove (peaceful)

• Have an ear to hear the Spirit and be led by Him (allow his gifts to operate)

• Equip the people of God to serve

• And preacher, preach as a dying man to dying men (Go hear from God then say only what He says)

Tragically, the people of Jeremiah 6:16 chose to ignore the old paths in preference of finding their own way. They found no rest for their souls.

Will you heed the voice of the prophet?

Bishop White