...in our second service, and I start hearing voices. Seriously. Not audible. Just really strong mental impressions.
Ok...nobody freak out. It may have been just me. Maybe it was the food I ate the night before. But I'm just reporting the facts. I heard (Edit:"felt" is probably more accurate):
--"What you are saying makes NO sense to them."
--"This is a waste of time. They don't and won't get it."
--"They are not understanding. Give it up."
--"This church won't grow like this."
--"What you are saying is all jumbled and mumbled and nonsensical."
--"You are not a very good teacher. You are losing them."
--"This is all so confusing. They are confused."
Not kidding here. Now those who know me know I'm not the "I heard a voice say" type of preacher. The safer route to me has always been to simply present the Text of Scripture in context. But I'm telling you...this was so clear.
So I began to pray to the Lord for help and somehow got through the service, fighting for each word I said next. After service I met with our new deacon-selects and their wives. My first question was, "Friends, did that message make ANY sense at all or did I sound like Charlie Brown's teacher?" LOL! :)
They reported the opposite. According to them, Christ's vision and commands for us (what I was preaching) was very clear, concise, connected, and Christ-honoring. We were simply looking again at the commands of Christ for CRCC discipleship (we call those commands our "vision"), which emcompases the full-preaching of the Gospel, small-group fellowship accountability, family reformation, holiness, helping others, a biblical worldview/education, biblical manhood/womanhood, and biblical stewardship. But we do recognize that many of these areas are hot button areas.
Sooooo...what in the world was that? Am I losing it or was that the devil? What say you?
