Hosanna Restoration Church

Do you ever shout? Have you ever been in a place where the people were shouting so loudly that it was like a mighty roar? If you have ever watched any sports on television you have heard the crowds so loud that no one on the field or in the building could hear anything but the roar. If you have watched a game show on television, you see people holding up applause signs, or there are lights that tell people to cheer.

Isn’t it interesting that shouting was the Lord’s idea? What if Eve had shouted at the devil? Have you ever considered what it sounded like when Israel shouted before the walls of Jericho collapsed? How about when Joshua and his band of 300 broke jars and shouted; they must have been supernaturally amplified, because it made a whole army literally destroy themselves.

We think nothing of shouting at someone in traffic, or someone we are angry at, or someone whose attention we want to get, but when it comes to shouting for the Lord we seldom really let it rip! When was the last time you just shouted with all of your might unto God with a voice of triumph? How often do you just yell as loud as you can about how much you love the Lord? Have you ever shouted that people are grass that withers and flowers that fade? Have you ever shouted and told God that nothing compares to Him.

Shouting really does come from deep within us. There truly is an emotional release in being in the midst of a mighty roar. I am not sure how the devil has managed to deceive people into thinking that we should control our emotions when it comes to our faith. It really makes no sense for us to be so subdued when it comes to God and yet so radical about everything else.

People will line up for hours and run over each other to get into a store for a big sale, but they will trickle in to a church service and then rush out to go and have fun. I wonder how it looks to God when we sit and look at our watches and squirm in our chairs and then rejoice to get out and do what we really want to do! We should of course be joyous after the privilege of worshipping God together, but I am not so sure that is what all the glee is about after the meeting.

To the leaders I say, “are you leading the people into a service full of joy and shouting unto God?” To the people, “are you coming with enthusiasm prepared to give the Lord all your energy in praise and worship?” It does not matter what people think. People are like grass that withers and flowers that fade. Shout unto the Lord, because His word lasts forever and He says, “Shout.” It is most important to do what God says. Try it. You will like it!