08/11/2024
💡‼️🔥A Word for those preparing to preach/teach this morning...
READ THIS ‼️
I don't think I've ever shared this story on before.
I know I joke and say that I'm 25, but, the truth is I've been preaching (publicly- accepted my call) since 1997.
I remember I was invited to preach at a church, I was probably 22 yrs. old. I prepared. I was gassing myself up. I was 'practicing' my whoop and praise break moment in my bedroom. I was SO hype!!!
I was telling myself, "This is about to be crazy!!"
So I get to the church, change my clothes, head into the service. I honestly can't remember the service...
I got up to preach...I RAN through my notes...I RUSHED to my close...I WAS SO HYPE...I completely and totally flopped. NO ONE responded as *I* envisioned. I embarrassingly and disappointedly walked back to my chair on the pulpit.
I didn't pray for anyone. I sat there feeling sorry for myself.
Service was dismissed.
I was trying to get out of there asap. Forget the $50 or $60 honorarium or whatever it was (which I needed badly), I was trying to get out of there!
Then...it happened.
One of the deacons stopped me in the doorway of the sanctuary. He put both hands on my shoulders. He had tears in his eyes. I KNOW he was old enough to be my father.
He tearfully stared me in the eyes and said, "YOU ministered to me, I needed that..."
I WAS SHOCKED. COMPLETELY.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. Here it is:
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!!!!!!! (Dumping the house, 'killin' it, Churchin' the people etc...")
IT'S ABOUT HIM!!!!!!!! We are simply VESSELS. Even in my immaturity, God used me. It humbled me.
Today, let GOD use you to serve HIS PEOPLE.
Love,
