SHOUT!!

I've been thinking much about shouting because I'll be speaking for a camp this coming weekend in Melbourne, Australia with the title, "SHOUT." The camp will be on Phillip Island and it's a bit cold here right now, the reverse of weather in the USA but it's great for me because I hardly ever get to experience the cold, living in Manila. I'm excited!!! (you can check out the location at www.visitphillipisland.com)

It's a big subject and I will be conducting four sessions, but I want to share a little with you on this blog today...

We shout for many reasons, much the same as people shouted in the Bible. For joy, for battle, for victory, to attract attention, to warn, to proclaim the coming of someone important, etc. But it is people who shout. God doesn't shout. God thunders, roars, rumbles and more but He doesn't shout. And we don't have to shout at God to get His attention as the pagans do (see 1 Kings 18:27). God is always ready to hear even the faintest whisper of a prayer! But we shout to Him anyway out of sheer excitement and in gratitude! Our shouting to Him in praise and in adoration actually draws the attention of others so that they might join us in great acclaim. If you know me, I'm all for making a loud noise in praise to God! Mostly to try and get people out of a religious disposition during a worship service...

And so we shout! We shout to you, at you and for you today! We shout towards mankind in order to warn them that they must come out of darkness and into the light before it is too late! We shout that we have good news! Healing is here, miracles are here, deliverence is here, salvation is here, Jesus is here!!! We shout because you don't have to live this way anymore... because there is freedom, liberty and hope in Jesus! We shout and we will not be silent!!!

We shout because you don't have to be lonely anymore! We shout because you don't need to be bored anymore! We shout because God has a great plan for you... an army with a purpose to join! We shout because we care... because we love you and because Jesus loves you!

Will you shout? Will you join your voice with ours and shout towards everyone you know, proclaiming that there is hope, freedom and life eternal available to them? Will you live your life outloud for Him? Will you shout to the Lord in victory and with thanksgiving?

Come let us sing for joy together, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation!