Shout - Day 4 - Thursday, October 27th, 2011

¹⁵ On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. ¹⁶ The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! ¹⁷ The city and all that is in it are to be devoted^[a] to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. ¹⁸ But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. ¹⁹ All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.” Joshua 6:15-19

What is it about shouting? Kind of a strange thing to just shout into the air and stuff, right? Well, let's think about this. It's very human to shout - we shout all the time. Primarily in just a few ways though - either in anger or in joy, or just trying to be heard in some situation. We can yell at the dog or the kids, or at a car when we bust our knuckles working on it, or in traffic, and so on. Or we can shout when we're trying to get someones attention over a long distance, or over a lot of background noise. Or... we shout when our team scores a touchdown or makes a good play - a shout of joy and victory. Whole stadiums and even whole nations shout at the same time when their team does something good. There have been times, especially in the world cup of soccer, that when a national team scores or wins the game in the final whole cities erupt in cheering and shouting and it can be heard by everyone in the city like a huge roar. What if that happened from people shouting to the Lord? What would happen? Whe King David brought the ark back it was one of the greatest celebrations ever - 

So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. ¹³ When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. ¹⁴ Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, ¹⁵ while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 2 Sam 6:12-15

Guys, the presence of the Lord (represeted by the ark) is the greatest cause for us to shout for joy more than anything in the world! Infintely more than a sporting event! God is our eternal victory, our Champion, our Vindicator, our Redeemer, our Joy and the Strenth of our lives! He is worthy of us turning our heads to heaven and shouting with all our might unto him! Releasing our emotions and joy towards the One who has delivered us from the pit and set our feet on solid ground! Listen to what is written in His word about God's people shouting in joy unto Him:

Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD. Ps 27:6

May those who delight in my vindication
   shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,
   who delights in the well-being of his servant.” Ps 35:27

God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
   the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises;
   sing praises to our King, sing praises. Ps 47:5-6

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
   let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
² Let us come before him with thanksgiving
   and extol him with music and song.

 ³ For the LORD is the great God,
   the great King above all gods. Ps 95:1-3

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
   burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵ make music to the LORD with the harp,
   with the harp and the sound of singing, Ps 98:4-5

Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this;
   shout aloud, you earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
   you forests and all your trees,
for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
   he displays his glory in Israel. Isa 44:24

The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

   “Hosanna!^[a]”

   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[b]

   “Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:12-13

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

   “Hallelujah!
   For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad
   and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
   and his bride has made herself ready. Rev 19:6-7

And those are just a few! Guys, let your heart bring forth a shout to the Lord. If stadiums full of people cheering about a ball crossing a chalk line shout at the top of their lungs how much more should be raise our voices and shout to the One who fought the battle for all mankind through the sacrifice of His own blood, and conquered death and the grave for us! Let us shout for joy!!!

DAY 4

*You just read your lesson for today.

*Now take a time to worship and pray.

*Pray about the fourth of The Seven Areas of Life:

Physical -  Your body
Pray that God will show you how to take care of your body. Make some health goals for yourself that God shows you. Ask Him to strengthen you physically and heal any areas of your body that you are suffering in. Listen to Him about changes you need to make in your lifestyle that will improve your health, your strength, your endurance, your sleep, the joy you walk in daily and the length of your days on this earth.

*Pray for your church, it's pastor, leaders, people and community.

*Finally, close by letting everything go and simply worshipping Him. Maybe find some alone time today and let your heart bring forth a shout to Him. Might feel a little funny to shout alone but go for it! And then when  we gather together in corporate worship lets bring a mighty shout to God and bring the roof down!!

Love you guys and have a great day,

PK