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| Canned laughter and applause |
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Have any of you ever watched a TV game show or a talk show where they have a studio audience? Of course you have! Have you ever noticed that people do things on cue? For instance, when someone tells a joke everyone laughs? The reason for this is because there are signs that light up to tell people what to do. One sign may say clap and another may say laugh. Not that anyone in the audience may think something is funny or that anyone approves of what is being done on the stage, they are told beforehand to do as the prompters tell them.
There are radio programs where the DJ has recorded clips to play as he sees fit. One clip may be of a crowd cheering, another may be of people laughing, or any number of clips to suit the occasion and set the mood. This is what canned laughter is. There really isn't anyone laughing, it is just a recording.
We are seeing this type of thing in the church lately. Not that there are signs lighting up telling people what to do, God forbid, but that people have to be told what to do while the service is going on. Remember the doll Chatty Cathy? You had to pull a string behind her so that she can say a number of things. Just like a lot of "Christians" nowadays. You either have to pull a string or push a button or wind them or crank them up. Sit down, stand up, open your bibles, clap your hands, say amen, give him a shout, praise the Lord. People go to the same church for years and still don't know what to do. These things should be automatic. You shouldn't have to wait for a cue so that you know what to do. Do you know what the problem is? People go to church but they are not in the service. Psalms 100:1-4; Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. The preceding verses highlighted in red do not give us a choice as to whether we should do these things or not. They appear to be commanding us to do them. So why do people have such a problem with praising God? The church is not supposed to be a social club but as soon as people walk in they start with the yakkety yak about everything except the things that pertain to God. Don't we realize that this is God's house? It is not just any old thing. Then you wonder why your lives are so jacked up. You take the things of God too lightly. Proverbs 22:6; Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. What are we teaching our children about how we should conduct ourselves in church? Children imitate our behavior. I see mothers that bring pillows and blankets so the kids can sleep. I see kids playing with handheld gaming devices like Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portables (PSP). I see other kids coloring with crayons and coloring books when they should be learning how to praise and worship God. You see brethren, if we are not teaching them at home, how are they going to act in church, especially if you are living a double life. We can't be one thing in the church and something else outside of the church. Then we wonder why we don't see a change in our families.
The reality is that you cannot give what you don't have. If you do not have the praise within you what can you possibly give God? Praise should not have to be worked out of you. Praise comes from a grateful heart that is full of joy but when the heart is heavy praise becomes a sacrifice. Hebrews 13:15-16; By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Praise is a sacrifice when you don't have a good reason to praise; especially when going through a difficult trial. I don't need a good reason to praise. I praise God because I love him and because I'm grateful for what he has done for me. I don't need to be pumped up or primed or wound up. I praise God because I want to. I don't know why some pastors go through so much trouble to get people to praise God. They act more like the prophets of Baal that leaped upon the altar and ran around shouting and slicing themselves up while the blood gushed out trying to get their god to answer by fire. 1 Kings 18:25-26; And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under]. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. God doesn't need the kind of praise that has to be forced out of anyone. Then you wonder why people leave the church feeling the same way as when they came in. 1 Kings 18:30-38; And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid [him] on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour [it] on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 18:34 And he said, Do [it] the second time. And they did [it] the second time. And he said, Do [it] the third time. And they did [it] the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Here we see that there was a process. First you have to draw near to God. The word of God says draw near to him and he will draw near to you and it also says come boldly to the throne of grace. When was the last time you went up to the altar at the church? When was the last time anyone tarried at the altar? Then Elijah did repaired the altar that was broken down. There's a lot of people in the church with broken down altars. Their hearts are all messed up which is why they can't feel the fire of God. Elijah dug a trench which typifies that he was preparing for an overflow. Elijah prepared the sacrifice and set the wood in order which is like what we do when we get our acts together and get our priorities straight. Then he said to fill four barrels of water and to pour them over the sacrifice 3 times. We need to be washed from all of our filthiness and unclean acts. Then when Elijah prayed the fire of God came down. If you repair your broken down altar you can pray and you will feel the fire of God. You can praise God with liberty and feel a continual presence of God. You won't need anyone to poke you or prod you to get a praise out of you.
You don't need to be leaping up and down and shouting and acting all crazy to try to move God. What is more likely to happen is that people will move in the flesh and through emotion which is not pleasing to God and is more likely to quench the Spirit. In the early church all you had to do was preach the word and people would get baptized in the Spirit. The reason you don't see the Spirit moving that way now is because it is all about the person preaching and a lot of entertainment. Don't go to church to be entertained. You will be in for a big disappointment if God reveals the sin in your life. You will leave the church feeling worse than when you went in. If you want to be entertained, stay home and watch TV or go to a show or watch a movie. You should go to church to get presence of God and to fellowship with the brethren. You should teach your kids to pray and to praise and worship God. We should have an attitude of grattitude. Then watch what God does with your praise! Shalom |
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| To add a comment to "Canned laughter and applause" |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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Proverbs 22:6; Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This blog is so true. I am so glad we have church at home because everyone is being taught to pay attention. We bang on the furniture and sing praises to God, we read the Bible, break the Word down, and ask questions, and tell of what we've learned. I praise God you have ministered to me because life came back into us. I mean, you told me to put the tithes in the church's account and God multiplied it. Thanks Prophet Jay. God is doing a lot with just two tithers :) |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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This is exactly right. In the catholic Church we are a leader of materiliasm (not a good thing) but you have to direct the congregation and get them active in both the services and church fellowship.
In The Shepherd Jesus
Acolyte Tyler
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| I like It! |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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I was a Catholic until age 35, now I'm Baptist. I do remember being told to Sit, Stand, Kneel, etc. Now I jump up or shout or rock or cry or just be still when the Spirit Hits...great sermon PJay.....AMEN |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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Have an attitude of grattitude.
Touche' my friend. (smile) |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| Stacy, when you give fruit God trims the branches so that you can bear more fruit. That trimming process may be painful at times but when Jesus picks the fruit he will let you know just how good it is and then he will reward you. |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| Yes Tyler, there must be order in the church. What I am referring to here is when people go to extremes so that it is not God that is moving but the flesh. |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| Amen Doyle! |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| Amen Terry, thanx! |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| Thanx Marcia! |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| Dear Bro. Jay, I am afraid that we are in the infantile stages of what will be one day a full blown apostate church. So many kids are not being reared in the fear and admonition of the Lord and to think they are our future. Scary! You are indeed a Prophet and God pierces the heart through you. Many folks don't want to admit your right but you are! Love in Christ...Pastor Chuck |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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Amen, Brother Jay. "Praise is a sacrifice when you don't have a good reason to praise; especially when going through a difficult trial." This is so true. We are to praise God at all times! When things are going especially bad is when we need to remember to praise God all the more. I personally dislike a church where the Pastor tells me to "praise the Lord" or to repeat phrases. I do believe in spontaneity but there is also a time to simply listen to a sermon in an attitude of worship and to praise God loudly in the praise & worship portion. As for the children and how they are reared in the church, I do very much agree that they should be taught to rever and fear and honour the Lord in the church building, rather than playing and being coddled when they agitate. I remember growing up in a small little church and the toddlers and mothers with babies would sit nearer to the back of the church so they could nip out for a few minutes if the kids made too much ruckus. Also the nursery was on the same floor, with a window cut out of the front facing the pastor so that the mothers could still hear the service. There was no such thing as other people attending your children. When the kids were old enough they went to Sunday School while the parents had their adult bible study in the sanctuary. Overall, this seemed to work very well. I never saw anyone ever eating in the sanctury or playing. Those who tried to run around were gently disciplined by their parents or an adult. |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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| May 27, 2009 |
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People go to church but they are not in the service.....(AMEN!) |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| First of all, I hate canned laughter. Secondly. As you've mentioned above. When people have to be told what to do (stand up, sit down, open your bibles etc), just like canned laughter, its false. And my interpretation of what you've said Prophet Jay is, there's some "alters" in people's lives that need to be repaired, because everything that comes out is false, and people do everything on cue as if its normal. What is normal, is when people don't have to be told to do anything - and just do it. And what do I mean by that? Well just think about breathing. Its people's natural instinct to breathe without being prompted. Without breath, your dead. |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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AMEN. IT IS HARD TO PRAISE GOD WHEN YOUR GOING THROUGH TRIALS. HE DIDN'T SAY IT WOULD BE EASY NOW DID HE?
IT'S KINDA LIKE IF MY KIDS ONLY SHOWED ME LOVE WHEN I DO SOMETHING FOR THEM OR GIVE THEM SOMETHING.
BUT, OH WHAT A FEELING WHEN THEY TELL ME THEY LOVE ME JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO.
WOOHOO. HOW THAT BLESSES ME!!!!!!!!
ISN'T THERE A SONG THAT GOES "I'M YOUR PUPPET'?
THANK GOD, HE DOESN'T WANT ME TO BE A PUPPET, BUT ONLY TO BE MYSELF. I THINK HE LIKES ME THAT WAY!! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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Great word Brother Jay....It's all about relationship and not religion....Many people know of God...but they really don't have an intimate relationship with Him.....and sad it is because If it's not from the heart....it's all in vain ;o) |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Thanx Pastor Chuck. The problem is that when we don't teach our children correctly there is someone who will. It's the devil and he doesn't have any problem with teaching rebellious disobedient children. |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Amen Penny we should discipline our children and rear them in the fear and admonition of the Lord. |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Thanx for the star Barb! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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Powerful Prophet Jay...
This I can live with and applaud dear brother...
We need more "Watchman" on the wall... Blessings In Him... :o) Herman |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Amen Lynne, thanx! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Thanx Brenda! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Amen Stevie Bee, thanx for sharing! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Sure thing Mike, God doesn't want carbon copies of other brethren, he wants us conformed to the image of Christ! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| I'm sure he likes you that way as well Crystal! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Amen Margie, relaionship is better than religion! |
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| May 28, 2009 |
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| Blessings to you as well Brother Tranter! |
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| May 29, 2009 |
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| It is ashame that the people of God has to be prompted what to do in worship! The Lord says to worship him in spirit and truth. How can one worship if he has not prepared his heart and been with God before he got not only to church but everyday! |
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| May 29, 2009 |
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Amen,Prophet Jay,I used to go to church when I was younger and she all theses people running around the church and acting really crazy.It scared me at first, then I found myself going just to see the show,(as I called it),I wasnt there to hear the word,and it was sad now looking back on this,because,thats where my neglect for going to church came in from. I now know that those fools who were running and jumping,and performing,were the ones who didnt really adhere to the word of God.And boy are you speaking some truths in this blog and I am so thankful that I see now and my eyes are opened on the right path.... |
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| May 30, 2009 |
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