SHOUT??

SHOUT?

I was starting to get symptoms of a cold. The symptoms just kept getting worse, and the voice in my head said, “I’ve got a cold.” I hadn’t spoken anything out loud yet, and instantly I knew I needed to shout: “The Bible says that by Jesus’ stripes I was healed, so I’m healed!” My cold symptoms were gone overnight.

Sometimes we need to shout louder than the thoughts in our head—drown them out with a victory shout of God’s Word (the truth). For those of you who aren’t shouters, you can speak His truth in your most assertive “outside voice.” Authoritative self-talk or self-speak with God’s truths can have a powerful and positive effect on an apathetic, wandering, or bored mind. It can rescue and release us from being lazy, the victims of “maybe” or “I hope so.” And it can put a stop to confusion.

There’s a great example of this principle in John 11, where Jesus shouted to Lazarus to come forth from the grave. He had all kinds of negative words and thoughts coming at Him. The religious leaders were trying to shame Him in front of the people. Even Lazarus’ sisters were bothered by the fact that Jesus hadn’t come earlier, and they said so. It had been four days since he died, and friends had gathered to grieve. What did they think and speak when Jesus showed up late and told them the dead Lazarus was going to live?

Since the Bible tells us Jesus was tempted in every way that we’re tempted, His mind would have been bombarded by all kinds of negative thoughts. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). The discord of inaudible voices in the air was thick and raucous. I’ve been in situations where no one was speaking, but I could almost hear people’s negative thoughts and accusations, and I bet you’ve been in situations like that too.

But Jesus put His faith in what God told Him, and amid the confusion, He stood in front of the tomb, and “He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, ‘Loose him, and let him go’” (John 11:43-44).

We need to be assertive with the truth we speak to ourselves. We are not victims of our environments. Our faith isn’t insipid or limp, but “strong in the Lord and the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10).

There are many examples of shouting in the Bible. Like I was inspired to shout against the symptoms of a cold, God’s people have, at different times, been instructed and inspired to shout against an enemy. The results were amazing.

1 Samuel 17:52: “And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until they come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down.”

In Joshua 6, God gave specific instructions on how to take down Jericho. The instructions included a great shout:

“And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.

“And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

“And the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

“And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Josh. 6: 2-5).

“So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (vs. 20).

Psalm 47:1 says: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” Many scriptures tell us about an attitude we can have when we shout. It’s more like shouting when your team wins than shouting at someone in anger. Zephaniah 3:14 reads: “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.”

Psalm 5:11 tells us: “Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Nehemiah 8:10 tells us: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 32:11 says: “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” And Psalm 132:16 reads: “I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”

No matter what situations you face today, or what kind of a mood you’re in, how about a big shout of victory and joy for the Lord? You can do it.

Jesus shouted louder and with more authority than the voices around Him; life returned to Lazarus. Against the thoughts in my head, I shouted God’s healing words to my cold symptoms; my good health returned to me. We are blessed to have the spiritual power of a shout available to us through Jesus Christ.

Love, Carolyn

QUESTIONS AND EASY CHALLENGES

1. Can you recall a time when people around you were so loud and the noise so raucous you could hardly think? What did it feel like? What did you do?

2. If you are a parent or a pet owner, have you ever gone outside to shout for your child or pet to come in? Do you recall any times your parents shouted for you to come inside? How did you react? Did it take two or three shouts sometimes?

3. Why do you think Jesus might have shouted to Lazarus?

4. Was Jesus ever tempted to get confused, negative, or distracted by too many thoughts or too much raucousness in the environment? How do we know that? Cite the scripture.

5. Give a couple of scripture references that talk about shouting for victory or shouting for joy.

6. When was the last time you shouted at a sports event or a concert? What did it feel like in your body? 

Right now, go someplace where you won’t disturb anyone and practice some shouting.