Psalm 133 ~ the alternative to dysfunction

The Alternative To Dysfunction Inspiring Your Ministry in 2015 and Beyond Focusing Upon Psalm 133~Three Verses of Biblical Direction Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil or ointment upon the head, that ran or is running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge or to the skirts of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.

Church should be the place where the Word of God sets the 'good' and 'pleasant' atmosphere for the entire congregation. Here in Psalm 133 the writer uses the exclamation -behold- to describe such an experience. Verses two and three highlight descriptions of this unity, these descriptions are set forth in the 'how good' and 'how pleasant' atmospherics of the text.

For Thought Provoking Discussion: What is the sociology {social needs, problems, economics, crime, etc} surrounding your church?

What 'how good' and 'how pleasant' nomenclature should comprise the church that make it so refreshing to come there? While the first reading of verse one is in an exclamatory phrase and end with an exclamation point, for examination and suggestive purposes, I which to end it with a question mark as I apply an evaluative search upon it for mine and your congregation. I ask, just how good and how pleasant in unity in my congregation?

I pondered, where was 'Good' first mentioned, and how is 'pleasant' derived? Well off to the Book of Genesis I go. What did God do for six days which serves as direction for our congregation and make it the first place on a seventh day where you can find refreshment of that good and pleasantry in and for living. Review Genesis 1:1-2:1-3, read it before? I know it is a loaded question, but How Creative is God? He sets the standard, he begins with nothing but a thought. Before we can have unity among brethren in the Lord's Church, we must have at least His thought about unity. Since He is the 'standard', this thought can only be transformational through Him! Where is the word 'good' first mentioned in the Creation account and prayerfully, how can it be activated for transformation within congregations? What had been created that made Creation earn that standard of 'good'? What do you think we need to do in our church to earn our 1st 'good', 2nd 'good', 3rd 'good', 4th 'good' 5th 'good', 6th 'good' and 7th level of good? How can a better pleasantry be established? 'How good and how pleasant' can the unity of our church and its families be? Please Note: The standard of 'Good' is detailed 7 times in Genesis 1:1-31, and when "God rested", Gen.2:1-3, we get a suggestion of 'how pleasant'!

What is the sociology of those of your congregation? What are they coming out of and into when they attend your church? What areas of life are not as good as you believe they should be, such as your economy, relationships, your educational 1

pursuits or your health. What are the entrapments and what are the areas of liberty? Now, compare Genesis 2:1-3 with Psalm 133:1-3, any similarities? We long for the day when 'new life' in our personal lives will shape a better congregation.

With great delight, I look for some positive and overwhelming response on a Sunday Morning or Wednesday night. I look for new thriving personal economies. I look for more unity in relationships between individuals, couples, siblings, coworkers and the church. I look forward to students becoming excited about study and discovery, homework and preparation for their next project, completing assignments and becoming a long term thinker in the area of their passion. I sense in my spirit that very soon, you will begin to experience that high holy response during Sunday and Wednesday worship, church business meetings and from excited member's phone calls expressing in different ways ~"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

Now, let's look at the possibilities for renewal which rise out of verse two. Verse two is used by the Psalmist to describe the practical impact of dwelling together in unity. He says first that it is "like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments."

Out of the many uses of this oil or ointment, here it is highlighted with the first High Priest as he was anointed at his ordination. Each leader must ask God to renew their 'setting apart', refresh their calling, properly focus their mind and release His 2015 Spirit upon them, Ephesians 4:1-32. Equally, back to the Creation Story, look at Genesis 1:2c, it reads "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Continue reading, v.3 has God speaking, "And God said, Let there be light: and there was light". I want to suggest to you that when God said, (English rendering) Let there be light, it was the Holy Spirit who responded, where do you want it? Then, in v. 4 we read as if God beholds the action of His Word as fulfilled

by His Spirit, "And God saw the light that it was good and God divided the light from the darkness".

Leaders, there will be no renewal, no excellence and no alternative to dysfunction in your ministry if you try to operate without The Holy Spirit! Turn to I Cor. 12:111, read slow and deliberate, not the activity of His Spirit in the function of a local congregation. Return to Psalm 133:2, please note, the ointment runs down the beard of Aaron. Aaron had a beard, it could be a smooth shaven face, the point is, from the head of the Pastor or ministry leader, to those who are in his/her face family, leaders and Membership - the Oil must run! Then, finally, the oil runs down to the skirts of his garments. This is where the constituent members of each ministry, Deacons, Trustees, Christian Education Ministries, Ushers, Choir, Missionary etc., are found and the total membership. The Oil Must Run! Finally, Verse 3, we highlight the next adjective, "It is like the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore". I guess the question of this session is, how much dew of refreshing of life is in your church?

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Picking up on the dew in the text, and since dew is manifested in the morning, church has Biblical Precedence to manifest the Life of God in its ministry through the Morning Vocalization of The Commanded Blessing! Mark 1:35 indicates, 'Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed', Jesus did it, so must each of us.

From the loftier mountains the moisture appears to be wafted or conveyed to the lesser hills: the dew of Hermon fall on Zion. The Alpine Lebanon ministers to the minor elevation of the city of David; and so does brotherly love descend from the higher to the lower, refreshing and enlivening in its course. Holy Accord is as dew, mysteriously blessed, full of life and growth for all plants of grace. It brings with it so much blessing that it is as no common dew, but As that of Pastor/Ministerial Staff of Shalom, the Oil Must Run - "As the dew of Hermon that descended upon the mountains of Zion" Turn to Leviticus 25:20-22 and let's find ourselves in the linkage with this Commanded Blessing - "And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase. Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store."

2012 was a sixth year, it was the year of The Commanded Blessing according to this scripture. That Commanded Blessing is bringing forth fruit in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

In 2016 which is an eighth year we are to sow and eat yet of old fruit until 2017 and 2018 which is a ninth year, thereafter until our fruit come in we are to eat of the old store.

I like the way v. 3 closes out, 'Even life forevermore". We are going after the Life God has gifted in each of us. Ready to go after it? Day after Day, let our faith efforts be highlighted with "Behold"! God Bless.

Psalm 133 ~ The Alternative To Dysfunction Here is a biblical challenge to the traditions of leadership in most churches. The treatment of Psalm 133 in not just locked to what is written on these pages, but the holy discussion is key to 'New Life' for your ministry.

Generated by Pastor Ronnie D. Joyner, D.Min. The Philadelphia Fellowship (Baptist) RonnieD.Joyner@gmail.com

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