The Quenched Desire – Episode 11

The Quenched Desire – Episode 11

© Lewis Dampson

The people on hearing this, branded him as unbalanced, and converts began to wonder if they had been deceived by Satan. With this Charles went into silence for a season.

Amidst all the criticism, the supporting public flooded Charles’ secretary with requests for him to minister. The secretary called Charles as she couldn’t keep up with the pressure. Although Charles was still suffering from his emotional and physical breakdown, he still wanted to minister. He longed to return to preaching the Word to the hungry. In response, he agreed to accept the invitations, and he published an itinerary of the meeting in the newspapers.

There were mixed feelings in the nation when Charles published his itinerary in the newspapers. Some criticized him heavily while some longed for his return.

On the day of his first meeting, Charles woke up and realized he wasn’t in the Spirit. He had prayed the previous night, but was still not sensing the presence of God as usual. He immediately knew God didn’t want him to go to the meeting. He picked up the phone and called his secretary. “Hello Anne, I wouldn’t be able to come to the meeting this morning. Tell the people I shall not come to the service. The Spirit prevents my coming and I can’t speak.”

When Anne got to the meeting, the streets were packed. Hundreds arrived early to get a seat. They were all expectant of a great move of God that day. Anne went on stage and took the microphone. She beckoned the crowd to be quiet as she had an important announcement for them.

“Please, I am sorry to inform you that Pastor Charles can’t be with us today. He said I should tell you the Spirit prevents his coming and he can’t speak. I am sorry for any inconveniences that this message might have cause.” Anne said as she stepped down from the platform.

There were great cries of disappointment and anger as many of the people had traveled great distances to be at the meeting. Noah was short of words as he didn’t know how to justify Charles’ words to the people. The best he could say about him was that he was under great strain.

With that, Charles locked himself away to spend more time in the Word and prayer. During this time, he spoke to no one, not even to Noah. Then after another short season of rest, he returned to public ministry. Charles saw himself as the Lord’s special messenger who would arouse the churches for their task of saving the nation.

Criticisms arouse again like a time bomb. Charles, no longer known for his gentleness, openly rebuked public leaders. He was invited to a certain church to preach. When he realized the coldness of the people’s heart, he announced that the church was not founded upon the Rock. He felt the church after the announcement.

Charles was again invited to fill in for an absent pastor at a men’s meeting. He gladly accepted the invitation and went early that morning for the meeting. The meeting was filled with thousands of people waiting to be revived.

When Charles got to the church, he was given a place beside the guest pastor. He sat comfortably as he watched the choir sang and the various activities in the program being done. Finally, it was his time to preach. The master of ceremony invited him to the pulpit. Everyone stood and gave Charles a round of applause.

They waited for Charles to take the pulpit, but he was still sitting. They gave him another round of applause thinking he was getting ready to take the pulpit, but that never happened. Charles was still sitting in the chair without moving a muscle.

The people continued to wait for two hours for Charles to step up on the platform, but he still sat silently in his chair. The congregation was livid and people grumbled in the congregation. Soon the grumbling turned into an outburst with people openly criticizing Charles.

Charles couldn’t control himself anymore. He got up and left the church. Another minister took the platform and ministered.

Charles again took the platform in the evening. His facial expression was nothing compared to what he portrayed in the morning. He smiled and exhorted the congregation to be true shepherds.

“The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.

So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to seek for them.

Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become food for all wild beasts, since there was no shepherd. And because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.”

As Charles read these scriptures to the people, their hearts were broken. Most of the ministers wept as they could all see how they had scattered the flock of God. How they have not cared for the weak in the church, but had rebuked them without love and made them gone astray. How they created for themselves a barrier of holiness to prevent the weaker ones from approaching them with their problems for the fear of being ridiculed. They wailed and pleaded with God for His mercy. The Spirit of God continued to minister to their hearts and the meeting soon turned into a prayer session. Charles led them through prayers and the meeting came to a close.

Because of Charles failing condition, his emotional wounds became more difficult to heal. He became greatly disturbed by small things. He took it personal when he heard of converts barking after the devil or following signs and wonders. As a result he remained depressed most of the time.

To be continued

 

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