"Then
all the congregation of the children of Israel set out on their journey from
the Wilderness of Sin, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped in
Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people
contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.” So Moses
said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord?” And the
people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and
said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our
children and our livestock with thirst?”
So
Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They
are almost ready to stone me!”" - Exodus 17:1-4
Now
isn't this how a church congregation would act? "We're just not getting
filled", "I come away not feeling like I was even at church",
"I need more of God in my life". And then, they blame the preacher.
Yet,
God says He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). It also says draw
near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). It's not the preacher's
fault if you're not becoming closer to God when you worship.
Your
pastor is represented in the Bible by shepherds. The shepherd tends the flock.
He takes them to the water to drink, but not once does he crack open their
locked jaws and force them to swallow.
In
short, you are as close to God as you want to be.
