Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #11
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Portrait of the Pastor (I Peter 5:1-4) I Peter 5:1-4, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” Notice some things that these verses say to the Man of God.
2. The Man of God Must Fight the Foes (I Peter 5:2b-3) Peter continues to share the mission of the pastor. He is to take "oversight" means "to inspect, care for, to look after carefully, or to oversee." "Not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind." The pastor is to serve the Lord willingly, not by constraint. This word "constraint" means "by force, torture; a state of distress, trouble, calamity, or pressure." The pastor's heart, however, needs to be in his ministry. This word "willingly" doesn't suggest that a pastor is never discouraged or that he does not have days when he is not enthusiastic about ministry. A man is not to enter the ministry for the purpose of having a financial career or making money. We are not to pastor for the money, but because God has called us to pastor. We are to feed the flock, not fleece the flock. A pastor is not to be greedy for money. Making money and getting all the money he can out of the people is not to be his motive for ministry. This issue of filthy lucre, however, does not mean that a pastor should never be paid. On the contrary, Paul taught that the pastor should be financially taken care of by the church. He is not in the ministry for money, but the church is to take care of his financial needs. “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Peter addresses an important point here about pastoring. The pastor is not to lord over God's heritage. We are to be overseers, not overlords. Paul spoke about this same issue of domination. The phrase "lords over" means "to bring under one's power, to subdue, to dominate, to be master of someone, to put into subjection, to control." Lording over the congregation is not the same as leading the congregation. The word "example" carries the idea of the pattern for which something is made, an example to be imitated." Your life is to leave a good mark on others. It is to be an example, a pattern that others can follow to serve the Lord. Sheep are animals that are led, and the same is true of the church. Lead by example. This is what Paul did with his life (I Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7; I Corinthians 1:11). NOTICE: The life of the preaching will be determined by the life of the preacher!
3. The Man of God Must Face the Father (I Peter 5:4) The Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, is going to return and appear again. When this happens, the labors of the pastor, the under-shepherd of the church, will be rewarded. Keeping your eye on the return of Christ will help you in the ministry. It will give you hope that the Lord is returning soon, perhaps today. It will motivate you to be faithful.
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Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #10
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. Partnering with Your Pastor We are one body made up of many members (I Corinthians 12). God's plan is that God's pastor and people work together. Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Exodus 17:9-13, “And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” In Exodus 17, Moses had his hands lifted toward Heaven, no doubt holding that staff in his hands, and the children of Israel prevailed in battle. When his arms would lower due to fatigue, the Amalekites gained the advantage. However, Aaron and Hur stepped forth and held the hands of Moses up until the battle was won. The task Hur accomplished that day may not sound like a lot, however, had it not been for the work of this man, Moses would not have had the strength to do his job and Joshua would never have been able to lead Israel to victory in the battle. Had they not been there, the battle would have been lost and Israel would have been defeated! 1. Members like Hur are Absolutely Precious. Preachers spend hours praying and preparing their sermons. Meanwhile, the congregation spends hours before the Lord in their prayer closets lifting up the hands of God’s men. In the church, there is a number of people who are praying, fasting, and carrying the load. No price could ever be placed on what people like Hur are worth to the church! 2. Members like Hur are Always Participating. Hur wasn't a great leader like Moses. He wasn't a great General like Joshua. He wasn't a great High Priest like Aaron. He wasn't a warrior like those in the army. He was just Hur. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Hur. However, what he did, he did willingly, actively and faithfully. He could hold up hands and he did the best job he could! By holding his hands up to the Lord, Moses showed his dependence on God. Israel’s strength and victory depended on their faith in God. They showed this by prayer and obedience. In this situation, when Moses stopped praying, God’s power stopped flowing (Hebrews 7:25). Our only hope of victory comes from relying on God. We should embrace the privilege we have to “therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy”. (Hebrews 4:16). 3. Members like Hur are Advocating Prayer. R. A. Torrey used to say that the chief purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer. If you can't pray like you want to, pray as you can. God knows what you mean. And you have good help—the Advocate, who is God's Son, and the Paraclete, who is God's Spirit. They will take your feeblest prayer and make it perfect. The devil is in constant conspiracy against a preacher who really prays, for it has been said that what a minister is in his prayer closet is what he is, no more, no less. Prayer may not get us what we want, but it will teach us to want what we need. God is not impressed by length or loudness in our prayer. He sees the heart, and when we have prayed our hearts into acceptance of His will, and our wills into obedience to it, we may calmly wait for the answer. The thermometer of a church is its prayer meeting. We are all essential to the proper functioning of the body of Christ! There is a great work to do and there is room for all who want to be involved in the Lord's work. Although we can’t do everything, remember, that the Lord has placed us in His body in the place that pleased Him (I Corinthians 12:4-27). It isn’t important if you can’t do what others can do, it is important that you do what you can do. Thank God for those people who know they can't do everything but are determined to do something! When the enemy strikes, our only hope is the LORD. Daily, dependable prayer is the fundamental foundation of the successful Christian life. The measure of any Christian is their prayer life. The lifting of Moses’ raised hands was a sign of intercession. “…Moses’ hands were heavy…” (Exodus 17:12). Jesus never gets tired of interceding for us! “…he ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). While we fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12), He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34)! In our battles we also must go to the throne of God holding up our hands and saying, “LORD, this is out of my control. I need Your help” We all need holding up. We all need our arms, or our faith supported up by the arms or faith of another. Like Moses, Aaron, and Hur, we are all part of the great “cloud of witnesses” and it is our responsibility to point others to Christ, while at the same time, keeping your eyes on the LORD (Hebrews 12:1-2). Nothing means as much to we minister’s like the Hur’s within the congregation who are holding our hands up in prayer. We are a Team working for the same Goal, to see: Sinners Saved Saints Strengthened Scriptures Spread-out Saviour Satisfied Questions to Consider: Who can you lift up today? What is something you can you today to lift the burdens of another? Points to Ponder: You can start lifting up those around you right now by encouragement and edification. You’ll find that while you are lifting up others, you will in turn find yourself being lifted! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #9
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Pastor and His Sermon Preparation God is a God of order. The Scriptures tells us “Let all things be done decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40).” Everything that is said or done in a worship service is important. However, it is the sermon, the preaching of the Word of God that is the most important part of the worship service. The pastor is fully aware of this; therefore, he must always take his sermon preparation very serious. The preacher who is Spirit driven, Spirit led, and Spirit dependent will also be Spirit empowered! Preaching is truly the Spirit's ministry. What the Holy Spirit illumines in the study, He will empower in the pulpit. True, we need to prepare for what we have studied, but Oswald Chambers said, “The thing to prepare is not the sermon, but the preacher.” In preparing a message, I prescribe the following pattern: 1. Supplication: As pastors we pray that each message must be birthed in, bathed in, and brought in prayer. a) The Example of Jesus If time alone with the Father was important to Jesus, it should be of the utmost importance to each of us as men of God. In meditating, Jesus would come apart from the crowd, and often even His disciples. The Lord needed this time to discern the voice of God in His every movement. b) The Experience of Jesus. In coming apart from the crowd Jesus would often be found praying to His heavenly father. In watching His movements, we find Him praying in the garden, on top of the mountain, He even spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying to His Heavenly Father. If time alone with God was important to Him, we must ask ourselves if it is important to our lives. In meditating, we allow the voice of God to talk to us. 2. Selection: Listen to the Holy Spirit and He will lead you to what topic and text to preach and teach from. 3. Study: Reading, Research from Concordances, Dictionaries, Commentaries, Take notes, and etc. I have had the privilege of sitting under great men as they taught me the Bible, and I have taken detailed notes from their teachings. I have many books in my library concerning how to prepare sermons and how to preach. Allow God to prepare you by soaking in the glory of His Word through diligent study of the Bible. 4. Structuring: Many messages are like model cars. They come in hundreds of pieces with no instructions on how to put them together. Every message must have three things: a) The Introduction. This is the starting place. You must use this to get the minds of the people from where they are to where you want to preach to them. b) The Ingredients. This is the statement proclaimed. This is what you want the message to say. These ingredients should be in a progressive manner, progressing toward the intended end. When you finish a message, it should have said something. c) The Invitation. This is the stopping plan. The closing part of the message should lead right into the invitation service without any disrupting change of thought. 5. Spirit-Teaching. As preachers, we are quick to confess the need for the Spirit's power in our preaching, but we fall short when it comes to explaining how to involve the Holy Spirit in our preaching. This is a time in meditation and prayer where you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you what He wants to teach others through you. Many times, in this time, He will show you what He wants to do with the message. This is important time. 6. Seasoning. This is closely related to the last one, but there is a difference. This time is also a time of meditation and prayer, but this time you are asking God to anoint you, and saturate you with the Holy Spirit. You must ask God to give you the right Spirit to preach His message in. Many great messages are ruined because they are delivered in the wrong spirit. When we are filled with the Spirit, the Spirit controls us inwardly and we submit all of our desires, attitudes, and motivations to Him because we are walking according to the Spirit. His agenda for glorifying Christ becomes our agenda in preaching. We die to the flesh in order that we can live according to the Spirit. I believe this type of submission to the Spirit's control is the foundation for Spirit-led preaching. 7. Sermon. The sermon is the finished product that the man of God takes to the pulpit to deliver to his people a) His Passage. A sermon is not truly a sermon without having a Biblical foundation. It may be a good speech or moving message, but without the Scriptures it is no sermon. b) His Preparation. The man thoroughly prepares himself and his message. A sermon will never reach its full potential with the appropriate time spent in preparation. In calling a man, God also called him to prepare. c) His Process. The finished product of his passage and his preparation will be his presentation of a sermon, the finished product that he has gone through in conceiving a real sermon. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #8
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Plight of the Pastor A true God-called pastor will continue to preach, teach and lead God’s flock even when he never receives any thanks, recognition, or compliments. It is amazing how many church members are misinformed of the responsibilities a pastor. When a church seeks a pastor, they often want one who has: The strength of an eagle, The grace of a swan, The gentleness of a dove, The friendliness of a cat-bird, The cheerfulness of a robin, The assurance of a barnyard fowl, The industry of a sparrow, The patience of turkey-buzzards, The night hours of an owl, And when they catch that bird, They expect him to live on the food of a canary. How to Discourage Your Pastor: 1) Never attend a Sunday evening service or prayer meeting. 2) Go to church when its “convenient”. 3) Always come late and leave before he closes in prayer. 4) While he preachers, never give him your attention, but always whisper. 5) Acts cold to show your dignity. 6) Never appreciate his efforts. 7) Tell him what wonderful messages you have heard at other churches. 8) Criticize him before your family and children. 9) Don’t make him feel welcome in your home. 10) Accuse his wife of running things. 11) Never pray for him and never offer him help. 12) Always do the opposite of what he suggests. 13) Gather your support group together to oppose him in business meetings. 14) Never take your Sunday guests to hear him. How to Get Rid of Your Pastor: 1) Look him straight in the eye when he is preaching and say “AMEN Preacher…Preach ON!”. He will preach himself to death in a few weeks. 2) Shake his hand, hug his neck and brag on his good points. He will soon work himself to death! 3) Increase your giving to the church so much that the Pastor will get a raise and a month’s vacation paid, your Pastor will go into shock and die. 4) Rededicate your life to Christ and ask your pastor if you can assist him in any way from now own. He will probably have a heart attack! 5) Have the church to unite in prayer for the preacher. He will soon become so effective that some larger church will soon take him off your hands. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #7
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Honorable Pastor (I Timothy 3:7) I Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Pastors are a gift to the church: 1. Ambassador for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20) 2. Angel of the Church (Revelation 1:20) 3. Apostle (Luke 6:13; Titus 1:1) 4. Bishop (I Timothy 3:1) 5. Elders (I Timothy 5:17) 6. Evangelists (Ephesians 4:11) 7. Fishers of men (Matthew 4:19) 8. Laborers (Matthew 9:38; I Corinthians 6:11) 9. Messengers (II Corinthians 8:23) 10. Ministers (II Corinthians 6:4; Romans 15:16) 11. Overseers (Acts 20:28) 12. Pastors (Jeremiah 3:15; Ephesians 4:11) 13. Preachers (Romans 10:14; I Timothy 2:7) 14. Servants (Titus 1:1; Judges 1) 15. Shepherds (Jeremiah 23:4) 16. Soldiers (Philippians 2:25; II Timothy 2:3-4) 17. Stars (Revelation 1:20) 18. Stewards (I Corinthians 4:1; I Peter 4:10) 19. Teachers (Isaiah 30:20; Ephesians 4:11) 20. Watchman (Isaiah 62:6; Ezekiel 33:7) 21. Witnesses (Acts 1:9; 5:32) Paul list’s seventeen requirements for a God called pastor of the local church. One of these qualifications is a good report. This good report carries the idea of his testimony, witness, record, or evidence given. A pastor must have a good report (testimony) with those who are outside the church. The prophet Samuel had this reputation in the Old Testament. I Samuel 9:6, “And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.” We are not just to have a testimony, but we are to have a good testimony. The pastor’s position is seen in his call, he must live humbly and must live honorably. Those that are “without” are the unsaved outside the church. The world may not and seldom does agree with a godly pastor, but his manners ought to be the kind that causes the world to respect him anyway. How he does business in the world and how he behaves in the world will not be unnoticed by the world. He needs a good report so he will not fall into the snare of the devil. How can he make a spiritual impact on those who do not respect him? Any misconduct upon the part of the leader opens the gate for the devil to deceive the members. A God-called pastor must have a good testimony in the outside world. The man of God must live in such a way in front of the ungodly world that they respect him. That means being real and genuine at all times. A pastor desires to honor the Lord in his private life, in his public life, and in his personal life. Unbelievers must never be pushed farther away from Jesus because of the life and witness of the pastor. When a preacher falls into sin it damages the testimony of the church in the community. So many preachers have fallen into reproach by their ungodly conduct. A pastor never wants to be guilty of bringing dishonor to themselves, their family, their church, and especially to the Lord. Unbelievers are watching his life and they want to see if his practice lines up with his profession. A pastor will live humbly and honorably in the world because they have submitted under the Lordship of Christ. A God called pastor is not unaware of the snares of the devil. The Devil wants to trip up the man of God, ensnare, and destroy the life and testimony of the man of God. Pastors make great strides and sacrifices for the flock God has called them to watch over. Encourage your pastor today and let him know how the Lord is using his teaching, his preaching, and his example in your life. A pastor puts all of his heart into his sermons as he preachers with passion to challenge the people to love the Lord and to labor for Him. When a pastor knows he has made an impact in the life of someone, it can be momentous encouragement that can help him when he faces hard times. Pastors face some of the most difficult pressures. There are days when pastors carry the weight of the world, and for reasons of confidentiality, all they can do is bottle it up. These burdens and more can mount up to make the stresses of ministry seem at times nearly unbearable. I encourage you to pray for your pastor. You will find that the more you pray for your pastor, and especially his preaching ministry, the more you will get fed from the pulpit. There are many men who have taken the role of pastor. Only those called of God of are those who truly shepherd God’s flock. If the Lord has given you a pastor, then you are truly blessed. Encourage your pastor today and let him know how the Lord is using his teaching, his preaching, and his example in your life. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #6
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. The Pastor and His Preaching (II Timothy 4:1-2) II Timothy 4:1-2, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” According to II Timothy 4:1-2, the man of God is to preach the Word of God. He is to be ready to preach at all times. Whether if it’s loved or loathed, or if it will be well received or widely rejected. The preacher is to preach the Word of God with passion. The preacher should preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The minister is held accountable to preach the Word. I Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” I Corinthians 1:21, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” It was preaching that God chose to reach the people with the message of salvation. NOTICE: God chose the foolishness of preaching; NOT FOOLISH PREACHING! There is a difference. I Corinthians 9:16, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” It is impossible to overemphasize preaching. It is even impossible to fully grasp the importance of preaching when one considers the charge from II Timothy 4:1-2 and the warning from I Corinthians 9:16. Both God and Jesus are watching to see if the preacher is preaching the Word. The preacher will be held accountable of his preaching at judgment. The minister's place and position in the Lord's kingdom will be determined by how faithful he was in preaching the Word. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” The Gospel (Romans 1:16). In this, you could take the subject, “The Gospel”, and go throughout the entire Word of God preaching on the it. The word Gospel means good news. 1. The Person he Mentions, “…I…” 2. The Proclamation that he Makes, “…I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ…” 3. The Product that he Magnifies, “…the gospel of Christ…IT is…” 4. The Picture that he Makes, the gospel is “..the power (dynamite) of God…” 5. The Prospects he Masters, “…everyone that believeth…” I Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scripture.” In I Corinthians 15:1-4, we find that the Gospel is the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ. This is the good news that every sinner needs to hear. A. Christ died for our sins…This speaks of the Payment for our Sins. B. That He was buried…This speaks of the Putting away of our Sins. C. That He arose again…This speaks of Power over our Sin. 1. The Person of the Gospel, “…the gospel of Christ…” Not of the church, or a man, but of Christ Jesus. 2. The Power of the Gospel, “…the power of God unto Salvation…” Note the word unto. 3. The Prospects of the Gospel, “…to everyone…” Jew, Greek, gentiles, all sinners 4. The Plan of the Gospel, “…believeth…” Other references: John 3:16, John 5:24, Romans 10:9-10, etc. Here’s hope: THE WORLD’S GREATEST STORY (JOHN 3:16) John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” For God…The world’s greatest Person So loved the world…The World’s greatest Passion That He gave His only begotten Son… The World’s greatest Presentation That Whosoever…The World’s greatest Prospect Believeth in Him…The World’s greatest Plan Should not perish…The World’s greatest Promise But have everlasting life…The World’s greatest Possession If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #5
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. Your Relationship with Your Pastor (Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24) Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you… 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.” The pastor of a church is in a precarious position; he can't please everyone! It is not going to happen.
As you can see from this list, pastors and their families need a lot of prayer and encouragement. Hebrews 13 closes with the issue of caring for the pastor and having a good relationship with him. A considerable burden is placed upon those in leadership to be the example to those required to so follow. “Remember them…” What clearly is implied is that the pastor of a church holds a position of authority in the church. The word “remember” means we should be “mindful, hold in our memory, and make mention” those who God has placed in authority. The idea is continuous remembrance. Leaders are never to be forgotten. If a person has been faithful in proclaiming and teaching God's Word, we are to remember them and never forget them. In essence, we should pray for the leaders of the Church. “Whose faith follow…” Paul is admonishing the Hebrew Christians to follow those leaders who lived and died by faith. Simply he is telling us to follow those leaders who have demonstrated faith in their lives and have had success by being faithful. A leader who faithfully proclaims God's Word is a leader to follow. Literally, we should imitate those who have lived what they have preached and who have experienced what God promised to those who are consistent in their faith. “Considering the end of their conversation.” The idea is that we ought to focus upon the end of life, especially in regard to those in spiritual leadership. Paul tells us why we should follow the leaders. The word “considering” here is referring more to the consistency of the rulers. The purpose of consideration is that we understand what made our leaders successful. A person who handles the Word of God with skill and in the power of the Holy Spirit is serving in the highest and noblest profession on earth. You should consider the issue of their lives, how that they kept on believing the doctrine of Jesus Christ (the doctrine concerning His person and work) until they died, and then you should follow (imitate) their faith and keep on believing the doctrine of Jesus Christ, for this doctrine is eternal and changeless. It was true when your leaders taught it to you, it is yet true today, and it will always be true. Before you follow someone, consider the end of their conversation. Has the person you’re following been successful in God’s eyes? If the man of God loves the Lord and lives for the Lord, then he is a man worth following after. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #4
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. A disgruntled man wrote a letter to the editor: It seems ministers feel their sermons are very important and spend a great deal of time preparing them. I have been attending church quite regularly for thirty years, and I have probably heard 3,000 of them. To my consternation, I discovered I cannot remember a single sermon. I wonder if a minister's time might be more profitably spent on something else? For weeks a storm of editorial responses ensued... finally ended by this letter: Dear Sir: I have been married for thirty years. During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals—mostly my wife's cooking. Suddenly I have discovered I cannot remember the menu of a single meal. And yet... I have the distinct impression that without them, I would have starved to death long ago. What is preaching? Preaching is the art of communicating the message of God from the Scriptures to the hearts and lives of people in a comprehendible manner. As preachers we are commanded to Preach the Gospel, Mark 16:15, this means to herald for the good news of salvation. Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Preach the Word, II Timothy 4:2, this means preach the whole counsel of the Word of God. II Timothy 4:2, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PREACHING Preaching is: P- Not just performing, it is Proclaiming. R- Not just rattling the tongue, it is Revealing the Truth. E- Not just Excitement but it is also Enlightenment. A- Not just Action, but it is Unction. C- Not just Contact, but it is also Contents. H- Not just getting something off your Heart but it is getting the truth into their heart. “The Preacher’s Wife” There is one person in your church Who knows your preacher's life. She's wept and smiled and prayed with him, And that's your preacher's wife! She knows one prophet's weakest point, And knows his greatest power. She's heard him speak in trumpet tone, In his great triumph hour. She's heard him groaning in his soul, When bitter raged the strife, As hand in his she knelt with him-- For she's a preacher's wife! The crowd has seen him in his strength, When gleamed his drawn sword, As underneath God's banner folds He faced the devil's horde. But she knows deep within her heart That scarce an hour before, She helped him pray the glory down Behind a closet door! You tell your tales of prophets brave, Who walked across the world, And changed the course of history, By burning words they hurled. And I will tell how back of them Some women lived their lives, Who wept with them and smiled with them-- They were the preacher's wives! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #3
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. Equipping by Educating and by Example (II Timothy 3:16-17) II Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Read the following Scriptures. I Timothy 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach…” II Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” II Timothy 2:24, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient…” Titus 2:1, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine…” I Peter 5:1-2, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind…” 1. Equip by (Educating) Teaching A pastor’s ministry is equipping others in his teaching and his life. We encounter the formula in Paul’s instruction to Timothy in I Timothy 4:16, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” One of the many blessings of having a pastor is that if you’re struggling to understand the Bible, or how to handle a tough life situation, you know you can ask him for help and you’ll get a Biblical answer. You trust that when he opens the Bible he doesn’t just pull something out from it. He provides you with a faithful understanding of it. In Titus 2:1, Paul teaches, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine…” As a minister of God, I must tell you that Scripture will perfect or mature you and equip you to do every good work. You were made for God, therefore, you must live by the Word of God. The Holy Spirit comes upon you as an equipping power. The major purpose for His coming is to equip you to carry out your task for God. You must edify and build up believers and equip them to do the work of the ministry. As a minister, my task is to equip believers to do the work of the ministry. The word "perfecting" means to equip for service and ministry. As a pastor, my primary task is to be an equipper, a person who makes disciples and prepares others to serve Christ. The very purpose for equipping servants is so that the body of Christ, the church, may be built up. The church cannot be built up without the members themselves doing the work of the ministry. All believers within a church should be involved in the work of the ministry. When pastors teach, the congregation begins to serve and do good works. As a pastor, I must strive to bring about a perfect unity among God's people. The pastor is called . . . · to bring peace and reconciliation to the church. · to lead people into perfect harmony and oneness of spirit. · to shepherd people out of cliques, and from divisiveness, murmuring, grumbling, griping, and all the other sins that work against a perfect unity. 2. Equipping by Setting an Example Pastors not only teach, we must set an example for the flock in our lives. The best way a pastor can teach the flock is by his living example. I Peter 5:3, “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. As a pastor, I must be an example of the believers.” I Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1) In word 2) In conversation 3) In charity 4) In spirit 5) In faith 6) In purity You will either be an example to be looked up to, or you will need an example to look up to. As pastor, I am to be a pattern, an example, to all believers of good works in doctrine and teaching: 1) in proclaiming a pure doctrine. 2) in proclaiming the message sincerely and with dignity. 3) in proclaiming the message with sound words. The pastor is to be the first and foremost example of God's longsuffering and mercy to the flock of God. You are to set an example in all good works and in keeping the message of God uncorrupted. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Pastor Appreciation Month: Day #2
October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Take time today to express to your pastor how much he means to you. Pray for Your Pastor (Ephesians 6:18-20) Ephesians 6:18-20, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” As a minister, I must pray daily for the church and for believers. Paul's prayer is a good pattern to use and to pray through. This is probably the second most important prayer in all the Bible, ranking second only to the Lord's model prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). As a minister of Christ, I must walk in three things every day of my life. First, in Christ. Second, in the Scriptures. Third, in prayer. These three things are absolute essentials as I live and minister for Christ in the midst of a broken and hurting world. Every person needs prayer. Every person needs the Lord, His salvation, His care, His direction, His approval, and His acceptance. What to Pray for Your Pastor: Quite often the people in church let me know they are praying for me, and I am genuinely grateful. I’m very thankful for the intercessory prayer of our people. James 5:16 promises, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” There are many things you can do that will encourage and help your pastor and the work of your church, but there are none more important than prayer. Pastors really face a spiritual battle and because of this, we long for your prayers. Let me to encourage you to pray for your pastor. You can pray for the following:
Remember your pastor in prayer: Personal life. His walk with God, family, and wisdom. Administration. His counseling, leadership, and vision. Study. His study time and message preparation. Trials. For grace, growth, and perseverance. Oversight. His church ministries and his care for the flock. Resources. For his strength, wisdom, and building projects. Note that four kinds of prayer are mentioned. This also stresses the importance of praying for all men. 1). There is "supplication". This refers to the prayers that focus upon special needs or deep and intense needs. When you see special needs in the lives of people you are to supplicate for them. That is, you are to be carrying the need before God with a great sense of urgency. You are to plead and beg for the person or persons. The idea is that of intense and deep brokenness before God on behalf of others, that God would help and save the person. 2). There are "prayers". This refers to the special times of prayer throughout the day that you set aside for devotion and worship. You are to have set times for prayer, times that you set aside to worship God and when you pray for all. 3). There are "intercessions". This refers to bold praying; to standing before God on behalf of another person. Christ is our Intercessor, the One who stands between God and you on your behalf. But you are also to intercede for others, to carry their names and lives before God. You are to boldly approach God and pray for them, expecting God to hear and answer, all in the name of Christ. You are to intercede for all others, to stand in the gap between them and God, boldly praying and asking God to be merciful and gracious in salvation and in deliverance. 4). There is "thanksgiving". This means that you thank God for hearing and answering. Thank Him for what He has done and is going to do for all men. Just think what a different world this would be, what a different community we would have, if we really took the names and needs of people before God and pleaded for them in an intense brokenness and tears. Just think how many more loved ones would be saved and helped. How many more within our community, state, country, and world would be saved and helped. How fewer problems would exist within society. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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