Frustrations Of Spiritual Leadership—part 2 Series

FRUSTRATIONS OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP-II—Luke 9:37-45

Jesus’ frustration with unbelief was manifest in His healing of a demon possessed boy.

Spiritual Leaders face frustrations arising from unbelief.

Ministry produces frustrations for the minister.

Where do spiritual leaders encounter frustrations?

12 places where frustrations arise in spiritual leadership.

Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of...

1. DESCENT ENCOUNTERS(:37a) From the mountain

2. SOCIAL ENCOUNTERS(:37b) Engage the public

3. ANONYMOUS ENCOUNTERS(:38a)

Unknown people

4. FORCED ENCOUNTERS(:38) Demanding people

5—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

FELT NEED ENCOUNTERS(:38)

—Explanation:(:38)

:38—“And behold, a man from the multitude shouted out, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy,”

“My only boy”—Unique—Carry on the family name.

My very life is bound up in this person/event/circumstance.

—Argumentation:

Mat. 6:31-34—“Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ “For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom & His righteousness; & all these things shall be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

—Illustration:

Hospitalized/Depressed/Miserable/Felt Need is to escape/Need Encouragement & Listening ear/

Taken a major test/Worry & fret over it thinking you’ve failed/Really sought God’s power in it?

Mother or Father in nursing home/FELT NEED ENCOUNTERS

—Application:

?What are your FELT NEEDs?

?FELT NEED ENCOUNTERS leave you frustrated?

?You willing to accept the frustrations of spiritual leadership?

6—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

IDENTIFICATION ENCOUNTERS(:39)

—Explanation:(:39) Sympathy/Compassion/

:39—‘& behold, a spirit seizes him, & he suddenly screams, & it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth, & as it mauls him, it scarcely leaves him.”

“Seizes”—lambanw—To take in hand; Catch, take or appropriate for one’s self.

“Screams”—krazw—‘To cry out harshly, often of inarticulate & brutish, animal-like sound’.

“Convulsion”—sparassw—To convulse, tear or rend.

“Mauls/Bruising”—suntribw—Break into pieces; Crush; Tear one’s body.

“Scarcely leaves”—mogiV from mogoV—‘to toil’—With difficulty.

The parallel in Mat. 17:15-17 tells us that the boy was designated as a “lunatic” or ‘moonstruck’ thus describing any mental illness or madness which was commonly assumed to be influenced by the moon. The word also used to describe various physical nervous convulsive disorders including epilepsy. BUT the boy’s problem was not merely physiological or mental but spiritual/demonic. Therefore his situation is far worse than any mere medical condition, & thus Jesus “rebuked him”(the boy/demon) causing it “come out of him”. Actually the demon may be exploiting & exacerbating an existing physical ailment.

—Argumentation:

Heb. 5:1-2—“For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts & sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant & misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;”—The Church a holy priesthood!

Heb. 4:14-16—“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy & may find grace to help in time of need.”

2Cor. 1:3-4—“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies & God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Rom. 15:1—“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength & not just please ourselves.”

—Illustration:

Homeless shelter/Involve myself with their plight/ IDENTIFICATION ENCOUNTERS

—Application:

?IDENTIFICATION ENCOUNTERS leave you frustrated?

?You willing to accept the frustrations of spiritual leadership?

7—Frustration for spiritual leaders arises out of

DESPERATE ENCOUNTERS(:40)

—Explanation:(:40)

:40—“And I begged Your disciples to cast it out, & they could not.”

“I begged Your disciples”—

“They could not”—

Tried every conceivable avenue...BUT have you tried giving it to God?!

—Mk. 5:25-28—“And a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, & had endured much at the hands of many physicians, & had spent all that she had & was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse, after hearing about Jesus, came up in the crowd behind Him, & touched His cloak. For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.””

—Argumentation:

Mat. 11:28-30—“Come to Me, all who are weary & heavy-laden, & I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you, & learn from Me, for I am gentle & humble in heart; & YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy, & My load is light.””