You Reap What You Sow, With Your Pastor Series

Ø Disclaimer: The following sermon is offered for your edification and spiritual enlightenment. However, there may be some present… being immature in the faith… may find it offensive, and at times disruptive, to their comfort zone. Although seeded with much Scripture, and thoroughly prayed over, some Christians may conclude that this sermon is self-serving, and presented with an undo bias in favor of Pastor William Noel.

If at any time during the course of this sermon, you should feel ill to the stomach and need medical assistance….TOO BAD! What you’re feeling is called CONVICTION and God’s giving you what you need. So, Buck Up…Take it like a man (or woman) and change your ways!

That being said, Any and All complaints for this sermon should be directed to its Author, the Holy Spirit, and NOT… I repeat…NOT … to the speaker,… the Incredibly Handsome, Extraordinarily Intelligent and all-around nice guy, my pastor… the Right, Reverend, Bodacious.. yet, humble man of God… Doctor-Pastor-Teacher… William E. Noel, II (The ‘E’ stands for ‘Excellent). Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Ø Ill.: Back in the day, preachers rode their horses from church to church, preaching and teaching the Word of God. These men were called Circuit Riding preachers. One particular preacher was up in age. His clothes were worn out. The brim of his hat was hanging on by a thread. But his horse, on the other hand, was in excellent condition. It always had good shoes on it. It was strong and well fed. And, never seemed to lack for anything. One day, the members of one of the churches this pastor preached at asked him a question. She said, “Reverend, how is that your horse is always well fed, but you’re so skinny? Why is the horse’s saddle blanket new, and your clothes are old and worn out? Why did you horse get new shoes at the blacksmith and your shoes have holes in them?” This preacher answered this dear Christian woman with the following truth, he said, “Dear Sister, it’s my responsibility to take care of my horse, and it’s your responsibility to take care of me!”

Ø Interesting Statistics:

v 90% work more than 46 hours a week.

v 80% believed pastoral ministry have negatively affected their families.

v 33% believed ministry was a hazard to their family.

v 75% reported a significant stress related crisis at least once in their ministry.

v 50% felt themselves unable to meet the needs of the job.

v 90% felt inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.

v 70% say they have a lower self-esteem now compared to when they started in ministry.

v 40% reported serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.

v 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend

Ø I Cor. 9:13-14

o God’s Plan: If I call you to preach the Gospel, your living should come from the Gospel!

o Man’s Plan

§ Plan A: Bivocational (Full time secular job, nothing/part-time pay from church)

§ Plan B: Part-Time (Part-Time secular Job, part-time pay from church)

§ Plan C: Volunteer (No job [retired] or full-time secular job, no pay from church)

Ø Gal. 6:6-8 Let him that is taught in the word (that’s you) communicate unto him (that’s me) that teacheth in all good things. (But, keep this in mind) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Ø > It is my belief that when the teaching and preaching of the Word of God is emphasized above all else, then God will bless every other aspect of our ministry

o Emphasized in our participation (forsake not the assembly…)

o Emphasized in our evangelism (preach the word, be instant in season…)

o Emphasized in our compensation ( a laborer is worthy of his hire)

I. God Places An Emphasis On The Word , ‘taught in the Word’

A. The Word Is Profitable, II Tim. 3:16

B. The Word Is Powerful, Heb. 4:12

1. Ill.: Peter walking on water, Matt. 14:28-29

- And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

2. Ill.: Fishermen casting the net to the other side, Luke 5:5

- Notice, they were doing their job, but without fruit (‘taken nothing)

- Notice, they obeyed the Lord for the furtherance of the Gospel (taught the people out of the ship)

- Notice, they walked by faith, not by sight (at Thy word, I will)