September 24, 2005 Annual Sermon
Tri-County Assoc. Annual Mtg. First Southern Fort Scott
I will be taking my text from Nehemiah 1: 3.
It was on May 10, 1968, when God called me to surrender my life to him and be part of the family of God.
My life was forever changed and my eternal destiny sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
God began to work in my life and on November of 1971, I committed to studying and memorizing God’s Word.
Little did I know how much of an impact that would be on my life.
Then on August 27, 1972 God called, used those memorized scriptures to tug on my heart and I surrendered to the ministry.
God has spoken to me to serve him in many different capacities, over the years.
However, prior to coming to First Baptist Riverton, the past twenty years has been the ministry of rebuilding, while holding a full time job in upper management.
• Rebuilding churches that have disbanded
• Rebuilding those that have gone through a split
• Rebuilding those in financial straights
• Rebuilding those in physical disarray
• Rebuilding those in turmoil
• Building new ministries
In all of these churches, the objective was to bring the flock to a healthy pasture, with secure walls and strong gates, in preparation for a shepherd.
I learned something about serving in all of these places of ministry.
Most pastors only stay two to three years with a flock.
In fact, the average stay for a pastor in the association in Oklahoma that I ministered in was sixteen months.
Why did those shepherds leave the flock so soon?
I have always thought that they probably ran out of sermons.
However, in all likely-hood, they faced conflict and they ran.
When God calls someone to be a shepherd he gives them, three objectives and they are;
• Feed my sheep
• Feed my sheep
• Feed my sheep
Over three years-ago God called me out of the secular arena to become a full time shepherd.
This is the greatest ministry I have ever been called too, that of being his shepherd to his local flock, in good times and bad times.
The question I ask you this afternoon is this; “Has God Called You to be a Shepherd?
Because of the awesome power of the written Word and the fact that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our salvation, please join me by paying respect to “To God’s written Word” by standing as we read from Nehemiah 1: 3.
Scripture
And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." Nehemiah 1: 3
Prayer
Father I come before your awesome presence this afternoon and recognize how little I know about your grace and mercy.
Father as I prepare to bring this message to your shepherds, I ask you to open our hearts and minds to your Holy Spirit.
May we gleam from your holy scriptures the food we so desperately need.
May there not be one soul that leaves this place who has not been touched by your presence.
Father, I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my soul be acceptable in your sight O’ Lord.
May we rejoice in your presence, for I ask all these things in the precious name of my Savior and King the Lord Jesus Christ.
AMEN!
Introduction
As we just read in the book of Nehemiah, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire."
In the 9th chapter of Daniel, we see a prayer Daniel offers up to his people. In the later part of verse 12, Daniel describes the condition of Jerusalem.
Never in all history has there been a disaster like the one that happened in Jerusalem. Daniel 9:12b
Nehemiah went to Jerusalem to take a survey and found that the inside of the Temple had been restored over seventy years prior, but on outside around the Temple in the city of Jerusalem there was great distress and reproach.
The walls where broken down and the gates were burned.
God called Nehemiah to a task.
The task of rebuilding!
Rebuilding the walls and gates of that great city.
As shepherds, God has called us to shepherd his local flock, we are a type of Nehemiah.
Just as God called Nehemiah to a task, God has called us to a task.
We have been called to a task that God desires us to complete.
It may be at First Baptist, Cavalry, Bethel, Immanuel, Fellowship, or some other name, but we have all been called.
There are tasks that must be completed to improve the dwelling place of the flock, both physically and spiritually.
“God Has Called You to be a Shepherd!
Are you sticking to the task?
What is the condition of your pasture?
Are you feeding the flock?
Are you keeping the flock safe?
Are the walls broke down and the gates burned?
It does not matter weather your in a healthy church or a troubled church, they can all use some rebuilding.
There may be a need to rebuild relationships, vocations, homes, or lives.
Some may need self-confidence or hope rebuilt.
Weather your just starting with a new flock or you have been there for a while you can still get started right.
1. Shepherds Learn to get Start Right
A. By Making an honest evaluation
You will never get started right; you will never build or rebuild anything that is broken until you make an honest evaluation.
You know what Nehemiah saw?
The temple was finished on the inside and they there worshipping on the inside,
but on the outside, there was unfinished work. The wall of Jerusalem were broken down, and its gates were burned with fire."
Do you know what would happen when people would come by Jerusalem and what they would say about God’s dwelling place, seeing those walls broken down and the gates burned?
Some God they have!
They were a reproach!
When we do not finish the job that God gives us to do, we are a reproach!
When we leave the flock, the walls are still down, and the gates are still burned, we are a reproach!
When we leave before we finish the task that God has called us too we are a reproach!
When we come on board as a shepherd, so many times we fail too make an honest evaluation.
We hit the ground running!
We are like a ship that has set sail on the ocean.
We set up new programs and new organizations putting a new crew on board, charting a new course to sail.
However, new crews and new courses will not solve problems when there is a hole in the hull of the ship.
God has called us to be the shepherd of his flock, make an honest evaluation.
B. Then, Identify with the need
Once you identify with the need take time to pray about it.
That is what Nehemiah did.
He identified with the need, because he had made an honest evaluation, then he prayed and thought through for four months.
Do not act to hastily, give God a chance to speak to you.
Prioritizes those needs you have identified.
Then set goals so you can accomplish the tasks that God has called you to complete.
God Has Called You to be the Shepherd, identify with the need.
C. Shepherds take personal responsibility
Don’t blame the previous administration for the problems.
Take personal responsibility and commit it to prayer.
Don’t focus on the past, focus on the task!
God has called you!
His shepherd to his flock to complete the task!
Did you hear let me say it again!
Don’t focus on the past, focus on the task!
As shepherds, God has called us to a task.
A good shepherd knows his flock and knows their individual needs.
A good shepherd is willing to stand in the gap for his flock.
2. Shepherds Learn to Build a Team Spirit
Shepherds build a team spirit by saying we a lot; they use plural pronouns a lot.
They make Kingdom Building a Team Task.
The flock needs each other!
They need a shepherd!
You need the flock!
How can you soar like an eagle when you act like a turkey?
Remember your attitude determines your altitude.
A. Motivate those around you
A good shepherd is one that can motivate his flock.
A good shepherd is one whose flock will follow him.
If you are not excited about what God is doing, the how do you expect them to be?
B.Start with a goal in mind.
A good shepherd knows where he is going and how he is going to get there.
One of my favorite sayings is; “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
You need to know your goal before you get started.
You need to have a burden about the broken walls and burned gates.
So many churches are in trouble today because they do not know where they are going.
Many of them are just meeting and going through the motions.
It is not that their lazy or uncaring!
Their sheep and sheep need a shepherd.
They will not lead themselves.
They will only scatter and sooner if not or later they will be devoured by the enemy.
C. Seize your opportunities
When God opens a door, go through it. Go where the Holy Spirit is moving.
When ministries are changing people’s lives, stick with them.
If they are not producing, fix them or get rid of them.
D. Stay on track
There are many great programs for building the church.
Programs that show us how to increase our Sunday Schools, lead people to the Lord and build the Kingdom of God.
However, very few shepherds ever stay on track and follow through on those programs.
Take a look and see for yourself and you will find corners and closets in churches where programs where started but never finished.
The shepherd needs to stay on track. The shepherd needs to keep the flock on track.
Complete the tasks that God has called you too.
3. A Good Shepherds Learn to Let Go Without
Letting Up
Being a shepherd is not a one-man army!
God did not call you to do it all!
A. Set clear objectives with specific tasks in mind
Nehemiah had over two miles of walls that had been down for over seventy years. Yet Nehemiah had set clear objectives with specific tasks in mind and in less than two months less than sixty days (52 days) he rebuilt the broken walls and burned gates.
B. Pick the right person for the right job
Pick the right person for the right job.
When a church member comes up to you and says they believe that the church needs this ministry, God has spoken to that person not you.
If they see a need, God may desire them to be the person for that ministry.
Assure them that God has spoken to them and not you so, when do they plan to start that ministry.
If it is a ministry that God desires in your church, they will champion it.
You may need to shepherd them along, but you do not need to take control.
Delicate tasks, remember God did not call you as shepherd to do it all.
Learn to let go without letting up.
Oversee it not control it.
C. Be an example yourself
There are pastors that roam the halls of the church during Sunday School and cannot understand why people do not come to Sunday School.
There are pastors that are always late for engagements and cannot understand why the church cannot start on time.
There are pastors that never give extra to the work of the ministry and wonder why the church is not a big giver.
There are pastors that only spend a few hours each week preparing their messages and they cannot understand why people won’t respond.
Be an example with your own personal life.
I do not mean that you have to do everything in the church, just do what you do, what God has called you too, but do it with passion.
4. Shepherds Learn to Overcome Obstacles
A statistic coined by John Manning called YAC yards after contact.
In 1996, Emmett Smith led everyone in the NFL in YAC.
16,187 yards rushing averaging 4.3 yards a run.
148 touchdowns
When he was hit, he did not stop.
He did not throw the ball down and quit.
Emmett Smith did not crumble on the ground like a quarterback and walk back to the huddle.
He did not let go of the ball and fumble. In fact, he seldom fumbled.
He did not turn and run the other direction.
He kept moving toward the goal.
He kept moving forward; in fact, he made most of his yards after contact.
In fact, he made most of his touchdowns after contact.
Some shepherds never complete the task that God has called them too.
As soon as they face opposition, as soon as they are hit they quit.
They crumble to the ground.
Some run in the opposite direction.
Some go to the locker room, take off their uniform and go home.
Shepherds move forward after they are hit.
It is after the hit where you gain the most.
It’s YAC, yards after contact.
Learn to Deal with conflict head on
Make proper adjustments and keep moving forward.
Keep doing what is right.
Rally your flock
You see Sanballat and Tobiah (Toe-by-a) tried to get Nehemiah to leave the wall and forsake the task God had called him too.
You see the walls where completed but the gates had not been hung.
Nehemiah did not leave the wall he completed the task that God had called him too.
Many shepherds respond by leaving after the walls have been built, they forsake the task that God has called them to because they don’t see the importance of hanging the gates.
They listen to the Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s (Toe-by-a’s) of the world.
• You are not needed here anymore.
• You have done what you where called to do.
Or they have been hit by the enemy and their down and they hear Sanballat and Tobiah (Toe-by-a) say:
• You’re not appreciated here.
• God didn’t call you to be hit like that.
• There are better churches out there that would appreciate you more.
Don’t listen to the Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s (Toe-by-a’s) of this world.
The gates have not been hung and the flock is still un-protected from the enemy.
In fact, I am convinced that many of the callings that pastors get to go to another church are really influenced by the Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s (Toe-by-a’s) of this world.
Satan desires nothing more than to see shepherds leave the flock with task undone.
• With gates not hung
• With walls torn down.
• Rubble still around the temple.
Just focus on leading your flock.
Stick to the task.
Lay another brick. Focus on your wall and not on what others are doing.
5. Shepherds Learn to Finish Strong
All of us know of Billy Graham and most of us know that he started his ministry in the mid 1940’s at the age of 27 preaching in those “Youth for Christ” rallies.
But I want to ask you a question!
How many of you have heard of Chuck Templeton or a young man named Braun Clifford?
Billy Graham, Chuck Templeton, and Braun Clifford were all in their mid 20’s in the 1940’s
All began their ministries around the same time.
All began their preaching through the “Youth for Christ” meetings!
They were all young preachers of renown in the 1940’s
In fact in 1946 the National Association of Evangelical published an article titled, “The Best Young Men Used of God”, which they featured Chuck Templeton and Braun Clifford and there was no mention of Billy Graham.
When Braun Clifford was 25 years old, he was preaching to multiplied thousands, they still talk in south Florida of a crusade he had in Miami, where thousands upon thousands of people each night could not even get in to the arena.
It is reported that by the time Braun Clifford was 25 years old, he was preaching to thousands, everywhere he went, and there were overflow crowds.
He was tall, handsome, intelligent, eloquent, so much that he was invited to play the part of Marcella in the famous motion picture “The Robe.”
Where is Braun Clifford today?
Chuck Templeton left the ministry to pursue a journalistic career and by 1950 no longer believed in the Lord Jesus Christ in the orthodox sense, we do.
In 1954 Braun Clifford lost his family, lost his health, became an alcoholic and at the age of 35 they found him dead of siroccos of the liver in a run down motel on the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas.
Shepherds finish strong!
Like Billy Graham, whose ministry has touched literally thousands upon thousands of people and is “Finishing Strong.”
Nehemiah found out that the people saw the task as something that could not be done.
However, God had called Nehemiah to a task and when God calls we must respond.
Nehemiah accomplished the task and he was ahead of schedule.
I ask you this afternoon are you accomplishing the task that God has called you too?
How many souls were saved last year, how many were baptized?
How many surrendered to the ministry?
The Temple had been rebuilt but the Walls and Gates where tore down and burned.
All of us have rebuilding to do no matter how great or large our church may be.
The walls are torn down and the gates are burned in our churches today.
Weather you pastor of a healthy church or a troubled church there is a need of rebuilding!
It may be a rebuilding of being healthier, or a rebuilding of harmony.
Satan (Sanballat’s of this world) will try to get us off the wall by saying;
• Your work is done here!
• You are not appreciated here!
• This other Church needs you!
• There is a church out there just for you that can give you more than this church!
• You need to be doing what other churches are doing!
• This is the program we need to be doing!
So how do rebuild the walls and gates?
One brick at a time!
You have to stay on the wall.
You lay one more brick!
You cannot leave your wall and go to a new one.
Until the task is done that God has called you to!
You cannot build the gates and not hang them.
You cannot forsake the flock.
What did Nehemiah face when he took on the task?
• Grumbling
• Discord
• Gossip
• Attacks
• Negativeness
• Confusion
These are the same things that we as pastors face.
However, none of these things discouraged him.
He stayed focused to the task.
Laying one brick at a time.
God Has Called You to Shepherd His Flock!
Lay one more brick!
