PREPARING A PLACE FOR THE PREACHER
II Kings 4:8-37
Introduction:
I want to say first of all – I’m so proud of my Church
The People of this Church Showed off this week
An Unbelievable Job that you all did
I love Preachers
I love Missionaries
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU DO TO
I was thinking Friday – What in the World am I going to preach on Sunday after all of this
And I just began to think about how God had allowed us to be a blessing to all of these Men of God
I don’t think any of us will ever know what was accomplished this week until we get to Glory
I did have some of the Men to Come and say it was just what they needed
Only Heaven Will reveal what took place in this meeting and you ought to be so grateful for having a part!!!
As I began to think about this week – The Lord brought this passage to my mind and this thought about this Great Woman of Shunem
This Lady made an effort to be good to God’s Man
I want to preach this thought this morning
PREPARING A PLACE FOR THE PREACHER
Notice some things with me this morning
I. THE WISDOM THAT WAS DISPLAYED – Vs. 9
Perceive – Means to Know, to comprehend, to have understanding To Discern or Distinquish
2. She had a great Spiritual Perception
She said “I perceive that this is a holy man of God”
Now She knew what Holiness was
She knew who God was
She knew who God’s Man was
I’m amazed at how God will just let you know
THAT STILL SMALL VOICE OF ASSURANCE
You know when a Man is real
You know when he really Cares
The Holy Spirit tells all – HE WILL BEAR WITNESS
This Week when the Preachers were Preaching – MY SOUL WAS CUTTING CARTWHEELS
I knew I was privileged to be sitting under the Men of God
HOW WE NEED SOME MEN OF GOD IN THIS HOUR
Today in America We are seeing Many of God’s men fall by the Wayside
We are seeing Preachers that are Burnt out
We are seeing Preachers that are getting caught in Sin
We are seeing Preachers that are discouraged from fighting the devil and his crowd
AND IF THE DEVIL CAN GET THE PREACHERS -- HE CAN GET US ALL
The Only reason you are saved tonight is because God sent a Preacher your Way
One of the Verses in the Bible that keeps me going when I feel like quitting
Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear WITHOUT A PREACHER?”
Hey!!! If the Preachers all quit --this World has no hope!!!
But I’m glad that God always has had a Man and he will always have a Man
The Bible says about John the Baptist “There was a Man sent from God whose name was John!!!”
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PROBLEM IN THE WORLD TODAY CAN BE SOLVED BY PREACHING
But I’m talking about Preaching
I’m not talking about this Pussy-footing, Backscratching, Ear-tickling, Rosewater, Pink-Tea-and-Lemonade Preaching!!
We need some Preaching that will give a Demon the Trembles
I’m talking about old fashioned Preaching
Hell Hot Preaching
Heaven Sweet Preaching
Christ honoring Preaching
Sin-Fighting Preaching
Devil Disturbing Preaching
Jail Shaking Preaching
Hell-Robbing Preaching
WHAT THIS WORLD NEEDS THIS MORNING IS PREACHING!!!
I’ve had People come to me and say, "I wish our preacher preached like you"
No they don’t--If they did they would find them a church that preach that way
If I wasn’t getting anything out of the Church I was in I’d move
I know People that go to a Certain Church Just because it’s close
I’d rather drive 30 miles and get fed--than 3 miles and get fooled
I’ve heard People say - But Grandpa is buried in the Cemetery--I’d Dig him up before I dried up.
We need an Elijah to Pray the Fire Down
We need a John the Baptist to have a Backbone like a sawlog
We need an Isaiahs with Fire on his lips
We need some Jeremiahs with the Fire shut up in their Bones
We need some Pauls that the Demons of Hell Know
We need some Emmaeus Disciples with the Holy Ghost Heartburn.
This Woman Perceived that she had a Man of God
Thank God I’m glad I know the Difference in this day of Phoney Baloney Preachers
I’m glad God has still got some men that Serve him without Fear and Without Favor
II. THE WORK THAT WAS DISREGARDED
A Little Chamber – An Addition to the House
Seems like a Tough Work
Seems like a lot of Labor
But No Work is to great that’s performed for the Preacher!!!
This Woman said “let’s make a Little Chamber”
If you study the Meaning of this Chamber – It means a Second Story
This Woman talked her Husband into putting another story on home just so the Preacher could visit with them!!!
Let Me say something Right Here - Don’t Miss it – You ought to Determine to Take your relationship with Your Preacher – TO THE NEXT LEVEL
You ought to desire a Closer walk with the Men of God
When I get around God’s Preachers – I Desire to know what they know
I desire to hear where they’ve been
I desire to Pray with Them
Laugh with Them
You ought to desire that this morning – TO TAKE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MAN OF GOD TO THE NEXT LEVEL
I believe many times we come accustomed to Blessings
I believe a Great Danger is that we become Familiar with Good Things
I know this is true in my own Life – I didn’t appreciate My Father the way I should have – He’s My Daddy – BUT HE’S ALSO ONE OF THE GREATEST PREACHERS IN THE COUNTRY TODAY
We should be thankful for the Friendship we have
We should be grateful for the Closeness we have
But Not take for granted that it will always be there
A Few years ago – I was Helping in a Funeral in the area where I was Raised
A Man came up to me who was a Member of My Dad’s First Church
He said “Jeremy” We didn’t know what we had and we let him go!!!
People always Love the Preacher they used to Have
Or they hope for the one their going to get
But Many times they don’t realize the one they have!!!
I. THE WISDOM THAT WAS DISPLAYED
II. THE WORK THAT WAS DISREGARDED
III. THE WAYS THAT WERE DEMONSTRATED
a. Her Love
I’m Glad I love Preachers
Think on that – We that love preacher are in Good Company
Who doesn’t Love Preachers
Satan hates Preachers
The World Hates Preachers
The Flesh hates Preachers
The Man in Sin hates Preachers
But think about who does love him
I look at all the lives of the People I’ve known who were blessed because they loved the Man of God
I’m glad I know to love the Preacher
I’ve never known anything but Preachers
I’ve never been taught anything but love the Man of God
I remember many years having Great men of God in our Home
Sitting on their laps – Getting Hugs from J. Harold Smith,
Fishing, Singing & Joking with Billy Kelly,
Setting up til 3:00 in the Morning listening to the stories of Percy Ray
I’m glad My parents taught me to Love the Man of God
a. Showed her Love for the Preacher
b. Her Life – She opened her home to the Man of God
She wanted the man of God to have some influence in her Home
She wanted the man of God to make an impact in her home
YOU CAN TELL HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THE PREACHER BY HOW FAR YOU ALLOW HIM TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE!!!!
It’s amazing to Me – People will trust a Preacher to get them out of Hell – But What trust him to lead them daily in their own life!!!
If I Man of God enough to help deliver your soul from – I’m man of God enough to Preach this book and deliver you on a Daily Basis
Some People Don’t want the Preacher – MEDDLING
Well – I just don’t think it’s any of the Preacher’s Business
I think he just needs to preach the word and not all of those THINGS
I’m glad I learned a long time Ago – I NEED PREACHING TO KEEP ME STRAIGHT
And Most People don’t mind a Preacher Preaching it – THEY GET BOTHER WHEN HE ENFORCES IT
God help this Two Faced Generation of Preacher
Many Men Preach Good – ONLY TROUBLE IS – They Don’t live what they preach
DON’T BE A LYING HEATHEN IN THE PULPIT
OUR PREACHING OUGHT TO MATCH OUR PRACTICE!!!
There can be a lot Said about me in a Negative – BUT ONE THING I TRY TO NEVER HAVE SAID – HE’S TWOFACED
I TRY TO BE IS THE SAME NO MATTER WHERE I AM
WE NEED PREACHING – BUT WE ALSO NEED SOME ENFORCEMENT
God help these lily livered Cowardice Preachers – WHO WILL BLOW OFF HOT STEAM ON SUNDAY – BUT RUN FROM A PROBLEM ON MONDAY
You’re looking a one Preacher that is not afraid to talk to you one on one and enforce what this Book says !!!
BUT PREACHER – I THINK YOU ARE JUST SUPPOSED TO STAY ON THE PLATFORM AND NOT MEDDLE IN THE PEWS
You Just Speak it – And we’ll take it or leave it
I’M TALKING ABOUT PREPARING A PLACE FOR THE PREACHER
The Ways were with her Love
BUT ALSO WITH HER LIFE
SHE OPENED UP HER HOME TO THE MAN OF GOD
IF you’ve ever got a Question about whether something is wrong or right – ASK THE MAN OF GOD FOR SOME DIRECTION ON IT!!!
LOOK IN JUDGES 13:8
“Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.”
Monoah said “I NEED SOMEONE TO LEAD ME IN HOW TO TRAIN UP MY CHILD”
YOU OUGHT TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE MAN OF GOD
In the Average Baptist Church—People don’t trust the Preacher to Buy Bathroom Supplies much less to show them how to raise their younguns
They have to form a Committee to sweep the Floor
They have to Vote on buying toilet paper
They have to Examine Bank Account before they take on a missionary
HERE’S HOW YOU ought TO BE!!!
Preacher if that’s what God told you the church needs to do then I have enough faith and trust in you that I say let’s do it
You say is Bro. Jeremy is that Scriptural
Heb. 13:7--"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." Acts 20:28-"overseer"
b. When God wants to do something in the the Church he won’t tell the chairman of the Deacon Board
If God wants the Church to take on another missionary he won’t let the chairman of the ladies board know
Not some Charter-member,
Not some Long Tongued Woman,
Not the Songleader.
Not Somebody always trying to save God money.
BUT HE’LL TELL IT STRAIGHT TO THE MAN OF GOD
My Question is this - If you know so much about Pastoring, Why didn’t God call you to Pastor Walter’s Grove Baptist Church
All I’m saying is that you need to Trust in the Man of God
Trust him with the house of God
Trust him with your house
If he’s a Good Enough Man of God to Keep you out of Hell – He’s a Good enough man of God to lead you in the way you should go
Have Confidence in the Man of God
LISTEN – If I didn’t trust my Preacher – I’d leave and find one I could trust!!!
My Children are at Stake
My Home is at Stake
My Lost Loved ones are at stake
I believe that 99% of the Folks in here love me But there are a few that I think are holding out Hoping I’ll go to the Mission Field – AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN!!!
I’m Here for the Long Haul Friend!!!
I Still have a Desire to Pastor THIS Church for 50 Years
I TOOK THIS WORK BY THE JOB NOT BY THE HOUR
If You’re waiting on me to Leave – You’d better change your way of thinking
If the Lord Let’s Me Live – I’ll either be Bald or White Haired one day in this pulpit BUT I’LL STILL BE PREACHING TO YOU!!!
c. Her Liberality
She gave of her possessions to the Man of God
I believe we ought to be good to God’s Men
This Week – We spent Money
We Spent Time
We gave energy
BUT IT’S WORTH IT ALL TO BE GOOD TO GOD’S MAN
Something’s Spiritual Wrong with a Person who does not want to give to the Man of God
You should have a Desire to Give Liberally to the Man of God
1. BE LIBERAL IN YOUR PAY TO THE MAN OF GOD
I believe you ought to take care of God’s Man – I believe that his Monetary needs should never be a worry to him
There’s accountability that comes along with that
Preachers ought to manage their Money Well
But Some Churches think a Preacher can live on Fresh air and Fried Rabbit Tracks
I heard an old Devil say one time - I thought the Gospel was free
How many of ya’ll have county water - Did you know it’s free
The Water is Free - IT’s the Piping that Cost
The Gospel is Free But the Piping Cost!
2. BE LIBERAL IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE MAN OF GOD
The Pastor is under the attack of the Flesh, the
World, and the Devil. Like Aaron and Hur held up the hands of
Joshua, how the Church needs to hold up their pastor in prayer.
3. BE LIBERAL IN YOUR PRAISE WHILE HE PREACHES
Back Him Up--Amazing how some People can Scream
like a Comanche Indian over a Ballgame--Sit like a Wooden Indian while the Preacher is Preaching.
You Ought to have a Shouting Spell sometime while I’m preaching.
His Preaching may not be the Best--But the God He’s Preaching about sure is the greatest thing that ever happened to you.
Some say they don’t believe in all this Emotion--Quit Crying at Weddings
Don’t cry over "Rover" getting run over
If you don’t believe in Emotions - get you an Obituary Column, Become a Traveling Funeral Director
Go live out in the Graveyard--Because Tombstones all Stand Still, they corpses never Fuss or Fight, The Epitaphs all Say the Same Thing.
YOU OUGHT TO AG ON THE MAN OF GOD -- YOU OUGHT TO SHOUT HIM DOWN SOME TIME WHILE HE’S PREACHING
I. THE WISDOM THAT WAS DISPLAYED
II. THE WORK THAT WAS DISREGARDED
III. THE WAYS THAT WERE DEMONSTRATED
IV. THE WAILING THAT WAS DISRUPTED – vs. 19
Here is a Great Tragedy that has come to her life
Her Only Son is Dead
Her Promise Son is gone
But notice what she said in verse 26
A Great Passage of Faith
“IT IS WELL”
There are rewards to staying in Favor with God and his Man
The Mourning here was interrupted
The Wailing was Disrupted
WHY??? Because she had Prepared a Place for the Preacher
It’s good to know when Trouble Comes – You can go lay your troubles on a Bed that you prepared
Aren’t you glad for a Man of God – That you can lay your children at his Feet
Vs. 32
We know what a Bed is – But I looked up this word “Bed” in the Hebrew Dictionary
mittah mit-taw’ “A Place of Rest and Refreshment”
This is the Place of the Man of God – The Church
This is the Place prepared for the Man of God – To Commune with God’s People
This is a Place of Rest and Refreshment
EVERYONE MAN & WOMAN HAS DEAD CHILDREN
They were born in Sin
They were conceived in Iniquity
Dead in Trespasses and Sin
ISN’T GOOD TO KNOW YOU CAN BRING YOUR “DEAD” CHILDREN TO THE BED OF THE MAN OF GOD
LET THE PREACHER PRAY OVER THEM
LET THE PREACHER BREATH ON THEM – HOLY SPIRIT
WHAT A BLESSED DAY WHEN YOU HEAR THAT CHILD SNEEZE AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU PREPARED A PLACE FOR THE PREACHER!
