It’s so cool to be living in the times that we do. We live luxurious lives.
Quality of music – CD - LPs
Movies on DVD
Medical advances
Sport has advanced – soccer against FPP
Don’t dial numbers anymore – voice activation
Even in Church life:
Video projectors (flannel graph)
Exposed to the best teaching
The negative of all of this, is that we have become spoilt and now expect everything to be given to us on a tray
And so when it comes to the ministry, we want it all; we want it given to us and we want it now! We want God to give us the double portion of the anointing. We even spend a bit of time praying for it, but it doesn’t come.
Any Questions? “Why not?” I’m glad you asked . . .
Because we cannot have the anointing of Elisha until we have served Elijah!
Not difficult to say, “I am submitted to Jesus” but are you submitted to another man?
We have youth pastors running around who actually think that they can do things better than their senior pastor.
“Make way for the Joshua Generation” How old was Joshua?
What we are needing is young people who are willing to serve.
Biblical concept is that of an armor bearer.
What is an armor bearer? – I’m glad you asked
Carried the armor for his master
What was expected of him? – I’m glad you asked
Senior Pastors: Never get to the place where you do not need to serve someone.
1 Sam 14:1-14
1) AN ARMOR BEARER NEEDS TO BE TRUSTWORTHY
1 Samuel 14:1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, "Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.
a) Sometimes you will get privileged information, just because of the position you are in.
b) Learn how to keep your mouth shut
c) Donovan: “A good church secretary is not necessarily someone who is good at admin, but someone who doesn’t pry and who keeps things confidential.
Same applies to an armor bearer.
2) AN ARMOR BEARER NEEDS TO MAKE HIS LEADERS ORDERS HIS HIGHEST PRIORITY
1 samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows.
a) Armor bearer couldn’t say, just after I’ve finished cutting my toe-nails.
b) You drop whatever you are doing.
c) A youth pastor is one of the busiest jobs out. I get cross with youth leaders who say they don’t have anything to do. “Open your eyes, there are teenagers wherever you look”
“But we only have a youth group of 5” WELL, GO TO THE MALL AND PREACH THE GOSPEL
d) I was always busy, but when Donovan asked me to do something, that became my priority.
3) AN ARMOR BEARER NEEDS TO BE STRONG SPIRITUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY
1 Samuel 14:7 "Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."
a) This was not the time for Jonathan’s armor bearer to break down in tears and request prayer for inner healing because one of the elder’s told him that the music was too loud.
b) Being an armor bearer is not for Wusies
c) Your Pastor has enough problems within the church to sort out. Don’t turn the time you spend with your pastor in counseling sessions.
All that happens is you become a drain on him – and then he will spend less and less time with you.
4) AN ARMOR BEARER NEEDS TO DO THINGS THE WAY HIS LEADER WANTS HIM TO
1 Samuel 14:8-10 Jonathan said, "Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, `Wait there until we come to you,´ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, `Come up to us,´ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands."
a) Jonathan could have done it the other way around. It would have been easier.
Don’t read of the armor bearer saying; “Excuse me Sir, but have you considered that if we did it like this . . .”
b) Your senior pastor sees things differently from you. You won’t always agree with the decisions that he makes. But as an armor bearer you do things his way.
c) This can only happen when you have a deep respect for the person you are serving.
5) AN ARMOR BEARER NEEDS TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO HIS LEADER
1 Samuel 14:11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost.
a) With all the wonderful advances that have been made in recent years. All the seminars on vision and mission have left us with a bunch of youth pastors who are really fired up. They have awesome vision and are on a mission – but they are not in submission. They are off on their own. That causes conflict
b) Submission means “bringing your mission under the mission of the pastor”
You still have a mission but you bring it under the mission of the person you are serving.
6) AN ARMOR BEARER TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS LEADER IS THINKING
(to anticipate what he is going to ask next)
1 Samuel 14:13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.
a) When in the heat of the battle, it is not the time to ask for orders.
b) Yes, you will get it wrong. Apologise, and try again.
7) AN ARMOR BEARER NEEDS TO MAKE THE SUCCESS OF HIS LEADER HIS NUMBER ONE GOAL
no verse – ‘cos don’t read of him again
a) He was nameless
b) Don’t misrepresent your pastor so that you look good.
i) The pastor says that we need to tone down the music and take those posters down
c) When people come to you saying that you would make a better pastor, say “Get behind me Satan”
d) Won’t always get thanked. What would you prefer, a pat on the back from your pastor, or to hear Jesus say “Well done”?
e) Friendship will happen, but don’t expect to be in the pastor’s inner circle.
Conc
Sheep to war-horses
Zechariah 10:3 "My anger burns against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD Almighty will care
for his flock, the house of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle.
Youth pastor with sheep mentality:
Feed me; give us more money; change the music; church doesn’t like us.
Youth pastor with war-horse mentality:
“I’ll die for you”
2 Kings 3:11 2 Kings 3:11 But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?"
An officer of the king of Israel answered, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah."
The time will come when you will be recognised.
Senior Pastors:
God send me an Elisha; send me a Joshua. Are willing to be a Moses?
