WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A REAL WITNESS FOR CHRIST.
INTRODUCTION: THIS WEEK I POSTED AN ARTICLE BY JAROD MOORE ON MY FACEBOOK ACCOUNT THAT WAS ON THE TOPIC OF WHY MINISTRY IS NOT FOR WIMPS. THIS ARTICLE GAVE TEN REASONS. HERE THEY ARE:
IF YOU ENTER PASTORAL MINISTRY…
10. NOT EVERYONE WILL LIKE YOU.
9. YOU WILL MAKE PEOPLE ANGRY REGARDLESS OF HOW GODLY YOU HANDLE YOURSELF; IT COMES WITH THE POSITION.
8. YOU WILL FEEL LIKE A FAILURE OFTEN, AND WHEN YOU DO APPEAR TO SUCCEED, THE FRUIT THAT IS PRODUCED CANNOT BE ACCREDITED TO YOU. GOD ALONE GIVES THE INCREASE (1 COR. 3:7). THUS, THERE IS LITTLE “SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN MINISTRY” THAT YOU MAY BE ACCUSTOMED TO IN OTHER VOCATIONS.
7. YOU WILL FIGHT LEGALISM AND LIBERALISM, ALONG WITH LAZINESS, IGNORANCE, TRADITION AND OPPOSITION. YET, YOUR GREATEST ENEMY WILL BE YOUR OWN HEART (JER. 17:9).
6. NOT EVERYONE WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY TO YOUR PREACHING, TEACHING, OR LEADERSHIP. YOU WILL BRING PEOPLE TO TEARS WITH THE SAME SERMON: ONE IN JOY, ANOTHER IN ANGER (I HAVE DONE THIS).
5. YOU WILL BE CRITICIZED—RARELY TO YOUR FACE AND FREQUENTLY BEHIND YOUR BACK. THIS CRITICISM WILL COME FROM THOSE THAT LOVE YOU, THOSE THAT OBVIOUSLY DO NOT LIKE YOU, AND PASTORS AND CHRISTIANS WHO BARELY KNOW YOU.
4. YOU WILL THINK ABOUT QUITTING YEARLY OR MONTHLY, IF NOT WEEKLY OR EVEN DAILY.
3. YOU WILL BE PERSECUTED FOR PREACHING THE TRUTH, MOSTLY FROM YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE PEWS. YOU SHOULDN’T BE SURPRISED BY THE SIGHT OF YOUR OWN BLOOD. YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN, AFTER ALL (MATT. 16:24).
2. YOU WILL FEEL VERY LONELY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, FEELING LIKE NO ONE TRULY KNOWS YOU OR CARES HOW YOU FEEL, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TO BURDEN YOUR FAMILY, AND TRUSTWORTHY PEERS ARE FEW AND FAR IN-BETWEEN. BECAUSE OF THE ”SUPER-CHRISTIAN” MYTH ACCREDITED TO PASTORS LITERALLY, YOU WILL FIND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DISCLOSE YOUR DEEP THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS TO OTHERS. THUS, YOU WILL STRUGGLE WITH LONELINESS.
1. YOU WILL PROBABLY PASTOR A CHURCH THAT IS BARELY GROWING (IF AT ALL), IS OPPOSED TO CHANGE, DOESN’T PAY WELL, HAS SEEN PASTORS COME AND GO, DOESN’T RESPECT THE POSITION AS BIBLICALLY AS THEY SHOULD, DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS A PASTOR’S OR A CHURCH’S JOBS IS, AND WILL ONLY FOLLOW YOU WHEN THEY AGREE WITH YOU (THUS, THEY’LL REALLY ONLY FOLLOW THEMSELVES).
AFTER UNDERSTANDING THESE REALITIES, DO YOU STILL WANT TO BE A PASTOR? IF SO, THEN GOD HAS PROBABLY CALLED YOU TO THE MINISTRY!
WHEN I LOOK AT THE MINISTRY OF PAUL THE APOSTLE, WHAT I SEE IS A MAN FAMILIAR WITH THESE REASONS, AND YET GOES ON ANYWAY. IN ADDITION, THIS TEXT TELLS US THAT EVEN IN JERUSALEM, GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH PAUL. PAUL WILL HAVE FAR GREATER THINGS TO DO,; THINGS THAT WILL TAKE HIM TO ROME!
HERE IN THIS TEXT WE CAN DIG OUT FOUR FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS PAUL HELD DEAR (EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY); THAT ALLOWED HIM TO BE THE MINISTER FOR CHRIST THAT HE WAS.
TRANSITION: WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR US? WE ARE ALSO MINISTERS FOR CHRIST. WE ARE HIS CHOSEN PRIESTHOOD ACCORDING TO PETER, AND HIS AMBASSADOR ACCORDING TO PAUL.
I. PAUL WAS CANDID ABOUT HIS WALK WITH CHRIST
a. PAUL SPOKE OPENLY OF HIS LIFE BEFORE CHRIST
i. ZEALOUS IN HIS PERSECUTION
ii. ZEALOUS IN HIS FAITH
iii. ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT HE WAS DOING
b. PAUL SPOKE OPENLY OF HIS ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
i. MET THE RISEN LORD WHILE ON HIS WAY TO PERSECUTE OTHER BELIEVERS
ii. TAUGHT BY THE LORD IN THE DESERT BEFORE ENCOUNTERING THE CHURCH
c. PAUL SPOKE OPENLY OF HIS LIFE AFTER MEETING CHRIST
i. PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES
ii. PAUL PLEADED HIS CALLING TO THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM
iii. PAUL WOULD TESTIFY TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN OF WHAT JESUS DID IN HIS LIFE.
d. WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO LIKEWISE
i. BE READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER FOR THE HOPE THAT IS WITHIN YOU
1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
ii. HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARE MISSED SIMPLY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PREPARED
II. PAUL USED COMMON SENSE IN HIS WALK WITH CHRIST
a. PAUL WOULD QUESTION HIS SCOURGING
i. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE ARE BLESSED WHEN WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST
ii. YET, WE DO NOT NEED TO SUFFER NEEDLESSLY!
b. PAUL WOULD OBEY THE LAW, YET USE THE LAW FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST
i. IN THIS CASE PAUL USED HIS ROMAN CITIZENSHIP FOR HIS BENEFIT (ULTIMATELY THIS WOULD BE THE CATALYST TO [GET HIM TO ROME)
c. WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO LIKEWISE
Ephesians 5:15-16 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
OFTEN WISDOM – COMMON SENSE IS ONLY A REQUEST AWAY
James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THINKING AND KNOWING!
III. PAUL ADDRESSED WRONG IN HIS WALK WITH CHRIST
a. PAUL ADDRESSED THE SIN COMMITTED AGAINST HIM
b. PAUL ADDRESSED THE SIN COMMITTED IN THE CHURCH
c. PAUL ADDRESSED THE HYPOCRISY OF THOSE WHO FOLLOWED CHRIST
d. WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO LIKEWISE
PERSONALLY -- 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
RELATIONALLY -- Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
GLOBALLY -- Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
IV. PAUL LIVED BY THE BIBLE IN HIS WALK WITH CHRIST
a. PAUL SOUGHT FORGIVENESS WHEN HE WAS GUILTY
b. PAUL LIVED HIS LIFE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD OF GOD
c. WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO LIKEWISE
Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
