How Disheartened, Discouraged, Confused, Pastor Tom retreated to his aging min-van. The emergency meeting of the Administrative board had gone worse than he expected. “Something has to change,” blurted out Sister Mary, self appointed spokes person for the choir, “We have heard enough about all this sin stuff.” “Our last pastor told how much God loved us, he never made us feel guilty,” chimed in Deacon Smith. “We know, it is in the Bible and all, but maybe you can focus on some of the other things Jesus said, like how he loved little children,” The Board chair, Tim Richards said. “Our last pastor told us everyone is going to heaven, some are just taking a different road, he never said anyone would go to hell.” “ And last Sunday you said that people who don’t know Jesus Christ will go to hell. I was uncomfortable with that,” said sister Mary.
The Brother Madison, Titus Madison, a long time member of Community church, and now the treasurer spoke up, “Tom, can I call you that, Tom, we are not telling you how to preach, not really, it is just maybe you could fixate from now on on the good thing in the Bible, the love, the joy, the hope, and forget about all the bad. That message of yours on the cross, I have to tell you was hard to listen to. In point of fact, it turned my stomach. As the treasure, I can tell, you people give more when the message makes them feel good about themselves, no one wants to feel guilty or think they need to change. You understand, right.”
And so the meeting went for the next hour and a half, Pastor Tom attempting to defend his position, as biblical, as necessary, as teaching the whole truth only to be rebuffed. The unspoken question that hung in the air, like an early morning fog, would they ask for a new pastor?
He drove home in a daze. He knew his wife, Brenda, would be waiting like an expectant puppy, at the door to learn what had happened. He would be coming in with his tail between his legs. He realized, as he sat, thinking about the nine months he had been pastor of Community church, pondering his future there, his decision would affect more than himself, it would have ramifications for his whole family. Just last Saturday, he and Brenda had unpacked the last of their boxes, the china. How could he tell her they would be moving soon? They would need to put the china plates back into their protective sleeves and the tea cups would return to the cardboard dividers. What about his son Matt, he has just starting build a network of friends? What should he do? What they were asking: Would it be so wrong, Jesus did say a lot about love. Could he, should he, would he, change the message to make the people happy, and assure his staying.
Although Pastor Tom is a fictional character, his dilemma is not. After being in pastoral ministry since 1984, I had heard Tom’s story fall from the lips of several of my friends. Sometimes the pressure is a blatant as in Tom’s case, other times it is more hidden, but it is still there.
What should Pastor Tom do?
That is the question that faced Paul. If he would just change his message, everything would be alright. What did he do?
Remember he is under arrest. He is being punished for preaching the gospel, bond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to a Roman soldier, restricted in his movements, and limited is every
Look with me at Ephesians 6:19, Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Instead of release, he asked for prayers for the right words. He wanted to have the right words to say to convince those he could about Jesus. Instead of fearfully changing the message, Paul asked to prayer so he could fearlessly deliver the message. Listen to the prayer he put in the lips of the Ephesians, “Whenever I speak, to my closest friends, or the Roman warrior shackled to me, word may be given me so that I will (what) (that is right) fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.
Paul asked for the right words. Mark Twain, the early American Writer and Humorist, said, “The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
Paul’s prayer was not to stop the words from flowing, it was not to change the message to be more palatable, it was not for words that would bring comfort to his life, it was for words to persuade, to convince, to convert. Paul said pray, pray hard, pray as if life depended on it, that I might have the right words.
Paul understood the right words are powerful. Words have launched wars. Words have advanced nations, who will ever forget the words of John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what your can do for your country.” Words created the future, the immortal words of, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” set the world on a different trajectory.
Paul understood the power of words, works like, salvation, repentance, sanctification, holiness, reconciliation, and many, many more. Paul knew that with the right words, peoples lives would be changed, families would be healed, and churches would grow.
Paul greatest desire was for, as Frank Thielman said, “for speech that is both divinely inspired and straightforward.”
So his first request for prayer was for the right words to say.
However, his second request grew out of his first,
His second request for prayer was:
PRAY FOR BOLDNESS.
Look again at your Bible’s, this time at verse 20. Let’s read it together,
Ephesians 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Let’s look for a moment at that word, “fearlessly,”
As you know, this part of the Bible, the New Testament, was written originally in the Greek language. I became curious about the word translated, “fearlessly.” It this the word, parresiazopai. It is used nine times in the Bible and each time it means to speak, freely, confidently, boldly. This is not a half-hearted, stammering, stuttering, speak born out of fear. This is a bold, powerful, confident message flowing from a heart trusting in God. Paul said pray for me, that my strength will not weaver, my fortitude will remain strong, my nerves will not fail. No matter what the future may hold, I will still stand firm.
What a great pray to pray for your pastor.
I was encouraged this last week, as I learned on the internet that many of you are praying for me.
If you are not now please, add these two petitions to you prayer, that I will have the right words, and remain bold.
Back to pastor Tom, what should he do? What would you do? Imagine Pastor Tom the next morning compiling a list of people who would pray with him. People who have supported him since he arrived, caring for him, listening to him, and working with him. He would ask them to pray each day for him, at least for a few minutes, before they leave for work, or before they went to bed. Pray he would be courageous, and bold. Pray he would have the right works to say, so God could work through him. Perhaps, this could lead to a revival at Community Church, spiritual renewal, a refreshing wind from the Holy Spirit.
I would like to ask you to do something special for me this morning. I would like to invite you to gather around me at this altar, and pray for me as your pastor. I like Paul, I would like for you to pray, that I will say the right words, while visiting in the hospitals, while calling in homes, and while preaching and teaching. Also, pray I will speak the gospel, boldly, confidently, careful, and truthfully.
(GATHER FOR PRAYER)
