ANNIVERSARY Sermon for Pastor_______ April 2001.
PRAYER . . . MAY THE WORDS OF GOD AND HIS MESSAGES SPOKEN THIS HOUR BE BOTH A WORD OF COMFORT AND CHALLENGE
WE PRAY THAT IT WILL CHALLENGE THOSE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE
AND COMFORT ALL THOSE WHO ARE BEING CHALLENGED THIS DAY.
There has been much teaching on the role of the pastor and his relationship to those God has placed in the local CHURCH under his authority.
Throughout the Bible, God’s people are referred to as "sheep" (Psalm 79:13, 100:3) and sheep have need of a shepherd to both feed and tend to their needs.
Both the Hebrew and Greek, translation OF "shepherd," CAN also BE translated "pastors."
AND SCRIPTURE SAYS pastors or shepherds were given to the Church as a gift. (Ephesians 4:11)
SCRIPTURE DEFINES THE DUTIES OF THE shepherd/PASTOR Feed the flock Strengthen the diseased Heal the sick Bind up the broken Bring back those who were driven away AND Seek for the lost
AND SCRIPTURE IDENTIFIES THE ROLE OF THE SHEEP UNDER THE CARE OF THE SHEPHERD/PASTOR.
SOME "MUSTS" for sheep Must know the voice of the shepherd. Must follow the shepherd Must eat what the shepherd feeds Must heed the warnings of the shepherd.
THE SHEPHERD CAN ONLY LEAD IF THE SHEEP FOLLOW.
NEXT we ALSO affirm that the role of the Pastor/shepherd is ordained not by man but by God.
This office is established by God WITH the business of the church to fulfill the Great Commission THROUGH PASTOR/SHEPHERD servant leadership.
When God wanted His people delivered from an oppressive pharaoh, He used a Servant/leader named Moses.
When he needed Jerusalem’s wall rebuilt, He used a Servant/leader named Nehemiah.
When He wanted His people to experience a golden era, He used a Servant/leader named David.
When He wanted to build a temple, He used a Servant/leader Solomon.
When he needed a statesman-prophet, He used a Servant/leader named Isaiah.
And when He needed a fearless church planter, He used a Servant/leader named Paul.
Throughout history, whenever God has needed someone to initiate, organize, and carry out an important project, He has called upon Servant/ leaders.
NEXT, I WANT TO CLARIFY A COMMON PHRASE THESE DAYS THAT I OFTEN HEAR THESES DAYS that most say that leaders are born not made.
True, IT MAY APPEAR THAT some are born with leadership ability CAESAR, NAPOLEON, ALEXANDER THE GREAT . . .
But I affirm that leaders are made not born - they are made through God’s teachings.
They are made through God’s appointment.
They are made through God’s CALLING AND COMMISSIONING.
They are made through God’s INDWELLING POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.
FIRE BAPTIZED IN HOLY GHOST . . .
MANY CLAIM TO BE CALLED BUT FEW ARE COMMISSIONED/CHOSEN.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FIRST CALLING AND SECOND CALLING. THE FIRST CALL IS TO DISCIPLESHIP. THEN CALLS TO THE ORDAINED MINISTRY, THEN TO OFFICE OF BISHOP, APOSTLE PROPHET, BUT KNOW THIS, IT IS GOD WHO DOES THE CALLING.
IT IS ALL GODS WORK, IF THERE IS GIFT AT BIRTH IT IS OF GOD, IT IS NOT NATURALLY A GIFT THAT YOU CAN CLAIM. IT IS ALL OF GOD.
BUT IF CERTAIN PERSONS APPEAR TO BE RUTHLESS, IT IS BECAUSE THEY TOOK SOMETHING DIVINELY GIVEN, AND USED IT FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSE.
LIKE A CAESAR, NAPOLEON, ALEXANDER THE GREAT
THIS IS WHY WE THANK GOD WHO IS THE GIVER, HONOR THE GIVER, NOT THE GIFT.
SO MY TASK TODAY IS TO GIVE HONOR TO GOD AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE Pastor_________ FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVANT/LEADERSHIP IN RESPONSE TO HIS CALLING.
AND IN HIS honor I wish to lift up several images of servant/leadership of God in which to acknowledge their marks of character that a Pastor possess.
Firstly this afternoon I want to talk in Genesis 37 we read of a dreamer by the name of Joseph.
BEING A visionary IS NOT ALWAYS an easy time. Joseph felt the jealousy of others, in this case, his own brothers. Joseph was almost killed for the dream by them.
BUT Joseph did not lose sight of the dream despite the difficulties, remaining faithful to God and the dream. HARD TIMES WORK LIKE REFINER FIRE.
WE KNOW ALL OF THE TROUBLES JOSEPH ENCOUNTERED. AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE CHANGED THE DREAMERS vision of the future. But it didn’t. .
A dream will provide you with a reason to go, a path to follow, and a target to hit. IT WAS ONCE SAID THAT, "If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up somewhere else
SO I PRAISE GOD FOR Pastor,________ FOR SEEKING AFTER HIS DREAMS. I KNOW THAT It takes hunger, tenacity and commitment to see a dream through to become a reality.
AND IF ANY ONE OF YOU TODAY. have not already discovered your dream, you hopefully realize how much you are missing?"
THE second ILLUSTRATION I WISH to lift up of servant leadership THAT I PARALLEL WITH Pastor__________ IS IN number Joshua chapter 14 .
OUR FOCUS IS UPON A MAN NAMED CALEB...
THIS PASSAGE IS CENTERED UPON THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WHO REACHED THE PROMISE LAND AND THEN DECIDE TO SEND OUT 12 SPIES TO SURVEY THE LAND AND BRING BACK A REPORT.
Of the twelve spies that were sent, 10 reported that the land could not be conquered. They praised the land itself, but they concluded that Israel could not conquer it.
TWO however, disagreed. JOSHUA AND Caleb believed that the land could be taken in spite of the obstacles that were present.
The difference between the report given by the majority group of spies and Caleb’s report had to do with the difference in where these spies put their faith.
They said: "There is no way we can conquer the land of Canaan, not with what we have." The 10 spies looked at their own abilities to conquer Canaan. Their faith was in the power of men.
Caleb, however, had faith in the power of God. To Caleb, God was greater than the biggest problem. Caleb did not lie about the fact that Canaan had giants and fortified cities.
He did not minimize the problems; rather, he magnified God.
Caleb believed in God’s revealed Word and he believed that God was able to keep His Word.
The land of Canaan was not just given to the Israelites; they were to trust God to help them conquer it.
Caleb did not receive this land as an inheritance because he was a member of a certain family.
Rather, Caleb received his inheritance because he believed God’s Word and he acted on God’s Word.
AND AS a result of Pastors_____________ faithfulness, he HAS RECEIVED THE promised GOD WILL GIVE HIM MANY YEARS OF CONTINUED MINISTRY AND RECEIVE HIS inheritance THAT GOD HAS PROMISE TO HIM..
BECAUSE LIKE CALEB, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HE HAS NOT LOST FAITH in God’s promise AND HE ROOTED BELIEVING IN God WHOM WILL keep His Word. Pastor__________, does not minimize the problems; rather, he magnified God.
I CONTINUE WITH ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION I WISH to lift up of servant/ leadership WHICH WE FIND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOK OF ACTS 4...
(32)Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed were his own, but they had all things in common.
(33) And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (34)
(36) And Jose, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
(37) having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet." Acts 4:32-37 (NKJV)
I believe that we have a basic misunderstanding of the meaning of encouragement. The Greek word for "encourage" may be translated as ", TO, counsel,
urge, Challenge."
To encourage someone is to comfort or challenge them with the Word of God in such a way that the person is motivated to lead the Christian life and continue in the Lord’s service.
B. CHRISTIAN’S ARE CALLED TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
There were many encouragers in the New Testament Church. However, one character stands out.
Every time he appears in the Bible he is encouraging someone. That man is named Joses or Joseph. You probably don’t recognize him by that name.
Because he helped and encouraged people so much he was given a new name by the apostles that name was Barnabas which means "Son of Encouragement."
A survey of his life and ministry illustrates how he was an encourager..
If we are honest, we have to admit there are times we all need encouragement.
There have been many times someone here has encouraged me about the work when I was tired or questioning the benefit of what I am doing.
A timely word of how the Lord spoke WHEN or how the Lord was working in their lives is enough to give me them strength to continue.
Often OUR GIFTS OF GIVING CAN BE ENCOURAGEMENT.
EXODUS..36:1-8....AND GODS RESPONSE IS TO GIVE US IN BACK. YOU CAN GIVE TO THE POINT, WHEN GOD WILL SAY.. ENOUGH DON’T GIVE ME ANY MORE...THEN GOD GIVES YOU TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN SAY GOD STOP... PLEASE DON’T GIVE ME NO MORE..OF THAT...
HOW MANY OF US AT TIMES, HAVE RECEIVED SO MUCH THAT WE HAVE TO PULL OUR HAIR OUT WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH THIS BLESSINGS..
All Christians at one time or another need encouragement.
1.....THE DISTRESSED NEED COMFORT. There are many kinds of distress we can respond to with encouragement: sickness, death of loved ones, family problems, breakup of a marriage, financial hardship.
2...THE DEDICATED WORKERS NEED COMPLIMENTS. A second group of people in need of encouragement are those who contribute their time and abilities to the ministries of the church.
How long has it been since you have said a word of thanks to the deacons, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, those in the music ministry (the choir director, the song leader, those who play the instruments, choir members), - they all need encouragement at one time or another.
3.....NEW BELIEVERS NEED CARE. That’s why Paul often returned to the new churches he had established (Acts 14:22). Without our encouragement, believers who enter the church through the front door may quietly slip away through the back door.
WE GIVE HONOR TO GOD FOR Pastor, WHO IS AN TRULY AN ENCOURAGER.. HE HAS encouraged.
The distressed
NEW CHURCH workers
AND New believers..
CONCLUSION::::::
Yet the person I wish to compare Pastor ___________to IS the most HONORABLE YET unknown man IN THE OLD TESTAMENT called Jabez,,
Jabez doesn’t stand OUT the Old Testament like a Moses or a David or light up the book of Acts like those early Christians who turned the world upside down.
You’ll find him in the least-read section of one of the least-read books of the Bible.
The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles are taken up with the official family tree of the Hebrew tribes, beginning with Adam and proceeding through thousands of years to Israel return from captivity.
The long lists of unfamiliar and difficult names—more than five hundred of them—are FOUND ON THESE PAGES..
YET IT IS IN chapter 4. The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hut, and Shobal.... And that’s just the beginning.
Ahumai
Ishma
Idbash
Hazelelponi
Anub ...
BUT forty-four names LATER into the chapter, a story suddenly breaks through:
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, "Because I bore him in pain." And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory; that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"
So God granted him what he requested. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)
In the next verse, the roll call for the tribe of Judah picks up as if nothing has happened—Chelub, Shuah, Mehir....
What Was The Secret to This Reputation of Jabez??
A.....he Started Out With a Name of Sorrow, Yet at The End He Was Given Honor.
B...His Name Was Sadness, Yet thing’s End FOR JABEZ Extra Well.
C...He Is a Person We Never Hear of, Yet He Leaves a Record Upon The History of Israel.
He OFFERED TO GOD One Sentence Prayer.
Oh That You Would Bless Me.
That You Enlarge My Territory
That You Hand Would Be With Me.
That You Would Keep Me From Evil
LETS LOOK AT THIS Prayer of Jabez
Oh That You Would Bless Me...
Not a Prayer of Greed or Things.
But for God Favor, Not More of What We Can Get For Ourselves, We Want His Goodness of What Only He Can Give Us..
He Left it up to God to Give What God Has in store.
He Threw Himself at The Disposal of God Discression.
He Prayed for What God Desired, Bless Me Not With My Will But Bless Me in Your Will.
It Is God Nature to Bless His Children, The More Significant Request of The Heart Is to Bestow Upon Me, Not Riches, Position of Authority. Money.
But Bless Me With Intimate Understanding of Your Name, Bless Me NOT ONLY With Your PRESENCE BUT YOUR Glory.
ISRAEL HAD THE ARK BUT LOST THE BATTLE....
Enlarge My Territory.
This Is Not a Request for More Land as Much as it. Was to Enlarge My Life So That I Can Make a Greater Impact TO The World for you..
John Wesley Never Had Church So He Always Said The World Is My Parish.. So If We The World as My Parish or Mission Field. Them I Witness Christ Not to Person WHO Are Here ON Sunday, But in The Store, Airports, Banks ..
Why Because The World NEEDS to Know Christ, Enlarge My Influence, Opportunity for God.
Multiply My Influence in MY Family.
Bless Me With More Ministry.
Lord Use Me, Give Me More Ministry for You.
Oh That You Hand Would Be With Me..
Make Me Dependent on Your Hand.
I Can’t Do it Alone I need Your Hand of Protection, Promise, Provision.
Presence in My Life.
But The hand of The Lord WAS With Them, A GREAT Number BELIEVED, And Turned to The Lord..(Acts 11:21)
Oh That You Would Keep Me From Evil.
The Greatest Time That God Is NEED Is Not When We Are at The Lowest But at The Top, Because The Temptation to Forget God..
The More We Walk IN THE Spirit The More You NEED to Pray, Oh That You Would Keep Me From Evil.
The More We Walk IN THE Spirit The More Your Family Will Be Tested. Oh That You Would Keep Me From Evil
The More We Walk in The Spirit The More You Become Welcome to The Enemies, Opposition, Distraction. Oh That You Would Keep Me From Evil
The greatest Challenge That The Apostle ENCOUNTERED Was The Success That They Experience at The Anointing of The HOLY Ghost,
The Temptation, That’s Why The Prayer of Jabez Is Such a Vital Part of My Life..
Please Keep Me From Evil..
Jesus Guided Us in this Prayer, Lead Us Not Into Temptation But Deliver Us From Evil..Mathews 6:13
Keep Me From Mistakes,
Keep Evil Far From Me,
Jabez Prayer Earned Him a Place of Honor.
He Was More Honorable Than His Brothers.
God Held Back Nothing From Him.
He Is Not Listed in the Hal of Honor of Hebrews 11:
But He Is on The Honor Role in Another Place of Scripture.
My Joy today BEING ASKED TO GIVE TESTIMONY TO THIS MAN OF GOD.. AND That Pastor __________
is Liken to each man That I Have Mention Today.
But of ALL THE MEN MENTIONED I Liken Him to Jabez.
MY PRAYER IS THAT God Continue to
Bless You in His Service,.
May He Enlarge Your Ministry.
May His Hand Be With You as He Was With Your Spiritual Fathers and Mother of The Faith..
And May He Keep You From Evil
In Jesus Name ....
AMEN..................AMEN.....................AMEN
