Where is YOUR “Parbar”?
{1st Chronicles 26:18}
How often do you read the Bible? How often do you study the Bible? They are a difference. How often do you read 1st Chronicles and read the verse, “At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.” I have read that before but didn’t research the verse...I want us to dissect this and then analyze it. Now your going to ask: what on earth is a “Parbar”?
Well.. actually ; Parbar was a part of Jerusalem near the temple. You could compare it to a suburb. The people we are talking about are Levites. The Levites are a holy family. Of course, Christians are a holy family. But I want us to look at this as a part of ministry.
So, in other words, Where is your ministry in God’s work? Where do you fit; in life’s puzzle? I want us to look at; at least four points the writer of Chronicles is trying to tell us.
POINT 1: Everyone has a ministry, a place in God’s service. Are you in that place?.........You say “Now preacher, I’m no minister.” That’s not what I’m saying. You can be a greeter at the front door. That’s a ministry.
You can leave a tract at the eating place., You can call someone that you know and that someone is not a born again Christian, and tell them your praying for them...On & On we could go..EVERYONE HAS A MINISTRY.
POINT 2: Every job is important. “For lack of a shoe, the horse was lost. For lack of a horse, the battle was lost. For lack of winning the battle, the war was lost.” Seeming little things cause great loses. The damaged tiles on the space shuttle are a good example.
God is a God of order.
The Bible says: “Conduct the business decently and in order.” “Four at the causeway, and two at Par-bar.” The causeway was a bridge that lead into this suburb. And at this crossover stood four guards. I can’t prove it but we can assume that they checked people before they could enter the town. You see, only Jews could go into the Holy place in the Temple. But, non-Jews could only go into the courtyard of the Temple.
And of course you had to be qualified to be a guard. You are SO important to God. He wants you to be part of His Kingdom......So let’s get off our blessed assurance and get to work! It’s time we take a stand for God. Ask yourself: “If everybody in my church was like me, what would my church be?”
POINT 3: Every Christian must be qualified. You see this in verses 5,6,7 & 8. “Mighty men of valour” in vs. 6 is a reference to courageous men. “Strong men” in vs. 7 is a reference to persistent men. You can’t quit. “Quitters Never Win; Winners Never Quit.” You don’t give up. “Able men” in vs. 8 is a reference to qualified.
Like I was saying, If God calls you to do something, He gives you what it takes and provides opportunities to learn what you need to know to do the job. The bible says: Ecclesiates 9:10...”Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”
POINT 4: Greatest ability is dependability, not availability. People will say they are available. They may say just call me if you need me to do something. You call them and they can’t do it then. Something else has come up and they choose to do it. So their availability doesn’t accomplish anything. But if one keeps their commitment, if you can depend on them, that’s worth a lot.
The ones guarding the causeway & the 2 at Parbar were dependability. They did their job. They didn’t have an excuse when it came time for them to work. They had their place. And so do we. Team work...Pulling together...Starting a special program for young people...They are our tomorrow... We say “Times have changed” No....People have changed.
(COMMENT).
You must have something for young people or they will go somewhere else and finally the chuch locks the door. Well preacher, when we have something special they will come that one time.” Do you follow-up? Do you mail them a letter? Do you call them? Matt. 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world.”...ILL. “Lights for the Lord.”
Ill.{Have 3 candles...e.g. One new, one used and one VERY short ..light it.} Lights were made for darkness...(Pick-up the new candle..Explain it)...This new candle is a nice one, but it’s of no value. It’s never been lit.
It has what it takes to do the job. (2nd candle...It has been lit but it’s out now...It went out while it had plenty of light left...but it was a quitter....and in order to be of any value, it has to be lit again.) (3rd candle...LIGHT IT..LIGHT THE 2nd candle from it...)
We need to get back on fire for God... We need to think of those that have been a light for God...(Go to the short candle...Now, this candle was once new...But now look...It sacrificed and stayed lit. It’s almost gone now. Do you want to matter for God? You can...We are ALL in this together.
{ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE.} Sombody said: “I will do the best I can with what I have for Jesus’ sake today.” Are you His child? “Preacher, how do you know that you’re a child of God?” 1st John ch. 5...”I write these things that ye may know you have eternal life.”...Its like having a case of the red mezzles. You know you got’em and everybody around knows ya got’em.
The book of St. John, tells about a young man being born blind and they brought him up and questioned the Lord..”Who sinned Lord? His parents or him. Christ said: “Neither one. And they called the man was blind and Ask Who was this Man that gave you your sight? He said: I have no idea.
I don’t know if He was a sinner or not. But this one thing I do know, I was blind but now I see.” You can be SURE today about your relationship with Christ. (READ THE VERSE AGAIN)
{CLOSE IN PRAYER}
