Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NRSVA)
1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (NRSVA)
11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. 13And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NRSVA)
If we could summarize the verses at hand in one sentence it would read: A pastor must be faithful to his calling; his calling is to prepare the flock entrusted to him to do theirs.
The apostle John wrote words like that in his epistle:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4 (KJV)
A pastor’s purpose is to prepare God’s people for living a Godly life, both in private and public ¡V devotion and service. And the best preparation must take into account the difficult times. Paul knew about suffering for Christ, and he prepared his people to suffer if God called them to do it.
The word ¡§establish¡¨ means to set something firmly. Paul didn’t want his people to be moved (or shaken into trembling, see v.3) by the afflictions (literally: pressing).
Let’s face it; there is a lot of pressure in the society in which we live. Paul said that his business (appointment v.3) was to equip the church to deal with life’s pressures. When he found out that they were not only equipped, dealing with life’s hardships, and still had fondness in their hearts for him, Paul was overjoyed. The temptations had come, and his people were standing victorious in Christ. What joy!
The wrap-up of his message to the church was, hey, your strength has renewed my strength, and I’m praying to God that it will continue to spread from one to another, and to the whole community like a good infectious disease!
It¡¦s true, strength will build strength!
APPLICATION
Now, with the understanding of those verses, and what they meant in Paul¡¦s day, we need to make the leap of application to July, 2006.
WHAT DO FAMILIES NEED TODAY?
An answer comes back rather quickly: We need our strength established to deal with the critical issues and temptations that are destroying families and individuals today. We need to be firmly set and ready (ESTABLISHED) to handle the pressures of daily living. What are the challenges?
There are MORAL challenges.
„Ã There was a time when you could protect at least the smallest children from the bad side of town. Today we live in a sewer-like moral climate. It invades our homes from TV, the Internet and the prevailing secularism of our society.
„Ã Sexual freedom makes for a confusing workplace for both men and women.
„Ã Legal gambling and substance abuse (alcohol/prescription happy doctors) help us teach our children to deaden the pain, instead of deal with the problems.
There are FINANCIAL challenges. It may be difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but it’s nearly impossible for many of us to match up the length of month with the supply of money!
There are RELATIONSHIP challenges. Everywhere it seems like it is more and more difficult for people to get along. The church is not an exception.
What can we do? The choices range from¡K
„Ã Give up and die;
„Ã Muddle through, hoping not to get clobbered;
„Ã Find a way to be victorious in spite of circumstances.
Plato said, the particulars of life are meaningless, unless you have an absolute in life to hold on to. The problem most of our young people have in finding any hope is they¡¦re being taught there are no absolutes ¡V everything is relative, therefore nothing will be absolute and victorious.
Jesus said it without stuttering, I AM the resurrection and the life (Jn 11.25a). Jesus is the absolute that makes the particulars of life, even the pressures and great challenges, worthwhile.
Conclusion: Families need Jesus.
WHAT CAN THE PASTORS DO TO HELP?
Paul appointed pastors in the churches he began. He left Titus in Crete to teach a whole flock of new believers how to act like the family of God. He sent young Timothy to Ephesus, armed with the Word of God, and an admonition not to let older people despise his youth, just for the sake of youth. Somehow pastors are to help their flock. What can they do to establish families and individuals?
Establish thru preaching.
The Bible says that the preaching of God’s Word is foolishness to those who have decided against God. But to God’s people it is power. A good pastor can preach all the counsel of God’s Word. It provides light, discernment, wisdom, and authority for the believer. Pastors preach God’s Word.
Establish with presence.
Paul wanted so fervently to make a trip to see the church in person. A pastor may not be able to preach with the eloquence of Peter, or Billy Graham, but he can be there. There is something about the presence of another fellow believer who cares for you, that outlasts anything anyone can say! One reason churches grow or die is the visiting spirit of its people and pastor.
Establish with patience.
If I have learned one thing in the ministry, it is that you are just like me....imperfect. We have our race to run; none of us have completed the course. The times I have been impatient are the times I have ultimately failed to help. I am human, and certain that there will be other times to come when I will be less-patient than I ought, but our patient Heavenly Father is helping me put more distance between those times.
A pastor’s contribution to establishing his people: preach the word, be there, be patient. I recommit myself again to that in your presence.
WHAT CAN THE PEOPLE DO TO HELP?
Receive the word.
To receive in Bible language is to take by the hand, and draw it close to the heart. The picture is one of learning it, and doing it! James cautions: Don’t just listen; put it into your daily living.
Paul was overjoyed when Timothy told him the flock at Thessalonica was walking close to God. You can do that. You can come to Bible Study and Worship, Prayer times. You can serve, and you can give. Receive the Word, draw it close to your heart and live it in your daily life.
But, now, when it comes to receiving the Word, make certain you receive what HE is sending. Often people accept a position of service in church life because they get their arms twisted, or because no one else will. That isn¡¦t Godly service, that¡¦s grudging service. The principle is simple: Find YOUR gift, and use it. If it isn¡¦t within that principle, don¡¦t do it!
In our church, if nobody is led of God to do a task, I would hope that we just won¡¦t do the task. We will accept the fact that God doesn¡¦t want the task done here! Just because we¡¦ve always done something, or always had a certain program, doesn¡¦t mean that¡¦s God¡¦s will for us now.
When God decides He wants something done, God always calls, gifts, inspires, and paves the way for someone to get the job done! Guilty service is a mockery. Loving response is His way!
The one caution in all of that is that we also don¡¦t use the ¡§It¡¦s not my gift¡¨ as our spiritual-sounding ¡§Get-Out-of-Jail-Free-Card¡¨ to avoid a task that scares you. God always calls us to stretch, whether it is in giving, going, teaching, witnessing or whatever He wants done. That¡¦s why real ministry is exciting (and sometimes a little intimidating).
Reciprocate the presence and patience.
A pastor is a person.
„Ã Theologically, he holds an office as servant.
„Ã Professionally, he is to grow in that service.
„Ã Internally he is simply another brother attempting to hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. We fail and succeed, just like any member of the flock.
A shepherd needs the sheep as much as the other way around. A people’s contribution to establishing both themselves, and their pastor: receive and reciprocate.
Exhortation
This is the art of spurring one another on to good works. There was a faithful pastor who had taught his people over the years to love and care for people. He taught them from God’s Word that life’s pressures were going to come, and that God’s Word would be the difference between being conquered, and being victorious. The faithful pastor faithfully pastored.
And then his wife left him. The pressure of life had arrived.
He hadn’t seen it coming; had no idea she would do that. And it wasn’t somebody else who needed prayer or presence or patience; now it was the pastor who was alone and undone. He was powerless - How could a divorced man serve this congregation? He resigned, and sought other employment. He was brokenhearted; he was obedient to the Word, but broken.
A few years passed. And then the call came.
Pastor?
Hi, Ralph. It’s good to hear your voice.
Me too. Pastor, we want you back.
Huh?
You’re our pastor. You’ve taught us God’s Word, and loved us, and been patient with us. If we’ve learned anything we need to do it now. Will you come back?
Beloved, you may not agree with that church’s interpretation of divorce and pastoring, but you have to admire their willingness to love in a hurting situation. They were established in love.
Fifteen years later I preached that Pastor¡¦s going-home graduation service. The church house was full, and there were people standing outside the building for lack of seats inside. The love exchanged between that Pastor and flock overflowed the community¡Kand that¡¦s just what Paul had in mind!
I plan on leading that way, and being worthy of that kind of love, and that kind of joy ¡V and the ultimate being found faithful that comes from the one who I long to hear say, well done, thou good and faithful servant.
I urge you to go that way¡Kand I have every confidence that you can live that way; you can live in that paradox of
„Ã giving, serving and worshipping as if the very existence of the Kingdom of God depends on you.
„Ã And at the same time, laughing and loving because you are resting in the joy that the Kingdom of God is not dependent on you, but provided for you as an heir ¡V a loved brother or sister in Christ.
We have a lot to do here at Bethany. We have a good name in this community, and a good start together on building our relationship as pastor and people. Let¡¦s (as Mr. Wesley would say) go on to perfection together, people of the Book, people of love and respect ¡V people of God who are found faithful!
Benediction:
May the Gracious Lord of grace and peace make His presence and patience your every waking thought ¡V and your consuming passion as you love the world He sends you to this week! In the name of the Father, Son, H.S.
