APPROVED

“Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 CSB)

The commendation of a pastor by the congregation is important.  However, the truth is that a shepherd of God’s flock has a higher pursuit— approval by the Great Shepherd.  

Commitment in the study of God’s Word with a passion to be correct in the sharing of God’s Word is the elders’ great assignment.  He must do many other things, but feeding the flock of God is paramount.  If he fails here, then he fails.  

Hopefully, the sheep will appreciate the meal, but even if they turn their noses up at it or look for another pasture where more sweet treats are offered, the man of God must dig into the Word of God, stand upon it, and speak it with accuracy and authority.  

For this, he will give account to God.

RESTORED TO USEFULNESS

We seem to hear increasingly of some well-known pastor who has fallen. For those who don’t make national headlines, there are others in small churches who resign in disgrace.  Is it more rampant, or more publicized? I suspect the former.

Be that as it may—how does it happen and can such a man ever be restored to usefulness?  2 Kings 6:1-7 gives us some guidance.

Consider, THE USEFULNESS THAT IS REQUIRED.   “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, ‘See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.’ So he answered, ‘Go.’ Then one said, ‘Please consent to go with your servants.’ And he answered, ‘I will go.’ So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.” (v.1-4).  We need servants of God who are usable for there is much to be done. Our usefulness for God requires vision and vigor.

There was VISION (v.1-2).  They saw the need and were moved to meet it. Do you have a burden for the work of God to progress? They called upon Elisha to oversee the project (v.3-4a). Leadership is pivotal for progress to be made.

There was VIGOR (v.4b).  The vision is pursued with vigor! There comes a point when inspiration must give way to perspiration. You need a dream, but a dream isn’t enough. Daydreamers never accomplish anything.

Then, we find THE USEFULNESS THAT IS REMOVED.  “But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, ‘Alas, master! For it was borrowed.’” (v.5).  There will be no success without activity, but activity alone doesn’t insure achievement.

Ponder THE LOAN OF OUR ABILITY, “it was borrowed.”  The ability of the man to chop the tree wasn’t his own, but it was borrowed. Every now and then I’m listening to Rush Limbaugh and he says of himself, “Talent on loan from God.” Well it is. We are stewards—our gifts and abilities are on loan from God. We are going to give an account one day.

Then comes THE LOSS OF OUR ABILITY  “the iron ax head fell into the water.”  He became lax. He didn’t notice that the head of the ax was loosening. His laxity led to looseness and his looseness to loss. We can get so busy working that we stop watching. Jesus warned, “Watch and pray lest you fall into temptation.” If we are so busy in the work of God that we neglect the worship of God we are headed for a fall. Little by little this leads to loose living and loose living eventually leads to lost usefulness.

Thankfully there is THE USEFULNESS THAT IS RESTORED,  “So the man of God said, ‘Where did it fall?’ And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, ‘Pick it up for yourself.’ So he reached out his hand and took it.” (v.6-7).

Restored usefulness requires A REPENTANT CONFESSION  (v.5b-6a).  He mourned over his loss. He confessed and acknowledged the place where it was lost. There is a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. After Peter denied Jesus, his bitter tears were the seeds of fruitful restoration. You get back on the road of righteousness where you took the devil’s detour. Where did you fall? Confess it to God with sincerity.

Then there follows A RENEWED COMMITMENT (v.6b-7). The stick causes me to think of another piece of wood—the cross. That cross is the source of our cleansing, but it is also the standard of our commitment. You must die to self to be useful for God.

We can be restored also. Where did you fall? How did it happen? Will you repent and seek God’s forgiveness? Come to the cross and you can be restored.  It might be a difference place or a different position, but you can yet make a difference IF you will do DIFFERENTLY.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHEPHERDING

In one sense, social media is wonderful for a pastor to see what the sheep are doing.  With a large flock, it sure helps keep up with them. Yet, what I often see is heartbreaking.  It makes you wonder if you are accomplishing a thing. The language, behaviors, pictures posted, things celebrated—can cause you to lose sleep. They don’t like correction, either. There are other posts that help you know that some “get it,” and are growing in faith. That is encouraging. Of course, the Good Shepherd  that knows me, loves me—and grieves over my wickedness.  That’s what shepherds do. Anybody else feel that way?

FAITHFUL TO THE CALL

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,” (I Timothy‬ ‭1:12‬‬)

In Gospel ministry, it is easy for the pastor to be focused on fruitfulness. He looks for results—with a twofold temptation. He may be discouraged when the numbers of people professing faith and attending worship are in decline. He is tempted to give up. If, on the other hand, it is a season of growth—more bottoms in the pews and more bucks in the plate, he may be tempted to puff up.

It isn’t that fruitfulness is unimportant. Jesus said that the Father is glorified when we bear much fruit (John 15:8). The key to such fruitfulness is abiding in Christ—a vital and vibrant connection to His life within us (John 15:1-7). Yet, our ability to discern how fruitful we are is not always easily measured here and must await the judgment of Christ hereafter. A congregation may increase numerically through carnal means—a mile wide and an inch deep—or, the soil may be rocky, shallow, and weed-infested in the main (Matt.13:3-7) with small numbers growing spiritually (v.8) in ways hard to detect—such as in love (John 15:9, 17), obedience (v.10), joy (v.11), devotion to Christ (v.12-15), answered prayer (v.16). The church may not attract a lot of people, but be scorned by the world (v.17-25). The rejection of the world may indicate their connection to Christ!

So, yes, seek to be fruitful in ministry, but focus on being faithful. Our fruitfulness, as God evaluates it, will rest in our faithfulness. A farmer may be faithful in a season of drought and see little fruit. There are some things beyond his control. What is always within his control is faithfulness to the task. Thus, God is looking for faithful men. Paul rejoices in our text that God had “counted me faithful.”

Although we must surrender ourselves in sacrificial service to the Lord, nonetheless this is an indicator of God’s grace at work in us and through us, so that even in this we must give Him glory and not claim it for ourselves. Paul speaks of how God employed him—“putting me into the ministry”—and enabled him—“Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me.”  As the Apostle was grateful for the grace of a call to Gospel ministry, so must we, who have such an assignment, be filled with awe that God would choose us!

So, as a pastor facing another Lord’s Day tomorrow, let us prepare our souls spiritually in seeking the Spirit of God and prepare our sermons dutifully in studying God’s Word. Then, let us be faithful to preach the truth in love, without fear or favor, trusting in God to make us fruitful.

THE GRACIOUS MANDATE OF GOSPEL MINISTRY

Every Christian is called to gospel ministry—in the sense that we are called to salvation and service. We have freely received the Gospel and are to freely give. The Spirit has gifted every member of the church and in the context of that local church and its community are meant to exercise those gifts. It is full-time work, even if we are a factory worker, a business executive, or a waitress; there is never a time we are not on the job of serving Christ.

Having said that, it is also clear from Scripture that God sets aside certain men for church leadership. That is the focus of 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

A man must have a CALL.  He “desires the position,” not as a matter of carnal covetousness, but a sense of Divine compulsion. Paul put it this way, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor.9:16).  There is an inner drive he cannot escape.

A man must have good CHARACTER. The qualifications listed in 1 Tim.3 are primarily those of character. No matter how skilled a man may be in speaking and leading, if his example cannot be followed, he is not worthy to shepherd God’s flock. This is the foundation of his ministry, and unless it is solid, eventually his leadership will collapse to the ruin of many.

A man must have a level of COMPETENCE. Although this is secondary to character, it is still important. He will have shown he is competent in leadership by how he shepherds his family. The home is the laboratory where leadership is tested and proven. He will also manifest a competence in communication as well, “able to teach,” (1 Tim.3:2). Since he will feed the flock the Word of God, he must exhibit that capacity.

A man must have CONFIRMATION. His wife and children will confirm it—that he is a man of God in the family who can lead the flock. The community will confirm it—“Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside,” (1 Tim.3:7a). He must be respectable in his dealings in the world if he is to have a hearing for the Gospel and not be branded a hypocrite. The church will confirm it—as they examine his call, character, and competence, finding  a level of spiritual maturity that qualifies for laying hands on him in support of ordination.

As John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  That is true to the Word of God in the local church.

THE GOD WHO IS THERE

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms‬ ‭139:7-10‬)

We try to be everywhere through technology.  When I first came to Pole Creek Baptist Church, almost a quarter of a century ago, I had a pager.  If the church office needed to reach me, they dialed my pager, and I knew to find a phone to call in.  That seems such an antiquated method. Now I can connect worldwide with a click.  Most everywhere I go, I can be reached on my cellphone or call someone by taking it out of my pocket and hitting a button. I don’t even have to do that. My iPhone can be in the cup holder of my car and I say, “Siri, call so and so...” and almost instantly I am connected with someone as I drive down the road.

This Sunday afternoon, I plan for our mission team to Albania to talk with the Wagners—our missionaries there—about our upcoming trip. We will see and speak with someone halfway around the world on the FaceTime app. Then, there is Zoom, and other apps, that allow for meetings of people not even in the same room. It has been said that, “We project a presence everywhere but aren’t present anywhere!”

That is never true of God!  He is ever present. He is always there.  If you are a lost lamb, God comes seeking you!  You are never too far for Him to reach you. If you are a hurting child, He comes to you.  A sparrow, hit by a semi-truck, flutters to the ground, and as it weakly takes in its last breaths, the Creator comes and comforts it. Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke‬ ‭12:6-7‬). As the old Gospel song affirms, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

He is the God who is there!

THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF GOD’S OMNISCIENCE

There are at least seven blessings that are the practical effects of the omniscience of God.

• There is consolation for us in difficulties.  In an unemployment line, hospital room, funeral home, wherever—you are not alone!

• There is direction for us in decisions.  The Good Shepherd walks with His sheep.  Having a Guide by our side is better than even a map in our hand!

• There is protection for us in dangers.  We may say with. David in Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”  Why? “For You are with me!”

• There is companionship for us in desertion. “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.” (Ps.27:10). The Lord has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb.13:5b)

• There is encouragement for us in depression.  At our lowest point, God is there.  Corrie Ten Boom who was locked away in a Nazi concentration camp, where her sister would die, testified, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

• There is provision for us in witness.  “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”  That was our Lord’s promise to His church as we have been given the Great Commission to reach the world with the Gospel. We can’t do that in our power, and we need not, for He goes with us.

• There is conviction for us in temptation.  We may stand with conviction and not surrender to compromise with evil.  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter‬ ‭5:8-11‬). Yes, Satan is a roaring lion seeking to devour you, but we have the Almighty Lion of Judah standing to deliver you!

Embrace these promises of His presence today and they will make a difference in your life—the reality of God with us!

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE: SOME CRITICAL TRUTHS DESCRIBED

The Psalmist makes clear that God is in all places at all times.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalms‬ ‭139:7-10‬)

This is the attribute of God called His omnipresence. As we look into the Word of God today, there are some critical truths described for us as we focus on John’s Gospel.

The first truth to ponder is ILLUMINATION.

“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John‬ ‭1:9‬)

Everyone, everywhere has some light of the knowledge of God.  If we respond to the light that is given, then more will be given.

The second truth to consider is INCARNATION.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John‬ ‭1:14‬)

The ever present God in spirit came to manifest His presence in time and space in the incarnation. Jesus came to walk among us that we might know the Father and see God.

The third truth to weigh is INDWELLING.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-18‬)
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This is the presence of God ever with the believer—the Spirit within us.  We are never alone!  God is there.

The Triune God is with us.  The Father is ever-present. The Son came to live among us, now ever lives to intercede for us, and is coming again so we may live with Him always. The Spirit is in the child of God and will never leave us.  These are some of the wondrous truths of the omnipresence of God!

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE: SOME KEY WORDS DEFINED

Creation itself speaks of God’s existence and His power.  There is enough evidence to make us accountable to seek Him, but we must look to the Scripture to truly know Him.

Paul, addressing a pagan audience in Acts 17:22-28 points to the general revelation and then proclaims the specific application.

“Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, “For we are also His offspring.”’”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:22-28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let me share with you some key words—theological terms you should know.

The first is IMMANENCE—God is fully present in His creation.  Wherever He is, all that He is as God is fully present.  Yet, He is not some mere Star Wars “Force.”  God is the source and sustainer of all matter, yet He is not composed of matter.  Deism sees God as distinct from creation and detached from it.  God’s immanence means He is directly involved in His creation.

The next word is TRANSCENDENCE—Though fully present in His creation, God is wholly independent of His creation.  Pantheism sees God as part of the creation—that He is in the water, the trees, and so forth.

Next, consider God’s PROVIDENCE—God is actively directing His creation.  God rules and overrules all that occurs, directing everything in every time to the fulfillment of His perfect will. the hymn writer, Isaac Watts wrote: “Within Thy circling power I stand; On every side I find Thy hand; Awake, asleep, at home, abroad; I am surrounded still with God.”

Finally, there is SUSTENANCE—God is continually preserving His creation.  “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (2 Pet.3:5-7). Without God’s omnipresent grip, all things would fly apart.

Find comfort today that, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”  Such a profound truth in a simple childhood tune!

THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” (Psalm 139:7-12)

Where can you go to get away from God?  The Psalmist says, “Nowhere, for God is everywhere.”  Go to the most extreme height—heaven—and He is there for saints to enjoy His worship.  Go to the most extreme depth—hell—and He is there for sinners to experience His wrath.  Go as far east as you may—to where the sun rises in the morning or as far west as you may—the uttermost parts of the sea—and you will find God.

This is what we call the omnipresence of God.  God is always present.  So, let’s learn about God’s omnipresence this week.  That will be our course of study.

FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHURCH

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:24-29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The church will not rise above the level of commitment expressed by her leaders.  Paul was passionate and productive, “for the sake of His body, which is the church” (Col.1:24).  I want to challenge every leader—myself included—to elevate their effort for the sake of Christ’s body, the church.  I want to challenge those who are not in positions of leadership to pray for and encourage those who are—and to consider getting busy yourself!

There are several imperatives for us to follow in Colossians 1:24-29.

1. SUFFERING FOR THE CAUSE (v.24)   Why did Paul joyfully suffer?  It was for the cause of Christ; for “you,” he says—meaning the church.  We are familiar with the physical fitness mantra, “No pain; no gain.”  That is true spiritually, as well.  Every leader God uses has been forged in the fire of difficulty.  This wasn’t theoretical to Paul.  Note the word, “now,” and be reminded that as he was writing it was from a prison.  He was suffering in jail—his only crime being faithfulness to Christ.  But, he rejoiced!

2. STEWARDSHIP OF THE CAUSE (v.25-27)   Mark the word, “stewardship.”  It’s about more than money.  Paul was called to be a “minister.”  That word has to do with service.  Each of us has a work to do for God.  A steward was a household manager who took care of his master’s assets.  That’s what we do in the House of God.  Paul was a minister of the Word—a mystery he was unveiling.  The Apostle was part of a great movement to spread the Gospel around the world.

3. SUCCESS IN THE CAUSE (v.28)   Paul was a man of focus!  Benjamin Disraeli said, “The secret of success is constancy of purpose.”  D.L. Moody stated, “Give me a man that says, ‘This one thing I do,’ not ‘these fifty things I dabble in.’”  Paul had a laser-like intensity in his mission—to proclaim Jesus!  This is the church’s mission and is to be the leaders’ passion.  We cannot allow anything to distract us.

4. STRENGTH FOR THE CAUSE (v.29) Spiritual responsibilities demand supernatural resources. We are not smart enough to lead the church properly. We are not strong enough to lead the church productively. God wants to work in us and through us. This work is the work of God and He alone can do it, but remember this lesson I heard from John Maxwell years ago, “Apart from God, we cannot, and apart from us, God will not.”

FALLEN!

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭9:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬).

In the front cover of my Bible I have this reminder:

“The better the man, the better the preacher. When he kneels by the bed of the dying or when he mounts the pulpit stairs, then every self-denial he has made, every Christian forbearance he has shown, every resistance to sin and temptation will come back to strengthen his arm and give conviction to his voice. Likewise every evasion of duty, every indulgence of self, every compromise with evil, every unworthy thought, word, or deed, will be there at the head of the pulpit stairs to meet the minister on Sunday morning, to take the light from his eye, the power from his blow, the ring from his voice, and the joy from his heart.” (Clarence Macartney)

Men, it’s bad if we fall, but what makes it worse for the pastor is that many others will trip over him when he does.

GET REAL

I read this quote from Spiros Zodhiates in, "A Richer Life for You in Christ," his commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:

Said an archbishop to the manager of an acting group, "Tell me, how is it that you actors hold the attention of your audience so vividly that you cause them to think of things imaginary as if they were real, while we of the church speak of things that are real but our congregations take them as imaginary?"

"The reason is plain," answered the actor.  "We actors speak of things imaginary as if they were real; while too many in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary."  No wonder much preaching is both uninteresting and worthless. It was said of one famous old preacher, "He showed us the fires of hell, and then he swept our souls up to the gates of heaven."  When you talk about Christ, you have to believe in the transforming power of the Gospel if you expect to convince anyone else of its power to save. (p.17)   

Gentlemen, let us get real in our preaching or get out of the pulpit!