STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #18

People will leave your congregation. They will die.  They will move.  They will get mad.  They will have personal problems they do not want to confront. They will find a shinier new toy down the road—better preacher, bigger ministries, etc. Ours is a consumer culture and that has infected the church. Get over it. You can’t lead people if you need people. Everybody ain’t gonna like you. Suck it up, buttercup! 

Now, if you have abused them, neglected them, or in some other sinful way failed them, repent and seek reconciliation!  Since pastors are not perfect, and people we pastor are not perfect, then the formula for interpersonal issues is ever present. Yet, many are unwilling to admit there are issues and try to resolve them. Pastor, lead the way, but recognize that some will not want to deal with this messy business. They will move on.  Bless them, and you move ahead without them!

Certainly we grieve for every sheep that strays from the flock and must do what we can to seek them. But, after repeated efforts, understand that some are not sheep—they are goats.  Jesus was the only perfect leader, and He even had to let one of his twelve disciples walk away.  For, the rest of us, it will happen with more frequency. You will grieve, but the mission is greater than a particular member—so, take up the cross and follow Jesus.

At the end of the Apostle Paul’s ministry, most seemed to have abandoned him. It hurt—and it will hurt you. Do you think he was a failure?  It is a ludicrous suggestion. It is life in a fallen world—and that is the spot where we serve. Paradise is coming, but we are not there yet.  So, don’t sit in a corner, and sulk. Stop your whining and get busy doing what you can!

The great Jonathan Edwards was used of God to bring spiritual awakening and thereby contributed in a significant way to the birth of America. His sermon, “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God,” is renowned, centuries later. His congregation fired him!  Ultimately, we serve the Lord Christ, and we can leave the rewards and recognition to Him.  

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #17

Trust your wife’s intuition. Pontius Pilate should have listened to his wife. As Jesus was on trial before the Roman Governor, she warned,  “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.”  (Matthew‬ ‭27:19‬ ‭CSB‬‬). That turned out well for us, as God accomplished His work of redemption for sinners through the hands of sinful men. It didn’t turn out well for Pilate, as he sought to wash his hands of injustice.  Water had no power to cleanse the guilt in his soul. 

Women seem to have an intuition that men do not have. God has wired the sexes up differently. My wife notices things that I am oblivious to and senses things that I am not aware of. There have been numerous times she has saved my hide by telling me what the results of my actions will be before I take them. Some times I have pressed on in a particular matter, thinking, “That’s not an issue!”  I found out that it was!

God has given you a precious gift if you have a godly wife. Mine prays for me, reads her Bible, and gives me a perspective I do not have and that I need. Seminary professors are great in what they teach, but your wife will instruct you in things you cannot learn in a classroom.

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #16

Don’t make big decisions on Monday morning. Unless you are backed into a corner with a gun stuck to your head, there is rarely a reason you would have to do it the first thing when you walk into the office. 

Mondays can be tough for preachers. You have poured yourself out on Sunday. Your tank is empty and you are running on fumes. The best thing you can do is catch your breath, open up your Bible, and spend some time in prayer. After that, look at the calendar and plan the week.  

Without this, your perspective on that big decision will tend to be skewed. A thousand things may be swirling around in your head that make the kind of focus necessary for that big decision nigh impossible. Yesterday, you found out a good deacon has been diagnosed with cancer. Sister Bertha got sideways with you—again. There was not the visible response to the sermon for which you had hoped. Need I go on?  If you are a pastor, you have sat in that Monday morning chair of blues. 

Now, you might blindfold yourself and get lucky and hit the bull’s eye with the arrow of your decision. But, why risk it? The odds are rather that you will miss—and the miss is as huge in a negative way.

Pray some more.  Seek counsel from a trusted friend or two. Pray again.  Then you can make that big decision on Monday afternoon—or first thing Tuesday morning!  But, don’t keep putting it off!  That’s another issue, and for another post. 

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #15

 

Set parameters on counseling—particularly when meeting with women or minors. There needs to be a policy fence put up for your protection. There is the so-called “Billy Graham rule” that ought to be adopted. Early in his ministry, he set a policy where he and his team would not meet with women alone, ride with them, dine with them, and so forth. It apparently worked, as their evangelistic organization was scandal free from charges of immoral behavior, so far as I know.  

Even in the case where one might avoid yielding to temptation, this does not prevent a false accusation from being made—and there will always be those who believe it.  So, DON’T MEET BY YOURSELF WITH A WOMAN OTHER THAN YOUR WIFE!  Be careful what information you share with any lady, and how much time you spend with them.  If David—a man after God’s own heart, who brought down a giant with a slingshot—could fall, so can we.

Another big danger is the internet.  You are always but a click away from being sucked into the cesspool of pornography. Pastors and staff need accountability. Filtering software may help, but accountability software is even safer.  Cable TV makes porn easily accessible.  You don’t have to visit an X-rated bookstore.  It’s good to have your wife with you when you travel, or another preacher room with you, so the hotel room doesn’t become a trap to catch you up in lust.  

“Flee from youthful passions...” (2 Tim.2:22a CSB).  Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!   

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #14

 

A prospective and/or new member class taught by the Senior Pastor is vital. It enables him to establish connections with them at the beginning. Also, he is able to establish expectations for them as they begin their membership journey. More than a remote talking head, he becomes a shepherd among the sheep in a more informal setting. 

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #13

Pray that God would take you home to heaven before you become a stumbling block.  Seek to finish well. Pray this often and humbly cast yourself on the grace of God to keep you!  

Look at the contrast between the end of Uzziah and Paul in their service to God. 

“But when he became strong, he grew arrogant, and it led to his own destruction. He acted unfaithfully against the Lord his God by going into the Lord’s sanctuary to burn incense on the incense altar. ... So King Uzziah was diseased to the time of his death. He lived in quarantine with a serious skin disease and was excluded from access to the Lord’s temple, while his son Jotham was over the king’s household governing the people of the land.”  (2 Chronicles‬ ‭26:16, 21‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.”  (2 Timothy‬ ‭4:6-8‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Both had started well, climbed high, but then in pride, Uzziah surrendered to the flesh and fell, while Paul soared in faithfulness on into glory!

What will your end be?

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #12

 

Resist the success SIN-drome. Design ministry to reach the lost rather than marketing to disgruntled church members. There is a reason why people move from church to church. They often bring their dysfunction with them. Let them bless the church down the road. 

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #11

 Remember you aren’t as good as your friends say you are and you aren’t as bad as your foes say you are.

STUFF I’VE LEARNED THAT SEMINARY DIDN’T TEACH ME #10

Have getaways with your wife and don’t neglect your kids. Be careful about how much and what you share with them concerning church people. When you are home, be all there!

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Read Psalm 1

Until the coronavirus pandemic, I had never heard the term “social distancing.”  The government is calling upon us to distance ourselves from contact with others who might infect us and spread the deadly virus.

While the term may be new, the concept is not. The Psalmist is warning us about an even deadlier virus called sin. If we are intimate with those who have given themselves over to it—embrace their counsel, enter their course, and enjoy their company—the contagion will destroy us.

There is a vaccine for this sin virus.  A daily dose of God’s Word has a power to immunize us. Let Scripture be your counselor, chart your course, and its truths your companions. Delight in the Word and digest its message. 

The word “meditate,” is to ruminate, as a sheep chews its cud extracting all the nutrition from the meal. So, we read the Word, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, and apply it—which is transforming.

To change the metaphor, we will be like trees, with roots downward for stability and fruit outward for productivity.  Our branches will be growing and our foliage will be showing—all to the glory of God.  We will not fear death and judgment for we have life, abundant life, here and hereafter—real happiness and prosperity. COVID-19 cannot change that. What if we die?  We can’t really!  All we would do is leave behind the only part of us that gives us a problem and enter the wonder of heaven!

But, not the wicked.  They are not trees. They are tumbleweeds. No root, no fruit, blown along by culture and circumstances—the prevailing winds of the moment. Worse of all, death is a constant fear and judgment a dreadful fate.  They often deny the existence of God because they do not want to consider the consequences of their choice. They did not listen and “shelter in place,” seeking refuge in Christ who alone can save us.

What choice will you make?

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND GOSPEL SERVICE

“When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:12-17‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

The sovereignty of God in salvation means that our salvation is all of His grace. But, God has decreed that He will use His church to proclaim the Gospel that brings salvation.  This is a great tension of truth, to be held in balance. We see here—as throughout Scripture—the paradox of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. These truths are not contradictory, but complementary. 

The section of 2 Corinthians beginning here and going to the middle of the sixth chapter deals with the Christian ministry. While Paul was defining and defending his work in Corinth, he was giving us a measuring stick for all ministry done in the church, whether by laity or by clergy. There are those who feel this section may be a digression. But I feel it is possible this is Paul’s reaction to those who have raised grave questions about the integrity of his ministry. We have therefore been presented in this section of his second letter with one of the Scripture’s grandest pictures of the ministry of all Christians. [Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). 1, 2 Corinthians (Vol. 30, p. 211). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.]

A MISSION THAT IS PROVIDENTIALLY DIRECTED (v.12-13).  OPEN AND SHUT—Opportunity is a door that opens and shuts according to the providence of God. Providence is a composite word—from “pro” meaning before and “video,” to see—thus, combined to speak of God seeing beforehand and in His sovereignty directing all to His desired ends. He has all power to do what He wants and all wisdom to know what ought to be done, motivated by all love, righteousness, and grace to accomplish all for His glory and our good.

That does not mean that I will understand God’s ways. Sometimes they appear contrary to human reason. They are directed by a perfect logic that I cannot attain, and therefore, I must trust Him. Paul did that here.  He apparently came to Troas with a wide open door for preaching the Gospel. Paul was all about preaching “in season and out of season” (2 Tim.4:2b). In other words, as I heard the late Stephen Olford once say about this, “take opportunities and make opportunities.” But, as the Apostle waited for Titus to bring a report concerning the Corinthian church, Titus was a no show. Paul became increasingly troubled in his spirit and this restlessness led him to go seek to find his brother. He walked away from an opportunity and struck out for Macedonia. 

Discerning God’s will does not mean we just take the easy road—sometimes it is just the opposite. Would a pastor leave a large congregation to go to a struggling church revitalization work?  In a carnal churchy way of thinking, no—it’s all about climbing the ladder. But, in following Christ, it is to kneel at the cross, rather than climb the ladder!

We must be cautious about subjective feelings driving our decisions. We can allow human reason to override heavenly direction.  God has led me each step of the way—and thus far, it has always been a step of self-denial. The Lord has disturbed my soul—showing me my time was through where I served, tested my faith by moving me out of the comfort zone, and into a new challenge—that did not make a lot of sense at the time. We live life forward, but understand it backward. All I know is this—God leads His dear children along. 

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Paul was sure that God was leading him (v. 14a). The circumstances were not comfortable, and Paul could not explain the detours and disappointments, but he was sure that God was in control. The believer can always be sure that God is working everything together for good, so long as we love Him and seek to obey His will (Rom. 8:28). This promise is not an excuse for carelessness, but it is an encouragement for confidence. [Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 636). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

A MESSAGE THAT IS POWERFULLY DECLARED (v.14-16).  LIFE AND DEATH—The Gospel is an aroma that is the scent of life to those who receive it and the stench of death to those who reject it.

Paul is using imagery familiar to people of his day. He speaks of the triumphal procession of a Roman general returning. As the victorious legions returned to Rome, all the citizens took a holiday and cheering throngs lined the streets to greet them. It was a spectacular mix of sights, sounds, and smells. The cavalcade might last for days as the conquering heroes wound their way through the streets and up the hill to the temple of Jupiter. The general would ride in a chariot, his armor sparkling in the sun. The vanquished were led behind him—chained to his chariot. Wagons full of wealth—the spoil of battle would be in tow. The fragrance of incense permeated the air—the sweetness of triumph to the victors and the stench of death to the vanquished. 

Using this analogy, Paul portrays Jesus as the Conquering Commander. His followers are chained to His chariot—trophies of His grace, slaves held by shackles of love. The Gospel is the incense—fragrance of life to those who receive it and the fumes of death to those who reject it. 

  Paul regarded himself as a signal trophy of God’s victorious power in Christ. His Almighty Conqueror was leading him about through all the cities of the Greek and Roman world, as an illustrious example of His power at once to subdue and to save. The foe of Christ was now the servant of Christ.  [Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 303). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.]

It is interesting that Paul—facing so much distressing, depressing days, yet saw each as the dawn of hope. Wherever he went and whatever he faced—in a jail, during a riot, hated and harassed, burdened and betrayed—he refused to surrender to the situation about him, but looked to the sky above him and saw victory in Jesus. 

This was the vision that transformed all the circumstances of his life and kept adversity from weighing him down and temporary setbacks from depressing him. It is the loss of this vision of the victorious Christ that creates a defeated ministry and a church wringing its hands. [Chafin, K. L., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1985). 1, 2 Corinthians (Vol. 30, p. 212). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.]

I think we need this reminder in the current crisis of coronavirus. We need to be prudent—God gave us a head for more than just a hat rack!  Wash your hands, be cautious about where you go and whom you are around, if you are sick or at high risk stay home!  What we don’t need to do is panic!  Jesus told us it would be this way to the end of the age. In Matthew 24, He warned of “plagues in various places,” (Luke 21:11). Yet, He underscored that these are creation’s labor pains that will birth the new creation at Christ’s return!  I have read the last book of the Bible—and it mentions awful plagues, but in the end we win!  We are more than conquerors. It is our privilege to share the Gospel everywhere we go—the smell of life and the stench of death—offering compassion or condemnation depending on how people respond to it.  There is to be an aroma about us—the incense of hope!  Peter said thus, “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 CSB)

In the Septuagint the term “aroma” (euōdia) was used of Old Testament sacrifices (Gen. 8:21; Ex. 29:18; Lev. 1:9; Num. 15:3). Paul’s life was a sacrificial offering (Rom. 12:1), well-pleasing to God. The course of his life in proclaiming God’s message while at the same time suffering rejection and attack by many was an extension of Jesus’ life as the Servant of God (cf. Col. 1:24). [Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 559). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

Do we feel inadequate for such a responsibility?  We should because we are!  Even Paul felt the weight of such responsibility was too much for him.  That drove him to his knees, “It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5 CSB)

After all, it is “the fragrance of Christ,” we are exuding. It is His life manifest through our flesh!  There will be those who receive that sweet savor of the Savior.

Yet, there is a word of caution to those who reject the message. With every refusal, there is a hardening of the heart more and more, “an aroma of death leading to death.”  It is impossible for preaching of the Word not to bring results. Scripture warns, “Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” (Luke 8:18 CSB)

Will we have any response to the sermon?  Yes—100%. Some will leave better and some will leave worse, but all will be changed by their choice. Here is the promise I have seen in four decades of ministry, ““o my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” (Isaiah 55:11 CSB)

A MOTIVE THAT IS PURELY DRIVEN (v.17). RIGHT AND WRONG—Our motive, method, and message is either right or wrong, and we have no middle ground.  The word, “market,” used here is interesting in several ways. Many churches today are employing marketing techniques from the business world to inflate the numbers of people attending. I am not saying it is wrong to find ways to contact people and connect with them. We should all be about reaching people. Nor is this a slam on large churches. There are those who are doing it right. There is nothing inherently commendable about a church bring small. Maybe they just stink at what they are doing. I’m not dealing with size, but strategy. Understand the danger of marketing. In the secular world, advertisers seek to identify consumers and design their appeal to stimulate them to make a purchase. They appeal to self-interest. The church needs to remember that what brings people to the church will be required to keep them in the church.  If people come for what they can get out of it, then when they are no longer receiving what they want, they will move on elsewhere. 

Paul said they peddle God’s Word. This word kapēleuontes, “to hawk, peddle,” is used only here. Paul may have had in mind Isaiah’s description of Jerusalem’s unscrupulous Israelites who “diluted” their wine with water to increase their profits (Isa. 1:22; cf. Lucian’s description [Hermotimus 59] of similarly unscrupulous philosophers). So too these false apostles adulterated the Word of God for profit. They served themselves, not God whom Paul represented. They were “greedy for money” (1 Peter 5:2), an evidence of their falsehood. But Paul ministered with sincerity (cf. 2 Cor. 1:12.) [Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 560). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]

It is diluted doctrine—a watered down message that is being peddled by compromising preachers.  They make it palatable to the masses so their marketing will be successful.  As I was preparing this sermon, I saw where a preacher had promised immunity from the coronavirus if people would give to the church.  Greek scholar A.T. Robertson noted:  “It is curious how hucksters were suspected of corrupting by putting the best fruit on top of the basket.” [Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Co 2:17). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.]. This kind of preaching looks good on the surface.  What is offered tastes sweet.  But underneath the fruit is rotten and poisonous.

That is not what Paul gave out. It is an abomination. God help me to be true to the Word of God—and about the saint’s interest and not self-interest. 

CONC.  As concerning the Gospel—it is black and white. There are some things that are in the “gray” zone, but not the Gospel.  People’s response should be to love us or loathe us.  We are not to be concerned if they like us.  We should be met with receptivity or hostility, but never apathy. Christ wants His church hot, but if not had rather we be cold, but never lukewarm!

The undiluted Gospel message is this: repent of your sin and receive Jesus as Savior. Bow to Him today and be saved!  You dare not delay, for you are not promised another opportunity. You may have one, but it will not be like this one. Each time you say no to God, it is easier to say no the next time. You can callus your conscience. 

PURPOSE IN THE PREACHER’S PAIN

I am allergic to pain. When possible, I scrupulously avoid it—but, it is not always possible. If you are a preacher, you will be subjected to pain. We live on a broken planet, filled with broken people. The curse on humanity, brought by the depravity in our sinful state, will at times lead people to rebel against us. Their rebellion is against God and His rule, but since they cannot get to Him, they attack His emissaries. 

Eventually, every preacher will face the need to make decisions that are unpopular with a carnal crowd. He will be called to express convictions that are assailed by those driven more by culture than Scripture. Rejection, ridicule, pressure, and persecution are thorns in our side—thorns that accompany creation under the curse.

Then, there is the pain we all are subjected to—sickness, sorrow, stress in our family, shortage in our finances, and the like. We can grow weary from the daily demands of life and ministry. Being a man of God does not exempt us from adversity. Paul’s life stands in marked contrast to the false “prosperity gospel.”

The issue is not whether we will have pain.  The question is, “How will we respond?”  We wonder, “Is there purpose in the preacher’s pain.”  The overarching purpose for all of creation—for time and eternity—is this, “the glory of God,” (2 Cor.4:15). That is at the heart of the text we will consider. 

1.      THE PURPOSE OF OUR PAIN IS THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S GLORY IN CHRIST. 

⁷ Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; ⁹ we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor.4:7-11 CSB)

It is the glory of Christ that we show in our response to suffering. Twice Paul says, “so that,” pointing to the purpose in the frailty of our flesh (v.7), and that Christ would be “displayed,” (twice repeated, v.10-11). The old King James has, “manifest”—the manifestation of Christ’s life. 

What a treasure we have—the life of Christ indwelling!  The wonder of it all, is that He has chosen to manifest it by placing that glorious One in a jar of clay!  God allows us to be cracked pots—broken by the ravages of life—ready for the garbage dump. Yet, in a weak and worthless being, God’s extraordinary power is displayed!  Who gets the glory?  Only the treasure—Christ, the glorious One!

The preacher may suffer affliction, confusion, hostility, and brutality. Yet, the promise of God is that we will not be crushed under the weight of our burden, we will not be overcome by despair in our perplexity, nor abandoned by God when attacked by men, neither destroyed when struck down by those who hate us. 

Jesus was betrayed, bruised, beaten, scorned, scourged, struck, crowned with thorns, and crucified on a tree. Following Him, is to walk the Calvary Road that He trod. It was in His death that Christ brought life—in dying and rising from the dead, He vanquished death. Here is the principle, “Truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 12:24) 

2.      THE PURPOSE OF OUR PAIN IS THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S GLORY IN CHRIST.

¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak. ¹⁴ For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. ¹⁵ Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. (2 Cor.4:13-15 CSB)

It is the glory of Christ that we speak in our response to suffering. Two times in these verses, the Apostle mentions what is spoken—in a quote from Psalm 116:10 and in his example in following that imperative.  Don’t miss the connection between what Paul believed and what he proclaimed. 

Satan seeks to undermine our faith—to whisper words of doubt. If we are not careful, we may allow the painful circumstances to give credence to the lies. Then, we can find ourselves speaking words of complaint, anger, bitterness, and unbelief. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 

Rather than complain about his pain, Paul chooses to celebrate God’s providence. He proclaims his confidence that life will overcome death, that grace will conquer sin, and that the present woe will be overwhelmed by eternal worship. He restates the Romans 8:28 promise in saying, “everything is for your benefit” (v.15). In his pain, the preacher proclaimed the Gospel—resting in grace and offering grace. More and more people would be impacted in the ongoing proclamation as the witnesses’ commitment, despite their suffering, gave credibility to their claim!  If Paul (and the other Apostles) had not seen Christ in resurrection glory, it makes no sense that they would suffer and die for a lie!

Paul chose to be thankful that he was counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Others would join him in thanksgiving and thereby magnify the glory of God.  Preacher, what do you say about your difficulty?  Do you whine about your suffering or witness for your Savior?

3.     THE PURPOSE OF OUR PAIN IS THE TRANSFORMATION BY GOD’S GLORY IN CHRIST.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Cor.4:16-18 CSB)

It is the glory of Christ that we share in our response to suffering.  Imagine—the very glory of God within us, transforming us from glory unto glory, making us more and more like Jesus!  We share in His life and experience His glory. 

This is why we cannot give up.  Whatever painful problem we face today, we know that eventually it is going to be better. That will ultimately be eternity, but how glorious!  God may give us a reprieve from our pain now. Difficulties today may yield to deliverance tomorrow. This will not last, however. More storms are on the horizon. These bodies of ours are subject to the grinding wheels of time, that at last turn us to dust.  

The outer person is decaying. I see it in the mirror. That is only the old house I am living in. It is not fit for eternal habitation, anyway. The inner man—my true self in Christ—is getting stronger and stronger, even as my body grows weaker and weaker. This is salvation in three tenses: I have been saved from sin’s penalty (justification); I am being saved from sin’s power (sanctification); I will be saved from sin’s presence (glorification). 

I need the proper perspective.  My afflictions placed in the scales of God’s purposes are momentary and light when weighed against the incomparable weight of eternal glory!  Shall I mourn travelling the temporary trail of tears, when it is leading to the destination of everlasting joy?

If we look around us, we will grieve. Let us look above us and be glad!  There is an unseen world that can only be seen with eyes of faith.  Yet, it is eternal. That which we see in the flesh is doomed for the trash dump. 

Preacher, we have a choice. We cannot always evade pain.  That is not the choice. What is in our hands is to choose to embrace God’s purpose in our pain.

I think of this scene in the Fellowship of the Ring as Frodo, the hobbit, complains to Gandalf, the wizard, about the burden he carries:

Frodo: I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.

Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times; but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the Ring. In which case, you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.

THE MEANS, MANNER, AND MOTIVES OF MINISTRY

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time!  Paul tells the church at Thessalonica that his ministry “was not without result.”  Leaders have a goal that drives them. As I have heard John Maxwell say, “They know the way, go the way, and show the way.”

Yet, as Christian leaders, we are not to establish our own direction, but rather be directed by the Word of God. We may be driven more by pragmatism, than Scripture, if we are not cautious. Much of the church world has pointed to success as being large numbers of behinds in the pew and bucks in the plate.  While we ought not discount this—the Bible is replete with reports of numbers added and multiplied, as well as large offerings given—we must make sure that this is the byproduct of Biblical directives and not the end in which we make the end justify the means.

The insinuation in evangelicalism today is often that we must  connect with the culture in order to win them, and that is true. We must build bridges, but may fail to remember that a bridge goes both ways!  We may take the Gospel to the world, but without safeguards the world is brought into the church. Connection with culture can gradually lead to compromise with the culture. Paul is clear that the Gospel was in conflict with the culture (read 1 Thess.2:13-16). It was not popularity, but persecution they received!

The result Paul was aiming for was faithfulness to God and then to trust fruitfulness to God. He could not control how receptive sinners would be to his ministry, but what he could control was his commitment to godly character and diligent service.

THE MEANS OF THE MINISTRY is seen to be the proclamation of “the gospel of God” (v.2). He would not tailor the message to suit the whims of the wicked, lest he promote, “error or impurity.”  It was no bait and switch from “an intent to deceive” (v.3). Paul saw the content as well as the communication of the Gospel as a sacred trust (v.4) for which he was ultimately accountable not to men, but God. The Apostle would not resort to “flattering speech,” to gain a convert to himself (v.5), for that is all they would be—and not a convert to Christ!

Let me move to THE MANNER OF THE MINISTRY. There was boldness in the face of opposition (v.2). He was no spineless, sniveling coward, but a man with courage of conviction.

Yet, he was not a Bible bully, obnoxiously offending others for the sake of a fight. Instead, he asserts, “we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children” (v.7). He fed them truth with the tenderness.  As a mother pours her very life into her children, so Paul invested himself in feeding and caring for them (v.8). How often, do mothers rise in the middle of the night to comfort a sick child or console a scared one?  The Apostle was relentless in his activity, just like that, “Working night and day” (v.9)

There is another side to spiritual parenting—discipleship—and that is the exhortation of a father. Paul describes the manner of his ministry this way, “like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to live worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” (v.11-12). Good fathers have a passion to instill purpose in children—to paint a future plan for them and prepare them to attain it.

Paul’s manner might be summed up this way, “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves” (v.10). These are matters of character. The leader’s character is the foundation of his ministry. If it is undermined, then sooner or later a storm will bring down what he has built—outwardly impressive though it may have been.

Let us conclude with THE MOTIVES OF THE MINISTRY. If the gospel of God is our means of service, then the glory of God is our motive. Twice, Paul mentions, “glory,” in these verses. This is the overarching motivation for ministry—the spring from which all other proper motives flow. The Apostle “didn’t seek glory from people,” (v.6). He had no craving for the spotlight—as many Christian celebrities do today—but, sought the glory of God (v.12). He was not building his own little kingdom, but was motivated to promote the kingdom of God. Paul had no “intent to deceive” (v.3). He was not motivated to beguile followers by doctrinal deviation, as some cult leader would do.

Another motivating factor was an awareness of eternal accountability (v.4). Pleasing God was his aim, not pleasing people. In fact, if you please God, you will often displease people!  Our motivation should be to hear our Lord say,  “Well done!”  In this we “live worthy of God,” (v.11). Our motive is a ministry that is suited to the high and holy calling we have received. Eternal reward and not temporal gain is what moves us. Paul’s example was not to have, “greedy motives.”  There is always a danger that we may do the right thing, but with the wrong motive, and that makes it still wrong!

I hear you Paul!  That is my prayerful desire—to fully embrace the right means, manner, and motives in ministry. I implore you to do likewise!

SWORD AND TROWEL

“The laborers who carried the loads worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.” (Nehemiah‬ ‭4:17‬‬b)

The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls required the laborers to work with a trowel in one hand and to wield a sword in the other. It is an apt description of those God has always used in the building of His church. The sword is required because there are spiritual forces arrayed against us, led by the archenemy of our souls, Satan. The trowel is required for it is not enough to fight our foe, but we must toil in our task, as well.

This was the thought behind Spurgeon’s monthly magazine called, “The Sword and the Trowel.”  He began its publication in 1865. The subtitle read, “A Record of Combat With Sin, and Labour For the Lord.”  The first issue made clear these twin purposes of battling and building. Spurgeon wrote, “We speak in love, but not in soft words and trimming sentences. We shall not court controversy, but we shall not shun it when the cause of God demands it. ...  We would sound the trumpet, and lead our comrades to the fight. We would ply the trowel with untiring hand for the building up of Jerusalem’s dilapidated walls, and wield the sword with vigor and valour for the truth.”  This, Spurgeon faithfully did, till his ministry concluded at his death.

This is our task still. Not all appreciated Spurgeon’s commitment to the truth—and make no mistake if you take a stand for Biblical doctrine and devotion in these days, you will be attacked as a hater, when it is love for the Lord and love, indeed, for those who reject the truth which motivates us, though it is not perceived as such. Yet, we dare not be ever looking for a fight, but must exert positive service in our Master’s cause. We must employ the trowel!

Pray for those who mount the pulpit today to carry sword and trowel. Ask God to help you as you enter the church house for marching orders and construction assignments—to go forth from that assembly into the world and make a difference for the cause of Christ.

SHEPHERDING GOD’S FLOCK

“I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭CSB‬‬

It is both a glad and grave responsibility to shepherd God’s flock. The gracious call of the Lord, should be received with joy—that God would choose someone like us to such a task!  Yet, none should serve unless so compelled for apart from the activity of God, we are doomed to fail. Such failing would be grievous, for the pastor’s responsibility is the soul-care of God’s flock. They are His and He loves them all. Those entrusted to our oversight have eternal worth. Jesus paid the price of His own life to bring those lost lambs into His fold. For each one entrusted to us, we will give an account on the Day of Judgment. We ought to be driven to our knees in prayer for the Divine empowerment of the Great Shepherd that we might be faithful in this task.

Pastors and Pride

Follow this link and let God humble your heart!


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