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PASTOR AND THE CHURCH

United or Divided  

LIFE'S POWERFUL TESTIMONIES

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE, NEW YORK CITY

3 May 2009   Pastor and the Church                                 3 May  2009
 

What are the qualities of a perfect pastor – it could be a long list which may include all the acts and activities of taking care of his flock-  praying and visiting, caring and calling, good preaching, generosity and giving, gentle and kind and good temperament, connecting to the young and old folks, hospital visits and attending wakes….etc. What do pastor go through and do we really understand them.

1 Corinthian 1:12

¹²What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow

Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas^[a]"; still another, "I follow Christ."

There is a problem of division even in the early church- Paul, Appollos, Cephas/ Peter or Christ . From racial perspective, the Greeks probably follow Paul and Appollos and the Jews – Peter and Christ. Paul is  recognized as the pioneer to the gentile world  (Greeks in the early church). From skills standpoint - Paul’s ability to expound on correct teachings example on the issue of circumcision – getting saved  by trusting the Lord (baptism)  and not justified by physical circumcision.  Followers may follow loyalty to Peter – who is one of the original apostle and whom Jesus has mentioned “upon this rock I will build my church”. Yet there are others that remained neutral- follow and focus upon Jesus.

So even as we look at church pastors, that have gone before us , current pastors and those yet to come.  We can discern similar pattern amongst members to favor one over another due to racial ground, nationalistic lines,  eloquence, loyalty (due to baptism by a pastor).

There are situations where the congregation supports their pastor inspite of his weaknesses. Yet there are also congregation who dislike their pastor for different reasons – their preaching, their admin or organizing weakness or just because they felt that their pastor is not so spiritual because they never make altar call. It is  not correct to criticise your pastor outside the church – instead before any negative thoughts, we should reflect and ask if we have appreciate our pastor enough for the good things. It is also good to consider the Pareto principle- 80%/20%. Focus on the better 80% ( greater good) rather than the negative 20% ( shortcomings). Stop criticising and comparing, instead support your pastor and unite.

1 Corinthian 1:13

¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into^[b] the name of Paul? ¹⁴I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.

Another point to note is that we often take a worldly view and personal perspective in our critique of church and pastor- we see weaknesses, judge people based on our experience of the world. We are, instead, to adopt a spiritual view:

1 Corinthian 1:27-31

²⁷But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."^[d]

Moreover, each member of the congregation has his role and each pastor has his role in building the church of Jesus. As in early church of Corinth, Paul planted the seed, Appollos watered it, maybe Peter also has a way to help it grow ..etc

1 Corinthian 3:5-11

 ⁵What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. ⁷So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. ⁹For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

 ¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Hence, with every change of pastor, we need to look at it from God’s purpose and God’s view, bless and support them, agreed to disagreed and better still do not disagreed, cover their weakness and appreciate more.

1 Timothy 5:12

⁵The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith

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10 May 2009   Confession and Confrontation 

We are not perfect. The transgressor will confess. Confession is good for the  body, soul and spirit- our entire body and being. Confession is a healthy attitude. In verse 1 and verse 2,  God present 2 incentives/ blessings for those who come to Him and are forgiven. There is no more guilt or deceit as God cover your sin. 

Psalms 32:1-5

 ¹ Blessed is he
       whose transgressions are forgiven,
       whose sins are covered.

 ² Blessed is the man
       whose sin the LORD does not count against him
       and in whose spirit is no deceit.

 ³ When I kept silent,
       my bones wasted away
       through my groaning all day long.

 ⁴ For day and night
       your hand was heavy upon me;
       my strength was sapped
       as in the heat of summer.
       Selah

 ⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
       and did not cover up my iniquity.
       I said, "I will confess
       my transgressions to the LORD "—
       and you forgave
       the guilt of my sin.
       Selah

Confrontation with God

David, a man after God’s own heart, has to be confronted with his sinful endemic nature. Hand of God was heavy upon him as he lives in sin. Verse 3 and verse 4 illustrate the consequences of sin- it leaves us miserable and frowning inside. Sin make us cunning, wear a mask and pretend. If we do not confess, sin can destroy, drain and dry us up- mentally, emotionally , spiritually. We become lethargic- all the jest and zeal will be stripped away.

Verse 5 urges us to make right with God. We are to be honest and truthful, and acknowledge our sin. David admits that he sin against God and receive forgiveness.

1^st John1:9-10

⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Psalms 32:6-7

 ⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
       while you may be found;
       surely when the mighty waters rise,
       they will not reach him.

 ⁷ You are my hiding place;
       you will protect me from trouble
       and surround me with songs of deliverance.
       Selah

The key is prayer. Jesus life shows us he pray and talk with God constantly- start with prayer, ministry also in prayer, ending in prayer. Now he is interceding for us. When you pray  to  God regularly – we create a spiritual hedge/ wall. God provide a shelter  to preserve us. He surround us with songs of deliverance from ungodly people - like Job of old- "the one who fear and pray to you". The godly prays to you while you may be found, but on the day of wrath- God will conceal himself.

Psalms 32:8-11

 ⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
       I will counsel you and watch over you.

 ⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
       which have no understanding
       but must be controlled by bit and bridle
       or they will not come to you.

 ¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
       but the LORD's unfailing love
       surrounds the man who trusts in him.

 ¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
       sing, all you who are upright in heart!

God specifically instruct us in His ways but we need to first call on Him.

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HE WHO KNOWS NOT AND KNOWS NOT THAT HE KNOWS NOT – AVOID THEM

HE WHO KNOWS NOT AND KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS NOT – TEACH THEM.

HE WHO KNOWS AND KNOWS NOT THAT HE KNOWS  – AWAKE  THEM.

HE WHO KNOWS  AND KNOWS THAT HE KNOWS  – FOLLOW HIM.

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17 May 2009 United or Divided 

The growth of the early church and its impact were not from buildings, music or instruments- it comes as a result of the unity in the church and of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They were united and in one accord.

Abraham Lincoln also based on verse 25 to explain the need for all Americans to be united  and not divided- slaves versus freeman.

"United we stand, Divided we fall" is a phrase that has been used in mottos, from nations and states to songs. The basic concept is that unless the people are united, it is easy to destroy them. This is a counter to the maxim divide and rule.

Mark3:22-26

 ²²And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub^[c]! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

 ²³So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? ²⁴If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.

The teachers of the law were blinded  and instead of honouring God- they find fault with divine manifestations of God- this is Satan ‘s work- to divide and create distrust in the house of God.  Divided we become weak and fall. The house will collapse.

It is sometimes said alcohol, drugs and sexual problems ruins thousands but quarrel, fighting , gossiping and other negative  attitude ruin tens of thousands. We should avoid negative thoughts and statements that do not lead to peace. We must stop critical , cynical and judgmental words. Sometimes, you may win an argument but you will also feel restless. It is important to keep the peace- it is like superglue that bond us together.

Eph 4:2-3

²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

1^st Corinthians 12:12

¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

1^st Corinthians 12:25-26

²⁵so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Worship belongs to the Lord and each one of us can contribute in different areas, in different things  and in different dimensions. Do it as unto the Lord- musicians, worship leaders, backup singers..etc. Others can do well to come on time, preparing their family  and children to be ready for church, building up regular and good church going habits. There is this story of a lady who is a regular church goer  and she goes to church on Wednesdays and Sundays  with her dog. She performs the routine of sitting at the back and praying at the altar before going home each time. Her husband detests it and would hurt her. Finally after she passed away,  the dog continues with the church going routine and her husband was curious. After following the dog- and witnessing what the dog have been following its master all these years sitting at the back and praying at the altar - her husband was changed and transformed and saved. God work in mysterious ways.   

In modern multi-tasking environment with the compression of time, we tend to wear multiple hats but no matter how much we can do- our days are all numbered. But in the time that we have, let’s inspire one another to be united  as one for the Lord.

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