What a celebratory day. Amen.
I encourage you that after the service that you greet and thank
the deacons and also the new members that will be
acknowledged after the message, just greet them and thank God
for them. And and is let's establish that
culture of being a family, a family in the faith and as well
after the service, I want to also mention.
If you do desire to be baptized, please meet with Pastor Daniel
Bend NE and approach. And he will give you directions
of how to be prepared for that day and so just please keep that
in mind. No more announcements meet me in
your Bibles in the book is second Timothy.
And chapter and chapter 4. And together, we sang.
And worship hasn't concluded. Now, we worship over the word of
God as it is. Washed over us.
And second Timothy chapter 41, verse to consider this
afternoon. One verse that we will meditate
on one verse that we believe suffice has to hear what God has
to say to us in this day and verse 5.
We read ask for you. Always be sober-minded endure
suffering do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your
ministry. Lori, ask you that, you would
empower the ministry of the word.
We ask You O, Lord and we confess that our love is often
small, and it is cold. The Lord, take the fire.
That Jeremiah said, was your word and let it consume our
hearts. Let it burn up all the dross,
all the things that we've gathered, that, that mean,
nothing that are trivial that are broken and unfulfilled
longing. Well, we pray that you would do
a cleansing work. As we receive your word, we
pray, O, Lord, that this word would not be measured by
eloquence or even passion, but Lord, let the word do its work
and let us since the power of the Holy Spirit as he works
through the word into our hearts, this Is our deepest
desire that Christ would be seen that he would be cherished and
adored as his word is spoken to us.
And so Lord, as you did on that mount hide all men, except the
God man Christ Jesus, in our midst, in our hearts, in Jesus
name, we pray, amen. This short verse is what we will
give our attention to today. And it is really a summary of
Paul's instructions to Timothy. It just really crystallizes
everything that he's been saying up to this point.
And as we look at this, this is directly given to a man who is
called to be a minister. And a pastor of a church in his
day, the Apostle himself is ready to share with his
spiritual son of his soon, departure into glory.
And the reward that awaits him because he was a servant of
Christ and of the gospel and after touching on that Will
conclude his letter by giving practical instructions for
immediate needs concerning him and, and warnings that dealt
with their world. But as we will see in the coming
weeks though, there is a context of do.
It is clear that it is between two men and the Ministries that
they represent, it is Rich with meaning for us today and we will
learn that in the coming Sunday is of the Lord Wills.
But today, as we look at this one verse, as we look at this
particular piece of scripture, we see four charges given to us
in like, bullet point fashion and we can take our time on each
of these charges and commands. But instead of looking at each
of them in great detail, we will focus on the last command, the
last command, while not neglecting the others.
But we want to just hear these three words and what they mean
as they really Piss. And they really summarize what
Timothy's duty is and what is yours and mine as well.
Fulfill your ministry. Fulfill your ministry.
Paul is about to spell out those heart-stirring words that I'm
sure you have heard at the funerals of faithful Saints.
I fought the good fight, I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith. I can't imagine being able to
say anything less than that of my own life.
And I hope you, you hope to stay the same at the end of yours.
And this man who was a spiritual father with all of his heart
desired for his Protege desired for this man, that he is
watched, grow over the years and his faith and in his practice.
And in his ministry, he wants him to be able to ReSound that
same declaration when his appointment with death arrives.
But the only way that Timothy can share in that sweet
experience. The only way that he would be
able to reflect back on his journey throughout his days on
the earth and be convinced that it wasn't a waste.
The only way that he can even know a certain excitement at he,
as he is ready to enter into eternity is if he fulfilled his
ministry. It can only come by knowing that
you have done, just that. And Paul's desire for Timothy is
the leadership desire for you that every single one of you in
this place would know now. And you would know at the end of
your life, I have indeed fulfilled my Ministry.
But what does that mean? What does that imply?
It is to commit yourself to the assignment that God has given to
you until you arrived into Glory.
It speaks about way of life. One that is serious about
steadfast service to the Lord. A wholehearted commitment and
desire to be diligent to serving God and the way that he has
ordained for you and the way that he has planned for you and
the way that he has prepared for you to fulfill means to make
completion of Means that, you know, that with the grace and
the time and the strength, and the flexibility that you have
been given, you've done all that, you can to fulfill the
duties of the unique Ministry that the Lord Jesus Christ has
called you to for the Long Haul. Fulfill your ministry.
And it is in that pursuit of life that you and I will know a
richness of the soul. And it is in that pursuit of
life that you and I will have a confidence that they're awaits
us, a reservation of rewards that will outshine all the
trophies and prizes that this world can offer.
Fulfill your ministry. Fulfill your ministry before,
Paul is about to speak of his death before.
He's about to get personal, he gives this charge Timothy, I beg
of you, make sure that your life surrounds around this knowledge.
I am serving the lord, everything orbits around that it
is not a piece of the pie. It is the pie itself and I fill
it with all the other things that I must do as a human that
needs to survive in this life. Fulfill your ministry.
And the spirit of God who expressed this desire for
Timothy through, Paul has no lesser expectations for you and
I at this time in church history, I know things are busy.
I know things are distracting. I know technology has developed.
I know a lot of things have advanced since Timothy's day but
one thing hasn't changed. You have a call in your life.
When God extended his hand and gave you the opportunity to be
saved. He also extended his hand.
Once you said yes to serve him in a particular way it's not
that some have received salvation While others have
received salvation and a special call.
If you have been saved, God has also predestined for you.
A particular way of life that will glorify him as you are in
dwelt with his holy spirit. The holy spirit is not going to
make you a puppet. He invites you into fulfilling
your ministry. That's not really a complex
subject that's Sunday, school level, understanding of the
basics of this Faith but as much as you and I have heard that
growing up our allies and and almost doesn't have impact
anymore because we're so familiar with him industry.
I know I'm supposed to serve God and do this.
We all might understand generally that every Christians
to serve God to a specific capacity.
But the fact that this charge is laid out tells us that it's
possible to miss the mark to actually miss the Mark.
I can believe that all Christians should honor God with
practical service but I can also miss the opportunities that the
Lord would have for me from the moment.
I said, yes, until the moment when he says it's time to come
home, And that's what I want to address today.
Because those same people who would acknowledge that yes God
has called me to a specific Ministry might have at one point
of their lives usually in the early stages of Salvation.
Be totally consumed with the desire to do nothing else but
reserved all your resources and give all your time as much as
possible to knowing that you play a part in advancing the
kingdom of God with your contribution.
But why is it that when we study the trajectory of Christians
lives? Why is it that over time?
Many of them in their service to God, in their Zeal for God, and
their dedication, to a particular Ministry of
Ministries, fizzle out down to Mere Church, attendance Why is
it that many good-hearted? Christians lose heart?
Why is it that that dissipate? Why is it that it evaporates?
And we feel as though, we're just comfortable.
Observing Our Lives play out before us without
intentionality. How does that happen?
Well, this message, aims to provide those insights and
understanding those insights. I pray that you and I would
protect ourselves from these pitfalls that have sabotage,
many callings and have stolen, many crowns that were prepared
to be laid on the Brows of those who have put their faith in
Christ. I want to, I want to tell you
today, why Christians quit? I'm not talking about pastors
quitting the ministry. They do in an alarming rate
every month by the way. I'm not speaking about pastors
and speaking, about every single, one of us who's been
called to serve the Lord, and that can be hidden.
That can be through speaking, that could be through serving,
but why is it that so many Christians quit?
They don't quit on the faith. They don't quit on hearing
sermons, they don't quit on attending a local church but
their hands. Their hands are not on a
specific plow. There are no Calais marks.
There are no scars, there's no dirt underneath their
fingernails. How does that happen?
I want to give you very simple insights.
That will hopefully protect you. And I, from ever, ever, ever
living a life that is meaningless.
If your ambition in life, is to retire somewhere and a nice home
where you paid off all your debts and you get to travel a
bit more than you did before that you have a little bit more
freedom than you did when you re raising kids, I'm telling you
that is not God's plan for your life.
God wants you to serve him until your dying breath.
God wants you to be spent for him.
God has put too much in you for you to look, no different than
those who are pursuing the American dream.
There's a kingdom dream. There is a vision Beyond this
life and that's what makes Christians so unique.
Not just where we're going because we put our faith in the
perfect savior. But how we're getting there?
And what we're doing in the meantime.
Can I tell you why? Some Christians, do not fulfill
their Ministry. Let me give you one meet me in
the book of Colossians chapter 4.
Colossians chapter 4. Let's go to verse 17 together.
This book is one of the most gripping.
Letters that portrays the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
But in this wonderful wonderful spelled out theological
Masterpiece, you come to verse 17 and you see that the Apostle
Paul makes a personal appeal to a man named Mark Hoppus.
And what does he say to our campus and verse 17 of
Colossians chapter 4, he says, and say to our campus See that
you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord?
See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received
in the Lord? Our capacity is only mentioned
here and in the book of Philemon that's it.
We don't have much to work with. But whoever this, man, our
campus is, we can, at least make to strong conclusions about who
he is. And number one, the first thing
that we can understand about this man is that he himself
knew, What he was given by the Lord for the Lord.
He knew what he was supposed to do as a Christian.
If you ask them, what is your ministry?
What do you do? What's your service?
He can, he can tell it to you, he can, he can spell it out.
You can say, this is how I serve in my local church.
This is what I do with my resources.
This is what occupies my time. But what's concerning here is,
apparently there's some hesitation apparently there's
some loss of enthusiasm here enough for Paul, the Apostle to
be concerned concerned enough to write this out in a letter that
would be read publicly, not just to one church but different
churches. I mean, he's calling him out.
We're not giving the reason why. But one thing that we want to
touch on is this, he knew what it was and someone wants to
encourage that as you come to this verse, why don't you
replace our campuses name with your own?
And read it as though, it was directed to you and see how your
heart response to such an admonition.
So I come to this verse and I read and to, and say, to Daniel,
say to Daniel Batar, say see that you fulfill the ministry
that you have received in the Lord.
I put your name there, mentally and read that over and over
again. And then ask yourself, how does
your heart respond? Would you say something along
the lines of as a response to Paul?
I understand. But Paul I got to be honest I
don't know what it is that the Lord has called me to.
I don't know what I have received in the Lord.
I don't know what my part is to play.
I don't know what I am to exactly fulfill.
If that is the case and my question to you is in response.
Are you satisfied with remaining in the unknown?
Is that not challenge you? This is not cause you to
prayerfully consider what it is that the Lord has called you.
What he has reserved for you to receive because God's will for
you. God's will for you is not just
for archivist. It's for all of us in this place
is that you would discover what he has planned for you.
And it's not much of a mystery. God is more eager for you to
obey him. Then you are to obey him.
God is more eager for you to experience the joys of serving
him than you are. And so we have to understand
here. there are copies new and he was not to remain idle.
He was to be active, he was to be engaged.
He was to be busy. Therefore, pray fully evaluate
your desires if you want to know how you can come one step closer
to understanding what it is that the Lord has called you to
prayerfully, evaluate your desires as indicators of how you
might serve God. Paul use that same thing with
Elders. As those who desire, the office
of a overseer, desire. What did the passions in your
heart? What do you feel like you're
inclined to if you just let your thoughts rest.
What do you see? Happening.
What brings you Joy? What brings you excite?
What motivates, you examine such a thing?
And it from that place also consider your gifts as
indicators, of how you can be effective for the glory of God.
Desire is one thing but then look at the ability, there's a
match. The desire though I may not be
matured, there has to be some kind of skill.
What is the gifting? What is natural to you?
What flows out of you, what is not forced?
What is there that has a Grace and that others can recognize
when you do this. I'm blessed.
I can smell the fragrance of the spirit of God through that as
you serve in such a way. And from there also, examine the
needs around you. And do not think little of them.
Everybody that wants to know, God's will wants a message from
Heaven. They want an angel to appear in
their room, but it's much more simple than that to understand.
And to fulfill your ministry does not mean that you will have
some ministerial position that you have some title that you
have some long-term tenor, that's not the case.
It can be as simple as opportunities that come up from
time to time and you joyfully submitting yourself.
To that opportunity, knowing that you're fulfilling a need.
It can be seasonal, it can be sporadic, it can be here and
there, but, you know, within your soul, I am doing something
for the Lord. And the question is, after
knowing that archivist, understood what his ministry us.
As you heard earlier. Why isn't that he is not walking
in it. I would like to add, even this
thought that in your pursuit of wanting to know what it is that
the Lord has called. You consider the undefined
Ministry that our campus is called to.
We aren't told what he's supposed to be doing here.
Some have guessed was it a pastoral position?
Was he a deacon? What was he doing in here?
And I believe that the mystery is Divine Design.
I believe the fact that is not spelled out.
Invites us to realize that no matter what type of ministry
that it is. Wherever God has called, you
whatever it is that he has predetermined for you to be
providentially position in it. Deserves eagerness, it deserves
wholehearted commitment. It deserves for you to give
yourself over with all that is in your heart, it's not just a
particular Ministry, it's a Ministry, the ministry that God
has invited you in some would guess that the reason why our
Corpus is not in this, the way he's supposed to be, is from a
clue in the verse right before it And when this letter has been
read among you have, it also read in the Church of the
laodiceans and see that. You also read the letter from
laodicea and say to our campus. See that you fulfill the
ministry that you've received in the Lord.
How does that connect? Well, one tradition is as not
dogmatic. This is not this.
You can be opinionated about this and your salvation will be
secure, okay? Some would say that the flow of
thought here, might indicate that our campus was a member of
the church in laodicea. He was either a leader of that
church, or he was some prominent figure within that congregation
or he was just somebody who just attended there was a member of
that local assembly. And if it is the case that our
campus was from that church, Where laodicea is also mentioned
is in the Book of Revelation chapter 3.
It is the church that is known for being lukewarm.
It is a church that is being condemned by Christ for not
being completely worldly but not being blazing hot for the Lord
either. And if tradition is right then
for archivists to be from their makes total sense.
Why he is not fulfilling his ministry.
He is among those that gathered as a church regularly but were
lukewarm they were you know is one day they're in it one day,
they're not there. They were not totally sold out
for the cause, but some days were better than others.
You can find the one day where they are blazing for the Lord.
And other day stretch of time there.
They just cold and indifferent. One of the signs of lukewarmness
is a lack of care of whether or not you are actually serving the
lord. It's not even a burden, that's
void. It's just, I'm just here.
I'm just floating in this church.
I'm just floating in life if our campus rust from that church.
Then, could it be that lukewarmness plagued, his heart.
And one of the ways in which, you can see that dominating.
Somebody's soul is when their hands are not busy.
Is when they're not willing to lay down their lives, in some
particular way, there's no inquiry, there's no prayer,
there's no law or what is it that you have of me?
Like, what Paul says, on the road to Damascus?
What shall I do? Lord that, that question isn't
asked. It's not sought after.
And the Church of laodicea. What was the problem?
Well, they were satisfied and riches.
They were satisfied in luxury. They actually boasted in how
much they were succeeding in life and God says you're
pitiable. You're poor, you're naked.
You're blind. In the world.
You look like you're enjoying yourself.
You're having much pleasure and there's Comfort there.
But are you fulfilling your ministry?
Are you fulfilling your ministry?
I have to say quite honestly that many Christians can live
decades in the faith and that that's, that's never a concern.
It might have been at one point but it's never a reoccurring
theme in their lives. Wherever God places.
You that question should be asked.
Okay, Lord here I am at this place, may not be my choice, it
may not be where I necessarily plan to be but what is it that
you have for me to do here? Fulfill your ministry.
The reason why people give up, is there even started to begin
with. They don't know, and they are
content with that. But I would also want to say
something that as I'm bringing this before you, some people are
really burdensome times because of the mystery of what it is.
They make it very complicated or it's not sophisticated enough or
it's not obvious enough or doesn't seem to be as impactful
as what's happening right here. What happens here for 25 minutes
on a Sunday. May I show you how God values
all Ministry. May I show you how God Praises,
what we would often ignore and neglect.
It's an obscure texts that often people read over and don't
consider the impact of, but the Holy Spirit saw no.
So necessary for us to read those simple versus in order to
understand how God views every person fulfilling their
Ministry. Third John, let's go to that
epistle together. It's only a few verses.
And look at verse five, no chapters.
Only one, look at verse 5. John, the Apostle is writing to
a man named Gaius. And he says, in verse 5 beloved
it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these
brothers strangers, as they are, who testified to your love
before the church, you will do well to send them on their
journey in a manner. Worthy of God, what's Happening
Here. John is praising this man named
Gaius, because he was putting much effort into doing, what
when missionaries would travel by when they would come by his
street, his town, he opened his doors.
And he gave him a bed to sleep in.
He gave them food. He gave them a little money for
travel. He brought them in from the
cold. He protected him from threats
outside. All Gaius did was nurture and
Supply, the needs of the sent ones who would go out to preach
the gospel. And he's saying it is a faithful
thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers and they were
strangers. He didn't know them.
It's like, as those speaker was coming to this church and
somebody would volunteer and say, let him stay at my place.
I know of a church, then when they have their conference big
church, what they do is they don't put their pastors and
hotels, but the members of the church, all open their homes.
To these pastors, who are coming for that Pastors conference.
It's the same idea here. But look, what are you goes on
to say in verse 7, for, they have gone out for the sake of
the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles unbelievers.
Now look at verse 8, therefore we ought to support people like
these that we may be able to be fellow workers for the truth.
Now here's the thing, we applaud the ones who are sent out, we
applaud the missionaries and the evangelists the ones who put
their time and effort on the street corners and in the
jungles. And to go from conference to
conference, to build up the Church of Jesus Christ.
God Praises them as well but he also applauds the ones who take
care of them. Not just the scent, but the
supporters of the sent. There's a whole letter here
dedicated to that Ministry. And not only that, he actually
says that we may be in the verse of verse 8 and verse a fellow
workers for the truth. So it's not some sub Ministry.
It's a partnership in God's eyes, who would have thought,
who would have thought that the shunammite woman who opened her
room for Elijah or Elijah rather?
What's the fit in this kind of Praise with to be, was to be
commended the same way guys, was all she did, is that she notice
that this man would come in and out of town.
And so, she asked her husband, why don't we do something for
this profit? And so they build a room and I,
whenever he came to town, he would come.
And and she would feed, I'm sure it was wonderful Middle Eastern
food. And that's all that's all he
received. A place to sleep and food to
eat. And whatever that woman thought
in that moment. According to this, with the
harmony of scripture, she was a faithful partner a fellow worker
to the prophet of God. So sometimes as we sit here, we
hear challenging message on being a minister and being a
serve and then being a slave of Jesus Christ.
We wonder okay well what is it? Send me as a martyr.
Wherever I got to go, hold on. God may call you to be a martyr
and he'll make it very clear and you'll give you the grace to
endure the sword. But what if it is got, if God is
just calling to open your house. Is that a lesser thing in your
eyes? It's not to him.
What if his is just to pray for those who preach?
That's what you're supposed to do.
Just take a little bit more time in your day to dedicate time to
showering. The men that you know, who
Proclaim God's word with intercession What if what if
it's just you intentionally coming intentionally reflecting
on people that you know of this church and you will Target
people with sincere prayed up Spirit lead encouragement.
You know how God sees it, you're a fellow worker.
To the Grand drama of redemption in the world, you are a fellow
worker. Whatever it is whether it's
opening your house or being the person who goes from house to
house because you preach and you have an itinerant Ministry.
God sees it as a partnership. He will praise them equally.
The reason why people don't fulfill their Ministries because
don't even know what it is. They don't really care to know
what it is. That's a tragedy because Paul
says see to it meaning. Hey, make sure our campus knows
I'm calling him out. You can't be idle.
You got to get busy, God's called you to something and were
feeling the neglect of your ministry, get to it again.
Another reason why people do not fulfill their Ministry is back
in our main text. Let's go back to 2nd Timothy 4
5. at first glance, when we read that verse, they kind of seem
like disconnected commands But when you reflect on it long
enough and you actually merge them together, what you see is a
wonderful insight to the potential of God's work in and
through us. What do I mean we read be
sober-minded endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry. Well what does that have to do
with one another? I argue that you can make these
commands and place them into two separate categories.
The first to deal with Timothy's focus and attention to the inner
N. Be sober, minded endure
suffering. What does that mean?
That that's internal. In other words, make sure you
disciple yourself. Don't worry about preaching to
your congregation preach certain truths to your own soul.
Establish yourself from within you're going to have to wrestle
with some of your thoughts Timothy.
You're going to have to deflect certain lies that will try to
weaken your convictions and your courage.
So, before you do anything else, make sure that your mind is
sober, make sure that you have the inner fortitude because the
second reason why people do not endure in fulfilling their
Ministry is because they have failed to understand the
difficulties, there are in Ministry.
Because look at the second set. The first set is inward.
Look at the second one. Do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry. Those are Timothy's energy and
attention going to other men. The first set yourself, the
second set to those around you and even as a pastor you're
going to teach but do the work of an evangelist and what way
Preach the gospel. As you teach God's word, there
are people in your church. Timothy as a pastor, you're
going to occupy much of your time around those who are
Saints. But they're going to be people
from within who are unconverted. Is that you today?
Are you unsaved?
The church is supposed to have pastors that in their teaching,
verse by verse chapter book by book.
Yes, through that should call, Sinners to repentance and faith.
And that is why you hear the gospel from this Pulpit, almost
regularly because pastors are called to preach to those in the
midst. Who do not know Christ.
Not just do the work of an evangelist.
Fulfill your ministry, your pastor, still give your time to
ministering into feeding the shepherding and counseling and
praying with those who are walking with Jesus Christ.
What's the point? You understand?
These categories to our internal to our external and the the
point of that organization is that you and I cannot be
effective in our service to others unless we are first sound
and secure in our own Souls. He didn't say, do the work of an
evangelist, fulfill your ministry, be sober-minded and
endure suffering that's to put the cart before the horse.
He says, you need to be sober and you need to be ready.
And then you can be an evangelist, and then you can
fulfill your ministry. You have many Believers with
Zeal and excitement, Who want to serve God.
But they had no longevity. They burn out.
They give up. They move from church to church.
They sign up for a Ministry like Peter, they declare their
dedication until death. And all it takes is a is a
little trouble, a little turbulence and they're out.
And now we got to fill it up again and then we gotta fill it
up again. Why I'll give you one reason why
they're not sober minded. And they are not prepared to
suffer. What does Paul mean to be
sober-minded means to be clear in your thinking means to be
alert. It's the opposite of being
influenced by external substances.
When a man is drunk, he cannot control his thoughts.
He is influenced by something else.
Determining his words and his actions and his behavior what?
He's telling his you before. Anything else, you need to get a
grip on yourself. You better know how to be
clear-headed. What's the context?
Well, throughout this time, we've been hearing that the
world that Timothy was living in, was going to change
drastically. There's going to be a rise of
depravity. There is going to be people
lining up to going to these sir. How's the church's?
We're teaching demonic things. And so with this shift coming
with the hype of the newest and the latest with sin, all around
them with events breaking out on the headlines.
Timothy could be tempted to be influenced by such things.
He could be swayed and so he had to be so Concrete in his
Doctrine in his ministry, practice through the waves, that
would crash on him and in his church, but not just the World
At Large Timothy's personal World was going to be changed.
His mentor has beloved friend, was going to die.
He's not gonna be able to hold his hand.
He's not gonna be able to send letters to encourage him from a
distance. Timothy is going to go into the
cloud. He's going to go into the storm
by himself at least without Paul.
With all of that being considered.
Paul says, ask for you, Timothy, you better get control of your
thoughts, Because unfortunately, if you are a person cannot be
composed. And those who do not practice,
sobriety of the Soul. Who are easily moved by breaking
news, whether it's in your own life, or in the world, who are
easily taken up by emotions, they're easily angered.
They're easily made sad. Those people who are determined
to serve God, but are also influenced by such things.
Will not be able to fulfill their Ministry.
You just not going to happen. He'll be sporadic.
It'll be like fireworks. It will come here and there.
But the ministry is that there will be a part of will suffer.
Which brings us to the next point because they're not ready
to suffer. Ministries and local churches
often suffer because the people who are serving in those
Ministries, did not anticipate the pain of serving God.
Oh, you think it's just for pastors?
Is a pastor, a separate body? Are we all not connected as
members of one body? When my hand hurts the rest of
my body feels it? When there is pain in my leg,
it's screams throughout my my frame.
You know, this. How much is Paul going to
mention suffering in one letter? Join with me, in suffering,
sufferings here suffering, their suffer suffer suffer, suffer,
suffer suffer. So you think the Bible is trying
to give us a hint Serving. Jesus Christ is not easy.
If you believe otherwise you will not be able to fulfill your
ministry. And if it is been easy, give it
a little bit of time, if it has been easy for a long time, if it
has been easy for years, maybe you're doing something wrong.
It's costly. It's demanding, it's often
underappreciated there are challenges from within and there
are obstacles outside. Sometimes Ministry is often made
more difficult because of stubborn Saints and often
because of satanic forces that try to throw ministries of
course. And again, all you have to do is
be dedicated long enough to a church that preaches God's word
for you to feel what I am talking about.
It's a very unique experience. And as I said earlier, People
suffer. Because Ministry suffer and
Ministry suffer because the ministers weren't ready to
suffer. Ask the people in the parking
Ministry if there's such thing as obstacles.
Ask people in the hospitality Ministry, are there challenges.
Ask the people who serve in Sunday school.
It's not roses. Ask any Ministry.
If there is anything within that has caused them to be pressured,
that's cause them to pray a little bit longer that's cause
them to contemplate their involvement in that Ministry and
you will know that there is suffering in every Ministry.
People don't see it, people don't believe it.
And some when it gets really hard believe that the solution
is to go to another place where they will be less pain and less
trouble you're in for a surprise.
Reminds me of the Whimsical story of a preacher who shared
about a pastor, who came to his wife one day because he had
received the call from a town next door.
And he was invited to be a pastor of another church.
And so, he sits down with his wife.
And he says, listen, I just got a call to another church.
The church is larger. It's much better, the people
cause less trouble. They are refined their cultured
and they don't cause issues from within the pay is better.
So get Honey, I'm gonna go upstairs and I'm going to ask
the Lord if it's his will for us to move to that church.
And his lovely wife, innocently said, fine, I'll come up with
you and we'll pray together and he goes home.
I know you stay down here and you pack.
People don't want to stick it out.
People have come into this thing, whether a pastoral
position or anything else, Less in terms of involvement and
demand. and when the going gets tough, I'm out of here.
And I believe, we're seeing the repercussions of this
individualistic mentality in the church and marriage and
everything else. If it doesn't benefit me, the
moment it begins. It gets costly and demands.
I'm out of here. You will not be able to fulfill
your ministry. Lastly.
Why do people not fulfill? Why do people quit?
Why do people give up? Why are people inconsistent
Because they keep Desiring somebody else's Ministry.
When Paul told Timothy to fulfill your ministry, he was
calling him to be faithful to his ministry to his ministry.
The one that God called them to nothing more.
Nothing less than that. Even when he told to do a work
of an evangelist, he didn't say, you are an evangelist.
He didn't say become an evangelist.
That's the office. He says, in your pasture, it.
Make sure that you have Evangelistic qualities, you're a
pastor still. Many Believers get themselves in
trouble, you know why? Some because they are lazy in
their own lane others because they want to drive in someone
else's. Fulfill.
Your ministry. There are some who strive to
operate in something that God has not wired you for They did
not receive a Grace to perform or execute it.
Others want to feel more responsible.
They want to feel as though they're making more of an impact
serving people and because of that they neglect the exact role
that they've been given because they've spread themselves, so
thin and their attention is given house where except the
very thing that God needs you for.
And there are others who ran romanticize, what Ministry can
offer to self or to a sense of identity.
And so they begin to covet something that God is obviously
not giving you or gifted you for and then because that's not met
the disturbance of being covetous.
Is now being felt among those who are trying to serve God.
Can I tell you the most satisfying way to serve the most
satisfying way to serve? God is when you are submitted to
his providential permission. When you just just like make it
simple, man, just make it so simple, just submit like, Lord.
What is it? You know, my gifts here is the,
here's the place. I'm at.
Here's the family. I'm with, here's my schedule use
me. Use me.
I don't have to feel like I'm the savior of the world.
I don't have to feel like I'm the next big thing just use me.
That will save you from a lot. If you just simply believe that
you are A Separate Peace with other separate pieces, that when
put together is a masterpiece of God's Grand advancement of his
kingdom and this generation, it's so enjoyable.
It's so wonderful. We're all wearing the same
jerseys were all wearing the same uniform.
We all have the same cause And if we do that, right, that is
the necessary ingredients for growth.
If you're in this place today and you are passionate about
seeing growth both in size because more means more people
saved. And you believe that you want to
see greater strength a greater testimonia, a brighter light
greater power flowing from the place that you've committed
yourself to, can I just tell you what we need to do, I'm closing
with this verse just meet me there in Ephesians In Ephesians
chapter 4. Ephesians 4:15 pulses.
Rather speaking truth and love we are to grow up in every way
into him. Who is the head into Christ from
whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint
with which it is equipped. Now, look at this, when each
part is working properly, Makes the body grow so that it builds
itself up in love. Do you know how we can be free
from being stagnant? Do you know how we can be free
from from just not seeing anything move throughout the
years is when every single person is determined to say just
just tell me what it is, Lord show me what it is, I will stay
there, I will do it. If there's more, you'll give me
the grace to do more, if it's just this then I will do it as
best as I can by the empowerment of your Holy Spirit and when
each when each part not in Bolt is moving and all the little
tricks, all the little things. And any any kind of equipment or
Kind of thing moves, then things begin to advance and more ground
is taken up for the glory of God, we would get a much trouble
if in our physical bodies, our fingers didn't want to operate
in the way. They are call to operate because
they're protesting to be ears. And if our right foot with
Scream to us constantly in pain because it wanted to be a hand,
we would be paralyzed And that sounds silly and that sounds
ridiculous. But then what about the body of
Christ? When there is different parts in
the local assembly who have members, not willing to move in
the way that God has called in to move.
And instead of there being a concert, the same concept as you
see, this happening right here, hopefully, it's not distracting.
This concert of the body flowing and Unison.
This body flowing in harmony instead of there being a
concert. It's chaos.
You see one arm limping. You see one leg not moving.
And and and God is just saying, just if you just all trust in me
and you just say, Lord, put me where I need to watch How I can
I can fashion, you and watch the vitality and watch the grace.
I will flow through this body, picking things up, moving
forward, protecting itself. Only one each part is working
properly. Why do many Christians not
fulfill their Ministries? Some don't care.
They, I mean, after this it's quite possible, you're just like
whatever. Some did not anticipate the
hardships that come with Ministry.
And some complicate, the Simplicity of fulfilling the
ministry that God has called you to.
So, I hope and pray that with this charge, we would continue
in the attitude and direction that we have been up to this
point, fulfill your ministry. Let's pray.
Louis, thank you for this word. Do we see the wonderful Insight
of being able to allow your spirit to work in us first to be
sober, minded and to endure suffering.
Before we actually have any chance of being effective
long-term to reaching the lost and fulfilling our ministry,
among one another, and so Lord, help us be sober.
Minded, help us, help us have the strength and the the honesty
of the reality of serving you. When we lose hope and
motivation, help us see Christ who serve the father with great
challenges and those, three years, great, great obstacles,
persecution, threats hunger, sleeplessness, sleeping in a
storm. And we thank you for this body
of people who want to serve. You may, that may that be true
and the days and months and years to come that that what
moved us forward? Yes your grace.
Yes, your word, the Lord every part working properly We long to
obey you and just be the part. That you have providentially
allowed us to be. We give you worship now.
In Jesus name, amen.