Tag: Preaching

A New Start in a New Year 

Proverbs 16:3 

I want to be practical this morning. 

Our text is from the single most practical book of the Bible. 

King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. 

After he became king he went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices to the Lord. 

God appeared to him, and did something remarkable. 

1Ki 3:5  …God said, Ask what I shall give thee.  

Can you imagine that? 

We sometimes fantasize about that magical genie granting us three wishes and think about what they would be. 

Here is God, offering to Solomon anything he might request. 

He could have asked for riches, fame, and a long life. 

But the one request he made was for wisdom to be a better ruler: 

1Ki 3:6  And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.  

1Ki 3:7  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.  

1Ki 3:8  And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.  

1Ki 3:9  Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?  

Now, I do not think that Solomon was a moron by any stretch. 

His father was a genius is warfare, music, and government. 

It is highly possible that he wrote the Song of Solomon a few years before this. 

That is what Reese’s Chronological Bible states. 

It took a genius to write that. 

I think that one of the marks that someone has very high intelligence is not that they know so much but rather that they admit they know so little. 

That was Solomon. 

God answered his prayer and gave even greater wisdom to an already gifted man. 

The practical truths he put together that were collected in the book of Proverbs are without peer. 

Take any of the great philosophers, your Aristotle, Plato – they are all pale imitations of Solomon. 

I think the book of Psalms tunes our hearts, but the book of provides guides our feet. 

I have yet to find any statement within it to be untrue. 

Now that is all introduction that I hope helps you to realize the importance of our text. 

This is truth in action. 

This is the way the wise are supposed to live. 

This is the way a Christian is supposed to live. 

Pro 16:3  Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.  

As with most Hebrew poetry we have two truths in one. 

By taking both halves of the verse and examining their relationship to each other the truths are magnified. 

The relationship here I believe is called either synthetic or constructive. 

That is the second half supplements and completes the thought of the first half. 

In the first half, we are told to commit our works to the Lord. 

The word commit there is literally “roll”. 

I love that image – here we are with something too heavy for us to carry on our own, and all we can do is roll it over to God who can handle all things. 

What is it that we are rolling over to God so He can handle? 

Our works. 

Now, this has nothing to do with salvation. 

You can in no way work your way into heaven. 

But every Christian is to be busy at work for Christ. 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  

I think that is the idea here. 

God has given us something to do, but we cannot do it in our own power, so we roll it over to Him. 

That is the first half. 

The second says that the result of our rolling our works over to the Lord is that our thoughts will be established. 

The word thoughts there can also mean devices, cunning, purposes, or imaginations. 

It is just the random ADD impulses of a human mind. 

No, these are the things we desire and plan for and work toward. 

It is not just wanting a new car, it is researching and finding the best deal on the best vehicle that you have calculated you can afford. 

For most of us that leaves only two brands, Matchbox and Hot Wheels. 

That is what is meant by thoughts here. 

What happens to our thoughts. 

Well, they are established – that is prepared, readied, set, or fixed. 

We might say that our plans work out and our desires come true. 

Now what is interesting to me here is that there is something circular in this verse. 

The works in the first half are born out of the thoughts in the second half. 

The works do not create the thoughts, it is the other way around. 

But when we allow God to shoulder the burden of our work, He in turn blesses the thoughts behind it and sees them come to fruition. 

Can I tell you what that makes me want to do? 

It makes me want to keep dreaming bigger and stepping back to see what God will do! 

I want in on this deal! 

By the way, this is not the only time these truths are to be found. 

David says the same in Psalm 37 

Psa 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  

Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.  

Psa 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  

Psa 37:6  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  

Now, what does all this apply to us today? 

Let me boil it down for you – God blesses the heart that wants to do right and hands that let Him do the work. 

We need the right desires and plans in our hearts and minds. 

We need to get busy acting on those desires. 

What better time is there to do this than now? 

You know, there may actually be a better time than that. 

Thursday we turn another page on the calendar and begin a new year. 

I know all of that with the dates and such is arbitrary, but even the sinful world recognizes that a fresh start to a new year just makes sense. 

Besides, this way it gives you a few days to prepare! 

I ask you, do you desire to be a better Christian this coming year? 

Do you have plans to see that happen? 

Are you going to let God in to take control? 

I want to challenge myself and everyone here to set it in your heart, make it your desire to grow in Christ this coming year. 

It is very important that we do so in God’s power – if it is up to us, we will not last a week. 

Let’s get in on what Solomon was talking about. 

Let us get in our hearts a resolve to press forward. 

Let us put those plans into action. 

Let us rely on God to see it through. 

Let us praise Him for the victories He gives. 

Now, I am not going to challenge us with anything earth shattering this morning. 

I am going to keep it simple because I have a feeling that we should start there. 

I now offer these resolutions to you. 

I. Be present more 

There is something special about this church family. 

I have been a part of some churches during some amazing times. 

I am not just saying this, I mean it – I firmly believe we are in that kind of time. 

Too many times people look at going to church as a chore. 

It is no chore to be here today. 

If you enjoy this morning, come back on Wednesday night. 

Come a little earlier for Sunday School – you are seriously missing out if you do not. 

We’ve got monthly meetings for men and women. 

I’ll talk to folks that go to different churches – sometimes I wonder why they even still go there. 

Friends, I don’t know why you would not want to be here every time the doors are open. 

II. Be involved more 

Most churches today frankly run their people into the ground. 

I was told in Bible college that the average members stays active and involves for an average of two years, so get the most out of them while they are here. 

Well, no wonder they are gone so soon! 

You work them to death! 

We do not, and we will not, pressure people like that. 

In fact, I have told at least one person in this church that they had too much going on up here and needed to let a few things go. 

There is always something to be done or someone that could use some help. 

We are a family, but as in every family there are chores and duties and needs. 

I believe the Holy Spirit will lead you to help where you are needed. 

III.  Give more 

Yes, I am meddling now. 

God has been good to us 

There is not a single pastor I know that wouldn’t trade bank accounts with us. 

We are putting a lot of it to work now. 

Can I tell you, I am really not even talking about our regular offerings here. 

It would be nice to have a little more room in the budget but we are doing well. 

If there is anything I would challenge everyone in this room to give more toward it is Missions. 

There is no greater investment you can make than supporting the work of the Gospel. 

IV. Pray More 

I guarantee there is not a single person in this room that could not use improvement in their prayer life. 

Maybe it is to be more organized. 

Maybe it is to be more consistent. 

Maybe it is to be more fervent. 

Of everything I am talking about this morning, this is the greatest need if we are to see God do mighty things – no, let me rephrase that, if we are to see God do ANYTHING we must do our part in prayer. 

V.  Study More 

I want to challenge you specially this year to make it a daily habit to get into God’s Word. 

There are many great books and devotionals out there, but nothing compares to reading straight from the Bible. 

CONCLUSION 

I want to return to our text in closing. 

How can you make a change for the better in the new year? 

First, make it a priority. 

Purpose to go through with it and make plans to do it. 

Second, rely on God. 

Do you honestly think He does not want you to do more for Him? 

Do you honestly think He does not want you to spend more time with Him? 

God earnestly desires these things and will help you to do them. 

Third, press on. 

Miss a day reading your Bible? 

Pick it up the next day! 

Get sick and don’t pray like you should have? 

Pick it up the next day! 

God works through our faithfulness, not our perfection. 

Pro_24:16  For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 

2Co_12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. … 

Let’s just see what God can do through each of us this coming year! 

If you do not know Christ, do not wait until New Years! 

Do it today! 

Be Thankful 

Colossians 3:12-17 

There are literally dozens of verses we could turn to examine the subject of thanksgiving. 

We could talk about the sacrifice of thanksgiving in Leviticus 7. 

We could see the many calls to be thankful in the Psalms. 

We have in the New Testament multiple positive commands to be thankful. 

We could also study the many times time that being unthankful is condemned by God. 

Our text this morning, from which we will launch into the sermon, is I think one of the most powerful. 

Paul is writing here in Colossians chapter 3 of the great difference there should be in the life of someone who has found salvation in Christ. 

There is a quite a long list of “thou shalt nots” in vs. 5-9. 

But in vs. 10 there is a shift to the positive – a list of “thou shalts” 

I believe these are more important that the “thou shalt nots” 

We are to put on the new man in the image of Christ. 

Our affections should be changed, governed by mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, patience and forgiveness. 

Peace and love should fill our actions and motivations. 

The truth of God’s word should overtake our minds and hearts and come flowing out in singing. 

In all these lofty aspirations we should strive towards are two commands regarding thankfulness. 

Vs. 15 – “be ye thankful” 

Vs. 17 – “giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” 

It is God’s stated goal that He desires to develop a spirit of thankfulness and not shy away from expressing our thankfulness. 

To be thankful implies a few things. 

First, it means that we are not so lifted up in pride as to expect good things to happen to us because we somehow deserve them. 

Second, it means that we are cognizant of what God and others are doing. 

Third, it means we nurture genuine appreciation for the acts of others. 

Fourth, it means that we express this in some way, perhaps in words, a card, or with a hug. 

This week, our nation pauses and tries to remind itself that we should be thankful. 

Without God this is very difficult, and we see that in how the day has become all about football and feasts. 

I wish we could all travel back in time and learn from history just how important the day and the idea are. 

I cannot think of a civilization that I have studied that did not have some form of a thanksgiving day. 

Usually, it is a festival celebrating the end of the harvest season. 

If you study out the Feast of Tabernacles you will find that it, at least in part, celebrated the end of the harvest and the bounty of God’s provision. 

Many Christians down through the centuries have marked that time as a special time of thanking God for His goodness. 

By the way, in those days you were TRULY thankful for the harvest. 

It wasn’t just about decorations and kids dressing up. 

They understood if God had not blessed the harvest that they likely would not live to see another. 

The survival of the individual, the family, the community was largely dependent on harvesting enough supplies to make it through the winter months. 

I think this is, in small part at least, why modern people neglect and reject God. 

They do not acknowledge on a regular basis that they would not be alive if not for His blessing and grace. 

Traditions are strange things in how they start and which stand the test of time. 

There are records of many thanksgiving celebrations in the New World in the earliest days of exploration and settlement. 

But none have had such a lasting impact as that of the Pilgrims of Plymouth. 

Their story has been under attack for decades, but if there ever were a group to be thankful it was them. 

Their story begins many years before the thanksgiving celebration in 1623. 

I begin with the founding of the Church of England by Henry VIII in 1534. 

There was much battle over what this new denomination would look like, but whatever shape it took it was conjoined to the monarchy as THE official state church. 

There were many that were unhappy with what the Church of England believed and taught. 

Some sought to reform it – these were called Puritans because they wanted to purify it. 

Some threw up their hands and separated from it, these we call Separatists. 

To many in those days, to deny the authority of the state church was to deny the authority of the government. 

The Act of Uniformity of 1548 under Edward VI made it illegal to hold a religious service that did not follow the official Church of England liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer. 

Any minister doing so could lose their status and be imprisoned. 

The first offense was prison for six months, the second for one year, the third for life. 

The Act of Uniformity of 1558 under Elizabeth I imposed a civil fine of one shilling of each Sunday or holy day services of the Church of England that someone missed. 

The Religion Act of 1592 under Elizabeth I imprisoned anyone over the age of 16 that attended unlawful religious meetings, that is, not the Church of England. 

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress was convicted under this law in 1661. 

In spite of these laws, people chose to obey God rather than men. 

We focus now on just a few of these brave souls. 

The year is 1605 and the place is Nottinghamshire, England. 

Here there is a sizeable population of Separatists meeting under such leaders as John Robinson, Richard Clyfton, and John Smyth. 

They believed the Church of England was too corrupt to be saved and simply sought to worship God according to their own conscience. 

William Brewster joined these separatists and allowed them to meet in his home, Scrooby Manor. 

But the persecution was too great, and the various Separatist leaders and their followers emigrated to the Dutch Republic of the Netherlands over the next few years. 

The Dutch had greater religious liberty than another other place in Europe at this time. 

Life was hard for these religious refugees. 

They were limited in what jobs they could get and had to work long hours to make a living. 

The culture and the language were both hard to assimilate. 

The issue that forced them to decide to leave was closer to home. 

They watched their children become entranced with the Dutch life and marry into Dutch families. 

What good was the freedom they enjoyed if they lost the next generations? 

They decided to move to the New World of the Americas. 

Not everyone could go at once, so William Brewster led the first group while John Robinson cared for those that stayed behind. 

There were 120 passengers plus crew that set sail on the Speedwell and the Mayflower on August 5, 1620. 

For history nerds I am going to try to stick with Old Style dates, not New Style. 

The Speedwell proved leaky and unreliable, so 102 passengers crammed about the Mayflower and set sail for the New World on September 6. 

Roughly half were Pilgrims – 30 adults plus children 

The trip was stormy and lasted 65 days. 

One passenger and one crewmember died at sea. 

On November 9, land was spotted and Brewster led the pilgrims in singing Psalm 100. 

Because there was some uncertainty about the legal status of their colony, they laid the foundation for their settlement in the Mayflower Compact. 

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620. 

A site was selected and construction began on December 19 and the first common building – 20’x20’ – was finished on January 9. 

Many stayed on the Mayflower through the winter. 

Lack of shelter and supplies made the illnesses that spread even deadlier. 

102 settlers had set sail from England that fall. 

One died and one baby born during their voyage. 

By March, almost half of the settlers and crew were dead. 

But the Pilgrims held on. 

They were able to establish good relations with the local Indian tribes. 

The surviving settlers saw a good harvest that summer and fall. 

They celebrated it with a three-day harvest festival. 

52 settlers were there. 

It is believed that the foods were prepared by the four adult women along with their daughters and other workers. 

Edward Winslow who was present at the first Thanksgiving later wrote: 

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you, partakers of our plenty. 

Modern skeptics and revisionists have tried to downplay the importance of the Mayflower pilgrims. 

I look back and marvel at these brave souls who risked everything in order to worship God freely and to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

They paid a high price yet did not flinch at the cost. 

They truly understood what it was to be thankful for the goodness of God. 

The example they set helped start a tradition that still shapes our nation. 

In 1777 the Continental Congress designated December 18^th as a day for “Solemn Thanksgiving and Praise” 

In 1782 the same body marked November 28 as “a day of solemn thanksgiving to God for all His mercies” 

In 1789 George Washington proclaimed November 26 as a day “that we may then all unite in rendering unto him [God] our sincere and humble thanks” 

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed three different days as special days of thanksgiving. 

In 1941 the US Congress made it an annual holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. 

Now I am not preaching to you about America this morning. 

I am telling you from the word of God that Christians ought to be thankful people. 

I have given you one of the greatest historical examples of thanksgiving the world has ever seen. 

How settlers risked it all because of their faith in God, braved unthinkable hardships, and carried on though the losses mounted. 

They did not quit but kept on trusting in God. 

When God blessed them, those surviving settlers did as many others have done before them and after them. 

They paused to celebrate a bountiful harvest thanks to the blessing of God. 

That celebration echoes through our history and is woven into the fabric of our culture. 

Christian, be thankful to the almighty God who saves you and blesses you through this matchless grace. 

Christian, do not neglect to show you thankfulness to God and to your fellow man. 

You cannot truly understand thankfulness without Christ. 

Get Saved. 

A Good Soldier 

II Timothy 2:1-13 

This Tuesday is a special day. 

Our nation marks this day as a special day of remembrance and honor for those who have served our great nation in the Armed Forces. 

The date is significant – November 11. 

On that date in 1919 the Armistice went into effect that ended the carnage of World War I. 

They called it “the war to end all wars”, which has sadly proven untrue. 

The agreement was made to end the fighting in a railroad car in France at 5:00 a.m. 

It went into effect as at 11:00 a.m. local time. 

2,738 men died in that last day before the firing ceased. 

Armistice Day become Veterans Day in 1954, thanks to the work of WWII veteran Raymond Weeks and congressman Ed Rees. 

Since then, this day has been a federal holiday honoring the best of us who serve our nation. 

Well, technically it was in October seven times in the 1970’s thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Acts of 1971, but who would remember that, right? 

In the nearly 250 years that America has existed, there have been an estimated 18 million that have served. 

1.3 million of these gave, in Lincoln’s immortal phrasing, “the last full measure of devotion”. 

We honor these on Memorial Day each year. 

Another 1.4 million of these have been wounded in their service. 

Some 40,000 plus are still classified as Missing In Action. 

This week, we honor those who have made it possible that we may enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the greatest nation on that has ever existed. 

I am fascinated by military history and the experiences of those who have served. 

There is a retired soldier, John Campbell, that is taking classes at the Norris Seminary right now. 

Bro. Stewart had him speak in chapel this past week. 

On Thursday when I was there, he basically just told stories about his time in the Army. 

Can I tell you the one thing I took of that time? 

I AM GLAD I DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT A SOLDIER DOES! 

I don’t want any drill sergeant in my face. 

I don’t want to do hundreds of sit ups. 

I don’t want to spend nights out in the field on maneuvers. 

I don’t want to be in a place where the locals want me dead. 

Being a soldier is not for sissies! 

It is not for the fainthearted or the cowardly. 

It is for those that can endure hardness and face the enemy with unfailing devotion to their duty. 

That is just the point Paul is trying to get across in our text. 

He is telling his protégé Timothy that in serving God you need to be like a good soldier. 

When it says a “good soldier” that is not talking about someone who looks good in a dress uniform. 

It is the type of soldier who knows the long marches, the sleepless nights on watch, and the obstacles that are only overcome through sheer grit. 

It is the type of soldier that has trained for countless hours so to be prepared in the split second that marks the divide between death and victory their reflexes fire without thought. 

It is the type of soldier that bears the scars of the battles they have fought and counts each as nothing for the victory they won. 

If you will bear with me this morning, I want to examine some of the elements of what it means to be a good soldier in the army of Lord. 

I. A Good Soldier Has a Good Commander 

We are not talking about fighting or suffering for nothing here. 

We have a purpose and a cause. 

We have our commander, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

There is none greater. 

There is a legend about Alexander the Great that is likely not true but is still believable. 

It is said that he faced off against a king that ruled over a walled city. 

Alexander told them to surrender, but the king knew his position was too strong for Alexander to take without great investment of time and resources. 

The king refused. 

Alexander gave a command and some of his men started marching single file toward a cliff. 

The first never slowed as he stepped off the cliff and plummeted to his death. 

Neither did the second, or the third until ten men had fallen. 

The king, realizing the devotion of Alexander’s men to their commander, knew in that instant that he had no hope in surviving unless through surrender. 

He did and the soldiers were ordered to halt their fatal march. 

Too many times, we think we are in command. 

We receive orders from our commander, and we want to negotiate. 

We want to pick and choose the ones that cause use the least amount of effort or discomfort. 

Friends, you are in the great spiritual battle whether you want to be or not. 

You enlist on the Lord’s side when you get saved. 

You join a local regiment when you join a church. 

You owe your allegiance to the Captain who has never known a loss. 

He defeated sin, death, and the grave. 

He has never lost a battle and never lost a soldier. 

Take hope, comfort, and courage in Christ as your leader. 

II.  A Good Soldier Had Good Equipment 

Often a battle does not turn on the skills of its commanders or the fierceness of its fighters. 

No, one side just has bigger guns and more of them than the other side. 

Any historian will tell you that one of the main reasons the South lost the Civil War is because they did not have the industrial and manufacturing strength of the North. 

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, they did so with rapid speed and relying on their seven panzer division with over 2,000 tanks. 

Poland had half as many, most of which were woefully outdated. 

They were still transitioning from horse cavalry to mechanized warfare. 

At the Battle of Krojanty on September 1, 1939, the Polish leader saw an opportunity to for a surprise attack against some German infantry. 

At 1900 hours, about 250 horse cavalrymen charged the Germans. 

The initial attack was successful, but the Germans reacted quickly as armored reconnaissance vehicles responded. 

The exposed cavalry lost 1/3 of their men before they could return to the Polish lines. 

The lesson: horse cavalry may outmatch infantry on foot but is no match for mechanized armor with machine guns. 

The better equipment wins. 

We could turn over to Ephesians 6 here and go through the list of the armor given to us. 

Every piece is important, but I want to highlight a couple. 

We have the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. 

There is nothing greater than the Word of God, by it was the world made and through it we have the mind of God revealed to us. 

Use it wisely. 

I also want to point out that directly after the list of equipment is prayer. 

Paul says, “take the shield, and helmet, sword, but here is what you do: PRAY!” 

There is no greater ability we have than to call on the almighty God to intervene on our behalf. 

III.  A Good Solder Has A Good Focus 

A soldier must be on his guard and ready for action whenever the command comes. 

He cannot tell the enemy that it is his day off so he cannot fight today. 

We see this focus in the ability that he has to endure hardness in vs. 3 of our text. 

Weather does not stop him. 

Unpopularity does not stop him. 

He is focused on the mission no matter the cost. 

I love the story about Rodger Young in WWII. 

He had lost some of his hearing as a young man after hitting his head in a basketball game. 

He was the shortest man in his company and had to wear glasses to see. 

He had been raised to a sergeant and a squad leader, but as they shipped out for battle in the Pacific he was afraid his disabilities would hurt his squad. 

Young requested a demotion to private, which his commander granted. 

Nine days later on July 31, 1943, he was on patrol on New Georgia in the Solomon Isalnds. 

His 20-man patrol was ambushed by the Japanese with a hidden machine gun, killing two men immediately. 

Young was wounded in the initial attack and ignored an order to retreat. 

He crawled toward the enemy and was able to silence the machine gun nest with grenades. 

In doing so he was mortally wounded and died on the battlefield. 

For his actions, the Medal of Honor was presented to his family. 

If anyone had an excuse to give in to their circumstances it would have been Roger Young. 

But his focus saw beyond his deafness and bad eyesight, saw beyond the danger and his own wounds, and just saw what had to be done. 

Bob Jones Sr. said:  “Every person is either master or mastered.  He is either a victor or a victim.  He is either a conqueror or he is conquered.  What are you?” 

Through Christ, we can endure and see victory. 

IV.  A Good Soldier Has Good Reason to Fight 

The best soldiers have a reason to fight. 

This is why history is filled with stories about mercenaries that flee in things get dicey. 

They are only in it for the money. 

But let a many fight for the defense of his home and family, that man will fight on even though his blood is drained and his heart is stopped. 

I remember the days after 9/11, and being 18 at the time there was a genuine concern that maybe there would be a draft. 

There at Bible college, we asked ourselves if we should wait for a draft or if we should enlist. 

I thought I knew the course of my life, that I would finish Bible college and go in to the ministry, but there for some days in the chaotic uncertainty I was not sure if that would happen. 

Some enlisted because they wanted to avenge the evil of 9/11. 

Some enlisted because they wanted to prevent another 9/11. 

Some enlisted because they saw our civilization and liberty at stake. 

I am thankful I did not have to make that decision at that time. 

Would I have served?  Definitely. 

Would I have had a good reason to fight?  I had many. 

Would I have been a good soldier?  I highly doubt it. 

I have long ago determined that for three things I will readily lay down my life: My faith, my family, and my nation. 

In the Christian army we have plenty of reasons to fight: 

Look down at the last verses of our text and I will give you a few. 

2Ti 2:8  Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  

2Ti 2:9  Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  

2Ti 2:10  Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.  

First, we have the Lord Jesus Christ. 

My love and devotion to my Savior impels me to carry on. 

Second, we have Gospel. 

I must carry on so that another and another may have opportunity to hear that Good News before it is too late. 

Third, we have Word of God. 

The commands and promises were good when they were written and they are good for today. 

The examples of people in Scriptures give me courage that I too can see God work in mighty ways. 

Fourth, we have the elect. 

This is the Bible term for all those who will respond to the Gospel and accept it. 

I must carry on because of the brothers and sisters in Christ who rely on me. 

Fifth, we have a victory at the end – “we shall also reign with him” 

Ours is the only war in history that the outcome is already known. 

I carry on, not to obtain that victory, but to be worthy of the glory that awaits the child of God. 

Conclusion: 

• Do be overwhelmed by despair. 

• It looks dark out in this world, but we already know the end. 

• Satan cannot take our salvation from us. 

• Satan cannot keep Christ from ruling. 

• The key to being a good soldier is to prepare to be one. 

• Soldiers are made. 

• In training. 

• They know what to do before they need to know it. 

• In life experience 

• Country marksmen like Alvin York 

• Get on the winning side. 

• Rally to the winning side! 

Our Daily Bread 

Matthew 6:9-13 

I hope that our text this morning is quite familiar to you. 

I was a little kid in Sunday School when I memorized these words. 

Often we call it “the Lord’s Prayer” 

I think it is more accurately called the Model Prayer. 

It appears twice in Scripture 

Here in Matthew during the Sermon on Mount. 

In Luke 11 after Christ’s disciples asked Him to teach them to pray like John the Baptist had taught his followers. 

Now, I personally do not put a lot of stock into prewritten prayers. 

I do not think God is impressed that you can recited a few lines. 

I believe true prayer is born in the heart of man. 

It does not need to be eloquent or lengthy 

It does not need a set form or vocabulary. 

I think one of its more important requirements is that it must be from your heart to God’s heart. 

That connection between man and God that prayer sparks is a two-way communication. 

It is not just a selfish attempt to make God move on our behalf. 

It is a relationship where we pour our heart out to God, His heart is moved, and our heart is in turned molded more in His image. 

Prayer changes things, and it starts with the one praying. 

There is much that could be said about this in relation to the Lord’s Prayer. 

It is not a secret code to get God’s attention. 

No, it is a form or model that shapes how we approach God in our attitude and requests. 

The model begins with the acknowledgement and exaltation of God 

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  

This is the pitch pipe or tuning fork that sets the key of prayer. 

It is an act of worship – it glorifies God and humbles self. 

The model continues with acknowledgement and submission to God’s will over our own. 

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  

The requests made to God and the answers He gives to them are based on this statement. 

We then come to the list of petitions. 

First is for the daily needs of life 

Give us this day our daily bread.  

Second is forgiveness from God toward us and from us to others. 

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  

Third is a plea for protection and guidance. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 

The model then closes with another exaltation of God and our submission to Him. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. 

Finally, there is the coda that marks the conclusion of our prayer. 

Amen. 

This literally means “let it be true”. 

It is the signature on the painting of prayer by which we endorse the content of our prayer. 

It is a final plea that God would hear and answer the desires and needs and cares that we have laid before His throne. 

Today, I want to focus on that one phrase – the first petition made in the model prayer: 

Give us this day our daily bread.  

Is it not marvelous that two verses before this we are basically bowing before the Great God of the Universe as He sits enthroned above the heavens? 

Is it not marvelous that the previous verse acknowledges the lordship of God above all things? 

Is it not marvelous that the first words of petition made from by our human hearts before all the glory and might and majesty of the Lord God Jehovah is the most humble request we can make? 

It is not a cry for forgiveness or deliverance. 

It is not a plea for fame or greatness. 

It is not a request for a boon of supernatural power. 

It is simply a prayer that our most basic needs be met. 

The juxtaposition between the greatness of God and the frailty of man is undeniable here. 

I believe this is an act of worship. 

My definition of worship is basically any action where we exalt God and humble ourselves. 

None would deny that is what is happening here. 

Give us this day our daily bread.  

I am afraid we recite it by rote so quickly that we neglect to the depth of those simple words. 

I want to dwell on it for a few minutes this morning. 

Let us mine into it and discover the treasures within these few words. 

I. GIVE 

We are not saying, “God, don’t worry about me, I can handle this.” 

Those words always precede disaster. 

We are not saying, “Lord, I am working so hard so please bless what I am doing so I can eat.” 

No, we are saying, “Oh Mighty God, would you be so kind as to provide for my simple needs?” 

The primary action of this request is not on mankind, but on God. 

It is through His love and grace that He supplies our needs. 

Jas_1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

Aren’t you glad this morning that the one who feeds the sparrows is taking care of you? 

Aren’t you glad that the one Who gave His only begotten Son is still giving what we need? 

I am glad this is on Him and not me. 

He will never fail, never be late, never be short, and never be shut down! 

Psa_37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 

II.  US 

This may be the most remarkable word in this prayer. 

So often our prayers are selfish. 

“God, I want this!” 

We probably sound like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 

I want the works 
I want the whole works 
Presents and prizes and sweets and surprises 
Of all shapes and sizes 
And now 
Don’t care how 
I want it now 

I think the most powerful prayers are those of intercession – when we take someone else’s need to God on their behalf. 

In that case it is not “do something for ME” but rather “do something for THEM”. 

But here it is US. 

This is a plea for our family, our communities, our nation, our friends, and so on. 

Do not make prayer your personal wish list. 

III.  THIS DAY 

I think this may be the most difficult part of this request for us. 

It is not a cry for God to immediately answer our dire need of food lest we starve. 

It is instead a reliance upon an expectation that He will continue to provide for us. 

Think about the Israelites and the Manna. 

God provided that sustenance daily – every morning they would gather enough for that day. 

If they gathered more and tried to save it for the future, it would rot and spoil. 

Except when gathered in anticipation of the Sabbath day of rest. 

Morning after morning God provided sustenance for His children. 

Think about Elijah. 

When the drought hit the land God provided for him at the Brook Cherith twice a day, morning and evening, brought in by the Door Dash of the day, flocks of ravens. 

Sorry, let me correct that –  a flock of ravens is called an “unkindness”. 

I don’t make the rules… 

When the drought lingered on, God provided for Elijah with the widow at Zarephath. 

Every day there was just enough meal and oil for the prophet, the widow, and her son. 

Never more, never less. 

We want a cupboard or a cellar full of food. 

We want a grocery store fully stocked at the ready. 

But God says, “trust in me to care for you and provide what you need when you need it.” 

If only we had faith enough to lay hold of that promise! 

How much of our anxiety would flee if we would simply rest in God’s care! 

IV.  Our Daily Bread 

If you are on a Low Carb diet or perhaps have gluten allergies, do not worry here. 

It is not literally “bread” here, though I frankly would not be opposed to that myself. 

Bread is the simplest of foods. 

Flour, water, and then maybe yeast, salt, or oil depending on the type of bread you are going for. 

It is not necessarily grand or elegant. 

You don’t see Mrs. Baird’s being used as a wedding cake! 

It is not indulgent nor luxurious. 

You do not give your Valentine a package of tortillas. 

It is just bread. 

It is a staple food that provides calories and adds balance to meals. 

What I am trying to say here is that God is not promising to provide you with caviar and filet mignon,  

Be assured that He will provide, even if it is off-brand Dr. Pepper and Vienna sausages. 

He knows our needs better than we do, He is moved to meet those needs out of His boundless compassion, and He provides for us out of the limitless supply of His goodness. 

Now, I cannot move on without saying one more thing. 

Never accuse God’s provision of being lacking. 

If He provides you a hot dog, it will be better than the sirloin steaks the devil serves. 

Trust in God’s care and you will find He provides abundantly and wonderfully beyond our imagination. 

It isn’t always bread, sometimes it is barbeque and chocolate pudding,  

Whatever He provides is best. 

CONCLUSION 

I listened to an audio book a few months back called “The Anxious Generation” 

It was about how today’s young people have developed multiple social and psychological issues because of the invasion of technology and other societal changes. 

We live in a world that is on edge, waiting the next hammer blow to fall. 

This is not the life that a Christian should live. 

Christ came to give us peace – not to make all the problems go away but to supply peace to our hearts in spite of the storms. 

He is greater than any problem we face. 

He is stronger than any burden we carry. 

Take your burdens to Him. 

Know that He cares for you. 

Experience His goodness and His grace. 

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  

Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  

Psa_34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 

SALVATION 

The Church and Its Pastor

I Peter 5:1-5

I am going to speak on a subject I honestly have avoided over the past eight years.

I mean that, too.

I have a set of notes I put together on the subject of the church that I taught through at Friendship Baptist before I came here.

I have reused and updated portions of those notes occasionally.

According to the saved dates on most of the files, I used many of them on Wednesday evenings in 2019.

If I remember correctly, I used some of the material to record Sunday School lessons during COVID.

Two of the lessons on the Bride of Christ I reformatted and used in 2021.

But the third lesson in that series I have never revisited.

The reason is because it about the leadership in the church, and I go through the Scriptural offices of Pastor and Deacon, their roles and responsibilities.

As a fairly new pastor, I just did not feel comfortable teaching on the subject.

I did not want people to think I was lording over anyone or pulling some sort of power grab.

I have heard my dad and others cover this topic and do it well.

There are many times that I am thankful that he or Jake or Ryan or whoever else address something like this.

Sometimes it needs to come from someone else’s mouth and not the pastor’s.

But this is the topic that the Lord has laid on my heart to cover today.

To avoid it would be for me to go against His leading, and I know better than to do that.

I have chosen our text this morning because of a remarkable feature it possesses.

The only other passage that does this is Acts 20:17-28.

It is not readily apparent, but I hope you will appreciate it by the end of this sermon.

Peter is writing to the leaders of local churches.

That is important.

I am a Baptist, and the more I study out what the Bible says about the church the more extremely Baptist I am becoming.

My study of the Scripture has convinced me that the emphasis of New Testament doctrine and practice revolves around the local assemblies of believers.

That is what the Greek word that is used in Scripture literally means.

ECCLESIA – “CALLED OUT ASSEMBLY”

We start in the books of Acts with one such local assembly at Jerusalem.

Then after the persecution of Saul forced the believers to flee and seek refuge elsewhere, we find in Acts 9:31 that there are “churches” not a single “church”.

Some critics say that it should be a singular church there.

I have studied it out, out of 116 appearances of the work ecclesia in Greek this would be the only one where it did not mean a singular, locally assembled body.

The problem lies in relying on old Greek manuscripts that are simply old but not very reliable.

Every local church body should be organized and have leadership.

Christ is the supreme head of each church .

Eph_1:22  …[God] gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

You see this also in Ephesian 4:15 and 5:23.

The Holy Spirit is what we may call the Superintendent of each church.

There are numerous references we could look at here that I will omit for time.

Let it suffice that the Spirit guides, directs, calls, equips and more in the church.

Below the headship of Christ and the administration of the Spirit we have the human leadership.

The Bible lays out a simple model that versatile and adaptable.

We have two Biblical offices found in Scripture.

That does not mean there cannot be more if necessary

Sorry, Garry, you are still not getting out of being treasurer…

There are Apostles in the New Testament, but we do not see that title or role passed on to the next generation.

We do find these two: Pastor and Deacon.

I want to focus today on what the Bible lays out as a guide for the role of pastor.

It is humbling to do so.

It is a high calling of God that should not be entered into lightly.

I personally hold the office is so sacred that it should scare anyone in their right mind away from it.

It is not just something you DO but something you must BE.

Go read the qualifications that Paul lays out in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

I combined the list and found 23 bullet points.

It is an awfully high standard that is set.

It is a daunting list that excludes many from the ministry.

I am not going to go through them here.

I am going to look a bit more practically about what a pastor should do and what the relationship should be between himself and his church.

To do so, I want to being by looking at some different words that are used to describe the role of the pastor.

The reason I picked I Peter 5 as a text is that the three major ones are here.

Over time these three terms coalesced into simply “pastor”.

I. Elder

1Pe 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort,

The Greek word here is presbuteros and it most literally means someone that is older or more senior.

It can be sort of generic word for leader, and it is used numerous times in reference to leaders of the Jewish religion.

It is a common word used for pastors, for example in Acts 20:17 Paul calls for the “elders of the church” at Ephesus to meet him at Miletus.

The idea of this term is that a pastor should be mature, grounded, experienced, and tested in his leadership.

Paul wrote in I Timothy 3:6 that a pastor should be:

“Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”

This is not simply about age – I know plenty of people who have spent a lot of time on this earth but learned little from it.

Timothy is a great example of this not being simply about age.

He was a younger man that was entrusted by Paul to help the church at Ephesus.

Paul warned him:

1Ti 4:12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 

So then, the Pastor/Elder/Presbyter is one who responsibly and maturely leads a church.

Training aids with this.

Life experiences aids with this.

Ministry experience aids with this.

But truly this is the work of the Spirit in a man, leading him to be wiser than his years and grounded beyond his maturity.

II. Shepherd/Pastor

1Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you,…

The Greek root word here is poimen, which means a shepherd, someone who cares for a flock of sheep.

It is used for both actual shepherds and church leaders.

This word is translated as “pastor” in Ephesians 4:

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

The verb form is found not only in I Peter 5 but also in Acts 20:

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 

This word carries with it all that a shepherd supplies for his flock.

He grazes them to the best pastures.

He guards them from harm.

He guides them as they move.

He gives them the care they need.

It is a profound duty of care that is entrusted to a pastor, to shepherd the flock that the Great Shepherd entrusts to his care.

It involves care from birth to death.

It requires diligence and vigilance.

It is selfless work – the shepherd is not judged by his own state but rather the state of his flock.

It is tender when it must be, it is harsh when it must be.

But in the end it is all about the care of God’s people and helping guide them to be the best they can be for their Lord.

III. Bishop/Overseer

I Peter 5:2 – …taking the oversight thereof,…

The root word here is episkopeō, which means to oversee or look diligently after.

The noun form is used over in Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,

This is the word Paul used when writing to both Tinothy and Titus about the requirements of a pastor.

This word tells us that the pastor has the role of overseeing, managing, and guarding his church.

I think in many ways this points to the pastor’s executive role.

This is not to be done as a tyrant, but as a servant.

We have here the example of our Lord, who said in Matthew 20:28

Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

A pastor, the under-shepherd, should follow the example of the Great Shepherd and seek to serve and not to be served.

Here is where I would point to the pastor’s executive role of oversight over the church’s faculty, finances, and facilities.

It also shows the responsibility of watch-care over the doctrines and practices of the church.

It should be founded on the truth of Scripture, led by the Spirit, and acted upon in love.

Those three are the primary terms used to name or describe the pastor of a church.

I hope that I made it clear that each of these are interchangeable names for the same office of pastor.

I hope that you see the outline of a true pastor as laid out by Scripture.

Quickly now, I want to wrap things up with a couple of lists.

The first is a list of the Biblical duties of a pastor to his church:

To be an example
…being ensamples to the flock. – I Peter 5:3
To rule/govern/maintain
Let the elders that rule well… – I Timothy 5:17
To guard right doctrine and practice
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.  – Titus 1:9
To perfect/mature/complete the saints
For the perfecting of the saints… – Ephesian 4:12
To edify/build up the body of Christ
….for the edifying of the body of Christ:  – Ephesians 4:12
To preach the word
Preach the word;…- II Timothy 4:2

The second is a list of the Biblical duties of a church to their pastor.

Respect and love them
1Th 5:12  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 
1Th 5:13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. …
Follow their teaching
Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Follow their example
Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. 
Submit to their oversight
Heb 13:17  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 
Pray for them
Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 
Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 
Provide for their physical needs
1Ti 5:17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 
1Ti 5:18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 

CONCLUSION

The church needs a pastor
It is God’s design – Ephesians 4 says they are a “gift” to the church.
You need a pastor – not a tv preacher or someone you watch online.
If not now, one day you will.
More importantly, you need Christ!