Garrett Harper Ordination

How I first knew of Garrett

I see your ministry here as an answer to prayer and I thank God for the years you were able to serve with us.

I met a young man this summer who is attending Ozark Bible College studying to be a preacher. As we talked he asked me what advice I would give him as he prepared for ministry. My one word answer was “pray.” Anything you do in your own strength won’t last, it’s only what is done with God’s power that will. So you need to pray. You need God.

Looking for a bulletin cover for this evening I came across this one and really liked it. The picture doesn’t look like our pulpit – or very many pulpits today – but I really like the verse from Ephesians in which Paul describes his ministry.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. (Ephesians 3:7)

Paul is saying he is a minister not because of his desire or abilities, but because of the calling and power of God. And that’s the way it should be. If we rest in our own power we will always fail and we will let those down that we serve. Our power must come from God. Paul expounds on this thought in the verses that follow.

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:7-12)

Paul understood his ministry was not about himself but about Jesus. That was the message God had given him. It was about Jesus.

The world is full of smart people with plenty of knowledge, but what the world needs most is wisdom and power of God. The world needs Jesus.

A asked a retired 92 year minister to. There was a warm welcome as he was introduced and, as the applause quieted down, the old man rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak.

When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your preacher asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson I ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me. The only thing that would comfort was this thought: Jesus loves me.

Then he began to sing:

Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, We are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me the Bible tells me so.

When he finished, the church was so quiet you actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair.

It is all about Jesus. Focus on Jesus. Talk about Jesus. Teach Jesus. Share Jesus. And you can never go wrong.

West Side has been blessed because of your ministry here. Our youth have been blessed because of your ministry here. I know that God will use you to do great things in Mexico and wherever the Lord takes you after that. But one word of caution I want to give you – it won’t be because of you, but because of Jesus. It won’t be because of your superior knowledge, but because of Jesus. It’s won’t be because of your persuasive logic, but because of Jesus. It won’t be because of your skillful rhetoric, but because of Jesus. Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying how he hadn’t come to them with wisdom or eloquence

1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

God has richly blessed you, now rely on his power to work through you.