THREATS TO OUR MINISTRY CALLING
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
INTRO:
In a meeting last week our Security Director was discussing potential threats that the FBI released and shared about some of the recent attacks on pastor and churches. Why?
Because he wanted to be aware so that we can take the proper measures to reduce our risk.
Taking wise steps and implementing strategies to make our ministry safer and less susceptible to attacks
I walked away from that thinking “What about the Threats to my Calling?”
Am I taking intentional steps to prevent spiritual attacks that would disqualify me from ministry?
HOW ABOUT YOU?
What are your vulnerabilities?
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Unfortunately, this week the presbytery had to vote to close some churches in Illinois…WHAT HAPPENED?
This year there have been pastors who have lost their credentials…WHAT HAPPENED?
In 27 years of ministry I have seen a lot of men and women start out strong in ministry but they didn’t last or they were disqualified.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
MESSAGE: “THREATS TO OUR MINISTRY CALLING”
COMPROMISE
We are seeing compromise like crazy all throughout our churches in this nation
Compromise to avoid confrontation or conflict
Some feel they need to compromise to be relevant
Whole denominations are splitting as some affirm ungodly behavior and compromise biblically.
Popes comments this past week when he was addressing a group of college students in Singapore
Pope Francis “Catholic Junior College” (Singapore) Friday, 13 September 2024
“One of the things that has impressed me most about the young people here is your capacity for interfaith dialogue. This is very important because if you start arguing, “My religion is more important than yours...,” or “Mine is the true one, yours is not true....,” where does this lead? Somebody answer. [A young person answers, “Destruction”.] That is correct. All religions are paths to God. I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine. But God is for everyone, and therefore, we are all God’s children. “But my God is more important than yours!”. Is this true? There is only one God, and religions are like languages, paths to reach God. Some Sikh, some Muslim, some Hindu, some Christian. Understood?”
BE CAREFUL WHO YOU MARRY!
21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
13 So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
15 Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes.
COMPLACENCY (threat to our ministry calling)
One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is complacency, the temptation to imagine oneself invulnerable, and hence impervious, to the allurement of the flesh.
Timothy George
Jeremiah 10:21 (NLT)
21 The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
Complacent in Prayer, Reverence, Obedience
FEAR (threat to our ministry calling)
28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
There have been many times that I wanted to please other people instead of standing up for what is right. I don't necessarily like controversy or conflict and I think we all have a default nature of trying to please other people.
18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.
We must stand firm on the Word of God and maintain biblical moral ground
DECEPTION (threat to our ministry calling)
6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News
7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.
10 Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
INDEPENDENCE (threat to our ministry calling)
Look at your neighbor and say, “Don’t go it alone!”
My wife has said no to moving, when I was screaming yes!
JOE MEAD - there was a time he was returning to secular work and I was a voice of discouragement.
It's a whole lot easier to stand with someone by your side then it is to stand alone
Ministry is difficult
5 When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.
6 But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
7 His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal you are to me, I was filled with joy!
(EX. Moses Aaron and Hur, District Executives, Paul Hinzman, Elder Board)
BUSYNESS (threat to our ministry calling)
Maintain Margins In Ministry And Management
35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him.
37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
EX. Mary (Intimacy) vs Martha (Working for Jesus)
PRIDE (threat to our ministry calling)
Ministry is not a source to Stroke our ego
Public Praise Is Not As Profound As Private Practices
We must surround ourselves with people that are like-minded that love us enough to hold us accountable
Pope Strickland was dismissed 11-11-23 when he challenged Pope Francis concerning abortion and sexuality.
Never become so prideful and arrogant that you will not receive correction. That becomes tyrannical leadership.
We are not the final authority or untouchable.
Remain teachable
CONCLUSION:
I would like you to do a threat analysis this morning.
Develop an intentional plan to reduce your vulnerabilities in ministry.
EX. Dwayne Holbrook defaulted to alcohol instead of the secret place.
What is your default muscle memory response when tempted? Dwain Holbrook.
We must remain in tune with the Holy Spirit
7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.
9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.
12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.