Wednesday Morning
Notes
Transcript
7 ...Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself.
8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
All we know is that God would not take it away from him
Story of my preaching badly
Youth pastors do not get to preach a lot
I was ok with this when I started out, did not think I was good at it
it was something that came with the job
I would have weeks notice, so I did not have to come up with something last minute
but I did have three young kids, was going to school, working and then youth pastoring
How my mind works while preaching
My thoughts jump everywhere, not just what I am preaching, but even talking to myself
I will sometimes start a story and half way through wonder why I am telling this story
it is one thing when you are talking to somebody, but entirely different when you are standing in front of people preaching
this particular church had windows down the side and a highway that ran past the front
people could see while I was preaching when a car went by and it would catch my attention
this particular Sunday I am preaching and right from the beginning my thoughts were racing
why are you talking…
what are you even saying…
that illustration did not work…
these people are bored out of their minds and just want me to wrap this up
eventually, I do I wrap it up and pray to close the message
at this church it was normal to have an altar call at the end of the service
would anyone like to come forward, accept Christ, join the church, just need prayer?
I did not do it… Who in the world was going to come to the front after that awful message
But God showed off his power
Instead of an altar call, I just turned knelt and prayed
I started repenting of how I preached,
I assumed I did not pray enough, did not listen to his promptings, did not do what I was supposed to do to preach that week
I felt awful!
the thought came, get up… Like I have been down here long enough it is going to be weird the church standing there singing a closing song with the pastor on his knees
So I get up… and the altar is full of people
I was amazed, some how God had used the worst sermon I felt I had ever preached and convicted the hearts of people
I remember Heather telling me that it was a good sermon and that I was being hard on myself.
God used my weakness… my insecurity as a preacher… his word that was read and that came out of my mouth
in my weakness, he was made strong
He did not save us because he needed the talent that you have
he loves you… he wants you… he asks that you do what he has called you to do and he will show his strength in your obedience
