Final Words
Final words
Have everyone Switch seats.
Announce leaving.
One’s parting thoughts are often given great attention and importance.
A preacher visited a family where the father had just died. He asked the young son, “What were your father’s last words?”
“He didn’t have any,” said the boy. “Mama was with him to the end.”
As Alisa Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister, lay dying, someone in the room observed that nothing was as certain as death. “Except taxes,” added Alisa—thus making her last words among the most widely quoted in history.
Dr. Howard Kelly, the famous Christian physician, once said that “the first recorded words of the Lord were “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business” and His last words were “It is finished!””
William Carey the missionary—”When I am gone, speak less of Dr. Carey and more of Dr. Carey’s Savior.”
The last words of Jesus…The Great Commission
Realizing that I have an opportunity to share some last words, but also a responsibility to deliver a message from the Lord…
In sharing these thoughts, I do so with a spirit of humility. I know that I do not have all the answers, nor am I the head of this church, with which to have a larger perspective. These thoughts are not my rantings, but rather things that I have seen or thought of that I hope will help and bless this church as I move on.
Take risks.
“The church that impacts the 21st century is the one who’s dreams are bigger than it’s memories.”
Paralyzing fear keeps us.
Culture: Bomb shelters, head to the hills, financial ruin, Y2K, Terrorism.
On a personal level: what will I become, where will I live, provision for my children, my retirement, fear of failure, fear of rejection. Fear of change.
Petra – “We’re content to pitch our tent when the glory is evident, but seldom do we know the glory came and went.”
As a Church: new people coming in fears, older people in church fears, leadership fears
Giving in to those fears leads to paralysis. And many of those fears become self-fulfilling prophecies.
Is what you are hanging onto as a Christian or as a church worth it in the long run. Is it consistent with the teachings of Jesus?
Some had problem just changing seats…
Need to remember that unless the Lord builds the house we labor in vain. What does that mean? It means doing things the Lord’s way. Approaching the future with faith, not just logic. Honoring the things that Christ valued. Church isn’t a business.
Remembering that the message is sacred, not the methods. Christ is more concerned with reaching the lost and expanding His Kingdom than He is with our comfort.
Church down the road. I wonder if whatever they were hanging onto that led them down the path of irrelevance, if they now consider it worth it.
They have been replaced.
Luke 10:30-36 (NLT) "Jesus replied with an illustration: “A Jewish man was traveling on a trip from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes and money, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a Jewish priest came along; but when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two pieces of silver and told him to take care of the man. ‘If his bill runs higher than that,’ he said, ‘I’ll pay the difference the next time I am here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked."
The Good Samaritan
Showed more love for his neighbor than those who should have done something about it.
Injury
There was risk to himself. The man could have been bait for those who would come to help.
No worker’s comp, or insurance.
Finances
Cost him a good sum of money and he was willing to pay more if needed. He was committed to seeing this man healed…and he knew nothing of who he was.
Time
Inconveniences. We all cry about how busy we are. This man was on his way somewhere. But he took time out of his journey, his priorities
Unity
Psalm 133 (NKJV) " Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore."
Unity is more than just the absence of strife…it is dwelling together in peace and purpose!
This speaks of an anointing, and the anointing is power
Unity will be the key to moving forward
Under one leader
One vision
One direction
Board there to support and encourage the pastor. There to get behind the vision of the pastor and help facilitate it coming about.
Common Misconceptions:
Not mediators between congregation and pastor
Not there to provide a constant system of checks and balances like our nation’s government.
Are we a cult? NO. Is it wrong to question? NO
There will always be differing opinions and that can be an extremely healthy thing.
In talking about this, don’t use fear of the extreme to form your thought patterns and decisions.
If people in the church are not on board with the pastor’s vision or direction that the church is moving in, then those people need to move on. Many churches have become more about family than worship or following the Lord. “Where do you go to church?” “Why do you go there?”
If you are miserable and dieing somewhere either plug in and be part of the solution, or go somewhere where there’s a ministry and vision that you can get on board with.
The warning against DI-vision. Numbers 16.
“Who are you?” “What makes you think you are so special, after all God is with us too”
These people were already serving and being used by God. It wasn’t that they were being left out of God’s plan, it’s that they wanted more power. I have found that most church arguments center around who has the power and who wants it.
As a result of this, God caused the ground to open up and swallow those who had come against Moses who was ordained by God to lead the people.
God flows through order, not chaos or rebellion.
Servants with purpose
(under that unified vision…)
Not servants with a martyristic spirit
When the church begins to understand that every member is a minister, and called by God to serve, there will be purpose.
Personal responsibility for your lives.
Live responsible.
Take ownership of your spiritual growth.
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NLT) "You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right."
Milk to meat. One is digested and processed, the other must be torn apart, prepared, torn apart and chewed, and digested.
You hear from God
What’s God calling you to do?
As long as it’s consistent with the overall church vision…go for it!