Delivering Your Pastor

Temple Baptist Church - 3-26-2017

2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

Introduction:

A.  As Paul finishes the second Thessalonian epistle, he encourages the saints to “hold the lines,” not to “lose their grip,” to adhere to the Old Paths while the world is spiritually shaking and the lost religionists “falling away” from where Biblical Christianity once stood.

B.  Last week, we took a short look at allowing the Word of God to have free course and to be glorified.  Regardless of the liberals who say that we are “majoring on a minor,” you cannot make too much of the Bible.  If God magnified (to make larger than life) the Word of God in Psalm 138:2, then we can do no less!

C.  The second part of this admonition deals with the deliverance of God’s men from unreasonable and wicked men.  Deliverance is something that must be done by a third party.  There are times when God’s men need both divine and human help.  If they do not get both, they may fall from their steadfastness and—if they fall—you and the local church may spiritually fall also.  We MUST both stand and stick together.

D.  We must understand that there are unreasonable and wicked men in many churches.

1.  Unreasonable—given to argument :  tending to argue :  having or showing a tendency to disagree or argue with other people in an angry way, disputatious.   Men who will neither listen to the Bible or reason.  These will withstand and try to upstage God’s men.

3 John 1:9-10  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.  (10)  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

2.  Wicked men—those who seek to harm God’s men physically, spiritually, and family wise.  Some churches have men who are wicked and hatful towards God’s men.  When they cannot get to God’s men, they will try to hurt their families.

2 Timothy 4:14-15  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  (15)  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

1.  Your responsibility to deliver your pastor.  Proverbs 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.  (The first part of this verse gives human responsibility.  We cannot simply say that we trust God to protect God’s men and then do nothing to help him.  We cannot lie in the middle of the road and ask God to not let us get run over.  God expects us do the best that we can and then trust Him with what we cannot do.)

a.  By standing faithfully with him.

b.  By not listening to slander.

c. By putting down rumors.

d.  By informing him of problems or undercurrent.

e.  By standing with him and BY him when problems arise in the church.

f.  You need to deliver him when problems arise in the church.

2.  God’s deliverance of His men is a reality that must not be overlooked.  2 Timothy 4:16-18  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  (17)  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

a.  When men will not stand with God’s man, I am thankful that the Lord will never leave nor forsake him!

b.  Let us do that which is our responsibility and not stand by and allow God’s men to stand at the battle front alone.