Praying For Your Pastor

Temple Baptist Church - 6-30-2019

Romans 15:30-32

Introduction:

A.  When I think of the Apostle Paul, I think of possible the greatest Christian, Apostle, and Missionary of the New Testament.  I do not want to spend a lot of time tonight talking about all the biblical accolades given to him as that is not my message.

B.  He is writing to a church that he did not start and to a people he had never met.  He has a prayer request.  “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.”

C.  We hear missionaries say that the greatest thing we can do for them is to pray for them.  I believe that they are entirely sincere in their askance.

D.  Paul said for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit.  Our greatest obligation to God’s men is intercessory prayer.

E.  If we are to strive in prayer (that means to pray regularly and diligently) for men that we do not know, how much more important is it for prayer to be made for our pastor!  Does that sound selfish to you?  It is not!

F.  How to pray for God’s man?  1 Thessalonians 5:25  Brethren, pray for us!

1.  Pray for His Protection.  If Satan can take down a shepherd of God’s people, the odds are much higher that God’s people will scatter. That they’ll become bitter and disenfranchised. They will question everything they’ve ever been taught by that pastor. Satan targets pastors because the damage is exponential if they fall. Pray for your pastor that he would be kept safe from Satan.

2.  Pray for His Family.  When Satan and wicked men cannot get to the pastor, they will attack his family.  As goes his family, so goes the pastor.

3.  Pray for His Encouragement.  The attrition rate in the ministry is great.  So many more men of God are quitting than are answering the call to the ministry.  More missionaries are leaving the mission field than are going.  Discouragement is the most common cause of defeat.

4.  Pray for His Purity.  Pastors are just men with a divine call.  They are subject to like passions such as you have, and Satan will make sure that temptation is placed in front of them.

5.  Pray for His Physical Well-Being.  I know that a pastor only works a 3 hour week, but he needs to be able to work 4 when needed. 😊  When he fails physically, it affects every other part of his life.

6.  Pray for His Wisdom and Spiritual Discernment.  A pastor will have to make a lot of decisions and make spiritual judgments that are consistent with the Bible.

7.  Pray for His Study.  Study and Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth are foundational for Bible teaching and preaching.  There are so many easy ways to get sermon outlines in these high tech days but there is no substitute for personal Bible study.

8.  Pray for His Boldness.  Ephesians 6:19-20  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,  (20)  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Abiding And Joy

Temple Baptist Church - 6-30-2019

John 15:11; Nehemiah 8:10

Introduction: 

A.  What was the joy of Christ?  I want to look at the best definition that I have ever seen, and it comes from your Bible.

Habakkuk 3:17-19  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  (18)  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  (19)  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

1.  In these verses, we find both the “Cause” and “Effect” of the Christian’s Joy.

2.  As is the case many times in the Bible, we find the order reversed.  Rejoicing, the Effect, before Joy, the Cause.

3.  In Verses 18-19, we find the Cause of Joy:

a)  The God of my Salvation.  True Christian Joy comes from God in the form of Eternal Salvation.

b)  The LORD God, my Strength.  True Christian Joy is maintained in the spiritual Strength that comes from God, not circumstances.

4.  In Verses 17-18, we find the Effect of Joy:

a)  Though things go wrong, and they do; though life is hard and it is:

b)  Rejoicing comes from our inner fountain of Joy.

5.  There was a day when praise and rejoicing were spontaneous, not “worked up.”  “Popcorn Testimonies” have become a thing of the past.  We need to get our Joy back and Rejoicing will follow without having to be stirred.

6.  We live in days when pastors feel the necessity to stir our emotions with fleshly music and preaching as to produce rejoicing.  Thus, they become Entertainers, not Preachers.  Rejoicing should be a spontaneous result of Joy, not the cause of Joy.

7.  The hymns of the Faith no longer cause Rejoicing, so the modern day “church” is now in the “Entertainment Business” in stead of reproving, rebuking, and Exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.  Modern day preaching and music reflect the world because most professing “Christians” are more worldly than spiritual.

B.  Both rejoicing and joy are to be despite our circumstance, not because of them!  Most Christians live in discouragement with little joy.  Why?  The answer is simple.

1.  Because Of Our Sinfulness - Matthew 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  (God’s people are not drunks and harlots, but sin creeps in and we now walk at a guilty distance from God and the joy is gone.)

2.  Because Of Our Situations - Matthew 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  (God’s people have their eyes upon the “wind and waves” of circumstance and not upon Christ.  When Peter looked up instead of looking down, he saw the Lord of the “wind and waves” and once again walked on the water.)

C.  Many Christians live in defeat with no joy at all.

1.  For The World, Joy Is Found In Circumstances – Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

2.  For The Christian, Joy Is Found Despite Circumstances - 2 Corinthians 7:4  Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

2 Corinthians 8:2  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Colossians 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

1 Thessalonians 1:6  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

D.  Loss of joy comes through:

1.  Losing the freshness of our salvation.

2.  Losing the burning love for our Saviour.

3.  Losing the excitement of our service.

WHERE THE CHRISTIAN FINDS HIS JOY

1.  Christian Joy Is Found In Salvation - Luke 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Psalms 35:9  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Psalms 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalms 132:16  I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

Isaiah 12:3  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

2.  Christian Joy Is Found In The Holy Ghost - Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Joy Is Not Found In The Things Of The World - Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

3.  Christian Joy Is Found In God’s Word - Nehemiah 8:9-12  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God;mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.  And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

4.  Christian Joy Is Found In Church - Psalms 42:4  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

a.  The Joy Of Singing - Psalms 95:1  O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.

Psalms 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalms 98:4  Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

b.  The Joy Of Praise - Psalms 27:6  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

5.  Christian Joy Is Found In Worship - Nehemiah 12:43  Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. 

6.  Christian Joy Is Found In Hope - Psalms 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

7.  Christian Joy Is Found In Eternity - Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

8.  Christian Joy Is Found In Sinners Saved - Luke 15:10  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

9.  Christian Joy Is Found In A Finished Course - Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

10.  Christian Joy Is Found In The Saviour - 1 Peter 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Hindrances To The Work

Temple Baptist Church - 6-23-2019

Romans 15:22-24

Introduction:

A.  Paul was writing to a church that he never started and a people that he had never met!  We find in these verses that he was “hindered” for years from coming to them.

B.  Paul fought a literal war as he endeavored to carry the gospel to a dying world.

1 Timothy 1:18  This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

C.  We too are hindered.  We are likened to soldiers who need to be both armed and determined.  (It’s a battlefield, Brother, not a recreation room, it is a fight and not a game.)

            2 Timothy 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

D.  The door of opportunity rests upon the hinges of resistance.

Zechariah 3:1  And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

E.  Satan and his allies will stop at nothing in order to deter the work of the gospel!  He is serious!

1 Peter 5:8   Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1.  There Is The Hindrance Of Unreasonable And Wicked Men - 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3  Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:  And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (Men who cannot be reasoned with.  Men who withstand the OLD PATHS of Scripture, Sanctification, etc.)

2.  There Is The Hindrance Of Worldly Persecution - 2 Corinthians 1:8-10  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; (The Sword of Family Division is a lethal one.  We all love our families and friends while trying to maintain a balance of friendship with them while walking a walk pleasing to the Lord.  Peer pressure is a real thing.)

3.  There Is The Hindrance Of Satanic Oppression - 1 Thessalonians 2:18  Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.  (The spirit of antichrist is prevalent in our society.  People who once professed faith have shown their true “colors,” as they now stand against God and His people.)

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-18  But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.  Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

2 Timothy 4:17  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.

4.  There Is The Hindrance Of Religious But Lost Church Members - 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.  (Men who stand against, malign, and attack God’s men.  Men who contradict, correct, and teach contrary to the Bible.)

Acts 17:5  But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

5.  There Is The Hindrance Of Doctrinal Division By False Teachers -Romans 16:17-18  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  (18)  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.  (God’s people are being systematically destroyed by a lack of foundational teaching.  This is a failure that opens up the church to heresy.)

6.  There Is The Hindrance Of Ungodly Wolves - Acts 20:28-30  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  (29)  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  (30)  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  (Ungodly men who destroy the flock of God.)

7.  There Is The Hindrance Of Wicked Church Members - 3 John 9-10   I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.  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 casteththem out of the church.

2 Timothy 4:14-18  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Abiding In His Presence

Temple Baptist Church - 6-23-2019

Luke 10:38-42

Introduction:  John 15:7-9  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  (8)  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  (9)  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

 A.  I have been preaching for a couple of weeks on the subject of “Abiding In Christ.”  Being saved and abiding in Christ are two separate things.

1.  Salvation is in unconditional covenant where a person comes to Christ in repentance and faith then is the recipient of Eternal Life!

2.  Abiding in Christ is a conditional covenant whereby a saved man or woman remains constant in Christ. 

“For to me to live is Christ!” 

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear.” 

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

B.  The home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.  This home and family were very special to our Lord.  Not that the Lord loves some more than others, but some love the Lord more than others.  Our Lord frequented this home.

C.  What a testimony the Lord’s friend, Lazarus, had.  Many Jews came to see the one whom Jesus raised from the dead in in John, chapter 12, the religious crowd conspired to put Lazarus to death because many believed on Christ because of him.

D.  In our text, we find our Lord in their home. 

1.  TWO VERY IMPORTANT things are mentioned here, Serving andSitting, Cumbered and Contentment.  These two conditions are equally important and should go hand-in-hand!

2.  Martha is cumbered in her serving while Mary is content in her sitting!  Thus, we find the children of God in our day.

E.  Are we cumbered in our serving or content in our sitting?

F.  In verse 38, Martha “received him into her house.”  Martha was a Good woman!  Martha was a Godly woman!  Martha Loved the Lord!  As with Peter, we often tend to look at Martha in a wrong way or in a bad light.  She made sure that the Lord had every comfort when He came into her home.  She made sure that His every need was met when He came for a visit.  She loved her Lord! 

1.  But Martha was “cumbered ABOUT much serving.”  Notice with me the wording: “Cumbered ABOUT much serving,” not “Cumbered WITHmuch serving!”

2.  I imagine that she was tired and more than a little frustrated. Here, she was HAVING TO DO all the work while Mary sat in the living room and enjoyed listening to the Lord talk.  Ladies, does that remind you of how it is when company comes, you are left alone in the kitchen to both cook and clean while the other ladies sit and talk?

G.  Cumbered – a s0-called archaic (old, outdated) word for burdened, hindered, troubled.    I hate it when people say the Word of God is outdated!  “Cumbered with heavy clothing.”  So many are trying to serve Christ but find service a burden instead of a blessing. 

H.  Too many children of God are spending their time in service FOR Christ without spending time WITH Christ!

I.  Mary was a Good woman!  Mary was a Godly woman!  Mary Loved the Lord!  Mary was content in sitting at the Lord’s feet.

J.  I want to look at the little story of Martha and Mary for a few minutes this morning and give us a biblical definition of what it is to abide in His presence.  Luke 10:38-42**

1.  We See That Mary Longed To Be With Christ.

a.  Martha was Cumbered – vs. 40  In the preceding verse, we see that Martha was glad to see Jesus Christ and received Him willingly.  He was more than welcome in her home.  He was wanted! 

1)  I know that Martha had work to do so I am not “knocking” her labor.  Without people who are willing to labor, nothing would ever get done but there is a time to labor for Christ and a time to rest with Christ!

2)  The word “cumbered” is an interesting word.  It means to be drawn around, to be driven about mentally, to be distracted, to be over-occupied or too busy about a thing.

3)  The only other use of the word is cumbereth:

Luke 13:7  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? (Cumbereth – to render the ground useless!)

b.  Mary was Contented with Communing – vs. 39  While Martha wanted Him in her home, Mary wanted to be with Him!

Luke 8:35  Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Proverbs 8:34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

2.  We See That Mary Loved Christ.

a.  Martha was Working – vs. 40  “serve alone”  I have no problem understanding that Martha also love the Lord very much.  This is shown forth in other portions of scripture where Christ Jesus spent much time in their home.  Martha approached our Lord in John 11, after the death of Lazarus, and confessed that if He had been there, her brother would not have died.

b.  Mary was Worshipping – vs. 39  “sat at Jesus’ feet”  Here, we find that place of obeisance and humility.  Servants sat at the feet of their masters showing both obedience and affection.  Mary Magdalene anointed the feet of Jesus.

Luke 7:44-45  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wipedthem with the hairs of her head. 45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

John 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  (Tell me that you love me, Peter!  Tell me that you love me more than anything else in the world, Peter!!)

3.  We See That Mary Listened To Christ – vs. 39

a.  Martha was Burdened – vs. 41  “careful and troubled about many things”  Serving our Lord had lost its blessing and became a burden to Martha.  She was not serving because she wanted to serve.  She was serving because, as the woman of the house, she had to serve.  How many times has the work of the Lord become a burden to God’s people?  We do what we are expected to do just because we are expected to do so!  The service of the “bond slave” becomes a thing of the past as we labor, seemingly unrewarded, in these last days.

b.  Mary was Blessed – vs. 42  “good part, which shall not be taken away”  I also have no doubt that Mary spent many hours laboring beside of Martha.  Her sitting at the feet of our Lord had nothing to do with laziness.  It had to do with her fervent desire to both be with Him and hear His gracious words.

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Job 23:12  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessaryfood.

4.  We See That Mary Lingered With Christ – vs. 40

a.  Martha was Absent – vs. 40  “to serve alone”  The Master has

come and is now speaking while Martha remains cumbered and worried in the kitchen!  Could not He who fed the thousands with just 5 loaves and 2 fishes met their physical needs.  Would it have be such a great thing if then even missed the evening meal that day.  When the Lord spoke, Martha was AWOL!  She was missing.

b.  Mary was abiding – vs. 40  “my sister hath left me”  Mary sought that “good part, which shall not be taken away from her!”  Time spent with Christ is not time wasted for Christ!  Yes, we can be doing a multitude of other things that are both needed and profitable but that time spend with Him is sublime!

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence isfulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.

Psalms 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalms 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalms 140:13  Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Conclusion:  There is a song that I love to hear, especially the chorus that goes very well with this message.  It is titled “When I’m With Him” and the chorus goes like this:

When I’m with Him;

When I’m with Him;

The fairest pleasures of the world grow dim;

And in him heart, I feel the thrill of glory;

When I’m with Him, when I’m with Him.