Archive for restoration

May
19

An Invitation to Rest and Refreshment – Bible Study Outline

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An Invitation to Rest and Refreshment
by Leif Hetland – (visit leifhetland.com for info about Leif's ministry)

Psalm 23 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. Countless times this Psalm has been read in times of grief and sorrow to bring comfort to the listeners. If you read this Psalm carefully you will discover that it is "A day in the life of a sheep." It is spoken from the point of view of a well cared for and well-loved sheep.

There are countless golden nuggets to be mined from this Psalm. Let's look at two:

Golden nugget #1 is an invitation to Rest.

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." As one little child said in Sunday school when asked to quote verse one, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I need!" He may have missed the quote but he spoke truth. When you know the person (the Shepherd) you find rest.

In Psalm 22 He Is the Good Shepherd who dies for his sheep. (John 10:11)

In Psalm 23 He is the Great Shepherd who cares for his sheep. (Hebrews 13:20 – 21)

In Psalm 24 He is the Chief Shepherd who comes for his sheep. (1 Peter 5:4)

One of the definitions given for the word "rest" is – peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep or the cessation of an activity.”

Listen to the words of our Shepherd when he said:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

In commenting on this text, William Barclay wrote:

‘He says, "My yoke is easy." The word easy is in Greek chrestos, which can mean well-fitting. In Palestine ox-yokes were made of wood; the ox was brought, and the measurements were taken. The yoke was then roughed out, and the ox was brought back to have the yoke tried on. The yoke was then carefully adjusted, so that it would fit well, and would not gall the neck of the patient beast. The yolk was tailor-made to fit the ox.’ (The Gospel of Matthew, The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, Page 19).

David was persuaded of God’s ability to satisfy the need of his soul when he said in Psalm 62:1-2: "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall never be shaken."

He also knew how to encourage his own soul: "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken." (Psalm 62:5-6)

Jesus’ yoke (his words, teachings, and commandments) fits us well. The life that He has given us to live is not bitter or heavy burdened, but rather a life-style that is made to measure, to fit us. It is not a “one size fits all” life. Many times we choose to lay our burdens at His feet, only to pick them up again when we leave!

The yoke was a wooden frame used to harness together a pair of oxen at their necks so that they could pull a plow or some other load. It was a balancing device. Sometimes a younger ox needed to be taught to work and thus was paired with an animal of more experience. This beautifully illustrates our relationship with Christ. As we walk by His side, sharing the yoke and burden, the load does not disappear but is made lighter. We can try to carry our load by ourselves, or we can walk with Him, listening to His voice, and thereby find rest for our souls.

Golden nugget #2 is an invitation to Refreshment.

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters."

Sheep can be very unstable and must be closely watched and cared for. Someone said that when people are compared to sheep in the Bible, it is not a compliment. So when Isaiah says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6), he is not saying, "That’s good”. He’s saying, "That’s bad” because we’re just about on the same level with sheep. When Jesus looked out on the people with compassion, the Gospel writers say that He saw them "like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). That’s not a compliment, either, but a concern.

Philip Keller was a sheep rancher and in his book A Shepherd Looks at the Twenty third Psalm, he says sheep require more attention than any other livestock. They just can’t take care of themselves.

Sheep (and people) can be "dumb" and make bad decisions. Jesus is our wisdom and will lead us to make wise decisions about our life.

Sheep (and people) are "defenseless" and need protection. The Good Shepherd is always on the lookout for the predator who will try to steal and devour His sheep. The Shepherd of our soul is on constant vigilance to protect us, even "when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death."

Sheep (and people) have no sense of direction and need to be led. A dog, horse, cat, or a bird can find its way home. When a sheep gets lost, it’s lost forever unless someone rescues it.

The Good Shepherd leads his sheep to a lush pasture where they have plenty to eat and their stomachs are soon full. Here, then, is a picture of a sheep so completely satisfied that there isn’t the least desire for anything more. He’s so content he lies down in green pastures.

The Lord has provided us with plenty, too. There are few of us who will ever go hungry. In fact, we have so much to eat that dieting is a constant discipline, or maybe more accurately, a constant discussion.

While all of that may be true, it is comforting to know that we have a good Shepherd who will make sure that we are watched and cared for and not left to our own devices.

Did you notice the wording? David said, "He makes me lie down." Sheep sometimes have to be forced to lie down. They can be very stubborn.

Keller said in his book that in order for sheep to lie down, 4 things are required:

1. They have to be full. Hungry sheep stay on their feet searching for another mouthful of food.

2. Secondly, they must be unafraid. They will not lie down if they’re fearful. The least suspicion of wolves or bears and they stand ready to flee.

3. Thirdly, they must be content. If flies or fleas are bothering them they will not lie down.

4. Finally, sheep will not lie down unless there is harmony in the flock. If there is friction over the butting order among them, then they simply cannot relax and lie down.

David then says, "He leads me beside quiet waters." (see vs. 2) Sheep are frightened of swiftly moving water. They are easily upset. They’re poor swimmers, and get bogged down with their heavy wool. When they get wet, it’s easy for them to get “cast” down or turned on their back. When that happens, they must be helped or the lion, bear or wolf will come and kill them.

David used the same picture in Psalm 42:5 when describing his depressed state. “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”

David, in his distress, had “turned” or was “cast down” and needed God to lift him up. As a shepherd himself, he knew if he stayed in that spiritual condition for very long the enemy would come and destroy him.

So when the shepherd comes to a flowing stream, he doesn’t try to force the sheep to drink. Instead, a good shepherd builds a dam and makes a quiet little pool where his sheep can drink from still waters.

"Dr. Andrew Bonar told me how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn't get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet, and then they can't jump back again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then they will put a rope around him, and he will go over and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. "Why don't they go down there when the sheep first gets there?" I asked. "Ah!" He said, "they are so very foolish they would dash right over the precipice and be killed if they did!" And that is the way with men; they won't go back to God till they have no friends and have lost everything. If you are a wanderer I tell you that the Good Shepherd will bring you back the moment you have given up trying to save yourself and are willing to let Him save you His own way.” Moody's Anecdotes, pp. 70-71

Are you stressed to the max? Is it hard to focus on daily tasks? Your load is so heavy you think you will collapse under the weight? “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you!” (1 Peter 5:7)

Much Love,
Leif Hetland

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Feb
11

You Have Been UPGRADED – sermon notes

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Thanks to my friend Leif Hetland, who travels the nations, for the following teaching. Leif's ministry site is LeifHetland.com . 

YOU HAVE BEEN UPGRADED!
by Leif Hetland

If you have ever flown hundreds or thousands of miles at a given time, you know what it's like to be tired and weary after a long trip. No sweeter words can you hear in an airport than when they call your name to come to the ticket counter, and say, "Mr. Hetland, you have been upgraded to first class." It's just a different world up there. The food is better, it's much quieter, and the sleep is more relaxing.  
  
UPGRADE = an improvement in or enhancement of the condition, status, etc. of a person or thing; something that has been improved or enhanced; to raise in importance, value, esteem, etc.; to enhance or improve one's condition, status, capabilities, etc.
 
He showed me TWO things that he is upgrading in the coming year:
 
1. WISDOM
2. FAVOR
I believe with all my heart that these are the two most important ingredients for 2012 that will bring the greatest year that we have ever seen!
 
JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE
“ And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Luke 2:52
 
JESUS GREW IN WISDOM:
 
This is the Intellectual Development.
     As you can see, Jesus exemplified the epitome of intelligence when He confronted the teachers, masters of the Law of His day, the Pharisees, and everyone who wanted to test His knowledge as a recognized Teacher of His day. They were amazed and astonished with His answers.
 
 JESUS GREW IN FAVOR WITH MEN:

This is the Social Dimension.
     As we mature in our walk with Jesus, notice that the circle of unbelieving friends in our life become smaller. Is this good? No, we must function like Jesus. He always came in contact with sinners, healing the sick and oppressed, teaching and telling about the Kingdom of heaven. Was He not branded to be a friend of sinners and the gluttons, and drunkards, and prostitutes and lepers?
 
JESUS GREW IN FAVOR WITH GOD:
 
This is the Spiritual Development.
    This aspect of your life is part of a larger process. Jesus said it very clearly in Matthew 6:33 -" But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
 
YOUR UPGRADE IS ALREADY HERE,
IT'S NOW TIME TO WALK IN IT!
 
I. WISDOM
is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  
And in all your getting, get understanding. 
Proverbs 4:7
    “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 
James 1:5-8
 
1. What is the principal thing?
·      Not tongues
·      Not baptism of the spirit
·      Not soul winning
·      Not money
·      Not fellowship
·      Not having a great marriage
·      Not having a successful business
 
     All are important, but still not the "principal ” thing according to Scripture. 
 
The MAIN thing is the PRINCIPAL thing:
WISDOM
 
2.   What is wisdom?
The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.  Common sense; good judgment.  The sum of learning through the ages; knowledge.  The Fear of the Lord.  
 
Wisdom has two parts here:
1) One – is knowing what God wants
2) Two – is doing what God wants.
 
It’s not enough to give mental accent to the truth, but to put that truth into action moves me to the wisdom of God.
 
Not just “common sense”
Not just “book smarts”
 
   “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. “ James 3:13
       
    Godly Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge. You gain knowledge by looking around; you gain wisdom by looking up. “Wisdom is the God-given ability to perceive the true nature of a matter and to implement the will of God in that matter”.
 
3.  Why is it so important?
     Knowledge without wisdom leads to chaos and all kinds of problems. We’ve all known people who are very smart and intelligent who were unable to carry out the simplest of tasks. They can run computers, but cannot run their own lives. Man can build a rocket and fire it to the moon, but he has yet to figure out how to keep a teenager off of drugs, or a man from beating his wife.
 
     Here’s why – God’s reality and Man’s reality are often very different.
 
4. Consider the Value of Wisdom
 
Wisdom is greater than:
 
A. Monetary Power.
 
    "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." 
Proverbs 3:13-17
 
    "On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. "Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude."Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life – but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—“wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like." 
2 Chronicles 1:7-12
 
   You don’t have a money problem today, you have a wisdom problem. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t know why you have the money, it will destroy you. 
 
     Natural wisdom says to tithe only if you feel like it, only if there’s enough left over to do all the things you want to do. Spiritual wisdom says it’s a command, it’s a trust issue, and it’s the right thing to do no matter how you feel.
 
THINK ABOUT THIS –
 
     Experts have studied the histories of past lottery winners and have discovered that an alarming number of them went bankrupt. These studies revealed that many lottery winners lacked the experience and knowledge to handle a sudden increase in wealth. Unable to cope, they mismanaged their resources till they ran dry:
 
Some Lottery Winners Who Splurged Their Lottery Payments:
 
•  Evelyn Adams won the NJ lottery twice (1985, 1986), but was unable to save and now lives in a trailer.
•  William Post won $16.2M in the PA lottery in 1988, but now lives on his Social Security.
•  Suzanne Mullins won $4.2M in the VA lottery in 1993, but is now deeply in debt.
•  Ken Proxmire won $1M in the MI lottery and within five years filed for bankruptcy.
•  Willie Hurt of Lansing, MI won $3.1M in 1989 and ended up broke and charged with murder two years later.
•  Charles Riddle of Belleville, MI won $1M in 1975 and had a life troubled by divorce, lawsuits and drug dealing.
•  Janite Lee of Missouri won $18M in 1993 and, according to published reports, only has $700 left in two bank accounts and no cash on hand.
•  A Southeastern family won $4.2M in the early 90s, bought a huge house and unthinkingly kept helping family members pay off debts till nothing was left of their winnings.
 
B. Greater than Military Power.
 
    "I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me. There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
 
  What we need in Washington DC is not more “Power” of might, but of Mighty Power of Almighty God who gives wisdom.
 
C. Greater than Mental Power.
 
   "He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you." 
Proverbs 4:4-9
 
     Wisdom and knowledge are linked together, but not the same. They are two different words.
 
How do you get this kind of mental power?
 
Step One:
A Right relationship with a Person.
 
People have said that if they could just go to some mountain top and sit at the feet of some wise man, then they will gain wisdom. Many have tried and failed.
 
       What person?
 
     We all need coaches, mentors. But the best is living inside you right now.
 
        He has a name, Jesus Christ!
 
     “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”
1 Corinthians 1:30
 
     “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully.” 
Colossians 1:9-11
 
     Some of the smartest people in the world will end up in Hell, because they were not wise enough to do the simplest thing? Give their heart to Jesus.
 
Step Two:
A Right relationship with a Book.
 
     “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet , And a light to my path. “ 
Psalm 119:103-10
 
     “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” 
Job 23:12
 
     “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” 
Jeremiah 15:16
 
      Have you ever just wanted to talk to the author of a book you were reading? How about a How-to book? You have the author of the Bible living inside of you.
 
     “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” 
Colossians 3:16

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Jan
14

Are You Living Bitter Free? – Sermon Outline

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ARE YOU LIVING BITTER FREE?
by Eddie Lawrence

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. (NKJV)

INTRO: During my 28 years of pastoral ministry, I have known several occasions when someone became offended and allowed the offense to become a root of bitterness in their lives. When this happens, people who are in the same family may go years without speaking, people who attend the same church avoid each other, people who sleep in the same bed refuse to open their hearts to one another. This bitterness is very destructive and it affects the people around it. As the writer of Hebrews wrote, "by this many become defiled."

Let's do a little digging in the hopes of uprooting this root of bitterness if it is present in any of our lives.

Let me ask some questions:

1. ARE YOU PURSUING PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE? (v14)

If there is someone whom you do not desire to be at peace with, then that is a place to start looking for bitterness. This does not mean that if everyone is not at peace with you, that you have an unforgiveness issue. The Scripture says we are to live at peace with all men as much as lies within us. That is, we are not to be the door closers on reconcilation. We must be willing for true reconciliation to take place. This does not mean it will, but it does mean you are willing.

Neither does this mean that you are to submit to someone interrogating you under the guise of reconciliation. The purpose of reconciliation is to forgive sin not to focus on it. Some people will never be satisfied with any amount of repentance, restitution, or efforts at reconciliation because revenge lives in their hearts.

Is there anyone who desires to reconcile with you but you simply are not interested in things being made right?

Are there vindictive or revenge filled thoughts that you harbor toward anyone that keep you from reconciling? 

May I also add, that if someone who has offended you never asks for your forgiveness, you still must forgive or you will become bitter. 

So, be a pursuer of peace because that is necessary to remind bitter free.

2. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A ROOT OF BITTERNESS?

This could be a much longer list, but here are some observations I will share with you:

A. Unforgiveness and Grudge Bearing
Someone recently asked me, "What is the difference between unforgiveness and being bitter?" I thought for a moment and then said, "Unforgiveness is the sap that flow through the root of bitterness." I do believe that bitterness is fueled by unforgiveness.

B. Pride
Believing we have the right to pass judgment, deliver a verdict, and carry out the execution is putting ourselves in the place of God and is rooted in pride. You cannot be bitter and humble; but if you are bitter, you will always have a pride issue to deal with. This pride says, "I don't deserve this but they deserve judgment!"

C. Unhealed Wounds and Echoing Words in Your Mind
It has been my experience both personally and ministerially that when bitterness is present there is often something someone did or words that someone has spoken that keeps ringing in the mind. Words are powerful dear friends. They can have a long life when they are sown deep into someone's soul through some traumatic event. A person can still hear the angry words, the words of rejection, the words that humiliate in the corridors of their memory. These have to be healed through forgiveness.

These wounds can be the result of terrible things that one person has done to another. They can range from a sentence of hate filled words to years of some type of abuse. But becoming bitter just adds another terrible thing to the list of what is happening to you.

D. A Resistance to Grace
As our Scripture bears out, bitterness occurs when we fall short of the grace of God. In other words, we need to receive God's grace to forgive. "You don't know what he did to me preacher?" I may not, but God does, and He says "Forgive them." And he offers you the grace to do it. When you refuse the grace to forgive, you choose to live in unforgiveness.

E. The soul is tormented
Refusing to forgive and choosing to linger in unforgiveness brings torment to the soul. Jesus taught this in his parable of the debtors. I have seen this in many people's lives. They are tormented over and over and over by what has been done to them and the reason they are is that they will not forgive. Forgiveness is not just for the benefit of the offender but for the person who has been offended too. Torment or freedom? That is the real choice you are making when you are deciding to forgive or not?

F. The Harboring of Hatred
Bitterness buys its groceries from hatred. When we refuse to forgive we decide to focus on and relive the offense. This breeds hatred which reinforces the bitterness. 

G. Breaksdown One's Health
Bitterness causes rottenness in the bones. You can often see that someone's countenance is affected by bitterness. They eventually begin to reflect their countenance the hardness and callousness that has taken over their heart. Friends, you shave days, months, and years off your life by remaining in bitterness. This is not what Christ died to provide for us.

ILLUS-E. Stanley Jones said, "A rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is–a biting of oneself. We think that we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves. "

H. Forfeit Blessings Available Each Day
When there is a root of bitterness in your life, there is a part of your life that is on hold and decaying and will remain so until you forgive. You miss all the blessings you could see and enjoy if you were not blinded by bitterness.

What is it not only costing you, but what is it costing the people you love because you are paralyzed by bitterness. You can't respond like you should. You are not the same as you were. You are not who you could be.

I. You don't want someone else to be blessed.

If there is someone who you simply do not want good things to happen to, then do some soul searching about bitterness toward that person.

J. Who comes to mind?
When I first mentioned about there being someone whom you are not pursuing peace with, did someone come to your mind? 

3. IF YOU ARE BITTER, WILL YOU CHOOSE TO FORGIVE RIGHT NOW?

A. Forgiveness is an act of your will and an act of faith. You choose to forgive and you trust God to give you the grace to walk it out. If you do your part, God will do His part.

B. Remove the Stinger – A man by the name of William Walton said, "To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee."

Someone else has said that you may not be able to forget what has been done to you, but you can take the stinger out of the memory through forgiving.

C. You must forgive or you will not live in the benefits of God's forgiveness. This is the teaching of Scripture. Why set yourself apart from such wonderful blessing just because you want to see someone else cursed. Let love win. Let forgiveness come and cleanse you and free you of this torment.

D. If you asked Jesus right now, to forgive you, would he?

E. If he asked you to forgive that person who has offended you, would you? Well, he not only asks us to do this, but commands us to do it.

CONCLUSION: So, at this point, it is no longer between you and that other person, it is between you and Jesus. What do you choose to do right now? Would you come and let's all gather here in the altar, and we will all pray and lay down our offenses and let the river of God's forgiveness wash through this place this morning…….

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May
13

3 Barriers to Restoring A Heart – sermon outline

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3 BARRIERS TO RESTORING A HEART
By Eddie Lawrence

I actually got this idea from an entry on my wife Mikki's blog (read it for background to this sermon outline). I took the idea and thought it would make a powerful sermon for people to hear and meditate upon.

TEXT: John 4:15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.” 19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 

Here we have a story where Jesus shows us how to reach out to someone who has been checked off most people's list.

TRANSITION: Notice these three barriers that Jesus had to overcome in ministering to this precious woman searching for meaning in her life:

1. CULTURAL BACKGROUND

-She was a woman.
-She was a Samaritan. They were considered the half-breed Jews of the North who were idolators.

-By approaching her and conversing with her, Jesus broke the conventions of his day concerning a man talking publicly to a woman.

-By being willing to drink out of her container, he also showed he did not judge her as a Samaritan.

What wounds do you carry due to people misunderstanding your culture?

2. RELIGIOUS TRAINING

-As a Samaritan woman, she had been taught to worship God in a way contrary to the Jews of the Jerusalem area.
-Her religious believes center on a geographic location instead of a personal relationship with God. We can be guilty of this today by thinking God is only moving in our "Church building."
-She did believe in the prophetic and Jesus ministered to her in that way.

-Jesus invited her to know God in Spirit and truth. He offered her living water for her soul.

What religious ideas do you have that are not rooted in Spirit in Truth?

3. PERSONAL HISTORY
-She was a woman of questionable character. She was living with a man.
-She was a woman who experienced 5 failed marriages.

Jesus did not waste time condemning her. He allowed the Holy Spirit to work through Him to show her the love and acceptance of God.

-She had a testimony of who He was afterwards.

What is in your past that haunts you that you think God can't forgive?

CONCLUSION- Are you willing to overcome these barriers to reach people for Christ? Are you willing to see their heart instead of their race? Their need instead of their sin? Their future with God instead of a future without God?

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Categories : Evangelism, Grace, Healing, Missions, restoration
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Apr
29

5 Pitfalls For Pastors to Avoid

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Five Pitfalls for Pastors to Avoid
by Eddie Lawrence
 
Introduction- As I typed the title to this post in the form of a sermon outline, I must admit that it was a little scary. Why? I am a pastor that has experienced great pain due to falling into more than one of these pits. I take full responsibility for my own actions which is necessary in order for healing and restoration to take place.
 
However in addition to our own mistakes and sinfulness, the enemy is also at work against the life of every servant of Christ. The Scripture bears this out. Jesus was tempted of the Devil. David sinned greatly. Peter denied Christ. Paul was buffeted. Some of our heroes in the Scripture fought valiantly and endured the temptation. Others caved in. We can learn lessons from them all.
 
Take Peter for example. Jesus told Peter that Satan has asked for him. That’s interesting in and of itself. How does that work? Why is this possible? Jesus also told Peter that restoration would be necessary. This was before Peter ever fell. Jesus told Peter he had prayed for him that through it all, his faith would not fail him. You know the story. Peter was sifted like wheat. The end result was Peter was sifted of a presumptuous pride that had led him into trouble more than once. Yes, God can use the attack of the Devil to bring about good in our lives. At the resurrection, Jesus sent word by the women to Peter. Jesus went to Peter to restore him at the seaside. Peter was chosen 50 days after his fall to preach the first sermon at Pentecost. This ought to encourage every servant of Christ who is aware of their own fallen humanity.
 
Here is a short list of five areas that every pastor should be vigilant about, because the enemy of our souls is lurking around these areas just waiting for the opportunity to bring you down.
 
1. Pride
 
-The Scripture is clear. Pride precedes destruction and a fall. As a pastor, you are in a situation to be unwittingly elevated in the minds of men. People will unintentionally set you on a pedestal. If you are not careful, it can affect the way you begin to think about yourself.
 
-You may begin to struggle with feeling too self-important. We must remember that Jesus has run the church for almost 2000 years just fine without any of us. We are servants not tyrants.
-You may begin to struggle with entitlement. This is the “I’m special, therefore I deserve this or that!” attitude. This creates fertile ground for the enemy to poison you and others. He had much rather leave you in the pulpit with this kind of attitude that to pull you out of it. Why? Because you lead the people to focus on you instead of Christ.
 
-You may struggle with insecurity. When people exalt you, you begin to fear that they discover that you are just like them, or that someone else may do a better job than you when you fail to meet their high expectations. The result is feeling threatened by other gifted people. Resorting to control and manipulation to keep things safe for yourself.
 
2. Burnout
 
-This is rampant. There is often a certain amount of self-deception behind this. The idea that you can do it all. Allowing unreasonable expectations to be placed on you by others or by yourself.
 
-On two different occasions in my ministry I have succumbed to burnout. The first landed me in the hospital with heart and stress related problems. The second time I almost lost everything including my family. In the first situation I had allowed others to heap and heap unreasonable requirements on my life and time. In the second, I carried a huge list of expectations over my own head. In both cases, I was driven to the end of myself.
 
-Take time for yourself and your family. Learn to free your mind of what I called the “guilt of the undone.” It will never all get done and it is foolish for you to think you can conquer it all alone. The applause of the people is very motivating but it is setting you up to bring you down. You have one Master and it is not “them” or “yourself.” It is Christ and he calls you to a life of rest and peace which will produce wonderful fruit for which He alone gets the glory.
 
-Eat right and exercise. Learn to have mental activities that allow you to disengage from “war.” This “re-creation” will benefit you greatly. I am not suggesting a vacation from God. You never need that. But you do need to avoid viewing God as a taskmaster Who is constantly requiring you to “do.” He calls you to Himself to rest and intimacy. Out of that you will get what you need for everything else. What a trap we have fallen into when we begin to associate our Father with our tiredness.
 
3. Sex
 
-Sex is a gift of God that brings incredible pleasure without guilt when it is expressed and experienced within its intended boundaries. When you begin to use it in illegitimate ways as an escape from your “high pressure” reality, it becomes gunpowder looking for fire. It is highly destructive.
 
-Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the grace to satisfy your true longings for intimacy in godly ways. Share your heart with your spouse. Do not share any kind of intimate conversation with an inappropriate person. That leaves out everyone except your spouse, your counselor, or a trusted godly friend of the same sex. We all yearn and crave to be known. To be accepted. To be loved for who we are. These are powerful emotions that can be seduced by the power of sex. The enemy invites us to a false intimacy.
 
-Stay away from pornography. Flee lust. Be accountable to someone who is nearby. Long distance accountability is a joke. You need someone who rubs shoulders with you on a regular basis. This is someone who can see you around others, look into your eyes, who knows when you are struggling and will talk to you about it.
 
-Seek help. Don’t allow fear and pride from causing you to humble yourself when you are struggling. Remember David was alone on a rooftop when his men were off to war. Don’t allow your need for affirmation or intimacy to seduce you into illegitimately fulfilling your heart cravings. Words are powerful, so be very careful what you say to others, especially if you feel the pull of an illegitimate attraction toward them. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. One remark can set a course toward pain for your life.
 
4. Money
 
-This is probably the most subtle of the pitfalls. Why? Because we learn how to hide behind “godly” curtains. It is easy to be duped by the power of greed and desire for money. Only the Lord knows the true motives of our hearts. 
 
-It is not wrong for pastors to be really well cared for. As a matter of fact, it is Scriptural. It is wrong, however, when we somehow prostitute ourselves for money. When the motive of what we do becomes to get more money, then we err and can become pierced through with sorrows.
-A servant working hard or overtime to adequately provide for family needs is obeying the Scripture. A servant who resorts to tactics and motives that conflict with the heart of Christ is in trouble. Father is still our provider and we ultimately trust Him. We do not leave His voice to follow another, even if the other offers more money. Again, this one is tricky, because it has to do with the motive of heart, which others cannot see. So guard your own heart.
 
5. Fear
 
-The fear of failure. The fear of man. The fear of lack. The fear of rejection. Fear, fear, fear….. It can come disguised in a million ways. Yet, it can quickly shut down your faith and your anointing.
 
-Fear will thrust you ahead of God because you are afraid of being seen as fearful because you know you should patiently wait. It can hold you back from God’s plan because you fear you might fail to step into what He is calling you to.
 
-The antidote for fear is a faith that is rooted in the love of God. When you know how much God really loves you, it becomes much easier to simply trust what you sense He is telling you to do. If you need to wait, then you are unafraid to let people know that it is not time to charge ahead. When you feel led to step out, you are unafraid to step into the unknown because you know your loving Father will not fail you.
 
-In the congregation, there can at times be forces at work to control you to shut you down or speed you up to get “their” own ways. It will be the love of God that will help you correctly respond, patiently endure, and courageously lead your people. This is always the rub for leaders. Some want more, some want less, and some want what God wants.
 
Conclusion -These are five areas of many that could be listed. I hope that this gives you some food for thought and will help you in avoiding these dangerous areas where the enemy is plotting your demise. Remember… God is for you and not against you! I pray that you are able to avoid these pitfalls. If you are in trouble now, get help! If you are struggling in one of these areas now, get help! Don’t be foolish and think you can do it alone. Take this advice from someone who knows that very foolishness and what it can cost you.
 
Please consider forwarding this post to a friend in the ministry. I pray that these truths will be spread across the body of Christ to encourage God's servants to avoid these pitfalls.

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Categories : confession, crisis, Pastors, restoration
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