LEADERSHIP - CONCLUSION
Pastoring one of the Lord’s Churches and proclaiming His Word is the highest calling and the greatest privilege a human being can have. It can be a rewarding work. Perhaps the greatest joy is finding, years later, those who were the fruits of your earlier ministry, still faithfully serving the Lord. There is joy in heaven over one sinner repenting and elation in the heart of the one who presented him the Word and prayed with him!
There are countless times when one is lifted up and made to rejoice in the bountiful grace of God. These are precious times and are to be treasured. Then, there are the times when satan gains a foothold in the church and in the lives of some of the people. These are times to weep but NOT TO DESPAIR!
Permit me to share another memory . I was pastor of a small church with great potential. The devil had gotten in however, and was stirring up all kinds of trouble. A brother I had not seen for a few years came by to visit, but all I could think or talk about was MY troubles in my pastorate. Finally this brother asked me these questions, "have you preached the Word to these people?" "Yes!" "Do you think this is really one of the Lord’s churches?" "Yes!" then came the advice; "Then why not let Him handle it? He has more invested in it than you!"
I haven’t always been able to follow that advice but it is still good. Do your job and let the Lord do His.
May God richly bless you in His vineyard.
Fred C. Creel
THE PASTOR’S PRAYER
Lord, help me present a burden
to weigh thy people down;
A burden, Lord, to do thy will,
so they might win a crown.
Help me not to strive that I
might reap a great reward,
or earn great earthly honor,
or receive man’s high regard.
But, I would be found faithful
to ever lead thy flock,
that THEY might lay up treasures,
by building on the Rock!
Help me, to always lead this flock
in paths that you might choose,
and to guide them ever onward,
and never to refuse.
Then, when thou, the Master Shepherd,
shall bid us come to thee,
and this flock shall come before you,
whose care was given me,
If you can only smile and say,
"Well done!" to each of these,
and grant to everyone, reward,
then I shall be well pleased!
So help me then, to lead this flock,
not that I am vain,
but so that every one of them
might labor, grow and gain!
fcc
30.6.06
GRAPES FROM OVER JORDAN
Nu.13.21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Intro: As the children of Israel saw a small glimpse of the glory of the promised land, so we see a little of the heavenly things today. We shall someday enjoy all the fruit of the land; Not now, but after a while!!
I. Canaan's fruit in the wilderness.
A. The Grapes taught them something of the land ahead.
1. That it was a REAL land.
2. Its fruits were good.
3. That it was worth fighting for.
Rom.8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
B. Some heavenly grapes delivered to us.
1. That divine man, Christ Jesus.
An example of heaven’s people.
I Cor.15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
2. The Scriptures;
A message from that land.
I Cor.2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
3. Heaven's birth of the soul;
Proves the adoption of the body.
II Cor.1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
II Cor.5 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
4. Heaven’s church here;
Proves heaven's home there.
Jno.14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5. Every answered prayer is a grape from over Jordan.
6. The spiritual blessings are but samples of the good things to come.
Eph.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph. 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
II. The sour grapes of hell.
A. the torture of sin's scars.
B. The anguish of an evil conscience.
C. The memory of conviction of sin.
Remember, man CAN develop a taste for that which harms him!
III. We are able to possess the land and we shall!
Nu.13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Nu.13.21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.
22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.
25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.
26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
Intro: As the children of Israel saw a small glimpse of the glory of the promised land, so we see a little of the heavenly things today. We shall someday enjoy all the fruit of the land; Not now, but after a while!!
I. Canaan's fruit in the wilderness.
A. The Grapes taught them something of the land ahead.
1. That it was a REAL land.
2. Its fruits were good.
3. That it was worth fighting for.
Rom.8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
B. Some heavenly grapes delivered to us.
1. That divine man, Christ Jesus.
An example of heaven’s people.
I Cor.15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
2. The Scriptures;
A message from that land.
I Cor.2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
3. Heaven's birth of the soul;
Proves the adoption of the body.
II Cor.1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
II Cor.5 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
4. Heaven’s church here;
Proves heaven's home there.
Jno.14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5. Every answered prayer is a grape from over Jordan.
6. The spiritual blessings are but samples of the good things to come.
Eph.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph. 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
II. The sour grapes of hell.
A. the torture of sin's scars.
B. The anguish of an evil conscience.
C. The memory of conviction of sin.
Remember, man CAN develop a taste for that which harms him!
III. We are able to possess the land and we shall!
Nu.13:30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
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