Being A Blessing (By Gary Patterson)

 Being A Blessing (1 Peter 4:8-11) 

It's an old story, but its truth transcends time. 

 A little four-year-old boy became frightened late one night during a thunderstorm. After one particularly loud clap of thunder, he jumped up from his bed, ran down the hall, and burst into her parent's room. Jumping right in the middle of the bed, he sought out her parent's arms for comfort and reassurance. "Don't worry, son" his father said, trying to calm his fears. "The Lord will protect you. "The little boy snuggled closer to his father and said, 

"I know that, Daddy, but right now I need someone with some skin on!" 

Theme: Everyone wants to be cared about. They want someone with skin on, to be there for them. It is a comfort to know that there are people that will be there for you, when life takes a turn for the worse. In this season when we are encouraged to “Count our blessings” What about “Being A Blessing?”  In 1 Peter 4:8-11, Peter shows us three ways that we can be a blessing to others: 

BY OUR MUTUAL LOVE (1 Peter 4:8) 

Main Thought: This word “fervent” is like an athlete straining to reach his/her goal. It speaks of the eagerness and intensity. The strong desire to be a blessing to others. Love is the circulatory system of the church. Without hindrance, its builds unity & stability. This fervent love covers sin. This type of love, motivates Christian people to forgive & forget offences against themselves. To cover those offenses, is to let go of them. To release them, instead of making them of source of gossip and community criticism. 

When we think of all the wonders of God’s magnificent creation, We can be especially awed by the giant sequoia tree. These amazing trees of the forest can grow to around 300 feet tall with a diameter that exceeds 20 feet. They can live over 3,000 years and are even fire resistant. In fact, forest fires pop the sequoia cones open, distributing their seeds on the forest floor that has been fertilized by the ashes. Perhaps the most amazing fact is that these trees can grow in just 3 feet of soil and withstand high winds. Their strength lies in the fact that their roots intertwine with other sequoias, providing mutual strength and shared resources. What gives the church the stability it needs to endure, and to be a mighty witness in this world today? It is our mutual love: Together-we love Jesus Christ. Together- we love each other. We forgive, and we forget, and we keep on ministering to one another.  

OUR MUTUAL HOSPITALITY (1 Peter 4:9) 

Main Thought: When we think of hospitality, we think of people opening up their homes to others. But it is more than this: It is: Opening up our hearts and lives to benefit others. 2. in our busy lives, its easy to (NOT) be aware of the needs of others. To give a listening ear, a helping hand, an encouraging word, means more to people, than we realize at times. 

Bill Crowder writes: In 1987, our family moved to California to take up the pastorate of a church in the Long Beach area. The day we flew into town, my secretary picked us up at the airport to take us to our house.  As we pulled into traffic, the very first thing I saw was a bumper sticker that read: “Welcome To California . . . Now Go Home!” It was not exactly a warm and cheery welcome to sunny southern California! I wonder if there might be occasions in our lives when we send similar signals to people around us. Whether we are at church, in the neighborhood, or at social gatherings, are there times when we fail to make others feel welcome in our world? 

BY OUR MUTUAL MINISTRY (1 Peter 4:10-11) 

Main Thought: Please never forget: The spiritual gifts God gives to us, are to be used for ministry to others. If we are looking for opportunities to shine in the lime light, that is the wrong motive & purpose. As we are all standing in the grace of God, we must take advantage of every opportunity to minister the manifold grace of God to others. In v. 11 Peter tells us of two ways to do this. By our speech – Encouragement from the Word of God. By our service – In God’s care & strength/not fear. And in all we say, and do, may God get the glory/not us! 

An anthropologist, while in a small village made up a game for the children. His idea was to create a race for a basket of fruit and candy that he placed near a tree. When he gave the signal to run, no one made a dash for the finish line. Instead the children joined hands and ran together. (Why?) “How could one of us be happy, when all the others would be sad?” 

(How can we be a blessing to help others to be happy?) 

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How To Live And Work Together (By Gary Patterson)

 How To Live & Work Together (Romans 15:1-7) 

 How Can you talk about snow in August – To make a point. 1. Snowflakes are beautiful – yet a force to be reckoned with. 2. They can shut down major cities – beautiful landscapes. 3. Provide pleasure on ski-slope, snowmen, snowballs. 4. All because: “They Stick together” 

Theme: How can we live and work together in the body of Christ? 

In Romans 15:1-7 the Apostle Paul gives us some insight. 

Verse 1=”We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Right away there are two things Paul shares with his readers. 1. Those who are strong spiritually are to help the weak. 2. We are not on the same level spiritually, so instead of losing our patience, and becoming severely critical and judgmental, we need to show long-suffering toward those who are not as mature. Ill. Have you as a parent ever lost patience with your child and asked him or her “When are you going to grow up?” And then they do, and we wish that we had the time back. (Spiritual maturity takes time) 

Verse 2= “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” 

1. Why are we involved in power struggles: Competition? 2. Why be like the world and climb the ladder of success? 3. Paul says there is to be none of that. Than what? 4. Edification is to be the focus of the members Ill. Why do we like sugar or salt in our diet? Because they compliment our food. They make it taste better. Encouragement compliments the body of Christ, and helps the members to want to progress in their spiritual development. 

Verse 3= “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, 

“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on Me.” 1. Paul here quotes Psalm 69:9 – the attitude of Messiah. 2. Jesus did not come to earth for His benefit, but for ours. “Out of the ivory palaces, into a world of woe, only His great eternal love, made my Savior go.” We have and example to follow. 

Verse 4=”For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” 

1. It is a comfort to have the teachings & example of Christ. 2. We can imitate His humility, love, & servant-hood. 3. We are operate by principle, not by passion=peace Ill. Have you ever tried to put some together without the instructions? That’s what the world is doing without the Bible. There is comfort & hope in knowing we have a guide to help us have direction. Especially in our relationships. 

Verse 5=”Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus. 1. The goal of our Christian Fellowship – to be like-minded. 2. We are all different – Personalities & abilities. 

3. Even though we differ, we are to strive to be like Christ. 4. To answer Q. How am I like Christ to you? You to me? 5. The more low-minded we are like Christ, the more like-minded we will be in Christ. (Apply the Scriptures) 

Verse 6= “that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1. The key to having one mouth, is to have one heart. 

2. Together we life the Lord up for the world to see. 3. When the world of sin and immorality looks at our fellowship, they will say: “Wow, they really mean it when they say they love, God, and value Him over everything in this whole world.” 

(The love of God is seen in fellowship) 4. It’s not just said with our lips, but with our lives. 

Verse 7= “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” It can go either way, and it does. Prejudices from both the weak, and the strong Christian. Weak- inferiority, Strong- pride, ego. 1. No matter where we are in our Spiritual development, we are to accept each other in Christ. We must remember where we were, when Jesus found us, and delivered us. Jesus was kind to us. 2. The only way we can have, what God has to offer, is that Jesus says we can have it. If Christ receives us, how can we be un-kind, and not accept each other with the same grace? 

From 200 miles above Earth, Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut and commander of the International Space Station, joined in song with a group of students in a studio on Earth. Together they performed 

“Is Somebody Singing,” co-written by Hadfield and Ed Robertson. One phrase of the song caught my attention: “You can’t make out borders from up here.” Although we humans draw many lines to separate ourselves from one another—national, ethnic, ideological—the song reminded me that God doesn’t see such distinctions. The important thing to God is that we love Him and each other 

(Mark 12:30-31).

The Christian Journeyman © 2022 All Rights Reserved. 

A Pastor's Letter To The Church (By Pastor Gary Patterson)

 

A PASTOR'S LETTER TO THE CHURCH 

(By Pastor Gary Patterson) 

To The Dear Church Of Jesus Christ;

I found this story from a devotion from the Radio Bible Class - Our Daily Bread entitled: "Getting Rid Of The Pastor" 

"A Christian leader told of a group of laymen who came to see him one day for some advice. They wanted to know of a diplomatic way to get rid of their pastor. The man, sensing that they were not being fair, gave them some suggestions:

1. Look your pastor straight in the eye while he is preaching and say amen once in a while. He’ll preach himself to death.

2. Pat him on the back and tell him his good points. Before you know it, he’ll work himself to death.

3. Rededicate your own life to Christ and ask your minister for a job to do. He’ll die of heart failure.

4. Get the church to unite in prayer for him. Soon he’ll become so effective that a larger church will take him off your hands.

If your pastor faithfully preaches God’s Word and tries to live an exemplary life, do all you can to support and encourage him. 

Of course, no pastor is perfect, and sometimes a careful rebuke may be needed (1 Tim. 5:20). But a pastor carries a big responsibility (Heb. 13:17), and a faithful man of God is worthy of loving respect and generous financial support (1 Tim. 3:1; 5:17-18).

By the way, when did you last say to your pastor, “I’m grateful for you and all you’ve done for me”?

By Richard DeHaan - ODB 11/10/1995

"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

I write to you the church of Jesus Christ, to thank you for the wonderful priviledge of serving you. I have been a pastor now for 47 years. I have been retired from pastoral ministry now for 3 years. I now am involved in online ministry, and have been for the last 17 years. 

I can relate to some of the experiance that the apostle Paul had in his ministry for the Lord. There were good times, and bad times. There were times when I felt very excited about the work I did for the Lord, and times when I felt like giving up. 

I served churches that were very supportive, and there were those that were not, and it became a very rocky road for me and my family. 

I am sure that any one who has been in pastoral ministry for a long length of time, as myself, can relate to this experience.

I am not going to take time, in this writing to share my negative experiences. It has taken some time to heal from them, and yet, I feel that I am still healing from the wounds of my difficult ministries. 

But the true and comforting fact that I carry with me, even to this day is; that the Lord Jesus Christ was with me, and my family, through all the tests and trials of the pastoral ministry. If He hadn't been with us, I don't know what we would have done. What God said to Joshua, as he took Moses' place in leading the nation of Israel, every pastor needs to embrace.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

I write to you the dear church of the Lord Jesus Christ, to tell you, that even with the wounds of the negative experiences, I am forever grateful for the privilege of serving you, for the sake of our Lord, and His Kingdom. I hope that In the years that I served, that I was a help, and an encouragement. To those that were at odds with me, I hope that there can be forgiveness, and a desire to put the past behind us, and work towards accomplishing new and exciting things for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

In this writing, I want to focus on two verses of Scripture that I hope you the church of Jesus Christ will take seriously. It has to do with the responsibility you the church has, to their pastor. I do not want to use this Scripture to scold, or reprimand, but to remind you the church, that if you have a good relationship with your pastor, the ministry you share together, will be one that is very productive for the kingdom of God. 

The two verses of Scripture I want you to focus on is from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. From these verses I want us to look at a three-fold responsibility to those who are spiritual leaders in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1. WE ARE TO RECOGNIZE THEM

(1 Thessalonians 5:12)

How thankful we are for the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11) and various spiritual leaders that watch over us, and provide the spiritual encouragement we need to live this wonderful, and at times challenging, walk in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We should never take them for granted, or neglect to support them in every way we can. It is a hard road to walk, and the expectations can be great. Some, in the body of Christ, the family of God, do not understand, what a spiritual leader goes through, to be an effective leader. Of course, no one is perfect, and even spiritual leaders can fall off the grid, make mistakes, and need to be restored in their Christian walk and responsibility. 

In some situations, fellow Christians can be severely critical, and non-supportive. 

As Christians, we can make our spiritual leaders, feel very discouraged, and develop an attitude of defeat. 

"Stress, loneliness and political division are the three items that rise to the surface. Over half of pastors who have considered quitting full-time ministry (56%) say “the immense stress of the job” has factored into their thoughts on leaving. (2022 Barna) 

“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”—William Arthur Ward (Ministry 127)

George Truett was a tremendously effective pastor for decades in Texas. His heart was broken when he accidentally killed his best friend while they were on a hunting trip. His daughter said that she never heard him laugh after that day. Truett had a radio program, and each day when it came to a close he would say, “Be good to everybody, because everybody is having a tough time.” Because he knew personally what a heavy burden people could be carrying, he encouraged compassion toward them.

Sometimes we cross paths with people who seem to be brusque and not very easy to like. Yet there is usually a reason for their behavior, and often it is because they are hiding a heavy heart. If we take the time to understand what has happened, we may find that while they have a tough outer exterior, inwardly they are desperately wishing for someone to care about them.

(Ministry 127) 

Here are six ways that we can lift the burdens of others, especially our spiritual leaders. 

1. Pray - Prayer is not the least we can do; it is the greatest we can do! 

2. Write a note of encouragement - It doesn’t need to be a long epistle. Just a few sentences that tell someone you love and appreciate them, will uplift their spirit. 

3. Give a small gift - Train yourself to pay attention to the small things that others enjoy.

4. Opening your home to others is a form of opening your heart. It says, “I care about you, and I want to be personally involved in encouraging you.”

5. Lend a helping hand - Maybe someone has a burden that you can help with. Little things mean a lot. 

If I were to define the word "recognize" I would say that it means, to "give attention to", to display the qualities of something, or someone's good points. 

In regard to our spiritual leaders, you the dear church of Jesus Christ need to "recognize the good things, and also the needs, that these special, wonderful people have. 

2. WE ARE TO ESTEEM THEM

(1 Thessalonians 5:13) 

To esteem our spiritual leaders is to hold them in high regard. To love them, as Paul says in Romans 12:10 "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." 

We need to continually show gratitude because of the work they do for us. They feed us the Word of God, explaining  it like Philip did to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:30-31. They make themselves available to minister to our spiritual and physical needs. 

As your elders (spiritual overseers of the body of Christ, and your deacons, who take care of physical needs) minister to you, let them know how much you love and appreciate them. Let them know constantly how much you appreciate their labor of love for you. 

Dave Branon - "When my son Steve walks into a room, he often gets immediate respect. People want to shake his hand. They smile. They congratulate him. They thank him.

It happens at church. It happens in restaurants. It happens wherever he goes—as long as he is wearing his uniform of the United States Navy.

While in uniform, Steve gets instant respect because everyone knows that he is serving. He has given up many personal freedoms and desires so that he can serve his country.

People respect service. We honor police officers who serve. We pay homage to military personnel who serve. But do we give the same honor and respect to those who are in an even greater service—service to God? Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers?

Scripture tells us to give honor to whom honor is due (Rom. 13:7). Specifically, it tells us that double honor goes to those who direct the affairs of the church through teaching and preaching (1 Tim. 5:17).

Instead of criticizing your pastor, teacher, or spiritual leader, let others hear your words of gratitude and praise for their service. Hold them up in prayer. God’s servants deserve our respect and honor.

By:  Dave Branon (Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan) 

TS. In our duty to those who watch over us:

3. WE ARE TO BE AT PEACE

(1 Thessalonians 5:13)

It is a great burden for spiritual leaders to deal with conflict and disunity in the body of Christ. I write to you dear church of Jesus Christ, to do all that you can to maintain unity in the family of God. 

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:17-18)

A traveler was driving along one day and had an accident. He drove his car into a ditch in a desolate area. A local farmer came by to help with his horse named Buddy. Well, the farmer hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move. Once more the farmer hollered, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't respond. The farmer repeated this action again, with the same results. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse finally dragged the car out of the ditch. The motorist was really appreciative but he was also curious. He said to the farmer "I really appreciate what you did for me, but why did you call your horse by the wrong name?" The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind - and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try." 

What a difference it makes, especially to our spiritual leaders, when you as the church of Jesus Christ pull together, instead of letting your enemy Satan,  tear you apart.

As a pastor, I have been in the middle of this tearing apart. The task of trying to restore unity in the body of Christ, is a very heart wrenching experience. One that is very disheartening, and can drive you to the point of giving up all together. 

The responsibility of our spiritual leaders is to help us as fellow Christians to exercise what the apostle Paul said, was the three greatest gifts. "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love."(1 Corinthians 13:13)

So in regards to you the dear church of the Lord Jesus Christ, may you do this to honor  your spiritual leaders, and help to have a very healthy, strong, productive, Christian community, "if it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceable with all men."(Romans 12:18) 

Discussion Questions: 

1. Can you name the spiritual leaders, who watch over your souls? Those who oversee the fellowship of believers in the body of Christ? 

2. In what ways can we show that we love, and appreciate all that our spiritual leaders do for us?

3. If a spiritual leader, falls into sin, or is not leading in the proper way, according to what the Scripture says; what should our response be, as members of the body of Christ? 

4. How would it help to recognize, and esteem, the spiritual leaders in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. How can conflict, and disunity really weigh heavy on the life and responsibilities of our spiritual leaders? 

The Christian Journeyman © 2022 All Rights Reserved.

 

The Challenge Of Change (By Gary Patterson)

 THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE

By Gary Patterson

Introduction:

Someone has said, "To think that life was designed so that everything would remain the same, is to mis-understand the very nature of life.

We observe without a doubt tha the only thing that doesn't change is the certainty of change.

Erma Bombeck writes: "No one told me that the empty nest really means having the phone ring, and it's for you, it's having leftovers in the refrigerator that you can count on. It's having hot water in the shower, ice cubes in the freezer, gas in your car, it's like being reborn."

Theme: What does the Bible say about change? What help does it give us to cope with the new things that come into our lives?

1. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT LIFE IS MADE UP OF CHANGE,  AND WE  MUST HAVE THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO IT 

The people of the Bible experienced tremendous changes.

Abraham - was called out of his homeland and directed to an un-named faraway land. It was several years before he and Sarah settled down in the land God gave them. 

Moses - was raised by his own family, but he was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. The day came when he was taken from his house and moved into the palace. The after having lived in Pharaoh's household until the age of 40, he became an exile, and fled to the desert where he became a shepherd. At 80, Moses was called by God to go back to Egypt and do his greatest work, confronting the new Pharoah, and leading the nation of Israel out of captivity. 

Ruth - Left Moab, her homeland, to go to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law Naomi. There she would eventually settle down to Palestinian life with Boaz.

Paul - Was changed from a persecutor to a preacher. He was always on the move, in and out of prison, traveling across the Mediterranean world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Was change easy for them? Certainly not! But in each case, God was directing, God was calling, God was leading them to accomplish His purposes. And each one followed through with God's will for their lives.

All of us have a specific purpose. And even if we are not sure what God wants us to do at this time, we must be patient, and humble, and place our lives in God's hands.

The problem comes when we become very comfortable with the way things are. 

We come in conflict with God, when we desire to follow our own will, instead of submitting to the will of God. 

It is important as to how we respond to the way God wants to direct our lives. Are we open to what God wants to do in and through us? Will we continue to be in conflict with Him, and His will for our lives? Or will we submit to His will, knowing that He knows best, what we should do, and where we should go? 

Another Bible person is Job, who had the right response to change. The right response came from two things.

1. Job's realistic image of himself (1:21)

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. 

2. Job's image of God."The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." His God was big, an had all authority. God has the sovereign right to do with us what He wants to. We may not like that! God has the right to love us, and to use us for our good, and His glory. 

The people of the Bible met with great changes in their lives; but they had the right rresponse. God you are in control, and as Paul said: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13) 

TS. Amid the swirl of changes that may threaten to carry us away, we can always cling to the Biblical promises that:

2. GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8

Our circumstances may change dramatically, our entire outlook may be altered. The whole world may begin to look different because of a move, or bad news, a bad decision, an illness that demands some lifestyle changes etc. 

But the good news is: God never changes, and it is encouraging to know that He will always be there for us.  

"and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20c)

3. GOD HAS GIVEN US AN INDWELLING HELPER WHO MAKES CHANGES EASIER

As Christians, the Holy Spirit lives with us to guide us, and comfort us, and assist us. Read Jeremiah 23:23-24. God is not far off, but He is near to be there for us, and we go through the changes in our lives. Read Romans 8:26-27 and apply.

Now if we have not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives; when we do, we need to expect that change will take place.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17

Read Philippians 1:6 

The Lord Jesus is in the business of changing lives. We need to cooperate with Him, so He can save us, restore us, and make us ready to meet Him when He comes back to take us home with Him. 

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