Who Elected You The Judge & Jury?
“WTH Wrong with the Church?” Pt. 1
Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)
1. When you become judge and jury you play God?
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye.”
I WANT TO SPEAK THIS INTO YOUR SPIRIT & OVER YOUR LIFE! The problems you are facing in this season of your life is growing your faith, fortifying your faith and producing patience! You won't ever be the same again. God is developing you into the champion that He purposed, planned & positioned you to be from the foundation of the world.
Is Jesus exposing them with this first question? What are THEY saying about me? Where they that drawn to what others where saying rather than what Jesus was saying?
Why could those that had been with Jesus the most, seen the most, and experienced the most not answer the question, “Who do you say I am?
How come they watched him minister, saw his motives and heard his message and still didn’t know him?
Is this a picture of the how lonely it is to be in ministry? How people can be so close be never really know you?
All of us remember the craze WWJD “What Would Jesus Do”? I want to put a Gaddis twist to it and call this one HDJF “How Did Jesus Feel”? I believe that one only guesses as to what WWJD if you haven’t investigated HDJF? Have you ever pondered that? I know that we see Jesus as He is as the conquering King but we first must see him as the Suffering Savior. I know we see Him as the Great I Am but we first must see Him as Mary’s little baby. He was all God but Jesus was all Man at the same time. Pastor C. C. Cooper (whom I’ve been thinking about a lot lately) says it as only he could, “Jesus was just as much God as He was man and just as much Man has He was God”.
Some here’s a few question: How did Jesus feel when…
He received NO respect in his own hood?
He was lead to start a ministry with out a church?
He chooses Judas as His betrayer?
The religious leader rejected Him?
Nobody but Peter could answer, “Who do you say I am?”
His disciples slept rather than prayed?
He heard the rooster crowed right after Peter’s denial?
He was lied on, spit on, and beat & made fun of?
He was being falsely accused?
He was being beating to an inch of His life; they put a cross on his shoulders and commanded Him to carry it?
He heard the insults from the very ones He would soon die for?
The weight of the cross causes His knees to buckle?
They nailed His hand that only did good and nailed His feet that only ran errands of mercy?
They lifted the cross and the weight of His body fell on the nails?
The crowd and the thief began to mock him?
He saw the tears in His mother’s eyes.
He saw God turn His back?
His disciple deserted Him?
His disciples didn’t believe Him?
How does He feel about the church of today that He died for, sacrificed for and paid the price for?
How would we every know WWJD if we’ve never asked ourselves HDJF?
Mr. Han takes young Dre under his watchful care in order to train him to fight against his adversary. Who has made it his personal chore to make life hell for Dre. Mr. Han take an unusually approach to teach him KongFu by having him go through the repetition of picking up his jacket, hanging his jacket, put on his jacket and take off his jacket. Many time teaching and training a child of God about the importance of a quiet time is similar. The scene shows a frustrated Dre giving up on Mr. Han technique to which Mr. Han teaches him everything is KongFu...
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith... 1 Peter 5: 8-9 (NIV)
7 So give yourselves humbly to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 And when you draw close to God, God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and let your hearts be filled with God alone to make them pure and true to him. James 4:7-8 (TLB)
How to develop a spiritual strategy for winning the battle against our enemy?
1. By having the discipline of the proper Period! Psalm 5:3
2. By having the discipline of the proper Place! Matthew 6: 6 (NIV)
3. By having the discipline of the proper Preparation! Psalms 119:97; 101-104 (NIV)
4. By having the discipline of the proper Procedure! Matthew 6:7 (NIV) & Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
5. By having the discipline of the proper Pursuit! Psalms 50:23; Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) & Psalms 16:11 (NAB)
1. Are skinny jeans made for only skinny ppl?
2. Will skinny jeans make a heavier ppl seem skinner?
3. Do REAL men really wear skinny jeans, come on?
4. (Being a larger person myself) when did it become fashionable to wear too little clothing? Tight ouch!
5. Can skinny jeans tame a sista's huge dunk?
6. Just cause a pare of skinny jean fit make sure your thong & crack is covered!
7. Some skinny jean makes some women look like they are packing something in the front #gross!
8. Why am I stuck on skinny jeans?
9. If you can't wear skinny tops stay away from skinny bottoms (big booty Judy...as my granddaughter Janell would say)!
10. If your bottom can be mistaken for two basketballs bouncing when you walk, skip the skinny jeans rack please!
Peace!
Peace!
I am an introvert. From all public appearances on Sunday morning that surprises many people, but in my private life and with those closest to me there is no questioning of that fact. If anything, I have become even more introverted the larger our church has grown. I can wish I was otherwise, but this is how I am wired. Being an introvert has its downsides as a pastor.
Here are 7 pitfalls of being an introverted pastor:
How’s that for transparency?
The temptations you face?I face?
The larger the church gets?the less I know about anything?
I may not be the best person to ask?but I can point you to the right people?
The better the message?the longer is takes me to prepare it?
Even though I?m teaching it?I may not yet have mastered it?but I?m working on it?
I get nervous every time I start to preach?sometimes sick to my stomach nervous?
Sunday is not the only day I work?Honestly?
Your story probably doesn?t surprise me anymore?but I am never callous towards it?
To my family I?m not a pastor?just a husband and dad?
If you tell me something on Sunday morning?you probably should back it up with an email to remind me?
Burn out - These people came out of the gate too strong in the church. They showed up, got excited, and signed up for everything. They got so busy doing church they failed to enjoy being the church.
Injury - People inside the church can be cruel. These people experienced some of those people and they couldn't get over it.
Distractions - These people got distracted by seemingly good things. Over time, their lifestyle of attending becomes the habit of not attending.
Life change - These people had a lifestyle change, such as divorce or re-marriage, or they move to a new community and never connect with a church.
Mistakes - These people messed up?they made a mistake and the place that should dispense grace appears to refuse it. Many times this is more perception than reality and based on the way a person feels about themselves, but sadly sometimes it is reality.
Power struggle - These people had an agenda and when it wasn't met and when they couldn't overpower the system, they left.
Immaturity - These people never grew spiritually; there was never any depth to their faith, so church soon became a chore rather than a joy.
Today, was a great worship experience at the Bethel Church. As we move into Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Ressurection Sunday, the LORD birth a new message series called "HISTORY...The KING has one more move!" God is doing something special in the body of beievers in Bethel. Over the last 2-3 years we have endured so much some self infected and some by outside influence BUT we learned to "KEEP Believing, Doing, Acting and Knowing!" In this blog post I celebration and I dedicated it to all the folks who are trying to keep their dreams alive.
This is for everyone who has ever:
*Had your hopes, dreams or visions attacked.
*Had to deal with haters and fake friends
*felt like your dreams were fading to black and white. Don't let your dreams lose their color.
Keep your dream alive because that's what we have to do sometimes. I could sit thinking about a million things that are wrong, but instead I choose to think on what is right. So "as a man thinketh so is he". In order to see any kind of good success you've got to think positively so that positive things can start to happen in your life. This I know for a fact--IT WORKS! Your thoughts are so powerful. You've got to rise above negativity. Not all of it, but most of it. I say that because even the smallest battery has a positive and negative charge and they both are needed in order for it to work. If you get criticism that is vitriolic and full of venom, don't let that in. Venom kills the spirit. If you get criticism that is constructive and full of love, take it under consideration and learn. It takes a little wisdom to be able to know the difference.
That's the life lesson that the great builder Nehemiah teaches us. When Sanballet, Tabiah and the others heard about Nehemiah's dream of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls they became angrey, plotted together and stired up trouble. What did Nehemiah do he kept his dream and vision red hot! Follow his example stay on higher ground. I don't come down from the safety of a higher place to deal with the foolishness or danger of what is beneath me. I tell you it works. It frees your soul to be free. If you haven't tried it you should. It will mess your enemies up. If I can leave you with anything, I will leave you with this--in this life there will be a lot of things thrown at you. Take them as they come. Some things you fight, but most you don't. Keep your dream and vision red hot!
I believe in you and pray that you will protect the purpose and plan God has place in your spirit and DON'T LET ANYBODY or ANYTHING steal your dream and vision!
You can follow me on twitter @pastorgaddis or on facebook Teron Gaddis/facebook
Live Life On Purpose!
You may not be able to teach a old dog new tricks, but you can certainly teach it to love new treats. Pastor Ron Edmondson
I miss my daddy alot these days. Daddy was a gift to me and my brother. He was sometime difficult to understand. He didn't share alot of his feelings and emotions. He didn't express himself too much with words, but when daddy spoke he was always teaching. So I wanted to share a few things my daddy taught me that I hope and pray that I can teach my sons and grandsons. Seven things my daddy invested in me, taught me an shared with me...
Paul talks about this in his letter to the Philippians. He said: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ." (Phil. 3:7-8 NIV)
Paul was joyful despite being imprisoned as he is writing this letter.
What shouts me is the phrase, "I consider [it all] rubbish that I may gain Christ." The translators were being polite. The word isn't rubbish it's dung, manure, its "ish" (okay a little bit too far). He's not mincing words. Paul says that everything we have is worthless garbage without JESUS!
There so much going on Sometimes I can't find my way And often times I struggle Struggle from day to day I have to realize that it's not my battle It's not my battle to fight I have to know if I to put it in His hands That everything will be alright
Let go Let God
This is just flowing so I have to get it out. Leadership is the most difficult part of the Pastor’s job. As young preacher we are taught how to preach or handle scripture but not much about leadership. So here are a few other things I’ve learn during the storm @Bethel.
1. Never allow yourself to get so busy your don’t spend quality time with God
2. Never allow yourself to get so busy your don’t spend quality time with your spouse
3. Never allow yourself to be without a Pastor or a Mentor to be accountable too
4. Never allow yourself to compromise Biblical integrity for a crowd, Preach the Word
5. Never allow yourself to wasted energy on people who are trying to tear your ministry down
6. Never allow yourself to be control by your haters criticism
7. Never allow yourself to become comfortable always Walk By Faith…Risk
8. Never allow yourself to forget that the church is God’s bride NOT your’s
9. Never allow yourself to be caught up in pleasing others just please God
10. Never allow yourself to neglect your children for God’s children
Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote one of his most famous and moving poems when he was eighty years old. He wrote it on the inside of a used envelope during a twenty-nine minute ferry ride while crossing from Lymington to the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England.
It's about the approach of death. It helped that he was eighty.
Your most lasting achievement may yet be decades in front of you. Do not calculate the odds of this. The issue is God, not odds.
Finally, let me wish our oldest son, Kentrell a happy 28th BIRTHDAY. Eyes have NOT seen NOR ears heard the great things God has prepared and planned for your life. Love you much, Your Dad
In serving your leader there are unwritten protocols that you must abide by. Even if your leader didn't sit down and explain these to you, they exist. Most leaders' prayers are that the armor bearers learn certain protocols in the School of the Spirit. Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to sharpen you in your service. Consider some of the "Back-room Etiquette Rules" listed below:
1. Know when to leave your leader's presence
This practice is crucial. Remember, you are not your leader's peer. There will be times when you are serving your leader and he gathers with their peers (i.e. conference, meetings, roundtable, etc.). Unless instructed to remain, always leave your leader's presence when he/she is having discussions with their peers. Leaders often discuss leadership issues. Many times, pastors need to discuss with their peer's issues of other sheep in the flock in order to get advice. You [as the armor bearer] don't need that information. My belief, in this case, is the less you know the better off you are. Why? Once you know something, you are accountable for it. You don't need exposure to certain things you don't need to know another leader's weaknesses. It's not for you to be exposed to the difficulties a leader may be facing in the ministry. All of these exposures now create more points of prayer in your own life. You can't afford to share information or even judge someone because of something you've heard discussed that you should have never been exposed to. When you have the opportunity, run form these chances to be exposed. Unless you are nosy, you should not desire to be privy to certain information.
2. Share your opinion only when asked
There will be times when your leader will have discussions with others on a topic that you may know well. There will be subjects you may [possibly] know much more about than your leader. Even when this is true, you should not offer your advice without it being requested. You must defy the temptation that will come for to interject when you know a subject or topic that your leader does not know. There is nothing you have to prove to your leader or your leader's peer. Don't interrupt your leader's discussion with your own advice or counsel. If it is requested, then proceed. But if your advice or knowledge is unsolicited, override the temptation to speak.
3. Avoid the tattle-tale spirit
For some reason, there are believers that believe that tattle-tailing is a sure way to promotion. Not true. Tattle-tailing is a sign of immaturity. When you have difficulty safekeeping intimate issues that are revealed around you when you hear them because of the privileged of being around your leader in confidential situations, it's a sign that you are immature. I'm not talking about unethical [or immoral] things, but confidential things that leaders deal with in the ministry. Again, what you may become exposed to because you are in the presence of your leader is never to be shared with others. Often, a leader's confidentiality can be destroyed by a tattle-tale spirit in the servant.
This is why I suggested earlier to avoid being in the presence of your leader when they are with their peers. It prevents you from becoming liable because you know too much.
4. Avoid self-promotion
As an armor bearer, you must remember at all times that what you [help] make happen in someone else's life will take place in your life. You have been called to help your leader. If you want to have a successful ministry one day, then [help] make your leader's ministry successful. You must flee the temptation of promoting yourself. There will be ample opportunities for yourself when the time is right. When you are with the man or woman of God, you will gain exposure. However, what you do with that exposure will make or break you.
I'll never forget one incident that happened years ago while I was serving in the capacity of an armor bearer. I was driving a guest speaker to the church for a conference that we were hosting. The guest speaker proceeded to ask me who my favorite speaker was. He seemed shocked when I responded, "My pastor is." Often, the man or woman of God will drop questions on you to expose your heart. An armor bearer with a strong soulish ambition will fail every time. Your heart must be towards the advancement of the one God has called you serve, not yourself.
The exposure that you gain from serving is not a time to promote yourself, your anointing or your agenda. Allow your servant hood to speak for you. Be known for your service. Elisha, at one time of his life was just known as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah. The prophet Elisha was anointed and being groomed for the ministry. But when he was spoken to during the times of his serving as an armor bearer, he was known by his service not his anointing.
I have found that some of the following practices will successfully prevent you from walking in self-promotion:
Don't carry your own business cards during ministry
Never give out your own contact information (always the church information)
Always talk about your leader [positively] and never yourself
Listen twice as much as you talk
Speak when spoken to (don't wrestle to demonstrate what you know)
Remember, you have nothing to prove to anybody
5. Never Discuss your Leader's Weaknesses
Throughout the course of serving your leader, there will be weaknesses of theirs that will be revealed. The revelation of these weaknesses should never be used to harm the leader. Many times, your leader's weaknesses have been revealed to you for you to tag-team with God to intercede on the leader's behalf to eradicate the various weaknesses.
The most harmful thing you could do is to discuss your leader's weaknesses with others. If you imagine that you could earn brownie points with others by sharing your revelation or certain weakness existing in the life of your leader - you have been misled.
This is illustrated well in the story of Noah and his two sons. The Bible says that one saw the nakedness (weaknesses) of his father and spoke about it. Whereas, the other brother walked backwards and curved his father's nakedness. We are called to cover our leader's weaknesses and not broadcast them.
6. Never speak negatively Speak about your Leader
There will be times that you may have disputes and disagreements with the one you serve. We all make mistakes. Therefore, there will be times that you may not agree with a stand that your leader takes. You have a right to disagree with what your leader decided does or say. However, you should not voice those disagreements to others. The principle says never complain down, always complain up. Most of the time up is your leader or God.
7. Never Speak Negatively about the Vision
There will be times in the ministry that you may not agree or even understand decisions that are made by your leader. You may not agree with the direction the ministry chooses to move in. There will be times God gives your leader a directive for the entire ministry and He does not even explain it to your leader why. Therefore, what makes you think you would know why?
The important issue here is that you're not to ever speak negatively about the vision that God has assigned you work toward with your leader and never complain about the vision. Fight for your leader's vision. Work hard towards the vision. Commit to the vision. Give your life to the vision. But never speak negatively about the vision.
Thank God for Aaron and Hur! Their responsibility on the mountian top was just as important than Joshua's in the valley. Every pastor need someone who can fight Your Pastor needs some tried and true hand to help carry the load of ministry. Don't let him suffering in silence and fall prey to discouragement, defeat, doubt and darkness.
