ONE OF THE REASONS WHY MANY DON’T WANT TO BE A FULL TIME PASTOR IS MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF OFFENDING PEOPLE WHENEVER THERE IS NEED FOR REBUKE OR CORRECTION.
AS SERVANTS OF GOD WE ARE NOT JUST CALLED TO EXHORT OR JUST ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ,BUT ALSO CALLED TO REBUKE AND REPROVE THEM 2 TIM.2:1-4
APOSTLE PAUL WAS TIMOTHY’S MENTOR AND IN THE ABOVE SCRIPTURE HE WAS TEACHING HIM HOW TO BE A COMPLETE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL
WHY DID HE TELL HIM TO PREACH THE WORD AT ALL COSTS AND TO PERSEVERE AT EXHORTING ,AND REBUKING AND TEACHING WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING?
WHAT DOES” WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING” EVEN MEAN?
IT SIMPLY MEANS DON’T GIVE UP .DON’T LET THE ATTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE DISCOURAGE YOU
INTERESTINGLY ONE OF THE BRETHREN SENT ME EZEKIEL 3 LAST WEEK
LTE’S READ IT
ONE OF THE END TIME SIGNS IS THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD RESIST THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.
THEY WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO STORIES THAT MAKE THEM FEEL GOOD ,STORIES THAT WILL NOT DISLODGE THEM FROM THEIR COMFORT ZONE 2 TIM.3:1-7
EVER LEARNING AND NEVER COMING TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.I DON’T BELIEVE WE ARE LIKE THAT IN JESUS NAME
AS PASTORS AND PEOPLE OF GOD WE MUST KNOW THAT “OPEN REBUKE IS BETTER THAN SECRET LOVE”
I GOT SOME COMMENTARIES ON THIS FROM THE INTERNET JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE OTHER INTERPRETATIONS AND SCRIPTURES
LET US LOOK AT OTHER SCRIPTURES AND SEE HOW THE APOSTLES WERE LEADING THE CHURCH I JOHN 3:12 GAL 2 14 PROV 28 23 1 TIM 5:20 ;PROV 9:7-9;PS 141:5
NOW WHEN WE FAST THE LORD WANTS US TO DO MORE THAN A RELIGIOUS FAST
THE TYPE THAT THE PHARISEES USED TO DO.OUTWARDLY RELIGIOUS BUT INWARDLY WICKED ISAIAH 58
LET US ALSO LOOK AT ZECH.7
LET US NOW LOOK AT GOD’S RESTORATION PROMISES IN ZECH 8
Elizabeth says to her “blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her for the Lord “ Lk. 1:45
_ I hope you read the papers you were given last night
_ They are full of God’s promises of blessings if we fast onto Him.
NOW WHAT HAS GOD PROMISED TO DO CHURCH IN ZECH. 8
To be Jealous over us
To dwell in our midst and change our name to
City of truth
Mountain of the Lord of Host
Mountain of Holiness (Vs.3)
We are promised long life in Christ (Vs. 4)
Plentiful youthful population (Vs. 5)
God will surely perform the impossible for us (Vs. 6)
God will increase us with genuinely saved souls (V7 & 8)
Business shall flourish and there shall be fruitfulness prosperity abundance and increase (Vs.10-12)
The curse shall be broken and we shall be a great blessing (V.13)
Assurance of God’s mercies (Vs.14-15)
Our fasts shall be acceptable to God (Vs.19)
Many people shall come to pray with us; people shall invite and encourage one another to come and pray with us. (Vs. 20-22)
WHAT MUST WE DO
Believe these promises and thank God.
We must be diligent in prayers and good works, faith without works is dead. We must plan to receive the coming revival. We must re organize ourselves and be ready.
There must be peace and unity (Vs. 16) Ps. 133
No evil thoughts and no false hood or hypocrisy (Vs. 17)
We must love truth and peace
Ministeration
Song: “Standing on the promises of God”
Let’s thank God for the new hearts he gave yesterday.
Let’s ask for divine wisdom and strength to cope with the coming revival
Let us pray for peace and unity and joy
Let us pray for truthfulness and faithfulness
Now let us claim all the promises with thanksgiving and joyfulness of heart