WILL YOU SURVIVE THE SPIRITUAL RETIREMENTS? (PART 4)
Sermon by Pastor William Boachie-Ansah
TEXTS: Ezek 34:1-10, 1KINGS 19:1-16
'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I WILL REQUIRE MY FLOCK AT THEIR HAND; I WILL CAUSE THEM TO CEASE FEEDING THE SHEEP, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I WILL DELIVER MY FLOCK FROM THEIR MOUTHS, that they may no longer be food for them." (Ezek 34:10)
INTRODUCTION
In the previous discussions, we have been considering why God had to retire Elijah prematurely when he was at the apogee of his ministry. We have also been reflecting on how God is doing same to church leaders of our time. In this final discussion, we want to explore t we can do in order to avoid being retired prematurely in ministry as He did to Elijah.
HOW TO AVOID GOD’S COMPULSORY RETIREMENT
WORK HARD
If you are working for God, you need to work hard. Put all your energy into the work. God rewards people who work hard in the kingdom business with promotions and higher callings. Additionally, you need to work hard on your character and known weaknesses.
STOP COMPLAINING
Almost everywhere you go, you encounter Christians who are complaining. You don’t have to complain. We see pastors complaining about where they had been posted to work, especially those who are posted or transferred to rural areas. We encounter other church leaders who complain about members not being obedient to them. We additionally encounter leaders who are not satisfied with their salaries and allowances every day. If any leader keeps on complaining will God not be right when He also calls such fellow home instantly? Instead of complaining we should rather be prepared to accept new challenges, and be grateful and appreciative to God for all His benefits.
AVOID FOOLISH COMPARISONS.
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DON’T BE COMPLACENT
Stop boasting about your achievements. Don’t demean any person you seem to have performed much better in leadership and ministry. Until you reach heaven, you haven’t arrived yet!
LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING
Saul did that and suffered the consequences all the days of his life. He taught he could offer sacrifices to God safely because he was the king. In the end he as rejected outright. Ministry is not about what you think; it is about what the Lord says. Keep watching your footsteps in in walk with God so that you don’t miss His way.
BE FAITHFUL IN ALL THINGS
Faithfulness and integrity cut across every sphere of the Christians life. It is either you are found faithful in all things, or you are not faithful.
DON’T TAKE THE GRACE OF GOD FOR GRANTED
Never ever entertain the thought that the grace of God abounds for you all the time. If you turn the grace of God into any thing, God is capable of turning you into anything.
CONCLUSION
God’s warning still stands. He is against certain shepherds and ready to retire them from His business. Are you one of them? Will you survive this serious exercise? If God says He will stop some people from being His shepherds, then there is the need for us to critically examine how we are shepherding the flock of God, otherwise we may be part of those whose names are on the next batch of God’s retirement list. May the Lord God Almighty have mercy upon all of us, Amen.
CONTACTS: PASTOR WILLIAM BOACHIE-ANSAH
THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST (ADOAGYIRI DISTRICT)
P.O. BOX 203 NSAWAM
0244137880 0208519520
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