This article was adapted from a sermon by Andy Constable, associate pastor of Niddrie Community Church (Edinburgh).
This is the second part of an article we started last week. If you haven’t read Part 1, here’s the link.
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We think of Christian life as a battle, ministry is difficult, and leadership is exhausting work. But in the Bible, Jesus urges His disciples to remain strong. Jesus promises that He is resurrection and life; who will build his church, no matter what; and he’ll be with us every day. Today we will ponder three other promises Jesus gives us for our spirits.
The fourth promise Jesus makes to encourage us is that He will preserve His people. Notice these words from John 6. 39:
And the will of him who sent me is this: that he should not lose any of all that he has given me; on the contrary, will I resurrect him on the last day?
Sometimes we worry about being able to continue in the Christian life, but it is not we who cling to Christ, he is the one who sustains us.
“When I am afraid that I will lack faith, Christ will not leave me. When the tempter prowls, Christ will preserve me, I will never be alone on the arduous path, because my love can be cooled, Will Christ sustain me?”[1]
It gives us the energy and strength to persevere!
Sometimes, as church leaders, we care about our people. Woohoo! This family followed me to the periphery and now I am responsible for it. What if everything goes wrong? Or, when one of our disciples leaves, we blame ourselves. We are questioning our discipleship methods. Or maybe one of our assistants is having trouble getting the job done and keeps making the same stupid mistakes. We feel the burden of our people. Let us remember that if the Spirit of God is in someone, he will constantly draw that person to the Savior; Jesus will not lose the son he called; We can stumble, WE can fool ourselves, WE can fall, but Christ holds His children to the end.
Those whom the Father chooses will never be cast out or lost by Jesus. In other words, Jesus will preserve to the end all those who are truly Christians. No matter what we do, no matter where we go, the problems we face, will continue to support us, you won’t let our feet stumble, you won’t lose us, you’ll support your people. We need that security in our departments.
Fifth, Jesus said, “I will make you rest. “
“Come unto me all ye that are weary and overwhelmed, and I will relieve you?(Matthew 11:28-30).
We’re all tired. We were all overwhelmed. Our ministry on the periphery can be particularly mentally and spiritually exhausting when dealing with people in need day after day. Our department type is not a part-time job. We can’t leave anything in the office. Leaders pray constantly for his people, but Jesus says that if we are tired and overwhelmed, he can bring deep relief to our souls. What do you mean, with relief, does that mean we can be lazy and watch TV all day, you mean go on vacation?It doesn’t say “don’t work,” it doesn’t say “be lazy. ” He doesn’t say things won’t be difficult, but he says that the relief he gives us allows us to move forward in life without feeling a burden we can’t continue with, his relief restores us and advances us.
Why are we as overwhelmed as we are Christians? We’re overwhelmed because we take on things that are too heavy for us. We’re worried about things that are out of our control. We are proud of our hearts. But when we are humble and trust in Christ, we can work for him wholeheartedly without feeling a burden that overwhelms us. It’s a relief for us to move on. Jesus says we learn from him.
Notice Psalm 131:1-2
Lord, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes proud; I’m not looking for great things or things that are too wonderful for me. On the contrary, I made my soul calm down and calm down; How is the weeded child immobilized in his mother’s arms, what is this child like, my soul towards me?
The Psalmist can rest because he doesn’t care about things that are too wonderful for him. Think about who writes this, it’s King David!There are many things to do, but it leaves control of the universe to God and, as people in the department, we must know that we do not control things, that we do not have to worry about the future. We don’t have to worry about what’s going to happen, we need to stop controlling, and we need to know that God has things in His hands.
We must remember that serving the Lord Jesus must be a joy, not a burden. I remember a few years ago I felt a real decline in the department; he had repented. I didn’t want to do that anymore and the problem was that I was taking burdens I shouldn’t have had, I was trying to control everything and I was failing miserably. I had given up the relief of my Savior, and at that time I needed to repent and remember the joy of ministry!It’s a joy. There is nothing better than serving the King Jesus.
Finally, Jesus promises us paradise
“Don’t let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe in me too. In my father’s house, there are many addresses. Otherwise, I would have told you. Because I’m going to make you a place. And when I prepare a place for you, will I welcome you again for me, so where I am, you are too?(John 14:1-3).
We can put up with this race because the sky is coming, what drives the runner forward in the marathon?What makes a pregnant woman move on?What makes us move forward when the work is hard?What brings us to the end?
“And anyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or sisters, or a father, or a mother [or a woman], or children, or fields, by my name, shall receive several more times, and inherit eternal life?(Matthew 19:29).
Some of us are in awkward places. We are out of our comfort zone, some of us have left our families and homes behind, but all this will be rewarded on the day of Christ Jesus, and this is the main point. When we come to heaven, we will not remember the work, because we will participate in the worship of Christ!
So cheer up. Jesus is alive and reigning, He is building his church. He’s with us. It will not allow its people to get lost, it will relieve us throughout the pilgrimage. And one day it will take us to be with him forever!
Whoever you are, no matter what you do or what consumes you, take this to the Lord Jesus, I understand. Honestly, you understand!
1: Will you hold me fast? (Sovereign Grace Music), in free translation.
By: Andy Constable. © 20 diagrams. Website: 20schemes. com. Translated with permission. Source: How to stay animated when you want to give up (2).
Original: How to stay animated when you want to quit (part 2). © Loyal Ministry. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br. All rights reserved. Translation: Camila Rebeca Teixeira. Review: André Alosio Oliveira da Silva.