Text: Isa. 56:10-11; Ezek. 34:1-10
-Illustration: A man and his family were fleeing their home church because of what happened in the past. The pastor unwittingly had wounded this family and didn't know how to love his people and thus put this family in bondage. They were bitter, but now sought to be free by confessing their bitterness and making things right with their pastor. Pastors who have a heart for God, are dedicated, and love God, but are often hindering revival.
THE PASTOR HAS RESPONSIBILITY IN REVIVAL TO--
1. DEAL PROPERLY WITH YOURSELF - Jas. 4:1,6-8
Sins of the spirit--pride of being holy on outside, but not on the inside.
Saul was rejected as king, not because he was an adulterer, etc., but because of his pride. David committed adultery but was forgiven because he repented, but Saul did not repent.
Many pastors are clean from the fleshly sins, but are desperately unclean in the heart. One of the main sins is pride. It's not what other people think of me, but what does God think of me.
God wants the pastors to not be lifted up above their people--attitude of being better. Rev. 2:6, doctrine of Nicolaitanes.
Through a problem that arose in a church Pastor Sipley asked for forgiveness of a man, but he thought Sipley could not sin. Sipley began to wonder what he was portraying to the rest of the church.
One time a board member said to Sipley: you are a lousy pastor, but you are a good preacher;
Another board member said: you are a lousy teacher, but a good pastor. That can be devastating to a young pastor, but we need to determine what God is saying through it. After leaving the church, later Pastor Sipley wrote to ask forgiveness of pride and bitterness--we must deal properly with SELF. They forgave; later invited him back to speak, showing that things were made right.
2. DEAL PROPERLY WITH YOUR CONGREGATION - Rom. 15:1-7
Every Christian down in their heart wants to please God. Minister to them with that kind of attitude.
One pastor felt he could not bring the people up to God's standard, yet they were Christians. He preached to them like they didn't want to please God. Then he learned--"Instead of beating them over the head, Lord, help me tell them how to get over their problems and how they can please God."
I Jn. 1:5-6 - If we say we have fellowship with God--and we don't--that is a lie. If we walk in fellowship, in light--out in the open, being transparent before others--then you can bring them into fellowship with God.
Share the ministry with your people--that you want revival, etc. Sipley had breakfast with board members of another church. They wanted their pastor to be able to share the ministry--he had to be in every meeting of what was going on. He was gifted, but could not do things well because he was too busy. Then the youth pastor came--same problem with the pastor. That pastor had PRIDE--thinking he had to be in everything.
Ex. 18 - Jethro gave Moses some advice: "What are you trying to give to those people?"
Moses said, "To help them love and serve God." Jethro said, "You will wear yourself out."
If a man has enough responsibility in the ministry to fail and then to ask for help, then he will realize that he also needs to ask God to do the ministry through him to meet the needs of the people.
(One man, or pastor, can be a pastor to 50 people only; if he has more, he needs others to help in the ministry.)
3. DEAL PROPERLY WITH YOUR BRETHREN IN THE MINISTRY - Gal. 5:17-21
The sin of envy is a terrible sin, because envy is listed with murderers, witchcraft, hatred, etc. God wants to deliver us from that empty exaltation of self, pride, carnality. Sipley became envious of a new minister in the community who was a great preacher--25 souls came to Christ in one night. Then had to go ask forgiveness of him because Pastor Sipley was speaking against all the "numbers" in that church, but his congregation had sanctified people. God taught him the evil sin of envy. Let us put away envy and then trust God to bring revival to our community.
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