Today was HARD!
I would say that on a scale of 1-10, one being an easy sermon and a ten being a hard one—today was around a 158!!!
I will make a confession as a pastor—something that you may have never heard one of us say…but deep down—everyone of us want to be liked. We want people to say, “great job!” There is something in every single human being (even pastors) that desires to hear the applause of men.
And last weeks message—the one about purpose—well, that was a message that everyone could get fired up about! Everyone LOVES to hear they are not an accident. Everyone loves to hear that God has an incredible plan for their lives. AND…I had a BLAST last week preaching.
BUT…this week was different…this weeks message was on character and it was a STRONG challenge to Christians for us to be more and more like Jesus Christ—not less. It was a call to confession and repentance. It was a call for those INSIDE the church to stop focusing OUTSIDE of the church and blaming them for the condition of this “sinful world.” The reason the world may be going to “hell in a hand basket” is NOT because of Hollywood and Disney World…it is because many times those of us who claim the name of Christ don’t look like Him.
All week long I was nervous…I knew the message needed to be preached…BUT I also knew that it was going to be TENSE! If you are a pastor then you KNOW the tension that I felt…you’ve been there. (Unless you are just a sick, legalistic weirdo who LOVES to preach on wrath and judgment.)
Please understand that every single week I get nervous before I speak…VERY NERVOUS; in fact, there have been weeks that I wanted to throw up! And this week was NO EXCEPTION!!! (No, I am NOT lying. No matter how much I study I still walk out on stage shaking!)
BUT…one of the promises I made Jesus when I entered the ministry is that I would be HIS man and preach HIS word…that I would be passionate about HIS opinion rather than the opinion of the crowd. AND THIS IS NOT EASY—IT NEVER IS! (And there have been times that I HAVE not done this!)
BUT…God honored this today! We saw drug addicts come forward. We saw men addicted to porn admit their need for help. We saw God do an amazing work…and I believe He will continue to do so. I sincerely believe that God wants to do an awesome work among His people…and we are seeing the beginnings of Him doing something amazing!!!
Let me says a word of encouragement to pastors—preach the entire counsel of God’s Word! We are called to preach it all—confession, repentance and wrath included. This isn’t fun…but God will honor the church that does this. (It’s funny—at times NewSpring is referred to as the “feel good” church. Honestly, today did not feel good—at all! But it was necessary…it will always be necessary for Christians to be called to confession and repentance.)
AND let me say this as well…the times when we are the most nervous, the most desperate, the most “out of control,” those are the times when God moves and does things that only HE can do!!! He’s like that!!! He doesn’t need our talent and abilities—He wants our obedience.
If the message hit you today but you did not respond—please let us know how we can help…call us, e-mail us…whatever. If God pulled me out the of hole I was in—He can do the same for you. My encouragement is to allow your heart to be open to Him…and continue to let Him reshape your life. (I am in the process of Him rocking my world right now…I will share more later this week or next.)
Let me say what I said so many times in the message today—OUR CHARACTER MATTERS TO HIM. How we live REALLY MATTERS…and those of us who claim the name of Christ need to look more like Him—not less.
I love this church so much…and I am thankful for all of your prayers. This next Sunday is going to be incredible as we will be addressing the subject of “tolerance.” DON’T MISS IT!