When we rest in the gospel, we rest in God’s power. Moment by moment, we realize God’s power is upholding us as opposed to standing on my own power by my own strength.
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Greetings, brothers and sisters in the Lord. I’m Matt Kaufman
and I welcome you to view the content of our recent Illinois Minister webinar.
Last Monday evening, ACCFS hosted our first webinar dedicated to offering
support and encouragement to our ministering brothers and their wives. The
event consisted of 20 minutes of content, followed by an interview with a
retired minister and concluded with a Q&A.
and I welcome you to view the content of our recent Illinois Minister webinar.
Last Monday evening, ACCFS hosted our first webinar dedicated to offering
support and encouragement to our ministering brothers and their wives. The
event consisted of 20 minutes of content, followed by an interview with a
retired minister and concluded with a Q&A.
Brother Arlan Miller led the interview with Brother Steve
Baner. I regret as learning curves go that we will not be able to share the
life footage of the event as some unforeseen technical obstacles got in our
way. Therefore, I will share the content from the evening. We trust that this
can be a blessing to you.
Baner. I regret as learning curves go that we will not be able to share the
life footage of the event as some unforeseen technical obstacles got in our
way. Therefore, I will share the content from the evening. We trust that this
can be a blessing to you.
The theme of the event was designed to further the topic of our
February Minister Forum Resiliency in Ministry. The mainstay point we wish to
make and elaborate on is the gospel both sends us to ministry and cradles us in
it. That is to say that gospel is the end of our labors and the source of our
resiliency.
February Minister Forum Resiliency in Ministry. The mainstay point we wish to
make and elaborate on is the gospel both sends us to ministry and cradles us in
it. That is to say that gospel is the end of our labors and the source of our
resiliency.
The first point of three we wish to make is that the gospel is
our source of rest. Consider the grounding and settling the gospel provides as
expressed in Colossians 1:23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled
and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature, which is under heaven. Where of I, Paul,
am made a minister.
our source of rest. Consider the grounding and settling the gospel provides as
expressed in Colossians 1:23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled
and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature, which is under heaven. Where of I, Paul,
am made a minister.
The images on this slide are designed to help us understand
some subtle nuances of our interaction with the gospel. More times than I care,
I find myself as the man tethered to the I beam. At home, I have a windmill. At
the top of the windmill, I have my internet receiver. More often than I wish, I
find myself up there tinkering with the receivers. When I do, I tether myself
to the windmill. Such a tether gives me peace of mind. It allows me a sense of
comfort and security. In the event of need, I will be safe. The tether allows
me to work with a measure of carefree joy, tethered to Jesus, my thoughts go
and I’m thankful for the gospel.
some subtle nuances of our interaction with the gospel. More times than I care,
I find myself as the man tethered to the I beam. At home, I have a windmill. At
the top of the windmill, I have my internet receiver. More often than I wish, I
find myself up there tinkering with the receivers. When I do, I tether myself
to the windmill. Such a tether gives me peace of mind. It allows me a sense of
comfort and security. In the event of need, I will be safe. The tether allows
me to work with a measure of carefree joy, tethered to Jesus, my thoughts go
and I’m thankful for the gospel.
It wasn’t until a few months ago when 60 mile an hour winds
took shingles off my roof, that I realized that continuing in the faith
grounded and settled what it really looks like. Like the windmill, I took up my
tether. This time I fastened it around the chimney. I tried feverishly to fix
my shingles using the rope as a tether, but a tether wouldn’t do.
took shingles off my roof, that I realized that continuing in the faith
grounded and settled what it really looks like. Like the windmill, I took up my
tether. This time I fastened it around the chimney. I tried feverishly to fix
my shingles using the rope as a tether, but a tether wouldn’t do.
I had to rappel, I had to rest all of my continuous weight on
the lifeline of the rope. In that moment, I understood my need for the gospel
to be a continuous and what grounded and settled in the faith really looks like
the lifeline of the rope. In that moment, I understood my need for the gospel
to be a continuous and what grounded and settled in the faith really looks like
When we rappel and lean our weight into the gospel, the gospel
presents itself as a present need. And certainly obvious why we would not want
to move away from it as opposed to the tethered man where grace is more of an
insurance policy.
presents itself as a present need. And certainly obvious why we would not want
to move away from it as opposed to the tethered man where grace is more of an
insurance policy.
When I rest in the gospel, I rest in God’s power. Moment by
moment, I realize God’s power is upholding me. As opposed to standing on my own
power by my own strength or gripping the windmill really by my own faculties
and never really needing the tether.
moment, I realize God’s power is upholding me. As opposed to standing on my own
power by my own strength or gripping the windmill really by my own faculties
and never really needing the tether.
When I continue in the faith, I take God seriously realizing my
plight, should he not be there, as opposed to the tethered man taking himself
so seriously.
plight, should he not be there, as opposed to the tethered man taking himself
so seriously.
I realize that God is the Savior when I continue in the gospel
and I realize that I am not the Savior. These things allow me to be resilient.
They allow me to rest in the gospel. And I trust God and believers when I
continue in the gospel realizing the Holy Spirit among the brethren, whereas
when I am tethered, I am less likely to trust God and other people.
and I realize that I am not the Savior. These things allow me to be resilient.
They allow me to rest in the gospel. And I trust God and believers when I
continue in the gospel realizing the Holy Spirit among the brethren, whereas
when I am tethered, I am less likely to trust God and other people.
The second point of three we wish to encourage you is in the
area of self care. Consider the picture of the man surrounded by countless
sources of voices. Voices speak to us through the things we read or our
occupations. Our countless interactions with people, advertisements, our
families, and selected audio and video mediums.
area of self care. Consider the picture of the man surrounded by countless
sources of voices. Voices speak to us through the things we read or our
occupations. Our countless interactions with people, advertisements, our
families, and selected audio and video mediums.
But we need to recognize that all of this content added
together is dwarfed by the content we say to ourselves in the privacy of our
own heads. Continually, our thoughts are speaking to us. The sheer volume of
this content is quite impressive and has a direct impact on our self care. You
see, most of the content you intake is from you and to you.
together is dwarfed by the content we say to ourselves in the privacy of our
own heads. Continually, our thoughts are speaking to us. The sheer volume of
this content is quite impressive and has a direct impact on our self care. You
see, most of the content you intake is from you and to you.
Thus, good self care is taking control of this space, and one
way to do this is to speak the gospel to yourself. Allow the gospel to minister
to you. Paul speaks the gospel into the minister, Titus. Notice the many
personal pronouns underlined in the passage that Paul uses. We, our, us, all of
those are personal.
way to do this is to speak the gospel to yourself. Allow the gospel to minister
to you. Paul speaks the gospel into the minister, Titus. Notice the many
personal pronouns underlined in the passage that Paul uses. We, our, us, all of
those are personal.
He does not speak the gospel in the lofty, generic theological
terms, but instead in a very personal way. Meditating on Scripture such as this
is a wonderful way to affect your thought space. Replace the pronouns with your
name, and it might read like this for example. For Matt was sometimes foolish
and disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures living in malice
and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love
of God, Matt’s Savior towards man appeared not by works of righteousness, which
Matt has done, but according to his mercy, he saved Matt by the washing of
regeneration, the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on Matt abundantly
through Jesus Christ, our Savior. That being justified by his grace, Matt
should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
terms, but instead in a very personal way. Meditating on Scripture such as this
is a wonderful way to affect your thought space. Replace the pronouns with your
name, and it might read like this for example. For Matt was sometimes foolish
and disobedient, deceived, serving diverse lusts and pleasures living in malice
and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love
of God, Matt’s Savior towards man appeared not by works of righteousness, which
Matt has done, but according to his mercy, he saved Matt by the washing of
regeneration, the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on Matt abundantly
through Jesus Christ, our Savior. That being justified by his grace, Matt
should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is wonderful thought occupation. Our hymns naturally do
this. For example, the beloved hymn, The Solid Rock. My hope is built on
nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness. I dare not trust the
sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. Many times the hymns do this as
well, speaking very personally to us.
this. For example, the beloved hymn, The Solid Rock. My hope is built on
nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness. I dare not trust the
sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. Many times the hymns do this as
well, speaking very personally to us.
Consider, It is Well with my Soul when he says, oh, blessed is
the thought of my sin, not in part, but the whole being nailed to the cross and
on and on they go. Allow others to speak into your life as well. Good self care
requires that we are students. Listen to the sermons of your co-laborers as a
student. Lean into the fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Enjoy God’s favor and goodness. Colossians 1 says that we have been made by him
and for him. Your person brings God pleasure. Enjoying, for example, music,
nature, recreation, humor, and quietness are in step with God’s creation and
wisdom. And all of these help us care properly for the self and our thought
space.
the thought of my sin, not in part, but the whole being nailed to the cross and
on and on they go. Allow others to speak into your life as well. Good self care
requires that we are students. Listen to the sermons of your co-laborers as a
student. Lean into the fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Enjoy God’s favor and goodness. Colossians 1 says that we have been made by him
and for him. Your person brings God pleasure. Enjoying, for example, music,
nature, recreation, humor, and quietness are in step with God’s creation and
wisdom. And all of these help us care properly for the self and our thought
space.
The third and final point is family care and the gospel. 1
Peter 3:7 indicates the spiritual union we have with our spouses being heirs
together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered. We’re heirs
together of the grace of life and so intertwined that our prayers are affected
accordingly.
Peter 3:7 indicates the spiritual union we have with our spouses being heirs
together of the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered. We’re heirs
together of the grace of life and so intertwined that our prayers are affected
accordingly.
Now, our wives should be the first recipient of the gospel from
our lips. Remind her of God’s favor on her. Remind her that she is a daughter
of God and how that should impact her life. We model the gospel to our wives,
children, and grandchildren. We demonstrate that our love for them is apart
from their works, their grades, their violin recital, their abilities at the
family business.
our lips. Remind her of God’s favor on her. Remind her that she is a daughter
of God and how that should impact her life. We model the gospel to our wives,
children, and grandchildren. We demonstrate that our love for them is apart
from their works, their grades, their violin recital, their abilities at the
family business.
We don’t expect perfection from our families, and there are
pressures on us to have our families look and be a certain way. We want to
steward hearts. Don’t expect perfection, but we expect progression towards God.
And if you’re like me, opportunities lend itself to repent before my family. In
so doing, I have the opportunity to model repentance, reception of grace,
forgiveness, and joy; a very powerful teaching moment. And all of this now
brings us to this place where the gospel is our rest, self and family care, and
we are resilient to minister the gospel because the gospel has met our needs.
The gospel will flow naturally to the church because it has been our source,
supply, sustenance, and daily experience.
pressures on us to have our families look and be a certain way. We want to
steward hearts. Don’t expect perfection, but we expect progression towards God.
And if you’re like me, opportunities lend itself to repent before my family. In
so doing, I have the opportunity to model repentance, reception of grace,
forgiveness, and joy; a very powerful teaching moment. And all of this now
brings us to this place where the gospel is our rest, self and family care, and
we are resilient to minister the gospel because the gospel has met our needs.
The gospel will flow naturally to the church because it has been our source,
supply, sustenance, and daily experience.
God bless you. Your wives and families be encouraged in the
ministry that God has called you to, he has equipped you for, and sent you to.
ministry that God has called you to, he has equipped you for, and sent you to.
