Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #9

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!

A Shower Of Grace Is Needed

(Ephesians 1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”  (KJV)

There are times when every Christian has felt that his labor has been in vain, especially when there is no outward response to his appeals, and no obvious fruit from his efforts. A shower of grace is needed.

The sound of the abundance of rain precedes a great down-pouring of grace. Our spiritual ears need to hear it, our eyes need to behold “Him who is invisible” to the natural eye, as Moses of old. We need to see Him in the events of our daily lives. Our nostrils need to smell the freshness of the coming rain, the blessing of grace. Our feelings need to be touched by something not of ourselves, but from a greater, higher source. Our tastebuds need to be aroused by the goodness of the Lord, “taste and see that the Lord is good.”

God controls the rain, but there are sometimes clouds but no rain. This means that we have the means of grace, but no grace sent by the means. The clouds are ordained to bring rain, but now commanded not to do so. The Spirit has been grieved and quenched, repentance is needed. If we will turn from our sins, God will bless us, as He desires to do.

Pastor Ed Bowen

Conclusion

Maybe you need a refreshing… a spiritual renewal? God will send the “RAIN” in His time. My experience has taught me that He was always right ON TIME!

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Would you consider purchasing…

563344: Life in the Spirit Life in the Spirit

By A.W. Tozer / Hendrickson Publishers

Hendrickson presents two classic works on the Holy Spirit by A. W. Tozer, together in one volume for the first time. A superb addition to the best-selling Hendrickson Christian Classics series, Life in the Spirit combines Tozer’s How to Be Filled with the Spirit and The Counselor: Straight Talk About the Holy Spirit from a Twentieth Century Prophet.
In Tozer’s own words, How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit “was made available to the Christian public with the prayer that it may lead thirsty believers to the fountain of living waters.” Since its publication, hundreds of thousands of copies of this practical yet deeply devotional guide have been sold. How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit will refresh and open the reader to the filling of the Holy Spirit.
In The Counselor, Tozer speaks to the current conflict and confusion about the Holy Spirit from a balanced, biblical perspective-not academic, but practical. Tozer promises that the Holy Spirit “is willing-yes, willing-to do for us all that Jesus would do if He were here on earth.” The chapters of this book were originally preached as sermons at Southside Alliance Church in Chicago. Whether spoken or written, Tozer’s words were designed to “promote personal heart religion” among God’s people.

20 Tips For Pastors Who Want To Better Work With Deacons

Leadership involves working with people. Contrary to some beliefs, deacons are human beings too! If a church is to have success in it’s growth and maturity, then it will need a good group of deacons that work well with the pastor. Of course, the pastor must take the lead in this endeavor and set the godly example for his men.

Like cogs in machinery, pastors and deacons must work together. In this post we want to share 20 tips for pastors as they seek to work with their deacons in a better way. May the thoughts expressed here find lodging place in your heart and seek to be a resource in days to come.

Listed below are 20 tips for pastors on the subject, “How To Work With Deacons”

  1. Study the election of the first deacons in Acts 6:1-7.
  2. Study carefully the qualifications of a deacon given in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
  3. Understand the proper roles of pastors and deacons. Learn the function of each.
  4. Elect only men to be deacons who meet the scriptural qualifications. Acts 6 (honest, spiritual and wise) and 1 Timothy 3.
  5. Remind deacons that we are all servants, not bosses.
  6. Honor, commend (also publicly) and show proper respect for deacons.
  7. Teach the deacons that the pastor does not work for them, or under them, but for God.
  8. Work at creating teamwork.
  9. Teach them to uphold and protect the pastor.
  10. Do not try to be a little dictator. A pastor/dictatorship is wrong and a committee- run church is wrong.
  11. Whenever God wants something done He calls a man and then He gathers around that man others to help him.
  12. Do not desire or expect deacons to be “YES MEN.” Genuinely desire their wisdom, help, and input.
  13. Honor deacons’ wives.
  14. Give them a gift of appreciation at the end of their term.
  15. Have a banquet and have testimonies.
  16. Honor them publicly.
  17. Pray for them.
  18. Love them.
  19. Do not make special friends or become partial to one or more of your deacons.
  20. Remember that God’s order is bishops (pastors), deacons, and people (saints).

Conclusion

You may not agree with everything that has been stated, but you will have to agree with me that these 20 tips are outstanding! If Christ’s church is to be what it ought to be, then pastors and deacons will have to work together!

These tips have been taken from the book A Manual For Young Pastors (And Older Ones Too) by Dr. Jim Phillips. Dr. Phillips has graciously given permission for The Working Pastor to use his material. Any quotes from here need to be given to Dr. Phillips. For those who would like a copy of this book simply contact Brother Phillips: Dr. Jim Phillips – 13 Darby Hill Lane Taylors, SC 29687 or call: 864-609-9431 The book is $17.00 and $3.00 S&H.;

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Would you consider purchasing…

433887: 100 Devotions for Pastors and Church Leaders, Vol. 2: Ideas and Inspiration for Your Sermons, Lessons, Church Events, Newsletters, and Web Sites 100 Devotions for Pastors and Church Leaders, Vol. 2: Ideas and Inspiration for Your Sermons, Lessons, Church Events, Newsletters, and Web Sites

By John Phillips / Kregel Academic & Professional

These 100 devotions cover less than 2 pages each and are focused on specific texts of Scripture, arranged from Genesis to Revelation. Dr. Phillips, who has been associated with Moody Institute for many years, is author of a multi-volume commentary of the entire Bible. Ideal for sermon illustrations, to augment bible studies or as devotional thoughts.

The Depths Of Sin – An Unpopular Subject That Fewer Pastors Are Proclaiming

The world’s greatest dilemma and man’s biggest problem is SIN! Though people face cruel diseases, harsh climates, great famines, and tough economic times, SIN is man’s biggest issue. In fact, the SIN of man is the cause our problems in the first place. You would think with the ever increasing number of murders and other capitol crimes worldwide that people would cry out against SIN. Sad to say this does not happen. Great attention, however, is given to the grievous results of SIN rather than to the root cause and Biblical remedy for this awful plight mankind is planted in.

Take a moment and consider the following thoughts on the subject: “The Depths of Sin!” May God take these truths and engrave them in your soul with His finger. May we, who preach God’s Word, proclaim this for all men to hear so they will be warned of the dangers of sin’s dark depths!

From The Miry Clay To The Solid Rock

(Psalms 40:2) “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”  (KJV)

Sin is described as miry clay in this verse. The clay being described here is not easily navigated through and will certainly entrench someone before they realize it. Once free, the sticky clay will adhere to clothing and shoes. It will leave footprints where you step. Sin acts in the same way!

The Psalmist is glad that he was lifted from this horrible clay pit! We who know Christ feel the same way. Our Lord Jesus delivered us from the deep clay pits to the sure foundation of the elevated ROCK!

One should always remember that, though Christ has performed the great role as Savior, for those who repent and accept Him, sin is still like the miry clay! It WILL catch hold of you and mar your testimony and bring defeat when dabbled in.

From Condemnation To Salvation

(Romans 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  (KJV)

How sweet these words are to a sinner in the depths of his sin. Feeling the awful weight of his sin and rebellion against God, “No Condemnation!” is a welcomed sentence. The weight and guilt builds up as the Holy Ghost convicts the sinner of his desperate need. This is partially done through the preaching about sin and it’s destructive ambition.

If the sinner does not hear the message of condemnation, however, then he cannot fully embrace what God can do for him. Focusing most of the attention on what God has done for the sinner is great, but if someone does not see themselves as a lost sinner, then they will not see the need to repent. As a result, they will not want to be saved!

From Cords Of Sin To Cleansing From Sin

(Proverbs 5:22) “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.”  (KJV)

From this verse we see a description of what sin can and will do to a sinner. As one would use ropes to secure and fasten various commodities when shipping or for placing into storage, so sin grips a sinner. When sin is entertained, it will wrap it’s finger like ropes around your soul and hold on till Christ breaks them asunder.

I am glad that not only will Christ break the chains of sin from off of the sinner, but He will also cleanse the stains of sin away! (1 John 1:9 & Isaiah 1:18) Once held and bound, now free and clean. WOW! What a difference Jesus can make in a sinner’s life!

Conclusion

The words of the songwriter echo in my soul as I muse upon this topic. It goes like this:

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, slowly, but wholly taking control. Sin will leave you longer than you want to stay. Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay”

Sin is dangerous and is nothing to play around with. Nobody has ever come away from it without it’s prominent scars! It can take a person down into the lowest of gutters and can make people do things that animals do not even consider participating in.

Pastor, why do so many quit warning people about sin? Why have so many generalized the subject and stopped calling sin by it’s Biblical name? If there was ever a time to proclaim and preach against specific sin, it is now!

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Would you consider purchasing…

7310: The Knowledge of the Holy The Knowledge of the Holy

By A.W. Tozer / HarperOne

What is the nature of God? How can we recapture a real sense of God’s majesty and truly live in the Spirit. Tozer’s The Knowledge of the Holy, a modern classic of Christian testimony and devotion, addresses these and other vital questions, showing us how we can rejuvenate our prayer life, meditate more reverently, understand God more deeply, and experience God’s presence in our daily lives.
Informative and inspiring, The Knowledge of the Holyilluminates God’s attributes—from wisdom, to grace, to mercy—and shows through prayerful and insightful discussion, how we can more fully recognize and appreciate each of these divine aspects. This book will be treasured by anyone committed to the Christian faith. It bears eloquent witness to God’s majesty and shows us new ways to experience and understand the wonder and power of God’s spirit in our daily lives.

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