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Pastor, Are You Praising God?

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The Golden Ears mountain from Langley, BC.Image via Wikipedia

It is easy to praise God when things are going well. Most pastors know this all too well. It is when the trials come that we should praise God the most, but we usually complain and sulk instead. Whether on the top of a huge mountain precipice or by the side of a lowly creek on a deep canyon floor, you can praise God!

(Psalms 22:3) “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”  (KJV)

It Is A Learning Process 

In those early days after I was saved, I began to hear other saints of God speak about praising God for this and that. Mostly, the comments were made in the men’s prayer room. Boy, that room shaped my early years! Those men knew how to pray and call on God! Sends chills up my spine just thinking about it! At any rate, this made a huge impression on me as a young convert.

I just celebrated my 19th spiritual birthday last month in February. In these 19 years I have learned how to do some bad things, but also some good things. One of which is how to praise God! I do not pass all the tests and trials that come my way, but more and more I am able to see new things about praising God that I have not seen before in my life. Each time this happens to me, I see how my spiritual life seems to grow.

It Is An Experiential Issue, Not An Intellectual Admittance 

It is one thing to know something in your head, but quite another to experience it first hand. Most Christians grasp the concept of praising God mentally, but few experience it’s power and warmth. I knew, for many years, what praise was about, but never really enjoyed it. Thank the Lord for His tenderness in teaching me how blissful it can be!

That sounds weird coming from a preacher, but it is true. Let me explain… A few years ago, God allowed me to enter into my prayer time and begin to praise God through my trials! Since that season in my life I have been able to better understand what is means for God to inhabit the praise of His children. Again, it is one thing to know something mentally, but totally different when you experience it!

Beware Of The Counterfeit

In these years since I have been saved, I have not only begun to learn about praising God in the correct way, but I have also seen some heretical drama go on in public worship services. Yes, I feel when the Holy Ghost is leading someone to shout “Amen”, “Glory” or some other word of praise that they should be obedient. However, I also believe that some of this is mere emotion. My preacher says that an empty wagon makes the most noise! I say, “AMEN!”

Praising God should not be confined to the interior of a church building. If that is the only place we praise God, then we have missed something. Most of my praising experiences come from my prayer time. Worshipful prayer produces and is inseparable from praising God! Oh, how sweet it can be in the darkest hours of your life.

Conclusion

It suffices to say that every pastor and spiritual leader should further their personal worship time with praise. Adoring God and thanking Him for specifics in your life and ministry will take a sour morning and make it a splendid experience. Maybe what your ministry is missing is not more talent, money and some new program. It might be that you, individually, need to spend more time before the throne of grace praising God for who He is!

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Would you consider purchasing…

60157: The Pursuit of God The Pursuit of GodBy A.W. Tozer / Wingspread Publishers

In the muddle of day-to-day life, have you somehow forgotten that Christianity is a living, vibrant relationship with a personal God? In this classic bestseller and recipient of both the ECPA Gold and Platinum Book Awards, The Pursuit of God reminds and challenges you to renew your relationship with your loving God. In each of the 10 chapters, Tozer explains one aspect of hungering for God and ends with a prayer.
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How A Pastor Can Be A Better Administrator

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A church must be operated “decently and in order” (I Corinthians 14:40). If this is to happen, then there must be administration. Church administration is that of managing the affairs of the church by working with and through people to get the work done. It is not a “one man show“! Indeed, it is a team effort, but there must be ONE leader in charge. Of course, this ONE leader in charge is the pastor.


We derive this responsibility from the Bible term, “BISHOP“. This word means overseer, and refers to a pastor’s practical, God given responsibility. The pastor operates and leads his congregation from this standpoint. If the pastor does not assume this role, then someone else will. One way we can understand the idea behind the word “BISHOP“, is that of a term we use a lot today… “ADMINISTRATOR”.

Listed below are 6 helpful suggestions to help a pastor become a better administrator. I am sure that everyone who reads this post will know these things, but it does not hurt to be reminded!

MARKS OF A GOOD ADMINISTRATOR

#1 – A Mark Of A Good Administrator Is That He Loves The People He Works With!

Love makes all the difference when making decisions and working with other people. Hostility and anger will hinder an administrator in more ways than he may realize.

#2 – A Mark Of A Good Administrator Is That He Has The Ability To Delegate Necessary Tasks!

A suggestion was made to me years ago by a great and well known preacher. He said someone told him to make a list of everything that needed to be done that day. Everything that only he could do is what he should do. If someone else could do it and was available, then let the other person do it. Of course, if there is no person to help, then train someone. (Important Reminder: laziness and the shirking of responsibility is not a reason to delegate! Exodus chapter 18 is a great passage on delegating responsibility)

#3 – A Mark Of A Good Administrator Is That He Has The Ability To Motivate People!

Inspiring people to do something is not in our power alone to do. God must burden people to do a particular task, but we can use everything within our grasp to help as well. The pastor was given to the church for many reasons. One of the purposes is the training of others. Training involves motivation!

#4 – A Mark Of A Good Administrator Is That He Is Efficient And Carefully Plans!

Impulsiveness, and spontaneity will reveal a lack of vision… at times. A good administrator will take time to count the cost and be sure to weigh all options. Consider Luke 14:28-32

#5 – A Mark Of A Good Administrator Is That He Makes Proper Use Of Time!

Time management can mean the difference in tasks accomplished, tasks done half way, or tasks left undone. An administrator must make wise use of time, talent and treasure. If he wastes time, then work will not get done. This can leave a bad testimony with the people he works with.

#6 – A Mark Of A Good Administrator Is That He Is A “GENERAL PRACTITIONER” Rather Than A “SPECIALIST”!

An administrator must know how to do many things well. This is so he can train people and have a working knowledge of how things are to be accomplished. When someone spends all their time specializing in one area, then there is the likelihood that the overall ability to lead will be hindered.

Conclusion

There is a big difference in a “preacher” and a “pastor”. Part of being a good pastor is being a great administrator. If one would endeavor to work on improving administrative skills, then I am sure it would help the functionality of the church as a whole.

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Would you consider purchasing…

6016X: Whatever Happened to Worship? Whatever Happened to Worship?

By A.W. Tozer / Wingspread Publishers

Decrying much of contemporary worship as entertainment, Tozer says, “When we are worshipping…if the love of God is in us and the Spirit of God is breathing praise within us, all the musical instruments in heaven are suddenly playing in full support.” Originally preached as sermons at Avenue Road Alliance Church in Toronto, the chapters of Whatever Happened to Worshipconvey Tozer’s attitude and thoughts on Christian worship.

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Pastor, Are You Still Wounded?

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Not too long ago, I was in a great preacher’s meeting in Union, South Carolina. Welcome Baptist Church has wonderful services every year in August for lay preachers, pastors, evangelists and missionaries. Pastor Robert Jarvis asked a particular man to come up and preach. During the message, this man of God shared a battle that his family faced in the ministry a few years ago. Little did he know, that as he was sharing his story, God gave him a statement that helped many of us. The statement which this brother shared was concerning the difference in scars and wounds.

(Job 14:1) “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”  (KJV)

Scars and wounds! You know… there is a big difference. Wounds have not healed, but scars have. Pastor, are you still licking wounds from yesteryear or have they lost their sting, healed over, leaving only a scar? WOW! What a thought!

Wounds…

Wounds are injuries experienced which are still bleeding and/or tender. They still have to be nurtured and salve must be applied to the bandage. Great care must be exercised as you or someone qualified sets the broken bones, cauterizes the infection and sterilizes the wound. Wounds hurt, sting, bring great discomfort and usually affect those around you.

The word “wound” can be used to describe what happens to us as Christians sometimes. Every pastor is a target of Satan. His fiery darts are allowed to fly their way, at times, for reasons usually known only by God. Church splits, slander, verbal attacks against family, lies, dissension, the proverbial “knife in the back”, and open division are just a few of the wounds a pastor and his family can face. Believe it or not, this is hard not to take personal.

Scars…

Scars are injuries that have ceased to be wounds. They have healed over. Though there is visible evidence that an injury has taken place, there is no hurting when touched. It takes time to for this to happen. We should remind ourselves from this time to time!

One important thing that scars do for us, is that they remind us of God’s provision. Yes, we cannot overlook this fact. When we look at the scars, so to speak, in our life, we can see where, perhaps, we made mistakes, but we also see the grace of God in it all! It is visible proof that God takes care of His own! Others can see this tangible evidence in your life and find it a great resource for them.

Moving Forward…

I have mentioned all of the above to get at this question: “Pastor are you still wounded?” Sometimes we think we are over stuff. However, if we haven’t and we say we have, then we are making things worse. Bitterness will infect your personality and paralyze your ministry. Your speech and actions towards people will be tainted with poison. You may not even see it, but it will be seen by others.

We have to move on. Striving for this in the energy of the flesh is just as bad as perpetually licking wounds. A serious involvement in prayer and Bible principle is the only cure along with God’s grace as time distances you from the injury!

Bottom Line…

Here is the bottom line… Pastor, if it still stings, then you don’t have a scar! If there is no scar, then you still have a wound. If you still have a wound, then you had better see to it that it doesn’t get infected any further and cause you, as well as, others more heartache! Consider this great verse…

(Ephesians 4:32) “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  (KJV)

Alert…

If you or someone you know has a wound, then seek out the Great Physician for his healing balm.

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