Hey pastors and ministry leaders, take care of yourself!!!

The demands of ministry can be draining, so you must refuel. Stress in leadership can ruin your ministry. A stressed minister does not reveal who you really are. But a joyful minister means a joyful ministry.

As my mentor Rev. Rose Gillespie always told me, we minister what we are, not just what we say.

The Sabbath principle teaches us to give six days of hard work every week, but every seventh day is to be a day of rest. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath. This means it’s to our advantage to have a Sabbath rest every week. (Ex 20:8-11)

The word “rest” means to cease or unplug from your regular labor…what you do the other six days of the week. This is so you can refresh and renew your relationship with God. Just having a “day off” is not enough. It’s about hitting the reset button on your relationship with God.

This is why being faithful to worship with your local church on Sunday is so important. Attending church services is one of our reset buttons. But for a minister, Sundays are often not a day we cease from our regular labor. Your “Sabbath” may be another day of the week.

Whenever you “rest”, realize this may mean “fasting” your cell phone, lap top, and social media. Yep, My wife reminds me of this one. 

This may include starting a new book, visiting a friend (not in your ministry), taking a nice ride on a motorcycle (a personal favorite), finishing a household project, a hobby, or sitting in your backyard listening to the wind blow through the trees. Just you and Jesus hanging out, and saying no to the impulse to plunge back into ministry responsibilities. (I am doing better at this, but it does take practice.)

And it may mean getting a little more, well, rest. Sleep in, take a nap. Some people really need to catch up on sleep. A recent study I read said that people who get 8 hours daily live longer than those who only get 6 or 7. Hmmm.

But take time for just you and God, to worship Him sincerely, to wonder at His Word, and to contemplate your place in the cosmos.

I get fresh perspective every time I do this, and I didn’t have to take a vacation to Hawaii (although that would be nice too). What I am saying is that renewal is within everyone’s reach. It just takes doing what Mary did – chosing that which is to your advantage. (Lk 10:38-42 AMP)

You work hard in the ministry serving others. Don’t let it burn you out. Jesus had his disciples come apart before they came apart, and so should you. Remember that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. (Matt 11:28-30)

The law of diminishing returns catches up to every one of us when we don’t take time for ourselves. It’s not a selfish thing to do. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most sincerely loving things you can give your church or ministry… a refreshed you.

So stop beating yourself up every time you think about doing this. It may be God talking to you.

Give your brain a break. Give your emotions a break. Give your body a break. Take care of yourself as God intends. Remember that a dull ax requires more work. (Ecc 10:10) Keep your edge by taking care of yourself. You will like yourself more, and so will others.

All for Jesus, George W Black

ONE THING IS NEEDED

Opening Scripture:

Lk 10:38-42 NKJV “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

 

1. If you are a leader you must be led. If you are a feeder, you must be fed.

Pastors, ministers, worship leaders, and all church/ministry leaders exert an enormous amount of mental and emotional energy leading and feeding others. Take time to refuel every day through personal devotions just for you. This is different from preparing to minister to or lead others. We need “me time” that nourishes and strengthens us personally. Jesus told Martha that “one thing is needful.”

“The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” Luke 10:41-42 Message Translation

The Amplified translation says “Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage]…”

 We make this choice every day…to be a Mary who chooses what is needful and to our advantage, or a Martha who neglects what is needful.

 

2. It’s not about chosing between “sitting” like Mary, or “serving” like Martha. God needs us to do both.

But all serving must be preceeded by sitting. We must get our direction from God by waiting on Him, before we try to serve Him.

Don’t get caught up in the work of the Lord before you get caught up in the Lord of the work.

God doesn’t need us to work for Him. He wants us to partner with Him by hearing His heart and getting in the “yoke” of divine fellowship. When we do, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

When we are stressed, overwhelmed, drained, running on fumes, and generally miserable, we need to make better choices, and it begins with putting Jesus first in our life before anything else.

Matt 6:31-34 NLT “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

 

3. Remember that Christianity is about a relationship with God, not trying harder on our own.

Jesus is the secret to EVERYTHING! We can’t live a Spirit-filled life without spending personal time with God. He is our life, and the One who empowers us to be overcomers.

Song of Solomon 2:10-13 NLT

“My lover said to me,
“Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!
¹¹ Look, the winter is past,
and the rains are over and gone.
¹² The flowers are springing up,
the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
¹³ The fig trees are forming young fruit,
and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, my fair one!”

 

4. Make a quality decision to seek Him first in His Word and prayer today, and everyday, and watch God fill your spiritual tank and restore your life to one of joy and victory.

Choosing that which is to your advantage is the answer.

Matt 11:28-30 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Martha or Mary…God loves them both, but which will we be today? Which will I be today? It’s not too late to start again. Let’s choose to be both a Mary and a Martha, but in the right order, with the right priorities, and God will bless us and help us to glorify Him with our lives, which is what we are created for. God bless.

GWB

ARE YOU READY FOR JESUS 2ND COMING?

Opening Scripture:

1 Thess 4:15-17 NIV  “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

 

1. God’s Relaunch Plan for your life includes getting you ready for the second coming of Christ when God takes His obedient children home, and finishes His work on earth.

 

2. The 2^nd Coming of Jesus Christ has two parts:

• the secret coming (rapture) when Jesus returns for His church,

• and the public coming when He returns with His church to defeat the antichrist, overthrow evil, and establish His millennial reign.

A. The secret second coming is not to the surface of the earth, but only in the air.

1 Thess 5:2 NKJV “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

1 Thess 4:17 NIV “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”

“Air” – “Aer” Greek ἀήρ – air, atmosphere

This first coming is often called the “rapture” of the church, a term in English that describes the Greek word used for this event called “harpazo”.

“Caught Up” – “harpazō” Greek ἁρπάζω – to snatch away, take away by force, to catch, steal, carry off, to convey away suddenly, transport hastily.

The “harpazo” is the pre-wrath coming of Christ to take His church home to safety before the coming of the Great Tribulation, which is God’s judgement on the earth for its evil and wickedness. Like the Ark was for Noah’s protection, so the “harpazo” (rapture) will be for the Church.

1 Thess 5:9-10 NIV “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.”

B. The public second coming is to the surface of the earth to set up His Millennial Kingdom. Jesus will rule and reign on earth for a thousand years. Rev 19:11-16

 

3. Our Prophetic Future: Labor pangs / Rapture / 7 Seals / 7 Trumpets / 7 Bowls / 2^nd Coming / Millennial Reign / Great White Throne Judgment / New Heaven & Earth

The world today is in the “labor pains” stage of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The future is being born just as surely as a mother with child.

1 Thess 5:3 NKJV “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.”

 

4. How can we know we are ready for the “harpazo” (rapture) of the Second Coming of Christ, and will not be LEFT BEHIND?

Matt 25:1-13 NIV  “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 

⁵ The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ ⁷ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹ “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ ¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ ¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

A. Am I a virgin? Have I been cleansed in the blood of Jesus and all my sins washed away, leaving me justified – just as if I never sinned.

“the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom”

B. Do I have oil in the lamp of my life? Have I been filled with the Holy Spirit, and am I staying filled (extra oil).

“Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴ The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”

C. Even if Jesus never comes during my lifetime, am I living my life in anticipation of His coming?

“The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.⁶ “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’”

Heb 9:28b “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

 D. Am I keeping watch for His second coming and telling others about Him?

 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ ¹² “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ ¹³ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Amp  “Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.”

GWB