Bulletin. We do have a new Bible memory chapter starting this week. So yesterday was the deadline
for quoting Genesis chapter number one. Make sure that if you did get that by the deadline that you
did reach out to pastor and let him know sweater size, jacket size, but I think the deadline for
that was yesterday. To quote it, it was for sure. If you haven't told them, but you did do it,
now is the time. So our new Bible memory passage is there on the first Second Timothy chapter number
one. Open, look at the top left side. Of course, we have our service and soul winning times.
We will be going soul winning at two o'clock today, and I'm pretty sure it's Super Bowl Sunday,
unless I'm wrong. So I'm not expecting just resounding receptivity, but we're going anyway.
That's more important than their stupid football game. I'm going to knock their door. And just,
if you go as someone who has been on Super Bowl Sunday many years in a row, don't expect them to
be very nice to you. But I'm going to go anyway, and we should go anyway. More important. So soul
winning times are there. Come here at two o'clock for soul winning. Of course, our church stats down
there. February, we've got 22 salvations so far. So really off to a great start. So keep it up.
Coming events underneath that. Of course, we have Brother Fur here and his family with us today.
So definitely make the time if you haven't to thank him for coming up. He just got back from
a trip to the Philippines. So as if he has nothing else to do like rest and relax, he's just stacking
it on. So he's here to help us, to just be a blessing to us. Definitely reach out to him
and his family. Thank them. Let them know that you really appreciate them. Of course, our pastor,
Pastor Wallace, is down at Springcrest in Houston, Texas today. It's just actually north of Houston.
I don't know the specific town that Springcrest is in, but it doesn't really matter. It's a giant
metro. So he's there preaching for Pastor Reyes, having a good time there this weekend. So just
also keep him in your prayers that he has safe travels on the way back at this point. Coming up
next for soul winning, or excuse me, before I get too far ahead, February 13th on our upcoming events
is the Sweet Hearts Banquet, 6pm. And that's for married couples. If there is a sign up sheet at
the back, I sent the final sign up sheet tally to Pastor this morning. So if you just forgot
and you need to get on there, please let me know and fill it out during the service or whatever,
so that I can let him know. Because the official number has been sent to him as of this morning.
Think everybody's on there that wants to be? But if you haven't made it and you want to be,
sign up. Let me know so that we can let Pastor know and then get that number for you. March,
excuse me, chapter seven. March the 7th, we have our next Soul Winning Marathon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
I believe that's going to be another like noon to four Soul Winning. We've had really good luck
doing those, so more details to come with that. And March 8th, the day after, will be our next
men's preaching night and potluck. On the right hand side, we have a visitor card. If you're a
visitor, we'd love for you to scan that and fill it out. Giving there, if you'd like to give online,
or of course you can do that during the offering. And our prayer list, which we go over in detail
on the midweek service. Outside of that, you have a place for notes on the back. I believe there's
no other announcements. With that, we'll go to our third hymn. So our third hymn this morning will be
number 208, "Grace Greater Than Our Sin." Hymn number 208-208, "Grace Greater Than Our Sin."
208. They're on the first. Good singing this morning. The offering plates are being passed.
Turn if you would to first, Thessalonians chapter five. Thessalonians chapter. Thessalonians chapter
five. "Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves
know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say
peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as surveil upon a woman with child,
and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day. We are not of the
night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. For
they that sleep, sleep in the night. They that be drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us,
who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love. And for in helmet,
hope of salvation, for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore
comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you,
brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak,
be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that
which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing,
and everything give thanks, for this is the will of God and Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the spirit, despise not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast that which is good,
abstain from all appearance of evil, and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly. I pray God,
your whole spirit and your soul and body be preserved blameless under the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us,
greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord, that is, that this epistle be
read unto all the holy brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Pray.
Lord, thankful to be gathered in your house. Thankful, Lord, to have your word and to hear
the preaching of it. Pray that you help us to set aside the cares, whatever super bowl or anything
is going on, and focus on the preaching of your word. The angel is fair with the spirit.
Pray in Jesus' name, Amen. Amen. Well, it's great to be here, to be back in the promised land,
and of course this church has a really soft spot in my heart. You know, I love this church,
and I'm not talking about the building either, right? I'm talking about the people here.
It's a great church to be a part of. Thankful for Pastor Oz and giving me the opportunity
to come preach for you guys today while he is out. And I want to get right into the sermon. So
look down at your Bible in verse number 12. The Bible says, "And we beseech you, brethren,
to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and to be at peace among yourselves."
And the title of my sermon this morning is, "How to Love Your Pastor." How to love your pastor. You
know, there's something that I've really noticed in this world, especially even amongst Christians,
believe it or not, where so many people just seem to trash the pastor. They seem to just
not have any respect, not to give them the respect that's due for the office that they hold.
They treat their pastor like garbage. And you know, it really irritates me. It bothers me.
And you know, it's a sermon that needs to be preached to where, you know, we as Christians,
we know how we ought to behave ourselves in the house of God, how we ought to treat the man of God
that sacrifices his life to serve us, to preach sermons, to guide and direct us in our life.
And I think this is a needful sermon for America today because so many people today just lack the
amount of respect that is due to the pastor. And I want to teach you this morning what the Bible
has to say about how to love your pastor, how to love your pastor. And notice here in this verse
that we read that the Bible says hey we are to know those that labor among us. We're to
recognize hey these are people that are sacrificing for us. These are people that are
working hard diligently so that way we can receive something spiritual every single week. Three times
a week we have that opportunity to receive from God's word and they're you know pastors they spend
a lot of time developing sermons and writing sermons but you know I like to think of it as a
wife who spends her time in the kitchen and she's preparing a four course meal right she's got all
the fixings she's spent all this time and just serves it up for you to just devour right something
that you can just partake in and and it's and it's delicious and that's kind of the the work
that a pastor is doing in a sense spiritually is he's preparing this four course meal this great
meal for you to consume spiritually for your life that way you can take it home with you you can
apply the truths and you could be a better person you could be a better Christian and as Christians
that are serving in a church we have to know those that labor among us that are over us in the Lord
notice what the Bible says in verse 13 it says and to esteem them very highly now I like the adjectives
that the Bible is is giving us here because it helps us to understand the importance of this role
that this person the pastor they're spending this time sacrificing their life and as a Christian
you ought to esteem them very highly in love and the Bible is telling us that we ought to love our
pastor we ought to have a high amount of respect for our pastor you know that starts off by giving
him that uh title the pastor right when you're talking to pastor Oz you don't call him Dylan
you don't say Oz you know so many Christians especially online I feel like people online they
just have this this uh because they they don't actually see anybody in face to face that they
think that they can just talk about somebody any way that they want right then that's just in general
right people say a lot of things online that they would never say to somebody's face but then you
know even beyond that when they're talking about a pastor instead of giving them the reverence
they'll just say hey Anderson or Shelley or Oz right you know that's wicked as a Christian you
ought to give a pastor his respect and call him by his title which is pastor Oz right that's the
appropriate way to address your pastor in uh with respect the bible says we ought to esteem them
very highly in love for their work's sake just the fact that they hold the office and they're doing
the work listen you ought to be thankful for having a pastor in this church that leading you
and guiding you and as a result you're going to show that pastor respect and and i've got several
different points for you but before we go there let's let's turn over to hold your place here
we're going to come back but go to Ephesians chapter number four just turn over a few pages
to the left go to Ephesians chapter number four Ephesians chapter number four verse number eight
notice god he calls the pastor a gift this church has a gift in pastor aus that's what the bible
says right that's what the bible teaches notice here verse eight it says wherefore he saith when
he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men now notice the next two
verses they're in parentheses so there's an important doctrine here in the fact that
jesus christ went to hell to suffer for our sins and then rose again but you could kind of skip
those verses to finish this thought that paul's having here in verse number uh skip down to verse
11 so he gave god gave gifts to uh to men what is those gifts notice in verse 11 it says and he
gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors so the pastor
is a gift to a church and and as being a gift just like you should be thankful for salvation
and serving god and and dedicating your life to serving god hey you should so show a similar
amount of gratitude and thankfulness for the gift of a pastor right and being serving alongside
that pastor and and uh uh being uh a blessing to that pastor and his family go back to first
thessalonians chapter number five i've got eight points for you this morning you know i've i've
been in uh steadfast baptist church in texas you know the last almost um i guess it's about a year
and a half and you know the spirit of pastor shelly you know i prayed for that spirit to come upon me
so this might be a long sermon so if you you know you you check out at about 45 minutes you know
you might be in some trouble this morning because i have no lack of bible for you okay we need to
hear a sermon on how to love our pastor notice here at the end of this verse in verse 13 it
tells us how to love our pastor right so it says we ought to esteem them very highly in love for
their work sake notice what it says and i love this verse because it just is kind of in a way
it's kind of funny because it's like hinting at how you can love your pastor and this is my first
point it says and be at peace among yourselves be at peace among yourselves one of the ways in which
you can love your pastor is just to get along with one another to be at peace with one another you
know the bible says hey we're supposed to be the peacemakers blessed are the peacemakers is what
jesus said you know and there's nothing that irritates a person in leadership more than
the those that are under him bickering and arguing with one another and listen this is this is going
to happen go to james chapter number three turn over to james chapter number three you know i
believe this is one of the reasons why the qualifications of a bishop is that he must have
children not accused of riot and unruly children plural because if you're a parent and you have
children you know that your children are going to bicker and argue and fight and have strife among
them constantly right and as a pastor you have to understand like how to deal with those things
right you know in my house this is something that happens quite often you know i've got four girls
you know one of them can't talk yet so it's really we could call them three girls and you know girls
argue girls bicker and fight amongst each other they fight over dresses they fight over diaries
they fight over journals they fight over pens and pencils i mean everything you can imagine
they're constantly bickering and fighting with one another you know as a father what is my job
my job is to correct them my job is to straighten things out you know and i have to sit them down
like a judge and hear both sides and guess what most of the time they're both guilty
they end up getting their punishment and you know what i make them do i make them give each other
a hug i make them each other give them each other a kiss and in the smile when they do it
why because i'm trying to teach them to be peacemakers to be at peace amongst themselves
and as a pastor you have to have children so you can understand how to oversee the house of god
because inevitably church members are going to have strife amongst one another now it ought not
be so you know the bible says and commands us to be at peace amongst one another right notice what
the bible says in james chapter 3 james chapter 3 in verse number 16 it says for where envy and
strife is there is confusion and every evil work you know nothing comes from striving amongst one
another paul in current in the first corinthians he says are you not carnal why because there's
all kinds of striving and debating amongst themselves right so it's not a mature christian
is not going to be engaging in strife and arguing and and uh debating once amongst uh church members
right somebody uh that is going to be a good church member that's going to have peace in their
life notice it gives us a list of the attributes of this person in verse 17 it says but the wisdom
that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle easy to be entreated you know where that
phrase easy to be entreated what it means is like people can come up to you and they can talk to you
right they can discuss an issue with you and you're not just so stiff-necked hard-headed that you
can't even have a conversation with somebody right easy to be treated you know and it'll so help you
out in your marriage in your marriage you should be easy to be entreated by your spouse your spouse
should be able to come to you and and discuss things issues within the marriage so that way you can
work those things out you should be easy to be entreated full of mercy you know this is something
that i see christians lacking you know god saved them and forgave them of all their sins but yet
they can't forgive just one small quarrel they can't get over just one strife that's happening
in their life as christians we should be full of mercy and good fruits without partiality so it's
not just that you're resolving strife and and envy between your friends it's between you and your
enemy between you and the person that you're maybe not the best friends with without hypocrisy you
don't go around telling everybody you don't you shouldn't have strife but then you're just
constantly striving with people right verse 18 and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
of them that make peace right so one way that you can love your pastor is to be at peace among
yourselves and you know that's on you guys right that's a decision you guys have to make every
single time an issue comes up because the reality is we're human right there are going to be times
where you're going to have disagreements there are going to be times where there's going to be
strife but you know what you should do as a christian is you should be the person that's
easy to be entreated that's full of mercy without partiality and going and resolving that issue
right that's going to help your pastor out you know there's many times i wish my daughters or
i wish my son and my because my son's not innocent either i didn't call him out but you know he's
just as guilty as the girls are you know but i wish that uh you know my kids they would just
resolve issues amongst themselves it would save me a lot of headache i got a lot of things going
on in my life right the last thing i want to deal with is those types of things but you know what
as a father i'll deal with them you know what as a pastor pastor aus he's going to deal with those
issues he's not going to let them just go unchecked and so you should just resolve those things ahead
of time and that's going to help him with you know the the burden the load that he is carrying
go to titus chapter number two titus chapter number two the second point that i have for you
is to receive correction if you want to know how to love your pastor be at peace among yourselves
the second point is to receive correction and again this is something that most people today
just lack the character to receive correction they cannot be told that they're wrong and i see this
a lot in in just the secular world uh working at a job most people just cannot even receive just
simple correction being told that they did something wrong being told that you know that
was a mistake people fly off the handle they can't receive correction and you know as christians we
should be separate from this world we should stand out and when our boss corrects us when our pastor
corrects us when your husband corrects you hey you should have the character to receive that
correction tidus chapter number two look at verse 15 the bible says these things speak and exhort
and rebuke with all authority let no man despise thee you know this is a commandment to the pastor
you know often the the book of titus is referred to as a pastoral epistle so it's written paul's
writing this pistol to titus giving him a charge for these churches and you know one thing that he's
establishing here is that he has to as a pastor he has to preach the word of god and rebuke sin
right call out sin and do it with all the authority that has been given unto him by god
right the pastor has all authority by the word of god to call out every single sin in this book
to show you his your sins right that is the job of the pastor but notice what the bible says the
commandment to the pastor is that he's not to allow any man to despise thee now you can flip
this around and understand that what this means is that people are going to despise the pastor
because he's rebuking with all authority you know and as a christian as a church member you know
the last thing you want to do is despise your pastor for preaching the word of god you know
the pastor didn't write this book these are the book of the words of jesus christ right he's just
the messenger he's the preacher he's the prophet and so don't get mad at the preacher don't get
mad at the pastor for showing you your sins hey get mad at yourself hey go to god and tell god
the things that you've done ask for forgiveness quit getting mad at yourself or quit getting mad
at the pastor get mad at yourself you know get things right don't despise the pastor don't
criticize the pastor you know you hear this a lot and i've heard this many times you know especially
uh when it comes to pastor shelly and his preaching right you know a lot of people say well
you know i agree with what he said but i just didn't like the way he said it you know he could
have just been a lot nicer he didn't have to use those that that language he didn't have to say it
so harshly it's like yes he did he's getting your attention right he's trying to make sin
exceedingly sinful that's the point that's the the job of the pastor don't despise and criticize
the pastor definitely don't criticize the pastor to your spouse to your family you know i know this
happens is where you know people will hear a message that they didn't like and then what will
they do they'll run their mouth to their closest friend their closest confidant their spouse their
family you know if you're constantly criticizing the pastor as a husband you better expect for your
family to criticize you because what are you doing you're setting the tone you're setting the
example for your family so then what your kids see they're going to do they see you criticizing
the authority in your life they're going to criticize the authority in their life you should
be very careful when it comes to criticism of the pastor you know and many times it's not even
worth it you know these things aren't even true it's just something that you know they get bitter
about they don't like what he said or how he said it they don't like the word of god and so as a
result they end up criticizing the pastor uh you know talking crap about the pastor behind his bag
hey don't be like that be a christian that receives correction somebody who's willing to change you
should walk through these doors every single service being ready to hear from god's word and
to revenge all sin in your life right to take revenge against it to make changes in your life
so that way you're conformed into the image of christ that's the whole point of the christian
life go to hebrews chapter number 13 hebrews chapter number 13 hebrews chapter number 13
look at verse number 17 hebrews 13 17 obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves
for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not
with grief for that is unprofitable for you notice the bible says that you're to obey them that have
the rule over you you're to obey the authority and last time i checked the pastor has this sole
authority over the over the church right he answers to christ he answers to god but you know what he
has all authority in this church and as having all authority whatever he says goes whether you like
it or not hey and here let me help you out submitting to somebody is doing something you
don't want to do but doing it anyways that's what submission means you know as a wife you're to
submit to your husband in all things is what the bible says does that mean you're going to like
everything that he asks you to do probably not but you're supposed to do it anyways because that's
what being submissive means and and the same goes for within the church it pastor aus lays down the
law he makes a rule he does anything that's pertaining to this church hey you ought to obey
whatever he says submit yourselves to him if you want to show your pastor how you love him you'll
submit you'll listen to whatever he asks you to do and you'll do it joyfully with a good spirit
right not just one begrudgingly and you say well that's not fair i don't like that well you know
what the pastor is the one that has to give the account for his for his job how how good of a job
he did you know he's gonna have to stand before christ and answer for every choice that he made
every day you know you don't have that kind of responsibility right he does and so you know what
just submit to him do what he asks and and have a good attitude about it we should have a good
attitude about receiving correction you know if we've done something wrong hey just get in line
do the right thing have the right attitude about it you know i like this attitude go to psalm 141
go to psalm 141 we get an example of what a good attitude to authority looks like you know if you
want to love your pastor if you want to show that you love your pastor not just in word hey you're
going to have a good attitude when you're being told to do something that maybe you don't necessarily
want to do or you don't agree with you should submit if you're being corrected about something
in the word of god hey don't despise the pastor just get it right notice what the bible says
in psalm 141 and verse 5 the bible says let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness
and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head for yet my
prayer also shall be in their calamities notice that the bible is saying that a righteous person
somebody who's right with god they can be uh told that they're and obviously when it says let the
righteous smite him it's not talking about literally smiting him right i believe what it's
talking about here is that you know the the preaching of the god's word can kind of feel
like you're getting beat up sometimes right but hey if it's a righteous man it's the man of god
that's getting up and preaching the word of god the the right attitude is to recognize that that
person's actually loving me that person's showing me kindness by teaching me all the things that
i'm doing wrong and i believe that's what the bible is trying to say here when it says let the
righteous smite me it shall be a kindness let them reprove me it shall be an excellent oil you know
That's the attitude the spirit that you should have as a church member is when your pastor gets up
And he preaches on something that you don't like or that that is a sin that you're directly involved in
Instead of getting bitter get better right recognize that it's because he loves you
It's because he's trying to help you and and it's kindness that he's showing you by getting up and preaching
The Word of God, you know, there are plenty of churches today
They'll just tell you everything you want to hear right?
You just go down to live church live church will tell you everything you want to hear
They'll make you feel real nice and fuzzy inside, but you know what? It'll do nothing for you, right?
It won't help you in this life. It won't teach you anything. It won't make you a better person
You'll be soft weak and you'll think you're that you're the bee's knees
You'll think you're the best thing since sliced bread, but you aren't listen. None of us are we all need to be reproved
We all need to be rebuked from the Word of God
So don't despise the man of God for preaching God's Word go to Hebrews chapter number 13
Hebrews chapter number 13 Hebrews chapter number 13 the third point that I have for you this morning is
Remember that the pastor and his family live in a glass house
They live in the glass house and I'll explain what I mean by this Hebrews chapter number 13
Look at verse number 7 the Bible says remember them
Which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God whose faith follow?
Considering the end of their conversation, you know, the Bible teaches this concept that we are to follow the man of God
We are to follow after you know, the pastors he follows Christ, right? That's the commandment. That's the teaching
But as a result whether you like it or not what that really means is that you are looking at every single thing
your pastor says and does every single thing his family his children say and do and
You're following after that, you know, and that's a good thing
So don't get me wrong about what I'm saying because you should follow your pastor, right?
You should follow his example
but what you have to understand is that also means is that you're you're looking and and and
Identifying and judging every single thing that they do, you know
And that's something that you should just recognize in your in your mind is that is a lot of pressure
That is a lot of of a burden that gets placed on a pastor and his family, right?
The fact that they everybody's looking to them as an example and rightfully so they should be the example
But I think what ends up happening is people then put on these
Unrealistic expectations upon the pastor and his family that have nothing to do with what the Word of God says, right?
They end up putting these unrealistic expectations upon them
Expecting them to be and act and do a certain thing and when they don't do it, they get disgruntled
They have a bad attitude and none of you go through life with everybody
Just analyzing every little thing you say and do and for that fact alone
You should have a high amount of respect and love for your pastor because many of you many of us we will not
Experience that level of pressure that level of a burden that has to be carried
You know and somebody has to do and praise God for pastors men that are willing to do that
You know and because of that fact we should recognize that and we should then
Have a lot of grace and mercy for a pastor and their family, right?
Not criticize them for every little thing that they do and obviously we want to follow them. That's a good thing
I don't want you to take away from what I'm saying here as something that that that's negative
But I want you to recognize that listen, there is an extreme amount of pressure for a pastor and his family
And so because of the fact that they live in a glass house
You know, you should give them more respect. You should strive even harder to show them even more love and
Care for the work that they're doing go to James chapter number one. Let's flip over a couple pages
I'm sorry, James chapter 3 verse 1 James chapter 3 verse 1 notice what the Bible says
my brethren be not many masters knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation and again
I'm just trying to emphasize this this point is that there is an extreme amount of responsibility that a pastor takes on just by
Taking on that office, right? He has an extreme amount of
you know criticism an extreme amount of
you know people just
Analyzing every single thing that goes on in his life and you should not be so hard on the pastor
That he can't be a human as well, right?
And I think this is what ends up happening is is Christians
they just they put these unrealistic expectations upon a pastor and
Expect him and his family not to be human not to be you know, just normal people just like us, right?
Obviously they have that office and you know, the pastor has that office his family
You know, they deserve that amount of respect and love but you know, I think that he's a human too, right? He has to
Bear that burden and that responsibility and so as a result of that
Hey, you should show him a lot of grace a lot of mercy and be thankful extremely thankful
You should thank God every day that you have a pastor that's willing to do that for you guys
That's willing to live in a glass house because that's not easy
All right, go to first Timothy chapter number five first Timothy chapter number five first Timothy chapter number five
Verse 19 the Bible says against an elder receive not an accusation
But before two or three witnesses the fourth point this morning is to always give your pastor the benefit of the doubt
You know you you see this a lot too where just church members are just willing to just throw their pastor under the bus
Just because some online troll, you know made up some accusation against that pastor
It's like what in the world what world are you living in where you just believe?
Believe the Bible says the simple believe with every word but the prudent man looketh well to his goings, right?
So the the Bible is teaching that a fool a simple person just believes everything that somebody tells them
You should always give your pastor the benefit of the doubt
Notice the Bible says that against an elder which is talking about a pastor here in context against an elder
Receive not an accusation. You're not even supposed to receive it
If you hear somebody say something, you know what you should do
You should your countenance should change you should be pissed off and you should tell them. Hey, shut your mouth
I don't want to hear it. I'm not gonna receive an accusation against my pastor
The Bible goes on it says but before two or three witnesses. He said oh, well, I got two or three witnesses
So it must be true wrong. Listen, there's a such thing called a false witness, you know people lie
I know this is a shocker people lie, you know
And and the reality is is the attitude you should have is that no matter what you should always give your pastor the benefit
Of the doubt even if there are more than two witnesses, even if there's three witnesses
I'm gonna give my pastor the benefit of the doubt
Why because I recognize that people can lie people can make up false accusations against him
And you know, that's what the Bible actually teaches
Is that a good pastor is gonna be hated of this world turn your Bible to turn to Luke chapter number six
Turn to Luke chapter number six, you know, if you have a good pastor newsflash this world is not going to like him
I mean, there's some evidence right back there on the wall. The state of Oklahoma is not gonna love pastor Oz
They're gonna be people who bring up all kinds of railing accusations against him
And as a church member if you want to love your pastor always give him the benefit of the doubt
No, don't just be so quick to receive false accusations or you know accusations at all, right?
Because the reality is that you know for me personally, this is my this is my personal opinion
This is how I handle myself is unless I have some like clear evidence or it's it's communicated to me
Personally by that person by the pastor that they are guilty that they did something wrong
Then I'm not gonna receive it. I want nothing to do with it. I'm gonna assume my pastor's innocent
You want to know why because he's a pastor. He's a man of God
You know somebody who is laboring in the word
It doesn't mean that he can't fail doesn't mean that he won't mess up
But you know what?
I'm just gonna give my pastor the benefit of the doubt until I actually have some hard evidence of something contrary
Right, unless he comes out and puts a Facebook statement out saying he did some moral sin, you know
Then I might be a little bit, you know, then I won't give them the benefit of the doubt any longer
I'll believe them and that's the attitude you should have is that people are gonna attack your pastor on a consistent basis
They're gonna be all kinds of wild accusations all kinds of crazy things said
And you know what just give your pastor the benefit of the doubt notice in Luke 6 verse 26
The Bible says woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets, right?
So of course, you know
The false prophets of the world like the Joel Osteen's the Kenneth Copeland's which Kenneth Copeland's losing a lot of steam online
I don't know if you know a lot of people are making fun of Kenneth Copeland
But you know, there are plenty of pastors today that are praised of men
They get called to do the presidential prayer breakfast, right? They're they're getting invited to all these
World events and you know what that is a fake pastor. That is a false prophet mark it down
Why because what's the Bible say? I'm gonna believe the Bible
It says when all men speak well of you
What went to them right because their fathers spoke the same thing to the false prophets of their day
You know the Joel Osteen's of this world false prophet. Everybody speaks well of him. Everybody thinks he's great
You know all the the wicked men that are creating themselves around as a man of God
You know how you can tell that many times just based on how everybody's reaction is if the unsaved Muslim loves that pastor
Guess what? He's probably not a good pastor. He's probably not even saved
So always give your pastor the benefit of the doubt
People are gonna chalk trash on him people are gonna come up with wild accusations
You just stay on the right side and that's the next point is always side with the man of God
Always side with the man of God go to numbers chapter number 16
numbers chapter number 16
Number 16 we're gonna read some pretty famous stories here in the Bible in the Old Testament
This particular one is dealing with Korah Dathan and Abiram now if you're familiar with the story
Basically had these three men they come to Moses and Aaron and and they're they're saying hey aren't all God's people
You know, couldn't they all be in leadership basically, you know, we're just as good as you we could be priests
You know, of course God has to show them, you know who the real man of God is
But notice I kind of just want to focus in on a couple verses verse number 24
the Bible says speak unto the congregation saying get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah Dathan and Abiram and
Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram and the elders of the Israel followed him and he spake unto the congregation saying
Depart I pray you from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs
Lest you be consumed in their sins
So notice the commandment from Moses was that they were to depart from the wicked men and no matter where you find yourself
No matter what the controversy is always side with the man of God
Don't find yourself on the side of all the fags and the lesbians and the freaks
I mean, that's how you know you're on the wrong side when what you believe
You know the side that you're taking is the side of all the freaks of this world
You know, you're on the wrong side side with the man of God
You know and if you say and this is what I've kind of figured out is just like so many people today
They lack faith in God. They lack faith in God because they'll say oh, well, how do I know who's right and who's wrong?
Hey, have you ever heard of the fact that God will show who are his and who are on his side?
No, God will make manifest the things that are in darkness
God will bring to light those things and so if you just have faith in God that you know as a church member
You're in church following the pastor. Hey, even if some a crazy controversy happens
you should just choose that you're gonna be on the side of the man of God and
You know what if if you're wrong, God's gonna show you that just have faith that God's gonna show you that
He's gonna bring to light all the things, you know, I don't know about you guys been in the last year
There's been a lot of revealing of who's on the right side and who's on the wrong side
I mean just the level of
Confoundness that's coming from some of these
You know terrible pastors that are going against real men of God
I mean, what do you need to get slapped upside the head by God himself?
Does he need to appear in a vision to you?
I mean what more evidence do you need to realize who's on the right side who's on the wrong side?
You know when you're siding with a bunch of feminazi's who don't believe in women submitting to their husbands
Who don't believe in their children being rebuked and chastened by their parents. I mean what in the world are you thinking?
Why are you gonna side with the purple hair short hair freak of this world the lesbian?
Right the Hillary Clinton's in the pantsuits. Why are you gonna side with them side with the man of God?
Find yourself on the right side of issues and if you say hey, I don't know who's right
I don't know who's wrong default deciding on the side of the man of God go with Moses, right follow Moses
Follow the one that's serving God and and have some faith in God
You know if you're not sure about who's on the right side of the wrong side
Hey, just have faith in God pray to God that he'll reveal the truth because you know what God will always reveal the truth
He will always make manifest those things go hold your place here and numbers
We're gonna come back go to 1st Corinthians chapter number 4 go to 1st Corinthians chapter number 4
People get in their mind that they think that it's their job to expose every evil thing that's taking place in churches
And not even just churches just in the world in general
I mean if you've been on X or social media at all
It's like everybody and their mother is trying to figure out you know who was involved in Epstein files
Let me just help you out as all the extremely rich politicians in this world
It's it's the rich men of this world the Bill Gates. You know the the Clintons
I mean they got a laundry list of people they've killed you know they're involved in some wicked things
You know and I don't need to know every single detail of what went on in secret
I don't need to know those things you know here's here's the thing
I'll learn those things when God plucks me up by a lock of my hair and brings me to
To that place and I dig in a hole and then there it is right. It'll be revealed, but until that happens
I'm just not gonna go searching those things out. You know I've heard enough. I know that they're guilty
I know that there's wicked things going that there's the rulers of the darkness of this world spiritual wickedness in high places
I don't need to know every
Disgusting detail about that. You know it's not our job to expose every evil work. You know whose job. That is it's God's
It's God's job. He's gonna make reveal. He's gonna make manifest those things
He's gonna reveal those things whether it's in this life or or after we'll know notice what the Bible says in 1st
Corinthians chapter number 4 1st Corinthians chapter number 4 and verse 5 the Bible says therefore judge nothing before the time
Until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels
Of the hearts and then shall every man have praise of God
You know the Bible says that God is gonna make manifest all the things that are hidden in darkness
He's gonna bring to light those things so have faith in God
It's not your job to expose everything that's going on and listen
I kind of understand it because you know there are a lot of wicked things that go on in churches today
You know there are a lot of
Conspiracies or there are a lot of you know things that get rushed under the rug right and I get that I
Understand but at the end of the day half have faith in God right if you have any doubt
Just side with the man of God and put your faith in God that God's gonna reveal those things in his time
And he always does I mean again. I already brought up and referenced. You know Roger Jimenez
You know he wanted to rail on your pastor
I mean he's talking trash railing on your pastor
You know and if you're a simple person you would have sided with Roger Jimenez
But thankfully you guys are here this morning that means that you sided with the man of God and guess what God
Manifested those things that are done in darkness
He brought to light who the real guilty party was you know the person who's railing and bring all these
Accusations against your pastor who's doing nothing, but humbly serving God well guess what God is going to recompense those things
He's not gonna allow those things to go unchecked so just have faith in God it may not happen immediately
But listen, it'll happen, and if you haven't been convinced. I don't know what will convince you at this point
I mean there is a God in heaven folks. He's not blind
He sees everything that's going on and in his timing he will reveal those things go back to numbers go back to numbers
Hopefully held your place there. We're gonna skip ahead
You know and again God makes manifest who are on his side. You know who are on the Lord's side
he's gonna make manifest who the man of God is and we have this great story here of
Aaron's rod that budded, you know
All the tribes were supposed to bring a rod to odd and they marked their name on it
And the reason why is the controversy is who's supposed to be a priest and who's not right?
That's if you read number 16. That's what the whole controversy is
And so what does God do God shows who the man of God is notice
We're gonna skip down to verse number 10
It says and the Lord said unto Moses bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony
to keep for the token against the rebels and thou shalt quite take it away their
Their murmurings from me that they die not so, you know all the people in Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento
Guess what they received their token the token of being a rebel against the man of God who wanted to side with a
Railer well, you know, that's where it ends up getting you right?
God is gonna determine God is gonna show who the real man of God is and your job
If you want to love your pastor, hey, just side with your pastor
Take his side. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Don't listen to the haters
Don't listen to the trolls of this world turn over to a numbers chapter number 11 numbers chapter 11
So just go back a couple pages numbers chapter 11 six point a half for you this morning is serve without complaining serve your church without
Complaining notice here in verse number one Bible says and when the people complained it
Displeased the Lord and the Lord excuse me and the Lord heard it and his anger was kindled and the fire of the Lord burnt
Among them and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp
So I want you to recognize that God is displeased with complainers
God does not like people who murmur and complain
You know no matter what's going on right and it's usually the same person that murmurs and complains about the food
It's the same person that murders and complains about the facilities and murders and complains about the seat and murders and complains about the sermon and
Notice what the Bible says here that the person that was complaining they were in the uttermost parts of the camp
They weren't the closest to God
They were the furthest away from God and and what that tells me somebody who's just constantly murmuring and complaining. They're not very spiritual
They're carnal. They're not the one that's reading their Bible. They're not the one that's praying
They're not the one that has a humble spirit. They're not the one that's closest to God in the inner camp
No, they're on the uttermost parts of the camp. There are the ones that are ready to fall away
They're just looking for an excuse to leave
They're looking for some reason to get out of church and I don't think that's a coincidence here folks
Is that the people that were complaining were in the uttermost parts of the camp and there's nothing more
Grieving at least to myself. This is a huge pet peeve of myself
For me is when people complain it drives me up the wall. I cannot stand it
You know, we should not be people who are whining and complaining all your first world problems
I mean hey go to the Philippines and then come back and tell me all the problems that you have
They're nothing compared to the rest of this world, you know, and most people when they complain especially in America
It's not even a justified complaint. It's just a bunch of grab garbage crap, you know
And I can't stand complaining my kids know that when they start complaining, it's just automatic. They're in trouble automatic
I don't care what it is. Just there's a punishment because I cannot stand
Complaining as Christians we should not be a complainer and when you're complaining about all the things
You know that you don't like all you're doing is being a burden unto your pastor
You're giving them an extra load to deal with just like when you're not at peace with one another
Notice what the Bible says skip down to verse number 11 verse number 11 the Bible says and Moses said unto the Lord
Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight?
That thou lay is the burden of all this people upon me see the people there complaining that they didn't have flesh to eat
They were they were wanting to go back to Egypt. You know the land where they were being whipped beaten
Serving with rigor, you know, they had nothing they were their prayers were heard of God
Because they were just you know praying out to God that God would deliver them. God delivers them
He gives them the things that they want and then they complain
I mean it it's it never ceases to amaze me how quick people are to complain about things
Oh, I wanted pineapple on my pizza. I didn't get juice for my kid. Where's all the amenities?
You know, it's really annoying
You know
You should be thankful for all the things that God has provided you for or with you should be thankful
You know for this church that you have you know, it's this church is not obligated to feed you
I don't know if you realize that you know, but out of the goodness of your pastor's heart
I know that he you know loves fellowships and he's taking you guys out. He's doing great things for you
You know pastor Shelley's the same way very generous always wanting to pay for people's meals
And to make sure that they have the best accommodations and you know what they'll still complain
That isn't the type of food that I liked or my bed was hard or you know hey
Don't have this attitude to just always complaining about things be that you know when you change your mindset
I'm gonna talk about this this evening
If you just start to change your mindset to be a thankful person and to thank God all the time for all the things that
You have you know it'll just inevitably cause you not to be a complainer because instead of dwelling on the things that you don't like
Or you don't have you'll start dwelling on the things that you do have and that you do like that you're thankful for right?
and so it's a it's a mindset problem and
And anybody who's complaining what that tells me is they're just not thankful and when you complain all you're doing is you're causing more
Burden upon your pastor you're causing him more grief more affliction notice what the Bible says
He says there in verse 11 and Moses said unto the Lord wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant so when you complain
It's an affliction unto your pastor unto the leader. It's afflicting his soul
It's grieving don't be a complainer be happy with the things that you have have gratitude in your heart
You know if if you feel like there's something isn't going the way you like or it's not cooked the way you like
It's not the type of food you like you know the seat doesn't isn't comfortable just shut your mouth
Just keep your mouth shut tell Jesus tell it to the Lord right
But don't don't open your mouth and complain to everybody else nobody wants to hear it
It's an affliction unto the leadership go to James chapter number two James chapter number two James chapter number two
The point that I have for you this morning is do what you say you're going to do do what you say
You're going to do you know and I would imagine I know this church
I know many of you in here and and the great thing about this church is everybody has an attitude to help and to serve
But here's the thing I've noticed is that and I'm not picking on this church because I'm not you know
There's nothing in nobody in this church where I'm thinking of this in my mind, but I just I've noticed this with church members is
That there'll be people who have a they say they want to help right and they offer to help and they volunteer to help
But then when it comes time to help it's like there's nowhere. They're nowhere to be found
Where did they go? Right? I thought they were gonna be there and they just let you down
Right and what I'm want to kind of preach to you about here on this point is is don't be that person if you say that
You're gonna help out if you say you're gonna do something
Hey, you should make it your life's goal and mission to make sure you're faithful to that service
You don't let the pastor down and that you stick to your word now in James chapter number two
Of course
This is the passage that everybody loves, you know
All the false prophets love to twist out of context and like to say that it's talking about salvation
Of course, it's not talking about salvation at all
It's talking about serving God, right and when it talks about having dead faith, you know
Because the Bible says therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law
So if that were true if this was about salvation and faith without works is dead
Well, then we got a conflict on our hands, right? But that's not what the Bible is teaching
So when the Bible says faith without works is dead
It's not in context of salvation this whole chapter is dealing with just being a good Christian, right?
Actually having good works good deeds to go along with the faith that you placed in Jesus for salvation
Now notice what the Bible says in verse 15. It says if a brother or sister be named
I'm sorry be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say unto them depart in peace and be warmed and filled
Notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body. What does it profit, you know?
Obviously, this is somewhat of a different context in the sense that it's specifically about helping us another church member
You know somebody comes in they need food. They need you know, they're they're they're working
They're a man that's going out and working and laboring, but maybe they just fallen on hard times
They're in a tough situation and they need some help, you know from that perspective
It does that person no good to tell them oh, yeah be warming and filth
But then you don't actually follow up and do anything for that person, right?
You don't stick to your word and that's kind of the principle that I want to draw out of this passage
Is that if you say that you're gonna do something do it right follow through with the words, you know talk is cheap
I don't know if you ever heard that saying talk is cheap, right?
Show me your faith by your works is what the Bible says, you know
It doesn't profit your pastor if you tell him hey
I'll leave this soul winning time or all clean or I'll do this or I'll do that and then you don't actually do it
You know, there's another parable that Jesus brought up. He's like, you know this this certain man
Told one of his servants to go and work in this vineyard and he said he was gonna go and do it
but then he didn't do it, but then another one he told the same thing and he
Said I go not but then he went and he said which one of them pleased his Lord
It was the person who actually went it didn't really matter what he said. He didn't say he was gonna go
He said he wasn't gonna go but then he went anyways
And yet that was the person that the Lord was pleased with and it's this concept of hey
Do what you're gonna you say you're gonna do right follow through with your words
Don't leave your pastor hanging. Don't leave them high and dry
Be faithful be a faithful steward of the the service that you've been appointed, right?
Whatever he has given you to do
Hey be faithful to do that and obviously there are times where you're gonna get sick something's gonna come up
But you know what you should do is you should be
Thinking about that ahead of time and giving them plenty enough time to plan
For a replacement or plan for somebody to fill in in your spot, right be
Cognizant of that be aware of those things right don't put or even better yet
How about you find a replacement form you present an option or a way for a solution?
Even though you're maybe not gonna be able to fulfill your duties, you know be thinking of that be mindful of those things
it's those little things that are gonna help your pastor and it's gonna show your pastor that you love him that you care about him and
You're there to serve with him. So do what you say that you're gonna do don't be a flake
All right last point you guys looked out go to Hebrews chapter number 10 Hebrews chapter number 10
Hebrews chapter number 10 last point I have for you is go to church
You want to show your pastor that you love him go to church be in church three times a week
Look at what the Bible says in Hebrews chapter number 10 verse number 24
It says and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is but
Exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching
I think we often when we we read this verse and I'm guilty of this too
This is what I typically think of is listen. We should be exhorting people, you know our friends our brothers in Christ
We should have be exhorting them to come to church shooting them text if they miss like hey
How you doing? Where you at?
You know and obviously you don't have to be like overbearing and like text them a million times and if they don't text back
You just like keep you know, you want to have some discretion there
But at the end of the day you're trying to exhort them to come to church, right?
You want to you want to encourage them to be a church?
And I think that's often where our mind goes when we think about this, but you know, one of the most encouraging ways that you can
Demonstrate and fulfill this verse is to just be at church, you know your pastor. Not only does he work a job
He has a family and yet he's preparing three full course meals every single week for you
The the most disgraceful thing you can do is just choose not to show up not to show up the church
You know
He spent all this time effort energy so that way you could benefit from the Word of God and then you don't show up
You know that can be discouraging as a preacher, you know, and just anecdotal evidence, you know
And you know, I'm not a pastor. It's very rarely if I preach three times a week, you know
We had a rotation when I was here
But you know, there is a huge amount of burden when it comes to preparing and preachers are I kind of got reminded of that
this week, you know
preparing just two sermons and
you know as a
Church member one way you can show your pastor that you love him is just to be here be extremely
Encouraging to him on a Wednesday night. If it's a full house, you know, everybody shows up everybody's in their place
You know and and it's not just showing up and and then checking out though
Right show up with the Bible in your hand have the Word of God
Ready to receive the word that that he's prepared for you pay attention. Hey, don't fall asleep
You know one one of the most disrespecting things you can do is just fall asleep in the middle of a service
Hey, be attentive. You know, I was on a the flight back from the Philippines recently 20-hour trip
that is the you know, one of the main negative things about going to the Philippines is
It's a long trip takes a long time and we flew we started Philippine
Filipino time at 1030 on Wednesday and then in the morning and then we got to DFW DFW time
Five o'clock, right? So even though it was like it seemed like only
14 hours from like, you know a day perspective
It was really like 20 hours because of the time change right and I was tired. I
Really got very little sleep. But you know, I'm sitting in service and I'm just thinking like pastor spent time preparing this sermon
I need to be awake. I need to be a 10. So, you know what I did? I just got me a coffee
loaded up on the caffeine
Smack myself around a little bit and and try to pay attention, you know, just following along, you know
And I wanted that it was a battle, you know, I'm like battling the flesh, you know
The flesh is wanting to do one thing and I was my spirit wanted to do another and it was a real battle
But you know what? I made it through I didn't die and I
Find it hard to believe that most people are not going to be without 20 hours of sleep coming into a service, right?
No, maybe you you did have a long day or maybe you woke up super early
Maybe you wake up at four five six o'clock to go to work
And so that Wednesday evening services is a little bit rough, but you know what have enough love and respect for your pastor
To stay awake for the service and not check out
Actually receive something from the Word of God because God is using that man
He's using that pastor to deliver a meal a spiritual meal for you
So that way you can be a better person don't check out as a mom
Hey teach your children to obey and to be attentive at home
So that way when you come to church, you're not just dealing with children and missing out on the sermon
You know spend time with your children throughout the week
So that way when you get to service they can be good in service and you can hear from the Word of God because isn't you know
And obviously things come up and you have little ones and I'm not trying to be just you know
Super hard on on the ladies that have little kids. I get it like that. It's difficult
It's tough, you know
And it's not until they get to a certain age where they're gonna able to sit all the way through a church service
But if you're diligent and you're working throughout the week that when you get to Sunday and Wednesday
It's gonna be a lot easier for your children and then you're gonna get more out of the message
You know put in that work because your pastor's putting in the work put in that effort because your pastor spent so much time
Effort and energy to prepare a good sermon for you. And listen you guys have a great pastor
You know you have somebody who's not afraid to just preach what the Bible says and that's rare today
Don't take that for granted. You know, you should show your pastor that you love him
How should you show your pastor that you love him? You should be at peace among yourselves
You should receive correction without bitterness. You should remember that they live in a glass house
You should always give your pastor the benefit of the doubt. You should always side with the man of God
You should serve without complaining. You should do what you say you're going to do
And you know what you should go to church three times a week be in church to be ready to receive
What he is delivered for the message with that let's end a word of prayer definitely father God
Thank you so much for pastors Lord. They don't get enough respect. They don't get enough
Praise Lord, and I'm just thankful for pastor Shelley. I'm thankful for pastor Oz and the other good men
That are in this world that are thundering forth your word
God I pray for the church members in in each of their churches that they would
have this type of attitude where they want to show their pastor how much they love them and
They're willing to to sacrifice a little they're willing to to have
this attitude of being full of mercy and
They're willing to to not just be bitter and disgruntled about everything that the pastor does
God I pray that the the church members here that they would always side on pastor odd side that they would give him the
Benefit of the doubt and that they would humbly serve here
So that way this church can do great things for you
They can reach the lost thankful for just the members here that are just such good church members and
You know they they
Exude what it means to be a good church member or we're thankful for all that you do and pray these things in your son's name
Amen our last hymn this morning if you'll grab your hymnals will be number
406 who is on the Lord's side hymn number
406
406 who is on the Lord's side?
406 we'll start right there on the first