Epistle for January 25, 2002
Posted by: ccfmo <ccfmo@...>
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Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 25, 2002
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In this Issue:
Sermon: Judges 6:7
Bible Study: Ruth 4
"Stress in the Ministry"
Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity
"Legitimate Leaders and Faithful Followers"
(Judges 6:7)
It was the Twelfth Century B.C. Midianite and Amalekite desert nomads repeatedly raided the nation of Israel. Their use of camels allowed them to ride in, destroy crops, take plunder, and then escape back into the desert with such speed the Israelities could not catch them
Judges 6 begins with a description of this situation and the call of Gideon to do something about it.
Although his name means "one who cuts to pieces," Gideon was not a "sharp" willing volunteer.
But his 40-year career as a leader in Israel and his inclusion in the Faith Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11:32)
make a study of his example profitable to us today.
TEN THINGS WHICH IDENTIFY LEGITIMATE LEADERS
1. Gideon's call to fulfill his life's destiny was based on a solid "Thus says
the Lord God," (6:8). Although the prophet here is unidentified, the
message clearly is authentic. A legitimate spiritual leader must base
his life on God's word.
2. As Gideon, no doubt, relived in his memory the original call of God, so
we should revisit (in memory, if not literally) the spot when God called
us out to serve Him. Perhaps your call, like Gideon's, included dealing
with doubts, questions, and arguments, and perhaps it also included
prophecy, signs, and revelations, 6:11-24.
3. A legitimate leader must start by cleaning up his own life, through
confession and repentance. Like Gideon, he may have some sinful
idols which need to be cast down and destroyed, 6:25-33.
4. Gideon tarried for Spirit-anointing before leading God's people into battle,
6:34, 35. Jesus instructed His disciples, and us, to do the same, Acts 1:4-8.
5. God understands and responds to our prayer for additional assurance of His
power and presence, 6:36-40. The fleece episode was not to determine what
God's will was - Gideon already had heard that word clearly. Rather, this
timid leader was like many of us: needing just a bit more evidence to
bolster his weak and wavering faith.
6. Don't worry about the numbers or the odds against success, 7:1-8.
Frequently, human wisdom is in direct contrast to the plan and program of God.
7. Listen and learn from what your enemies say about you, 7:9-14. Often there
is an element of truth in what they say.
8. Gideon, out of a private worship experience, spoke prophetic words of
encouragement and victory to the people, 7:15. This verse reveals a
remarkable personal transformation in Gideon's life. Legitimate leaders
must have such a "close encounter" with God.
9. Gideon organized, equipped, and trained his troops for the battle, 7:16-18.
We modern-day spiritual leaders also need to equip our people with
trumpets and torches: instruments to sound "charge" - calling others
into warfare, and lights of clear testimony shining in a dark and perverse
world, Philippians 2:15. Our troops must be trained to shout in unity,
speaking loudly and clearly a single message of deliverance.
10. Gideon led by example. "Watch me, follow my lead, do exactly as I do,"
he said, 7:17. What a statement! Can we also accept the leadership
responsibility of being the role model for our people to follow?
Paul did in I Corinthians 4:16.
No one can be a legitimate leader without faithful followers!
TEN THINGS WHICH IDENTIFY FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS
1. Faithful followers recognize the truth that spiritual defeat often is a result
of spiritual disobedience, 6:10.
2. Faithful followers seek spiritual perception to know who are the true,
God-called leaders. They recognize that sometimes those legitimate
leaders may arouse opposition and upset the status quo, 6:28-30.
3. Faithful followers respond to the trumpet call of a Spirit-filled
leader, 6:34, 35.
4. Faithful followers are courageous. They do not forsake the leader, out
of fear or discouragement, as 22,000 did, 7:3.
5. Faithful followers are alert. They keep their eyes peeled looking for
the enemy, 7:4-6.
6. Faithful followers are teachable. They follow instructions even if the
plan seems strange, because they have confidence that their leader
has heard from God, 7:15, 16.
7. Faithful followers watch their leaders, follow his lead, and do exactly
as he does, 7:17. A disciple who is fully trained is like his teacher,
Jesus taught in Luke 6:40.
8. Faithful followers are good team players. They do their part on signal
in cooperation with everyone elso, 7:19, 20.
9. Faithful followers exalt the name of the Lord. They also honor the name
of the leader! They shouted "sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" 7:20.
10. Faithful followers stand in their assigned places, carry out their
assigned tasks, and watch while God brings the victory, 7:21-25.
"Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" I'm not sure of the answer to that old conumdrum. But I am sure of the answer to this question: "Which comes first, a legitimate leader or faithful followers?" The Lord always begins fufilling His purpose by calling out a legitimate leader.
"Father, help me to be a legitimate leader of others by being a faithful follower of you. AMEN."
Boaz Redeems Ruth
(Ruth 4:1-22)
I. Concentration: on the contents of this chapter
1. Boaz negotiated with another kinsman, before ten elders of the city as
official witnesses, about the property of Elimelech and his inheirtance
being passed on to Ruth, the widow of his son, Mahlon, vv. 1-6.
2. The business transaction was officially witnessed and completed, with Boaz
purchasing all the property that had been Elimelech's and sold by
Naomi (v. 3), including his receiving of Ruth as his wife, vv. 7-12.
3. Boaz and Ruth were married and a child was born (Obed, meaning
"Servant"), who was registered as the son of Mahlon and as the
grandson of Elimelech and Naomi; the community rejoiced, vv. 13-17.
4. The official genealogy was recorded from Perez (one of the sons of Judah,
the son of Jacob, Numbers 26:19-21), through several generations to
Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David (a total of over 600 years), vv. 17-22.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on the spiritual significance of these events
1. The unnamed relative took off his shoe and gave it to Boaz as a sign that
he was surrendering all of his rights pertaining to the matter under
consideration, vv. 7-8. The use of a shoe or foot was commonly
understood to demonstrate possession or authority, Genesis 13:14-17;
Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 1:3; Psalm 60:8.
2. The ten witnesses offered their congratulations and blessings to Boaz,
mentioning Tamar, another disadvantaged woman whom God blessed
and placed in the bloodline of the Messiah, Matthew 1:3, 5.
3. The women of Bethlehem rejoiced that God had given Naomi a redeemer
("close relative," v. 14), and that the newborn child would be a
"restorer of life" and a "nourisher," v. 15.
4. The neighbor women also blessed and accepted into their fellowship Ruth,
the Moabitess, as one who genuinely loved Naomi and who was better to
her, "than seven sons," v. 15.
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. "Take off my shoes" . . . surrendering all my rights to the Lord God.
2. Realize that God can and does use people of all races and backgrounds to
accomplish His divine purposes.
3. Rejoice in the other Child who was born in Bethlehem . . . the Redeemer,
the Life-giver, the Spiritual Nourisher of my soul.
4. Be open to lovingly accept into my circle of friends, and to bless in the
name of the Lord, all persons who love and worship God.
"Stress in the Ministry"
by: Dr. Bruce Morrison
"Stress is a seductive word. Everybody wants to get close to the subject, but no person really wants
to experience stress himself. Ministers are quick to admit they have stress, but they (that's us) seem to
be reluctant to do anything constructive about stress in their lives." So begins the introduction to
Brooks Faulkner's book "Stress In The Life Of The Minister" (1981).
The author identifies several pressure points that are ministry-specific. The first one deals with the pressure of having to prepare to speak publicly so many times during the week. The second pressure point has direct ties to the first one; the pressure to provide good and meaningful content in what you say. The third is the pressure of maintaining the varied relationships in the Church. The fourth is the pressure of counseling people who have problems bigger than we can handle. The fifth pressure point is the pressure of inadequacy. The sixth is the pressure of not having someone to talk to. The seventh is the pressure to set the pace. This a a common pressure of leadership. The pressure to create and maintain momentum is the eighth pressure point. The final pressure point identified is that of being an arbitrator. This is a very impressive, and accurate, list of stressors in the life of a minister.
I want to focus for a moment on pressure point number four; the pressure of counseling people who have problems bigger than we can handle. The implications of this pressure include the issues of time, complexity of problems, and the level of professional preparation as a Pastoral Counselor. Time is a major consideration that we all must address. We must balance our responsibility to minister to our congregations and the community with the specific demands of Pastoral Counseling. It is very easy for a minister to become "buried" with counseling commitments, expecially if it is something they have trained for and enjoy, and they get positive results. On the other hand, adequate counseling demands a sufficient amount of time be allocated and a heavy counseling load will reduce time available for family and other ministerial responsibilities. Stress also comes from having to deal with problems that are beyond our expertise. Normally, you should refer to another professional. Stress comes when the counselee refuses the referral or does not have the economic means to go to another professional. Additionally, there is the possibility that no viable referral source is available. Stress also comes into play when you are placed in a role as a Pastoral Counselor without the proper academic preparation.
In a latter issue, I will outline the Strategic Pastoral Counseling model offered by Dr. David G. Benner. This model goes a long way to relieve the pressures and stresses experienced by the Pastoral Counselor. In the mean time, you may want to read the book "Stress In The Life Of The Minister" compiled by Brooks Faulkner, Convention Press, Nashville, TN, 1981. I know that you will find this book to offer positive and encouraging advice to overcome the nine pressure points cited above.
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Wit and Wisecrack: by Mark Twain: "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example."
Pillsbury Institute of Applied Christianity
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graduate level education, for persons who are actively engaged in Chrisitan ministry
2. For Christian pastors, counselors, and other leaders with a heart for helping hurting people,
designed to equip them to practice, teach, and apply practical spiritual principles and positive
Scriptural lifeksills
3. Allowing mature, self-motivated ministers to earn a legitimate, affordable, convenient, and
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founded by Christian Civic Foundation (now FreeWay Foundation), an organization originally
established in 1890
4. Authorized in 1992 to operate as a graduate school by the Coordinating Board for Higher
Education of the State of Missouri
5. Degrees offered in Biblical Counseling (certified by the AACC, American Association of
Christian Counselors), in Spiritual Mentoring and in Lifeskill Development
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