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Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on February 1, 2011 at 4:43pm

Faith, the Fix For Frustration

 

Frustration is a fact of the life of every person – even the child of God. What’s important is how we react. The frequent response of the world is fear but, for the believer, the fix for frustration is faith!

 

Eve was frustrated with what she thought she didn’t know (Genesis 3:5-6).

 ⁴And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

• satan convinced her that he knew more that God

 Cain was frustrated with Abel (Genesis 4:5-7)

  ⁵But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. ⁶And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? ⁷If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. ⁸And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

• this resulted in the first homicide

 Abraham and Sarah were frustrated with waiting (Genesis 16:1-5)

¹Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. ²And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. ³And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. ⁴And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. ⁵And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

• This led to Ishmael
  • They attempted to finish in flesh what was begun in faith

 Lot’s wife was frustrates with leaving Sodom (Genesis 19:26)

 

²⁶But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

• She left behind position, prestige
• Frustration caused her to look back

 

The children of Israel were frustrated in the desert (Exodus 14:11-12)

  ¹¹And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? ¹²Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

 

And (Exodus16:2-8)

 

 ²And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: ³And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. ⁴Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. ⁵And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. ⁶And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: ⁷And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? ⁸And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

 

• They lost the inheritance of the promised land (Numbers 14:11-24)

 ¹¹And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? ¹²I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. ¹³And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;) ¹⁴And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. ¹⁵Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, ¹⁶Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness. ¹⁷And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, ¹⁸The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. ¹⁹Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. ²⁰And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: ²¹But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. ²²Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; ²³Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: ²⁴But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

 

Moses was frustrated with the children of Israel

• He struck the rock instead of speaking to it (Numbers 20:8-12)

⁸Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. ⁹And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. ¹⁰And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? ¹¹And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. ¹²And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

• This caused him not to enter into the promised land

 Israel got frustrated and asked for a King (1 Samuel 8:5-18)

⁵And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. ⁶But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. ⁷And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. ⁸According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. ⁹Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. ¹⁰And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. ¹¹And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. ¹²And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. ¹³And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. ¹⁴And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. ¹⁵And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. ¹⁶And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. ¹⁷He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. ¹⁸And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

• Israel wanted a man to be what only God could be
• Saul got frustrated with Samuel and gave an out-of-season sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:8-14)

⁸And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. ⁹And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. ¹⁰And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. ¹¹And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; ¹²Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. ¹³And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. ¹⁴But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

• Disobedience cause Saul to lose his kingdom
• Obedience is better than sacrifice

 Gehazi got frustrated with  Elisha (2 Kings 5:20-27)

 ²⁰But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. ²¹So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? ²²And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. ²³And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. ²⁴And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. ²⁵But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. ²⁶And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? ²⁷The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

• Greed got the best of him

 

But those who are at peace inherit the promises. How do you get peace? By faith!

 

By his faith, Abraham became the father of many before he was the father of any! (Genesis 17:4-5)

 

⁴As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. ⁵Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

 

By faith, the widow poured out oil until she had enough to sell that would take care of her family for life. (2 Kings 4:1-7)

 ¹Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. ²And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. ³Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. ⁴And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.⁵So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. ⁶And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. ⁷Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

• Could it be that the very thing that may change your life is right before your eyes or even in your hand?

 

By faith, the Shunamite woman provided for the man of God and, by faith, when her son fell dead, held on to Gods promises until he was restored to life! (2 Kings 4:26-28)

 ²⁶Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well:²⁷And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. ²⁸Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?

 

By faith, Simeon believed he would not die until he saw his Redeemer in the flesh. (Luke 2:25-26)

  ²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. ²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  ²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, ²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Trust in God relieves frustration. When you trust in Him, He directs your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

⁵Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When you trust in Him, you cease being a beast of burden (1 Peter 5:7)

   ⁷Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

• He said cast all our care upon Him because He cares for us.

 

 When you trust in Him, you give the battle over to Him (1 Samuel 1:47)

   ⁴⁷And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.

• The battle is the Lord’s

 

When you trust in Him, you can be confident that you’ll not only run your race and finish your course, but you will also emerge victorious!

 

 © 2010 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 31, 2011 at 3:51pm

The Chastening of God

 

I recently posted on Facebook that  WILL NOT make you sick to chasten you and that anyone who teaches that is repeating a lie straight from the pit of hell.

 

Yep, I said it.

 

Indeed, I am rather surprised that this statement did not get more traction than it did. I believe this is a revelation that will cause religious shackles to fall of the hearts and minds of all who receive it!

 

Strong words, for sure, but words of necessity. You see the church has been bound by a doctrine that suggests that God is the architect of illness and that He afflicts His children to chasten them. There are many scriptures proffered in support of that theory, chief of which is the following:

 

7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-1)

 

Now, we must first understand that Paul referred to himself as a Pharisee (Acts 26:5, Philippians 3:5). He was well schooled in the law, having studied at the feet of Gamaliel. Before his encounter with the risen Jesus, I posit that the former Saul of Tarsus was quite proud of his educational accomplishments. Perhaps God dealt with Paul to keep him from being puffed-up in the knowledge of the Kingdom of God as He was in his knowledge of the law.

 

Now, I’ll admit, that’s speculation and can be considered eisegesis. However, we can glean something concrete from the text – that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was a “messenger of satan to buffet” him. A disease or an infirmity is not a messenger. This passage is referring to a sprit being that satan unleashed to impede Paul’s progress in spreading the Gospel. Furthermore, when Paul spoke of infirmities in verse 10, he was simply saying that whatever he had to endure for the Gospel’s sake, he was willing to take.

 

This is Paul’s testimony, saint, not yours! But I digress.

 

John 10:10 states that, “the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.” Who is the thief? Why, the devil, of course; that is his job. When something comes about that steals from you or tries to kill you or tries to destroy your life, you can be sure that this is the devil and that God is far from it. Indeed, Jesus identifies his role in the life of the believer in the same passage of scripture, stating that, “I am come that they may have life more abundantly.”

 

Now, my first question to the reader is, “Is there anything abundant about sickness or bodily affliction?”

 

I’ll help you out: NO!

 

If you are a born again, washed in the Blood believer, you are an heir to the promises of Abraham and have an earnest expectation of long, healthy life.

 

7And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years. 8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:7-8)

 

Let’s face it, pain and suffering is stressful and certainly not conducive to long life. Further, it is not the will of God that His children, the saints, go through life this way. I’ve posed this question many times but it begs to be asked again in this context, would you, a parent, afflict your child with so much as a tummy-ache to get them to behave properly? I believe the answer to that is “NO!” And if God is a better parent than any of us could aspire to be, why would He do such a thing? The answer is, He will not!

 

Psalm 103:3 Puts it thusly:

 

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

 

What part of ALL is unclear, here? God heals…period!

 

For the icing on the cake, let’s take a look at Jesus. Matthew 4:24 and 8:15, and Luke 6:19, all clearly state that Jesus healed all who come to them. It is interesting to note that these people whom He healed were Old Covenant saints – they had neither the risen Christ nor the Holy Spirit! BUT YOU DO!

 

Another good question is, how many people did Jesus make sick during His earthly ministry? Again, the answer is clearly “NONE!” According to John 5:19,

 

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

 

Then, If Jesus only healed folks and made none sick (and certainly didn’t kill anyone), and He only did what He saw the Father do, this means God makes no one sick! But let’s take it a step further, If God did, indeed, make some sick and Jesus healed them, that would make Jesus’ actions contrary to the will of God, right?

 

When will the Body of Christ acknowledge that bodily healing is available for all believers? I'm tired of this weak-kneed, so-called "Christianity" that teaches that sickness somehow emanates from God. What part of "Jesus healed them all" (Matthew 12:15) are we missing?

 

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, “ALL means ALL, y'all!”

 

I like how God revealed this to Isaiah:

 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

 

Note two things:

 

First, God said the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, that is, Jesus. This means the punishment we deserved was laid squarely on Jesus. Once we are saved and in Christ, the affliction we deserved is no longer reserved for us. Glory to God! Now this chastisement actually extends beyond the believer in that God is no longer making corporate judgments as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah. The plagues, weather phenomena, and acts of terrorism emanate from satan – not God! Yes, God did these sorts of things in the Old Testament, but they are conspicuously absent from the New Testament! Why? Because Jesus satisfied the anger and wrath of God once and for all!

 

Second, the stripes (the beating, scourging, and scorning) laid upon Jesus were the payment for the health and healing of the believer! Again, those who are in Christ have the earnest expectation that the God who saved them from eternal death can save them from earthy disease, plague, and disability!

 

God chastens His children with His Word. This is explained in 2 Timothy 3:16:

 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

And again in 2 Timothy 4:2

 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

 

Correction for the believer is from the Word of God, not sickness! Man, this is a revelation!

 

The difference between capability and manifestation is potential. God has given us awesome capability but we have to get a revelation from Him for our potential to be revealed. The Body of Christ frequently operates beneath privilege because purpose is unknown to most of us.

 

I stand firmly behind my original premise. Any teaching that discounts healing or, worse, supposes that God is the architect of sickness is a perverted Gospel. I will teach this faithfully until the Holy Spirit releases me from it. Be healed. Be set free. In Jesus’ name!

 

© 2010 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 31, 2011 at 3:08pm

Love and Discipleship (Part 2 of 2) - Lesson 4 of "The Love Walk"

This lesson illuminates that if you do not disciple new converts in Christ, you aren't walking in love!

Visit www.derrickday.com for more info

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 31, 2011 at 10:11am

 

Glory to God! In this new year, we are beginning a new Agape Dominion ministry – that of health and fitness. I believe this is a neglected area of ministry. As a Body, we have long been focused on spiritual fitness while our physical fitness has languished. We need to ask ourselves, though, can we effectively serve God, exalt Jesus, and advance the Kingdom if our physical bodies are in disrepair?

We are going to take up physical fitness as a lifestyle and, I won’t lie, it isn’t going to be easy. If exercise were easy, we’d all look like Michelangelo’s David or Venus di Milo. Unfortunately, it happens to be quite difficult and, like so many well-intentioned resolutions, even more so to keep up. Starting a true, life-changing fitness program is akin to approaching the girl of your dreams for the first time; you know she’s good for you but you just can’t seem to take that all-important first step. That’s where this ministry segment comes in…

The tendency of man is laziness. We’d sooner kick back with a cold beverage and watch a ball game than walk to the mailbox. The purpose of this ministry is to help you overcome any lazy tendencies, get off your blessed assurance and get started. One of the laws of physics elucidated by Sir Issac Newton held that “…bodies in motion tend to stay in motion; bodies at rest tend to stay at rest.”

Now, if you think these posts are going to be some sort of magic bullet to help you look good overnight, close this page and get to steppin’! On the other hand, if you want to take those critical first steps to avoid embarrassment when you start going to the gym or embarking on an intense physical fitness program, stay tuned!

© 2010 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 28, 2011 at 12:17pm

Love and Discipleship (Part 1 of 2) - Lesson 4 of "The Love Walk"


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Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 27, 2011 at 10:36am

Relationship vs. Religion

 

Religion is believing God can but making excuses for when He does not. It defers all benefits to the afterlife.

Relationship is not just believing God can but knowing that He will! Not just in the sweet-by-and-by but in the sour-here-and-now!

2 Corinthians 1:20

20For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

John 14:12-14,

12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Mark 11:23-24

22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

 

© 2010 - Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 26, 2011 at 8:17am

3 Things Every Pastor Must Do

 

Many pastors have asked, "Are there two or three key points that, when executed, will yield success in ministry?" Of course, there are many but I have found three that will ensure that will yield a healthy, effective ministry.

 

1. Check your "Love Walk." The Lord Jesus told us in John 13:35 that it is by the love we exhibit for one another that the world would know we are His disciples. Love is a choice and no one needs to choose love more than the man or woman of God called to lead a church body. Many people, when wounded while loving, tend to retreat and withdraw; this is a human response. However, the pastor cannot respond to hurt in this manner and hope to be successful. Know this, you will be hurt – and there’s no hurt like church hurt – but the leader must wear his or her emotions on their sleeve.

The pastor, while human, must have a supernatural response; he or she must respond to hurt by loving more! Why is this so important? You may be the most knowledgeable preacher in the world but no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care! You must love fervently, openly, and most of all, genuinely!

It’s important to love your congregation but you must first love God then love your spouse! Do not allow the church to become your “thang on the side!” Some pastors are so busy with church work that they have neither enough time for consecrated prayer nor for their families. We must understand that the institutions of marriage and family were ordained by God before the church!

2. Don’t worry about the numbers. People will distract you! If there are too few folks in your congregation, you may (often incorrectly) conclude that you are ineffective. If you have too many, you may start to believe it has something to do with you – that is, you may become conceited.

Throughout the Bible, God has done the miraculous with small numbers. He whittled Gideon’s army from 32000 to 300; this army defeated “an army without number” (Judges 7:12)! God used 12 men (actually 11, excluding the son of perdition) to spread the Gospel. Most of all, He used one man – Jesus – to redeem mankind and forever change the world. God is not concerned with numbers, He’s concerned with effectiveness. The Bible says one will chase a thousand and two will put ten-thousand to flight (Deuteronomy 32:30); that’s effectiveness!

It has been said that in any organization, twenty percent of the people do eighty percent of the work. This is especially true in the modern church nonetheless; it is a paradigm requiring change.  Having a 30000-member church is impressive; less so when 6000 or less are bearing the brunt of the work. Effectiveness only comes from discipling and example. Pastors and leaders must be willing to roll up their sleeves; not only pitching in but leading the work effort!

The Holy Spirit once had me set up an empty chair in my living room and preach to it for a week. When I asked, “why,” He told me that before He’d trust me with His Word before a multitude; He had to show me how to preach when there is no one there to hear it! If you change the fervency of your preaching based on the number of people in attendance, you need to go and repent! This was a powerful lesson and I share it with virtually every pastor or preacher I have occasion to speak to.

While we’re here (nice segue, there), don’t get preoccupied with folk’s expressions while you’re preaching and teaching. I used to get uptight about some of the “cross-eyed” looks I’d get from those in the pews. The Lord corrected me of this insecurity by bringing to my remembrance Jeremiah 1:17, which says, “…be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.”

3. Check your stewardship. Is your car or home A LOT nicer than those in your congregation? If so, do you have streams of income (other than church salary) to substantiate having them? If  you do, glory to God – I want to be like you when I grow up (cue laugh track)! If you do not, please take inventory of your stewardship.

You may be as clean-as-clean-can-be regarding material stewardship but if there is any hint of impropriety, this will appear as a red-flag to the world. Now, we are not to be men-pleasers but we need our stewardship to be above reproach. Folks in the world still operate under the premise that “all the preacher wants is my money.” While that notion is false more often than true, it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.

It is frequently easy to confuse good work with God work. We need to ask if it is necessary to embark upon a new building project when there is abject poverty in our neighborhood. How many computers, books, school supplies, winter coats, or shoes could be purchased for the outlay of most building projects?  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should not build; I am saying we need to operate in love – perceiving and fulfilling need – and discerning of season (i.e., is it time to build?).

Is there more to it than that? You better believe it! However, I think that if we begin with the simple and graduate to the complex, we will become more effective and efficient in our ministries. All ministry should be beacons of love and stewardship, rooted and grounded in the power of the risen Jesus. I don’t expect to hear a lot of “Amens” to this but, then, God has instructed me to preach and teach for result, not for effect! Nevertheless, I pray this message is a blessing to you.

© 2011 – Derrick Day (www.derrickday.com)

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 25, 2011 at 2:57pm

satan, Let Me Refresh Your Memory, the latest book by Derrick and Angela Day can be downloaded by clicking on the link above. This book will effectively equip believers to operate in their God-given authority. 

Comment by Bishop Michael O. Peter on January 24, 2011 at 8:31am

Greetings

Thank God for what you are doing,  i like  to join .how do i become a member

Comment by Bishop Derrick Day on January 22, 2011 at 12:48am

The Love Walk (Lesson 3) - Love Is God's Law - A video teaching series by Bishop Derrick Day

 

 

For more information, visit www.derrickday.com

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