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"Hey, You Pointed that Sermonette at
ME!!!"
MP3
Isn't this what we WANT?? Don't we want sermons and
sermonettes that are pointed at us? Not in a vindictive sense from
the speaker but in a corrective sense from Jesus Christ?
Clearly speakers are instructed in giving effective sermons and
sermonettes and part of this instruction is not to single out a person
in the congregation and point it at him or her in a way that is obvious
to the congregation. On the other hand we have three important
elements that each member of the congregation should know and
understand.
1) Sermonettes and sermons are
primarily and essentially inspired by the Holy Spirit. This is a
part of our very doctrine. See our doctrine on the
Ministry.
2) God will indisputably and
definitely inspire messages tailored for the congregation hearing it.
Why would God inspire 10 messages in our Denver, Colorado church that
have no bearing on that congregation? Why would a speaker give a
message on the importance of being hospitable when each of its members
are well known for being hospitable? God might inspire such a
message for a local group where one or more of the congregation are
lacking on this point.
3) Remember that in general, all
messages are for the speaker just as much as they are for the
congregation. Ultimately ALL MESSAGES given in any ICG
congregation are for EVERY MEMBER in that congregation.
Corrective Messages
If you think about it for a moment, most every message we hear has some
sort of corrective element in it. Even if the speaker's stated
purpose is encouragement to the congregation to have and exhibit
Faith, there is a corrective element there for anyone who is currently
neglecting this area. You AND ONLY YOU can be the judge of this.
It is not the purpose nor duty of the ministry to judge you. The
entire ministry wants ALL FIRSTFRUITS to attain the Kingdom. It
would be absurd to think anything less.
Burning Questions
There are some burning questions I have for those who complain that some
speaker pointed his message at them last Sabbath morning:
1) Is the speaker speaking the
truth? Forget, for a moment, your feelings the speaker was "coming
after you." Is the premise of his message biblically sound? It
either is or it is not. There is no middle ground. See our
Bible Study on
Good and Evil Trees (speakers, ministers). Evil Trees cannot
have Good fruit and Good Trees cannot have Evil fruit. If the
message is sound, you have no complaint on that single point.
Having said this, clearly speakers are not infallible and not every
message will be perfectly presented, even if the premise and references
to the Word of God are correct. Even Garner Ted Armstrong had off
days (his own admission).
2) Though you feel the message was
pointed at you, was it on point? Clearly it must be or you would
not be making the complaint. TAKE THE CORRECTION without allowing
yourself to be offended. As for me, I want all the warranted
correction I can get. We are talking about the Salvation Process
here. A chief element of the Salvation Process IS CORRECTION.
Our very godly calling was founded in correcting us from this World and
the ways of Satan. We will be the subject of correction
CONTINUALLY until we become spirit. Does the Word of God back up
this idea and my statements? You be the judge:
Behold, happy
is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the
chastening of the Almighty: –Job 5:17
O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot
displeasure. –Psalm 38:1
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of
thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity,
until the pit be digged for the wicked. –Psalm 94:12-13
The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto
death. –Psalm 118:18
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his
correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the
son in whom he delighteth. –Proverbs 3:11-12
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto
children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint
when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye
endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he
whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we
gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the
Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby. –Hebrews 12:5-11
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent. –Revelation 3:19
Correction is something that should bring us happiness, blessings and
the promised love of God, the Father. We are not to despise it. We
are to endure it and if we seek to avoid it or get all defensive and
begin pointing fingers at our fellow brothers, we are, as the verse
says, "bastards and not sons."
3) If messages are ultimately from
God and based in His Word, why are you going after the messenger of God?
It is not the message of the messenger, but the message of God.
True ministers preach from the Word of God and IT IS THE WORD OF GOD
WHICH CORRECTS.
As I stated, I love and desire correction. For my first several
years in the church, I remember going home saying, "that sermon was for
me" or "how did that minister know I needed that?" I also remember
a number of times I would be discussing some subject with my wife on the
way to services and then hear the minister speak on the very subject.
I always gave credit to God for that wondrous "coincidence."
Those "coincidences" continue for me today, including the sermons I
give.
So take the correction and the rebuke of your Lord. Be zealous
therefore and repent.
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