Monday Morning Pastor 1/29
Who: Bob Montgomery
When: Sunday 1/28
Title: Look to the Future
Text(s): Titus 2:11, Gen. 26:2-3; Gen. 30:22-24; John 21:15
The future is on the minds of the people who attend FBC. Who will be our next pastor, what will happen in the mean time, etc. The future is also on the minds of students, where will I go for college, what will I be "when I grow up". Bob's message on Sunday morning speaks directly to these issues.
Bob began his message in Titus 2:11-13 . This was a great starting point! The Christian life is about looking to the future, "waiting for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of Christ!
As Bob began in this passage I was amazed, last week in the plunge we had just finished studying this passage. It is amazing the way the Holy Spirit orchestrates these things in order to reinforce the truth of the scripture. "Plungers", hopefully you noticed that this was the same passage.
The Christian life, however, is not just waiting, there are a number of things that we are to be doing, and not doing now. We should deny ungodliness (have no part in ungodliness), we should deny worldliness we should live self-controlled, godly lives, controlled by the Holy Spirit.
At this point my guard is down, I'm not quite sure where Bob is going, but I'm enthralled with the text and what he has to say about it.
After a very poignant illustration of what it will be like to meet our savior, those who were once dead, made alive in Christ. Bob hints at where he is going:
People who had confidence in looking to the future.
Isaac (Gen. 26:2-3)
Isaac did not abandon God's promises in difficult times. Applied specifically to where we are as a church, looking for a new senior pastor, hurting over the loss of Mark & Carol. Isaac gives us a model for not abandoning the promises of God because things are hard.
"We may be tempted to escape from the situation that we find tough & hard, but God promises to display His strength in the very place where we are."
This struck me, why would I want to make my life easier, by getting into a comfortable situation, and missing out on the opportunity to see God's amazing plan and grace in my life and the life of FBC.
Rachel (Gen. 30:22-24)
Rachel had to be Patient. Rachel is an example of patience especially in the midst of hard times. God has laid out a plan for his church, to build it, and to use it. God was going to make the descendants of Abraham a great nation, this had began in Isaac and now Jacob. Rachel the wife of Jacob was to be part of that plan, however she was not able to have children, until God opened her womb and gave her Joseph. After Joseph, she asked for more children, she wanted more of God's blessing in her life.
Just as God remembered Rachel he will surely remember us and grant us his perfect will in his perfect timing!
Are we willing to wait for his perfect will, dare we ask God to bless FBC more than we ourselves could even imagine?
Peter (John 21:15)
The disciples were at a turning point, their Rabbi, their Savior had jsut been crucified and buried, so what do they do? They went back to their occupations, they went fishing. Peter is an example of not letting discouragement keep us from God's call in our lives.
Jesus reminds Peter before the ascension, if you love me...feed my sheep. Peter, the disciple, the apostle was called to preach the Word of God, to make disciples and to shepherd the flock of Christ; not to go fishing!
"We may feel like going away from the call of God in our lives, but he comes to us and re-establishes in us His call. We need to continue living out His will in our lives"
I believe God has called me to serve at FBC, where has God called you, are hard times, are long times, is discouragement tempting you to abandon the call to be a part of the local body at FBC?
Hopefully, the lives of Isaac, Rachel and Peter gives us the motivation to continue on looking toward the blessed hope in the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior!
Thanks Bob!
posted by pastoradub at 10:48 AM
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