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"What does a pastor do?" - John MacArthur

"So what does a pastor do? ...He makes the following commitments. I will warn my people of error. I will devote myself to the study of Scripture. I will avoid the influence of unholy teaching that sucks out my conviction. I will discipline myself in godliness. I will work hard. I will teach with divine authority. I will endeavor to be a model of spiritual virtue. I will maintain a thoroughly Biblical ministry. I will employ my spiritual gift and not neglect it. I will be passionate about this privileged work. I will let all see my growth in grace and persevere with endurance to complete the task that God gives me"  John MacArthur in '12 Marks of Excellent Pastoral Ministry' (1 Timothy 4:6-16)

1 Timothy 4:6-16 (ESV)  "6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Quote - George Mueller

"God's plan is that there shall be none of self and all of Christ. The very people who are doing the most for God in saving souls, in mission work, in the care of orphans, are those who are working on short supplies of strength, of money, of talents, or advantages and are kept in a position of living by faith and taking from God, day by day, both physical and spiritual supplies." George Mueller

FOCUS: Not the event…the relationship. (Exodus 12:1-14)


FOCUS: Not the event…the relationship. (Exodus 12:1-14) from Jonathan Carl on Vimeo.
FOCUS: Not the event…the relationship.
(Exodus 12:1-14)
@ Magnolia Baptist Church (Magnolia, KY) on Novermber 14, 2010
AUDIO ONLY

1. We must FOCUS on our ________God, not the _____ situations.

Exodus 12:2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.

ISRAEL: Slavery vs. A God who is faithful.

John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.”

US: Slaves to Sin vs. A God who loved us first.

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

1 John 4:10 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

2.We must FOCUS on the promise ____________, not on the __________ circumstances.

ISRAEL: The Exodus vs. A God who keeps His promises

US: Slaves to Righteousness vs. A God Who Saves

Romans 6:17-18 “17But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

Romans 10:13 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful”


3. We must FOCUS on the source of _______, not the unknown _______.

Exodus 12:25 “And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service.”

ISRAEL: The Promised Land vs. The God Who Leads and Restores

Exodus 14:13,14 “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today…The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Exodus 16:8 “your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord”

US: Heaven vs. The Passover Lamb

1 Corinthians 5:7b,8 “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Luke 22:43 “And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Revelation 21:22-23 “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

-Creation vs. The Creator
-Deliverance vs. The Deliverer
-Redemption vs. The Redeemer
-Saving vs. The Savior
-Provision vs. The Provider
-Health vs. The Healer
-Life vs. The Life-giver
-Crucifixion vs. The Crucified One
-Resurrection vs. The Resurrected One

Heb 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

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