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Monthly Archives: April 2009
Who Is Your Pastor?
We live in an era of free-agent Christianity and it is out of control.
No one in the whole wide world of sports plays for themselves. Athletes have coaches. Football teams have someone calling the plays. Baseball teams have someone making the hand-signs. Even individual sports like golf or tennis have a coach to train and instruct the athletes.
So why do so many Christians today think they can win on their own? Why do they think they will play better without a coach telling them what to do or other team members helping them out? It’s like Kobe saying he is going to start his own team. No more Lakers. No more Phil Jackson. Even Kobe knows that no single player has ever won a championship.
Likewise, the Christians who think they don’t need a pastor or a local church can expect one thing: spiritual defeat.
In fact, if you are not under the authority of a pastor as your “spiritual coach” then you are already in sin.
Hebrews 13:17 - Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Scripture is clear that as Christians we submit to those who are over us. Specifically, this verse commands us to put ourselves under those who are going to give an account for our souls. This begs the obvious question: Who is watching over you soul? Who is your pastor?
If you can’t answer this question then how can you say you are obeying this verse?
Every one of us following Christ needs to have a personal shepherd. This doesn’t mean we just get Bible teaching from popular Christian authors or off the Internet. It means we are placing ourselves under the spiritual oversight of a man we have some relationship with. We hear him preach every week. We follow the ministry structure he has established at his particular congregation. We seek to develop a personal connection with him or another pastor or ministry leader he has set up for us to be accountable to. We pray for him constantly and take his words not as suggestions, but as a coach telling us to get in the game.
Here at Compass, we are blessed to have Pastor Mike. And as this verse says, we need to make sure that his job is a joy as we submit to his spiritual leadership. Currently, Pastor Mike is teaching us on the issue of parenting. This is a great example of whether we are going to obey our leader or not. It is not a battle of opinions. It’s not a tug-of-war between what Pastor Mike says and what we think. As our pastor, he is serving us up a slice of God’s Word and he speaks with the authority of Scripture. He is telling us what we need to hear as an overseer of our souls. If we do not listen, then we are choosing to disobey God himself.
If you are in our high school ministry, then I am your pastor. And I think you should take me out to Taco Bell. Not just because I like the food or think it would be fun. But you need to tell me what is on your soul. You need to open yourself up to some accountability from your pastor. And because it is not practical for me to meet with all of the students at True North, we have established a structure of small group leaders you can talk to. I train the leaders and work closely with them so that you can have spiritual oversight in your life. As a high school student, you need to make sure you are following those who are spiritually leading you.
God wants his people to have a pastor. He wants you to be at church and ready to here us preach. He wants you to embrace us as your very own. I know we aren’t perfect, but God has commanded you to follow spiritual coaches. This is his game plan for victory in life.
Just please don’t dump Gatorade on us when we’re done preaching!
Posted in Blog
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Psalm 119:129-136
Psalm 119:129-136
Pe
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
51 Comments
Psalm 119:121-128
Psalm 119:121-128
Ayin
121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.
123 My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
49 Comments
Psalm 119:113-120
Psalm 119:113-120
Samekh
113 I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117 Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
50 Comments
Psalm 119:105-112
Psalm 119:105-112
Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
107 I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
51 Comments
Psalm 119:97-104
Psalm 119:97-104
Mem
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
41 Comments
Psalm 119:89-96
Psalm 119:89-96
Lamedh
89 Forever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
29 Comments
Psalm 119:81-88
Psalm 119:81-88
Kaph
81 My soul longs for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are sure;
they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love give me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
38 Comments
Psalm 119:73-80
Psalm 119:73-80
Yodh
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame! (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
59 Comments
Psalm 119:65-72
Psalm 119:65-72
Teth
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (ESV)
Posted in Scripture of the Day
39 Comments
