There are a lot of lessons that we as preachers need to learn. We need to learn many things about ethics, preaching and spirituality. This is the first in a series of blogs that I will do on these issues. I am not presenting the need-to-be-learned lessons as a teacher, but as one who sees the needs to learn these lessons myself. I know great men that appear to me to have learned these lessons, and they inspire me. I will be using certain men more than once to illustrate these lessons. In each subsequent lesson I will refer to this person as the POI (Person of Inspiration).
POI: Bishop M. R. Couch.
Bishop Couch has many positive traits, and I will highlight more of them throughout this blog series. Out of all the men that I know, Bishop Couch was the best example I could think of for the current ministry lesson. This lesson is how to handle one's self around people who don't like you. The incredible, and almost unbelievable, truth is that not everyone appreciates or likes Bishop Couch. This is hard for me to imagine, but it is true. There are people who are uncomfortable with him and his kind of ministry. Therefore, I have had the opportunity to watched him in various situations of varying degrees of hostility and he has always displayed the most incredible grace and poise.
He is always self-possessed, positive and friendly, even to those who dislike him. He does not seek to avoid his "haters," neither is he confrontational. He does not seek to make the conflict a matter of public attention, yet he does not avoid addressing problems with the persons involved if he must. He involves no one in the situation that is not directly connected to it. He is the master of private rebuke and public love. I can testify to this one from personal experience. And I am thankful for each and every time.
He does not let people rattle him and get him off his game. He knows who and what he is. He is a great example to preachers on how to handle themselves in various social, preacher contexts. Especially in contexts where there are others present that do not like you or have done you wrong.
In this way I want to grow up and be just like Bishop Couch.
Lesson Summary: Called and confident persons/preachers must learn to be comfortable around those who are uncomfortable with them.
CALLED AND CHOSEN
ReplyDeleteMatthew 22:14 For many are called , but few are chosen."
Definition of called: Invited or summoned.
Definition of chosen: Those who are eligible or suited for election. Elected and chosen are synonymous.
WHO ARE THE CALLED?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Every person who has heard the gospel has been called. The call is not limited to a select few who have been predestined for salvation.
WHO ARE THE CHOSEN (THE ELECTED)?
The chosen are the ones who are obedient to the call of the gospel.
The chosen are those who have 1. Faith: John 3:16
The chosen are those who 2. Repent: Acts 3:19 (Repent means to make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God).
The chosen are those who 3. Confess: Roman 10:9-10
The chosen are those who are 4. Baptized in water: Acts 2:38
The chosen are not those who were supposedly, unconditionally selected, for salvation. The chosen have to be suited for election.
THE CALLED WHO ARE NOT CHOSEN.
Matthew 22:2-3 "the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.
Many have had the gospel preached to them, but of their own free-will have rejected the call. If men reject the gift of eternal life by rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior; then they have been called, but not chosen.
Matthew 22:11-14 "But when the king came to look over the dinner quests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?" 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called but few are chosen."
This wedding quest was disinvited. He was called but not chosen ; because he was not suitable to be chosen. Improper clothing was a big deal.
Galatalians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
DO YOU HAVE THE PROPER WEDDING CLOTHES TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
When you stand before the KING OF KINGS are you going to be speechless when He asks; where are your wedding clothes? WHAT WILL YOU SAY WHEN HE ASKS YOU WHY YOU REJECTED IMMERSION IN WATER FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. WHAT WILL YOU ANSWER BE, WHEN JESUS ASKS YOU WHY YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH BEING CLOTHED IN CHRIST?
MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN!
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