FIVE ATTITUDES
REQUIRED FOR MINISTRY
Part One
Intro
1. The next two lessons are designed to make each one of us look inward...into our
hearts and minds.
2. Simply stated:
Do you have the right attitudes
that are necessary for serving the Lord?
a) We need to realize this is not just a question for teenagers or for young
people.
b) Both young and old should be considering God’s call on their lives
today for lifetime service.
3. We want to look at five absolutely essential attitudes for serving God...if we do not
possess these attitudes, then the ministry will continue to vanish.
*******
I. THE ATTITUDE OF COMMITMENT
A. The Lack of Commitment
1. We see it everywhere:
a) At the workplace -People don’t like the work, their supervisor,
some policy or procedure, or the benefits
program, or the lack of compassion---and
they quit...move on...try another employer.
b) In our marriages - This is where it is most obvious. Both parties
agree on the divorce settlements before they
tie the knot. Now, it’s "for as long as you
both shall...love"
(no longer "live"). Jewelrystores have even advertised wedding rings
"for rent."
2. It hits the ministry as well.
a) You find many churches with pastors who move to a new church
every three to five years; rarely do they stay beyond ten years.
b) We see this in the field of Christian education as well. Day
school teachers and college professors are often short-
term employees, looking to climb some "ministry ladder"
of greater advancement.
B. A Definition
1. "The quality of tenaciously pursuing to the very end, with heart and soul, what we have pledged to pursue."
2. Biblical Illustration: Onesiphorus
a) Onesiphorus is only mentioned twice in the Bible, both times in
Paul’s last letter.
b) Paul commends him for being a committed Christian and gives
us three qualities necessary in commitment.
C. Three Qualities of Commitment:
#1. Consistency
1. Read II Timothy 1:16...
"...he oft refreshed me..."
2. This little statement does not tell how much, but it does tell us
that Paul says it was "often."
3. The ability to be counted on consistently is frequently non- existent in many Christians today.
4. Illustration: Preacher Randy Cox
Preacher Cox in all of his ministry only pastored three
churches and the last one was our church for 24 years.
He was consistent in his commitment to be an example
of the believer, a soul winner, a Sunday School teacher,
a manager of the staff, a conference speaker, a counselor,
a student of the Word, available for our families’ needs
(hospital visits, weddings, funerals, baptisms), and all
the fellowships in-between, including prayer breakfasts,
retreats, new member suppers, banquets, and orientations.
He has been "steady"----consistent in his commitment.
#2. Initiative
1. Read II Timothy 1:17...
"But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out..."
2. Paul did not have to call Onesiphorus to come to him--- Onesiphorus just came on his own, without having to be called.
3. Commitment begins with the subject, not the object.
If the Lord is worthy...if the Lord’s cause is worthy...
then it will be worthy whether we are committed to it or not.
True commitment begins with a pledge within our hearts.
4. In this particular case the ministry had to do with Paul, God’s
man. Was Paul worthy of being refreshed while he was in
prison? If he was, where were the others that could come
and encourage him, refresh him?
Onesiphorus made a decision...he took the initiative.
5. Remember our definition of leadership from a study we did
a couple of years ago?
Taking the initiative to meeting the needs
of others with a servant’s heart
#3. Determination
1. Read II Timothy 1:17...
"...he sought me out very diligently..."
2. He had the grit and the guts to stick it out.
3. Jesus was described in terms of determination:
"...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame..."
(Hebrews 12:2)
4. Paul must have made such a commitment to be determined,
because when he was counseled not to go to Jerusalem,
he replied:
"What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?
for I am ready not to be bound only,
but also to die at Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus."
(Acts 21:13)
5. Determination means that REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, one will remain committed.
6. The Bible says that Onesiphorus found Paul...he was successful.
(II Tim. 1:17 says, "...and found me.")We need more than people just giving it the old college
try...their best shot. We need people who will tenaciously
pursue to the very end, with heart and soul, what they have
pledged themselves to do.
7. It has been calculated that up to half of all new missionaries do not last beyond their first term on the field...it is tough out there, especially overseas.
Lifetime ministry means just that...lifetime.
Press on.
Never quit.
*******
II. THE ATTITUDE OF COMPASSION
Illustration:
A unique marathon is held in a large city, where the streets were not cleared for the runners. The fans and well-wishers did not line the streets, but they crowded them, making it more difficult for the runners.
Each runner was required to carry with him any water or nourishment he would need for the race. No one along the route could hand a cool drink to the runner. Most of the runners chose to take just a small amount of water, and some even took a granola bar or two with them for energy.
Three friends ran in this race; we’ll call them Demas, Mark, and Timothy---and they each approached the race a little differently. Demas took a small amount of water and only one granola bar... "just enough to get me through" was his reasoning. Mark took two bottles of water and a half a dozen granola bars. He was prepared for just about anything. Tim had nearly a dozen bottles of water and twice that many granola bars. "You’ve got enough there to feed the whole field of runners and most of the onlookers," laughed Demas...and Mark agreed.
When the race began, Tim began to tire 20 minutes into the race. He was loaded down with water and food. Demas chided him, "Get rid of that stuff or you’ll never finish the race." But Tim continued on. Soon Mark tired too. Demas yelled to him as well, "You’re as bad as Tim; you ought to run more like me."
As they ran on, more and more runners dropped out of the race. In running through the city, they had to run through a rather depressed, poor section. People in these tenements came out to see the runners and watching the race was a small pleasure in life for them.
When Demas got to this section, he just whizzed on by the onlookers. By this time he was far ahead of his friends.
Mark got to this same section and he decided to throw some of his granola bars to those standing by. After all, they looked as if they could use them...and the extra bars were slowing him down anyway.
Tim slowed to a snail’s pace, because he was exhausted; his heavy burden had gotten to him. He knew he had to do something or he would never finish the race. Tim peered into the faces of the poverty-stricken people and he had to stop and discharge his burden entirely if he wanted to be successful.
Tim discovered a strange thing. As he was compassionate to the crowd around him and met their needs with food and water, he found that was more important to him than winning the race. Suddenly the meaning of the race took on a whole new dimension!
At the end of the race Demas crossed the finish line in a new personal best time for him. About 30 minutes later Mark finished as well. "What took you so long?" Demas asked Mark. "You were right. I carried too much weight to accomplish my goals. I’ll never do that again."
What about Tim? Tim was totally engulfed in doing something about the burden he was carrying. He found new meaning in life as a result of giving away his food and water.
In fact, Tim was winning the race and didn’t even realize it.
A. Three Types of Christians:
#1. Demas - Types
1. These are Christians who are in the heavenly race, but care little
about those who are not.
2. The lost are of no real concern to them.
3. These kinds of Christians carry no burden for others and they live
only for themselves.
4. Demases are heavily involved with the world and the things of the
world.
#2. Mark - Types
1. These are Christians who are in the heavenly race, and they do
care about those who are not.
2. This concern, however, is not a consuming passion.
3. They have the Bread of Life, and they are interested in sharing it
with those who are in need, so they ease their burden by
witnessing occasionally.
#3. Timothy - Types
1. These are the Christians who are in the heavenly race and they
deeply care about those who are not.
2. These individuals carry a heavy burden for those without the
Lord.
3. This burden will keep them from winning the praise of men,
but it will win for them the praise of God.
The vanishing ministry will never stop as long as the majority of runners are like Demas. They are too unaware of the needs of the lost and they are not attune to the heart of God, much less the call of God.
And we will not win the war against Satan if we only have Marks as runners. A little burden is a dangerous thing. These people throw crumbs along the way, but the people not running need whole loaves of bread. People like Mark will keep us in the race, but we will never win it.
Tim best demonstrates the attitude of COMPASSION for the lost. He knows that finishing the race is not enough and the needs of others compel him to do more than just run across the finish line.
B. Jesus’ Compassion
1. His examples:
• for two blind men (Matt.20:34)
• for a leper who needed to be cleansed (Mark 1:41)
• for the demon-possessed man (Mark 5:19)
• for the 5,000 who needed to be fed (Mark 6:34)
• for the 4,000 who needed to be fed (Mark 8:2)
• for the boy with the dumb spirit (Mark 9:22)
• for the widow of Nain (Luke 7:13)
Each of these verses makes reference to the Lord’s compassion on
the physical needs of people!
But His greater burden was for their spiritual condition.
2. We all know this verse:
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
(Matthew 9:37)
But do you know the verse that prompted Him to say this?
Matthew 9:36...
But when he saw the multitudes,
he was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted, and were scattered abroad,
as sheep having no shepherd.
3. And the best known verse in the Bible comes from a compassionate
heart:
For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
(John 3:16)
Rich compassion creates a rich burden,
and a rich burden cannot be borne;
it must be cared for.
You will be compelled to act on it.
*******
Conclusion:
1. The two questions for the day are centered around your attitudes:
How COMMITTED are you to the things of God?
a) Are you Consistent in your commitment?
b) Are you Initiating leadership or do you have to be asked first?
c) Are you Determined to serve God...or are you stopped rather
easily in serving God?
How COMPASSIONATE are you for the lost?
2. If the ministry is to cease vanishing... if we are to see more people come into full-time
service for God... then we must let the changes begin in us...in me...in you.