The gatekeepers of my soul
Hebrews 13:17 (Nkjv)
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- I just got done going through the book for Judges, and man- Among other things two things are very clear:
- The kind of leader you submit to, will determine your life, your kids’ lives and your future generations course of life
- That it’s ingrained in us that we MUST have a leader – And every time we try to do it on our own, we have a catastrophic failure – we cannot be self-governed
- We can see this play out in with the in the Bible with so many people that choose to lead themselves or they followed a bad leader – Israelites:
- In the beginning, when God made this world, His intention was that He would be our ALL in ALL.
- God plan and ultimate plan for humanity is that He is our leader and is enough for us (Garden of Eden & Heaven)
- But when sin entered, we ended up looking for ways to lead ourselves
- The Israelites are a great example. Even after God had led them through a great escape in Exodus and led them through the wilderness, giving them food and making sure their shoes did not wear out for 40 years, and then giving them the promised land, they still wanted to lead themselves
- But everything has a price regardless of the choices made;
- In 1 Samuel 8 – The people wanted a king and they ask Samuel to choose one for them: -God is not pleased with them at all.
- I just got done going through the book for Judges, and man- Among other things two things are very clear:
- 1 Samuel 8: 6-10 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
- Choosing a king for themselves meant:
- 1 Samuel 8: 10-18 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest [a]young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”.
- This was not Gods plan; His plan was that He would be enough for His people – that Him and Only Him would be their savior.
- But what we see here is that we get when we choose with our own thinking)
- Just like the Israelites we want leaders that we can control– that didn’t work out very well for the Israelites and it sure hasn’t worked for our current generation
- The Bible is very clear on what kind of leaders we should submit to – God knows our way of choosing leads us to death and that’s why He outlines it clearly on how we should choose and how we should treat our leaders – and specifically today we are talking about our Senior Pastors
Hebrews 13:17(Nkjv) Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
What kind of Senior leaders should we submit to:
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- Ones that will watch over your soul – this is their primary calling. It’s never about what they can become or offer you. They are called to be the gate keepers of your soul
- Ones that are accountable to God – That their action and their words match the Word of God. And these are checked against the Bible – Read your Bible people
- 1 John 4:1 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- The Bible gives us a job description as well:
- 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (Nkjv) This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a [a]bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not [b]given to wine, not violent, [c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not [d]covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a [e]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
- A leader that does what they say “it’s not one of those, do what I say but don’t do what I do
- I remember coming to FVC – Pastor Matt: I don’t know everything – follow me as we seek God together
- And for 13 years, under his teaching- this man has lead me, taught me, pushed me towards God
- His wife Pastor Crystal has lead me, taught me, challenged me…both through Eva and I -and my family is heading to heaven because of these simple words in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (Nkjv) Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
- Remember your leaders should be submitted to God – “they are accountable to God” – Don’t follow leaders that have no fruits of their submission to God
- They too must be willing to be lead
- And here at FVC we are so blessed to have leaders after Gods heart- Leaders that do not preaching self but preach the whole true council of God!
How should we submit to them?
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- First, we have been commanded to: Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say
- They are chosen by God – know that they are acting on Gods authority (Pastor Jay’s sermon)
- Why: Their work is to watch over your souls – They are the gatekeeper of your soul
- Matthew 16:26 (Nkjv) For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
- Matthew 10:28 (Nkjv) – And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in [a]hell.
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- They are in charge of the most precious thing in your life – Soul watching is a big deal and a big responsibility
- However, the way some people treat their Pastors you would think they are in charge of their laundry room – watching over your dirty laundry and getting judged for the stains you have cause on your white garments
- If I had a precious diamond – For example the Hope Diamond – 45.42 carats – 17th Century $350Mil – for 0.02 lbs. ( disclaimer, your soul is worth way more than this) I would be very grateful to security people, who are watching over it -Least the enemy comes when no one is watching because I sent them away, screamed at them, spread rumor about them, treated them poorly, interfered with their joy – The thief would steals, kill and destroys on his way to possess this precious worthless item
- How much more is your soul worth – that which will live for eternity?
- It’s the same way – the enemy is roaming around looking for souls to destroy
- Matthew 12:28 (Nkjv) Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
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- Thank you, God, that the ones (our gatekeepers) you have entrusted here to us and FVC care for our souls
- I know that the Bible doesn’t say this specifically, but I can tell you, some of you have fired, impeded your soul’s gatekeeper to do his work
- You have chosen to be the “Strong man” this is not your duty- you have not been called to it – Submit and be safe
- Otherwise, we end up having the same spirit as King Saul towards the end of his reign
- Remember when the Israelites wanted a King of their choosing? That first King was Saul
- Saul did not end up well, and specifically one incident where the Spirit of God has left him and he steps up to sacrifice because he care more about how people viewed him that doing what was right in the eyes of God
- The difference between looking like a Nissan than a Mitsubishi ( Pastor Crystals Message)
- 1 Samuel 15:27-30 (Nkjv) And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.
- We got to be very careful that we are not Saul – asking Pastor Matt to approve what we are doing so that we can be seen Holy
- Can’t cozy up to them to hide your sins- there is one that Judged Saul and He see it all
- If you are not authentic you are robbing them of their joy because you will not submit to God!
- Submit to God and submitting to His servants becomes very easy
Give them a reason to do this with joy
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- Donuts, steak, sushi goes along way – actually all good food for Pastor Matt is a start
- Reciprocate the love in the genuine way He shows us – This man has a big heart for God and people
- Pastor Crystal ( Servant Heart) – Send her a genuine message, Don’t break her heart, if you gotta be a friend to her – Just be a real friend – Loyalty and honesty
- The world is already beating them up just because of their calling, let that not be named among you
- Remember, you have issues, in this world there are troubles, – they have their own troubles as well- Don’t add to their plates
- Donuts, steak, sushi goes along way – actually all good food for Pastor Matt is a start
- Don’t be that tool of the enemy that is used to bring chaos in their lives – Give them a reason to do this with Joy!
- Galatians 5:22 (Nkjv) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
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- You cannot give that which you don’t have – Empty glass cannot pour out
- Here is the secret to being of not being a joy snatcher – Submit yourself to Christ
- Of ourselves we can do nothing – Don’t expect to do this on you own
- Fall in love with the Lord and the love and joy you bring them will be a byproduct of JESUS in you
- You will recognize the task put ahead of them in this world to keep from going to hell
- That is their greatest Joy – To see you turn away from Sin, walk with the Lord and bear some really good fruits that others can see and say, hi, how did, you ? – And the answer is I have been with Jesus
- Your spiritual growth or lack of, will determine if you give them joy or sorrow
- Psalms 139:23-23 – Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting
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- Pray this everyday – maybe multiple times during the day
- I know that this is their daily prayer: Hebrew 13:18 – Pray for us, for our conscience is clear and we want to live honorably in everything we do.
- Let the Gospel of Jesus Christ have an effect in you
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- Pastor Matt’s and Crystals greatest joy is their kids Gabe and Faith
- It doesn’t matter how big a gift or words would replace the joy that these parents have knowing that both the kids love and are submitted to God
- You want to give them Joy, submit to Christ and let your fruits of what Christ has done in your heart be visible miles away
- Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
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- This is the Echo of their heart!!!
- Paul said “Follow me as I follow Christ”
- Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ – 1 Corinthians 11:1
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