Who We Welcome and Why – 2

                                                 Who We Welcome and Why – Obedience

Subject – Welcoming People to be Obedient to God’s Calling

By Rick Welborne

Romans 11:29 (KJV) ²⁹  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (NKJV) ²⁹  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (NIV) ²⁹  for God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. (NLT2) ²⁹  For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.(NCV) ²⁹  God never changes His mind about the people He calls and the things He gives them.

--The church leaders were gathered together:

Acts 13:2-4 (NLT2)
²  One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
³  So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
⁴  So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. 

--Obviously, by the Scriptures I have read today, God’s calling or His call (which we will concentrate on in this sermon) is a serious thing.

--Although it goes against the norms of Christian tradition or, at least, what I have been taught by those who mentored me, we choose to bless those who tell us God is calling them elsewhere.

--An unwritten rule in the AOG has been, for years, that if any associate pastor mentions anything about leaving or about hearing from God for transition, you let him go immediately.

--I personally believe that is ridiculous, not to mention, that it is un-Christ like and obviously, not biblical. I have chosen to give the benefit of the doubt to those I have labored with that they have heard from God.

--According to the Scriptures that I have just read to you, the people who are called by God really don’t have a choice except to be obedient. Such is the case with Pastor Bob and Jo Ann.

--By what Acts 13 says, it appears to me that the church should welcome people or pastors to hear God’s calling and to respond in direct obedience.

--Not only that, but the church and its leadership should willfully bless and send out God’s called ones to do what His will is. We not only support Missions, we give God called servants our blessings to go…to obey.

--Just a funny note with people (not necessarily pastors) who have come to me and told me God called or told them to leave Life Church and then, got angry I did not try to talk them out of it. Say what?

--I cannot and will not ever try to usurp authority over God. If God calls you or tells you to leave, who am I to try to convince you otherwise. It would be bad for both of us.

--Here’s the key, just make sure the call is from God and it will be good for all the parties involved. It may break our hearts but the will of God takes pre-imminence over our emotions. Amen!

--Let me share just two examples from our journey here at Life Church. Pastor Zach Rix and Pastor Juan Rodriguez. 

--Pastor Zach came to us from the Mission’s field and served faithfully with us as our Youth Pastor but I knew when he came to us his heart was in Missions. That was one of the reasons we brought him on.

--I was sad but not surprised when he came to me and told me he had a call from God to go back to Honduras to be a missionary. I encouraged him to be obedient. We blessed him in the transition.

--He has been back several times to Life Church because he is a spiritual son and a missionary who was sent out from us to do the work of God. We continue blessing him. $10,000 our last gift. A beautiful and godly thing.

--Pastor Juan (saved and discipled under Pastor Zach – another beautiful thread) also became our youth pastor and our Spanish pastor. He started feeling God calling him elsewhere so he shared with me.

--Instead of firing him or letting him go, we decided to guide him, give him wisdom, and bless him during his transition. Question: which way do you believe God was more pleased with?

--Ministers or parishioners should never take the luxury of how does this situation affect us personally but how does it affect the health of the church and of God’s Kingdom. Think about this in that context:

Matthew 6:33 (NLT2) ³³  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (NKJV) ³³  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

--When we seek first what is good for God’s Kingdom, and for the Church Jesus is building, we will always choose to bless people instead of curse them. It is a healthier model. 

--That being said, Pastor Bob came to me weeks ago and shared with me that Holy Spirit was leading him to offer his resignation. He assured me that he had heard from God.

--Please know this, Church, when Pastor Bob and Jo Ann came back to us from Wyoming we were definitely excited and thankful. They are dear friends.

--But know this, I told them at that time to never be afraid to come to me and let me know if God is leading them elsewhere. I believe we should be open and honest in God’s work.

--I knew they had been through a tough time in Wyoming (ministry can be difficult) so when we brought them on staff I told them the first two weeks to just rest and recover and we would pay them.

--I don’t say that to put a feather in our hat but to let you know we attempt, as much as possible to take care of those God sends to us. 

--People are more important than what they can do for us. Hopefully that time gave them an opportunity to relax, to find the rest only God can give, and to prepare them to labor with us.

Hebrews 4:9-11 (NLT2)
⁹  So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.
¹⁰  For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.
¹¹  So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

--So here we are again at a place of transition, and even though I have learned to hate that word so much, we welcome Pastor Bob and Jo Ann, we invite them, we welcome them to follow the call of God.

1. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Irrevocable – binding, irreversible, final, unalterable, unchangeable, permanent, and irretrievable. 

--I trust and believe that Pastor Bob can hear from God and based on what he has told me; he has heard from God so he is answering that call.

--As in our text today we understand the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable or permanent. This leaves us in a place of whether we obey or not.

Hebrews 11:1&6 (NKJV)
¹  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
⁶  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

--I definitely admire people who, by faith, can step out into the unknown and trust God even though they cannot see exactly what lies before them. We definitely want God to bless them as they seek Him.

--Pastor Rick, what should we be praying over Pastor Bob and Jo Ann as they walk through this time of obedience. These are Scriptures I am praying over people now and will be praying over them.

Isaiah 45:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
²  'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
³  I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.
⁴  For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.
⁵  I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me…

2. Pastor Choco – General Council Treasurer – Obedience comes first and understanding comes later.

--I am sure that Paul (Saul) and Barnabas had no idea what was ahead of them when Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 

--Literally when Pastor Bob came to my office he quoted Pastor Choco, “Obedience comes first and understanding comes later.”

--Since Pastor Bob shared with me his resignation, a ministry opportunity has presented itself, and they are still working on the details associated with that. Obedience should always be the first step.

John 15:10-11 (NLT2)
¹⁰  When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
¹¹  I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

3. We welcome or invite Pastor Bob and Jo Ann to follow God’s calling.

--Again, when someone I trust tells me God is calling them elsewhere, I only have one response. That is to believe they have heard from God and bless them in the process.

--Are we sad and broken hearted, of course, but if we believe what Jesus said, obedience is so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

--Today we are blessing them with an offering and with a severance package to help them fulfill what God has lead them to do. In situations like this God always gives us a choice:

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NLT2)
¹⁹  “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
²⁰  You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

--We choose life, blessings, and obedience for Pastor Bob and Jo Ann. As with Paul and Barnabas they laid hands on them, prayed for them, and sent them out with Holy Spirit. We will do the same.