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institution and leadership as much as possible, and 3) to work
diligently to create, maintain and/or renew, as required, a sense of
optimism, hope, and quiet resolve to look forward in faith?
Some of the elements we may be able to use in our efforts to
fulfill these responsibilities might include an honest admission that
we as an institution are suffering problems and difficulties. But
problems in the Work of God, both internally and externally, are not
modern phenomena without precedence in God's Word. We don't need to
be specific in such statements, but to deny the obvious certainly isn't
going to make you very believable.
Another element we need to bear down on is "be patient." Don't
over-react. In time problems will be resolved. We need to wait for
the resolution. And, while we wait for it we need to trust God for
the answers to come His way. Often, I suspect God has answered a
prayer or intervened---rri a matter, but His answer or act was not
recognized because He answered His Way and not the way the requester
had expected it.
We need to maintain faith and trust in GOD: God's ways are not
man's ways (Isa. 55). God's ways are at times unsearchable -- past
finding out (Rom. 11). God does not always act as we might expect.
Taking sides, getting polarized, wanting some specific answer, deciding
what is the "better solution" can become a giant personal problem if
God decides to do it some other way.
God expects us to respect and follow leadership. When God places
someone in a position of responsibility in His Work, He expects us to
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acknowledge that position, submit to it and respond to it. We can
all preach powerful sermons dealing with specific examples on this
subject. I believe deeply in the "mantle of authority" God gives to
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His servants. For me to repudiate this is for me to repudiate my
own position. That "mantle" should be respected whenever and to
whomever God may transfer it. But until such a transfer has been
made, then there is no choice in one's loyalty, submission and response.
This contains a very important lesson, I believe. Let none of us
lose sight of the God who called us, gave us to Christ, imbued us with
His Holy Spirit. Our f�ith is in Him. No problem, no challenge, no
muddle is too great for Him to solve. My commitment, my surrender was
and is to Him. My hope is to be a productive member of His Work. I
may not always know where He is leading me. But, if I could always
� where I was going then I'd be walking by sight rather than by
faith. (See II Cor. 5:7.)
So, in conclusion, fellow ministers, let us bear down in our
sermons to God's people about the beautiful, exciting, precious truths
God has given us. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like a "pearl of
great price," something for which a man would sell all he had so he
could purchase it. The meaning of the Kingdom of God -- the hope for
ALL mankind throughout all ages (even though most have had "blinded
eyes and deaf ears") -- is the glorious destiny, the fabulous
potential of becoming born-again Sons ·of.�od. This is the very heart
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and CORE of our teachings. We know
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understand the mysteries that
wise men, princes and philosophers have tried to grasp (See I Cor.
2.) Surely, when we focus on this message, this hope, this promise,