For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers Archives - Enduring Word

When Leaders Are Afraid

March 15, 2020/1 Comment/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

I don’t have to tell you that these are crazy times. I don’t know what your weekend services were like, but it probably wasn’t a normal Sunday.

As you think about the coming weeks, maybe you are afraid. You’re worried about your family and those close to you. You’re worried about the uncertainty of it all. You’re worried about what all this might mean financially. It would be not be strange if you were afraid.

At the same time, perhaps you can’t tell anyone about your fears – after all, you are a leader, and leaders aren’t supposed to be afraid.

If any of that fits you, please do what Hezekiah did when he got a letter that gave him many reasons to be afraid:

And Hezekiah received the letter
from the hand of the messengers, and read it;
and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD,
and spread it before the LORD.
(2 Kings 19:14)

Hezekiah did exactly what any child of God should do with such a letter. He took it to the house of the LORD(to the outer courts, not the holy place), and he spread it out before the LORD. In this, Hezekiah boldly and effectively fulfilled the later command of 1 Peter 5:7: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

If you need to, do exactly that. Write out your fears, take them before the LORD, and leave them there with Him. Spread it all out before the LORD. If you can’t tell anyone else about your fears, you can tell God. If you need to put on a strong face for everyone else, that’s fine – but be honest with God. God can take it, and you need it!

It’s a preacher’s cliché, but it is true: We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future. In seasons of uncertainty, we cling to our unchanging God.

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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Remember How Great God Is

March 1, 2020/0 Comments/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

I hope you had a blessed weekend of serving Jesus, His people, and a needy world. For some of you, it was an exhilarating time; for others, there were more than a few discouragements. Whether it was an easy or a difficult ministry weekend for you, I pray God will bless, refresh, and empower to keep going and growing in serving Jesus Christ.

Here is a brief thought from Psalm 36:5-6 for you to consider today:

Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your judgments are a great deep;
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.

Today, take some time to remember just how great, how mighty, how wonderful the God you serve is. David understood it in Psalm 36. After spending the first four verses of Psalm 36 writing about wicked men in all their wickedness, David turned his mind to more pleasant thoughts.

We can picture David standing on a height overlooking the land of Israel – maybe even on Mount Arbel. As David looked up into the blue sky, he said: Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens.

Then he saw beautiful clouds drifting through the sky and said, Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

He turned his eyes north and saw Mount Hermon in the distance, and sang Your righteousness is like the great mountains.

Then he looked down at the beautiful Sea of Galilee and said, Your judgments are a great deep.

Finally, some well-fed rabbits eating grass caught his eye, and he thought about how God provides for all His creatures: O LORD, You preserve man and beast.

When David thought of the mercy, the faithfulness, the righteousness, and the judgments of God, he could only describe these attributes of God with the biggest things he could think of – the heavens, the clouds that fill the sky, the great mountains, and the great deep of the sea.

I don’t think there really are any great servants of God. We are all just serving Him in whatever way He gives and gifts us to do. It’s easy to think of ourselves more highly than we should!

But I do know this: we serve a great God. That in itself makes our work great! Be assured, there are no small servants before such a great God.

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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For Him, Through Him, To Him

February 16, 2020/0 Comments/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

How was your weekend? If God gave you the opportunity to preach or teach His Word, I pray that it was effective and that you were able to enjoy being God’s messenger.

Today I want to share an encouragement with you from Romans 11:36:

For of Him
and through Him
and to Him are all things,
to whom be glory forever. Amen.

At the end of Romans 11, the Apostle Paul made this remarkable statement. It is something for every believer to think about, but it has some special relevance for those who serve God, and those who serve in the ministry of God’s Word.

There is a wonderful poetic rhythm to these words: For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things. F.B. Meyer noted that each of these are basic, one-syllable words. These are words you might find in a children’s book – but no one can truly exhaust their meaning.

Our ministry is all of Him. I trust that you are called by God, and not just self-appointed. When one is really called to the ministry, they know that their work is of Him. If it is only of us, what is the point?

Our ministry is all through Him. We earnestly desire that everything we do be done through Jesus Christ. We are workers together with Him. It is His power, His wisdom, His strength that we seek to serve in. It isn’t enough to be truly called (for ministry to be of Him). Once called, our work has to be done through Jesus, with conscious reliance on His wisdom, His power, His strength.

Our ministry is all to Him. It’s not to me. It isn’t even to the people we serve. First and foremost, it’s all to Him. It is to the praise of the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:6). It’s for His pleasure that we are created, redeemed, called, and busy for His kingdom. We find our fulfillment in bringing Him glory and honor.

If we keep this in mind as we do ministry – that all things are to be of Him and through Him and to Him – then at the end of it all, God will get the glory. As Paul wrote, to whom be glory forever.

That’s kind of ministry we long for and pray for. I pray that for you!

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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Never Taken Back

February 2, 2020/1 Comment/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

First, let me apologize for failing to send these encouragements over the last few months. A busy travel schedule partnered with procrastination, and so it has been a while.

Having said that, how was your weekend? If God gave you the opportunity to preach or teach His Word, I pray that it was effective and that you were able to enjoy being God’s messenger.

Here is a familiar verse from Romans 11:

For the gifts and the calling
of God are irrevocable.
(Romans 11:29)

Today I want to encourage you with that brief line from Romans 11:29: the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. In the context of Romans 11, the Apostle Paul had in mind God’s faithfulness to Israel; that God had not given up on them or taken away any of the gifts or calling He had given to them.

However, I don’t think it is wrong to say that this reflects an important aspect of God’s character, His nature. God acted this way toward Israel because that is the kind of God He is. Therefore, that is how God is toward us today.

Rest in that truth: the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

“I really preached a poor message last Sunday.” That might be true; but the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

“I am in a strange season where I feel put on the shelf, and my gifts are not being used.” Maybe that is true; maybe not. But, the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

“When I compare myself to others, I feel like a loser.” Perhaps you feel that way; but the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

“My struggles with sin and personal character disqualify me from ministry right now.” We hurt with you; but remember that the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. As your character grows in Christ, over time there may be new ways that God’s gifts and His calling on your life are used for His kingdom. Don’t despair.

As I said before, the original context for Romans 11:29 regards Israel. But if God was that faithful to Israel under the old covenant, will He be less faithful to you under His new covenant, a greater covenant?

Finally, if you had a great Sunday and are in a great season of ministry – praise the Lord! But remember, it’s really because of His gifts to you and God’s calling on your life. The credit, the honor, the glory of it all – goes to Him, and to us.

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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Together In His Name

September 29, 2019/0 Comments/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

Did you get to preach or teach God’s Word this last weekend? If you did get that privilege, you might be a little drained today. If it is done right, preaching and teaching the Bible will take something out of you. It’s not only a giving of God’s truth, it is also a giving of one’s self.

Here is an encouraging word from Jesus:

For where two or three are
gathered together in My name,
I am there in the midst of them.
(Matthew 18:20)

In my last email to you we thought about the first few words of this wonderful verse, Matthew 18:20: Where two or three are gathered. Now let’s think about the next few words: are gathered together in My name.

As always, we want to remember the context of this encouraging word from Jesus. Our Savior said this in the context of speaking about order and even correction among God’s people (Matthew 18:15-18). Jesus promised to be among His people, and that His presence would give them the authority to confront and correct.

Still, we can’t miss what Jesus said: that His people should be gathered together in His name. Even it if is only a few (two or three), if they are gathered together in His name, it’s a precious gathering to Jesus. We could say that the most important thing isn’t so much gathering together – people do that all the time. The most important thing is gathering together in Jesus’ name.

Gathering together in His name means that we are known by Jesus and by His name. We belong to Jesus, and we aren’t afraid to proclaim it. It doesn’t matter if the culture or a government thinks we are foolish or dangerous for meeting in Jesus’ name; we love to gather together in His name.

Gathering together in His name means that Jesus is our point of gathering; we gather around Him. What draws us together and keeps us together is Jesus. It isn’t race, class, political party, or ethnic group. We gather around Jesus, the real Jesus revealed in the Bible.

Gathering together in His name means gathering according to the character and nature of Jesus. Our meetings, our church services, our Bible studies, and Sunday school classes are of such a character that Jesus would endorse them. They are consistent with the love, wisdom, character, and holiness of Jesus.

Isn’t it wonderful to gather in the name of Jesus? And, if God has given you the responsibility for leading, organizing, or teaching when God’s people are gathered together, I pray that God will give you the grace and the wisdom to always do it truly in the name of Jesus!

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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Two or Three

September 15, 2019/0 Comments/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

I hope your weekend was blessed, and if God gave you the opportunity to teach or preach His Word, I hope it was both enjoyable and effective!

Today I want to remind you of some familiar words from Jesus:

For where two or three are
gathered together in My name,
I am there in the midst of them.
(Matthew 18:20)

This wonderful, encouraging statement from Jesus comes in the context of speaking about order and even correction among God’s people (Matthew 18:15-18). It’s as if Jesus said, “When God’s people are gathered in community, I am among them, and My presence grants the authority to confront and correct.”

Yet, the distinctive way Jesus said this gives us a lot to think about. Let’s think about the first part of Matthew 18:20: Where two or three are gathered. With these words Jesus here indicated that meetings of His people – indeed, meetings full of power and authority connected to heaven – do not need to be large gatherings. Those gatherings can be of two or three of His followers at a time.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that Jesus is more present among the many than He is among the few. There is usually a greater sense of excitement and anticipation when more people gather. It’s easy for a small gathering to seem unimpressive. But Jesus doesn’t think so. He says, “Two or three are plenty enough for Me to be there.”

Think of what this means:

• This shows us that large numbers are not essential for Jesus to be present.
• This shows us that the status of the people is not essential for Jesus to be present.
• This shows us that the particular place is not essential for Jesus to be present.
• This shows us that the particular time is not essential for Jesus to be present.
• This shows us that the particular form the meeting should take is not essential for Jesus to be present.

Now, I must say, I would rather reach more people with God’s message than less people. It’s wonderful when God gives us the opportunity to preach or teach the Bible to many people. But remember that Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered.” He doesn’t despise the small meeting, and neither should we. If Jesus graces a small meeting with His presence, then it isn’t a small meeting at all. Nothing is small or insignificant when the King of Kings attends.

If you reach many people with God’s Word, be thankful for it. If you reach few, be thankful for those two or three or however many. Most of all, be thankful that you teach and preach in the presence of Jesus. That’s enough for any of us!

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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Famine Relief

August 25, 2019/0 Comments/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

How was your weekend? If God gave you the opportunity to preach or teach His Word, I pray that it was effective and that you were able to enjoy being God’s messenger.

Today I want to share a passage with you from Amos 8:11:

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD.”

We all know what a famine is, and we see the pictures from time to time, Heart rending pictures of thousands of people suffering under the tragedy of famine. In such desperate times, the world often mobilizes to bring food to these troubled regions, and sometimes a disaster is prevented from becoming a catastrophe.

The Prophet Amos reminds us that there is another kind of famine: I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. Notice carefully the nature of this famine. It was not about a lack of God’s Word, but it was a famine…of hearing the words of the LORD.

It isn’t that God’s Word wasn’t available, but that it was not listened to. It was not a case of God withholding His revelation; but of people being in such a state that they did not want to hear it.

As a pastor, preacher, or Bible teacher, I trust that you are doing what you can to faithfully bring God’s message. Yet, maybe you are discouraged because (at least sometimes) there seems to be a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.

If that is you, take heart. Even some of God’s best messengers knew what this was like! Make it a matter of prayer, asking God to really work in those who hear you, so they can truly feed on the Word of God. Pray that they would welcome the Word, just as it says in 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Do your best to give good spiritual food, and then pray: “LORD, send famine relief!”

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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Contend for the Faith

August 11, 2019/1 Comment/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

I hope you had a blessed weekend of serving Jesus, His people, and a needy world. For some of you, it was an exhilarating time; for others, there were more than a few discouragements. Whether it was an easy or a difficult ministry weekend for you, I pray God will bless, refresh, and empower to keep going and growing in serving the Lord.

Here’s something on my heart this day, a hopefully brief word from Jude 1:3:

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

88

There’s a lot to be observed in this verse but let me get to the point: Jude is the letter that didn’t want to be written. It seems that he wanted to write something much more encouraging and positive. But the urgency of the moment made him say, “I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

So, here’s my word for you, dear pastor, preacher, or Bible teacher:

– You may not wantto contend earnestly for the faith.
– You may not liketo contend earnestly for the faith.
– You may not feel capableto contend earnestly for the faith.

Still, it is something that we have to do. If you would rather not contend earnestly for the faith, you’re in good company – at first, Jude didn’t want to either.

Dear pastor, preacher, or Bible teacher – please, contend earnestly for the faith. Do it with love and do it with wisdom but by all means do it!

Stand strong in God’s truth.

Blessings in Jesus,

David Guzik

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Promises to the Servant

July 21, 2019/0 Comments/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. (Isaiah 42:6-7)

This wonderful passage is a prophecy about the Messiah, and were beautifully fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In them, we see that God the Father says to the Servant, God the Son: “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand.” Specifically, this is a promise from the LORD to the Servant – Jesus Christ. What encouragement Jesus must have received from passages like this when He faced difficult and trying times during His earthly ministry!

The Father promised the Son that He called You in righteousness. It was as if the Father said to the Servant Son, “Because there was nothing unholy or unrighteous in My calling, You can be confident that the calling will be fulfilled.”

The Father promised the Son that He will hold Your hand. The Father said to the Servant Son, “I am with You always, to love and guide You. I will never leave You. I am holding Your hand all the time!”

The Father promised the Son I will keep You. The Father said to the Servant Son, “You will not get lost or left behind. I am always there to watch over You and keep You.”

The Father promised the Son to give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles. The Father said to the Servant Son, “You will fulfill the purpose I have called You to. You will bring salvation, not only to Your people, but also to those afar off, who seem beyond salvation.”

The Father promised the Son to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison; so it was as if the Father said to the Servant Son, “I will use You to do miraculous works of restoration and healing, both physically and spiritually. You will be used to bring sight and freedom to many.”

What glorious promises, each fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus! But please consider this: by extension, these promises also belong to us. Jesus prayed, As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world (John 17:18). We are sent as servants into the world even as Jesus, the perfect Servant was sent. Therefore, we can receive these same promises as belonging to us.

So, consider it:
– God promises you a calling
– To hold your hand and to keep you
– To use you to bring salvation to others
– To use you to bring sight and freedom to others.

As the Father sent the Son, so the Son sends us – as servants of God.

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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The Decision of Henrietta Mears

July 7, 2019/1 Comment/in For Pastors, Preachers, Bible Teachers/by David Guzik

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

This last week I taught at a family camp at Forest Home in the mountains of Southern California. It was a great time, and I’m happy to return there for another family camp in 2020. Forest Home has a notable founder, the late Henrietta Mears.

A lot could be said about this remarkable woman of God, but today I just want to give you something I found on the last page of a Bible belonging to the late Dr. J. Edwin Orr (who also had a fascinating connection to Forest Home). On that last page, was written the following:

Henrietta C. Mears
Personal Dedication to Christ
Regarding her first Sunday School Class

I will win the personal allegiance
of every one of my class
to the Lord Jesus Christ;
I will walk; I will write; I will pray.

I will remain close to them
until they are established;
I will associate with them in fellowship;
I will make myself available to them always;
I will see that they are committed to some definite task.

I will put the Cross back into my Christianity,
and I will pray as I have never prayed before
for a new vision of God.

I will spend and be spent in this battle,
and will not seek rest or ease;
I will seek fellowship with the Man of Sorrows
as He walks through this stricken world.

And I Will Not Fail.

Obviously, none of this can be done except by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6) – I’m sure Henrietta Mears understood that. I just hope you are inspired by her determination and dedication to the cause of influencing others for Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

Blessings to You in Jesus’ Name – David Guzik

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