The Pastor's Desk
"Pulling Down Strong Holds and Building Up Relationships" (2 Co. 10:3-8)

September 19, 1999

Taking Our Task Seriously

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Jer. 1:4-10

Personal inadequacies and circumstances are two things that keep us from doing the will of God. Antioch we are moving towards the end of one year and the beginning of another year. The months of October, November, and December can be a no-man's land. Yet, I want to encourage you toward the great opportunities that are before us. In the text above Jeremiah could have felt as though he was venturing into no-man's land, He began to notice things about himself. His inadequacies! We as a Church can get caught up into the same things.

God wants us to take notice of Him. Ask yourself some questions. How long has God known you? When did He begin to work on you? When did He call you? Hasn't He empowered you? Don't let our inadequacies or circumstances make us loose site of our God. When we loose site of God we loose site of our vision and purpose. We are to root out sin, pull down strongholds, and destroy opposition to righteousness. We also have some constructive things to do. We are to build on a foundation of faith and plant the seeds of hope, righteousness, and love.

If we are going to take our task serious we need to take our God serious. God has invested the treasure of heaven, Jesus Christ, on our behalf, Let us rise to the challenge! We are the Church of Three Ships! We are the keepers of hope. We are the example of God's love. Let us take our task seriously these last several months and the year to come. I challenge you as leaders to set our future course. I challenge you as members to work to accomplish our mission. I Challenge us as a Church to look to God.

Rev. Michael E. Coleman

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