You as a leader are a spiritual guard for your people. It is spiritually dangerous for your people for you to become spiritually drowsy. Guard duty is no laughing matter. It is a solemn responsibility to a leader. (Google image, Sleeping soldier)
A. You are responsible to guard the children.
1. Make sure they understand all essential spiritual truth. Train and supervise Sunday school teachers; make gospel truth interesting and understandable to children.
2. Monitor their obedience to Christ.
3. Pray for them by name in private.
4. Join parents in praying for their children.
B. You are responsible to guard the youth.
1. Be sure they understand essential spiritual and moral truth.
2. Give special instruction in areas of concern to them.
3. Be available to counsel youth.
4. Involve youth in the services and in church-related activities (music, singing, reading Scripture lessons in worship services, ushering, helping the needy, literature distribution, gospel distribution or selling).
5. Pray by name for your youth.
C. Guard the homes of your church. Help to protect them by:
1. planning Sunday School classes on the relationships of husbands and wives
2. preaching sermons on the Christian home
3. providing classes for parents on children's problems
4. being available for counsel for family members
5. visiting from house to house
6. holding home prayer meetings
7. praying daily for the homes.
D. Help guard the community.
1. Prepare your people for effective citizenship.
2. Watch for opportunities for your people to help the needy.
3. Lead your people in praying for national and local leaders
(1 Tim. 2:1-3), for schools and universities, for the nation and its needs, for national issues, for local needs, and for local witness and activities by members.
4. Urge your people to be salt and light in their communities.
5. Lead your people to meet local needs. In all these areas you will be accountable for your sleeplessness as a watchman.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.
#49 You will be Accountable for Your Sleeplessness as a Watchman
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 160-161) ZondervanPublishingHouse
Father, our leaders/shepherds are spiritual guards for the people they lead.
It is dangerous for people if they become spiritually drowsy, as spiritual guard duty is a solemn responsibility before You.
Our shepherds are responsible to guard our children, making sure they understand all essential spiritual truth, by training and supervising Sunday school teachers to monitor the children's obedience to Christ, praying for them in private and by praying for the children with their parents.
We see that the concern for our youth and our communities lies on them to provide special classes for parenting and community outreach, as well as training for new comers.
Help us to realize that prayer and support with our help is so very important to keep our shepherds at their best. They need folks to step up and offer help when and where it is needed.
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Bible verses-
Psalm 34:8“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 34:8“Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Eph. 6:14 (MSG) "For sin shall not be your master,
because you are not under law, but under grace.”
John 10:27 (KJV) "My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me."
Psalm 5:3 "In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in
the morning I lay my requests before You and wait
expectantly."
Today's quote-
~ Fran Pasch- "The Bible is our best source of nourishment for our spiritual life. It offers something for everyone. Like attending a buffet, we can browse through the books and find appropriate verses that address our needs.
For wisdom on good living, select the book of Proverbs. Feeling down, praise God with verses from Psalms. Want to be a better disciple of Christ, delve into the book of Acts. Want to learn more about the life of Jesus, read pages from the first four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But most important of all, you will discover how Jesus’ death on the cross paid the price for our sins. And if we put our trust in Jesus, His resurrection assures us we will spend eternity with Him." (Emphasis added).
~ Dr. ERICZ- "The life of a Christian should center around the importance of prayer. Jesus modeled this for us, making time for prayer even when He was surrounded with people expecting so much of Him. In His three year ministry, He accomplished enough that the Gospels say books couldn't contain it all – yet He still made time to step away and pray; which was probably the reason why He was able to accomplish so much, but that's another story altogether…
Like the proverbial caution against Perfection becoming the enemy of Good, we cannot allow Busy to take away from Blessed.
Taking the time out in the healing power of prayer to breathe, meditate, and refocus our lives is vital for our spiritual, mental, and physical health." (Taken from the Dr's post on the Healing Power of Prayer)
Today's question-
Where do you turn when tragedy strikes?
When Naomi (see the book of Ruth in the Bible) lost her husband and 2 sons, in utter devastation she decided to return to her homeland where she'd come from. Many folks go back to what was familiar to them when tragedy strikes.
She felt forsaken, even by God, and didn't want to be called Naomi, which meant happiness, but Mara, which showed she felt hopeless, with no hope of a future.
Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, insisted on going wherever Naomi went; living where she did, even serving her God. Together they ventured back to Jerusalem and discovered God had a good plan for them. Read all about it in the book of Ruth!
When we've experienced a tragedy, our recourse is to return to something we're familiar with. Our choice as to what we choose, will determine our future, good or bad. If we have faith in God, it's best to turn to Him for help, comfort and direction, as He loves each of us, and He does have a good plan for us.
Don't give yourself over to hopelessness and bitterness, but rather, allow Jesus to befriend you, as He'll never let you down. He is the Faithful One!
Where do you turn when tragedy strikes?
When Naomi (see the book of Ruth in the Bible) lost her husband and 2 sons, in utter devastation she decided to return to her homeland where she'd come from. Many folks go back to what was familiar to them when tragedy strikes.
She felt forsaken, even by God, and didn't want to be called Naomi, which meant happiness, but Mara, which showed she felt hopeless, with no hope of a future.
Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, insisted on going wherever Naomi went; living where she did, even serving her God. Together they ventured back to Jerusalem and discovered God had a good plan for them. Read all about it in the book of Ruth!
When we've experienced a tragedy, our recourse is to return to something we're familiar with. Our choice as to what we choose, will determine our future, good or bad. If we have faith in God, it's best to turn to Him for help, comfort and direction, as He loves each of us, and He does have a good plan for us.
Don't give yourself over to hopelessness and bitterness, but rather, allow Jesus to befriend you, as He'll never let you down. He is the Faithful One!
Upcoming posts-
#50 You will be Accountable to Warn of Danger
3rd- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
The Trouble with Religion
5th- Saturday's post by Ron Hutchcraft
#51 Your Accountability as a Leader, Part 2
8th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#52 You will be More Accountable than Your People
10th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
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