The Tired Out Church Pastor Rich Laskowski
What to do when you're just plain worn out
There are times in the life of a church after going through the loss of members due to death, the emotional pain of division, or just plain too much load placed upon a few, that a time of refreshing is essential. King David went out to battle the Philistines when he became exhausted. His fellow warriors saw that he had been targeted by the enemy. They not only defended him against the enemies attempt on his life, but they sent him home to rest. He was too valuable to lose.
This principle applies to our faithful workers in the local church. They get so overloaded and burned out that they may one day just give up, or even worse, fall prey to the enemy in a time of weakness and fatigue. WE hope this message will encourage you to step up to the battle line and let someone rest.
Right Click and "Save As" to download this file: The Tired Out Church
The Tired Out Church
What to do when you're just plain worn out
I. You are Tired?
Joke:
Christmas was finally over and the Pastor's wife dropped into an easy chair saying, "Boy! Am I ever tried."
Her husband looked over at her and said, "I had to conduct two special services last night, three today, and give a total of five sermons. Why are you so tired?"
She replied, "I had to listen to all of them."
A. I've been watching and listening to you
B. God has helped me to take a deeper look
at the church.
- Rocky time a few years ago
- Pastor change under a difficult situation
Questions, emotions, divisions between friends,
hurt, confusion
- Two years without a pastor
- New pastor comes in Nov of 2008
- But last year was a tough year
Transitions: Change in Leadership:
Political Direction of our country
- Now Battle Fatigue is being realized
- Especially on the 20% who are the foundational workers in this church
II. Nehemiah and Tired Wall Builders
A. The story of Nehemiah speaks to us a A church.
B. In 587 BC Neb/Babylon took Jerusalem
C. After 70 years God opened door to return
D. Under Zerrubable the first wave returned to rebuild the temple
E. Under Ezra the second wave reestablished the law.
F. The third wave under Nehemiah rebuilt the walls.
The walls were important because it was what sheltered them from attacks from the surrounding enemies
SATAN DOES NOT WANT THE WALLS REBUILT!
HE WANTS THEM VULNERABLE TO ATTACK
WHEN THEY TRY AND REBUILD HE RESISTS THEM STRONGLY
Ne 4:1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, 2 and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble-- burned as they are?" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building-- if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"
---------------------------------------------------
But the people didn't stop - they were energized to complete what God has called them to. They prayed and kept on moving forward
Ne 4:4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.
------------------------------------------------------
Threats/attacks/insults kept coming
Ne 4:7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
---------------------------------------------------------
Leaders Prayed
Ne 4:9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
---------------------------------------------------------
Stress was taking its toll on the people.
Ne 4:10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." 11 Also our enemies said, "Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work." 12 Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, "Wherever you turn, they will attack us."
- They were tired!- Tired of stress, tired of stones, tired of working
--------------------------------------------------
The key for them was a revelation that they were not bricklayers - THEY WERE WARRIORS
Ne 4:13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." 15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. 16 From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, 18 and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.
Also a key for us: Each member of CCC is not a church attender - YOU ARE CALLED TO BE A WARRIOR
Ps 18:39 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
III. A Few Words About How Tired Warriors Renew their Strength?
Where do you fall?
A. Need to Revaluate Priorities
B. Need to Physically Rest
David needed rest:
2Sa 21:15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, "Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished."
they wouldn't let David fight tired, the loss would be too great.
We sometimes let people stay in the battle too long and the enemy succeeds
Or they break and never return to the battle
C. Need New Blood
You might be saying, "I don't know what he is talking about, I'm not tired at all".
20% carry the load - and you haven't been in the group
God is calling some of you to step up to the battle and get involved.
David's men recognized his fatigue, sent him home, and stepped up in his place
- Some of these that have fought the fight for too long need you to step up and save them.
Protect their marriages
Protect their children
Protect their salvation
Because they will not rest unless they are confident that the job is getting done.
They will keep going until they break
- All of us should be praying for our workers and leaders.
Get in the battle:
D. Need Spiritual Refreshing
Today is also the World Day of Prayer
-
Where God lives there is life and strength and refreshing
1Ch 16:26 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.
Isa 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(NIV)
But I'm serving God and I'm worn out:
1. You may need to rest
2. Sin is tiring (May be resisting the Holy Spirit in your inner man)
3. Serving God in a way that He has not commanded is tiring
KNOWING AND WORKING IN HIS WILL IS ENERGIZING BECAUSE:
HIS WILL IS FOUND IN HIS WORD AND ON YOUR KNEES