Thirty-three Years Later - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

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Thirty-three Years Later

1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Intro: This message is a personal testimony of the blessings and joys of serving God.

I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to tell young people it’s worth it to serve God.

I want to report tonight – thirty-three years later, that I was right!

July 10^th, 1993, I announced my call to preach.

That was thirty-three years ago.

I want to go on record tonight – I have no regrets for surrendering to preach God’s Word!

·       I have no regrets for listening to the voice of God.

·       I have no regrets for yielding my will to His will.

·       I have no regrets for giving up my plans for His plan.

·       I have no regrets for answering the call of God all those years ago.

As the songwriter said:

It’s been worth every mile – its been worth every trial!

It’s been worth every valley that we’ve crossed.

It’s been worth every thing, that we faced in his dear name.

And it’ll be worth it all when we see His face.

If you’re here tonight and you’re on the fence, get off the fence!

It’s great to be called of God.

It’s wonderful to be used by Him.

It’s a tremendous life walking with God, with God’s hand on your life.

The joy of serving Jesus is impossible to describe!

There’s nothing greater than to spend your life in the work and ministry of God.

Looking back over my ministry, 33 years later, there are some words that come to mind.

I think about the word…

I. Fulfillment

·       1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

When I look back at the days of building a construction business, nothing compares.

Watching our business grow from two men to five crews doesn’t come close to the call of God.

Walking out of the bank with thousands of dollars in my pocket on payday is peanuts.

Paul said, “Necessity is laid upon me!! Woe is me, if I preach not the gospel.”

A. There is Fulfillment in the People that were Converted – vs. 17-24

When I think of the people that have made it worthwhile, it brings great fulfillment.

READ vs. 17-24

1 Corinthians 2

·       17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

·       19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

·       20 For ye are our glory and joy.

·       1 Corinthians 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

B. There is Fulfillment in the Crowns that were Promised – vs. 25

·       25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

2 Timothy 4

·       6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

·       7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

·       8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

I think about the word…

II. Failures

·       Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:

SEE TEXT: vs. 26, 27

·       26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

·       27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

I’ve made my fair share of mistakes.

I’ll be the first to admit – I have made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Any man that won’t admit that is bound to make a lot more before he’s forced to admit it.

I wish I could go back and change many things.

I wish I could have a some conversations over again.

I wish I could try againto help some people that I didn’t help the first time.

I wish I could have a second chance to witness to some people that I didn’t witness to.

I wish I could go back and handle some situations better.

There were times I let my pride get in the way.

There were times I let my flesh get in the way.

There were times I didn’t pray enough about certain things.

There were times I didn’t wait long enough to deal with certain people.

There were times I waited too long sometimes to address a problem.

There were people that I should have been more patient with.

And there are some that I was way too longsuffering and forbearing with.

There were days I failed to pray.

There were days I forgot to spend time in the Word.

There were days where the things of God took a backseat.

There were days when I was not filled with the Spirit.

There were days when I did not really want to be in the ministry.

There have many times when I didn’t want to get up and preach.

There were days when I didn’t really love the people I was called to serve.

There were days when I should have kept my thoughts to myself.

There were days when I should have kept my mouth shut.

What amazes me is that God still uses me.

I’m amazed that God can still do anything with me after all the times I have failed Him.

I think about the word…

III. Forsaking

This is a normal part of the ministry.

If you can’t take being forsaken, don’t enlist!

If you can’t handle people walking away, many times without an explanation or a goodbye, you won’t make it!

There've been many friends I've had, since I started on this way;

Who have said, I'll go with you all the way.

They have turned and they're gone, leaving me standing all alone.

But my LORD has been my friend all of the way.

Jesus knew what it felt like to be forsaken.

·       John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

In the Garden of Gethsemene:

·       Mark 14:50 And they all forsook him, and fled.

He preached to thousands and thousands of people.

He fed 5,000 on the hillside. Where were they?

He healed the multitudes? Where did they go?

He changed lives; cast out devils; made the blind to see and the lame to walk.

He raised people from the dead. Where were they?

Where did they go? Why didn’t they stay with Him?

Jesus asked the question in John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Can we really expect to follow in His footsteps and never be forsaken?

Paul the Apostle knew what it felt like to be forsaken.

2 Timothy 4

·       10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica;

·       16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

I think about the word…

IV. Friends

If friends were currency, I am a millionaire!

The amazing people that God has allowed me to meet and befriend in the last 33 years are one of the most glorious and wonderful blessings of being in the ministry.

God’s people are the greatest!

Paul – who terrorized the early church, built relationships all over the known world as a result of his surrender to the ministry.

Acts 9

·       26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

·       27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

·       28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

·       29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

·       30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Everywhere Paul went, there were brethren there that encouraged him.

Acts 28

·       14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

·       15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

I think about the word…

V. Fruit

Nearly everything I have done in the last thirty-three years of ministry was the pursuit of FRUIT.

Paul the Apostle was highly motivated at the thought of fruit.

Romans 1

·       13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

·       14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

·       15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

·       Philippians 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.