Debt-Free (6 of 10)
Series: Ephesians: Unbelievable
James Merritt
Ephesians 4:30-32
Introduction
1. After I knew God called me into the ministry I did a foolish thing. I tried to run from it. Until a week before I graduated from college it was never my intention to go into the ministry. One of the reasons why I didn't want to go frankly was because I knew there were certain things I would have to give up.
2. For example, for the most part, I would have to give up weekends. There are a lot of perks that come with my profession and the blessings far outweigh the burdens, but unlike you I can't just choose to be gone on a weekend. I can't just choose to take off on a Sunday and go to the lake or take a trip to the mountains. I can't really choose whether or not I come to church on Sunday. In fact, there is only one time of the week when you know whether I am around here or not and that is on Sunday!
3. I knew I would have to give up a measure of anonymity that many of you have. One thing that is true of every pastor is the church is also a fishbowl that we live in. What happens in your family I may or may not know it. If something happens in my family, sooner or later it gets around.
4. There were two things that I knew I would have to give up on a daily basis and it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. They are the two problems that probably do the greatest psychological, emotional, and spiritual damage to anyone and you have to deal with them properly. One is guilt and the other is bitterness. I have to give those up. Why? Because a big part of my calling is to help people get rid of those two very things. I can't help you deal with the guilt of something you have done wrong if I am standing here guilty of something I've done wrong. I can't help you deal with bitterness toward other people if I am bitter toward other people.
5. When I first got married we had to have an agreement. We cannot fight on Saturday night. It is obviou ...
Series: Ephesians: Unbelievable
James Merritt
Ephesians 4:30-32
Introduction
1. After I knew God called me into the ministry I did a foolish thing. I tried to run from it. Until a week before I graduated from college it was never my intention to go into the ministry. One of the reasons why I didn't want to go frankly was because I knew there were certain things I would have to give up.
2. For example, for the most part, I would have to give up weekends. There are a lot of perks that come with my profession and the blessings far outweigh the burdens, but unlike you I can't just choose to be gone on a weekend. I can't just choose to take off on a Sunday and go to the lake or take a trip to the mountains. I can't really choose whether or not I come to church on Sunday. In fact, there is only one time of the week when you know whether I am around here or not and that is on Sunday!
3. I knew I would have to give up a measure of anonymity that many of you have. One thing that is true of every pastor is the church is also a fishbowl that we live in. What happens in your family I may or may not know it. If something happens in my family, sooner or later it gets around.
4. There were two things that I knew I would have to give up on a daily basis and it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. They are the two problems that probably do the greatest psychological, emotional, and spiritual damage to anyone and you have to deal with them properly. One is guilt and the other is bitterness. I have to give those up. Why? Because a big part of my calling is to help people get rid of those two very things. I can't help you deal with the guilt of something you have done wrong if I am standing here guilty of something I've done wrong. I can't help you deal with bitterness toward other people if I am bitter toward other people.
5. When I first got married we had to have an agreement. We cannot fight on Saturday night. It is obviou ...
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