On fire or burning out? (Col. 1:28-29)

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me" (Col. 1:25-29).

I'm sure that many of us have heard of the alarming statistic of the number of Pastor's (1600) that are leaving the ministry every month. Well, recently I read about another alarming statistic that stated:

"90% of the people entering ministry DO NOT RETIRE from ministry, they either quit or have some sort of moral/ethical failure that disqualifies them."

What's the reason for why so many ministers are falling out of the ministry? Some studies have shown that one on the leading causes for this is burn out. What does it mean to be burned out? As I was preparing for this message I came across this definition:

"Burnout is a state of physical, mental, spiritual and emotional exhaustion caused by extended and
intense levels of stress, causing the body to over-produce adrenaline. It leads to the questioning of one's abilities and/or the value of one's work."

In the Old Testament Elijah is a perfect example of someone who experienced burnout. Elijah was a prophet who was mightily used of God. Yet later in his life this mighty prophet is sitting under a juniper tree in the in the middle of no where having a pity party and experiencing burnout.

As I mentioned already, burnout can occur in the physical, emotional, and spiritual areas of life.  Sometimes it affects one or two of these areas, but it can also hit all three at the same time.  This is what happen to Elijah with almost fatal results. He was physically spent from running approximately 25 miles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel ahead of King Ahab's chariots (I Kings 18:46). He was emotionally drained as evidenced by his wish to die. He prayed, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life” (I Kings 19:4). And finally he was spiritually disillusioned, which was shown by his words, “I, even I only, am left” (I Kings 19:10).

Now, burnout doesn't just happen to people involved in ministry. It can happen to anyone (a stay at home mom, a business man, a single mother) anyone who may be burning the candle at both ends.
Some of the great dangers of burnout, are that you may feel depressed, a loss of motivation, and a lack of purpose. But also that these feelings can lead to destructive ways of coping with them, like withdrawal, overeating, alcohol, sexual sins, and worse case scenario, even suicide.  I have no doubt, that when it comes to the matter of burnout, many of you have been there, are on your way there or are there now. Therefore, I wants us to see in the life of Paul how, in spite of many dangers, toils and snares because of his ministry, he remained fired up and did not burnout.

There are many things that can cause burnout and it would be impossible to mention them all? In this message, I want us to examine some primary causes, especially as it relates to ministry.

1. The purpose of Paul’s ministry:

To begin with I want us to see the purpose of Paul's ministry. In our text, notice that Paul talks about his God given ministry: To present everyone mature in Christ (V.28). What was the goal of his ministry? Before we answer that question, let me address an issue concerning the plans and purposes of God.  Many often want to know, “God, what is your plan for my life?” But, as one Pastor put it, a better question may be:

"'God, what is your plan and how does my life fit into it?'
God’s plan isn’t first and foremost about us.
His plan for us isn’t about us either.
It’s not about our lives.
It’s not about our careers.
It’s not about our future spouse.
It’s not about our anything.
It’s about His Purpose, His Kingdom, His Glory, His Plan.
And then about how our lives...
Our careers...
Our future spouse...
Our everything...
Fit into it."'

We need to start asking the right question. And then God will begin to first show us through His word what His Kingdom agenda is all about.  And secondly, about how a career, future spouse, and
everything else fit into it. Too often people want God to direct their ways, as in direct their ways in buying house, a career choice, or some other pursuit, but it has very little or nothing to do with how that all fits into his kingdom agenda.

Now, what was the purpose of God that Paul was to fulfill? What was the goal of his ministry? Notice that Paul clearly defined it when he wrote in verse 28: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” What does it mean to present everyone mature in Christ? To make disciples (fully devoted follower of Christ) that make disciples. Keep in mind that spiritual maturity, which is what we should all be aiming for, not only has to do with our sanctification, but our service. It not only has to do with developing a christ-like character, but also making a christlike contribution to the cause of Christ. And not only within, but beyond the walls of our church. This is what Paul was living for. He wasn’t trying to get God to fulfill his agenda. He was living for God’s agenda, namely to present everyone, starting with himself, mature is Christ.

Paul, in spite of all that he suffered in the ministry could say, "I rejoice in my suffering (Col. 1:25). How was this possible? How could he go through all that he went through, shipwrecks, beatings and imprisonments and not only keep from burning out, but remain fire up for the cause of Christ? No doubt it was the grace of God in his life, which we will look at more later. But also the fact that he didn't lose sight of the purpose and main goal of ministry, namely making disciples that will spread the fame of Jesus to all nations.

Now, making disciples is not the job of the Pastor only. In one way or another all believers are to be a part of making disciples of all nations. We all should not only be growing in Christ, but we should all be contributing to the mission of Christ to the world. But sadly, as one Pastor writes in an article on the mission of the church:

"For many, especially in the American church, this isn't an easy pill to swallow. The church has become a consumer good--something people shop for and evaluate based on what they and their family will get out of it. In well-intentioned efforts to attract and reach people, churches start viewing people as the customers. We wonder what we can teach that will resonate with them. What programs can we offer to keep them coming back? How can we keep their time, attention and resources here instead of being directed toward other, less-significant pursuits? Instead of serving the world, we begin serving the people we want to keep coming through our doors week after. How can we devote time reaching people outside our church when it takes so much to serve the needs of
the people inside of the building? To best serve the people of our church, we must lead them to serve
the people outside the church. We stop programming their needs and invite them to serve the world with us. It means leading them from a mindset of receiving to one of giving. Instead of ,"what can I get?" the question becomes, "what can I give."

When we lose sight of our responsibility as follower of Christ to bring others to maturity and ministry, and instead feed the consumer mentality, we will give out, burn out, and fall out.

2. The passion of Paul’s ministry:

Notice now not only the purpose of Paul's ministry, but the passion. How do we know that Paul was passionate about the ministry? This passion that Paul had for the ministry, the intensity that he had, and the devotion that he had is expressed in his letters to the churches in many ways. For example, Paul said in our text concerning his ministry: "For this I toil, struggling..." Paul gave his all for the ministry God had called him to. His passion is seen not only in how he gave his all to reach the gentiles for Christ, But in how in Romans 9 he writes about being in continual anguish for the lost condition of the Jewish people, who were his enemies. We see this passion for the lost also in Romans 10:1, where Paul wrote: "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" (Romans 10:1 ESV).

Paul was fired up about leading people to Christ and helping them to grow into maturity and ministry. What are you passionate about? We give are all to the things that we are most passionate about. But when we lose our passion or have very little or no passion for what we are doing, especially when it comes to ministry, we are more likely to burnout.

Now, more importantly, where did Paul get this passion, this intense desire to see people saved and growing in Christ?  The answer is found in Paul’s statement: “the love of Christ controls us” (2 Cor. 5:14). It was the love and grace of God—his identity in Christ that was fueling his passion for the ministry.  The more we know the love and the grace that God has for us in Christ, the more passionate we will be about expressing His love to the world. If we are going to be like Christ and have his heart for the world, we must spend much time with Christ in His word and in prayer. More often than not, what causes Christians to lose their passion, which can lead to sinful compromises and spiritual burnout, is neglecting the care for their own spiritual, emotional and physical lives.

3. The power of Paul’s ministry:

Lastly, notice not only the purpose and passion of Paul’s ministry, but the power.
Paul wrote:

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29).

Notice that Paul gave his all, he toiled, he struggled, but he did so in the energy of the Holy Spirit, which was the power that was at work within him. Let me ask you: “Can we do ministry in the energy of the flesh?” The answer is yes.  And when we do, the consequences will not only be spiritual barrenness, but we will be endanger of burning out. In a well known passage in Isaiah 40, Isaiah writes about how we are to avail ourselves of God's strength to keep from burning out:

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).    

How do we keep from burning out—becoming so weary that we want to throw in the towel? “They who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…”  When was the last time you waited on the Lord—you wrestled in prayer like Jacob saying: “Lord, I will not let you go until you bless me. I can’t do it without you Lord. I need your grace—I need your strength and power?”  This is what the early church did during times of persecutions—they waited on the Lord and as a result the bible says:

“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).

Keep in mind that the great grace that was upon Paul as he toiled and struggled was first and foremost about fulfilling the purposes of God. This is important to remember because, although God’s grace can enable us to do what we would be unable to do in our own strength, this doesn’t mean that we must do it all. Paul wrote:

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Cor. 9:8).

God’s grace is sufficient for every good work, but that doesn’t mean that God wants us to do everything. God’s grace will enable us to do what he wants us to do. Burnout can happen, not because God’s grace is not sufficient for every good work, but because we may be doing more than what God is calling us to do.

Pastors need to constantly watch that they are laboring and toiling for the right things. Sometimes they can wear so many different hats that they miss the main goal of ministry, namely to make disciples, as we devote our lives to the priority of prayer and the ministering of word (Acts 6:4).

There was a time when I was Pastoring Light House Baptist Church that I was the Sunday School teacher, the preacher, the song leader, the secretary, (I actually made the bulletins), the visitation leader, the trustee, (the church building was my house) and I wasn’t getting a salary. You know what will help keep a Pastor from burning out? A congregation that recognizes that it’s every ones responsibility to make disciples…a congregation that protects the Pastor and helps him to keep the main thing the main thing.

A Pastor should not want his congregations to be spiritually dependent upon him. Yes, they are to feed the flock, but his feeding, and teaching and admonishing should be leading his flock to learn to feed themselves and others. In addition, it’s important to note here that although Paul depended of the supernatural to accomplish God’s work, he gave his all, he toiled, and he struggled. In other words, our understanding of our need for the power of God should not be an excuse for a lack of preparation—for not giving our best in whatever God has called us to do.

Are you fired up about the cause of Christ, or are you burned out? Paul was fired up because he was living for God’s purpose, with passion and power from above. Remember that God’s purpose is not first about our lives, and our careers, and what we desire. It’s all about his kingdom, His cause and His glory. So rather than asking: “God, what’s your plan for my life? Ask and pray: “God, what is your plan and how does my life fit into it? I’m willing to make any adjustment to fit into you plan and do my part for the cause of Christ." I looked to you Lord and trust you to give me the strength to keep on keeping on for Jesus sake. Amen!    

The miracle of multiplication

There’s an old hymn that says, "Little is much when God is in it." Do you believe this to be true? I’m counting on it. If you do believe it to be true the next question is, “have you acted on that belief?” I have found that many Christians struggle to believe that God could ever use them in any significant way? They feel that there's very little or nothing that God can use in their lives to further his kingdom. But the truth is that we can be too big for God to use, but we can never be too little for God to use. Little is much when God is in it.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7 we find a poor widow who found herself in a desperate situation. Although she had nothing, but a little oil, God used it and multiplied it to meet her needs and the needs of her family. From her life we can glean seven principles for how God can use what we have, no matter how little it may seem, and multiply it for kingdom impact.  

Principle # 1: A crying out to God in times of great spiritual need always precedes an outpouring of the multiplying power of God.

Notice that the widow woman reached out to Elisha when she found herself in dire need. "Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen" (2 Kings 4:1).   

As is has been well reported, Christianity has been spreading in China in spite of years of persecution and poverty?  According to the World Christian Database, of Gordon Cromwell Theological Seminary, there were about one million Christians in China in 1970, which was a sharp decline from earlier in the twentieth century because of Communist repression. But there about 120 million today, with some 70 million in unregistered churches. If this estimate is correct, it would constitute one of the most spectacular explosions of Christianity in religious history.

Why has Christianity been multiplying in China in spite of a lack of the freedoms that we enjoy in America and many years of persecution? For the same reason that Christianity spread from the very beginning: Persecution drove believers to cry out to God in dependence on His miraculously power to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Acts chapter 4, for example, the early church gathered together to cry out to God when being threaten by the religious leaders of their day for preaching Jesus. Afterwards we read, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:31-33).

The history of the Christian church reveals that the greatest threat to the spread of the gospel has not always been times of persecution, but times of prosperity. In times of prosperity the danger has been for Christians to become self-centered, self-satisfied and dependent on worldly comforts. Consequently there is a very little sense of the gravity of sin and the greatest need of the world, namely, the saving grace of Jesus Christ. And the end result is that the gospel ceases to spread.      

O, but in contrast, what has always preceded the multiplying effects of the gospel is when Christians, with an increase sense of the eternal consequences of sin, cry out to God for power to spread the hope of Christ.  

Principle # 2: God will not multiply in our lives what doesn't take any faith on our part to accomplish.

 Notice that not only did the poor widow cry out to the man of God for help, but she responded in faith to his unusual request.

 “And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.” 

Notice that after the widow cries out to Elisha for help, he asked her, “What hast thou in the house” (2 Kings 4:2-5).  She probably was not expecting that response from Elisha. Some might have responded, “Are you kidding me?  My husband is dead, I’m broke, and the creditors are coming to take my sons as payment, and you’re asking me, what I have in my house?”  Now that’s not what she said, but the sentiment is similar. What she said was, “I don’t have anything in my house except a pot of oil.” You know she could have been very protective of that oil since it was all she had. But instead, she takes the oil and does what Elisha told her to do with it, namely to pour it in others vessels that she was to borrow from her neighbors. What Elisha was asking her to do didn’t make a lot of sense, but by faith she did what he asked.  

If you’re saved and seeking to live for God’s kingdom, He is going to ask you to do something that requires that you trust him for the outcome. God wants to use us to build his kingdom in ways that our beyond are human capabilities, and capacities.  But in order to do so, he going to ask us to get out of our comfort zone and trust him to do in us and through what we could not do in our own strength. And until we are willing to do what will require trusting the Lord for the outcome, we will not see the multiplying power of God—we will not see God using us in ways that our beyond our ability.  What are you doing for God that requires that you take a risk...that requires that you trust Him for the results?

Principle # 3: God has a history of using the little that someone has that seems to amount to nothing in order to do great things that only he can do.    

Remember that all that this widow had was a little oil. Yet God wanted to use the little oil that she had and multiply it to meet her needs and the needs of her family. But when Elisha asked her what she had in her house, she responded: “I don't have anything except a pot of oil.” Notice that initially the widow’s main focused was on what she didn't have. But, as one Pastor put it, “Elisha was interested in her exception…And it was her exception that became the vessel for an exceptional miracle.”  

Sometimes what keeps some Christians from being used of God in exceptional ways is that we think we don't have enough for God to work with.  Maybe we feel we don't have enough training, enough resources, or eloquence to be effective at doing something for God. Or maybe we feel that our past failures disqualify us from ever being used of God to build his kingdom.  But what we fail to realize is that God specializes in using the little that we have, what we think is not enough and multiplying it for kingdom impact. Often what make us believe we don't have enough talent, enough time or enough resources is that we compare ourselves with others.  And when we compare ourselves with others who appear to have more than we have—who are more gifted than we are, we will feel that we don’t have much to offer. But God is not asking us to give what we don’t have. He's asking us to be willing to give what we do have, regardless of how little that may seem, and trust him to do with it what only he can.

Principle # 4: The multiplying flow of God's power is unleashed as we obey Him.

Notice that the little oil that the widow had did not begin to multiply until she did with it what the man of God told her to do. After Elisha told her what to do we read: "So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out" (2 Kings 4:5).

Sometimes the reason why Christians are not being used of God to build up his kingdom is that they want to “feel” God's power before they do what God is commanding them to do. Once again it wasn't until the widow obeyed what the man of God told her to do that oil began to flow. And it wasn't just oil that was flowing; it was the power of God being unleashed that filled those vessels with oil, which by the way is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

Whether it’s witnessing, serving in a ministry, or giving to missions, don't wait until, you feel God has blessed you with an abundance, don't wait until you feel the    power. Obey God first and trust him to make up the difference. Obey, and his power will flow.

Principle # 5: The more believers seek to be empty of self the more the Holy Spirit will multiply His work in their lives.

 Remember that the oil that the widow possessed began to miraculously multiply as she poured it out into empty vessels.  I mentioned already that oil in the bible is a type of the Spirit.  Not only is oil a type of the Holy Spirit, but the bible likens the body of believers to vessels and temples where the Holy Spirit resides. But although the Spirit resides in that heart of all who have trusted Christ as their savior, He does not manifest Himself in the same way or to the same degree in every believer. One reason that is it that we are not all gifted in the same way by the Holy Spirit for ministry. But also, and this is the point that I want to make, the reason that the Holy Spirit may not be fully manifested in our lives is because self gets in the way.

The Spirit was not given to us to make us look good, but to make Jesus look good. When Christians make the focus of their church attendance about others meeting their needs, rather than exalting Jesus, they will know very little of the multiplying work of the Spirit in their lives. Are you hungry for a greater experience of the presence and power of God in your life? If this is our desire we must die to our selfish ways, motives and attitudes so that Christ can be fully manifested in our lives.

6. The multiplying effects of the Spirit are more fully evident when many empty vessels are being filled by Him.

 When did the miraculous flow of oil stop?  In verse we read: "And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” (2 Kings 4:6).

 Notice that the miraculous multiplying flow of oil stopped when there were no more vessels to fill. But because many were filled there were great and lasting effects that met the needs of the widow and her family.

In many ways as Christians and as a church we are reaping the blessings of those who have gone before us. We heard the gospel and were saved because many Christians throughout church history sacrificed everything to spread the fame of Jesus. MBC has existed for 80 years now because of the loving sacrifices and faithfulness of many that have been a part of this church throughout the years. We can say that we have benefitted from the multiplying oil that flowed from their lives. We ought to be thankful for those who have gone before us. But God doesn't want us to rely on the blessings of the past. He desires for fresh oil to flow through each and every one of our lives today. And when it is not flowing from each and every one of us the multiplying effects of the Spirit may not stop, but they are limited. There are many areas in our church where we need others to step up and allow God to use them to build up the kingdom of God. And remember if you have not stepped up, you’re limiting what God desires to do through you and through this church body. 

Have you made yourself available to God?  Present yourself to God as an empty vessel. Cry out to Him to fill you with His Spirit and use you as he desires to build up His kingdom. Obey him as he directs you and watch him do in and through your life what you never imagined.

Principle #7: We can expect to receive the multiplying provision of God when we our living to fulfill his calling upon our lives.

 Keep in mind that the widow came to Elisha seeking God's Help knowing that he was a prophet of God and that God spoke through him. And by faith she acted upon what God through Elisha wanted her to do. As a result, she was able to meet the needs of her family. Many of you know that I'm a bi-vocational Pastor, which means that in addition to being a Pastor I'm also a Police Officer. And because it takes time to be a Pastor, a Police officer, a father and a husband I'm often ask, “How do you find the time to do all that you’re doing? A few days ago, I was having lunch with a Pastor who asked me that very question. The only way that I can is by the supernatural aid of the Holy Spirit.  Knowing this the Pastor I was having lunch with prayed for me.

There were many encouraging things that he prayed, but one thing that stood out was that he prayed for God to multiply my time. It stood out because God has answered that prayer in my life multiple times. One way that he has is through others in our congregation that have stepped up and allowed God to use them to serve the church in various ways. Another way is during my sermon prep time. When I needed it most, God allows things to come together in less time than it normally takes for me to prepare a sermon.  I believe that as long as I'm doing what God wants me to do he will supernaturally work in my life to enable me to fulfill his calling.

Now God is multiplying my time as a bi-vocational Pastor. But is this what he will have me to do long term? If not, and there comes a time when he wants me to leave the Police Department to continue in ministry and I don't do it, should I expect for God to continue to multiply my time, energy, and resources to do what I want to do? It’s been said, “God does not appreciate what he does not initiate.” God is going to multiply His work in my life when I’m fulfilling His calling and His agenda for my life. This applies to all believers. When we are seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteous we can trust him to provide all that we need.

How many of you would say, "Pastor, I don't want to sit on the side lines? I want God to use me however, whenever and wherever he desires. I don't have much, but I'm willing to give to God whatever he ask and trust him to do with it what only he can. Present yourself to God as an empty vessel. Ask Him to direct you in what he would have you to do for His kingdom. Cry out to Him to fill you with His Spirit and use you to spread the fame of His name in a lost and dying world. Little is much when God is in it.