ISSUES IN MINISTRY
SCRIPTURE
AS WE AGE WE ARE PRESENTED WITH CHALLENGES IN MINISTRY. THESE CHALLENGES WILL COME IN SEVERAL FORMS, AND WILL COME TO BOTH THE CARE GIVER AND CARE RECEIVER. IT IS IMPORTANT THEN FOR US TO REALIZE THAT THE TRUE ORIGEN OF THESE CHALLENGES IS SATAN, AND THAT THESE CHALLENGES ALL COME AS A RESULT OF THE FALL.
THE CHURCH CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN MINISTERING TO FAMILIES THROUGH THIS TIME OF CHANGE. WE CAN COME ALONGSIDE FAMILIES AS THEY FACE THESE CHALLENGES AND CAN SHARE WITH THEM THE SENSITIVITY, LOVE, AND COMPASSION OF CHRIST.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE WEEKS, IS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE CHALLENGES. THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO THEM, SOME WE MAY NOT HAVE CONSIDERED, SOME WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO OVERCOME. SOME EMOTIONS THAT WE HAVE AS WE DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES WE MAY THINK ARE NOT PROPER, BUT IN REALITY ARE QUITE NATURAL. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE DO NOT DEAL WITH OUR HEALTH, BUT ARE CHANGES WITH REGARD TO OUR ACTIONS, AND THE PLACES AROUND US.
MUCH OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEALS WITH THE MINISTRY OF CHAPLAINCY. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THIS MINISTRY, AND AS WE PROCEED YOU WILL SEE MY VIEW OF CHAPLAINCY COMING OUT MORE AND MORE. THE THING THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE ALL PRACTICE THE MINISTRY OF CHAPLAINCY, MANY TIMES NOT EVEN RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE DOING IT, AND THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS ESSENTIALLY COMMON SENSE MINISTRY. IT IS RECOGNIZING A NEED, AND OFFERING TO HELP MEET THAT NEED.
ONE THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE ALL WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE CHALLENGES, OR HAVE DEALT WITH THESE CHALLENGES, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER IN OUR LIVES. WHILE WE ARE NOT GUARANTEED LONG LIVES, THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN HAS BEEN INCREASING, AS HAVE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE ALONG WITH THAT INCREASE.
ANOTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT WHILE WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT DATES THAT WE CAME INTO THIS WORLD, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO DEAL WITH AFTER THAT. IT CAN BE DESCRIBED IN ONE WORD, ETERNITY. WHILE OUR DAYS IN THIS WORLD MAY BECOME SHORTER AS WE AGE, A GREAT GIFT THAT WE CAN LEAVE OUR LOVED ONES IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR ETERNAL DESTINY IS SECURE AND THAT WE ARE SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS.
A SUBJECT LIKE THIS IS DIFFICULT TO BEGIN AS THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO START. WE’RE GOING TO START WITH FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES, LOOK AT SOME IMPORTANT PAPERS TO PREPARE (BOTH LEGAL AND PERSONAL), WE WILL TALK ABOUT END OF LIFE ISSUES, AND FINALLY GRIEF.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL OF YOU MAY AGREE WITH ME ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES. THAT’S ALL RIGHT. THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT YOU CONSIDER THESE ISSUES AND THAT YOU CONSIDER THEM FROM A BIBLICAL POINT OF VIEW. HAVING SAID THAT LET’S BEGIN.
FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES OF AGING
ALL OF THE COMPLEX ISSUES THAT WE FACE AS WE AGE, COMES AS A RESULT OF THE FALL. THIS MEANS THAT THE ORIGINATOR OF ALL OF THESE COMPLEX ISSUES IS SATAN. HE CANNOT CREATE, BUT HE CAN MANIPULATE WHAT GOD HAS C REATED IN OUR LIVES TO MEET HIS ENDS.
HOW CAN WE SAY THAT ALL OF THESE ISSUES, ISSUES OF HEALTH, CLOSING CHAPTERS OF OUR LIVES, LONLINESS, DEATH, AND OTHERS ARE THE DIRECT RESULT OF SATAN? IT IS BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS US WHAT WILL BE ABSENT FROM THE WORLD WHEN IT IS FREE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN AND THE SINFUL NATURE.
REVELATION 21:1-4:
“1 ¶ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."”
1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-58:
“51 ¶ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 ¶ Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
NOW THESE PASSAGES ARE TALKING ABOUT LIVING IN A SINLESS STATE. THE CORINTHIAN PASSAGE TALKS ABOUT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, THE REVELATION PASSAGE TALKS ABOUT LIFE IN HEAVEN. ALL OF THE THINGS RELATING TO THIS WORLD AND SIN ARE GONE, WE ARE CHANGED AND WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN. THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE WEAPONS THAT SATAN CAN USE ONLY IN THIS WORLD.
LOOK AT VERSES 56 AND 57 OF THE CORINTHIAN PASSAGE. THE GREATEST WEAPON THAT SATAN HAS AT HIS DISPOSAL IS DEATH, AND I BELIEVE THE THINGS LEADING UP TO DEATH.
BUT JESUS DEFEATED SATAN ON THE CROSS. HE DIED, HE TOOK THE BEST THAT SATAN COULD DO, AND THREE DAYS LATER AROSE FROM THE DEAD, AND BECAUSE HE LIVES WE TOO CAN ULTIMATELY DEFEAT SATAN.
THE ACHES AND PAINS THAT WE FACE IN THIS WORLD, LOSS OF SIGHT AND HEARING, CANCER, HEART DISEASE, ALSHEIMERS, DIMENCIA, ALL THESE AND MORE HAVE THEIR ROOT CAUSE IN THE FALL. THEY SERVE US TO SHOW THAT THE FALL DID IN FACT EFFECT THE WHOLE WORLD AND THAT WE ALL NEED THE SPIRITUAL CLEANSING OF THE CROSS.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE ACCELLERATE THE PROCESS THROUGH THE MAKING OF BAD DECISIONS. OTHER TIMES IT IS THE RESULT OF LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD AND HAVING A BODY EFFECTED BY THE FALLEN NATURE. AS PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS 8:20-21:
ROMANS 8:20-21:
“20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT I OFTEN HEAR IS “WHY DID GOD LET THIS HAPPEN?”, WHEN THE FACT IS THAT IT WAS NOT IN THE WILL OF GOD AT ALL FOR IT TO HAPPEN. PUT THE BLAME WHERE IT BELONGS WITH SATAN AND SIN.
MY BROTHER DIED WHEN HE WAS 47YEARS OLD. I KNOW WHO TO BLAME. SATAN
HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER COULD ONLY TELL HIM THE SEX OF HIS FIRST GRAND-CHILD. HE WOULD NOT LIVE TO SEE HER BORN. I KNOW WHO TO BLAME SATAN.
HIS MIDDLE DAUGHTER DIDN’T HAVE HER FATHER TO WALK HER DOWN THE AISLE WHEN SHE WAS MARRIED. I KNOW WHO TO BLAME. SATAN.
HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER DIDN’T HAVE HER FATHER TO WATCH HER GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. HE DIED THE YEAR BEFORE. I KNOW WHO TO BLAME. SATAN.
WHAT ABOUT GOD?
I HAVE A WONDERFUL WIFE. I THANK GOD FOR HER.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY. I THANK GOD FOR THEM.
I HAVE GOOD HEALTH. I THANK GOD FOR THAT.
I HAD A GREAT BROTHER. I THANK GOD FOR HIM.
WHEN HE DIED, I THANK GOD FOR HIS COMFORT.
MOST OF ALL, I THANK GOD, BECAUSE I’M GONNA SEE HIM AGAIN, AND ONE DAY WE’LL BE AT HOME IN HEAVEN.
PAPER ISSUES
BEFORE WE BEGIN WITH THIS PART OF MY MESSAGE, I WANT TO SAY THAT I AM PREACHING TO ME AS WELL AS TO YOU. MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTION HERE TODAY ARE THINGS THAT LESLIE AND I MUST DO. I MUST ADMIT I HADN’T REALLY SPENT MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT THEM UNTIL STARTING THIS SERIES. NOW I CAN’T SEEM TO STOP.
LET ME BEGIN BY ESTABLISHING A BIBLICAL PRECEDANT FOR DEALING WITH THE FOLLOWING ISSUES. CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING VERSES:
ECCLESIASTES 12:1:
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"—”
AMOS 4:12:
“"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel."”
PROVERBS 14:15:
“A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”
1 CORINTHIANS 14:40:
“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
AS WE CONSIDER THE IMPORTANT PAPERS OF OUR LIVES LET US DO SO RELATING TO THESE SCRIPTURES.
FIRST OF ALL IT IS IMPORTANT TO PREPARE THESE IN OUR YOUTH AS THE WRITER TO ECCLESIASTES WARNS “BEFORE THE DAYS OF TROUBLE COME.” CHANGES AS WE AGE MAY PREVENT US FROM PREPARING SUCH PAPERS, AND CAN LEAVE THEM OPEN TO CONTESTING. PREPARE YOUR PAPERS NOW, IN THE PRESENCE OF WITNESSES, SO THAT YOUR WISHES WILL BE HONORED.
AMOS TELLS ISRAEL TO “PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD.” OFTEN WE THINK OF THIS IN A SPIRITUAL FASHION AND ONCE A DECISION IS MADE FOR CHRIST WE FEEL WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR PREPARATION. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. OUR PREPARATION TO MEET OUR GOD, INCLUDES PUTTING OUR EARTHLY HOUSE IN ORDER AS WELL. WE NEED TO FORMULATE THE IMPORTANT PAPERS AS ONE ASPECT OF THIS.
PROVERBS TEACHES US TO GIVE GREAT THOUGHT TO WHAT WE PUT DOWN ON PAPER. IN SOME CASES IT IS LEGALLY BINDING. IT IS ALSO VALUABLE TO ALLOW OTHERS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR WISHES ARE AND TO FOLLOW THEM.
PAUL TEACHES US IN CORINTHIANS THAT WE NEED TO BE ORDERLY ABOUT OUR AFFAIRS. IF EVERYTHING IS WRITTEN DOWN IN A CLEAR FASHION IT IS EASY TO FOLLOW AND IT SAVES NOT ONLY LEGAL PROBLEMS, BUT IT CAN RELEIVE OUR FAMILIES AND SPARE THEM MUCH PAIN AND DIVISION.
HAVING ESTABLISHED A BIBLICAL BASIS FOR OUR DISCUSSION LETS LOOK AT THE IMPORTANT PAPERS OF OUR LIVES. THEY CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS:
1. LEGAL OR FORMAL PAPERS
2. PERSONAL OR INFORMAL PAPERS
LEGAL OR FORMAL PAPERS
LEGAL OR FORMAL PAPERS ARE DOCUMENTS PREPARED THAT HAVE LEGAL WEIGHT ATTACHED TO THEM. THEY CAN BE UPHELD BY A COURT OF LAW. THEY CAN INCLUDE:
1. WILLS
2. HEALTH POWER OF ATTORNEY
3. FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
THESE PAPERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISSOLUTION OF AN ESTATE PROCEEDS IN AN ORDERLY WAY. THEY CAN BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE A SINGLE ADULT, OR THE SURVIVING SPOUCE IN A MARRIAGE.
IN THE CASE OF A WILL:
IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS WE FIND:
HEBREWS 9:16-17:
“16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.”
A WILL PROPERLY USED WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE WISHES OF THE WRITER ARE CARRIED OUT. IT SHOULD BE ENTERED INTO WITH GREAT THOUGHT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE DIVISION OF ASSETS, WHAT MONIES WILL BE GIVEN IN TRUST, AND WHO WILL RECEIVE WHAT FOR AN INHERITANCE.
A PROPERLY WORDED WILL CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE LAST WISHES OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARE CARRIED OUT TO THE LETTER
WILLS SHOULD ALWAYS BE PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PROPER LEGAL OFFICIAL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PREPARED IN A PROPER LEGAL MANNER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LAWS OF THE PROVINCE YOU RESIDE IN.
HEALTH AND FINANCIAL POWERS OF ATTORNEY:
THESE PAPERS ARE NECESSARY WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL BECOMES INCOMPACITATED EITHER MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY TO DEAL WITH THESE MATTERS ON THEIR OWN. THEY BASICALLY ALLOW ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL TO ACT FOR YOU IN HEALTH AND FINANCIAL MATTERS.
THESE ARE LEGAL PAPERS AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH A LAWYER.
BUT SOMETHING MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT THESE PAPERS. YOU CAN ASSIST THE PERSON YOU ARE GIVING THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY TO BY WRITING OUT YOUR FINANCIAL AND HEALTH DESIRES.
THERE COULD BE CERTAIN CHARITIES THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT. BY WRITING THESE THINGS DOWN YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON WITH YOUR POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOWS YOUR WISHES.
THE SAME IS TRUE WITH THE POWER OF ATTORNEY WITH REGARDS TO HEALTH. MAKE SURE THE INDIVIDUAL KNOWS YOUR WISHES IN ADVANCE OF ACTUALLY HAVING TO USE THE POWER OF ATTORNEY.
PUT IT IN WRITING. TALK TO THESE PEOPLE. MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE YOU DESIGNATE KNOW CLEARLY WHAT YOUR WISHES ARE. THESE PAPERS CAN BE KEPT IN A SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX AT A BANK OR WITH YOUR LAWYER.
YOU MAY WISH TO KEEP A COPY OFTHE HEALTH POWER OF ATTORNEY ON FILE WITH YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR.
INFORMAL OR PERSONAL PAPERS
THESE ARE PAPERS THAT BEAR LITTLE IF ANY LEGAL WEIGHT, BUT CAN SPARE YOUR FAMILY A LOT OF STRESS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES OF LIFE. THESE ARE PAPERS THAT TELL YOUR FAMILY SPECIFIC PERSONAL REQUESTS IF YOU CAN’T SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.
STANDING ORDERS: YOU CAN ARRANGE WITH YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR STANDING ORDERS TO BE ON FILE AT THE HOSPITAL WITH REGARDS TO END OF LIFE ACTIVITY. THESE COULD INVOLVE DNR ORDERS (DO NOT RECESITATE) AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE.
BY PREPARING THESE NOW, YOU MAKE THE CHOICES AND SPARE FAMILY MEMBERS FROM HAVING TO MAKE THEM. WHILE YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR WOULD HAVE THIS INFORMATION ON FILE, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO LEAVE A COPY WITH YOUR FORMAL PAPERS SO THAT YOUR FAMILY IS PREPARED.
FUNERAL FILE: NOW I REALIZE NO ONE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT FUNERALS, BUT A BIT OF PREPARATION CAN RELIEVE A LOT OF STRESS ON FAMILY. THIS FILE NEEDS TO BE KEPT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER, OR THE PERSON WHO IS GOING TO LOOK AFTER YOUR FUNERAL. IT SHOULD NOT BE KEPT WITH YOUR WILL OR OTHER PAPERS AS MOST WILLS ARE READ AFTER THE FUNERAL. THIS COULD BE KEPT ON FILE AT THE FUNERAL HOME AS WELL.
WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES OF A FUNERAL?
1. TO WORSHIP GOD: WE SEEK HIS COMFORT AND PEACE AT A TIME OF LOSS.
2. TO PAY RESPECT TO THE DECEASED. WHILE THIS IS NOT THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE SERVICE, IT CAN BRING COMFORT TO THE PEOPLE ATTENDING.
3. TO EVANGELISZE AND GIVE HOPE. TO SHOW PEOPLE BIBLICALLY THAT THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH, THAT THE GRAVE IS NOT OUR FINAL HOME, AND THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE A DECISION TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS TO INCLUDE IN A FUNERAL FILE.
1. NAME OF THE FUNERAL HOME TO CONTACT: THIS IS MORE OF A FORMALITY, BUT IS IMPORTANT IN THE CASE OF A PRE-ARRANGED FUNERAL.
2. FINANCIAL ISSUES CAN BE PREPARED IN ADVANCE. TELL YOUR FAMILY HOW MUCH YOU WANT THEM TO INVEST IN A FUNERAL AND HEADSTONE, A RECEPTION AFTERWARDS.
3. A PLAN FOR YOUR SERVICE. INCLUDE THE NAMES OF PALL-BEARERS, WHO YOU WANT TO OFFICIATE AT THE SERVICE, PLANS FOR COMMITTAL (PRIVATE OR PUBLIC), PRINT OUTS OF THE SCRIPTURE YOU WANT READ AND COPIES OF THE MUSIC YOU WANT USED.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR MUSIC INCLUDES BOTH LYRICS AND SHAPE NOTES AS HYMNBOOKS CHANGE AND MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME YOU NEED THEM.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE FAMILY MEMBERS MAY NOT HAVE A CHURCH UPBRINGING AND MAY NOT KNOW YOUR WISHES REGARDING THESE MATTERS.
CONCLUSION:
J.P.MORGAN IS NOTED AS BEING THE MOST INFLUENCIAL BANKER IN HISTORY. WHEN HE DIED IN 1913 HIS CHILDREN HEARD THESE POWERFUL WORDS RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING.
“ I COMMIT MY SOUL INTO THE HANDS OF MY SAVIOUR, IN FULL CONFIDENCE THAT HAVING REDEEMED IT AND WASHED IT IN HIS MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, HE WILL PRESENT IT FAULTLESS BEFORE THE THRONE OF MY HEAVENLY FATHER, AND I ENTREAT MY CHILDREN TO MAINTAIN AND DEFEND, AT ALL HAZARD, AND AT ANY COST OF PERSONAL SACRIFICE, THE BLESSED DOCTRINE OF THE COMPLETE ATONEMENT FOR SIN THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, ONCE OFFERED, AND THROUGHT THAT ALONE.”
WHAT A POWERFUL STATEMENT. YOU CAN PREPARE SUCH A STATEMENT FOR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TODAY, SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES, YOU MAY DIRECT THEM TO THE SOURCE OF YOUR HOPE, AND ALSO BE A GREAT COMFORT TO THEM, KNOWING YOU’RE SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS. YOU ARE HOME.
