1) A Senior Pastor (SP) who ate lots of humble pies and remain teachable and faithful to GOD, in spite of what he and his family are going through; the hurt, humiliation, grieve, etc that they face and endure.
2) Honouring GOD and obeying; following instructions from His Word. Because SP obeyed and trusted GOD, GOD used a group of church members to celebrate his 60th birthday with cake-cutting in church and a dinner attended by members and friends. This encouraged not only SP, his family but also the members of the church. The event was aimed at building bridges, showing love and reinforcing the fact that we are one in the Body of Christ. There maybe fractures but the true Body of Christ cannot be broken. 1 Cor 1:13 "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"
3) Despite the above sufferings, SP continues to persevere in prayers and walk with GOD. Walk your talk! Be an example to the flock of sheep GOD has placed under your charge. Show us what it means to believe in a Sovereign GOD.
4) Looking back to the first EGM where one of the elders announced the board's decision to 'transit out' the SP, GOD has caused things and situations to happen, raised members to be part of His work, bit by bit, just like He led the Israelites in Exodus 23:22,30.
5) SP sought the Lord and heard from Him through the Scriptures, through members and circumstances, to be bold and courageous, to stay and continue to serve as SP in the church.
6) Upon reflection of the above, there are positive things that came out of the group whom the Lord has raised, giving feedback and enforcing unity, love, forgiveness, reconciliation and building bridges in the Body of Christ Jesus although others may view them differently. May GOD grant us clear eyesight and not tainted ones to see His hand working through this group of members.
7) GOD brought us all into this family of His for a purpose.
Romans 12:6-8
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let us practice what we preached - to love and accept one another. Many are not having a good time; they do not feel loved, not feel accepted, have been hurt again and again by the so called brethren in the Body. May we have the eyes and heart of Christ to see them as He would. Love and accept them as Jesus would - don't see them with tainted eyesight and wrong perceptions. They are also human beings with feelings.
May GOD open our eyes and hearts, be obedient to Him and learn the lessons of the Israelites; not to harden your hearts or be rebellious to His grace upon us and the church.
Ephesians 4:1-8, 17-24
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it say: “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives and He gave gifts to men....
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
