Shepherds’ Conference 2010 – Friday Morning Notes from Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson was the morning speaker for the Shepherds’ Conference.  If you would like to watch live streaming, go here.

Turn to I Corinthians 16:13

The contemporary Evangelical movement is exactly like the Corinthian culture. It is comforting that everything we are dealing with Paul dealt with in Corinth.  Our whole current culture is confused by spiritual things.  If you want to have a valid and God-blessed ministry you need to avoid the current trends.

Look at the passage, I Corinthians 16:13.  All the commands are military orders:
Be on the alert
Stand firm in the faith
Act like men
Be strong

This is the summation of what Corinth needed to do.  The Christian’s existence in this world is a battle not a banquet.  Most Evangelicals don’t get this.

Do a google search on “Holy Ghost, Hokey Pokey” and tearful testimonies.  This represents a sizable growing district in the current Evangelical zoo.  Evangelicals don’t think we are at war.  Read blogs who talk most about being missional and you might get the idea that being a friend of the world is a gift.  “Friendship with the world is enmity with God”.

What is at stake in this world is eternal. Souls are perishing in this conflict.  It is an ideological battle.  Our weapon is the truth, the Word of God, the Sword of the spirit.  Our triumph won’t be final until Christ returns.

Does your preaching reflect this?  Are you conscious of the battle?  You are not called to be an entertainer.  You are not merely an educator, counselor or coach, you are to be a shepherd in a war zone.  You must have courage, faith, vigilance to go against the wolves, lions and bears.  The weapons you have are sufficient for the task.

Don’t relish conflict for the sake of conflict.  Don’t have anything to do with ignorant controversies.  Titus 1 “many mouths must be stopped”.  We live in a culture that has lowered the tolerance for phony gentleness.  “Let’s just agree to disagree”.  The refusal to fight for truth has done much damage.  Lets agree to argue until one of us refutes the others and we come to the correct conclusion.  We have a lot of housecleaning that needs to be done.  Throwing truth under the bus is not charitable and does not promote unity.

Paul was a determined warrior.  An example for us to follow.

Be on the alert
Stay awake, be attentive, alert.  This is used 22 times often referring to being ready for the coming of Christ.  It is used three times in Matthew 26 meaning practical, prayerful watchfulness for a day that is coming.  The mass of Evangelicals ignore this command, or ignore it.  Many are too arrogant to think they need a warning like this.  Evangelical shave no stomach for this duty.  The need for vigilance today is more needed than ever.  I Tim 3:1-5 – Paul says to avoid such people.  Be on guard against false teachers and be ready for Christ’s return.  Be watchful over your words, your life, and on guard against Satan.  Above all watch onto prayer.  “Watch”  Live as if you believe the Lord could return at any moment.  The Lord AND the enemy are at hand.

Stand firm in the faith
This is an echo of the closing verse of I Corinthians 15:58 – “be steadfast, immovable…”  This virtue has lost its luster in this time.  We are suppose to refuse to be dogmatic or have conviction.  Dogmatism is to be avoided, diversity to be cultivated and tolerance is never having to say you are wrong. It is our duty to be precise, see Colossians 1:23 “stable and stedfast, not shifting”  We are not to be like children, Ephesians 4:14  . Stabilty is a good and precious virtue, especially for leaders.  In 2 Peter 3:17 double-minded men are unstable.  The worst kind of stubbornness is not being steadfast.  Psalm 78:8 and 37.

Is Jesus really the only way to heaven?  You need to be ready to answer this question from the world.  Many have flubbed this on Larry King – if you go on his show be prepared for that question!  If you are the type of pastor that changes his opinions with every wind, get out of the ministry.  The goal of our study should not be constant shifting of our belief, but our steadfastness in Christ.  Paul doesn’t want to zeal and vigor in arguing a point of view, but rather firm belief and settled assurance, in short, spiritual maturity.

Act like men
Be manly.  The TIV translation says simply “be courageous”, which is only an aspect of this word.  The Greek word is saying you be yourselves manly, play the man, in modern terminology – man up.  Masculinity as opposed to femininity.  This was a challenge to Corinth and fits a large segment of the Evangelical world today.  Courage, strength, boldness, daring, gallantry, machismo, or to work.  Adam was to work, tend the garden even before the fall, he had to work hard.  We are to redeem the time, you can’t exclude that from this.  A call to arms, a summon to battle, defend the faith in a manly way.  This is written to the whole church, not just the leaders.  There is a sense that even the women needed to develop this strength.  It is of particular duty for the leader to develop this.  Act like men!  “Quit you like men”, some Evangelicals mistook this message as “quit being men”.

The typical Evangelical church is weak and womanly, and demand that preachers be soft and dainty, tone down severe texts or the tone police will be after you.  Evangelicals favor feminine themes, personal relationships, our “felt” needs, we are hurting people…they are a bunch of fops and milksops…we are suppose to be soldiers!  They want you to always be agreeable, delicate in everything we say and do.  This sounds like rules for figure skaters not warriors.

Paul tells Corinth to man-up, be straight forward, bold.  He is talking about character and conduct.

Be strong
To withstand opposition and persecution.  You will need to be able to endure controversy and contempt, abuse of every kind from the intelligencia and the dregs of the world alike.  They will try to oppose you just like they did Christ.  If they hated Christ they will hate you.  Things will go from bad to worse.  You need strength to stand in the battle.  Our weapons are not of the flesh, it requires character and integrity.  Christ supplies this strength.  Colossians 1:11 and Philippians 4:13;

Verse 14 Let all that you do be done in love.  Read The Jesus You Can’t Ignore for how Christ dealt with the Pharisees.  What should our motives be in the fight?  The purpose is to free those held in bondage to the wrong ideas.  The love of Christ sought us and compelled us to go into battle with Him.