Thus Saith God's Word
by Rev. Ted Brooks
God's sersants will lace opposition that will challenge their ministry
In the letters ol Paul we find these words: "For the love of Christ constraints
us: because we thus judge, that if one died for all. then were all dead..
"And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again." (II Corinthians
5:14-15)
We want to look and see what it was that would cause Brother Paul to be
able to stand, not only to stand but to stay. Earlier Paul had preached "We have
this treasure in earthern vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God
and not of us.
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we pare perplexed, but
not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also
of Jesus might be made manifest in our body; for we which live are always
delivered unto death for Jesus' sake that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us. but life in you." (II
Corinthians 4:7-12)
Here we have read that which was written by the great Apostle Paul over two
thousand years ago even when Jesus H imself predicted or prophesied "Go they
way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear my name before the Gentiles and
kings. For I w ill shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake."
(Acts 9:15-16)
The thing which causes Paul to stand and to stay was that he looked "Not
at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II
Corinthians 4:18) And today his sermons just keep going and going,
accomplishing more than any one thought possible, lfyou and I will be obedient
unto God. He will accomplish more than we ever dreamed possible, if we will
keep going and going and do not quit. Someone may ask is there sufficiency and
trials? Notice in verse fourteen., the Apostle Paul said that he was compelled
by the love of Christ. Oh my friend, the love of Christ is an encouragement that
never fails.
God's servants will face opposition that will challenge their ministry.
Can you imagine the Apostle Paul being accused of being dishonest and
insincere? His motives in serving were being questioned because false teachers
had moved into Corinth and were swaying the people against Paul. They were
unimpressed with his appearance and speaking ability and accused him of
being unqualified as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
We would like to think that when God calls us to serve him in vocational
ministry his people will receive us, love us and support us. This sometimes does
happen, but it is not so iri all churches.
There are many reasons for this. Certainly as ministers ofthe Gospel we have
our fair share of poor judgments. We miscalculate the feeling of the congregation.
We may overlook someone because ofbeing preoccupied with another's
burden of responsibility.
There are those with opposition because there is group in the church that
has determined they will run the church as they have done for years, even ifthey
have to lie.
Preaching does cause pain because the word of God demands a change in
us. "Old things are to pass away, all things are to become new." (II Corinthians
5:17) This, my friend, is why opposition will raise its head in your ministry.
The reason any minister will keep on in spite ofthreats and gossip is because
our aim is to please our Lord. Like Paul we are overwhelmed and mastered by
the great love of Christ. "For the Love of Christ compels us." (II Corinthians
5:14) "That they which live should not live unto themselves." It is you he hath
made alive who were dead iri trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)
Oh my friend, there are times I am perplexed, but I need not be in despair. Like
Brother Paul and Abraham of old, when I arrive upon Mount Moriah
that which God had demanded of me was made clear, the sacrifice which God
had demanded of me, was that which had given me great joy. It is on Mount
Moriah, my friend, where you approach the unseen. It is there that our souls are
more schooled and disc:plined by God. It is on Mount Moriah we shall find that
to offer ourselves and to lose ourselves is to find ourselves in God more
perfect.
When you study God's word you will find that it was the birth of Issac that
brought him nearer to God. The scripture tells us that God did tempt Abraham,
that God placed Abraham under trial. His fear of God was tested by this trial.
On one occasion Jesus asked Peter, "Lovest thou these more than me?" (John
21:17) Jesus was pushing for a reply. Peter who do you love, me or these?
It was long before that it had been settled when Joseph said unto his
brothers, "As for you, ye thought evil against me but God meant it unto good,."
(Genesis 50:20)
It was no accident that Abraham was up on Mount Moriah. It would be here
that God would pierce his soul. "He that lovest son or daughter more than me
is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37)
It was God himself who said "Abraham, take thy son, thy only son..."
(Genesis 22:2) This was no thought on Abraham's mind, it was the voice of
God. To take his own son upon Mount Moriah was not Abraham's plan. It was
not something he had sown into his own mind. It was the voice of God. It was
not a Sunday school teacher, not a Deacon, but it was a call from God. How
could this be? Gad calling for the very gift that has caused me all my joy? So
Abraham wanted to know the meaning of this sacrifice. So Abraham said "Here
am I." Could I ask the question to you, if God were to ask you that which you
dearly love, could you give it up and say here am I? "Take now thy son," You
see this was his favorite son. Abraham had two sons, but God wanted the one
he loved. The scripture tells us it was a three days journey, meaning he could
have changed his mind. The reason Abraham did not change his mind was that
it was God's voice that said, "Thy son, thy only son, bring him to Moriah." So
Abraham prepared the altar, the wood and the knife. His son is with him, but
in doing all this Abraham has seen and knows that he has already offered
himself. No man can bring anything to God til first he has given himself. That
was the offering God was looking for. When the real victim has been offered,
God will provide Himself a sacrifice. (Genesis 22:13) My friend, whatever
learned truth you have, it shall be tested. It will no longer be lip service saying "
1 go and then not go. My friend, on Mount Moriah is where you will find out
that "Our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:6)
Dr. R.G. Lee wrote, "The love of Christ is an inspiring force within and a
protecting environment without." What can we say but hallelujah, praise the
Lord. What a foretaste of glory divine. God's servants are encouraged by the
compelling love of Christ.,
Listen, you need to ask the question: whose are we? And why are we here?
Life will have its perplexities. We all will have our questions and be unable to
. explain many of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. What a joy it is
to be called up on Mount Moriah to recognize God's servants will live
unselfishly because they live for Christ.
Let me close with these thoughts of Brother Paul who faced opposition,
accusations ofbeing dishonest and insincere. As we said before, he was held
and questioned by false teachers. They got to where they were unimpressed
with his appearance and speaking ability and he was accused of being
unqualified as an apostle.
Some years ago I witnessed a minister who had been at this one particular
church for over forty years. Oh, they did the right things in telling him that
they needed another pastor because of his age and sickness, but they did it
in the wrong way. He was old and sick but they replaced him with another
who was o'd and sick.
The second old man got sick so they asked the first one to come and
preach. It was a sad occasion for the old preacher who for over forty years
had labored and now felt no longer needed. That particular Sunday he left
and went on out. His back bend and with the love of Christ in his heart, not
knowing in that just a few minutes he would hear the call and he replied
; "Here and I."
j Jesus declared, "It must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man j
by whom the offence cometh." (Matthew 18:7)
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OBITUARIES
Eddie Locklear
PEMBROKE-Mr. Eddie Locklear.
86. of 729 Eddie Road, died Monday
(Aug. 20).
The funeral was held at 3:30 p.m.
Thursday (Aug. 23) at Prospect
United Methodist Church, the
Revs. Bill J. Locklear. Marshall
Strickland and Dell Harris officiating.
Burial followed in the church
cemetery.
Mr. Locklear is survived by five
sons, Lee Kermit Locklear. Zeke
Locklear and Stanford Locklear. all
of Pembroke. Wade Locklear of
Lumberton and Leewood Locklear
of Maxton; two daughters. Celia
Gregory of Burlington and Bonnie
S. Locklear of Pembroke; two brothers,
Currency Locklear of
Lumberton and Fred Locklear of
Pembroke; four sisters, Edna
Locklear of Maxton, Carrie Jones
of Shannon and Mildred Locklear
and Ella Bullard, both of Pembroke;
23 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren;
and five great-greatgrandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by
Thompson's Funeral Home of Pembroke.
Stacy Hunt
LUMBERTON-Mr. Stacy Hunt. 77.
of 1001 Lowe Road, died Monday
(Aug. 20) at Southeastern Regional
Medical Center.
The funeral was held at 3 p.m.
Thursday (Aug. 23) at Deep Branch
Baptist Church, the Rev. James A.
Hunt officiating. Burial followed
in the Hunt Family Cemetery.
Mr. Hunt was bom May 21*, 1924
and is survived by his wife, Mae B.
Hunt ofthe home; a brother, William
Raeford Hunt, Whittier, Calif;
.VIM ? ntci um
two sisters. Celia I iunl-Thomas of
Williamsport, Pa and Myrtle HuntKerns
of Pembroke, a son. Samuel
Hunt of Bonaire. Ga ; two daughters.
Marie Hunt-Matson of
Vancouver. Wash, and Rita HuntMeyer
of Wh ittier. Calif.. and eight
grandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by
Locklear & Son Funeral Home of
Pembroke.
Hazel Locklear Chavis
PEMBROKE-Mrs. Hazel Locklear
Chavis. 51. of 828 Philadelphus
Road, died Tuesday (Aug. 21) at
home after a brief illness.
The funeral was held at 2 p.m.
Saturday (Aug 25) at Gray Pond
Baptist Church, the Revs. Horace
Oxendine and Lindbergh Chavis
officiating. Burial followed in St.
Annah Free Will Baptist Church
Cemetery.
Mrs. Chavis was born in
Robeson County on Jan. 20. 1950,
a daughter of the late I lubbard and
Bessie Blue Locklear. She was a
retired employee of J.P. Stevens
and was a member of Gray Pond
Baptist Church where she was a
Sunday School teacher, chairman
of the lay leaders and director of
the G.A.s and Acteens.
Mrs. Chavis is survived by her
husband of 22 years. Jerry Chavis
of the home; a daughter. Kerdette
C. LowTy and son-in-law. Mark, of
Maxton; a granddaughter. Kressa
Lowrv; four sisters. Shirley
Locklear, Normaie Lloyd, Frances
Kerns and Ruth Hunt, all of Pentbroke;
and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were handled by
Revels Funeral Home of Pern broke.
EarleneH. Hunt
FAIRMONT-Mrs. Earlene H. Hunt,
46. of 5948 Pleasant Hope Road,
died Thursday (Aug. 23) at
McLeod Regional Medical Center.
The funeral was held at 3 p.m.
Sunday (Aug. 26) at Reedy Branch
Baptist Church, the Revs. Chester
Chavis and Kent Chavis officiating.
Burial followed in the church
cemetery.
Mrs. Hunt was bom on Oct. 20.
1954 in Robeson County. Shewas
a member of Reedy Branch Baptist
Church.
She is survived bv her husband.
Roger Dale Hunt of the home; two
adopted sons. Dan Hunt and
Kendell Hunt, both of Fairmont;
father. Edsel "Jack" Hunt of
Fairmont, mother, Carrie Mae
Chavis Hunt of Fairmont; five
brothers, Alex "Son Jr." Scott and
Bracy Scott .both of Maxton; Clyde
Hunt of Kenly, Larry Hunt of
Clayton and Kevin Hunt of Georgia;
and six sisters, Maggie
Locklear and Genice Hunt, both of
Pembroke. Lessie Mae Locklear of
Maxton, Rosemary Deese, Elaine
McGirl and Angela Hunt, all of
Fairmont.
Arrangements were handled by
Floyd Funeral Services of Fairmont.
Carl Lambert Jr.
SHANNON-Mr. Carl Lambert Jr..
14. of 118 Fran St., died Friday
(Aug. 24) in Southeastern Regional
Medical Center in Lumberton.
The funeral was held at 3 p.m.
Tuesday (Aug. 28) in Freedom
Assembly of God Church, the
Revs. Montana Locklear and David
Locklear officiating. Burial followed
at the family's home.
Mr. Lambert is survived by his
mother, Lisa Lambert; his father,
Carl Jones; and stepfather, Danny
Hue Jones; a brother, Bobby Ray
Lambert; a sister, Fasha Lynne Lambert;
and his grandmothers, Susie
l.ambert and Velma Jones.
Heritage Funeral home. Red
Springs, handled arrangements for
the family.
Sallie Oxendine
RED SPRINGS-Mrs. Sallie
Oxendine. 92. of 8021 N.C. 710
North, Red Springs, died Saturday
at Sun Bridge Nursing home. Pembroke.
The funeral was held at 3 p.m.
Wednesday (Aug. 29) at Freedom
Assembly of God Church, Red
Springs, the Revs. Montana
l-ocklear and David Locklear officiating.
Burial followed in St. Annah
Church Cemetery in Pembroke.
Mrs. Oxendine was born in
Robeson County to the late Alex
and Missouri Revels Locklear. and
she was a housewife.
She was preceded in death by
her husband. Will Oxendine and a
son. Belvin Oxendine.
She is survived by five sons, Foy
Oxendine and Paul Oxendine. both
ofVass, Sim Oxendine of Wagram.
Pernell Oxendine of Charlotte and
Winston Oxendine of Aberdeen;
three daughters, Anna Mae Williams
of Vass, Betty Jones of St.
Pauls and Frances Oxendine of Red
Springs; a sister, Ruthie Brayboy of
Pembroke; 27 grandchildren: and 55
great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were handled by
Heritage Funeral Home. Red
Springs.
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