DON’T RETIRE, JUST RE-FIRE!

You’ve heard the saying, “DON’T RETIRE, JUST RE-FIRE”!!

I. Peter 1:6,7- In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little season, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by FIRE, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Many leaders, especially pastors, are continuing to resign, many of them “burnt-out” from stress, financial pressures, marital problems, and even spiritual problems, such as being expected to be “all things to all men” and just simply working themselves into a frenzy in trying to please their church!

Of course, most of this is brought on from an “out of order” system of “the pastor” having to fulfill too many duties, have all the answers, and basically, do everything themselves! Americans, like Israel of old, desire a “king”, one who will go out and fight all their battles and they can applaud, while sitting back taking no responsibility for their own lives, blaming everyone else!

First, to solve this problem, each leader must come to a place of REST, where they can recoup, recover, and regroup, as they re-solve their situations while finding out the order of God for their lives, family, and ministry!

Secondly, they must “repent from their ‘dead works’, be re-newed in the spirit of their mind, and be re-freshed by the Holy Spirit”!! Then, you can ‘re-discover’ your calling, your identity, your gifts and your purpose in ministry!

Thirdly, you must have relationships that can help you target the ‘trouble-spots”, as Apostle Paul wrote in I. Thess. 5:12-14- And we urge you, brethren, to know (recognize) those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you (instruct or warn), and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort (encourage) you, brethren, warn those that are unruly (subordinate or idle), comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

Also, Gal. 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

After being raised back up and restored, then you can 1)  RE-SIGN, instead of ‘resigning’ or being ‘resigned’ to the situation. 2)  Be RE-FINED through the purifying process of I. Peter 1:7 that just as gold is tested, or refined by fire, you can come out as “PURE GOLD!

Then, 3) and importantly, you can be RE-TOOLED!!!  To’ retool’ is similar to the word ‘restore’, from the Greek word “katartizo’ was used in secular Greek for setting broken bones, and for the disciples when being called by Christ in Matt. 4:21 for “mending the nets.” Another word is to be made “complete”, as in an “improving, equippiing, training disciplining. It includes making the necessary adjustments and repairs.

And finally, from the same word as restored but translated “framed” in Hebrews 11:3 which means “to arrange, set in order, equip, adjust, complete what is lacking, make fully ready, repair, prepare. Then, you are able to be “fit out with a new set of equipment and tools, thoroughly furnished and equipped unto every good work.”
(2 Tim. 3:17)