Dr. Mike Jones

PASTORAL APPRECIATION MONTH!

Free Gospel Churches of the Apostle’s Doctrine Family and friends, I come before you, this glorious Monday morning with the monumental task of providing Words of Encouragement to a man that I have come to respect and admire, a man that I am glad, in the humblest sense of the Word to call My ‘Spiritual Father” in the Gospel!

To First Lady & Senior Pastor [Dr. Shirley M. Green]: any member in their right mind should realize that there would be no successful Free Gospel Church(es) Ministry, without her beside him assisting, every step of the way. To be honest with you, and I’ve been [here] in ministry for 37 years, and I can honestly say, that very few people know that it takes a very special Woman of God, to be a Pastor’s wife and First Lady of a thriving ministry. First Lady [Green], I salute YOU, and say in the same breath, thanks for being an example to others here in the ministry, and those that are watching you two from afar.

From the beginning, God has called men like Bishop Ralph E. Green to serve His People.

Let’s look at a few men that answered the call of God:
•Abraham left his homeland – and sojourned to a strange land.
•Moses forsook Egypt and its riches – refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
•Daniel faced the lions and bears – before he became King.
•Saul left the Sanhedrin, which was a life of power and prestige – before he became the Apostle Paul, who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament.

And … for a number of years, Bishop Green, who was a very successful business venture and boxer, made those gifts in his life, secondary, to prepare himself for the call of the ministry, that God had placed on his life, and burned within his heart. I’m sure that WE ALL CAN SAY AMEN, AND PRAISE GOD THAT HE ANSWERED THE CALL!

Truth of the matter … in this day and time, we need more godly men and women like Bishop & First Lady Green, who are willing to stand tall and stay true to God’s Word. With all the ministry scandals we’re seeing  played out on TV or reading in the newspaper or on the Internet, it’s a blessing to sit under strong leaders; especially, when statistics indicate that about 1,500 pastors leave their assignments every month in the United States because of conflict, burnout, or moral failure.

 But Bishop Green’s Love for the Lord speaks for itself. You know as well as I do, that we’re living in an ungodly and lawless time, and the [TRUE]church is constantly being asked to lower our moral standards and expectations … become part of the “Emerging Church” which says, “We really can’t take the Bible literally, because my interpretation of some Scripture is totally different than what You believe; so let’s agree to disagree, because no one really knows what God meant in various passage, so your interpretation is right and so is mine: Loving one another differences is what’s keep in the Bible!  [This type of Church is a vital part of the fastest growing church movement sweeping America – and you see it with the so-called, “Seeker Friendly Church Movement!”]

 Bishop & First Lady Green wants YOU to follow them as they follow Christ: that is to exemplify Christ in your life, that men may see your good works and glorify Christ in you. And how do they want YOU to seek after God?

 Here are the four ways a person can seek after God:

1. Diligently – “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

 2. Humbly – “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:6) There’s a blessed season.

 3. Honestly – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

 4. Obediently – “For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.” (2 Corinthians 2:9)

 Why do they want this for some of you: because they know the necessity to train up good effective leaders to take their places, when they’re gone off the scene, or if the Lord moves them to a higher calling to go and establish another Free Gospel Church in this region; and at times, they’re going to have to send some of you back to check on the saints, that are a part of the other church(es).

 The Apostle Paul saw the need for it – and he’s the perfect model to follow, since he wrote much of the New Testament. Listen to what he said in Philippians 2:19-22, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

 [In a nutshell, what is Apostle Paul saying: I’m sending someone that has My heart for ministry, and I know you’re going to get good care from this person, because, it will be just as if I was there, caring for YOU! The person that I’m sending, won’t have their own agenda, won’t seek prosperity, and won’t seek popularity. Why do I know this … because they have MY heart.]

Some of you are saying to yourselves, but Dr. Mike, that was Apostle Paul and Timothy … what does it have to do with our pastor? There is a saying … “There are many churches, but there are few Pastors!” Again, Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:15, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”

See, people join churches for many reason: I know my late mom would have wanted me to belong to a church, this is the Bible Belt, so, I don’t want people to think I’m a heathen … and the reasoning list goes on-and-on. Simply put: these people soon becomes church hoppers … and if the leaders make them mad, you won’t see them for a long time to come!

 But when you’re connected to a PASTOR … a real godly man and woman, you can look to be: guided, taught, encouraged, prayed for, and equipped for the work of the ministry. [Where would Timothy and Titus be without Apostle Paul, where would Joshua and Caleb be without Moses, and where would Elisha be without Elijah, and where would the disciples be without Christ.]

 Free Gospel Churches of Christ, YOU should be so glad that you’re not only members of the right church that God led you too, but you should rejoice that you are sitting under the right pastors – Bishop Ralph & Shirley Green.

 To sum this message up: there are ministry organizations that are accepting pastoral resumes, because some of their local churches are (vacant) without a pastor. And God is speaking to those organizational leaders, and saying, “Don’t be in a rush just to fill that position … because I have just the person, who is right for the job!”

A number of years ago, some of you thought that Bishop Green was called to ministry because you became a part of Free Gospel Church … but the fact is, God called him to the position of Bishop of this thriving church, when he was in the womb of his parents.

 God said, I got just the man for a church that will be names Free Gospel Church: He’s a man after My own heart; He’s a man that won’t seek My glory for himself; He’s a man that will tell the people the truth of My word, and won’t lie to them for monetary gain; and last but not least, He’s a man that will constantly lift up My Son Jesus The Christ!

 Bishop Ralph & First Lady Shirley, I salute you both for answering the call to mentor God’s people. And stay faithful, and you will certainly hear God say, “Well done My good and faithful servants; enter into the Kingdom that I’ve prepared for YOU!”

 PRAYER:

 [Father] Thank you for the gift of Apostle/Bishop & First Lady Green, which your Word says you gave to your church “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12, 13).

 Thank you for his faithfulness to your cause, for the Bible says, “it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).

 Thank you for his personal commitment to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and to the Word of God.

 Thank you for the love he has for his wife [First Lady Shirley] and family demonstrating a stable and healthy family.  For the Scripture says of church leadership, “he must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect” (1 Timothy 3:4).

 Thank you for his thoughtful exposition of your Word, as he heeds your call to “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

 Thank you for his leadership in our church services and the orderly manner in which he leads us, seeking to fulfill the Biblical call that “all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

 Thank you for the interest that he shows in his flock under your supervision and the burden that he carries for your people.

 In Jesus Name!