MESSAGE NOTES
Tonight’s ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i words are Kahu and Kahuna. Kahu means guardian, leader, priest, or pastor and is most often used to refer to a Christian pastor. Kahuna, while most often is used to refer to a priest of traditional Hawaiian religions, technically refers to an expert at any profession. You can be the Big Kahuna of surfing or piloting or cooking or computer programming. You name it.
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:11-13
ποιμήν ~ poimén ~ GREEK
the shepherd, the feeder, the protector and the leader of a flock of sheep. Figuratively, the Bible uses the term to refer to someone God raises up to care for the total well-being of Jesus’ flock of followers.
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. ~ James 3:1
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:1-5
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:5
I’ll be honest, the second half of that verse was very appealing to me, having just successfully led many people to Christ, in a very adventurous way with Campus Crusade For Christ. YEAH! Do the work of an evangelist! Fulfill my ministry. SOUNDS AWESOME! What a fulfilling path for the rest of my life! Sharing what God was teaching me! Seeing people become Christians! Fulfilling for sure! I confess, I kind of glossed over the first half of that verse when I first accepted God’s calling on my life. I read it too fast and it didn’t really sink in for many years. I missed the warning. Let’s look at it again:
Sober is the Greek verb νήφω ~ néphó
Literally it does mean to be sober, to abstain from getting drunk on alcohol. But Paul is also using it FIGURATIVELY to mean be be serious. Be alert. Be vigilant. Be circumspect. Keep your wits about you. Stay free from the intoxicating influences of sin, avoid selfish passion and greed and a desire for power. Maintain clear judgment and presence of mind.
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. ~ 1 Peter 5:1-4
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:5-7
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9
Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. ~ Matthew 9:36
People NEED pastors. Kahus are needed. Kahus matter. If God calls you to be a pastor, obey the call, whatever the cost. It’s not easy. It is the hardest thing you will ever do. But, I believe someone hearing this message tonight, has been feeling the call. If you think God might be calling you to be a kahu, a pastor, send me an email and let’s talk. Some of you tonight online are already serving as a pastor and you are ready to quit. Send me an email and let’s talk. This world, now, more than ever, needs pastors, kahus who are sober in all things, who endure hardship and who, as evangelists, as proclaimers of the Good News, will do whatever it takes to fulfill their ministry. AMEN?