Session 5 – Gary Johnson

Gary’s session – wow.  I’d have taken a lot more notes, but I was too busy listening. His session was…amazing. Convicting, encouraging…

This brother has gone through the crucible. His session was such a massive blessing for me, because he, having gone through so much, is still faithfully plowing. Very huge encouragement for me.

This is going to sound like a litany, but – get the MP3.

Seriously.

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• We must be willing to suffer.
• Timothy ministered in a time much like our own.
• In all things, show yourself a pattern of good works.
• Paul, instead of coddling Tim, gave him a challenge to buck up & stand strong for the truth of the Gospel.
• Gideon's men, the impossible odds simply steeled their hearts.
• Fervent disciples are those who are steeled by the challenges.
• There is a kind of suffering unique to pastoral ministry, to those who preach the Gospel.
  • Paul tells Tim: You will have times when you feel isolated in a crowd, so alone...but it's worth it.
• Get burned, & we gain a tendency to pull back, become isolated, less transparent or vulnerable - fight that tendency!
• Jeremiah was in ministry - and misery - for forty years.
  • God called Jeremy to buck up.
• Why does the farmer suffer - for the privilege of being the first to partake of the sweet fruit.
• 2 reasons to just press on:
  • 1. Remember the Lord
  • 2. Remember the elect