By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville
Baptist church
I dedicate this sermon to the man who passed on the torch
of the Lord to me. His name is
Ronald George Sr. I will never forget the evening that he and Mom told us that
he had been called into the ministry. We
were sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows on the family farm in
Nicholas County. My sisters
and I didn’t know what that meant, but know we realize that our lives would
forever be changed. He has been a
pastor for the last 27 years. And
now he is semi-retired as he continues to pastor the First Baptist Church of
Cowen, WV. My father or Dad, as I
refer to him, has been the torchbearer of the fire of revival to me. He is my
father, dad, pastor, and friend. Although
he never directly pressed me to become a preacher of the gospel as he is, but
he is the one who directly influenced me to love the Lord as he has.
Even though he never had the opportunity to have a formal Seminary
education he has studied and prayed for over 30 years in his efforts to preach
the word of the Lord as God would have it to be.
I have seen him persevere through troublesome times and remain faithful
to the calling of God in his life. I
have seen him patiently strive to lead others to God in 9 different churches
as their pastor. With a desire to
serve the Lord and a faithful woman of God at his side he went wherever he
felt the Spirit of the Lord leading him.
From the town to town he went to pastor and serve the people of God.
He continues to go in obedience to the calling of God in his life.
Although he is semi retired he still seeks to lead others to God where
he and mom now live in Craigsville, WV.
I hope to continue as he has through thick and thin to lead others who
God allows me to opportunity to serve. May
the life I live be that which God will use as He sees fit to bring others to
salvation and to stir up the fire of the Spirit so that people are encouraged
to step out in faith to follow the God of the ages.
Just as my Dad inspired me to step out in faith to serve the people of
God, so did Moses inspire and lead Joshua to become the next leader of the
people through the wilderness.
Scripture Text:
Deut. 34:7 And Moses [was]
an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his
natural force abated. 8 And the
children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the
days of weeping [and] mourning for Moses were ended.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom;
for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened
unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
10 And there arose not a
prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
11 In all the signs and
the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh,
and to all his servants, and to all his land,
12 And in all that mighty
hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all
Israel. Josh 1:1
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass,
that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is
dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people,
unto the land which I do give to them, [even] to the children of Israel.
A.
What is the torch of Revival? The
torch of revival is the burning presence of the Lord in a person’s life. Knowing the Lord and going with the Lord in your life should
change us. The Lord gives a
passion for people and a desire to let others know of the glorious life you
can have with God. If you knew of
a way to give your friends and family the greatest treasure to be found on the
earth we wouldn’t hesitate to pass it on, but what about the treasure of the
presence of the only true living God. Will
you pass it on?
B.
How can we pass it on?
- Carry
the torch as far as you can go. Remember
the time will come when you will pass on the torch.
You aren’t going to live here forever.
We have to prepare for the inevitable.
Make sure that all you know have the fire in the hearts.
How can you make sure that they have God? Pray and give so that will have opportunity to have the
Lord. God will do the rest
that is required to enter into the lives of those who you love and care
for. But, we must be the
vehicles that God will use to lead the people as Moses led them.
- See
the vision of the Lord. The
vision of a land of milk and honey for the people to enjoy.
Open your eyes to all that God wants to give you and those you
know. See the vision of the
Promised Land that flows with milk and honey.
It is a glorious place where the presence of God is seen and felt.
- Look
for another to bear the flame. Who
will carry the torch of the fire when you are gone?
We all know someone that God has placed in your life.
They are the ones that God wants you to give the torch to.
Moses had Joshua. Who
do we have? Dad has given the
torch to me. Who will I give
it to?
- Lay
your hands on them. The
next step is to begin the process of giving them the torch.
What if they don’t want it?
Well, we have to pray and let the Lord have the opportunity to work
in their lives the way that He has worked in yours.
Once God has done his part then allow the Lord to use you to get in
touch with them. Pass on the
torch by getting in touch with them.
Pray for them and tell them all that God has told you.
Give it to them.
- Follow
the commands of the Lord. Get
together with the Lord. We
must be going with the Lord before we can tell someone else.
- Know
the Lord face to face. Moses
knew the Lord face to face. Do
you know the Lord face to face? How?
Through prayer we can be in constant touch with the God of all
creation.
- Allow
the Lord to work through you. You
are the pipe and the Lord is water to a thirsty people.
C.
How can we receive the torch?
- Get
together with the Lord. What
if you are the one who is receiving the torch? Then you can pick up the work and experience the
presence of God in your life as Joshua did.
Go with the Lord.
- Listen
to what He says He wants in your life.
Many voices in the world are calling out your name.
I have been helping to coach my daughters’ softball teams.
One of the problems in coaching is getting through to those you are
trying to help to play the game. But,
there are others who are trying to tell them what to do too.
Whose voice will you listen to?
Are we listening to the right voices in our lives?
Listen to the voice of the Lord as He speaks through others who are
following Him.
- Catch
the vision. Have you seen
where God wants you to go and have you seen where God wants you to take
the others in your life. Joshua
could see the promised land and he lead the people of the Lord across the
Jordan River to the place that God had prepared for them to enjoy Him.
Have you seen it? It
is the place that God wants you to lead the Joshua’s in your life.
Pick up the torch and pass it on.
Don’t let the line of passing stop with you.
Pass it on.
- Pick
up the torch and go with the Lord. Will
you pick up your place in the race?