Gregg's Rest Stop (Burned Out vs Poured Out)

Published: Mon, 03/18/13

Gregg's Rest Stop

March 18, 2013

Journey in Christ

Burned Out vs Poured Out

	*If I am being poured out* *as a drink offering* *on the sacrifice and service* *of your faith,* *I am glad and rejoice with you all.* *(Philippians 2:17)* I have been feeling more physically tired than usual for a few months. I know this is due, in part, to growing older. Even my twin sister will be 58 years old this year! I know this is also due, in part, to trying to do some things with fleshly self-efforts. I have also tried to keep walking and running exercises that I really love doing. However, I am also increasingly aware of a deep work of Christ in me pouring out His life through me for others. So I've been recently thinking a lot about the difference between becoming burned out and being poured out. BURNED OUT There is a difference between a long life and a full life. These are not necessarily exclusive of each other. However, the world focuses on a long life. A sole focus on a long life is also a subtle focus on an empty life. A long, empty life always seeks to fill the inside emptiness with things from the outside. Yet, because the world has nothing fulfilling, this futile pursuit ultimately leads to burn-out of one form or another. I believe our enemy's fiery darts are intended to burn out Christians. When Christians do not believe, or do not know the truth, about already being full in Christ, they fall for the enemy's deception that they are empty. Out of this perceived emptiness, Christians strive to "be on fire for the Lord" instead of resting in "being on fire with the Lord." Even a Christianized version of self-effort will ultimately burn out. Note: About 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month in the U.S. POURED OUT We can rest and flourish in the following truths: You are complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10) You are already full! You are already rich! (1 Corinthians 4:8) The phrase being poured out in our Rest Stop verse (Philippians 2:17) is passive voice meaning we do not pour out ourselves, but are poured out for others by God! The phrase being poured out is also present tense meaning that our entire lives are to be a continual living sacrifice to the Lord for His use for His glory! Our Rest Stop verse is a New Covenant testimony based on how a drink offering was poured out onto a burnt sacrifice under the Old Covenant. The drink offering would vaporize as a sweet aroma unto God. This is soooo profound, but suffice it to say that only a full life can be poured out, and a life can only be filled full to overflowing by the life of Christ Himself! Jesus said, "I have come that you may have [My full] life, and that you may have it more abundantly [overflowing to everyone around you]." (John 10:10) CLOSING Ministry is not what we do with the Lord's help. Ministry is what the Lord does through us! We burn out on our own. However, the Lord is eternal life; He never burns out. We will become exhausted at times, but we will never burn out if we believe we share His life. I believe you would be greatly encouraged and challenged as I am by the words of Oswald Chambers in the PS section below, words that well describe the discipleship ministry to which we all have been called. At the end of our lives, may our valedictory be as Paul's: I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:6-7)

Jesus said to Peter, Feed My sheep, but He gave him nothing with which to feed them (John 21:17). The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that until others learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus directly, they will have to draw on His life through you.

You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." God saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your source and He is your supply. All my springs are in You (Psalm 87:7).

Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up - not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity.

About

Discipleship through

Counseling

Teaching

Training

Gregg Gibbons

Pastoral Director

Michael Chalmers

Training Director

Kellie Boggs

Fellowship Director

Joy Gibbons

Ministry Assistant and women's ministry coordinator

Carole Blyth

Board member and women's ministry coordinator

Randy Garrick

Board member and Elder Holly Ridge Baptist Church

Paul Crews

Board member and Pastor Mountain Creek Baptist Church

Journey in Christ website link

Partnership

I believe with all my heart that ministry is through relationships.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you for your partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:3, 5).

YouTube link below of my ministry commissioning service that included testimonies from several partners, including Bobby Richardson, former 2nd baseman for the NY Yankees.

3-minute discipleship video

Please contact me to learn more about partnering with me. I'd love to hear from you!

Ministry News

Gregg is mentoring teenagers, men, couples in an office donated by Holly Ridge Church in Simpsonville SC.

Michael is mentoring men and couples in offices donated by three churches Greenville SC.

Gregg teaches freedom in Christ at The Haven of Rest mission in Anderson, SC Mondays 6:00-6:45 pm. You are welcome to attend with Gregg anytime!

Gregg will be speaking again at the Bar None Cowboy Church April 25. A new church in rural Laurens County SC.

Carole and Joy leading discipleship Bible studies Feb thru April for 7 female employees at a manufacturing plant.

One of our training graduates is partnering with Hunts Memorial Baptist Church of Greenville SC to teach at a women's retreat April 19-20!