Pastor Robert Stewart - Beyond the Walls

It would be remiss of me not to say thank you to all of you who are here to witness this occasion. Thanks to Almighty God who called me from my mother’s womb. Thanks to my parents, now deceased who loved me and cared for me. Thanks to my brothers and sisters with whom I shared a cherished childhood. Thanks to Bishop Stewart who pastored me for over 39 years. Thanks to every member of the church family who loved me. Thanks to my extended family, friends and co-workers who believed in me enough to be here. Thanks to my two sons, Robert Jr. and Zachary who tried my faith, pulled my tongue, aged me, but most of all allowed me to be their father. And finally thanks to my sounding board, my best friend, my wife of 36 years. She sustains me with prayer day and night.

William Faulkner (1897-1962) was awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1949. In his acceptance of the Nobel prize he said and I quote, “I feel that this award was not made to me as a man, but to my work - a life’s work in the agony and sweat of the human spirit, not for glory and least of all for profit, but to create out of the materials of the human spirit something which did not exist before. So this award is only mine in trust. It will not be difficult to find a dedication for the money part of it commensurate with the purpose and significance of its origin. But I would like to do the same with the acclaim too, by using this moment as a pinnacle from which I might be listened to by the young men and women already dedicated to the same anguish and travail, among whom is already that one who will some day stand where I am standing.”

For me today is indeed that day that I have ascended the pinnacle of my life. A pinnacle that exposes me to the eyes and ears of Jamaica and indeed the world. A pinnacle that exposes me to the scrutiny of the past, the present and the future. My every word and action will now be judged even by those who are not without sin. But I will endeavour to be guided by the word of Romans 12:1-3:

1. I beseech you therefore Robert, by the mercies of God, that you present your body a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.
2. And be not conformed to this world but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3. For I say through the grace given unto me, to everyman that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

It is my intention by the grace of God to serve faithfully as a servant; to take seriously the admonition of the apostle Paul to young Timothy; to preach, teach, rebuke with all authority; to be instant in season and out of season with the word.

In 1939 and 1940 when Hitler was preparing for aggression and England was faced with grave danger Sir Winston Churchill was called upon to succeed, as Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. He made a famous speech called “Blood, sweat and tears” in which he said and here I quote; “I say to the house as I said to Ministers who have joined this government, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.”

Today I say our policy is to be found in Ephesians 6:11-12

• Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
• For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

So we are prepared to go beyond the walls, whether they are physical, spiritual or political. No wall for us will be impenetrable. It may cause us blood sweat and tears, but like a mighty army we will by the power of God pursue and overtake. The perimeter walls of this church will not limit us. We will not stop until Eastern Kingston becomes a model of godliness and excellence. We will go beyond the walls by equipping a generation of believers to defend their faith.

Going beyond the walls suggests growth. But let us remember that it does not matter how tall a tree grows, it is still dependent on its root for sustenance. Our root is our foundation delineated in the book of Acts. It’s a foundation built upon the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone. We are Apostolic and that apostolic distinctive must be visible in the mosaic of the Jamaican culture. Our role as a church is not to be sucked into the vortex of an ever-changing pseudo culture, which dehumanizes our people, but rather to challenge the culture with a Christ-centered alternative. We must earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the apostles. And let us also remember that the size of one's congregation is not necessarily the best measure of one's effectiveness. The changed lives that we see within our church community and the community around us, the positive impact on the society are better guides to measure our effectiveness. Don’t be fooled by the crowd.

But I say to you PGT, let us from this day endeavour to arise and take back Eastern Kingston for God. Let us say to the hills and valleys around us “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

SO I say arise Pentecostal Gospel Temple Conquerors, arise Pentecostal Gospel Temple Victors, and arise Pentecostal Gospel Temple Overcomers. We are one in Christ the Lord. Though the foe is nigh, the battle sore, but by his grace we will win. Let us build on the shoulders of Wilbert Obadiah Stewart and Carmen Lois Stewart. This church must be a centre of excellence and our reach must go beyond the walls.

I close with another quote. “I have not come clothed in the vesture of my past. Nor will I use the opinions of this world as my defense. No, I am far wiser through things I have suffered. Therefore I have come in my Father’s name. He has anointed my head, counseled my fears, and taught me who I am. I am covered by his anointing, comforted by his presence, and kept by His auspicious grace. Today, as never before, I stand in the identity He has given me and renounce every memory of who I was yesterday. I was called for such a time as this, and I have come in my Fathers’ name!”

Good night and God bless you.

Pastoral Response
Pentecostal Gospel Temple
111 Windward Road, Kingston 2, Jamaica
Sunday, February 28, 2010