I have quite a few friends who are in the ministry and recently many have told me that they are throwing in the towel and getting out of the ministry forever.
Hmmm . . . I hate to see so many good people get so discouraged as to quit something that they clearly love, but admittedly it’s a tough business. There are long hours, lousy pay, and lots of criticism being hurled at them from every direction.
Satan does not like people in the ministry and I believe singles us out for attack. Being under demonic attack 24/7 is tiresome. One reason I’ve been successful in business is that I persevere and refuse to quit. The pain of this life often seems to be more of a driving force in my quest for success than a deterrent, and it seems that the more pain I endure the harder I work.
Since I’ve entered the ministry I’ve found it very difficult to maintain that same level of tenaciousness and optimism that I enjoyed in the secular workplace. I receive hate mail every day whereby I’m soundly criticized for what I’ve written in Words for the Day, or the bad language in my book, or whatever. The timing of it really sucks too; it seems I receive the most severe criticism when I’m already discouraged, dead tired, and/or already frustrated enough to choke the life out of someone.
I talked to a friend of mine just yesterday who is a successful singer/songwriter who spends nearly every weekend going into prisons and trying to win souls by spreading the Gospel of Christ. Recently some crazy loon has begun telling anyone who will listen and posting on the Internet that my friend is trying to steal her husband. Nothing could be further from the truth and in fact she doesn’t even know this lady’s husband, but nonetheless there are those who would rather believe the lies of this lunatic than the truth.
My friend called me and asked what she should do. I told her to ignore her and maybe she’d just go away. If it doesn’t stop, then there is always the legal system, but that is a costly proposition, especially to someone in the ministry.
The Bible makes it plain that those who stand up for the Lord will suffer and be persecuted. Indeed all one has to do is look to Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan, Africa, Indonesia, China, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere around the world to see God’s ministers being martyred for standing up for Jesus. Right here in the United States our government and liberal press is labeling those of us who believe the Bible to be true as right wing fanatics and potential terrorists. There will come a day when we too will be jailed for our belief system.
The Bible predicts this behavior in Matthew 15 and it should come as no surprise because the Bible is truth. It states: “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved”.
I’ve often wondered why God allows His faithful to be persecuted so. I found the answer in Luke 12:12 where it states: But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.
Not listen carefully to the conclusion of this verse: It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony . . .
And what happens when we give our testimony? Check out this letter that I just received and you tell me . . .
“Good Morning Bob – I communicated with you a few times a couple of years ago while going through my divorce. I had been considering suicide and you were one of a few friends that helped me through that time. You featured a couple of our emails in WFTD & in your book, which I enjoyed reading.
Well, life has changed, jobs have changed, and life has gone on. I was at a motorcycle rally in Boone NC this weekend. It was a beautiful setting in a valley of the mountains. When God wants to make a picturesque scene, he does it! While sitting there, looking out over the motorcycles and the mountains, I realized that I was finally happy again. It took a few years, but it happened. God led me out of a terribly dark place. He put friends like you into my life when I needed them and now he’s putting friends in my life that need me. Life is still life, and things go wrong, but overall, I’m good now. I just wanted to say thanks for being there for me a couple of years back . . .”
No wonder satan is attacking those of us who are willing to offer our testimonies. I have no doubt that satan would have delighted in seeing this man, (whom I’ve never met), commit suicide. Instead it sounds as though he’s now well on his way to helping others.
I say Bravo! All satan’s salvo of fiery darts accomplished was to heat up some yummy Smores for that old boy.
I’d ask you this morning to join those of us who have dedicated our lives to God’s ministry and offer your testimony as to what great things God has done in your life. Granted the hours are long and folks will criticize you for sure, but the pay is not lousy, because our rewards are everlasting and in fact are too bountiful to be counted.
If you cannot bring yourself to make the sacrifice to witness to others, at least say a prayer for those around the world who are dedicating their lives to fulfilling God’s great commission (often at a great price). Prayer works and our ministers need it!
1 John 4:4
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
September 4, 2013 – Click here to listen