Child Of God Ministry'sPresents Pr. Michael Bryan
Spiritual Food
The Book Of Knowledge
Are you called to ministry? Before you answer, let me say that I believe every Christian is called to some kind of ministry. I think this ministry call is plainly stated in Scripture. Often when we think of "ministry," the first thing we think of is the Ephesians 4:11 five-fold ministry list -- the apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist. But Scripture makes it clear that t...See More- The Book Of Knowledge
Child Of God Ministry'sFurthermore, my self doesn't need anyone's help. It is fully capable of managing my life apart from God. It is fully capable of guiding me firmly along the "broad road that leads to destruction." (Matt 7:13 NIV) But my Bible teaches me that my "self" has but one destiny from God's view, the cross. Did Jesus not say, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"? (Matt 8:34 NIV)
PR Michael Bryan
Presents
Spiritual Food
The Book Of Knowledge
Are you called to ministry? Before you answer, let me say that I believe every Christian is called to some kind of ministry. I think this ministry call is plainly stated in Scripture. Often when we think of "ministry," the first thing we think of is the Ephesians 4:11 five-fold ministry list -- the apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist. But Scripture makes it clear that there are other ministry calls such as administrators, those who give, those who govern, workers of helps, dispensers of mercy and so forth. (See Rom 12:8.) And I also believe that every ministry must include regular prayer, continual Bible study, sharing Jesus with others, teaching Bible classes, and on-going involvement in Christian works.
So far this call to ministry sounds good, doesn't it? We are moving in our gifts, being a Father pleaser, and having good, on- going fellowship with other believers. In fact, it sounds great! But anyone who has served the Lord for a long period of time has already learned that there are pitfalls in our ministry walk.
It is easy to find those who have been set back or injured by some event or snare of life. I regularly encounter Christians who were once fully committed to ministry but who are no longer involved in any way. They are no longer following Jesus in the work of the ministry. They have been sidetracked. Usually these people can tell you why they are no longer in ministry. They can point back to some event or circumstance that knocked them out of the race. Most are still in the church. They are simply not moving in their call.
The object of this teaching is to identify many of the pitfalls that the circumstances of life, our own sin, and/or Satan uses to knock out God's ministers, as well as to provide the Biblical basis for overcoming such pitfalls.
Entrance Into the Ministry
Entering into ministry can roughly be divided into three phases. They are 1) the call, 2) the preparation, and 3) the ministry. For most of us these phases overlap as we grow in Christ.
1. The Call
Sometimes the call to ministry is very specific and can be marked to a time or an event in one's past. I have known many whom God called to ministry during an altar call in a church service. I have known others to whom the Holy Spirit simply spoke. Still others began doing what they were called to do without even realizing "the call" at the beginning of their work. Their service just came naturally to them. Often these people have never thought of themselves as called ministers.
2. The Preparation
The amount of preparation varies with the call. For example, those who preach and teach must prepare more thoroughly in the Word than those who do not. However, all preparation for every Christian ministry involves gaining a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Sometimes this includes Bible school, sometimes not.
A diploma or graduate degree doesn't necessarily certify one for ministry. The Holy Spirit often certifies one for ministry before any such diploma is received. Only the Lord knows when each person is ready. Ministry and training can take place at the same time. There is no one correct way training takes place. But rest assured the Holy Spirit will train each person for ministry if he or she is willing.
3. The Ministry
As Christians begin to mature in their call, the Lord gently gives them opportunities to move using the gifts encompassed within the call. At this stage there is usually great joy in the hearts of the young ministers. Why? Because for the first time they experience the joy of "co-laboring" with Jesus. They feel the exhilaration of speaking or acting under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Often this exhilaration includes fresh new visions of the Lord's harvest by our new minister.
The Testing of Ministers
But God tests all who respond to His ministry call. His reason for testing is not that He might then reject us, but rather that, like Apelles, we may be tested and approved in Christ. (Rom 16:10) The Apostle Paul mentioned this testing process in his letter to the Thessalonian church. He wrote, ". . . we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel." (I Thes 2:4 NIV)
For most, little time passes before the testing begins. Perhaps at a Sunday evening service a young boy receives a call to preach. On Monday he works up enough courage to share God's call on his life with his friends. They respond to his "ministry" with laughter and ridicule. The testing has begun! The time comes for him to receive formal Bible training . . . and there is no money . . . the testing continues. Two years into his pulpit ministry a severe sickness lays him out . . . the testing goes on. We have all heard the stories. And all who have responded to their ministry call can tell their own similar story.
If we are to stay in the race, then we must learn to pass the tests that come along. In order to do that, we must know 1) their purpose, 2) God's objective, and 3) the Biblical principles involved in overcoming them. Let us first look at Jesus to see how His testing relates to these three points.
The Testing of Jesus
It is important for us to recognize that even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, underwent severe testing. Even He had to prove Himself able (the purpose) before the awesome task of the redemption of mankind (the objective) began. Let's look at Jesus' testing as recorded by Luke:
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone.'"
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered, "It is written: `Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
"`He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, "It says: `Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (Lk 4:1-13 NIV)
Unfortunately, many of us look at Jesus' temptation as being unique to Jesus. We mistakenly think that His temptation has no relevance for us today. That is not so. We are also tempted by the devil. Let's examine the Biblical principles Jesus used to overcome His temptations.
a. Turning Stones Into Bread
I have never been specifically tempted to turn a stone into bread. But I have been tempted by the devil using the same principle. The principle of this temptation is:
To accept the devil's provision in place of God's.
Adam was tempted by the devil using this principle and he failed that test. God gave Adam the Tree of Life for food, admonishing him not to eat from the Tree of Death (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the devil's tree). The devil succeeded in causing Adam to come to him for his food. The Bible says that the devil's fruit was ". . . good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom. . ." (Gen 3:6 NIV) Here is a very important observation: the issue is not whether something is "good" or "bad." The issue is always where did it come from? Yes, the devil's fruit can appear to be good. So "good or bad" should never be the test. The only valid test is to examine the source. Where did it come from? Did God provide it? Or did the devil?
Now let's bring this temptation down through the ages. Where is the pitfall for us today? It is simply this: any time we go to any source other than Scripture we are turning stones into bread! It is so significant that Jesus used the word of God as His response in all three of Satan's temptations.
I want to apply this principle specifically to the area of preaching. Any time we go to any source other than Scripture for messages to preach, we are turning stones into bread! Now I am not saying that we cannot draw from the writings or sermons of others. The Lord may well lead us to use them as a source of learning.
What I am saying is this: Satan has packaged the fruit of his Tree of Death as attractive loaves of bread. For example I am convinced that much of the "self-help" teachings used by many ministers today are the devil's bread. Most such teachings that I have heard or read are designed to assist the Christian in attaining some desirable goal without the painful trip to the cross. Put simply, it often teaches a crossless Christian life. But this is not possible in true Christianity, is it?
Yes, Self-help preaching may cause your church to grow. Self-help teachings on "how to have a happy marriage," or "how to control your anger" may bring more people to your church. Teachings on "how to increase your church's giving," and so forth will indeed increase the giving, but at what cost? Now, don't get me wrong. These are great topics and they should be preached. But the basis of every message must be solidly grounded in Scripture.
The best way to get a church to grow is to allow the Holy Spirit to control it. The best way to have a happy marriage is to make it Christ-centered. The best way to control your anger is to be crucified with Christ. The best way to increase your church's giving is to make the Holy Spirit the treasurer. Every self-help teaching that is not riveted to Scripture is a subtle substitute used in place of the Holy Spirit.
b. The Kingdoms of This World
What is the significance of Satan's offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if only He would bow down and worship him? God's will is to establish His kingdom on earth. Part of God's plan was that Jesus had to fulfill His destiny on Calvary to usher in the kingdom. Satan offered Jesus his kingdom in place of God's! It was painless, no Calvary! Had Jesus accepted Satan's offer, there would be no kingdom of God on earth today as we know it.
Satan is still offering earthly kingdoms to us in place of
God's! All anyone must do to get his or her own kingdom is to do it the world's way. Use all the right techniques, the right music, make the church "seeker-friendly," and substitute good, soothing, ear-pleasing messages in place of preaching the cross on which Jesus suffered, bled and died.
And this illustration is only one example of how to have one's own kingdom. There are many, many ways to do it. Satan is printing new brochures almost daily. But the only way to enter into and possess the kingdom Jesus died for is through prayer, trials, heart-break and much pain -- the same way Jesus ushered in the kingdom through the New Covenant. Of course, our Lord gives us great and wonderful blessings along the way. But our way, if it is also God's way, always includes the cross.
c. Throw Yourself Down From Here
When Satan tempted Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy: "Do not test the Lord your God . . ." (6:16 NIV). Notice that Satan cleverly quoted Scripture in his attempt to lure Jesus. But Jesus saw that the real issue was testing God and He refused to do so.
Unfortunately, I'm afraid many of us "jump" not realizing that in so doing, we are testing God. In fact, I myself recently jumped from the pinnacle of the temple! But with the help of the Holy Spirit I finally saw my error and have received the Lord's forgiveness. Here is how it happened:
Some years ago the Lord promised to supply our needs as we fully obeyed His leading to travel, minister and write. This worked well until we encountered a long period of financial shortfall. Funds began to decrease as our publishing expenses rose. The situation continued until we began to use some credit to fulfill the Lord's instructions to us.
One day I became quite angry over the situation. I told the Lord, "You said that if we obeyed, You would supply our needs. You never said that we would borrow money to do Your will! Now, God, where's the money?" Very shortly after that showdown with God, I was reading the Psalms when these verses leapt from the page to smite my heart:
But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the desert?" (78:17-19 NIV, emphasis added.)
I can assure you that when I saw these verses I was fully aware by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that I had done precisely the same thing Israel had done. I had done what Satan tempted Jesus to do. I had put God to the test. Besides that I saw another, even more painful Scripture:
In the desert they gave in to their cravings; in the wasteland they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. (Ps 106:14,15 NIV, emphasis added.)
After repentance and confession, it has now become my intent to apply another Scripture . . . "a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Ps 51:17 NIV). I have resolved never again to jump from the pinnacle of the temple!
The Cross Versus the Comfortable Lifestyle
Every human being has a desire for comfort. I don't think this is wrong. Nor do I condemn comfort or those living in comfort. I enjoy comfort as much as the next person. But when this desire for comfort becomes a primary life concern or motivation it can quickly become a snare to our ministry call.
There are those in ministry today who have managed to hold a steady course through many of the pitfalls until the issue of creature comfort comes along. Then they become hopelessly ensnared. They have strayed from God's will in order to live a more comfortable lifestyle. Notice that I am not necessarily blaming Satan for this one. I view this pitfall more from our own flesh than as a device of Satan's.
Now I am not saying that if any Christian or any pastor/minister is living in comfort he is in the devil's snare or has somehow compromised his or her ministry. Here is the issue: Did he or she abandon God's will for the comfort he or she now enjoys? Or, if God wants to take away his comfortable lifestyle and place him in a hardship ministry, is he unwilling to do so? If the answer to either of these questions is "yes" our minister has traded his ministry call for comfort. I know a missionary couple who were living in comfort in an African nation when God called them to start all over in the austere, hostile environment of another country. They said, "Yes! Lord" without a moment's hesitation! They were not tied to a comfortable lifestyle. They passed the test with flying colors. But there are others who would remain in comfort rather than leave it for God's will.
It is our flesh that craves the comfort. The cross crucifies flesh. It puts flesh to death. If flesh is dead, the comfort it craves is also dead. Paul knew this for he tells us that he had ". . . learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. . ." (Phil 4:12 NIV) What he is saying is simply this: if you have comfort, be grateful for it and enjoy it. If not, make the best of what you have and keep the goal of your ministry call in full view. Paul was willing to suffer any discomfort, any hardship, or any indignation for the sake of Christ. We too, must be willing to give up any comfort to move in obedience to His will.
In Part II of this teaching on the pitfalls of the ministry call, we will examine several specific ways Satan uses to snare us.Spiritual Food
Chapter TWO
The devil has "big guns" that he uses to shoot at those in the ministry
Part I of this teaching on the pitfalls of ministry, we examined God's call on every believer's life and the testing of those who respond to His call. We also examined Jesus' temptation by Satan. We now continue with how Satan tempts each of us as ministers of the Gospel.
Satan's Big Guns
I'm not sure it is possible to identify all of Satan's devices. I do think, however, it is fairly easy to identify the devices he uses most often to cripple or to render ineffective those whom the Lord has called to the ministry.
I like the analogy Reverend Costa Deir uses to illustrate the principles contained in this article. Costa says the devil has "big guns" that he uses to shoot at those in the ministry. If we learn about these guns in principle, then we will recognize them when they come along. Here are some of the "guns" Satan most often uses.
1. Discouragement
We are all aware that there are times when things don't go well in our ministry. In fact, there are times when things not only aren't going well, they are bad! These times are some of the devil's best opportunities to target you with his discouragement gun.
Here is how this gun works. When your ministry isn't going well the devil begins to relentlessly invade your thoughts. He usually fires these thoughts (Ephesians six's fiery darts) into your mind in the first person, making you think they are your own thoughts. He will cause you to think thoughts like, "I lost two families last month. The offerings are down." Through your thoughts he reminds you over and over of how bad things are.
Another way the devil aims at you is that he often sends his friendly messengers along. These messengers have traditionally been called "Job's friends." They come to you pointing out all your faults. They tell you what you should have done. Not only do they point out how bad things are, they often predict that it's going to get worse!
The devil fires this gun of discouragement at you again and again, day after day, night after night, until it has the desired effect -- you become so discouraged that you lose hope. You may even stop praying. Maybe you start to believe that God has forsaken you. If you let this happen, the enemy has hit his target!
2. Self-Pity
After the discouragement gun has rendered us discouraged and maybe even hopeless, the devil then targets us with his self-pity gun. Here is how this gun works.
Again, the devil comes in a soothing, pitiful voice. "I feel so sorry for you," he will say. "You don't deserve this. You poor thing! You've done nothing wrong." Then he gets to his real motive, "If God really loved you, this wouldn't be happening to you."
He continues on and on until you are swallowed up in self- pity. Self-pity not only consumes you, it can also make everything God's fault! Satan certainly has succeeded if you start blaming God.
3. Fear
This gun can be used at any time, but the devil usually reserves it for those times when things aren't going well. He often uses it in relation to our health or finances. Here is how it works. Things are going well until one day you notice some discomfort in a part of your body. As the days pass it gets worse. Then comes the voice that says, "You've got cancer! You're going to die!" And the icy fingers of fear begin to grip your heart until that fear has paralyzed you.
Or, he may use fear concerning your finances. When things aren't going well financially the devil begins to taunt you with worries. You are awakened from sound sleep at 2 am with nagging thoughts like, "How are you going to make it? How are you going to feed your family? How are you going to pay the bills . . . ?" These worrying thoughts persist until fear consumes you. And again, the voice of the accuser always tells you that God has forsaken you and that He isn't going to intervene. If you allow this kind of fear to grip you, you will end up believing that you are all alone and forsaken by God.
4. Greed
Greed is one of the most effective weapons in the devil's arsenal. Greed usually takes the form of a desire for more and more money since it is with money that we try to satisfy our desire for things. The Apostle Paul recognized this pitfall when he said, "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." (I Tim 6:10 NIV) In the Parable of the Sower, Mark refers to this pitfall as "the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things." (Mk 4:19 NIV)
The devil's greed gun usually begins by convincing you that "you deserve better or even the best!" He will whisper in your ear, "God's servants shouldn't be poor. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He is rich. You're a child of the King. You should have more!"
Once the devil has convinced you of these things then he begins to tell you that the end justifies the means. You can "stretch the truth" a little here, "bend Scripture" a little there, "withhold a little information here" until you maneuver yourself into more and more money.
In fact he may even convince you to begin to take money directly from the church treasury! At first it starts out as a "loan." An emergency comes up and you haven't the money to meet a need. The devil says, "There's money in the church account. You could borrow some until next pay day. No one would ever know. You can pay it back. Go ahead, it's OK." Now he has a church official taking money from the church!
Soon this "borrowing" becomes a regular occurrence. And ... with the passing of time, the idea of paying it back has long since departed. The devil's greed gun has downed another victim. (Of course, this same principle applies to believers in a business setting too.)
5. Power and Control
Power and control work differently but are close cousins. One who covets power seeks to gain authority over others. One who seeks control strives to manipulate those under his power to force them to act according to his desires. The devil knows if he can hit Christian leaders with this gun then he has succeeded in terminating their effectiveness in the kingdom of God. If he can bring a leader under the power of this gun, he has made a little "god" of him. Once that happens God can no longer effectively use this person. Why? Because he no longer needs the Holy Spirit - he is his own power source.
Have you ever been in a meeting where it was evident that every decision was being controlled by one individual? No one said or did anything apart from the subtle directions given by the spiritual "master of ceremonies." Everything is under control. Even the Holy Spirit is shut out. Yes, we all have been in such meetings. The "master of ceremonies" has been hit by the control gun!
Or take the individual who is always saying and doing things to gain the favorable attention of his denominational leaders. He often orchestrates circumstances that tend to promote his own image, even at the expense of his peers. This is a leader who has been targeted and hit with the power gun.
6. Illicit Sexual Desires
The devil learned long ago of the power of sexual desire in human beings. God intended this powerful force to be used as a bond, holding husband and wife together. God intended it to be used with love and gentleness as a blessing to mankind as well as for reproduction. But the devil has perverted sex. In his scheme sex is "high entertainment." To him it is for all to use anytime, anywhere, with anyone, and in any manner. The devil has succeeded in selling this concept among many in the world today. The devil has learned that when he can contaminate a Christian leader with this lie he has brought down another of God's ministers.
Some years ago I sat in stark unbelief listening to a well known international evangelist who was accused of sexual misconduct with young women. He told the group of ministers who confronted him that, "Jesus was always accompanied by young women wherever he went, and He freely used them for His sexual gratification." Therefore it was OK for him to take young women with him as he traveled and used them for his own sexual gratification!
Is there no limit to the power of the mind to justify sin? I think not when one has been hit with the devil's illicit sexual activity gun.
7. Pride
Our Christian is now in a season of God's blessing. Things are going well. If he is a pastor, the church is growing. The messages have been good and well received. It seems that everything he or she does prospers. His family is doing well too, his children are serving the Lord.
The devil comes along to examine this minister and his work. He thinks, "well, my discouragement, self-pity, and fear gun certainly won't work here! I know . . . I'll use pride! Here is a perfect target for my pride gun."
Then the devil comes subtly to our minister telling him that all of these good things are happening because he is better that the other ministers in the community. "You are special," he whispers. "You are so good! You really know how to preach. There is a 'special' anointing on you. God is blessing you because you deserve it . . ."
The victims of this gun often take on a sort of slick ministry image. Their ministry resembles a smooth-running business of the world. There are many, many casualties in today's church who have been shot through with the devil's pride gun.
8. Health
It is common knowledge world-wide today that certain foods taste good but can be damaging to our bodies. From time to time cultish groups arise who are extremely health conscious. They only eat certain foods prepared a certain way. Most often these cults are associated with demonic rituals and various forms of false religions.
Once I was traveling with a powerful brother in Christ. I observed that he was very particular about the food he ate. I thought, "Surely he isn't one of those 'health food' cult people!" Curiosity persuaded me to ask him why he was so particular with his food. His answer was direct, to the point, and still rings in my ears. He said, "If you lose your health, you lose your ministry. This body doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Jesus and He has made me the care taker of it."
I gained a whole new perspective on my health and physical well-being! The devil would love to trim ten to twenty years off your life, or he would love to give you a stroke and leave you disabled. But good eating habits are not the only things that contributes to our health.
In some of the nations I have visited, people love to drive fast. They drive far too fast for the road conditions. In so doing, they are opening the door wide to a sort of self or demonically orchestrated destruction. They are putting themselves as well as completely innocent victims in a position to be killed or maimed. I know of a number of pastors and missionaries who are either dead or unable to continue ministry because of auto accidents.
I realize this isn't a pleasant subject but we must remember my brother's words, "If you lose your health [or life!] you lose your ministry." This is one gun the devil loves to fire. It may take the Lord twenty to thirty years to produce a good, balanced, powerful minister. If the devil can trim a few of the last and most fruitful years from that ministry through sickness or accidents, he has won a great victory.
I believe that these eight big guns of Satan's have brought down countless ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news is that as we stay steady, and as we continually fix our eyes on Jesus and on His word, we can overcome every trap the enemy has for us.
Worries of This Life
Another pitfall for our ministry is that of worry. When Jesus taught the Parable of the Sower to the multitudes, the disciples came to Him later and privately asked Him to explain it. The first two categories of seed do not generally apply to those well along in ministry, but the third category does.
This is the seed that fell among the thorns. Jesus said of this seed, ". . . but the worries of this life . . . come in and choke the word making it unfruitful." (Mk 4:19 NIV, emphasis added.) This is a genuine snare that all of us must be on constant guard against. Countless are the ministers of the Gospel who have had the power of their ministry drained away through worry and anxiety.
Some folks are born worriers. Their minds are continually projecting "worst case scenarios" into all of life's circumstances. "What if this or that happens?" (This could also be a ninth gun of Satan in that he can stir up these thoughts too.) The tragedy of this way of thinking is that Jesus has promised us that if we "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these thing will be given to you as well"! (Matt 6:33 NIV) It is a simple matter of priorities. If we put Him and His kingdom first, then He supplies all our needs. There are times in every Christian ministry when we simply must rivet our eyes on Jesus and keep on keeping on. We simply must discipline our minds not to worry. We must do what we are instructed to do in Philippians:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (4:6,7 NIV)
Persecution As a Pitfall
I know that it is difficult for some to understand why so many ministers are persecuted. But we must remember that Scripture makes it clear that ". . . everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (II Tim 3:12 NIV, emphasis added.) Let me identify and distinguish the causes of persecution. Sometimes we are persecuted because we have either sinned or made mistakes. This is not being persecuted for the gospel's sake. It's the natural consequence of our own sin or errors.
But there are other times when we are persecuted for adherence to and obedience to God's word. That's persecution for the gospel's sake. Such persecution can often easily be avoided by compromising our stand on God's word. But compromise is a very dear price to pay for avoiding persecution!
Let's identify the sources of persecution. As I see it, there are three principal sources, 1) from outside the church, 2) from inside the church, and 3) from family and friends.
1. Persecution From Outside the Church
The church of Jesus Christ has suffered persecution in every age, at least somewhere in the world. For those Christians who live in countries where non-Christian religious leaders dominate the government, persecution comes from attempting to practice even the most fundamental tenants of our faith.
For others who live in freer societies, the persecution may come from taking a strong stand on an issue, whether it be political, social or moral.
2. Persecution From Inside the Church
In the heart of every human is the capacity to rationalize. Often this human rationalization requires the twisting of Scripture. Then those who have twisted Scripture become self- righteous and convinced that they are in the right.
These situations occasionally exist within segments of a local church, sometimes even within the leadership of the church. With the passing of time their hearts grow hard. They become:
. . . darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. (Eph 4:18 NIV)
Then one day the pastor, or a prophet, exposes this situation and begins to shine the light of Scripture on the sin. The guilty parties may attempt to viciously persecute the exposer. This is persecution for the gospel's sake within the church. Bearing persecution under these circumstances is indeed sharing in Christ's sufferings! Jesus was persecuted when He spoke the truth about the Pharisees.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt 5:10-12 NIV)
3. Persecution From Family
Persecution can also come from our own family and friends. Unbelieving family members may persecute a member of the family who is a Christian because of his or her stand on sin. But believing family members may also persecute another family member who is a Christian and who takes a stand against them because of their sin. Jesus said,
"For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughterinlaw against her motherinlawa man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'" (Matt 10:35,36 NIV)
Conclusion
One may ask, with all these pitfalls to our ministries, where is the victory in Jesus? Let me end by reminding all of us of God's promise in Romans, chapter eight:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:3539 NIV)
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Spiritual Food The Book Of Knowledge
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