Ministry

From time to time I’ll be adding Scripture and comments regarding the ministry. We’ve been in the assistant position in churches for over 10 years. My husband has been an assistant to three pastors, two officially and one unofficially. I have worked as a secretary in two churches and a teacher in two Christian schools. There have been many times where I just needed God to validate what I was doing, for I knew my heart was right, but others around me made me doubt. God has been very good to provide an answer to each situation or question. Often He let me go through the fire with unanswered questions, only to give the answer months or years later. This has strengthened my resolve to submit and trust without knowing why, when or how.

Be sure your life is right before God and that you are in His will. Do not rely on others for validation. Consider all others to be as important in God’s eyes as you are. Put others’ needs above your own. Be kind, loyal, faithful, reliable, patient and usable. Stay in the Word EVERY DAY! My walk with God took a more consistant tone when I was faithfully in His Word daily. I have not missed a day since Feb. ‘04 because I listen to the Bible on an MP3 every morning as I get ready for the day. You too need to be consistent. Wonderful truths will be revealed to you if you are consistent.

If you are hated by others for your faithfulness in God’s ministry, remember, Paul went throught the same thing: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) I am an enemy to no one, but find that I have many enemies – even in the church. I work at putting others’ needs ahead of my own and aim to be a servant to others. Then perhaps I may ascertain that the person who hates me, or sets themself up as my enemy, must hate me because I give out the truth. I do my best to be true and faithful. I cannot be responsible for how others receive my message if my message is also God’s message. If we are on opposite ends and I know I’m on the side where God resides, what does that tell you about those who are my enemy?

It is my hope that what I have learned will help you go through the fire with resolve. Just remember, some things take time. God’s timing is not our timing. Just because it appears God has not dealt with a man or situation doesn’t make it true. Fortunately God is longsuffering toward us and others. But that doesn’t mean He is not in control or is letting something slide. He knows what He’s doing!

1. What if things are going on behind the scenes that are not right?

Luke 12:2,3 “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”

2. What should I do if people around me, including my authority, chastize me, penalize me, or even fire me for doing what I know God called me to do?

Luke 6:21-23 “Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”

3. How do we handle the trouble others bring into our lives?

Galatians 6:7-9 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

4. Why does it seem that God prospers those who hurt those of us who faithfully serve Him? (Things are not always as they appear.)

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”

5. What is my responsibility toward those in our church who do not “fit the mold” of a typical Christian (talented, lovely, wise, smart, etc.)? Remember, few of us do fit this description. I know for sure that I don’t. You can tell the spiritual temperature of a ministry by the way they treat those who contribute little to the day to day operation of the church.

Matthew 25:35-40 “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

6. Why should I be content to sit idly by while others hurt me? How can God use my pain?

I Peter 4:12-16 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.”

Philippians 3:8-10 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

7. Why do people seem to hate me when I’ve done all that I can to serve others?

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” I John 4:20

8. Is it wrong to be glad God removed you from a hurtful situation?  Unfortunately for me, I’m the type of person that doesn’t know when to quit. I stick with a situation until God makes it impossible for me to be there any more. In a way, I’m my own worst enemy because I take faithfulness and loyalty a bit too far most of the time. Each time I’ve had to leave a ministry it’s been through heartache brought on by another person, someone I loved and was loyal to. I believe God uses that to separate my heart so I am more willing to follow His leading away. I guess God is acting like a surgeon; I know He doesn’t enjoy  hurting me but there’s no other way to bring health into my life than to cut out the offending part. The good news is that each time He’s moved me, He’s given me something better and has always healed my heart in the process, bringing me a greater ministry. That is what I hold on to.

Mark 6:11 “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”