Thursday, May 8, 2008

Did I go or was I sent?

This question has haunted me at times since I began ministering in 1986. It seems as though true success has evaded my grasps in most every area of my life, as a Pastor, Evangelist, and Accountant with my own business, husband, father and child of God. Nothing has ever come easy for me, or my family. It seems there has always been a challenge to succeed, or at least what most consider success. After a while one begins to question whether he/she is in the will of God or not. We live in an era of church ministry that is bombarded with success preaching, dominion theology, ask and it shall be done faith, and God wants His people to be successful sermons. How does the small church Pastor compete with the mega churches of today? Statistics as I understand them point out that 95% of most churches are under 100 in attendance. In recent years, there has been an exodus from the ministry by scores of preachers that have given up, whether because of finances, church splits, personal sin, or whatever, there are fewer and fewer ministers that are sticking with it, refusing to bail out, refusing to crater to hard times or challenges to their ministry.

At times, I listen to and read articles from a website that I really like called sermonindex.com. Today as I was researching and studying I came across an article that really ministered to me, and to be quite honest it gave me a rebuke that I needed. I’ve included a portion: “What do you focus more on – where is the greatest desire of your heart? Do you seek more after revival or after Christ and Him being formed in you? Do you seek more after signs and wonders or after Christ and Him being formed in you? Do you seek more after ministry and results or after Christ and Him being formed in you? Are you content to never see revival, signs and wonders and give up your ministry counting all these things as dung to become more Christ like? Christ and Christ being formed in us must be our supreme focus and the desire of our heart and only then will these other things flow naturally from our lives and only then can we truly be used of God by the Spirit.”

Oh how I pray to crucify this wicked flesh of mine. That part of me that craves attention, craves worldly success, and even craves to be known as one that “did it right in Jesus”. That kind of thinking is a false humility and craving of the flesh. I pray to be hidden in Christ, to be conformed to his image, which is His greatest desire for our lives. I repent of trying to bring results so others can see what we are doing for the Kingdom. I pray to know Jesus as Lord and King. Lord if I went, and was not sent, forgive me. Lead me into your perfect will and deliver me from the deception of my flesh. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Can God fearing Pastors really survive this generation and continue preaching an uncompromised message of repentance filtered through grace? What if the results don’t come in? What happens if people refuse to listen? Do these things mean we’re not in the will of God? Maybe we did “just go”, and were not sent. What about Noah, a preacher of righteousness who warned the people of his day of a coming Judgment and only his family was saved? And Moses, after he was called from the burning bush, struggled in the desert for 40 years until he was empty of himself and his own ability to deliver the nation of Israel. If Jesus Christ himself were living and walking among us today, how many would follow him? If history repeats itself, as it does so often, it wouldn’t be that many. In His greatest hour only a few remained faithful and continued to walk with Him.

In conclusion, as a minister of the Gospel, one sent by the Lord, I’ve learned that I must leave the results up to God and preach or prophesy in love what the Lord has given me, nothing more and nothing less. “Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

David, sometimes I think we all look at the "success" of others and don't see the struggles behind those successes. For success doesn't come without a price, anyway or anywhere. BUT having said that, I also realize that as a follower of Christ, I am to die to self and live for Him. Therefore it is HIS success that is to be my priority. His goals are to become my goals. And that is exactly what I think you are saying. Keep preaching the WORD in love, keep ministering, and keep loving your beautiful and amazing wife! And THAT is where you will find success when you hear our Father say, "Well done!" And that is what matters most!!!

I've grown up in the A/G church and believe the doctrine. But sometimes I do think we get caught up in "doing church" instead of being focused on the Christ of the resurrection. No church will be the answer until that church learns to reach the lost and minister to the people in the community. When our neighbors see Jesus in us, THAT is when we're glimpsing a bit of "success" if all at.

God Bless!!!