Today I would like to share with you 1st Corinthians 4:9-11, “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.” Now I share this to be an encouragement, but also for all of us to think about the ramifications of what’s being said. There are two viewpoints, those who are ministering and those who are being ministered to. Then there are those who know both sides of this situation. People in the church are looking to those who are in ministry, to the pastor. They want help when trouble comes, but have no problem bad mouthing, cursing and cussing out, taking advantage and having some twisted idea of what will help them. The wear and tear can be crazy. It can lead one to feel frustration if it were not for the Holy Spirit. Satan comes and accuses us and makes us think we are incapable of anything. This is why we must stand on the promise of “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” We must never lose sight of the calling that Jesus gave us. We must endure to the end with no compromise nor second guessing. We must remember, each person must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. We can only lead them to Jesus, but Jesus will do the rest! If you feel like you have been rejected, they are not rejecting you, but Jesus. This causes us to appreciate even more those who have been mentors to us. I have always been grateful to them in my life. I also want to encourage you to remember those who have been mentored by you, that have quit and become angry. They are casualties in the spiritual war. They have become wounded and taken out by Satan. We must pray for them because only the Lord can help them. We must pray for those who have been successful in the Lord, that the Lord maintains their strength, and we must pray for each other in ministry. This is because we have suffered the damage of others through selfishness, gossip and anger. Only Jesus can fix it. May we who continue in ministry be faithful to the end, walking in solid doctrine and always loving the people, even when people are self destructive.

By Levi Moran