Ministry and Resentment

In my 25 years of ministry this is one of the main intersections that I have seen such horrible crashes occur at in leaders.

Going into ministry there is such a sense of purity of heart to help, build, empower, strengthen people, to love them and invest so they can aspire to God’s purposes.

THEN IT HAPPENS!

Someone in your ministry you love and invested mass amounts of time with, TURNS ON YOU!  They start saying how evil you are.  They do not recognize the love, the care, the hours, they now only spew venom at you.  Your head is spinning!  Your sleep is fleeting!  You strive to understand how one minute you could be their loving pastor, and now you are Satan’s tool.  The emotions, the rejection, the broken heart are what is rushing through your vessel.

I want to say this with all love, GET USED TO IT!

HURT, REJECTION, WOUNDS, BETRAYAL is part of the rest of your life when you choose to lead God’s people.

Jesus was rejected by His family, nation, friends………

SO THE ISSUE IS NOT IF IT COMES, BUT WHAT TO DO TO KEEP YOURSELF FROM RESENTMENT AND BITTERNESS WHEN IT COMES.

HOW DO WE NOT GET BITTER? Heb 12:15b, lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

Learn to FORGET!!

What?

I have made a choice to become forgetful!  When the wound comes (not if), when the betrayal happens, it hurts, but I made a decision that I will not remember it, even if they do not ask forgiveness.

IT IS A CHOICE, A DECISION.  This will keep your heart from getting hard toward people.

I choose not to get bitter!

I choose not to have resentment!

 Go to PRAYER

James 1:21, Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Ask Jesus to heal your soul.  Do not allow yourself to wallow in the wound.  It is not your right to wallow, you gave up that right to build resentment when you chose the ministry.

He will heal you, and when you see the person or persons, or they return to the church, then you do not treat them better or worse, you just love them like Jesus loves you.

THIS IS A SERIOUS INTERSECTION FOR YOUR MINISTRY.  CHOOSE TO NEVER HOLD RESENTMENT AND BITTERNESS WHEN THE JUDAS KISS COMES!

We offer FREE video leadership training via the Internet every Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00pm, and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm weekly.  If you’re interested then send your email address and receive the link.  Send your email address to drspencer@empoweringpastors.com.  Visit us on the web at http://www.empoweringpastors.com.

 

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Is Ministry Worth the Pain?

If you are in the ministry for any period of time you will have these questions ring through your mind!

“IS THIS WORTH ALL THE PAIN?”

“IS THIS REALLY WORTH IT?”

You need to know that you are not the only one who has that race through their thoughts.  These are normal questions.

I have been married 23 years to my first wife, and we have a GREAT marriage, yet there are days that I know my thoughts are, “Oh my goodness, what did I get myself into?”, and I know she has thought it.

THE THOUGHT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, IT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH THE THOUGHT!

A little saying from the old days goes like this, “You will have birds fly around your head, but you do not have to let them nest in your hair.”

Sin begins with a thought (James 1:14-15).

We are told to take into captivity our thoughts that are contrary to the Word (2 Cor. 10:5).

When, not if, that thought races through your mind, you must arrest it and not allow it to take root.  It has no right in your mind.  Just like divorce is not an option, this thought is not an option!  Kick it out!!

One soul, one life, one saved, one healed, one restored, just one, is worth it all!

“And Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life’,” (Mark 10:29,30, New King James).

IT IS WORTH IT TO SEE LIVES CHANGE!

John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

THE HEART OF HEAVEN!

We offer FREE video leadership training via the Internet every Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00pm, and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm weekly.  If you’re interested then send your email address and receive the link.  Send your email address to drspencer@empoweringpastors.com.  Visit us on the web at http://www.empoweringpastors.com.

 

God is STRATEGIC!

GOD IS A STRATEGIST!

Inertia demands leaders to be accidental in accomplishing great things, but there is one thing for sure, those who have accomplished life-transforming victories did not do it by accident.

When God created the earth He did it with clarity of design. One day built upon the next to support the existence, and perpetuation of His creation.

God strategized our REDEMPTION!

Gal. 3:24-25, Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
John 1:29, The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Rev. 13:8, All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

God strategized our LIVES!

Jer. 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Ps. 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Prov. 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

WE MUST STRATEGIZE THE VISION JESUS GAVE US!

Daily – It is so important not to allow inertia to infiltrate our lives on a daily basis. When inertia takes over we literally accomplish nothing in a day. The day will just happen, and at the end of the 24 hours it will be wasted. Without clarity and aim, like our Father has, then we will do nothing of eternal value. Father already has your day planned, ask Him what He desires.

Long Term – As you pray, what is the Lord putting on your heart for destiny? You will never accomplish anything long term unless you are willing to strategize for the daily items. It is so easy to shout, “I’ve got the vision for the future” BUT, if you never become intentional and strategic then it will never come to fruition.

Pastor, God is not accidental, and neither should His GREAT LEADERS be!

We offer FREE video leadership training via the Internet every Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00pm, and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm weekly. If you’re interested then send your email address and receive the link. Send your email address to drspencer@empoweringpastors.com. Visit us on the web at http://www.empoweringpastors.com.

What is your Reputation?

Reputation is people’s recognition – or rejection – of your identity and accomplishments.

Reputation is all through the Word of God.

Cain – evil
Abraham – man of faith, friend of God
Jezebel – mean, vicious woman
David – man after God’s own heart
Elijah – powerhouse
Jesus – Savior, Healer
You – ?

WE DO NOT BASE OUR WORTH ON WHAT OTHERS THINK, BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO BE DECEIVED EITHER.

Why do so many of us neglect our reputation?

We use the excuse as a Christian leader that it does not matter what other people think as long as I am good with God that is all that matters!

REALLY? Then why does this verse say this?

Acts 6:3, Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
Acts 10:22, And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”
1 Tim. 3:1-2a, This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” 2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation……

Reputation is very important.

Reputation, whether it’s positive or negative has a direct effect on our voice in ministry.
If we have a bad reputation with some people, we could be speaking absolute truth, but they will not hear the truth, only our reputation.
If we have a good reputation and speak absolute truth, then people give us platform in their lives and our voice penetrates, permeates, and brings impact on their thoughts and decisions.

WHAT IS YOUR REPUTATION AS A LEADER?

We offer FREE video leadership training via the internet every Tuesday from 12:00 to 1:00pm, and Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm weekly. If you’re interested then send your email address, and receive the link. Send your email address to drspencer@empoweringpastors.com. Visit us on the web at http://www.empoweringpastors.com.