{"id":4593,"date":"2019-02-28T11:12:11","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T17:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nafwb.org\/?p=4593"},"modified":"2019-02-28T11:12:11","modified_gmt":"2019-02-28T17:12:11","slug":"surviving-ministry-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/surviving-ministry-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving Ministry Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Randy Sawyer<\/strong><\/p>\n

A few years ago I received the\u00a0following correspondence from a brother\u00a0in ministry:<\/p>\n

More has happened since my last\u00a0e-mail. One of the leaders decided to\u00a0stay and continue the fight. Tonight I\u00a0gave notice to our leaders that I’m\u00a0burned out and have no fight left.I\u00a0have struggled for two years and I’m\u00a0done. I asked for a three-month sabbatical\u00a0effective immediately. I know\u00a0you understand. Concerning the ministry . . . it is now up to God. Unless\u00a0the Lord changes hearts I will be\u00a0seeking other employment. I’m not\u00a0sure about staying in the ministry. <\/em><\/p>\n

Here is a good pastor, capable leader\u00a0and gifted speaker whose only goal is to\u00a0spend his life in ministry yet after being\u00a0assailed by so many for so long, he has\u00a0decided to seek other employment<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Everyone in ministry feels this way at some time or\u00a0another. Stress drives dozens\u00a0out of the ministry every year, and dozens\u00a0more remain in the work only because they\u00a0aren’t trained to do anything else, or to\u00a0save face with their peers. The admission\u00a0that we have reached our limit should not\u00a0solicit the scowl of self-righteous disapproval.<\/p>\n

The apostle Paul knew stress in bringing\u00a0the gospel to the gentile world. One\u00a0of the most inspiring passages on ministry\u00a0is found in II Corinthians 2:12-4:6. The\u00a0whole section is set against the backdrop\u00a0of ministry stresses.<\/p>\n

Acts 18 tells the story of Paul’s 18-month\u00a0ministry in Corinth that resulted in the\u00a0establishment of the Corinthian church.\u00a0From there he moved on to Ephesus, and\u00a0finally to Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

Five years later a conflict broke out\u00a0between Paul and the Corinthian believers.\u00a0The struggle was due, in part, to infiltration\u00a0by certain teachers who challenged Paul’s\u00a0apostleship, integrity, theology, style of\u00a0preaching and ministry and personality. \u00a0These events caused him much grief.<\/p>\n

He wrote three, perhaps even four letters\u00a0seeking reconciliation with brethren\u00a0there. In II Corinthians 2:12-13 he writes,<\/p>\n

“Furthermore, when I came to Troas\u00a0to preach Christ\u2019s gospel, and a door\u00a0was opened unto me of the Lord, I\u00a0had no rest in my spirit, because I\u00a0found not Titus my brother. . . .” <\/em><\/p>\n

Paul had sent Titus to Corinth to\u00a0ascertain their response to his last correspondence.\u00a0When he arrived in Troas,\u00a0though the door for ministry was wide\u00a0open, he could not continue the work,\u00a0because he had not heard from Titus.\u00a0Things in Corinth were still confused.<\/p>\n

Sovereignly Guided <\/strong><\/p>\n

Eventually Titus did arrive with word\u00a0that the Corinthians had received his pleas\u00a0with a repentant spirit (II Corin. 7:5). In\u00a02:14-17 Paul responded to the difficult\u00a0situation. It’s almost as if, somehow,\u00a0between verses 13 and 14 he regained\u00a0his perspective. Maybe Titus came in at\u00a0that time. Whatever the case, in spite of\u00a0the immense stress he was able to shout,<\/p>\n

“Now thanks be unto God, which\u00a0always causeth us to triumph in Christ,\u00a0and maketh manifest the savor of his\u00a0knowledge by us in every place.” <\/em><\/p>\n

Here the embattled apostle shows us\u00a0how we can be confident in a day of\u00a0confusion. He tells us that in spite of the\u00a0chaos of the age, and the stresses of life\u00a0and ministry, we can have confidence,\u00a0because in Christ we are sovereignly\u00a0guided. The text actually reads, “thanks\u00a0be unto Cod who always leads us. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul was confident that nothing in life is beyond our Lord’s control. Sovereignty\u00a0is not a word Free Will Baptists use often.\u00a0Because of our inability to totally understand\u00a0the inner workings of the sovereignty-free\u00a0will dynamic, we are often pushed\u00a0to one of two extremes: either we give away\u00a0free will to protect God’s sovereignty or\u00a0we surrender divine sovereignty to defend\u00a0man’s freedom. Regardless of the battles\u00a0we face, our Lord is never taken by surprise\u00a0nor rendered helpless.<\/p>\n

Supremely Victorious <\/strong><\/p>\n

Further, Paul’s words teach us that\u00a0we can be confident amid confusion\u00a0because in Christ we are supremely victorious.\u00a0Verse 14 continues, “Thanks be\u00a0unto God, which always causeth us to\u00a0triumph in Christ<\/em>.” With this expression\u00a0the apostle illustrates the truth that no\u00a0matter what the circumstances, believers\u00a0are always victorious in Christ. He compares\u00a0the Christian’s victory with the\u00a0spectacle of a Roman victory triumph.<\/p>\n

A victory triumph was an awe-inspiring\u00a0parade awarded to commanders who\u00a0successfully prosecuted war against a foreign\u00a0power. The imperial city was treated\u00a0to a procession which included standard\u00a0bearers, followed by the conquered general\u00a0and his defeated troops, then priests\u00a0swinging incense pots, and bulls and other\u00a0stock ready for sacrifice to Jupiter, and\u00a0finally the conquering general riding on\u00a0a golden chariot drawn by four gallant\u00a0steeds, followed by his family and the\u00a0Roman legions garbed in their regimental\u00a0regalia. The crowd, by then whipped\u00a0into a frenzy of emotion chanted, “Lo, triumph;\u00a0Lo, triumph.\u201d<\/p>\n

With this imagery Paul declares that\u00a0the Christian warrior is always triumphant\u00a0in Christ. By His death, burial and resurrection,\u00a0Christ guaranteed victory for God’s\u00a0children. In sickness or death, success or\u00a0failure, advance or withdrawal, acceptance\u00a0or rejection, the conclusion is the same:\u00a0“Lo, triumph!”<\/p>\n

Singularly Profitable <\/strong><\/p>\n

Paul encourages confidence in the day\u00a0of confusion because in Christ we are\u00a0singularly profitable<\/em>. He writes, “…And\u00a0maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge\u00a0by us in every place<\/em>….”<\/p>\n

Singularly means wondrously. Paul\u00a0says that in wonderful ways we are all\u00a0profitable in the ministry. \u00a0Such an attitude\u00a0must have been easy for Paul.\u00a0And others may also be able to feel\u00a0positive about their contributions, but\u00a0what about me? What about my work?\u00a0The answer is found by looking once\u00a0again to the Roman triumph.<\/p>\n

Each procession included the pagan\u00a0priests swinging incense pots as an\u00a0offering unto the gods. As the incense\u00a0wafted over the proceedings the aroma\u00a0announced death to the captives and\u00a0life to the victors; or as the text suggests, “life unto life and death unto death<\/em>.”\u00a0ln a fantastic and wonderful way, each\u00a0believer is a “sweet savor of Christ, in them\u00a0that are saved, and in them that perish<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

To some, the fragrance of our lives\u00a0and ministries announce life, to others\u00a0death. Some respond in the affirmative\u00a0and receive life, while others reject grace\u00a0and experience death. But in either case,\u00a0God is using us for His glory.<\/p>\n

Sincerely Motivated <\/strong><\/p>\n

Finally Paul says we can be confident\u00a0in a day of confusion because in\u00a0Christ we are sincerely motivated. Verse\u00a017 states, “For we are not as many,\u00a0which corrupt the word of God, but as\u00a0of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of\u00a0God speak we the word<\/em>.” God knows\u00a0the motivation of our hearts. Others may\u00a0and will at times challenge our purposes,\u00a0but He alone knows for certain. We preach\u00a0coram deo<\/em>, before the face of God. If\u00a0what we have done has been for His\u00a0greater glory let friend and foe alike\u00a0challenge us.\u00a0 We are accepted of Him,\u00a0and in Him we are sincerely motivated.\u00a0That ultimately is what keeps us faithful\u00a0in the work.<\/p>\n

Article adapted from Contact<\/em>magazine, January 2004.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Randy Sawyer A few years ago I received the\u00a0following correspondence from a brother\u00a0in ministry: More has happened since my last\u00a0e-mail. One of the leaders decided to\u00a0stay and continue the fight. Tonight I\u00a0gave notice to our leaders that I’m\u00a0burned out and have no fight left.I\u00a0have struggled for two years and I’m\u00a0done. I asked for a three-month sabbatical\u00a0effective immediately. I know\u00a0you understand. Concerning the ministry . . . it is now up to God. Unless\u00a0the Lord changes hearts I will be\u00a0seeking other employment. I’m not\u00a0sure about staying in the ministry. Here is a good pastor, capable leader\u00a0and gifted speaker whose only goal is to\u00a0spend his life in ministry yet after being\u00a0assailed by so many for so long, he has\u00a0decided to seek other employment. Everyone in ministry feels this way at some time or\u00a0another. Stress drives dozens\u00a0out of the ministry every year, and dozens\u00a0more remain in the work only because they\u00a0aren’t trained to do anything else, or to\u00a0save face with their peers. The admission\u00a0that we have reached our limit should not\u00a0solicit the scowl of self-righteous disapproval. The apostle Paul knew stress in bringing\u00a0the gospel to the gentile world. One\u00a0of the most inspiring passages on ministry\u00a0is found in II Corinthians 2:12-4:6. The\u00a0whole section […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pastors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4593"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4594,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4593\/revisions\/4594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nafwb.org\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}