Question for those in full time Ministry

[OneAccord]

Well, now you went and got me to thinkin about this thread. And..when I think...I talk.

Early in my ministry, the Lord began to deal with me. He said, "Go...separate yourself from among men and I will teach you your ministry". I went into the NC mountains and spent 10 days in fasting and prayer. The Lord took me through the Books of 1 and 2 Tim and Titus and taught me what it means to "do the work of an evangelist". I learned much, I call that 10 days my Bible School Crash Course. One thing the Lord dealt with me was this: "Never preach what you believe. Preach what you feel". I can't preach "hermenetics" and "soberieolgy" or however they are spelled, because, to be honest, I don't know what those are. When I post here, I don't post what I believe so much as I do what I feel, because, beliefs, well, they change. Beliefs are often referred to in the Bible as "wind"-(Every wind of doctrine" etc.). But when we feel, or experience what we preach or post, that does not change. Thomas walked with Jesus for a long time. He saw the miracles, he believed in what Jesus was saying. But, until he FELT those wounds, his belief was subject to change or falter.

I guess thats why its important to live what you preach. I've seen it on here... people post what they believe is right, yet, somewhere along the line, an inconsistency is noted, because they are merely saying what they believe (what they have been taught). Consistency between ones walk and his talk comes from the experience of the one doing the talking. I can't prove there is a God, though I believe He exists. So my faith in God's existence can't be based on what I believe. It has to be based on what I have experienced from God.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by gloryseeker

I guess I am talking to anyone who fits the bill. My question is from a statistical perspective. Statistics lack personal accounts and I am interested in what people are dealing with.

You make an interesting point of burnout. In my opinion there is no such thing as burnout in ministry. I think that Rhoni pointed out well that her quitting was based on putting too much confidence in man than God. IMO we only burn out when we are doing things apart from God, because God said that His grace is sufficient.

I heard a preacher once say that the Lord, "...arrested me in my tracks as I was walking out the door and said, 'you do so much for Me, but very little with Me." That has always stuck with me and I believe that is the source of burnout.

Good post, and true!

You are reminding me of a time, years ago, when I was soooooo busy working in the church. I thought I was doing everything right and I was totally exhausted.

I hadn't planned on going to a Ladies retreat, but a friend in church pressed me to go. On the very last day and the very last message - I could feel my spirit building and knew that God was going to speak to me - the speaker spoke on Martha and Mary.

God, used her message to allow me to know that I was doing the work of Martha and I needed to slow down, sit at His feet, and become Mary for a while. It totally changed my thinking that day and I will never forgot that we can get too busy and not really listening. The hard part is, when you are Martha, you think you are doing BOTH - but God has a way of getting our attention!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Well, now you went and got me to thinkin about this thread. And..when I think...I talk.

Early in my ministry, the Lord began to deal with me. He said, "Go...separate yourself from among men and I will teach you your ministry". I went into the NC mountains and spent 10 days in fasting and prayer. The Lord took me through the Books of 1 and 2 Tim and Titus and taught me what it means to "do the work of an evangelist". I learned much, I call that 10 days my Bible School Crash Course. One thing the Lord dealt with me was this: "Never preach what you believe. Preach what you feel". I can't preach "hermenetics" and "soberieolgy" or however they are spelled, because, to be honest, I don't know what those are. When I post here, I don't post what I believe so much as I do what I feel, because, beliefs, well, they change. Beliefs are often referred to in the Bible as "wind"-(Every wind of doctrine" etc.). But when we feel, or experience what we preach or post, that does not change. Thomas walked with Jesus for a long time. He saw the miracles, he believed in what Jesus was saying. But, until he FELT those wounds, his belief was subject to change or falter.

I guess thats why its important to live what you preach. I've seen it on here... people post what they believe is right, yet, somewhere along the line, an inconsistency is noted, because they are merely saying what they believe (what they have been taught). Consistency between ones walk and his talk comes from the experience of the one doing the talking. I can't prove there is a God, though I believe He exists. So my faith in God's existence can't be based on what I believe. It has to be based on what I have experienced from God.

OA,
That's one part of ministry that makes you feel - lonely. When you preach what you feel, as directed, you don't always know it is reaching anyone. Some will share that you preached to them, but some do not. You have to go on faith. You can feel empty at times when your words seem to fall at your feet and you've poured out your heart and soul.

[ILG]

Sometimes leaving is succeeding. It just depends on what you are doing and what God has asked you to do.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by ILG

Sometimes leaving is succeeding. It just depends on what you are doing and what God has asked you to do.

Exactly.

Blessings, Rhoni

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

OA,
That's one part of ministry that makes you feel - lonely. When you preach what you feel, as directed, you don't always know it is reaching anyone. Some will share that you preached to them, but some do not. You have to go on faith. You can feel empty at times when your words seem to fall at your feet and you've poured out your heart and soul.

True, very true. Sometimes I post here and it seems it is not noticed. Other times, well, other times, people seem to appreciate what I post. Either way, its all good. The best compliment I have ever gotten on AFF is when a preacher asked me for permission to use my thought in a sermon. I said, "Sure, just send me a copy". He never did. The dirty rat! (LOL).

They tell me Johnny Appleseed went all over the country sowing apple seeds. I'd say alot of his seeds didn't germinate. Many did. But, I doubt he saw all of the results of his labor. I preached one time what I thought was the worst message I ever preached. I was all over the map and seemed I couldn't spleak splain without slputtering. But, half-heartedly, I gave an altar call anyway. 5 people came to the Lord that night. One said, "I went to the altar because you were speaking TO me, not preaching AT me." So... the END RESULT. Thats all that really matters!


Think of Jesus: Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:28 Not one person came forward that day. But just think of how many have come unto Him since that day!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

True, very true. Sometimes I post here and it seems it is not noticed. Other times, well, other times, people seem to appreciate what I post. Either way, its all good. The best compliment I have ever gotten on AFF is when a preacher asked me for permission to use my thought in a sermon. I said, "Sure, just send me a copy". He never did. The dirty rat! (LOL).

They tell me Johnny Appleseed went all over the country sowing apple seeds. I'd say alot of his seeds didn't germinate. Many did. But, I doubt he saw all of the results of his labor. I preached one time what I thought was the worst message I ever preached. I was all over the map and seemed I couldn't spleak splain without slputtering. But, half-heartedly, I gave an altar call anyway. 5 people came to the Lord that night. One said, "I went to the altar because you were speaking TO me, not preaching AT me." So... the END RESULT. Thats all that really matters!


Think of Jesus: Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:28 Not one person came forward that day. But just think of how many have come unto Him since that day!

Amen! Good post!

I remember a missionary talking about a service he had overseas. He was trying to preach - what he called - from his "anointed notes"! He was joking on that.

The bathrooms were behind him and people kept getting up and going to the bathroom. A man was outside yelling - "Oranges, Oranges!!!"

He said he wanted to stop the service and ask, "Does anyone want to buy oranges?" LOL!

Anyway, long story short - at the end of the service when he thought it was all over a woman came up to him with her crippled daughter. She wanted prayer. He prayed a simple pray, set the child down and the girl walked across the sanctuary - totally healed.

It's so funny how these things work.

[Cindy]

OA don't stop posting how you "feel"!!!!!!!!!

[gloryseeker]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

The hard part is, when you are Martha, you think you are doing BOTH - but God has a way of getting our attention!

You are so right and this last point you made illustrates the power of deception

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

1. You have to be called (CALLING). Having a desire, being asked, or just going isn't enough. You have to be called to the ministry. I think it was A.A. Allen who use to say, "Some are called, some are sent, and others just went." Pastor Johnny Cash (not THAT Johnny Cash, the other one) came to our church and preached, "So you think you are called to preach..." He did all he could do to discourage us. And he succeeded in discouraging some. He said, "Those who aren't discouraged, are called".

I don't agree with this outlook, and I see it as a way to weed out people from the "top", if you will, of a hierarchial, professional-class of ministers in Christianity.

He who desires the office of a bishop or deacon desires a good thing, and we should encourage that. I can't think of a thing that should discourage anyone from the ministry, even the long list of character traits in 1 Timothy 3, 1 Peter 5 and Titus 1 aren't meant to discourage, but towards an admonishing of these good traits.
We need as many men as possible to be ministers, whether they be elders, deacons, evangelists, apostles, ect... There are a ton of people lost, and there are a ton of assemblies that could use the blessing of a plurality of elders and deacons.

-Bro. Alex