Ever feel led to pray for someone in the middle of the night? You are sleeping, dreaming, and then you are wakened. A name comes to mind and you begin to pray. You haven't prayed for them in a while. You are not even sure if the problem weeks ago is still a problem. You just know you are to pray. That happened to me a few days ago. It was not enough to lift my friend in prayer. I turned on my computer and wrote: "am praying for you tonite. May God bring great blessings into your life today. I pray you see the doorway He has opened for you. May grace abound. May peace and comfort fill your heart. Believing "God will perfect that which concerns you." Ps. 138:8
A church decides to terminate a minister. They meet to vote on the matter. No Biblical or moral grounds, nothing unethical, nor illegal. Supporters are silenced when Matthew 18 is rejected as a means to reconcile, because no sin has been committed. The church constitution and by-laws is totally ignored--people are told it will not be adhered to and would be changed. Someone states, the church just wants to move on. A standing ovation occurs and the minister leaves.
He knows no good will come of allowing injustice to take root in his heart and fester. God led him to use this time to teach His principles of grace, sovereignty, and steadfastness. He felt sorry for those who wronged him. He knows God does not condone injustice--nor will He honor it. What does he do as a result of his dismissal? With his permission I share what he wrote:
"The first Sunday away, I led my family through passages of 2 Peter, Matthew 5, Hebrews 11-12. We took time to express hurts, to forgive those who hurt us, to choose to love them, pray for them and to bless them. We took time to express our total dependence on Christ and to avoid becoming bitter. We took time to express our love for Christ, His church and each other. I believe God as ministered grace to us and we are in a good place. Again, thank you for your prayers, as of now we are just looking for what is next."
He has no pulpit from which another committee can come hear him preach. He has an interview for a job in the public marketplace and knows he may have to provide for his family through secular means until the Lord provides something else. He could be bitter. Instead, he turns to God. Completely relying on His grace, he guides his wife and children in how to be forgiving. And what does he ask of God? That whatever employer he gets will allow him time off to do missions that he is involved in. Completely relying on God's grace, he guides his wife and children in how to be forgiving. He writes, "We have learned last year about the tremendous impact of forgiveness. And God has given us an opportunity to practice it (James 1). We are overwhelmed by His grace."
His words touched my soul and heart. This trial he is going through is not new; it happens to many ministers who find themselves unwelcome for whatever whim or reason a congregation has. It happens at the accusations, and attacks of others whose only desire is to see a minister fall. It happens when lies are spread, or man sets himself up as judge. Ministers need as much inspiration and courage to walk the faith they have been teaching, as folks in the pew. So often, so many think ministers weep for themselves in these hours of darkness. Few realize the tears they weep at the behavior of their sheep. I've met ministers of the Gospel who've been so brow-beaten and discouraged that they leave the ministry. Car salesmen. Insurance salesmen. Bankers and administrators. It is not easy to stand in the midst of persecution from fellow Christians we never dreamed possible. But when grace is found and mined into pure gold of God's refinement--we know grace is greater than all our sin and the sin of others. The greater the difficulty, the more vile the persecution, the greater grace abounds. The sweeter is its sound to our ears, the more comforting is its peace to our hearts.
Perhaps you'd like to pray for him. For his family. For future people who will be ministered unto by a man seeking the face of God? When I was wakened to pray for my friend, I was reminded again, that God does not sleep, nor slumber. His Spirit carried my prayer straight to the Father. Though I was wakened to pray for another, God returned to me a sweet expression of His grace. I thought of so many ministers and Christians today--for those who need our prayer. Will you pray for the minister you find offensive to you? Will you pray for the people who are maligning his character? Will you pray for the minister you have heard vile accusations about? Will you pray for his attackers? Will you follow the example of this minister I mention here? Will you pray God uses all these things to bring about a refining of a soul? If you do, you'll find when ministers weep, grace does indeed abound.
My friend emailed back that circumstances had not changed, but he had. So have I. Will you?
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