You're not always going to be able to just see everything done the way you'd like.
Noah preached righteousness, but only eight souls were saved.
Joseph dreamed of his brothers bowing down to him, but first he was sold into slavery.
Moses accepted the call to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, but Pharaoh hardened his heart.
Joshua was eager to enter the promised land - he knew it was do-able - but he had to spend another 40 years in the wilderness, through no fault of his own.
David was told he'd be king, but had to run for his life and hide in a cave, for years.
The Prophets were persecuted.
Many times Jesus wanted to gather Jerusalem like a hen gathers her chicks, but they weren't willing.
Jesus warned the disciples to expect persecution.
We have a lot of teaching in churches about our gifts and calling and vision. But most of the teaching assumes a perfect scenario where your own church or denomination is going to fully co-operate with you and facilitate what you know is possible for your life, for meetings, for a church, for the move of God. But you aren't always going to see everyone doing what you want them to do. How you cope with that is therefore important.
Expect it. Don't be offended when it happens.
The main thing you can perfect, is your relationship with God. But you can't control others.
Politicians have to learn this. Maybe when they were a businessman they could do what they wanted, and their employees would obey them. But in politics he has to get voted-in in the first place. Then he can't just do all he wants. Congress might not vote in favour. A Judge might rule against his actions. Politics is an art of working with the co-operation you get. We have to learn that too, in Christian ministry. Christian ministry is not like being a mafia boss where the 'family' just does your every whim and wish.
Really, we have to have something else which satisfies our soul. And that can only be our own personal relationship with God. Ministry is not about self-actualisation. Find your fulfilment in God alone. Ministry is about loving others, with all their incooperativeness at times. Get your fill from Him. Find your peace and contentment in Him. And in His will. Then serve others out of that fulness. Your sense of fulness shouldn't depend on seeing others do all you'd like. You can rejoice to see it - but if you don't see it, you are still full.
The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering - with joyfulness.
Joyful in tribulation.
Patient.
In meekness instructing others.
Wait your opportunity.
Go where He tells you to go.
And in all this, God will bring to pass what He said of you.
Noah preached righteousness, but only eight souls were saved.
Joseph dreamed of his brothers bowing down to him, but first he was sold into slavery.
Moses accepted the call to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, but Pharaoh hardened his heart.
Joshua was eager to enter the promised land - he knew it was do-able - but he had to spend another 40 years in the wilderness, through no fault of his own.
David was told he'd be king, but had to run for his life and hide in a cave, for years.
The Prophets were persecuted.
Many times Jesus wanted to gather Jerusalem like a hen gathers her chicks, but they weren't willing.
Jesus warned the disciples to expect persecution.
We have a lot of teaching in churches about our gifts and calling and vision. But most of the teaching assumes a perfect scenario where your own church or denomination is going to fully co-operate with you and facilitate what you know is possible for your life, for meetings, for a church, for the move of God. But you aren't always going to see everyone doing what you want them to do. How you cope with that is therefore important.
Expect it. Don't be offended when it happens.
The main thing you can perfect, is your relationship with God. But you can't control others.
Politicians have to learn this. Maybe when they were a businessman they could do what they wanted, and their employees would obey them. But in politics he has to get voted-in in the first place. Then he can't just do all he wants. Congress might not vote in favour. A Judge might rule against his actions. Politics is an art of working with the co-operation you get. We have to learn that too, in Christian ministry. Christian ministry is not like being a mafia boss where the 'family' just does your every whim and wish.
Really, we have to have something else which satisfies our soul. And that can only be our own personal relationship with God. Ministry is not about self-actualisation. Find your fulfilment in God alone. Ministry is about loving others, with all their incooperativeness at times. Get your fill from Him. Find your peace and contentment in Him. And in His will. Then serve others out of that fulness. Your sense of fulness shouldn't depend on seeing others do all you'd like. You can rejoice to see it - but if you don't see it, you are still full.
The fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering - with joyfulness.
Joyful in tribulation.
Patient.
In meekness instructing others.
Wait your opportunity.
Go where He tells you to go.
And in all this, God will bring to pass what He said of you.
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