Tough Situations, Tough Solutions

Ministry Wednesday: Tough Situations, Tough Solutions.

Ministry poses very tough situations maybe more than other endeavors in life. People see the few popular ministers with lives that seem so perfect and comfortable and would want to conclude that it's all rosy once you step into the ministry.

Many also step into it with that mentality, thinking it'll all be jolly. The reality is what Jesus Christ our Lord and Master declared to His disciples over and over, that in this world, we will have tribulations...He also said He had sent us as sheep in the midst of wolves. He said we should rejoice when the world hates us.

All pointing to the fact that, it won't be all rosy and jolly. We have been called into battle, into a tough job. That's why it's hilarious when people generalise that to have free money, affluence and influence, just become a pastor and you're made. No statement is as foolish. And more so, when someone goes into ministry with such a mentality.

How easy can it be to be told to give your services without charge and to make sacrifices without a price tag? Jesus Christ said freely have you received, freely give. How easy is it to be told not to make merchandise of the people, not selling things to get their money?
How easy is it to be sent without having a purse, a crib and not more than a pair of sandals? How easy is it to depend on the willingness of naturally selfish people to support a cause of faith?
This is what a woman of God described as being called to walk on water. We have been called to do the impossible. We have been called to joyfully face the violence of fire, the armies of aliens and the ferocity of lions as Apostle Paul said God had to deliver him from the mouth of the lion.

If you have gone into ministry with the get rich quickly mentality, you are most to be pitied and of all men most miserable for you shall be disappointed mercilessly, if not in the immediate, it'll surely be later.

Mastering how to deal with tough situations as a good soldier of the Lord is what's needed to learn. If those solutions aren't mastered, particularly from Jesus Christ's earthly walk and those of His early apostles, a minister would probably die in suffering and in disappointments or defect to the side of those who make merchandise of God's people and of the gifts of God in their lives and go into a just and swift destruction, as the scriptures promised oftentimes.

It's good to know from the start that we have been called to walk on water. We have been called to move mountains. That's what the call into ministry is. We have been called to part Red seas, to quench the violence of fire, to turn back the armies of aliens, to refuse deliverance when need be, to stand by the faith at all cost with joy without compromise.

It can be heavy. It can be tough but that's what it is and we have to understand that. When such an understanding is not known, disappointment and compromise become the way and many people have unfortunately fallen into them.

You'll be spoken against, you'll be taken advantage of, you'll be betrayed, you'll be deprived, you'll be ridiculed and laughed at and it'll be OK. It's just part of the job hazards, it should never be taken personally, with hatred or with the mind of retaliation but with courage, love and faith in Him who called.

Our hope isn't in people ordinarily treating us well or giving to us freely, because if they don't, we still don't have the right to revile them when they revile us. Our hope isn't in the natural, otherwise our message won't be supernatural. Our hope is in the faithfulness of the One who called, who also will do it according to 1Thessonians 5.

Our hope is in Christ Jesus who stretched His hands to save Peter when he started sinking because of the fear he had due to the winds. We must keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and not on the things of this world.

In all our tribulations, He comforts us. He is the one with the solution to the toughness of the call. He will always be there if we won't let Him down.

Now, we don't always have the challenges in same area of life. Some may have health issues to deal with, others may have financial difficulties to deal with, some may have marriage and children issues to deal with, while other may have issues with people always being disloyal, some working in hostile communities and always being exposed to threats of life and losses. No matter what kind of mountain you're to move or the kind of water to walk upon, as you work for your master, know it that He is with you. That mountain shall be moved and you'll walk on that water to get to the boat even if Christ would have to hold your hand.

He has called us to move the mountain and it shall be moved. He has called us to walk on water, and on such waters we shall move. He has called us to part the Red seas and the seas will flee from us, the violence of fire we shall quench, we shall stop the mouths of lions, we shall turn back the armies of the alien, we shall endure the hardness till we see the result of the travail and be glad.

The solution to the toughness is in Christ Jesus and not in the mercies of the world. It isn't even in the obedience of people but in Him. It isn't in the largess and the favours of people with political powers but in Christ Jesus. He will be with us and comfort us as we face the toughness of the situation within which we are called to preach the gospel.

We shall not be disappointed, we shall remain focused and resolute in faith till we see Him, we shall not compromise our faith in Him, no matter what. We shall endure to the end and shall be saved!

Don't forget that we have a message to preach and to protect. Knowing that the opposition is stiff. The message must be powered by God of it is to remain true. The Tempter will not rest throwing arrows and raising oppositions to afflict us severely but we must remain resolute at all cost to contend for the faith that was once committed to the saints. If you permit Satan to pay your price, because of hardship, you won't be able to stop him from dictating the tune and it'll be worse if he pays and you won't play.

Hold on to the comfort of Christ and you won't be disappointed! Peace to you servant of God!

[My Offline Bible] 2 Corinthians 1
4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.