This year has been a whirlwind. So much has happened in our world. Many people have a sense that North America stands at a crossroads. We have never been in more need of revival than today. Yet, at every dark time spiritually as well as economically in history, it was also provided an enormous time of opportunity. I am praying that God’s people will not be so intimidated by the “bad news” that is regularly being broadcast that we miss the amazing opportunities to serve God in the midst of the turmoil.

The month of November was filled with a variety of opportunities and challenges for me. I began the month in South Korea with my father. It was heartwarming to teach people all day long and then to have young adults approach us and, with tears streaming down their faces, ask us to pray for them that everything we had just taught would become a reality in their lives! Then we went to Hong Kong to speak at a marketplace conference. Hong Kong is facing enormous challenges and the response from the people was amazing. The building was packed to overflowing. Obviously times of economic crisis provide wonderful invitations for churches to provide encouragement and answers.

Then I was off to Montreal, Canada where my wife Lisa finally received her visa to immigrate to the USA! We thank you for your prayers. Then I spoke at a pastors’ conference in Springfield, Illinois. What a great time to challenge each other to go to the next level with God!

I would like to make two requests of you:

First, would you prayerfully consider attending our revival conference in Atlanta, February 27-28, 2009? We believe this is a time God’s people must experience revival. Business as usual will not suffice. We pray many pastors will take van loads of their people to the meeting and together, have a fresh encounter with God. Who knows what God will do in the ensuing days in those churches that are represented?

Second, as with most churches and ministries, BMI has faced the severe impact of the economic decline. Our finances are well below where they must be for us to meet our obligations. At such a time of opportunity when so many need to hear the message of revival, this is a time we want to step up our activity, not cut it back. We are asking our friends to consider sending whatever financial support the Lord would ask them to give. I would be forever grateful.

Article

I’d like to close by attaching an article I recently wrote for a new magazine, Experience Kingdom Life magazine published by the South Carolina Baptist Convention www.scbaptist.org/focus . I hope it encourages you!

“I am so angry!” the pastor said through gritted teeth. He told me how his church had refused to follow his leadership and that one man had intentionally thwarted his plans. As he spoke, the genteel, sophisticated minister before me transformed into a bitter, angry person spewing venom with every word. My friend did not enter the pastorate with this spirit. He had been filled with excitement and hope for the future as he enrolled in seminary and began accepting his first ministry assignments. But there had been a lot of water under the bridge. Many people had lied to him, betrayed him, misrepresented him and criticized him. Now he just wanted out. The joy was gone. Passion for ministry was a distant memory. Unfortunately, his was not an unusual case. There are ministry highways littered with white crosses where pastors’ spirits were crushed and their ministry extinguished. Why does this happen?

It is impossible to list all the reasons why pastors lose their zeal for ministry, but the following are some of the most common factors:

1. Misplaced Focus: Ministers often refer to their “call to preach” or their “call to be a pastor.” They are referring to a time when they sensed God leading them to be a preacher or to pursue some other form of ministry. Unfortunately this focus can lead to enormous disappointment. If you are a pastor, your primary call was not to preach; it was to a relationship. Jesus called His disciples to be with Him (Mark 6:7). It was out of their close, personal relationship with Jesus that their ministry flowed. When you understand that your calling is to relate to Jesus, then nothing can prevent you from following your Lord. Nothing can rob you of your joy in Him (John 16:22). But when you see your call as an activity-- such as preaching or being a pastor, then people can continually undermine and discourage you. The Apostle Paul’s enemies could accuse him, arrest him, beat him and imprison him, but they could not hinder his vibrant relationship with his Savior (Acts 16:1-25). If you have lost your joy in ministry, it may indicate your ministry has been based on activity and performance rather than on a divine relationship.


2. Misunderstood enemy: If you don’t know who your enemy is, you are destined to suffer regular defeat. Be certain of this: your people are not the enemy. When people are unkind toward you and do hurtful things, they are demonstrating symptoms that they are spiritually sick. But don’t be discouraged! Just as a doctor doesn’t become angry when a sick patient acts ill in the examination room, so pastors ought not to be offended when church members give evidence that they are spiritually ill. If you have become obsessed with your opponents and critics, you have been concentrating on the wrong battlefront. Your people are but victims of the enemy. Always remember who your real enemy is.


3. Missed opportunities: You are the only one who can take care of your physical and spiritual health. You will discover that when you do not care for yourself physically, your emotions become fragile. You cannot respond properly to crises when you are exhausted. If you have not recharged your emotional batteries, you’ll struggle to effectively handle troubles when they inevitably come. Take a regular Sabbath. Restore your soul. Get away with your spouse. Enjoy friends. Exercise. Take a real day off. Don’t allow unhealthy people to rob you of your health!


4. Moribund faith: When you give up on people you are saying more about what you believe about God than what you think of people. By leaving your ministry post you are declaring “Even God can’t do anything with these people!” There will doubtless be times when certain congregants will make you cry out to God “I do believe, help me in my unbelief!” But don’t ever allow your faith in God’s infinite grace to waver. When you worry and fret or become angry or give up and quit, you are making it clear that you do not believe almighty God can work among your people.


5. Morose ministry: Life is too short for you not to be regularly laughing. Look for the comical. Get around people who enjoy life and know how to laugh. Read a funny book. Go to a good party. Celebrate what God has done. Enjoy your children and grandchildren. Don’t allow the daily pressures of ministry to rob you of the joy that is yours as a child of God. Revel in your salvation. Cultivate an eye to recognize the humorous wherever it can be found. And for goodness sake, learn to laugh at yourself.

Don’t ever lose sight of the fact that it is an awesome honor to be called by almighty God. Never lose the sense of wonder that, every day, you have the privilege to get up and serve your risen Savior. One day you will stand before God to give an account of everything you did. Always remember that He loves you with an infinite love and He promised never to leave you or forsake you. Passion for ministry is invaluable. Guard it carefully.

Posted by Richard Blackaby at 2:08 pm