Hindering the Work of the Lord

Hindering the Work of the Lord

   My first visit to a church was when I was 9 days old.  I’ve been going to church pretty much ever since.  I can count the Sundays I’ve missed in the last ten years on my fingers and toes.  In the time I’ve been going to church, I’ve heard many sermons, and seen churches going through prosperous, blessed times and times when they have come under attack.  And I’ve noticed that often, these bad times follow one of three basic patterns.  The Spirit has recorded an example of the first two in Acts chapter six and of the third in Acts chapter eight.

Acts 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.  
   The enemy will create dissension within the church.  When you hear constant bickering and complaining, beware!  A church known for it’s bickering and complaining won’t be able to effectively witness to its community.  Who would want to go to a church like that?
   More importantly, don’t join in the bickering and complaining.  You cannot pray effectively about a problem if you’re involved in the problem.

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
   The enemy will try to keep pastors and teachers from concentrating on their duties by distracting them to doing other work.  There wasn’t anything wrong with wanting to feed widows and orphans.  The problem was that the Apostles needed to be in prayer and studying to minister to the spiritual needs of the church.  They were distracted by the need to feed the hungry – work that could be done by others.  Church leaders will always feel pressure to do too much.  I have seen pastors vacuuming floors and cleaning toilets because no one else would volunteer.
   And beware when you begin to think you are too valuable and need to do everything yourself.  A good leader has to learn what the job he has to do personally is and what he has to delegate.  Then he has to find good people to put in those positions and trust them to get the work done.  Leaders so involved in church programs that they have little time for prayer and the study of the Word are failing in their ministry.

Acts 8:3a As for Saul, he made havoc of the church,
   The primary work of the enemy is to destroy God’s people.  Jesus told us the Thief comes not but to steal, to kill, and to destroy.  We need to be aware that we will come under attack; either personally or as part of a church.  At some time in your Christian life you will be the victim of gossip and lies, suffer illness and injuries, see others hurting and lonely, and suffer many other attacks.  You are not being singled out nor are you backslidden.  Attacks happen if you’re doing God’s work.  Try to be clear about this.  YOU WILL COME UNDER ATTACK IF YOU’RE DOING GOD’S WORK.  Sorry to shout there, but I really want you to get this.
   Christians in particular and churches in general must always be ready to counter attacks.  Be in prayer every day, whether or not you feel like it.  Pray for yourself, pray for your family, pray for your friends, and pray for the leaders of your church.  Whether you call them pastor, minister, bishop, father, or “hey you”, they need your prayers.  Whether you agree with them or are disagreeing with them, they need your prayers.    
   Don’t contribute to dissention and don’t backbite.  If you’re really that unhappy, go somewhere else and try to start over.  You are not responsible for how others react to an attack on your church, but you are responsible for how you react.  Your reaction should be to stop, drop to your knees and pray.

 Stephen Cram                                               October 12, 2014                  

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, following the tradition of men according to the rudiments of the world, and not in accordance with Christ.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is from the New King James Version of the Bible.