In the book
of Acts, chapter 9, after his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, we
read that Saul was blinded physically, but for the first time in his life, could
see perfectly, spiritually. The problem was the men with him could not help
him; he needed someone who could speak and act for God. God had a man ready for
the task, his name was Ananias. When God told Ananias to go to Saul, he was
scared. He had heard how Saul had been persecuting the Christians, but he was
obedient to the Lord. God used Ananias to heal and then baptize Saul. Shortly
thereafter, God sent Barnabas to introduce Saul to the apostles who were also
afraid, but Barnabas testified to them how God was already using him. As the
book continues, we see that Barnabas was a great encourager.
As we know,
Saul became the Apostle Paul and much of the New Testament was penned by his
hand. He was arguably the most influential evangelist/preacher/theologian next
to Christ. What if Ananias and Barnabas had given in to fear and prejudice?
Would we know anything about Paul today? I believe so. God can make things
happen with or without us, but He chooses to use us or as I like to say, God
does the work, He just allows us to be a part of what He is doing.
Do you have
an encourager in your life?
Do you feel
encouraged by others at your church?
Do you
encourage others?
Unfortunately,
it doesn’t seem like we have many encouragers in the church today. Many of the
ones I have seen, only encourage those that meet their qualifications and not
God’s. Several years ago, I witnessed a church I loved and had been a member of
for many years, not only refuse to encourage the pastor, but actually
discourage him. It was heartbreaking to watch. Needless to say, the Lord called
him to another church. We hired another, younger pastor, who had a heart for
reaching those in our community. Again, many in the church discouraged this and
he left as well.
A short time
later, we got another pastor. His ideas on evangelism were quite different. I
had invited a co-worker to visit our church and she eventually did start coming.
I was told that he, being the pastor, and another man would take over and that
I was to stop witnessing to her. A few weeks later she left the church and told
me they had made numerous, unannounced visits to her apartment and were
pressuring her to get baptized. She shared with me that she knew she needed to
get baptized but that she was not ready. She could not handle the pressure they
were putting on her and, as she said, they didn’t really care about her soul,
they just wanted a number. They literally chased her away.
Around this
time, I had gone to Chicago for training in a ministry opportunity. I had not
discussed with the pastor or church leadership as I did not think it necessary.
A week or so later, I was called to the pastor’s office and was chastised for
not getting permission and I was told the church could not afford to help me financially.
I thought this odd because I had never asked for nor expected their financial
support.
I could give
more examples from this church alone but that is not necessary. Needless to
say, I left that church and went elsewhere. I wish I could say I found a great
church that believes what the Bible says abut equipping the saints and sending
them out but I haven’t, as of this writing. While I think it wise to find out
what someone is doing and if it aligns with Scripture, before offering support
and encouragement, I find it difficult to accept a church that neither finds out
nor prays over such matters and then refuses to encourage such ministry.
For more
than ten years now, everything ministry based I have undertaken has been
outside and apart from any church. After working in and through the church for
many years, it is so much more freeing to work apart from the legalism and politics
that have taken over so many of our churches. It is not just pastors but the
members as well.
It is a sad
thing when the church does not support what God is doing.
Barry Meguiar,
of Meguiar’s auto products, started a ministry called “Revival Outside the
Walls.” He encourages Christians to take their faith outside the church and
meet people where they are. He is a successful business man, a dedicated
Christian, and an obedient servant of God.
I am a proud
graduate of Liberty University. The founder, the late Jerry Faldwell, was a
visionary who saw the need to not just educate pastors and others seeking to
serve in the church, but to equip every student to take the Gospel wherever
they were led vocationally; thus, the motto, “Training Champions for Christ.”
What a
blessing it would be if the church would lift up in prayer and encourage, those
who serve outside the church. What good does it do if we know all the latest
praise songs and sing louder than everyone else or have a bumper sticker or
yard sign if we don’t partner with those God has called to serve, in and
outside, the walls of the church building.
