Four Important Reasons Ministers and Believers Are Wounded in Battle
September 2020
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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” — Ephesians 6:12
PASTORS ENJOY power lunches from time to time with many fine people. My church secretary had made arrangements for me to have lunch with a very distinguished gentleman who did not live too far from my new pastorate. After saying a prayer over the meal and sharing a few pleasantries, my new friend told me one of the saddest stories I had ever been told.
He was no longer the senior pastor of a large Pentecostal church. He was no longer a district official. He shared with me a very sad story of how he had built a large church in his denomination, with almost 1,000 people in membership. They had a great choir, and Sunday worship service was on TV. They had been able to build a large, new church sanctuary.
In spite of the church’s success, there were some misunderstandings between the pastor and some board members. There were some efforts made to resolve the leadership conflict, but they were to no avail. With overwhelming sadness and much pain and disappointment, the distinguished pastor resigned and walked away. He was offered a new pastorate, but he turned it down. He and his dear wife had given many years toward building this great congregation, but at the point of great success, he allowed the congregational turmoil and confusion to arrest his pastoral career, and his life as a highly effective pastor. He felt strongly that he had been done wrong. He quit the ministry and became a businessman.
Tears came to my eyes as he told his story. He was now a senior adult in his seventies. He shared his story with deep pain, regret, unresolved anger, sadness, and much bitterness. What really happened? This highly effective pastor was wounded in battle and never recovered. This has happened to many!
All pastors and church leaders go through tough times, weird times, and bad times. Remember, Judas betrayed our Lord. This happens in the ministry; however, it is possible to be greatly wounded in battle and recover.
I want to share four very important reasons highly effective and anointed ministers are wounded on the battlefield while doing the Lord’s work.
ONE Sometimes, a church or a denomination promotes a young minister to a very important large church, or to a position he is not spiritually or emotionally ready to take on. I heard someone say years ago, “Great success experienced too early in ministry often brings about career failure.” Usually, the problem is pride. Proverbs 16:18 declares, “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride has brought down many highly talented ministers. St. Paul wrote to a young minister, “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” (I Tim. 3:6 ). Too much success early on in one’s career can cause one to end up in failure, never to recover. Listen, young man of God: Walk humbly before the Lord and His people. Don’t get into a big hurry to make your mark for God. Give it time.
TWO Secondly, the love of money can destroy a man of God. In Titus 1:7, St. Paul writes, “For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.”
What is filthy lucre? One translation says “questionable money making.” Another translation reads “no money grubber.” Most newly called ministers realize that ministers usually make very little money as a pastor or evangelist. A minister or a believer must never make big decisions based on money or salary alone. I Timothy 6:10 admonishes, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Pastors need money to pay church bills, and to put groceries on their tables, but we must never forget that God is our source, not man. In II Timothy 4:10, Paul wrote some very sad words, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.” He chose money and the world over traveling and ministering with St. Paul. Dear man of God, don’t allow the love of money to control you.
THREE Thirdly, the man of God and the child of God must embrace temperance in all things. In I Corinthians 9:25, we read, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” Notice that St. Paul wrote “temperate in all things.” Temperate means to be “measured in all things.” There should be no extremes in behavior or conduct. The opposite of temperate is over indulgence, which means “excessive” or “extreme.”
Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23 and mentions temperance, along with “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (and) meekness.” Temperance is translated self-restraint and also self-control. Failure to live a sanctified life can cause one to lose the respect of others and to finally lose one’s ministry. Pastors and church leaders must walk holy before God and the people.
I have witnessed pastors losing their ministries and church members losing their marriages because they gave themselves permission to drink strong drink, which led to alcoholism and failure. I urge you to not go down that road. St. Paul said,“I am crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). Live in the shadow of the cross. Be temperate in all things.
FOUR Finally, I want to mention one more situation that can cause a family to come apart or cause a man of God to lose his ministry. The problem is unforgiveness. Dear friend, unforgiveness, which causes bitterness, literally destroys one’s anointing. Bitterness can be in the pew, but it can also be in the pulpit. Jesus clearly taught that we must “forgive” in order for our heavenly Father to “forgive” us (Matt. 6:15). Remember, unforgiveness that is not properly dealt with will turn into bitterness, and bitterness will destroy a minister’s anointing and effectiveness. Hebrews 12:15 says, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Bitterness of spirit will cause ministerial shipwreck. Pastors and good church members will be done wrong by people in the church, but you must be quick to forgive, move on, and let it go.
In closing, let us not forget what St. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation (trial) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (permit) you to be tempted (tested) above that ye are able; but will with the temptation (test) also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (so that you can come through it victoriously).”
Beloved pastors and devout church members, you can recover from experiencing a major wound while doing church ministry. It is God’s will that you be healed and be back in ministry full blast! First, be fully reminded that the call of God to ministry is never revoked; “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29 ).
Secondly, you must forgive those who did you wrong (Matt. 6:15 ). Phone them or go visit them. Discuss the problem and get it under the blood. Totally release the hurt to God.
Thirdly, begin again wherever the “open door” is available to you (Rev. 3:8). Our merciful Father and merciful Christ will give you a second chance, or even a third chance, to begin again. Remember, God needs you back into ministry.
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