THE WORK OF THE PASTOR AT TIMES CAN BE VERY DEMANDING AND STRESSFUL. OFT TIMES THEIR GOOD IS SPOKEN EVIL OF. CHURCH MEMBERS REBEL AND OFTEN TIMES DEGRADE THEIR PASTOR. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL THAT OFTEN THE PASTOR IS THE MAIN TOPIC OF CONVERSATION AMONG HIS FELLOW MINISTERS AND CONGREGANTS. THE LIFE OF THE MINISTER MAY SEEM TO MANY AS BLESSED AND WONDERFUL. OFT TIMES THIS IS THE CASE, AND YET THE LOAD HE CARRIES OF MINISTERING AND CARING FOR THE FLOCK WEIGHS HEAVILY UPON HIM. THE PASTOR DEALS WITH SURMOUNTABLE COMPLEX PROBLEMS OF MARRIAGE, ADULTERY, WAYWARD CHILDREN, FALSE DOCTRINE AND SO MUCH MORE WHICH OFTEN IS BEYOND HIS CAPABILITY TO HANDLE.
AS MUCH AS THE PASTOR SPENDS TIME WITH GOD, HE SPENDS TIME WITH HIS FLOCK. HIS SPENDING TIME WITH THE LORD IN MOST CASES CONCERNS THE PLIGHT AND PROBLEMS OF HIS CONGREGANTS. THE PASTOR CONSTANTLY LIVES IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD INTERCEDING ON BEHALF OF HIS CONGREGANTS. LIKE THE OLD TESTAMENT PRIEST WHO HAD INSCRIBED ON HIS BREASTPLATE THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, HE TOO HAS THEM UPON HIS BREAST CLOSE TO HIS HEART. AS THE LORD SAW THE TWELVES STONES REPRESENTING THE TWELVE TRIBES ON THE GARMENT OF THE HIGH PRIEST IN A SIMILAR WAY THE LORD SEES THE CONGREGANTS UPON THE HEART OF THE PASTOR.
LIKE ALL OF FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY, THE PASTOR SHOWS THE FAITHFUL LOVE OF JESUS, REGARDLESS HOW PEOPLE REACT TO HIM. THOUGH THE LORD CAME TO HIS OWN, HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT AND HANDED HIM OVER TO THE ROMANS TO BE CRUCIFIED. YET HE CRIED FROM THE CROSS: “FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.” IN MANY A WAY, THE LIFE OF THE PASTOR IS SIMILAR. HIS LIVES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OTHERS. HIS LIFE IS A SACRIFICE.
MANY SAINTS OF GOD DO NOT KNOW OF THE SUFFERINGS OF A PASTOR. MANY PASTORS WEAR A MASK. THERE IS ALWAYS A SMILE ON THEIR FACE, BUT DEEP WITHIN THERE IS A BROKEN HEART. COUNTLESS PASTORS SUFFER WITH ACUTE BOUTS OF STRESS AND DEPRESSION. THE SAD THING OF IT ALL THEY WEAR A MASK OF PRETENSE. THEY KEEP THEIR SUFFERING TO THEMSELVES AND NO WONDER SO MANY EXPERIENCE INSIPIDNESS IN THEIR MINISTRIES.
PASTORS NEED AARONS AND HURS TO COME ALONGSIDE THEM. MEN OF GOD FROM THE LOCAL CONGREGATION THAT WILL LIFT UP THE HANDS OF THEIR WEAKENED PASTOR. MEN OF GOD THAT WILL MAKE THEIR PASTOR COMFORTABLE BY SIMPLY COMING ALONGSIDE HIM AND GIVING HIM THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY APPRECIATE HIM.
SEVERAL PASTORS SUFFER WITH TERRIBLE BOUTS OF DEPRESSION. MANY LOOSE FAITH IN SELF AND IN ALMIGHTY GOD AS WELL. THEY WALK UNDER A CLOUD OF DESPAIR. SOME EVEN GET ANGRY WITH GOD. SADLY, THE WORK OF THE LORD BECOMES INSIPID. WHAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR SPIRITUAL WELL BEING IS THEY OFTEN WILL NOT SHARE THEIR BURDENS WITH OTHERS. THEY FEAR WHAT OTHERS MAY THINK AND SAY OF THEM. THEY CONSTANTLY PRESENT THEMSELVES AS IN CONTROL AND YET THEY ARE FALLING APART.
WHEN DEPRESSED MEN OF GOD CANNOT PRAY. THEY FEEL SORRY FOR THEMSELVES. THEY FEEL INADEQUATE. THOUGHTS OF DENIAL FLOOD THEIR INNER MAN: ASKING THEMSELVES: “HAS GOD REALLY SET ME ASIDE AS A MINSTER OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL? OR HAVE I FOOLISHLY TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF A MINISTER ALL BY MYSELF? AM I A S.A.P.-SELF APPOINTED PREACHER?
HOW DO THESE MEN OF GOD OVERCOME THIS HORRIBLE DEPRESSION AND MAY I ADD IN MOST CASES SELF INFLICTED? THEY LOOK AT THEIR WORK IN THE LORD AND WONDER WHETHER THEY ARE EFFECTIVE. THEY CONSIDER OTHER SUCCESSFUL MINISTERS AND COMPARE THEMSELVES COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THEY HAVE FAILED IN THE MINISTRY.
JUST WHAT DO THESE MEN OF GOD DO TO COME OUT OF THIS VALLEY OF DESPAIR? FIRST AND FOREMOST, THEY MUST REALIZE THAT AS DEPRESSED MINISTERS THEY STRUGGLE TO PRAY. THEY NEED OTHERS TO BEAR THEM UP IN THE ARMS OF PRAYER. THEY NEED A SPIRITUAL CONFIDANT WITH WHOM THEY CAN SHARE THEIR HEART WITH. THEY MUST REALIZE JUST AS THEY CARRY OTHER PEOPLES BURDENS, OTHERS MUST CARRY THEIR BURDENS. THEY MUST REALIZE THEY ARE NOT SUPER SPIRITUAL.
PRAISE GOD HE HAS GIVEN THE PASTOR ANOTHER WAY OUT OF THIS DEPRESSION. HIS WONDERFUL, GRACIOUS WORD TELLS PASTORS NOT TO WORRY FOR THEY ARE LIKE MOST OF HIS SERVANTS WHO OFTEN FELT LOST AND UNDONE. GOD WILL REMIND THEM OF ELIJAH. A MAN OF GOD WITH LIKE EXPERIENCE. HOWEVER HOW DO PASTORS BREAK FREE? DO THEY NOT KNOW THAT THE JOY OF THE LORD IS THEIR STRENGTH? DO THEY MAKE MELODY IN THEIR INNER MAN? DO THEY MEDITATE ON THAT WHICH IS GOOD AND PLEASANT? JUST HOW DO THEY CONQUER THIS WEAKNESS. YES, THEY SHOULD REMIND THEMSELVES HOW MUCH GOD LOVES THEM.
I TOO LIKE MANY MEN OF GOD GO THROUGH DEPRESSION AS WELL. THIS MAY SHOCK SOME OF YOU FOR THOUGH I KNOW GOD LOVES ME I STILL NEED A TOUCH FROM GOD. TO ME IT IS NOT JUST, WHAT I KNOW. IT IS ALSO, WHAT I EXPERIENCE. OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MARVELOUS TOUCH. HOW DO I RECEIVE THIS TOUCH THAT BREAKS THE DEVASTATING ATTACK OF DEPRESSION? I LISTEN TO ANOINTED SINGING. VOICES AND WORDS THAT SHOWERS THE GRACE, LOVE AND ANOINTING OF GOD OVER ME AND IN ME. AS I LISTEN AND WEEP BEFORE THE LORD I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. I PUT INTO PLAY WHAT APOSTLE EDWIN GRAY HAD ALWAYS ADVOCATED: “DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS AND BELIEVE GOD.”
THIS MORNING (28-2-2017) I LISTENED TO MY FAVOURITE GOSPEL SINGER YOLANDA ADAMS AND HER CLASSIC: ‘NEVER GIVE UP.” THE BALM OF GILEAD FLOWED LIKE A RIVER OVER ME AND IN ME. THE JOY OF THE LORD FLOODED MY SPIRIT AND I FELT THE DEPRESSION LIFTING.
YOLANDA SUNG OF KEEPING THE FAITH, KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE, DONT EVER LET IT DIE AND STAY THE COURSE BY HOLDING ON TO THE VISION THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD IMPARTED TO YOU. THE THREEFOLD CORD THAT YOLANDA SUNG ABOUT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MEANINGFUL TO ME. ALL I HAD TO DO WAS TO SIMPLY REMIND MYSELF OF HOW OVER THE YEARS THE LORD HAD MINISTERED TO ME ON FAITH, MY DREAM AND THE VISION I BELIEVE HE HAD GIVEN ME.
CONCERNING FAITH, JOB ALWAYS COMES TO MIND WITH THIS SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: JOB HAD FAITH IN GOD, WHICH NO DOUBT WAS GOOD. HOWEVER, IT WAS ONE THING FOR JOB TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD BUT ANOTHER THING FOR GOD TO HAVE FAITH IN JOB. HAVE WE EVER REFLECTED ON THE WORDS OF THE ALMIGHTY: “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB.”? WHAT A STATEMENT OF TRUTH. GOD BELIEVED IN JOB. WE ALL KNOW REGARDLESS OF WHAT JOB WENT THROUGH HE KEPT THE FAITH. I, WHEN GOING THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS LOOSE OUT IN FAITH. MY DREAMS ARE SHATTERED AND MY VISION IS BLURRED. JOSEPH WHEN THROWN IN THE PIT, LIED ABOUT, THROWN IN PRISON DID NOT GIVE UP ON HIS DREAM. IN PRISON, IT WAS HIS DREAM THAT FUELED HIS VISION, STIRRED HIS FAITH TO KNOW THAT AS HE LEFT THE PIT THOUGH IN CHAINS, THERE WOULD BE THE DAY HE WOULD LEAVE THE PRISON AND END UP IN THE PALACE. WE ALL HAVE A SIMILAR JOURNEY AND THAT FROM THE PIT OF DESPAIR, TO THE PRISON OF ISOLATION THOUGH SURROUNDED BY MANY (AND YET OF NO LIKE FAITH) AND VISION BLURRED BY DOUBT AND UNBELIEF BECAUSE WE SUCCUMB TO THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF LIFE. LET US BE ENCOURAGED WITH THE THREE FOLD CORD OF VICTORY THAT YOLANDA ADAM SINGS ABOUT AND WHICH IS ENTRENCHED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.
WE HAVE TO KEEP THE FAITH FOR THE SIMPLE FACT:
F … FAITH
A … ACTIVATES
I … INSPIRED
T … TRUST (and)
H … HOPE
WE MUST EVER GIVE UP ON OUR DREAM FOR THE SIMPLE FACT:
D… DREAMS
R… REVEAL
E… ETERNAL
A… ASPIRATIONS (AMBITION, GOALS, TARGET)
M… MIRACULOUSLY
WE MUST NEVER EVER GIVE UP ON OUR GOD ORDAINED VISION FOR THE SIMPLE FACT:
V… VISION
I … INSPIRES
S… SPIRITUAL
I… INSIGHTS
O… OVER
N… NEGATIVITY (N.B. ALL ACRONYMS AUTHORED BY DR J. D’ALLENDE)
PRAISE GOD AFTER TELLING THE LORD EXACTLY HOW I FELT. HOW I LOST FAITH IN HIM AND MYSELF. HOW MY DREAM WAS SHATTERED. AND HOW MY VISION WAS SPIRITUALLY BLURRED. AND THEN LISTENING TO THE ANOINTED SONG NEVER GIVE UP BY YOLANDA ADAMS THE DEPRESSION AND SELF PITY HAS GONE AND ONCE AGAIN MY FAITH IS RENEWED, MY DREAM IS CLEAR AS DAYLIGHT AND MY VISION LOOKS THROUGH THE SEA OF DESPAIR AND THE MOUNTAINS OF GLOOM.
PRAISE GOD FOR YOLANDA ADAMS. PRAISE GOD FOR THOSE WHO UPHOLD ME IN THE ARMS OF PRAYER AND WHO CONTINUALLY PRAY FOR CALVARY APOSTOLIC MINISTRIES.
EMBED THIS SHORT EXHORTATION WITHIN YOUR INNER MAN, TIE THE THREEFOLD CORD OF FAITH, DREAMS AND VISION TIGHTLY IN YOUR INNER MAN AND LIFT UP YOUR VOICE OF PRAISE AND ADORATION UNTO THE MOST HIGH GOD.
YOUR SERVANT IN THE LORD
DR JOSEPH & DOLORES D’ALLENDE
PLEASE CONTINUALLY HOLD THIS MINISTRY UP IN THE ARMS OF PRAYER– SOMETIMES IT IS YOUR PRAYERS THAT IS OUR BASKET OF ESCAPE ( REMEMBER PAUL ESCAPED PERSECUTION BY BEING LET DOWN OVER THE WALLS IN DAMASCUS).
PLEASE PRAY ABOUT OUR IMPENDING TRIP TO SUNNY SOUTH AFRICA — WE TRUSTING GOD TO BE HOME FOR TWO MONTHS– SPENDING TIME WITH MY LOVELY DAUGHTER AND HANDSOME SON IN LAW, OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, FELLOW MINISTERS AND FRIENDS.
