It is a joy to serve the risen savior.  In distress, through opposition, in battle, abandoned, and in chains, I continue to be a minister, chosen by God for a purpose.  My pastor assigned me to read, the book, Last Days by Charles Marsh.  It is a historical narrative chronicling a white pastor's struggle to minister the truth of the gospel in rural Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement.  As I have read this book, my thoughts have centered around this topic:  ministry in adversity.

Can you imagine what Moses felt like? Here he was in the desert--middle of nowhere with tens of thousands of hungry people grumbling against him.  They could have easily overcame him and taken his life.  What did Moses do in this situation? He sought God.  Not only did the Lord provide food for the people; he also elevated his servant, Moses in the eyes of the people.  The Lord took this instance to place his anointing and stamp on Moses.  The Lord made it clear that he would answer the prayers of his servant, Moses.  In a similar way pastors and leaders, Jesus will justify you in the eyes of a people who mumble and grumble.  You are his anointed one.

We all have been scared of the people at some point in our ministry, scared of what they would think of us; scared of their disapproval.  As we mature, that fear dissipates and their power over us loosens and disappears.  But Saul was a new king, still uncertain, green, and inexperienced, so when the people became afraid and looked at him for assurance, he reacted.  His reaction cost him his anointing, his kingship, and his place.  We must remain calm and patient when ministering in adversity.  We cannot allow the people to force us to do be disobedient to God and stray  from God's plan for our lives.

There will be times when we have to go to battle for our ministry--literally.  We will have to take up our word and fight the devil in our preaching and our teaching.  My pastor said boldly in one of his sermons:  "I will not work with Satan--Satan will not represent me!"  We have to do likewise.  We can't compromise with Satan--noway, no how.  I don't care how powerful or popular the evildoers are, we cannot forget that the enemies of God still hate God!  All we can do is keep building the wall, stay on our post, and be obedient to our calling. Paul was in chains. He still preached the gospel.  Jeremiah was at the bottom of a cistern, he still proclaimed God's word.  Pastor Marsh in the book, Last Days still pastored and showed love to his people; some of whom were Klan members, murderers, and rapist.  We can minister in adversity.  Jesus gives us strength.  Take heart, he has already overcome the world!