Minister’s Wife Monday | 3 Things We Must Remember About Ministry in the Last Days.
I’m taking a different direction than I had originally planned with our Minister’s Wife Monday post this week… and I’m a day late getting it done!
It is both an exciting and scary thing to live in the end times. The scariest part, for me, is raising children in such a wicked culture; but that’s a post for another day.
Today, I want to encourage you in your role as a pastor or minister’s wife.
- How do “end time” issues affect you as a pastor’s family?
- What does ministry look like in the last days?
- How should we prepare to be effective witnesses for Christ?
You and I are on the front lines, along with our husbands, in this spiritual battle between God and Satan, good and evil.
We can grow weary and discouraged ourselves; and yet, our precious church family comes to us each week expecting to receive spiritual nourishment and encouragement so that they can continue to fight and overcome the battles in their own lives.
How do we stay strong enough?
How do we possibly keep ourselves in the love of Christ… enough for ourselves, our marriages, our families, and a church world that is being attacked and belittled by a culture that hates righteousness?
Obviously I don’t have simple little answers for that. But, I do believe the key to our personal victory and ministry effectiveness lies in the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
In light of that, here are three things I believe we need to remember about ministry in these last days-
1. Evil will increase.
That’s pretty obvious, you may say. But somehow, many times we are taken off guard discouraged, overwhelmed when evil prevails in the world.
Don’t fall into the trap of expecting an easy life, ladies. We are in a spiritual battle as Christians, and especially as the wives and “helpers” of men who have given their lives to building the kingdom of God.
The Word of God warns us that iniquity will increase and abound, especially as the Second Coming of Christ draws near-
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax (grow) cold.”
“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Matthew 24:12 & 37
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot… but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”
Luke 17:26-30
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
II Timothy 3:1-5
The increasing wickedness in our culture points to the coming of Jesus Christ.
2. Scoffers will come.
There shall come in the last days scoffers (those who express derision or scorn), walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?…
“They willingly are ignorant… The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…
“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness… Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
II Peter 3:3-14
“But beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:17-23
As a ministry family, you will not always be understood or appreciated. Sometimes criticism or misunderstanding will be expressed from relatives, fellow Christians, friends, church members or unbelievers.
Whatever the source, ask God to give you a gracious tongue and a spine like steel. As Christians, we need both!
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Colossians 4:6
3. We are to reach out with love and compassion, not cower in fear.
Yesterday as I read through several passages in Scripture that pertain to end times, I was struck by the emphasis placed upon evangelism and good works:
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations…
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Matthew 25:31-40
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
“{He} is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”
Jude 1:21-23
Ladies, I realize this post is comprised mainly of Scripture; very likely truths that you already know. I simply want to encourage you to “keep yourselves in the love of God.”
Continue to be strong.
Reach out with love and compassion to unbelievers.
Extend grace and understanding to other Christians, even those who may not believe just like you do.
This is not a time for division or fear; we cannot afford “friendly fire” or desertion in the army of God!
Jesus Christ is coming again. Let’s live ready to meet Him, and stay faithful until He returns!
Encouraging Scriptures on the end times and Christ’s return:
- Matthew 24 & 25
- Luke 17
- II Timothy 3
- II Peter 3
- Jude
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3 Things We Must Remember About Ministry in the Last Days is a post from: Kristy's Cottage {blog}
Kristy Howard
Kristy Howard is a pastor’s wife, second-generation homeschooling mom of five, and a passionate believer in friendship, coffee, and quiet time! Kristy writes about motherhood, ministry and life at KristysCottage.com.
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