Not to take away from the other thread, but maybe it would be useful to determine what a succesful ministry is?
Noah preached for several hundred years, and only eight people were saved. Was his ministry successful?
Jeremiah preached repentance so that GOD's people wouldn't be taken captive. They refused to listen, and they were taken captive. Was he a successful prophet?
Of the seven churches that Jesus spoke to in Revelation, there were two that Jesus had nothing but good things to say about. Were they successful? Yes, but not to human standards. One of them considered themselves small, and the other was being crushed to death. But in Jesus' eyes, they were doing exactly what they should be doing, and HE told them just to hold fast. Wow. 8O
When Jesus started preaching hard doctrine, man of HIS own disciples left following HIM and returned to their old associations. So does that mean HE shouldn't have said what HE said? Of course not.
It is very improtant that we don't be fooled by the megachurches, the huge complexes, and the glits and glamour. All of that is wonderful, but
a successful ministry is simply knowing that you did what GOD sent you to do. You said what HE told you to say, and sang what HE sent you to sing.
That's all a successful ministry has ever been, or ever will be.
Let's think on this, and . . .
Be Blessed
