"An ineffective, half-alive minister is a better advertisement for hell than a good man dead!" - A.W. Tozer

 

We are talking about a people who have been given the commission by Almighty God to "Go!" They have heard the call to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..."(Matthew 28:19).  In other words, they are commissioned to make disciples or to bring the entire world - "all nations" - into a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

 

They are considered to be a "servant" - "a servant of Jesus Christ"(Romans 1:1).  They are not free to come or go as they please. They are under the control of another - their Master and Lord.

 

They are "called" to this task. They did not assume this office themselves. They were appointed. They are considered to be an envoy, a messenger, or one sent on an errand for the King.

 

They are "separated" - designated, marked by certain limits, or bound as a field for a decided work.

 

That work is the "gospel of God." It's their business to preach the Gospel. They have no other object in life for which they strive.

 

They have been specifically "separated" - consecrated or set apart for this work by the Holy Spirit - Who goes along with them - strengthening them for each task, influencing, directing, and giving them success in their endeavors - "...being sent forth by the Holy Ghost..."(Acts 13:2,4).  

 

They recognize their inadequacies in their own selves to get the job done. They are fully aware of the great responsibilities and difficulties of the work of the ministry. Their testimony is - "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." In other words, they can't think, act, or be without God. He and He alone is the One Who makes them "...able ministers of the new testament..."(2 Corinthians 3:5,6). 

 

They are given authority and filled with spiritual power "for edification"(2 Corinthians 10:8) - and not for the destruction of their hearers. They are commissioned by God to build up His people and not to destroy them.

 

They are endued with power from on high - "...according to the power which the Lord hath given..."(2 Corinthians 13:10) - to revenge all disobedience wherever needed. The Lord Jesus has given them power to reprove, rebuke, and threaten punishment on all those who are in rebellion in order to maintain order in the Church.

 

They were "...allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel..."(1 Thessalonians 2:4).  They are stewards - committed to the highest and holiest of offices - one that demands sincerity, fidelity, and honesty at all times and in every place. At no time is deception or trickery to be used.

 

They are not out to please men but God - Who tries their hearts. They don't teach doctrines which tickle men's ears or flatter them. They are not after their applause or support. Never do they preach a Gospel that offers them a license to sin.

 

The people of whom we speak today are the Preachers of righteousness - the ministers of God.  

They are respected in Heaven and hated by Hell.

Hence, they are the target of every diabolical assignment - conjured up by every demon and evil spirit in order to stop them in their work.

 

No one describes these sentiments more appropriately than A.W. Tozer in his book entitled, Renewed Day By Day - A Daily Devotional, (November 29) -

 

"The clergyman is considered one of the best actuarial risks any insurance company can handle - from the standpoint of physical hazard.

 

Yet, the ministry is one of the most perilous of professions!

 

The devil hates the Spirit-filled minister with an intensity second only to that which he feels for Christ Himself. The source of this hatred is not difficult to discover. An effective, Christlike minister is a constant embarrassment to the devil, a threat to his dominion, a rebuttal of his best arguments and a dogged reminder of his coming overthrow. No wonder he hates him!

 

Satan knows that the downfall of a prophet of God is a strategic victory for him, so he rests not day or night devising hidden snares and deadfalls for the ministry. Perhaps a better figure would be the poison dart that only paralyzes its victim, for I think that Satan has little interest in killing the preacher outright.

 

An ineffective, half-alive minister is a better advertisement for hell than a good man dead!

 

So, the preacher's dangers are likely to be spiritual rather than physical, though sometimes the enemy works through bodily weakness to get to the preacher's soul!"

(end of quote by Tozer)

 

Oh! Preacher!

 

Does the Devil hate you with "an intensity second only to that which he feels for Christ"?

Are you a "constant embarrassment" to him?

Are you a "threat to his dominion"?

Are you a "rebuttal of his best arguments"? A "dogged reminder of his coming overthrow"?

 

Is it any wonder then that you have been under severe attack in your ministry?

Is it any wonder that you feel like quitting and throwing in the towel?

 

Satan doesn't care to have you physically dead as long as he can make you spiritually dead.

Have you allowed the devil to put out your "fire"? Are you no longer effective?

Have you allowed discouragement to "sap" you of your zeal for the Lord and passion for souls?

 

Are you going to sit back and allow Hell to post you as the next advertisement in Hell?

Will you be their next "ineffective, half-alive minister" that they will mock and scorn?

 

Prayerfully, this message from A.W. Tozer will shake you to the core and cause you to rise up in Holy Fire with your Bible in hand - ready to Preach the Gospel like never before - come Hell or High Water.

 

Let the Holy Spirit fire you up today!

Determine that you will not be Hell's next advertisement!

 

Let the devil know that he is not going to stop you.

You are going on with God!

 

The only advertisement for all to see will be a defeated devil - that you will bring down through the power of the Holy Spirit - in the area where God has assigned you.