A church grows quickly, a Pastor’s name rises seemingly out of no where and his ministry surpasses those around him. Something is going on, everybody sees it but most do not give God the credit.
Why?
Not sure
A church grows quickly, pastors and people alike analyze from the outside as to why it is growing. All kinds of reasons come to the surface of their minds, reasons based on assumptions, assumptions that then become “declared fact”, assumptions that say God couldn’t be a part of growth of that magnitude and quickness. They must be doing something wrong.
Huh? Ummm
Why would people count God out all together?
Not sure
A church grows quickly and a group of people unattached to that church talk about the fall that pastor will soon take and how that fall will affect them, their churches, their ministries and yes of course “the cause of Christ”. But what if that pastor never falls? What if the church continues to grow? What about the positive impact that church’s growth has on the cause of Christ right now? Why are the religious people not talking about that?
If that sort of growth happened to them, to their church, to their ministries then of course it would be a miracle of God and all people who oppose would be the jealous ones and they would be the bless ones of God.
Why would that make the difference between what God is and is not doing? All based on ones approval or disapproval concerning what is happening or based on if it is happening to them or not?
We need to be careful when criticizing other ministries that are larger than ours or having success. For we will find ourselves more often than not, speaking against what God is doing…
and why would He use us when we choose to criticize what He is doing through someone else…
when we refuse to give Him credit…
because He’s not doing that through us or…
based on our approval?
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls…. and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:41, 47b
So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” John 12:19
So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” Acts 5:38-39a