A tale of 2 saints

Once upon a time, there were 2 Apostolic Pentecostal people. They were faithful members of a church.

The 1st saint had many problems in their life, but they were honest about them. If one were to ask, they would admit readily that they relied upon the grace and mercy of God.

Also, this 1st church member strongly desired God's guidance and repair in their personal situations.

Translation: they needed their pastor's help a good amount, as well as the prayers and advice of other ministers in their home church.

The 2nd saint was in many ways very similar to the 1st: they also had many problems in their life. However, there was 1 key difference - they hid them! This 2nd saint kept all of their issues and needs buried and refused to ask for help. To repeat, this 2nd person had just as many issues, they just wouldn't ask for prayer or seek their pastor's counsel.

Which saint was right?

The answer is obvious: the 1st saint - the one who asked for help. One doesn't have to be a genius to figure out that the 2nd saint would superficially APPEAR to have everything in order in the short term. But as time moves forward, the unrepaired issues and situations in their life would eventually come to a boiling point.

On the other hand, the 1st saint - the one who needed their pastor's and their church's attention a little more on the front end - would in the long-term be in better shape, because they received the help they needed from the church ministry.

I write this to encourage the Apostolic ministry. There's a purpose for every person God has saved and brought to a church!

I confess that many pastors have expressed to me personal frustrations over church members having lots of problems. I've listened to preachers label a saved soul a "high conflict saint", and another member a "low conflict person".

The issue with this is that Peter, James, John, Paul, Rhoda, Agabus, Mary Magdalene, Martha, and almost any other New Testament soul that was significantly used of God had conflict-initiating moments. One could argue that modern ministry would label all of these Apostles and anointed individuals as "high conflict" or "problem saints".

I wonder: could there still be Paul's and Priscilla's today, but their initial conditions and current storms pull away the very ministers God is sending to help them for future Kingdom purpose? I bet that Ananias in Acts chapter 9 probably thought Paul was a "problem person" he didn't want to deal with.

And maybe the right and left arms of ministry have already been sent by God to the church you belong to. Maybe they are the people no one wants to help, and everyone has written off.

Maybe there are NO accidental saints - maybe they are ALL there, sent by The LORD for a reason.

What am I saying? I'm saying your future choir director, soul winner, youth leader, and other ministers-in-training are quite likely present. They are the David's playing in the sheepfold, written off by Jesse. They are Moses hiding in the wilderness with Jethro, running from God's destiny to come. They are even quite possibly the reader of this post, wondering why God has them here, now.

I close this entry with the words of The Apostle Paul.

"But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

 - 1 Corinthians 12:20-27