As a pastor, Monday may be a day to rejoice because Sunday was a day of victories, but if so, be cautious. Even if Sunday was a “downer” day in your eyes, be cautious.
After any victory, you are vulnerable for defeat. Just ask Elijah. He had just seen the mighty power of God on magnificent display which wrought a great victory at Mt. Carmel! Then, upon hearing the subsequent news of Jezebel’s threat (1 Kings 19:1-3), he became discouraged and ran for his life!
There we find Elijah thinking unbiblically, living in unbelief, asking God to kill him, tired, weary, depressed, engaged in self-pity, and feeling like a total failure (19:4-10).
Have you been there? Do you know the place?
After a glorious Sunday of watching God at work, on Monday remember . . .
- Anything that was accomplished that was good was by God’s grace. (Ephesians 2:8-9; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 9:8; John 15:5)
- Christ is building His Church, not you or me. (Matthew 16:18)
- There’s no place for pride in the ministry. (1 Corinthians 4:8-13; 10:12-13)
- We are clay dirt pots that God is using so He gets the credit and receives all the glory (1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 4:7).
- Do not listen to the “fan mail” received at the door after the service. Live as Paul, Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).
- Do not let down your guard; the devil is ready to attack as well as your old sin nature. Soak your soul in the Word of God and preach the Truth to yourself! (Romans 8)
As one writer said, “We must be careful to win the victory after we have won the battle.”
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