11 TYPES OF PRESSURE PASTORS FACE IN MINISTRY AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM – Mfon Udoema

… And I forced myself…
1 Samuel 13:12

Ministry is a mystery!
A lot of ministers and are facing pressures of all kinds, some, even up to the point of exasperation.
The pressures of ministry has drained so many people and devasted them like a malignant sore.

It is true that necessity is laid upon every minister but no minister should force himself to do things in ministry.

The following are the pressures pastors face in ministry:

1. THE PRESSURE TO PERFORM A MIRACLE. Jn 6:30; Jn 4:48
   The people told Jesus Christ to perform a miracle for them to see and believe. Human beings want miracles but no minister should be under pressure to perform a miracle. This very pressure has become the undoing of many.
2. THE PRESSURE TO PROPHESY.
   Mt 26:28; Lk 26:64
   Even at the point of death, the people that were beating Jesus while crucifying him, asked him to prophesy to them.
   The Prophetic is powerful.
   However, don’t force yourself to prophesy.
   My father told me something that helped me regarding the Prophetic. He told me that if I want to prophesy in every service, I will get myself into trouble.
3. THE PRESSURE TO BUILD A BIG AUDITORIUM.
   2 Kings 6:1
   The sons of the prophet told their master Prophet Elisha that their auditorium was too small and they needed a big one. It was not God that asked Prophet Elisha to build a new auditorium.
   In order to build a big auditorium, the resorted to borrowing an axe.
   Many pastors are neck deep in debt due to the loans the took to build gigantic and humongous auditoriums or auditoria as the case may be.
4. THE PRESSURE TO LIVE IN A PALATIAL MANSION.
   Jn 1:38
   The people asked Jesus Christ to show them where he lived.
   A lot of people want to judge a pastor by the kind of house he lives in and this has put so many pastors under pressure.
5. THE PRESSURE TO BE A PHILANTHROPIST.
   Jn 6:1-27
   Jesus Christ fed the multitudes twice, and the people wanted it to become a routine in every service and he rebuked them sternly.
   Every pastor must be careful not to be under the pressure to become a philanthropist.
6. THE PRESSURE TO TEACH AND PREACH ONLY WHAT THE PEOPLE LIKE AT ALL TIMES.
   Jn 6:60
   After Jesus preached a hard message, the multitudes left.
   It is almost as though a pastor is at the mercy of his members and at such is very careful not to preach or teach what may offend the people and this is why messages on discipleship and sacrifice are fast disappearing and losing appeal.
7. THE PRESSURE TO BELONG TO CERTAIN MINISTERIAL GROUPS IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE IN MINISTRY.
   Mk 9:38; Lk 9:49
   The disciples of Jesus attacked some people that were preaching and doing miracles but were not part of the ministry of Jesus but He rebuked them for that.
   Today, it’s almost as though if you don’t belong to some associations, organizations or networks, you are not accepted or endorsed in ministry.
8. THE PRESSURE TO SUBMIT TO A CERTAIN SPIRITUAL FATHER IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE IN MINISTRY.
   1 Sam 10:10-12
   After Saul met with the company of prophets and began to prophesy, some people mocked them by asking ‘Who is their father’?
   This implies that those prophets were not part of Prophet Samuel’s sons of the prophet. Their spiritual father must have been an unknown, unheard, unsung and uncelebrated figure.
   Today, it’s as though if one is not submitted to some people, the person is not called or genuine.
9. THE PRESSURE TO HAVE MONEY AND OTHER MATERIAL THINGS IN ORDER TO APPEAR SUCCESSFUL AND GAIN ACCEPTANCE IN MINISTRY.
   Judg 17:7-13
   The world is so vain today that people rate a minister by what he has.
10. THE PRESSURE TO DO WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING IN MINISTRY, ESPECIALLY IN ORDER TO APPEAR SUCCESSFUL.
    2 Sam 18:19-32
    Ahimaaz did not have tidings but he decided that if Cushi can bear tidings, he can bear tidings also.
    A lot of people are under pressure to do what God did not commission them to do because others are doing those things.
11. THE PRESSURE TO GATHER CROWD.
    Acts 5:36-37
    Church growth is God’s will but gathering crowd by all means is a pressure.
    Theudas and Judas of Galilee were destroyed by this pressure.

HOW TO HANDLE THE PRESSURES

• Stick to your calling and vision.
• Stop seeking validation from human beings about your God given ministry.
• Cultivate contentment as a lifestyle because godliness with contentment is great gain.
• Choose your association wisely. Most pressures come from association.
• Marry a good spouse and let your spouse be your support system.
• Build capacity and grow daily.

Mfon Udoema