TRAPS FOR MINISTERS

a. Burnout disguised as faithfulness - Enduring, not enjoying, not bearing fruits - Enjoy the ministry, not endure the ministry - Humans are not meant to depend upon human strength - When God created us, He created us in a way that we should be power assisted b. Compromise justified as strategy They do not announce themselves as sin. They often appear as opportunities, responsibilities, sympathetic actions, growth, relevance, or even blessings. Yet they slowly pull the called away from prayer, consecration, holiness, and divine focus. (1) We must sensitively desist from any questionable conduct that dilutes or harms our Christian witness to unbelievers (1 Cor. 10:27-33). (2) All association with or appearance of idolatry must be decisively avoided (1 Cor. 8:10; 10:7, 12, 14, 18-20). (3) The law of love will cause us to limit voluntarily our Christian freedom in order not to lead by example another believer into compromising their convictions, defiling their conscience and thereby going down a path to spiritual ruin (1 Cor. 8:9-13; 10:24; cf. Rom. 14:1-15:3). Those who have not prepared their minds and hearts to stay true to God and his Word will find it difficult to resist sin and to avoid conforming to the world's ungodly ideas and lifestyles. c. Isolation masked as independence Daniel 10:4-20 - the spirit prince of the kingdoms... Angels on assignment... The devil's strategy is Isolation but God's antidote is connection. "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment." (Proverbs 18:1) This reveals the motivation and consequence for willful isolation. We isolate ourselves primarily because of selfish desires for comfort, protection, and self-rule. d. Pride camouflaged as confidence Daniel 4:20-33 "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18) "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (Romans 12:16) e. Moral looseness excused as grace "King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper." (Daniel 4:27) "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." (Romans 6:1-4) These traps are designed not just to destroy ministers—but to wound the flocks committed to their care. "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." (Zechariah 13:7, KJV) --- CONCLUSION/APPLICATION: A Call to Vigilance, Focus, and Holy Passion This is a season that demands watchfulness. "Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, NLT) To every Gate-keeper: a. Guard your prayer life fiercely b. Protect your private consecration c. Discipline your time and attention d. Refuse every distraction that steals spiritual depth e. Reignite your first love The end-time ministry will not be carried by the gifted alone—but by the faithful, focused, and fiery!