Article Library

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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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God’s Use of Suffering

“In fact, Acts 9:16, the words of the Lord himself to Ananias, saying, ‘I’m going to show Paul all that he must suffer for My name’s sake.’ It’s a part of the plan that is not mentioned that often. Part of my plan for Paul is his suffering. It was Tozer who said, ‘It’s doubtful God can use anyone greatly till He has hurt him deeply.’ Part of going deeper is the hurt, the pain, the hardship, the difficulties. And for many of you they will begin at this school. It doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong track. It means you are right in the nucleus of His will and it’s part of His plan to drive you deeper.”

Confirmed to His Image

“‘The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint is the task of a lifetime.’ All of us, by God’s grace, have been converted to Christ. Our stories are all different, but the object of our affection and the subject of our praise remains the same—Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us. And as a result, He has begun a work in us to make us, as Dr. Pentecost prayed, conformed to His image.”

Don’t Rush God’s Preparation

“During this period, you will not be well-known, you will not feel greatly used, and you will at times feel frustrated because the passion to serve Christ will at times be overwhelming. You’ll be tempted to quit early. You’ll want to rush out into the scene where the needs are evident in the real world. And if you’re not careful, you will cut short this important period that God has called you to, to be obscure, to be quiet, to be still, to learn by listening and studying. To reform habits, or perhaps for the first time in your life, to form habits of discipline in the private part of your world. And I want to urge you to stay there, especially during your years here. And as your ministry begins to unfold, I want to emphasize the value of being quiet, still, alone.”

An Invitation to Go Deeper with God

“Others of you can’t remember when you weren’t in the family of God. Reared in a Christian home. Taught and nurtured and mentored by parents and pastors and teachers and youth workers and friends. You’ve been brought up in all of this. But it may very well be that you’ve not gone deeper. You’ve been active and you certainly are driven with the goal of ministry, or you wouldn’t have requested admission to the school. Now’s the time to slow down, pull back, go deep.”

Appreciate Your “Arabia”

“To go deeper. Go there. This is your Arabia. All kinds of strange things will occur, most of which you would never predict or even anticipate. You will be tested as never before. You will be knocked down, discouraged, disappointed. It’s all part of the making of a saint for a lifetime of ministry. Don’t fight it. Go there. Stay there.”

Additional Resources

First, sign up for our Chuck’s Insights on Ministry email where we bring you his best thoughts on preaching, leadership, and ministry each week. By signing up, you’ll instantly receive a one-page checklist with 20 preaching insights from Chuck. See this page’s sidebar.

Second, check out our new Preach The Word articles and video series on YouTube where we’re teaching Chuck’s best insights on this important calling.

Third, listen to Chuck’s messages to those in ministry through our Seminary Chapels page. For decades, he offered students at Dallas Theological Seminary his best thoughts on church leadership and ministry. Now, we have put them at your fingertips. Also, you can find them through this YouTube playlist we created for you.

Fourth, if you don’t own a copy of Chuck’s book on preaching, Saying It Well, we highly recommend you add it to your library. It’s his preaching memoir that is also like a practical preaching manual. You won’t be able to put it down.

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