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What if We Don't Grow?
A lack of corporate growth in numbers may suggest
a spiritual problem.
- Since numerical growth is no sure sign of a work of God in a
local church, its presence or absence may or may not indicate spiritual vitality
or fatality.
- It may be that a pastor is called to a work in a local church
that will not enjoy rapid or substantial numerical blessing, even though there
is no discernable sin in the pastor or in the congregation for which the Lord
is withholding it.
- It may be that a pastor is called to work in a local church
that will not enjoy rapid or substantial numerical blessing because there
is sin in the congregation for which the Lord is withholding it.
- Jeremiah is a prime example. He faithfully preached his whole
life to a rebellious people, and preached them right into numerical atrophy
and exile because of their rebellion against the Lord! They rejected his
warnings, burned his writings, and threw him into prison. And they rejected
him most clearly at the very end of his ministry to them.
- As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name
of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you! But rather we will certainly
carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths (Jer 44:17). The
numerical decline happened because of Israel's rank, rebellious sin. The
decline and exile of Israel was a means of God's discipline of His people.
- It may be that a pastor is working in a local church that will
not enjoy rapid or substantial numerical blessing because there is gross sin
in the pastor for which the Lord is withholding it. The pastor needs to repent
of his sin, seek accountability from other men in the church, and believe
the gospel for forgiveness and change.
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