Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

Often I have commented to Pam, “I wonder why they are not known on a national level.” It seems for many, it takes years to develop a ministry gift that is recognized. I believe the answer has to do with private battles. God raises up champions not among champions, but among sheep. Moses was a shepherd before he was a pastor of three million people. David killed bears and lions in private before he defeated Goliath. When men can win private battles, God allows them to win public battles. Several years ago there was a great woman minister who was destined, I believe, to be one of the most outstanding ministers in the nation. I often wondered why she never received national recognition. After years of marriage, she fell into adultery, lost her husband, and, for several years, her ministry. What if she had been well known? The devastation within the body of Christ would have been great. God restrained her from becoming internationally known to avoid another tragedy in the body of Christ. In recent years there have been far too many public examples of Christian leaders who have failed to win their private battles, causing much spiritual upheaval in the body of Christ. Success can make or break a person. So God desires to build character in the minister before He builds the ministry. Are you becoming weary, thinking, “God is never going to use me”? Do you wonder why your gift has not been noticed? Are you sitting around waiting for a big door to open, or are you willing to do little things that no one