Questions
- How do you handle people who talk about or against you?
- What do I do when people resist me and I know that they do not think well of me?
- What do I do when people turn against me and leave the church?
- How many hours a day do you pray, and where do you pray?
- I notice you emphasize receiving communion. Do you receive communion daily?
Answers
Q. How do you handle people who talk about or against you?
A. First of all, remember that most gossipers talk without intelligence. They babble (Eccl. 10:11).
Here’s a Barclay proverb for you… “What people say about you is none of your business. What you say about them is your business.” You do not live by other peoples’ words. You live by your words.
Q. What do I do when people resist me and I know that they do not think well of me?
A. Here is another Barclay proverb for you… “What people think of you is none of your business. What you think of them is your business, especially after you know what they think of you.” Your happiness is never in another man’s head. Never allow people the privilege of steering you by this. Besides, this is not a popularity contest. You work for Jesus Christ. Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay. Speak His Word with boldness and never, ever, never be a man-pleaser.
Q. What do I do when people turn against me and leave the church?
A. Fight the evil spirit that is behind their assault and insult. The Lord showed me that even after the people leave, the evil deceiving and seducing spirit stays behind to suppress you and steal your energy and confidence. You deal with these bad spirits, and let God deal with the people. Never ever take the blame for what others do and say, and never question your integrity because of their lack of it. Stop judging yourself because they left. They divorced you; you did not divorce them.
Q. How many hours a day do you pray, and where do you pray?
A. I do not necessarily keep track of my prayer times. I don’t always pray long periods of time, but I don’t let long periods of time go by without praying. We should always be in contact with Heaven—constantly. We pray without ceasing. You work for Jesus Christ. Go to your prayer closet on a regular basis, get your orders from the Boss, and go and do them. Receive communion regularly, both privately and publicly.
Q. I notice you emphasize receiving communion. Do you receive communion daily?
A. Yes, I do try to receive communion every day. R.W. Shambach told me the other day that he tells everyone, “Barclay always has us take communion before we preach. I believe that the elements of communion take us back to Calvary and to the remembrance of all Jesus did for us. They also remind us of how small we are and how great He is. It takes ‘self’ out of the way and causes us once again to be a humble gospel servant. We could use a little more of this in our pulpiteers today.”
