Article of the Month of November 2006

“THE CALLING FOR MINISTRY” – Part I
by Dr. John Williams

The purpose of this article is to impart full knowledge about Ministry from the perspective of the Word of God, and relate simultaneously some personal experiences in life and ministry. It is my prayer and belief that thousands of readers of this article, whether they know me personally or not, will benefit spiritually by reading this article, which is probably a combination of my spiritual and ministerial experiences which revolutionized my spiritual life and my ministry.

If you feel and believe firmly, that you have been called to serve God (full time), you can be sure of your calling. By the same token, if you are not sure of your calling, you should take it, as you have not been called, and continue to pray until this question is resolved. I am now talking about the special calling to be a Pastor etc.  However, in a sense all of us have been called to serve God in some way. We are the bond slaves of Jesus Christ. We have not been purchased by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Israelites, the children of God, were delivered from the captivity and the bondage of Egypt, through Moses, and led to the Promised Land of Canaan flowing with Milk and Honey, to serve God.

Further the great commission has been given collectively to all the disciples of Jesus Christ, and that is to go, into the entire World and preach the gospel to every creature and to make disciples of all Nations.

This is the confirmation that one would need to launch out to do some ministry like this! I should also

mention that in all the subsequent Missions trips that I undertook in a span of twenty five years, to more

than 50 countries (and to many countries, scores of times), I had the same kind of confirmation, and every trip was a great success, beyond my imagination and expectations.  I never regretted for making any

ministry trip because it fell short of my expectation or was unfruitful. I was spiritually enriched and the

people were blessed. I felt that I went according to God's Will and the Holy Spirit accompanied me. I strongly

believe that we are only co-partners together with God.

Through these hundreds of Missions trips, I learned to:

·        Discern and be sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit

·        Keep pace with God, and flow with the Holy Spirit (neither going ahead nor lagging behind)

·        Hear the voice of God

·        Walk and Talk with God

·        Be a co-laborer together with God

·        Experience and be conscious of God's presence

·        Enter into a partnership with God

·        Have friendship and fellowship with God

·        Trust God and walk in faith

God speaks in a variety of ways and we should have our spiritual faculties tuned to recognize it, when he does:

·        Through the Word of God – Logos

·        Through "Rhema" Word - The Revelation Knowledge given by the Holy Spirit

·        Through Visions

·        Through Dreams

·        Through Prophesies

·        Through our Thoughts in our Mind

·        Through our Desires in our Hearts

·        Through an Audible Voice

·        Through the Counsel of the Godly Men

·        Through the Angelic Announcement

1. SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY

I think it is important we have adequate and proper preparation to go for the ministry by going through the

following steps, if we have not gone through them already:

·        To be Born Again

·        To obey the Lord through the water Baptism

·        To be Baptized and Anointed with the Holy Spirit

·        To live a Holy and Righteous Life

·        To be an active  Member of a Local Church, by participating in all the programs of the church

·        To be under the spiritual Counseling of the church

·        To diligently study the word of God

·        To utilize all opportunities in the local church, which I believe is the Training Ground

·        To take some Theological/Bible Courses and Training, through the Local Church, if anything is offered

·        To give our Tithes and Offerings

·        To serve the Lord through the local church or under some spiritual covering, to start with, in various capacities:

It is very difficult or impossible to come up with a complete or an exhaustive list of Ministries. But several examples are given below:

Any Church Related Work

Any Work in a Para-church Organization

Hospital Ministry

Prison Ministry

Street Ministry

Outreach Ministry

Village Ministry

Global Ministry

College or School Campus Ministry

Slum Ministry

Tribal Ministry

Literature Ministry

Radio Ministry

TV Ministry etc.

2. BIBLE REFERENCES ABOUT THE MINISTRY

Some Scriptures in which the word "Ministry" has been used, are cited below which mentions other kinds of ministries, other ways of serving God, carrying out some special assignments, making ourselves available to serve God in any capacity according the Calling:  Numbers 4:12
 

And they shall take all the Instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary. Numbers 4:47

From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation. 2 Chronicles 7:6

And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when ever David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. Hosea 12:10

I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitude's, by the Ministry of the Prophets. Acts 6:4

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the Ministry of the word. Acts 12:25

And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their Ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 21:19

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. Romans 12:7

Or Ministry, let us wait on our Ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 1 Corinthians 16:15

I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that (they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints) 2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the Ministry of reconciliation; Colossians 4:17

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it. 1 Timothy 1:12

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the Ministry; 2 Timothy 4:5

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy Ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the Ministry. Hebrews 8:6

But now hath he obtained a more excellent Ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

3. VARIOUS TITLES GIVEN IN THE BIBLE TO MINISTERS

     1. Ambassadors - II Corinthians 5:20

     2. Angels of the Church - Rev. 1:20

     3. Elders - I Tim 5:17

     4. Evangelists - Acts 21:8

     5. Fishers of men - Matt. 4:19

     6. Laborers - Matt. 9:38

     7. Men of God - Deut. 33:1

     8. Messengers - II Corinthians 8:23

     9.  Ministers of the church - Col 1:25

    10. Minister of Christ - Rom 15:16

    11. Minister of God - I Corinthians 6:4

    12. Minister of the Gospel - Eph. 3:7

    13. Minister of the Lord - Joel 2:17

    14. Minister of the word - Luke 1:2

    15. Overseers Acts 20:28

    16. Pastors - Jeremiah. 3:15

    17. Preachers - Rom 10:14

    18. Preachers of righteousness - II Pet. 2:5

    19. Servants of Christ Phil 1:1

    20. Servants of the church II Corinthians 4:5

    21. Servants of God Tit. 1:1

    22. Servants of the Lord - II Tim. 2:24

    23. Shepherds Jeremiah 23:4

    24. Soldiers Phil 2:25

    25. Stars Rev. 1:20

    26. Stewards of God - Tit. 1:7

    27. Stewards of grace I Pet 4:10

    28. Stewards of mysteries - I Corinthians 4:1

    29. Teachers Isaiah 30:20

    30. Watchmen - Isaiah 62:6

    31. Witness Acts 1:8

    32. Workers - II Corinthians 6:1 

SOME OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OF THOSE IN THE MINISTRY

It is important to follow the principles stated below when we are in the ministry:

    1. Living a holy and righteous life according to the biblical standards.

    2  Being a good steward [not an owner of all] of the resources of the ministry

    3. Being sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and flowing with him, without       
  going ahead of God or lagging behind.

    4. Doing everything for the glory of God and not for their own glory

    5. Being honest in all financial transactions and accurate about making  
  statements about their ministry.

    6. Not to be proud or arrogant to anyone or to be lords over God's heritage

    7. Not to be worldly or covetous.

Part II will be continued in Next Month's Anointing Magazine