Called to Minister

The Holy Spirit moves us to accept the Vocation in which we are ordained by God and commissioned by Jesus Christ to use the talents given to us to serve and glorify God.

" Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." (Romans 13: 1)

" And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28: 18-20)

In preparing to fulfill the commission and be a success in this vocation, one of the first lessons I learned from my studies at the Bible Institute is : " Your Faith and Commitment to Jesus Christ must be strong enough to withstand discouragement, disappointment and rejection." But I fear not, for our Lord and Savior suffered the same in His ministry and peculiar destiny. Just as certainly as the unsaved, the poor, and the lost will receive the ministry of Christ's teachings with hope and joy: just as surely was it made plain and clear that a certain portion of those around the elect and the man-made-establishment of religious authority and tradition would reject those who are faithful to their vocation through Jesus Christ.

Let us notice some of the tribulations we are to encounter as Christian Ministers in fulfilling the vocation to which God has called us:

" He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isa. 53:3)
" He came unto his own, and his own received him not." (John 1:11)
" But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us." (Luke 19:14)
" Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psalm 41:9)
" I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14)
" But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him." (Psalm 22:6-8)
" And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads," " Likewise also the chief priest mocking him, with the scribes and elders."( Matt. 27:39,41)
" I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

The Scriptures are the basis of the ministry of all Christian Ministers. Let us now take note of the Scriptures that speak of our vocation supported by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

" For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." (John 3:34)
" The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14:10)
" Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)
" Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." (Acts 18: 9,10)
" He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me." (Luke 10:16)
" For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles." (2 Tim. 1:7-9,11)
" Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthen me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear:" (2 Tim. 4:17)
" I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience:" (2 Tim. 1:3)

Know all men by these presents: I SHALL BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS, AND BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT I SHALL DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST, AND MAKE FULL PROOF OF THE MINISTRY ENTRUSTED UNTO ME BY GOD.