DEAR MINISTER,
"Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called." - 1Cor 7:20
While it might have been a different context that Apostle Paul made this statement, I am also very sure that it is relevant to the ministry that we were called to serve. It is necessary this day to admonish us on the need to remain in the place of calling or ministry as the case may apply.
We have many confused and focus-less servants around today, many have become busybodies neglecting the work they were called to do, going about criticising as many fellow ministers as possible to make a name. Many, never got a specific mandate but are running.
It is indeed needful to state here that staying in the place of our call will connote faithfulness and diligence, staying in the place of our call will require sacrifice and focus. We may be famous but have lost the mandate. It is possible to have charisma and all that, yet such a person may have digressed from the message God has given to us.
No ministry is greater than the other in clear terms, but due diligence and faithfulness makes the difference in productivity. If you are called as a singer - be sure to stay true to God's command there. If you are a preacher, preach that which God has committed to your hands. Don't let carnal competition drive your messages.
Eph 4:1 says, that each one of us should walk worthy of the calling which we were called.
WHO CALLED YOU?
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" - Gal 1:15-16
While it is not wrong to seek counsel when we sense or know the call of God upon our lives from senior ministers in the faith, we must be aware that they cannot be the ones to call you - they can mentor and all that, in fact it is necessary. But the call is an experience only you will have to receive from God.
If it is your pastor that called you, you will always be under pressure to impress him and not God - no one can really blame your pastor either, since it is our 'caller' we respond and report to.
Right now, I know many people are calling you 'pastor' and maybe they rightly have recognised God's call upon you, but it is yet possible you do not know the call or recognise the mandate yourself. This should actually prompt you to ask the Lord for specifics. It should prompt you to plead that you don't get directionless.
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." - 1Tim 1:12-14
Please know this, that you are not called on the platform of merit or experience, you are not called based on any credibility, but it was just a function of grace. Your morals cannot give you a call, your zeal cannot give you a call. Mercy is another platform of the call. You are not doing God any favour if you answer also.
You will do well to recognise the power of grace as regards your call, else you will use a larger part of your ministry in convincing people that you are qualified and will not even preach any message given to you.
Dear minister, recognising your caller will give you focus, knowing that grace and mercy are the platforms you rest, will give you humility. Anything apart from these can cause you errors. It can put you under undue pressure, it may make you remain a man-pleaser rather than a God chaser. If God is your caller, you will find grace to really move even when the chips are down.
BE FAITHFUL
"Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." - 1Cor 4:2
Faithfulness is not an attachment that we pocket or hold, as faithfulness is in God, and that's why He can neither fail or change or falter, so faithfulness is required inside us, that whether sun or rain, we would stay faithful in our duty post. We will fulfil the ministry when we feel like it and when we do not, when men clap and when they scorn.
Personally, I have come to realise over time that men's responds may have nothing to do with God's responds at times. God has never failed to reward faithfulness because that is the motive He looks out for in the service of men. Total obedience to the call is faithfulness. Doing the demands of the ministry is faithfulness no wonder Paul said 'woe is me if I do not preach', he said 'necessity is laid on me' .
Are you a worship leader, maybe you have started becoming choosy on the congregation you minister based on crowd and honorarium, you may have started compromising on your messages, the Lord at this point is testing the faithfulness of many.
"Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing." - Matt 24:46
Some will say at that time, when the Lord ask them for an account of faithfulness; 'Lord, the times changed so I had to diversify and be liberal', some will tell the Lord 'I sensed a leading, since it is the same gospel', the saddest of it all is that some will not even do anything about the call.
It is faithfulness that increases our capacity whether in the secular or in kingdom matters. If you have been faithful in little, then you qualify for bigger things. In the secular world, faithfulness is taken for consistency and brethren, we need to be consistent.
COMPLEMENT
"And He Himself have some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" - Eph 4:12-13
The reason at times we have ratings in the ministry is because we lack the right mindset of the diversities and the purpose of the ministries available. I do not think the office of the prophet is greater than that of the pastor or apostle - but we have carried that mindset all along. This further shows the attitude we put into our ministries.
The choristers think less of themselves because they feel they are not preachers, so they don't think it right to fast as the pastor does, they don't pray for souls as the pastor does, they don't dress well as the pastor does..they just listen to tape and sing - what a misnomer! It is lack of diligence that makes such rampant in the church and a lack of understanding. What kind of minister was David that he used instrument to conduct deliverance on King Saul?
We must begin to know that the ministries aren't graded, it is what we put into it that differs (I have said that before, but excuse me, I want re-emphasise). How glorious would it be if we all put in our best and not consider one less of the other. How much impact would we have if we all decide to function at optimum.
"No much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." - 1Cor 12:22
The ushers can carry anointing and complement the service for better. The protocols can be a blessing, the prayer team can work for the success - just remember it is not in the applauds but in the faithfulness that God sees.
In that little thing that you do, begin to see yourself as a minister, come to the understanding that if you don't do it, there would be deficiency in one area, begin to ask God to increase your capacity, even if you are a greeter at the gate of the church. Hold fast, yes even to be a greeter.
Paul planted Apolos watered, it is God that gives increase, don't do eye service, do service to the eye that sees all who are faithful.
Everything should be for the equipping of the saints, it is possible though that the pastors would be the leader in the church yet, your faithfulness counts. It is possible that God holds your pastor responsible and he looks like the main figure, yet God counts on you to be responsible and diligent in your service under him.
DO NOT MEDDLE
"...'Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.' Then the king of Israel said to him, 'So shall your judgement be; you yourself have decided it.'" - 1Kings 20:39-40
So you added 't' to the 'here' and that's how the ministry God called you to slipped through your fingers. You added 't' to the 'here' and that 't' turns out to be termination of your call. So many are busybodies who wouldn't stay where God put them, they want to be everywhere, criticising and not correcting other people's mandate while their own calling suffers.
The reason many are not found in their duty post is because they left to another person's duty post observing and criticising even when you weren't sent to do so, this only results to termination of appointment and rejection from the master.
One of the reason potentials don't develop into full blown ministries is because of busybodies. A minister is waving hands in the right direction, you left your place to see if God is in it, you want to prove that it is demonic. I am not against correction as the case may be but know that, that is not your primary ministry.
"No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." - 2Tim 2:4
In fact you are even busy meddling in the world affair trying to know how it feels to be drunk or high on weed so you can preach against it, it is not your call. Please would you stay where you were posted and grow in grace.
You were not there when that minister was called, you didn't know the modus operandi of the call, so what is your business trying to analyse what God did not consult you about? I know sometimes we would be a watchman and a brother's keeper - but really - that should be by the direction of the Holy Spirit. If not please concentrate on your call.
CONCLUSION: Too many busybody ministers, too many unfaithful ministers, many even cause more confusion and not add value. And please don't move from here to there.
God bless you and I love you
© Akinsuroju Femi
While it might have been a different context that Apostle Paul made this statement, I am also very sure that it is relevant to the ministry that we were called to serve. It is necessary this day to admonish us on the need to remain in the place of calling or ministry as the case may apply.
We have many confused and focus-less servants around today, many have become busybodies neglecting the work they were called to do, going about criticising as many fellow ministers as possible to make a name. Many, never got a specific mandate but are running.
It is indeed needful to state here that staying in the place of our call will connote faithfulness and diligence, staying in the place of our call will require sacrifice and focus. We may be famous but have lost the mandate. It is possible to have charisma and all that, yet such a person may have digressed from the message God has given to us.
No ministry is greater than the other in clear terms, but due diligence and faithfulness makes the difference in productivity. If you are called as a singer - be sure to stay true to God's command there. If you are a preacher, preach that which God has committed to your hands. Don't let carnal competition drive your messages.
Eph 4:1 says, that each one of us should walk worthy of the calling which we were called.
WHO CALLED YOU?
"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" - Gal 1:15-16
While it is not wrong to seek counsel when we sense or know the call of God upon our lives from senior ministers in the faith, we must be aware that they cannot be the ones to call you - they can mentor and all that, in fact it is necessary. But the call is an experience only you will have to receive from God.
If it is your pastor that called you, you will always be under pressure to impress him and not God - no one can really blame your pastor either, since it is our 'caller' we respond and report to.
Right now, I know many people are calling you 'pastor' and maybe they rightly have recognised God's call upon you, but it is yet possible you do not know the call or recognise the mandate yourself. This should actually prompt you to ask the Lord for specifics. It should prompt you to plead that you don't get directionless.
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." - 1Tim 1:12-14
Please know this, that you are not called on the platform of merit or experience, you are not called based on any credibility, but it was just a function of grace. Your morals cannot give you a call, your zeal cannot give you a call. Mercy is another platform of the call. You are not doing God any favour if you answer also.
You will do well to recognise the power of grace as regards your call, else you will use a larger part of your ministry in convincing people that you are qualified and will not even preach any message given to you.
Dear minister, recognising your caller will give you focus, knowing that grace and mercy are the platforms you rest, will give you humility. Anything apart from these can cause you errors. It can put you under undue pressure, it may make you remain a man-pleaser rather than a God chaser. If God is your caller, you will find grace to really move even when the chips are down.
BE FAITHFUL
"Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." - 1Cor 4:2
Faithfulness is not an attachment that we pocket or hold, as faithfulness is in God, and that's why He can neither fail or change or falter, so faithfulness is required inside us, that whether sun or rain, we would stay faithful in our duty post. We will fulfil the ministry when we feel like it and when we do not, when men clap and when they scorn.
Personally, I have come to realise over time that men's responds may have nothing to do with God's responds at times. God has never failed to reward faithfulness because that is the motive He looks out for in the service of men. Total obedience to the call is faithfulness. Doing the demands of the ministry is faithfulness no wonder Paul said 'woe is me if I do not preach', he said 'necessity is laid on me' .
Are you a worship leader, maybe you have started becoming choosy on the congregation you minister based on crowd and honorarium, you may have started compromising on your messages, the Lord at this point is testing the faithfulness of many.
"Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing." - Matt 24:46
Some will say at that time, when the Lord ask them for an account of faithfulness; 'Lord, the times changed so I had to diversify and be liberal', some will tell the Lord 'I sensed a leading, since it is the same gospel', the saddest of it all is that some will not even do anything about the call.
It is faithfulness that increases our capacity whether in the secular or in kingdom matters. If you have been faithful in little, then you qualify for bigger things. In the secular world, faithfulness is taken for consistency and brethren, we need to be consistent.
COMPLEMENT
"And He Himself have some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" - Eph 4:12-13
The reason at times we have ratings in the ministry is because we lack the right mindset of the diversities and the purpose of the ministries available. I do not think the office of the prophet is greater than that of the pastor or apostle - but we have carried that mindset all along. This further shows the attitude we put into our ministries.
The choristers think less of themselves because they feel they are not preachers, so they don't think it right to fast as the pastor does, they don't pray for souls as the pastor does, they don't dress well as the pastor does..they just listen to tape and sing - what a misnomer! It is lack of diligence that makes such rampant in the church and a lack of understanding. What kind of minister was David that he used instrument to conduct deliverance on King Saul?
We must begin to know that the ministries aren't graded, it is what we put into it that differs (I have said that before, but excuse me, I want re-emphasise). How glorious would it be if we all put in our best and not consider one less of the other. How much impact would we have if we all decide to function at optimum.
"No much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." - 1Cor 12:22
The ushers can carry anointing and complement the service for better. The protocols can be a blessing, the prayer team can work for the success - just remember it is not in the applauds but in the faithfulness that God sees.
In that little thing that you do, begin to see yourself as a minister, come to the understanding that if you don't do it, there would be deficiency in one area, begin to ask God to increase your capacity, even if you are a greeter at the gate of the church. Hold fast, yes even to be a greeter.
Paul planted Apolos watered, it is God that gives increase, don't do eye service, do service to the eye that sees all who are faithful.
Everything should be for the equipping of the saints, it is possible though that the pastors would be the leader in the church yet, your faithfulness counts. It is possible that God holds your pastor responsible and he looks like the main figure, yet God counts on you to be responsible and diligent in your service under him.
DO NOT MEDDLE
"...'Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.' Then the king of Israel said to him, 'So shall your judgement be; you yourself have decided it.'" - 1Kings 20:39-40
So you added 't' to the 'here' and that's how the ministry God called you to slipped through your fingers. You added 't' to the 'here' and that 't' turns out to be termination of your call. So many are busybodies who wouldn't stay where God put them, they want to be everywhere, criticising and not correcting other people's mandate while their own calling suffers.
The reason many are not found in their duty post is because they left to another person's duty post observing and criticising even when you weren't sent to do so, this only results to termination of appointment and rejection from the master.
One of the reason potentials don't develop into full blown ministries is because of busybodies. A minister is waving hands in the right direction, you left your place to see if God is in it, you want to prove that it is demonic. I am not against correction as the case may be but know that, that is not your primary ministry.
"No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." - 2Tim 2:4
In fact you are even busy meddling in the world affair trying to know how it feels to be drunk or high on weed so you can preach against it, it is not your call. Please would you stay where you were posted and grow in grace.
You were not there when that minister was called, you didn't know the modus operandi of the call, so what is your business trying to analyse what God did not consult you about? I know sometimes we would be a watchman and a brother's keeper - but really - that should be by the direction of the Holy Spirit. If not please concentrate on your call.
CONCLUSION: Too many busybody ministers, too many unfaithful ministers, many even cause more confusion and not add value. And please don't move from here to there.
God bless you and I love you
© Akinsuroju Femi
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