THE CALL TO THE MINISTRY AND
TO THE MISSION FIELD IN PARTICULAR
TO THE MISSION FIELD IN PARTICULAR
EPHESIANS 4:11-12, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
Introduction:
I cannot tell you how you will know that God is calling you into the ministry. I can tell you that you will know if He is calling you into the ministry. I can show you from the Scriptures some things about God’s call to the ministry, but only you can tell me if God is calling you to the ministry.
To which area of the ministry God might call you is as complex as the call to the ministry in general. However, the Scriptures limits those areas a bit today as we will see as we go alone through these discussions.
I. IT IS GOD WHO…
A. CALLS, 2 Timothy 1:9, “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,”
B. CHOOSES, John 15:16, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
C. SENDS, John 17:18, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”
II. IT IS MAN WHO…
A. RESPONDS to God’s call.
1. To be a Pastor, Ephesians 4:11, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
2. To be a Missionary (Evangelist).
3. To be a Layman. Everyone has this call.
B. SUBMITS to God’s will.
1. Jesus gave us the example, Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
2. Our Lord was determined that nothing would prevent Him from doing God’s will, Matthew 26:42, “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
C. GOES wherever He leads.
1. It may require some sacrifice, in fact, I guarantee you that it will, Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
2. It may require you to go to another city, state or even another country, Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
3. It may require you to leave your friends and loved ones behind, Matthew 10:37-38, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
III. IT IS GOD WHO WORKS.
A. God works through the man.
1. God’s work is not through the energy of the flesh, John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
2. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah 4:6, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
B. God has not called man to success, but to faithfulness, 1 Corinthians 4:2, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1. Faithfulness is our responsibility.
a. Timothy was a faithful servant of God, 1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”
b. Epaphras was a faithful minister of God in the Church at Colosse, Colossians 1:7, “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;”
2. Success is linked to the Word of God in our life, Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”