Are You Called to the Ministry?
Yes, if you are a Christian, you are called to the ministry. When God chooses to give a person His name (Rev 14:1), it is because He has taken possession of her (1 Pet 2:9). She was chosen for adoption (Eph 1:5) and bought for a price (1 Cor 6:20). Having received Christ, she was given the right to be called a child of God (Jn 1:12–13).
This remarkable transfer, from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God’s Beloved Son (Col 1:13), was facilitated by our heavenly Father’s great love bestowed upon her (1 Jn 3:1). This sacrificial love was demonstrated by Christ’s substitutionary death on the Cross (Rom 5:8), and it was poured out into the hearts of the redeemed, upon their receipt of the Spirit (Rom 5:5). We love because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19). What is the Christian’s right response to God’s salvation of her?
God calls His people out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). As children of light (Eph 5:8), appearing as lights in the world (Phil 2:15), our task is to shine before all men through good works (Mt 5:16) prepared for us beforehand by God (Eph 2:10). A Christian’s faith is demonstrated by his good works (Jas 2:17). Serving God and serving people through good works is called, “the ministry.”
God calls His people out of the world by calling them to the Cross. His sheep hear His voice, and they follow their Good Shepherd (Jn 10:27). He instructs His called-out ones to take up their own cross and follow Him (Lk 9:23). In His steps, Christians are called to a life of suffering, which leads to glory (Rom 8:18). They deny themselves for the sake of the kingdom. Knowing there are so many others who are dead in sin (Eph 2:1), the Christian dies to sin, becoming all things to all men that some might be saved (1 Cor 9:22). In other words, he offers up his own life as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God (Rom 12:1).
A Christian knows her life has been given to her by God. She was dead in sin (Eph 2:1), but now she has been made alive in Christ (Eph 2:5). Jesus Christ, who claimed, “I am…the life (Jn 14:6),” has given the Spirit of life as a gift (Jn 11:13; Acts 2:38; 10:45). The Holy Spirit has brought the life of God to the souls of His elect, and He has indwelled them (Rom 8:9, 11). Now, the life within the believer is abundant, eternal, and indestructible. Being abundant, it can be given away without fear of loss.
The Christian life is lived as a conduit between God and others. God gives His people good gifts. These gifts are spiritual (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4). He that is spiritual bestows upon others the treasure within him. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who has given these gifts to be given away. The supply is infinite and readily accessible.
The Holy Spirit is given to every believer at the point of regeneration (1 Pet 1:3). Upon entry into the soul of an elect one, the Spirit brings a measure of each spiritual gift. Some of the bestowed gifts are more prominent than others, but all gifts of the Spirit are from the Spirit. Therefore, a Christian has all the gifts, but some are given to him in greater measure. This is to facilitate the proper working of each member of the body.
If you have spiritual gifts, you are called to the ministry. If you are called to the ministry, you have spiritual gifts. Your gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom 11:29). They cannot be lost or stolen, either. The gifted life we have freely received, we freely give away (Mt 10:8; 1 Cor 2:12). We lose nothing in giving our lives away because Christ is the infinite one. To suffer loss of material things is meaningless to a Christian because Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col 1:27). We trust Christ, who possesses unfathomable riches. All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him (Rom 11:36), and so it is with our ministry.
Spiritual gifts define our calling to the ministry. A gift of hospitality will make the saint hospitable. A merciful saint is one who is put into circumstances where the gift of mercy manifests. A preacher is detected by the spiritual gift of preaching, afforded to him by the Spirit. The church recognizes gifts and employs them for edification. Jesus Christ is building His church, and it is the Spirit who has equipped each believer for the work of the ministry. The Spirit, who has given a particular gift to a person, is the same Spirit residing in the body of believers.
Gifted believers are burdened to use their spiritual gifts. Likewise, the church desires the gifts brought in by each believer. The church is made healthy and strong when every Christian is engaged in the ministry of their gifts. The church is a living organism made up of born again souls, each bringing the life of Christ to the fellowship.
Fellowship means, “sharing together.” Christians, like Christ, give and give and give again. It is our supernatural make up. We experience joy and peace in the Spirit when we are offering up what has been given to us. Our Father in heaven loves to see what we do with our gifts. Hiding them under a bushel or tucking them away in a napkin are not viable options. When we understand our Father, then we deny ourselves and give everything away to others. We know His supply in inexhaustible. It is an exercise of faith to give sacrificially. Faith pleases our Father (Heb 11:6). The more we give away, the more is given to us to give away. This is a divine economy.
There is one Head over the body of Christ. Christ is the head of the church (Col 1:18). Therefore, hierarchy in the church does not exist. Christians bow to Jesus, alone. The born again have all received the same Spirit, who is Lord (2 Cor 3:17). Therefore, all activity in the church is directed by the Holy Spirit. The Christian’s only task is to serve the church, and by serving the church, she is serving Christ. Serving Christ is serving God. Serving God is our acceptable act of worship. No one in the church should lord over anyone else (1 Pet 5:3).
One might ask about authority. Yes, there is authority in the church, but all authority belongs to the Word and the Spirit. Christians are drawn to Christ, like sheep to their Shepherd. Where the Word and the Spirit are present, the sheep will come and follow. The Word feeds, protects, and disciplines. For this reason, those who are entrusted with the ministry of the Word must be acknowledged by the whole church. The offices of the church are public ministries (1 Tim 3; Tit 1), whereas most of the ministry by church members is private.
There is a flurry of service being done outside of the spotlight in every local church. Muffins are delivered for no reason but love. Flowers from the garden are meant to lift someone’s day. A kind word at church on Sunday morning is for encouragement. A moving party blesses the newcomers to the congregation. A lunch date for a suffering saint may be exactly what keeps her going. This is Christian ministry. It is for the building up of the body of Christ. It is endless in its scope of bringing love and light and life to others; and every cup of cold water given to another is accounted for in heaven.
Ministry is also bringing new believers into the sheepfold. Pastoral ministry ministers to the flock, while evangelistic ministry brings in new sheep. Sheep are chosen by the Good Shepherd, and He directs them to His preferred flock for their nurture and care. The flock receives new sheep. Mature sheep teach the faith to new sheep, by word and deed. Older women are to teach the younger women how to be good Christian women. Younger men overcome the devil with the help of older Christian men. There is joy in the making of a disciple.
The best way to grow as a disciple is to labor to make disciples. In other words, we become seasoned ministers by doing the work of the ministry, which fulfills our calling. If in doubt, do something in the ministry with the gifts you have been given. Make sure everything is done with love as the motive and be conscious of how your ministry is impacting others, but by all means serve in the Spirit of Christ.
Leadership in the ministry is for the most eager servants. The greatest among you will be the servant of all (Mt 23:11). Serve until others are following you. The most earnest followers of Jesus Christ make the best leaders because they are so busy following, they are not concerned with leading. Leadership is the natural product of followership. In public ministries, the congregation must affirm the minister, but this comes naturally when enough ministry has occurred to know who is gifted and called to do the work observed by all.
Ordination is the process whereby the church acknowledges the gifted servant, who has proven himself in the work of the ministry and who has gained congregational approval in the church for leadership. Ordination is not the bestowing of an honor, but rather, it is the recognition of the Spirit’s work in the life and ministry of one, who is called to Christ, and who is exemplary in their calling to minister as an elder or deacon.
In summary, we have considered the call to ministry. Every Christian has the call to minister because every Christian has the Spirit, who was sent from heaven to minister. The Spirit endows each believer with spiritual gifts for service. The Spirit-filled, Spirit-gifted believer in Jesus is set on course to serve the church, the body of Christ. Ministry becomes a joy and a pursuit, even despite its hardships. There is a desire in the saint to serve. Because the measure of a gift can change, Christians are taught to pray for an increase in a gifting, especially when they are given a ministry that finds them inadequate for the task. Christ is adequate, and He gives grace to the humble, who seek Him in the privilege of ministering to others. Just as Jesus was always dependent on the Father, Christians are dependent on Christ.
In conclusion, if you have been born again, then you have a new life to live. It is a life to expend. Christian, you will find the greatest joy in life when you begin to give your abundant life away. Losing your life will help you find it, and in finding it, you will never fear losing it again and again. Like the farmer who sows seed in the field, the Christian sows life-giving seeds of ministry into the soil of other people’s hearts. You must sow in faith, and let God give the increase. The point is to keep sowing because the harvest of the ingathering festival is coming. Your labor in the Lord is never in vain.
Your every thought, word, and action is a potential ministry. As the Spirit has gifted you, minister what you have been given. As the Spirit leads you, go to where your ministry will be received. Wherever you find yourself, today, is God’s chosen place of ministry for you. Give, and it will be given unto you. Seek for the ministry prepared for you from beforehand, and you shall find it. Ask for the ministry best suited for you, and you shall receive it.
Blessed are you who are called to the ministry. As a steward of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, you will receive joy and peace, as you give yourself away in love for Christ and for His church. In return for your cross, you shall have a crown. God is not unjust to forget your labors, nor the love you have shown toward His name. The crowning words of a life of ministry well-spent are, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter the joy of the Lord.” This is your calling to the ministry. Enter it. Enjoy it.
David E. Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
May 11, 2021
