Re-Evaluating One’s Call to the Ministry of the Word

Just as Israel had a problem with false prophets, so the church has had the problem of false teachers (2 Cor 11:3–4). It is the enemy’s work to infiltrate Christ’s church to confuse and destroy. The devil’s scheme is to position an imposter where the called man of God is supposed to be stewarding the Gospel entrusted to him. The seven churches of Asia in John’s Apocalypse (Rev 2–3), addressed by the enthroned Head of the church (Col 1:18), reveal the early church had problems in likeness to the church, today. Qoholet was right in proclaiming there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9).

The followers of Christ are wise to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers because the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few (Lk 10:2). The harvest of souls is a product of the seed of the Word being implanted into the hearts (good soil) of those who hear the Word and believe (Mt 13:23; Rom 10:17; 2 Tim 4:2; Jas 1:21). Faith is the response generated by the those whose hearts were opened by the Holy Spirit to respond to the preaching of the Word (Acts 16:14).

Men of God are especially called by God to be sent with beautiful feet to proclaim the excellencies of Christ Jesus (Rom 10:15; 1 Pet 2:9). Dr. Luke refers to those sent prior to Christ as “holy prophets from old” and “…God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time (Acts 3:21b).” One definition of “holy” means “to be set apart for a special purpose.” The prophets brought forth the Law of God (Moses), the history of God’s covenant relationship with Israel (Moses, Ezra), the wisdom and worship of Yahweh (David, Solomon), and the warning for disobedience and the promises of the coming Messiah (larger and smaller prophets).

As promised, Jesus Christ came into the world, the eternal Son of God being enfleshed as the Son of man (Jn 1:14). He came to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21) and to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn 3:8), who had enslaved men in sin (Jn 8:34; Rom 6:6, 16–20; Gal 4:25). It is the Spirit of God that comes upon the called out preacher to bring good news to the afflicted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners in bondage to the law of sin and death (Is 61:1; Lk 4:18–19).

The preacher of the Gospel is sent by the Holy Spirit to shepherd the flock of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 5:1–5), as an overseer who cares for souls. The tools of the trade for those feeding and tending to Christ’s sheep are the rod and the staff of God’s Holy Word, which comforts His people (Ps 23:4). It is the Bible being preached that helps deliver the Christian in times of trouble and wards off the goats and the wolves from the church (1 Jn 2:19).

The Word of God preached to the people of God is the stewardship entrusted to the man of God, who is recognized by his alignment with the qualifications of an elder (1 Tim 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Conjoined with a presbytery of other overseers, who are able to teach other faithful men (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 2:2, 24), the man of God holds fast the faithful Word which is in accordance with teaching, proving that He is able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict (1 Tim 4:6; 6:3; 2 Tim 4:3; Titus 1:9).

A survey of the lives lived in service to the King of kings reveals a life of suffering for prophet, apostle, and elder in their respective epochs. The man of God is called to war (Eph 6:10–20). His weapon is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, a double-edged sword that cuts and separates truth from lies (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12). It also separates children of God from the children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10).

The teller of truth wins no popularity contest among unrepentant sinners. For this reason, the man of God must wield the shield of faith to defend himself from the fiery darts of the enemy (Eph 6:16). If pierced by the arrows of the adversary’s legions, the man of God suffers despair and spiritual depression. The threat of leaving the battle is real, especially if he has been shot in the back by false brethren.

Progress in the Christian life must be inventoried at times of perceived defeat. The man of God has run the race this far. He has fought the good fight to this point. He must press on toward the goal, the prize for his high calling (Phil 3:14). He must remember that God is with him, God is for him (Ezra 7:9; 8:18). The good work of God, in crafting the man of God into conformity to Christ (Rom 8:29), will be brought to completion in God’s way and in God’s time (Phil 1:6).

The great cloud of witnesses encourage the servant soldier (Heb 11). Ezra tells him to set his heart to study the Word of God (Ezra 7:10). Jeremiah and Isaiah remind him that his calling is not dependent on whether his hearers listen and obey the Word preached by him. Moses and Elijah encourage him to pray, with David and Solomon providing the words to utter for this purpose. With eyes set on Christ, both Paul and Peter impress him to proclaim Christ and His excellencies (Col 1:28; Heb 12:2; 1 Pet 2:9). Ezekiel and Jude challenge the preacher to warn the people of the consequences for sin and unbelief (Ezek 3, 33). John reminds the faithful man of God to compare kingdoms, and Joshua inquires which king will the called man choose to serve on this day and every day (Jos 24:15).

O man of God, has the Lord given you eyes to see truth as it is in Jesus? Has the Spirit set you apart, by causing the Word of God to burn in your bones (Jer 20:9)? Can you say with Paul, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel (1 Cor 9:15)?” The called man of God must keep his hand to the plow (Lk 9:62). He must re-commit himself to the Lord and the mission to reconnaissance his brethren from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Mt 28:19–20; Rev 5:9; 7:9; 21:27). Every excuse must be vanquished. Every promise of God must be reviewed for renewal.

Dear brother, God is faithful and true (Rev 19:11). No divided allegiance is permitted. God has called you to steward the Gospel, by preaching and teaching it to those who will listen to you and those who will not listen to you (Is 6:9; 51:7; Jer 6:19; 13:11). You, too, must be found to be faithful as a slave of Christ (Neh 9:8; Dan 6:4; 1 Cor 4:2), who is not ashamed to bear witness to Christ (Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16), who is the power and wisdom of God unto salvation for those who believe God’s report (Is 53:1; 1 Cor 1:24).

How will they believe without a preacher? Have you not been sent to wherever you are located, for the purpose of shining light in the domain of darkness? Shine!

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 27, 2022