I want to discuss the call of the minister. This is an important topic! One judgment that comes upon disobedient and backslidden people is a lack of true shepherds and a proliferation of bad shepherds. We are living through these days now!
Knowing that all of God's children are called to minister, I want to speak specifically about God's particular call to the pastoral ministry. How should we think about a call to the pastoral ministry?
I will give a biblical answer here, point by point. I will update this article with other points. Stay with us and learn more about God's call to the ministry. Invite potential, and actual, young preachers to the website, and have them join for updates. May God truly call many young men into the ministry.
What is the evidence of God's Call? Let's look at the call of Jeremiah to his prophetic ministry.
God’s Divine Purpose: A Prophet to the Nations
Jeremiah 1:4–10
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
God’s Call to Jeremiah was
1. Authoritative—
“The word of the Lord came unto me...” God specifically dealt with Jeremiah. God deals specifically with individuals when He is calling His servants. Jesus gave a personal call to each Apostle who followed Him.
Mark 3:13–14
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
John 15:16
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.
2. The Call of God to Jeremiah was personal -
"The word of the Lord came to ME." Jeremiah received an unmistakable, personal call. The following words were used when Jesus called Saul of Tarsus unto Himself for special ministry purposes.
Acts 9:15
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
"...he is a chosen vessel UNTO ME..."
Galatians 1:15
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
There is no such thing as "mass production" in making preachers. There are no assembly lines! Camps don't make preachers. Schools don't make preachers. Churches don't make preachers. God does. The call MUST be from HIM to that personal individual heart!
Sometimes we see a "push" to recruit more "preachers" by Evangelists/Pastors. Many times this is prominently displayed at large youth gatherings. This can be a very problematic approach. Yes! The number of pastorless churches demands more preachers ready to meet the challenge. However, manipulating or cajoling young men into the preaching ministry/pastorate can be disastrous for both young men and the churches. Young men's lives and the ministries of churches can be irreparably damaged.
3. Next, the call of God is circumstantial.
The call generally comes while actively engaged in Christian work...an active prayerful church ministry involving the Word of God, and prayer.
Look at Acts 13:1–5 and see the call of God to two men.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
"...THE HOLY GHOST said, Separate ME Barnabas and Saul
(Again, a personal call)..."
So these men were busy in the church, ministering, teaching, fasting, and praying. Amid this unique atmosphere, the Holy Ghost began to deal with that church and those men about a special work. They agreed together about the unique call that was being specifically delivered to Paul and Barnabas, who were actively engaged in the work of that local church.
In Jeremiah's life, we find an interesting bit of history related to his call in its context. Jeremiah’s background and training augmented his prophetic call. He was of a priestly family, though he probably never served as a priest. Some scholars believe his father was Hilkiah...the man who discovered the Book of the Law in the temple
2 Kings 22:8
And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
If this is so, Jeremiah certainly had a godly, religious, and Biblical heritage.
Even though Jeremiah did not feel qualified or capable, God had prepared Jeremiah to do what He needed him to do (and that preparation was both proactive, present, and ongoing).
Jeremiah 1:5
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
God formed Jeremiah in his mother’s womb. Human life is sacred because it is not merely a biological process. Beyond biology, man is a living soul. Human conception involves normal biology and divine formation.
God had a purpose for Jeremiah before he was conceived in his mother’s womb. Unborn human life is sacred because God has a purpose for every life. Men don’t always follow and accept God’s purposes, but He has a purpose nonetheless.
God sanctified (“set apart”) Jeremiah to divine service before he was born. God’s call came later, but the separation was, in the omniscience of God, before birth. Remember, John the Baptist experienced a similar consecration.
Lk. 1:15.
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
Next...
4. The call of God is specific.
It may be broad and far-ranging; it may be varied in its expression over a lifetime, but it is always targeted. God ordained (“appointed”) Jeremiah to be a prophet whose specific audience would be “the nations.” God has a specific sphere of influence for every life. Sometimes it is small and sometimes it is large. Jeremiah's sphere of influence was huge! Be satisfied with where God places you. Don't be a ministry climber! Don't worry about the size of your crowds....Serve God in your place.
I will write more on this topic in the future.
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