"Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." - 2 Corinthians 4:1
Each and every Christian is called to ministry to accomplish God's purposes on this planet. We listened to a pastor speak to this last Sunday. He said he was called to "vocational" ministry. That is to suggest that there are different layers or levels of ministry requiring different giftings. Vocational should not be confused with "full time". We are all called to full time ministry. There is never a time when we are not ministers of the Gospel. That is who we are. What we do to earn a living or live our lives is in addition to who we are and Whose we are. I suspect that most Christians don't see it that way.
A very few reading this know that I was ordained by the church we attended in Alabama as a minister of the Gospel before we began our missionary journeys in 2005. So what does that mean? Glad you asked! It means that the local church recognized a certain set of giftings and a specific calling to a specific role in the Body of Christ. Call it an anointing if you want.
"And He Himself gave 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." - Ephesians 4:11-12
It was not something I was looking for - wanting to be - it was and is the work of the Spirit of God. Not just in me, but in you too Christian. We have a tendency to think of those roles in the Body of Christ as being superior to others. They are and they aren't. The people that are called to fulfill those roles are sinners saved by grace - just like every other member of the Body. But those roles come with a weighty spiritual responsibility.
I was talking to a volunteer the other day who noticed the "Fly Army" sticker on the rear window of my truck. He mentioned that he was not a pilot but an aircraft mechanic, almost apologetically as if he was something less than me. I told him that if he was not proficient at his job - to maintain the aircraft, then I could not fulfill mine - to fly the aircraft. We were both important to the mission. In the same way, as far as living out your faith is concerned....
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ..... But the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. ... But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary." - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11,20-22
The question is, "What has the Spirit appointed you to do and are you fulfilling that appointment?"
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