Is God calling you to be a minister? You bet!

MINISTRY is a much-misunderstood and much-misused word in the church of Jesus Christ. There should be no such thing as 'the' (i.e. sole) minister amongst a group of believers. And there is no such thing as 'the' (sole) ministry within the church.

The word 'minister' or 'ministry' should never – well, almost never – be preceeded by the definite article..

A verb not a noun

The word 'minister'should be seen principally as a verb (providing a service) rather than as noun. Ministry is a form of service not a position or office.

As such, every disciple of Christ is called to be a minister and every believer should be exercising a ministry within the body. Yet the prevailing mechanisms, practices and worldview within the church deny this essential and biblical truth.

With all these thoughts in mind, there is a real need for many new ministers within the body of Christ.
With a whole generation reaching retirement age, there is a pressing requirement for those of younger years to come into positions within the body of Christ in all forms of service (ministry).

Have you asked the Lord recently concerning His purposes in your life? In so doing do not rely on the worldly 'sifting' mechanisms of 'qualifications'  (good though some of these might be) nor the secular'selection' procedures. (Sadly these have infiltrated the church and have also proved totally inadequate in preserving sound doctrine in pulpits and in denomational standards.)

Rather look for -

• Inner Conviction: Look for an abiding sense of calling and conviction(and be more confident if you find yourself being pressed upon in the spirit with something that you might view as a challenge rather than a natural delight).

• Gifting: Does the form of service that you feel you are being called to align with the potential for your  'natural' talents and abilities?

• Heart attitude: Check that your burden is to 'serve others' within the body of Christ (John 13:14; Matt 18:4). We need to avoid the leaven of the Pharisees. They got it in the neck from Jesus for wanting position and taking ''pride of place" (Matt 23:5).
  

• Invitation: Have you had an invitation from a person or (better still) persons to take up a particular role? (cf Acts 16:9).
  

• Confimation: Are those whom you know and trust, affirming what you feel the Lord might be saying to you? (cf Acts 13:3)
  

Becoming a born-again child of God is the greatest gift in the world. But it also brings the greatest responsibility. The verse above says: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." The instruction is not for us to earn our salvation through good works; nor is it designed to cause us to be afraid. Rather the injunction is to discern under God those things to which He has called us in a reverence and respect for the Almightly and His love for us.

Every believer is required to employ his or her gifts within the body; with support and affirmation from the body, and for the benefit of the whole body. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10) so that the body of Christ might be built up (Eph 4:12).