Church of Interfaith Christians

A Minister's Calling (Part 1)

A person’s calling in life is never by accident. Already the ultimate personal preparation will have come from God as he has shaped an individual’s life giving them the talents, life experiences and education that point the way to their ‘calling’ or vocation in life. Some are called by God to teach school, take care of the sick, work with technology, manufacture or sell useful products, prepare good food, care for or teach children, perform scientific research, or provide wholesome entertainment and some are called to minister. God has built a network of people and given each and every one of us exactly what talents, experiences and skills we need to be in it.

The calling to the ministry is a special type of calling. Make no mistake, God chooses us for the ministry. It is not our choice to be a minister, it is His choice that we be a minister. It is a job we cannot volunteer for and do well in unless God and His Holy Spirit are working with and through us. Consequently there is an incredible amount of backing from God, His Holy Spirit and angels once God has chosen us. The election is of God, the forming is of God, the sanctification is of God, the ordination is of God. (We may think we chose but if it is not of God’s choosing it will not last.)

One of the best Scriptures on the calling of God is from Jeremiah, chapter 1 verses 4 – 9 (NCV). It shows the essence of the call:

4 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying: 5 "Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 6 Then I said, "But Lord God, I don't know how to speak. I am only a boy." 7 But the Lord said to me, "Don't say, 'I am only a boy.' You must go everywhere I send you, and you must say everything I tell you to say. 8 Don't be afraid of anyone, because I am with you to protect you," says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, "See, I am putting my words in your mouth. 10 Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will pull up and tear down, destroy and overthrow, build up and plant.

If you are called of God you feel absolutely helpless to satisfy this call, and you know you can only make it by a fresh supply of divine grace each day. When you are called, you know that you are absolutely dependent on God for everything. The ministry can be the most difficult, dangerous, challenging and often heart-breaking work on the face of the earth. Yet I have to tell you that it can also be the most precious, holy, wonderful and high calling a human can have. It is always a calling that you do regardless of earthly recompense. It is being available to God and his people twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

The fact that you are reading this manual indicates that you are probably a minster or officer of a church or that you are considering entering the ministry. God calls us to use the talents we are given in some way that will glorify Him and contribute to the betterment of the people around us and the world in which we live.

When God calls a minister, He makes that minister. He does that by alternately heating and cooling him, by tempering him, by hammering away at him, by chiseling at him, by running sandpaper over him until he is what God wants him to be: devoid of all self-glory and self-seeking. If the minister is truly called of God he must be faithful in the furnace of affliction through much prayer and praise and dying. Then he will be molded into the likeness of the One who called him. That is God’s seminary. Man’s seminary puts things into a minister’s head, but God goes right for the heart. God still cries out as He did in days of old, “Oh, that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always….” (Deuteronomy 5:29)

Oh, yes, it is one thing for a minister to be the product of an institution, it is altogether another for him to have been made a minister by GOD. Reimar A.C. Schultze

This manual is not presented to tell you what to do or how to conduct your ministry but rather it is (in following with our church mission statement) to empower you by offering ideas which may prove helpful as you carry out your God ordained ministry. Let us all be so empowered through the Holy Spirit that there is no doubt that we are closely in touch with God and that we are like magnets drawing others nearer to Christ. Now we will examine five important qualities God gives a minister.

Genuine Spirituality

Spirituality is of and related to the divine or Holy Spirit. The word spirituality is derived from the word spirit which is the Hebrew word ruach in the Old Testament and the Greek word pneuma in the New Testament. It is associated with sacredness, spiritual values, the supernatural, God consciousness, the devotional, purification, and spiritual depth and understanding.

While man has a ‘spirit’ within him, without the Divine or Holy Spirit (which is encountered through faith) he cannot understand the things of spirit. The connection with Divine Spirit causes man’s spirit to ‘come alive.’ It opens a whole new realm in him. This is the essence of what is referred to by Christians as “born again”. It is the new birth referred to in John 3:3. It is a baptism of the Holy Spirit. With this connection we become spiritually regenerated and changed by God. The Spirit then dwells within us guiding us and teaching us and sealing us for divine purpose.

Every provision necessary for success in our spiritual life has been made through this union Jesus Christ has made possible by sending the Holy Spirit to us. We are complete and lacking nothing. The Spirit places us in Christ and we now have positions and privileges beyond our natural comprehension. God supplies to us every resource imaginable to meet our needs.

An analogy from Dr. Mel Brown:

“Picture putting a needle into a bowl of water. The moment you drop the needle into the water it sinks to the bottom, but if you push the needle through a piece of cork and then drop it into the water, it does not sink but floats. Putting the needle inside the cork allows the buoyant qualities of the cork to operate on the needle.”

It is by understanding our position of being in Christ and allowing that connection to ‘operate’ us that we counteract our natural (unspiritual) thoughts and inclinations and rise above to a much higher level of consciousness.

Feeding our spiritual nature should be an ongoing process of communing with God. We contemplate God’s Word, works and attributes through meditation. At first thoughts may flood our mind but then we need to ‘chew on it’ awhile and consider how to apply it to our own lives and as ministers how to teach it to others. We need to take time and pray about everything as it comes along in our lives. Prayer is not just a time of supplication and intercession but a time of intimate fellowship with God. Even in our busy and hectic lives we can pray without ceasing. We can send up silent prayers whether for ourselves or someone else as we walk, as we drive, when we talk to someone on the phone. We just need to get in the habit of praying.

Remember as ministers it is our own ‘soul’ nourishment that must come first. This first thing to be concerned about is not how we may serve God, or how we may glorify God, but is how we may get our ‘soul’ in a joyful and happy state before God. Let our own hearts be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, and instructed before attempting to instruct others. Let our inner spirit be nourished first that we are then able to nourish others. For this reason we should take time every morning to bring our hearts into spiritual communion with God. How different is the soul that is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from the ‘soul’ that is without spiritual preparation, in facing the service demands, trials, and temptations of the day.

God provides to each of us the means for living a successful and victorious life. We are to realize with absolute certainty that Jesus Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and sending to us the Holy Spirit provides all that is necessary to ensure spiritual victory. We are to count ourselves alive unto God. We are to yield to Christ through the Holy Spirit so that His power flows through us. As ministers it is not our own strength or ability which gives us victory. It is God’s strength, His presence, His power. When we realize our inability and yield ourselves to His divine influence and control, then His power is made available to and through us. Let each and every one of us be empowered with the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit Empowered Ministry

Our personal Ministries are so much more than just performing various tasks and duties. Remember it is not just service for ourselves and what we think but it is service to others and service to God. Our service to God should be done under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When we are ‘intoxicated’ with the Holy Spirit then our thoughts, words and actions are all under the influence of the Spirit of God. Hence the saying, “If there is a work done for God, God must do the work.”

I tread softly as I approach this subject, well aware that we must not follow in the footsteps of tradition or express doctrine or ‘dogma’ here. I point out some statements from Dr. Ernest Steadman:

a. We believe in the majesty and greatness of God, a God who dwells throughout the Universe and is in all things. He is the force of life itself. By any name a man calls out to the Heavens for intervention in time of need, he has called upon the One, True God. Many names, many paths, but only one God. At this moment in time, He is the same God that breathed the first breath of life throughout the Universe, and will be the same tomorrow.

b. We believe, His Son, Jesus Christ, unveiled the mystery of our Creator, by identifying the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will dwell in every child born of man, and allows us to be in constant communion with the Father, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Holy Spirit allows the Father to know of our wants and needs before we become aware of them ourselves. It allows us to worship the Father in the Spirit, for He is of the Spirit and desires us to worship Him as such.

The Holy Bible is considered the inspired Word of God, but it is not exclusive of all knowledge of our Savior and it falls victim of being interpreted by people who, because of their own inabilities and the lack of the Holy Spirit within them, have an agenda or a driving need and desire to reach their own manmade conclusions thereby creating ignorant dogma and doctrine that unfortunately can only serve to edify those who worship the “flesh” instead of the “Spirit.” In truth, just as the thief on the cross, one can believe and receive the Holy Spirit having never read a single word in the Bible. In our ministries we must consider this and never judge another by it. To be Christian in nature or follow Christ’s teachings does not mean that we have to ‘spout’ the Bible. We are to be understanding and tolerant of all ways and walks of life, recognizing those which are based on the teachings of Jesus and we must be filled with the Holy Spirit that our ministries will be empowered by the Spirit.

“…But be filled with the Spirit” – Ephesians 5:18

We have been considering how ministers can come to the knowledge of Christ’s true teachings.

Jesus said, “if any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine.” John 7:17

Jesus didn’t say a man had to read the Bible, but please don’t take these words the wrong way, the Bible is wonderfully good reading and inspired by God, but that is not really the way we believe and come to know God ways. We were all created with a vacuum in us that keeps us searching for the truth. When something rings true to us in our hearts, we feel it; we can believe. That is what we are asked to do, “believe.” We can understand that we are inadequate on our own and we can seek the Spirit of God. We can also understand right and wrong, good and evil and strive to do that which is right. For centuries people lived the Golden Rule without Bibles, without knowing what it was called.

Peter said “the Holy Spirit is given to them that obey Him.” Acts 5:32

Many say that the Bible is our only guide. I point out that in the life of Jesus he didn’t have the written word as we do. His every step was led by the Holy Spirit. We will miss the mark in all spiritual matters if we do not obey God’s instructions through His Spirit. The natural man does not perceive the things of the Spirit of God, but if we have the Holy Spirit,

“He will guide us into all truth.” John 16:13

A minister needs to be led by the Holy Spirit. He needs to run his ministry by the Holy Spirit. How else will he know where God wants him to be this afternoon or tomorrow or what he is to do first or when something has happened and he is needed elsewhere?

All of Jesus’ leadings came from the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts has many illustrations of the apostles being led by the Holy Spirit. It must be so with us.

Paul said, “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Rom 8:14

In most of the traditional churches today people are not being fed. Their hearts are not being fed. The music may be excellent, the preaching may be powerful, the rituals may be beautiful, but in most cases when people leave the church they have not been fed. They may have observed a performance but their hearts are still hungry. Their hearts are not stirred up and they don’t know why. Only by the Holy Spirit can God’s people be fed. The Holy Spirit must lead the message. The Holy Spirit must perform the ceremony or else believers cannot grow spiritually. There is no growth without the Holy Spirit’s ministering. Nothing in the Kingdom of God advances without the Holy Spirit. A minister needs the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus.

We, as ministers, must have this precious Holy Spirit. We must walk in the Spirit and equip our sheep to be vital partakers in a spirit-filled ministry. Scripture says if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, then promises that God will give it liberally. James 1:5. Many of our spiritual needs are portrayed in Scripture as being supplied simply by our asking and depending on the Lord. The Holy Spirit is no exception. We can and should ask for more of the Spirit to lead and guide us in our ministries. God bless each and every person reading this with an extra measure of the Holy Spirit to help him or her in their ministries and in their lives. The Holy Spirit will change us. It will help change our thoughts and attitudes to positive ones, another quality all ministers need to have in order to serve well.

Next month's message will cover the last three qualities:

Positive Thinking and Attitude

Leadership Qualities

Motivation

Opening Prayer

Father we call upon you for your guidance and inspiration in every detail of this service being given for June. We thank you for making it possible to delivery our church messages and be able to meet together this way in peace and harmony. God we ask you to be present with us in Spirit and to use us as Your instruments to say what is most needful and profitible for our members. Go forth with this message and bless each and every recipient. In Jesus name. Amen

Opening Song

Instruments of Your Peace

Lord, Make us instruments of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let your love increase
Lord, make us instruments of your peace,
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace.

Where there is hatred, we will show his love
Where there is injury, we will never judge
Where there is striving, we will speak his peace
To the millions crying for release,
We will be his instruments of peace.

Lord, Make us instruments of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let your love increase

Lord, make us instruments of your peace,
Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
When we are your instruments of peace.

Where there is blindness, we will pray for sight
where there is darkness, we will shine his light
Where there is sadness, we will bear their grief
To the millions crying for relief,
We will be your instruments of peace.

Universality of Love -

Love in All Religions

by Dr. Neil Chadwick

Love in Christianity

Love is the central theme of the teaching of Jesus. For many people, I Corinthians 13 is one of the greatest chapter of the Bible. Because of its beautiful lyrical phrases in praise of love, it is frequently read, in whole or in part, at Christian weddings worldwide. In addition to I Corinthians 13, there is another great "Love Chapter" in the Bible, John 13. It was here that Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34, 35) In the three following chapters (John 14-16), we find John's concentration of teaching on the work of the Holy Spirit. Again in the middle of Chapter 15, Jesus reiterates the love command, "Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (15:12,13) This idea is repeated in the "other" John 3:16, "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."

It is noteworthy that this idea of the importance of love finds agreement among all of the large, popular religions of the world. Here's a brief sampling:

Judaism

"You shall not hate your brother in your heart . . . but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:17-18) However, for the Jewish people, this love was not restricted to their own people. "The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Lev 19:34).

Islam

"Human beings can live in blessing and kindness so long as they love each other, show trust-worthiness, and behave according to truth and fairness. Love is enduring and patient and kind. It judges all things with the heart, not the mind. And love can transform the most common place into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace. For love is unselfish, giving more than it takes, being unconditional and unhampered by environment. Love never forsakes, it is faithful and trusting, truthful. It is guileless and honest and never deceiving. Love is Allah's Divine Gift." ("Islamic Digest")

Hinduism

One of the four ends of life is Kama, which like Cupid, is a personalized god of love with flower-bow and five flower arrows, sending desire quivering into the heart. In general, love in Hinduism plays a determinative role in the whole religious practice; family love, married love and all secular forms of love are subordinate to the divine love.

Buddhism

"Never is this world appeased by hatred; it is only appeased by love - this is an eternal law." (Dhammapada, The Way of Righteousness - 3-5, 201).

Daoism

"There are three basic precious treasures which I would preserve forever: love, frugality, and humility. Love creates courage - love can win when fighting, and also can defend a position strongly. Heaven would save those who have love." (By founder Lao Zi, Ch. 67).

Confucianism

"Ren" (translated as love, goodness, heartedfulness, or humaneness) is a central concept and starting point. Ren is the determinative principle for the harmony, balance and equilibrium among human beings. Love is a duty, a virtue, a moral conduct, a rational choice, and a social responsibility.

Although we certainly agree that not all religions are created equal, we can point to the universality of this persuasion that love is championed worldwide.

"Only a humanity in which there reigns the ‘civilization of love' will be able to enjoy authentic and lasting peace" — Pope John Paul II

Take a moment to meditate and

pray for healing.

Announcements

It was October 13, 2010 when we were first told of Logan L. Long III. He had undergone emergency surgey for a fast growing tumor in his brain, a tumor that was expected to grown back quickly. Our prayers have been with Logan and his family every step of the way. When Logan passed from this world June 6, 2011 we all felt the sadness and sorrow of losing him and our love and prayers went out to the family he left behind.

Please visit Logan's memorial page online:

http://1000memories.com/logan-l-long

I borrowed from there this song Cyndi had dedicated to Logan:

Temporary Home

Recommended Booklist

We have set up an affilliation with amazon.com and placed a booklist on the Church website. When a book sells through our church site the church will receive a donation. For now we have listed minister manuals and chaplain handbooks. We plan on adding wedding and ceremony books. With your help our list can grow. There is a form on the webpage for you to send us the name of your recommended books.

Closing Prayer

Thank you Father for the spiritual food you have provided today. Fill each of us with your Holy Spirit and help us in our ministries. We ask a special blesing upon the friends and family of Logan Long. Go with each of us now watching over us and protecting us, healing all who need healing, comforting all who need comforting and keep each of us safe until we meet again. In Jesus name. Amen

Closing Song

God Will Make a Way

God will make a way,
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain
He will do something new today.

This two part series, A Ministers Calling, is the first chapter in the new CoIC Minister's Manual that will be used for the Level 1 Minister training. For now the manual is being published one section at a time in the CoIC forum under the Minister's Only

category.

Church of Interfaith Christians

3017 Hill Street

Round Rock, TX 78664

512-799-6512