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1Sa 3:4 “ That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
1Sa 3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
1Sa 3:6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. 1Sa 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. 1Sa 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 1Sa 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1Sa 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. “
The scripture shows that when God first called Samuel, he never knew it was God that was calling him, he taught it was the Priest Eli. Many times in life we see this repeating itself in the lives of those men and women called by God into the ministry. God speaks to you through the most familiar voice you can hear, sense or perceive. Often, God is calling you to do a specific work, task, or assignment in the ministry for his Kingdom, but because of our poor reception or familiarity with His voice we tend to confuse his voice with the voices around us. We do not perceive the call of God, but thank God the man of God was in hand to train Samuel on how to respond to the call of God. Do you sense a call of God on your life, then it is time to respond like Samuel; this is the time to say ‘’Lord speak ‘’ for your servant heareth. There is no need for wasting your precious and God’s valued time away.
Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
2Co_4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2Co_5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Eph_4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
1Ti_1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Is God calling you to the ministry, has the lord chosen you to be a Priest, a Minister, a Shepherd of his flocks? Is the spirit of the lord moving you to the ministry of the gospel, then you are at the right place at the right time. The word Ministry refers to, a portfolio of responsibilities design to meet specific areas of human, social, environmental needs. A minister is someone assigned to carry out that portfolio of responsibility and deliver the resources, things, services or gifts that have been assigned to meet that area of human need. God has deigned specific responsibility for certain people to carry out on his behalf to humanity. God has set aside certain people to be his Minister to carry out certain responsibilities designed to meet human needs. Those people are called Ministers, Bishops, Priest, Pastors, Apostles, Prophets, Teachers and many more.
The call to Ministry is a special call. It is a holy call. It is a revered call. It is a calling to fulfill the purpose of the Kingdom of God. It is a selfless call. Is God calling you today?, Be like the Apostle Paul who declare, 1Ti_1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. Obey the call of God on your life today.
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Mar_6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
Mar_8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Joh_15:16 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.
Eph_1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
Rev_17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The whole world has been called to salvation; likewise every believer has been called to the ministry. Every Christian has been called to “work the works of faith”. God begins his dealing with everyone with a call; He sends a call out to all. God has called all humanity to salvation. He always sends a call out. The call is for all, no one is exempted from the call. God is always in the business of calling out to men and women, boys and girls to fulfill their purpose and destiny in him.
But why God does always puts out a call? It is because He gives equal opportunity to all. God always gives equal opportunity to everyone to be who He has destined them to be. He leaves the ball on everyone’s court, and then says, “come play with me”. He does it, so that no one will say I did not qualify that is why I did not show up. There is no excuse when it comes to the callings of God, because he sends the call to all.
However the phase two of God’s dealing with men is when He chooses out those that He calls. So He sends a Call Out first then He begins a selection process; He begins to choose.
How Does God Chose from those He called. He chooses according to works of those that are called. Those who proof themselves worthy of the Call are Chosen, this is the most critical of God’s dealings with men, moving from the Called to the Chosen requires diligence and responsibility.
The final phase of God’s dealing with men is the Evaluation and Reward phase, which is the Faithful Phase.”
When God calls; He calls all. When He chooses; He chooses a few. And when He rewards;
He rewards the faithful. The faithful are all those who have been true with their calling and were chosen or selected to bring praise and glory to God. The “Faithful “ is the last phase of God’s dealing with men and women who he delights in. That’s why the scripture declares in
Revelation 17 : 14, “…they that are with him are called chosen and faithful.”
Do You Sense Call
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Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
The calling into the ministry is divine responsibility that comes with specific areas of responsibilities, gifting and service. The areas of responsibility, gifting, or service you have been called to, is what identifies , defines and establishes your calling or ministry.
Your area of calling is your ministry office or fold. That is the area you have been chosen to concentrate your effort. That does not mean you may not do other things or be gifted in other areas of responsibility.
What it means is that, the specific area or ministry office is your primary designation or portfolio; just like in the natural organization, there are different departments and offices and all these work together to fulfill the overall purpose and goal of the organization; even so it is in the Church of Jesus Christ, we are all called first and then chosen for specific areas of the ministry.
Identify your area of calling, get trained properly and then be inducted or ordained into that office of the ministry then begin your calling without fear, shame or reproach.
The Five Fold Ministry
The Called.... The Chosen......The Faithful
Is God Calling You into Ministry
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Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorted, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
One of the biggest challenge everyone who have set himself to follow or pursue any calling upon his or her life will face is finding their ground. Finding your ground is one of the most uncertain tasks of a calling, because if you miss your ground, the rewards of your calling or pursuit will be delayed. Your ground represent the place, the resources, the area of responsibility that will cause you to shine, succeed, excel and be productive in all that you do. It is a very tricky place and most times the cause for wilderness journey in the lives of many who pursue the calling of God upon their life. When you are in the ground destined and assigned to you by God, your wells will spring up with treasures and rewards.