A MINISTER'S CALLING AND THE GIFTS
15 MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY TO THEM, that your progress may be evident to all.
16 TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF AND TO THE DOCTRINE [teaching]. Continue in them, FOR IN DOING THIS YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU.”
1 Timothy 4:15,16 (NKJV)
A minister should understand his or her calling and the gifts given to him or her to fulfil the call: “FOR THE GIFTS AND THE CALLING OF GOD ARE IRREVOCABLE [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call]” (Romans 11:29 Amps).
When you are called by God, whatever gift(s) He gave to you to fulfil the call with would not be taken, but you would give an account on how you did use the gifts.
Neither the calling would be taken either, but you would give an account of your stewardship—what you did with the call, or how you did pursue it (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Identify the call of God on your life, be certain about it. Know the office of ministry which He wanted you to operate in. Also, endeavour to identify the gifts He gave to you in fulfilling the
call.
About the Gifts
When your gifts are known, they are what God would use to attest and announce your assignment and also be used for your blessings.
You must know your rod. It is your rod that would path the Sea before you and those whom you are assigned to reach (2 Timothy 1:6).
Your major giftedness is your rod. You probably may have multiple gifts, but one would be the major out of the multiple; that specific one would be used to announce your work.
Another person's rod which you borrow could only be used for a while, but you would need to discover or identify your own rod through which your ministry would be announced.
The rod or giftedness, which you borrowed and currently being used, might not work again when you get to a certain juncture of your life and ministry.
The earlier you know the giftedness of yours which God wanted to use in announcing your work, the better.
a. Do not try copy another person, find out about the unique pattern which God wanted to use to announce your assignment or work or ministry, and stick to it.
b. When you discovered your giftedness, stay focus and dwell on it, you would be announced through it, that is, you would experience breakthrough with it. You would be given access to the lives of the people you are sent or assigned.
Note: If a particular minister is pulling crowd, and is being known, do not try to copy or mimic his or her giftedness.
That is his or her own rod, your giftedness also would be known or announced, If you are consistent with whatever God has instructed you to do—using your gifts to bless mankind!
For the fact that your rod seems not to be budded and blossomed yet, It does not mean you are not called. Wait for your time, however, As you are waiting, be sensitive. Be like Men of Issachar who understood times (1 Chronicles 12:32). Be observant, sensitive, and discerning.
Do not compete with anyone. Those who compare and compete unhealthily are not wise, says the Scripture: “FOR WE DARE NOT CLASS OURSELVES OR COMPARE OURSELVES WITH THOSE WHO COMMEND THEMSELVES. BUT THEY, MEASURING THEMSELVES BY THEMSELVES, AND COMPARING THEMSELVES AMONG THEMSELVES, ARE NOT WISE” (2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV).
Let God be your focus, do not strive to outdo some other people. The race before each minister is peculiar to him or her, based on their assignment (Galatians 2:6-9).
The race before the Minister A is different from the race before the Minister B. We have different callings and the anointing, but we are all working towards the same goal, working for the same Kingdom of God:
5 WHO THEN IS PAUL, AND WHO IS APOLLOS, BUT MINISTERS THROUGH WHOM YOU BELIEVED, AS THE LORD GAVE TO EACH ONE?
6 I PLANTED, APOLLOS WATERED, BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.
7 SO THEN NEITHER HE WHO PLANTS IS ANYTHING, NOR HE WHO WATERS, BUT GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE.
8 NOW HE WHO PLANTS AND HE WHO WATERS ARE ONE, AND EACH ONE WILL RECEIVE HIS OWN REWARD ACCORDING TO HIS OWN LABOUR.
9 FOR WE ARE GOD'S FELLOW WORKERS; YOU ARE GOD'S FIELD; YOU ARE GOD'S BUILDING”.
(1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NKJV)
The calling
If you are sure of the call of God on your life, you believe it, then be serious with it. Pursue the call with all your heart, the King's Business is urgent (1 Samuel 21:8). God does not want any procrastination. Delayed obedience and partial obedience are tantamount or equal to disobedience.
An excerpt from the Book by Steve Ezekiel — GOD'S MINISTERS AND
THE PEOPLE UNDER THEIR
LEADERSHIP [Ministry Map Series 1]
Download your free copy:
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