Some Qualifications for the Ministry (Part 1)
It is a glorious thing to receive a call to the ministry. There is a majesty about the task of being an ambassador for Almighty God. Yet as a calling the ministry demands certain qualifications. No person is ready to be an effective minister at the time of his call; therefore, he should lose no time in beginning his or her preparation.
It goes without saying that first of all, their experience of conversion must be deep and real. The unregenerated heart is unable to receive and understand spiritual things, much less instruct others in them. A person by reason of their personal charm and natural abilities may be able to satisfy the religious instincts of a congregation, but without a real experience himself, he is a blind leader of the blind. Let every person who feels a call to the ministry, therefore, dig down deeply until he or she is firmly upon the rock. While Jesus regarded His disciples as saved men (Luke 10:17-20), He did not consider their experience as, yet, complete. This is clearly seen in Jesus' words to Peter just before the great denial, "and the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan had desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32).
A minister should have a deep sense of the meaning of his conversion. He should ever keep in mind he has been dug out of the pit and that he has a debt that he can never fully repay. While in his inner life he will have peace and confidence that comes from resting in Christ, at the same time he will be constantly aware of the dangers and temptations that may confront him -- even as the apostle said, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be castaway (I Corinthians 9:27).
A minister should certainly have the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that they were not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father. He said "You shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the Earth" (Acts 1:8). Since it was a requirement even of deacons to receive the Holy Ghost, it is obvious that ministers of the Word should be filled with the Spirit (Acts 6:3).
The word of the Lord requires everything a man has. There may come a time when a young minister seriously wonders whether he can ever successfully fulfill the demands of the ministry as he senses the enormity of the task before him. As a true call, he has been given immense power and favor to do the work of his challenge in the area of his involvement. Although the calling is high and holy. There are usually many obstacles in the way of him who would be a minister of God. It does not eliminate the bafflements that confront everyone who seeks to enter into a chosen life work. The demands that are thrust upon the minister are complex and often bewildering. On Sunday, he must preach two fresh and inspiring messages, not including usually teaching to the development of skills that would keep the most worldly learned. By disposition, he must always appear radiant and buoyant.
Among men he must be a man; he must also lend a sympathetic ear to distraught women; he should be able to reach the hearts of little children; he needs the organizing genius necessary to the management of a church; while again being able to balance the budget.
The list of requirements is by no means all. If he expects to stay long in the pastorate, he must give time to study and meditation, so that his teaching or preaching will not be repetitious. He must be a leader and stay ahead of his congregation. In other words, he must always carry the ball. If he does not and succumbs to becoming a bench warmer, then he will find someone else waiting to carry his ball. At times, the task may seem inseparable, but taking courage, he must say as the Apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). The secret of the ministry lies in believing this.
I thank you for your continued viewing and reading. If this Blog and its contents have been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting Artesian Well Church.
Talk to you soon,
Pastor Norman
Artesian Well Church
6031 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, Ca
It goes without saying that first of all, their experience of conversion must be deep and real. The unregenerated heart is unable to receive and understand spiritual things, much less instruct others in them. A person by reason of their personal charm and natural abilities may be able to satisfy the religious instincts of a congregation, but without a real experience himself, he is a blind leader of the blind. Let every person who feels a call to the ministry, therefore, dig down deeply until he or she is firmly upon the rock. While Jesus regarded His disciples as saved men (Luke 10:17-20), He did not consider their experience as, yet, complete. This is clearly seen in Jesus' words to Peter just before the great denial, "and the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan had desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32).
A minister should have a deep sense of the meaning of his conversion. He should ever keep in mind he has been dug out of the pit and that he has a debt that he can never fully repay. While in his inner life he will have peace and confidence that comes from resting in Christ, at the same time he will be constantly aware of the dangers and temptations that may confront him -- even as the apostle said, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be castaway (I Corinthians 9:27).
A minister should certainly have the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that they were not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father. He said "You shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the Earth" (Acts 1:8). Since it was a requirement even of deacons to receive the Holy Ghost, it is obvious that ministers of the Word should be filled with the Spirit (Acts 6:3).
The word of the Lord requires everything a man has. There may come a time when a young minister seriously wonders whether he can ever successfully fulfill the demands of the ministry as he senses the enormity of the task before him. As a true call, he has been given immense power and favor to do the work of his challenge in the area of his involvement. Although the calling is high and holy. There are usually many obstacles in the way of him who would be a minister of God. It does not eliminate the bafflements that confront everyone who seeks to enter into a chosen life work. The demands that are thrust upon the minister are complex and often bewildering. On Sunday, he must preach two fresh and inspiring messages, not including usually teaching to the development of skills that would keep the most worldly learned. By disposition, he must always appear radiant and buoyant.
Among men he must be a man; he must also lend a sympathetic ear to distraught women; he should be able to reach the hearts of little children; he needs the organizing genius necessary to the management of a church; while again being able to balance the budget.
The list of requirements is by no means all. If he expects to stay long in the pastorate, he must give time to study and meditation, so that his teaching or preaching will not be repetitious. He must be a leader and stay ahead of his congregation. In other words, he must always carry the ball. If he does not and succumbs to becoming a bench warmer, then he will find someone else waiting to carry his ball. At times, the task may seem inseparable, but taking courage, he must say as the Apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13). The secret of the ministry lies in believing this.
I thank you for your continued viewing and reading. If this Blog and its contents have been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting Artesian Well Church.
Talk to you soon,
Pastor Norman
Artesian Well Church
6031 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, Ca
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