The Call to the Ministry

The propagation of the gospel is left, not to a few, but to all the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ: according to the measure of grace entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit, each man is bound to minister in his day and generation, both to the church and among unbelievers.

Men who dare to avow themselves ambassadors for Christ must feel most solemnly that the Lord has 'committed' to them the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18,19). If it be said that this is restricted to the apostles, I answer that the epistle is written not in the name of Paul only, but of Timothy also, and hence includes other ministry besides apostleship. In the first epistle to the Corinthians we read, 'Let a man so account of us (the us here meaning Paul and Sosthenes, 1 Cor. 1:1) Surely a steward must hold his office from the Master. He cannon be a steward merely because he chooses to be so, or is regarded by others.

That hundreds have missed their way, and stumbled against a pulpit is sorrowfully evident from the fruitless ministries and decaying churches which surround us. It is a fearful calamity to a man to miss his calling, and to a church upon whom he imposes himself, his mistake involves an affliction of the most grievous kind.

What are the signs of the heavenly calling to the ministry?1. An intense all-absorbing desire for the work 2. An aptness to teach and some measure of the other qualities needful for the office of public instructor 3. Seeing a measure of conversion-work going on under your efforts 4. Seeing that your preaching should be acceptable to the people of God

These four points will be expounded upon in the next blog post.