When we talk about staying with God and the possibility that He might send you out, some people become afraid because they believe being “sent” automatically means becoming a pastor. They have heard and seen a lot about pastors, and they are not ready for such a responsibility. As a result, they avoid building a deep relationship with God simply because they do not want to become pastors.
While growing up as a new convert, I never desired or prayed for a pastor as a husband. To me, and probably to many others, the pastors we saw growing up were either poor, deceptive, or unhappy, almost as if they were forced into the role. Others who displayed wealth carried themselves in a way that did not reflect what you would expect from a man of God.
First, I want you to know that there are many great pastors and men of God who are doing wonderfully for God. There will always be bad eggs, not only among pastors but among all human beings across every sector: business, health, education, politics, and more. You will always find people whose actions do not match your expectations.
Today, I want you to know that God is not the author of confusion. Some people are not called by God; some are called by their needs or other personal reasons. But that is not our focus today. There is a divine purpose for choosing and setting leadership in the church.
Ephesians 4 teaches us how to behave as believers:
* Walk worthy of your calling with all lowliness and meekness.
* Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of love.
* There is one body and one Spirit, and you are called in one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God.
From this, you see that irrespective of your assignment, everyone is working towards one goal. Everyone is given grace according to the measure of the gift depending on their assignment. In verse 11, we see the list of gifts given, this is what we call the fivefold ministry. Verse 12 explains the purpose:
1. For the perfecting of the saints.
2. For the work of the ministry.
3. For the edification of the body of Christ.
All of this is with one intention, as seen in verse 13: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
So that, as verse 14 says, we will no longer be children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.
God knows that if you remain ignorant and immature, the sleight of men and their cunning craftiness will destroy you. “Sleight of men” refers to an artful trick, something done so cleverly that you don’t notice how it happened. That is why you must grow. Your Father has placed gifts in the body of Christ that, if well harnessed, will make you a well-rounded, solid child of God.
You will notice in verse 12 that the Bible mentions the work of the ministry. This means there are many other works that need to be done, and the fivefold gifts are given to equip God’s children to fulfil their ministries. You must understand that there are varying assignments, and as a child of God, you are called to something specific. He who calls you will equip you, and as He sends you, He will surely provide everything needed for success.
1 Corinthians 12:4–10 tells us:
“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… differences of administrations, but the same Lord… diversities of operations, but the same God who works all in all.”
We are one body but many members, just like the human body is one but has many parts. Every part is important, and no matter where you are placed, God is trusting you to do it with your whole heart. The parts are so connected that if one suffers, all the others are affected (1 Corinthians 12:1–28).
Imagine a church full of powerful, Spirit-filled believers speaking in tongues and prepared for miracles, signs, and wonders, yet no one is willing to clean the church, wash the toilets, or arrange the chairs because they consider those roles “too low.” Imagine no one willing to handle proper administration. Imagine a household where everyone wants to be the father because they think it is the best position. The church is not designed to be a one- or two-part show. That is why God set all those gifts in Ephesians 4. No matter your part, you must be taught and discipled to maturity until you have the stature of Christ.
In the book of Acts, there was a complaint that some people were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The apostles instructed the people to choose seven brethren of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, to handle the task. You may wonder why they needed to be full of the Holy Ghost, they were simply serving tables, distributing what we would call “palliatives” today.
However, you don’t know where that simple assignment will lead. From those seven men came Stephen and Philip. Acts 6:8 says Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. After his death, persecution arose and scattered the church. Philip, also one of the table servers, went to Samaria and preached Christ. God used him mightily (Acts 8:5–8, 26–40).
There is no limit to how God can use a yielded vessel, no matter how they entered into service. Find your place and stay there, even if it seems as lowly as serving tables. Do it with love for Him. He rewards all faithful work and service.
GOD BLESS YOU.