JAC Online

You Did Not Choose Me…

By General Bramwell Tillsley (Rtd)

 On the eve of commencing your life’s work, remember that first and foremost, the ministry is a calling.  As it was said of the Old Testament priest, so it must be said of the New Testament  minister. “No man takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God” (Heb.5:4).

 Jesus said, “you did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). Keep in mind, the call of God comes in a variety of ways.

 1:  Sometimes God speaks directly, in tones clear and unmistakable. “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).  To Paul – “Now get up and stand on your feet.  I have appeared to appoint you as a servant and as a witness” (Acts 26:16).  But this is not the only way He calls.

 2:  God speaks in terms of human need, though the need is not the call, but rather the means used by God. General Bramwell Booth wrote: “The great need of the world – its lost condition – is sufficient call for anyone who has the opportunity to respond.”  In that general sense, every Christian is called and is in “full time service” 1 Cor.6:19,20.

 3:  But God has chosen you personally, and given you the deep conviction that “this is destiny.” In the challenging days ahead, it is this sense of “call” that will serve as an anchor in the midst of the storm.

 I would urge you, through prayer and the word, to keep your own heart right.  “Above all things, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Prov.4:23).  How tragic is the experience described in the Song of Songs 1:6 –“They made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected.”  “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” (Acts 20:28). The order here is significant –“Yourselves –the flock.”

 I would urge you to be a man/woman of the Word.  The word is the one thing God has specifically promised to bless.  “So is my word that goes out from my mouth:  it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

 This challenge of course implies the constant development of your mind.  E.F.Scott reminded us that “ the failure of Christianity as  a moral force is more often than we like to think due to no other cause than intellectual sloth.”  Bishop Oxnam added: “Our generation will not be led spiritually by people it cannot respect intellectually.” Jesus himself said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your MIND.”(Matt.22:37).

 Of course, matched with our knowledge of the Word must be a knowledge of the World to which you are being sent. It has been suggested that we study with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.

 In the High Priestly prayer (John 17) Jesus prays:  Father, “as you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world: (John 17:18). What do you understand by the “world” into which you are being sent?

 In the Sprunt Lectures at Union Theological Seminary, Waldo Beach suggested OUR world is marked by three basic characteristics:

 1: Anomi—no norm For behavior –no absolutes – no authoritative standard of right or wrong.

 2: Anonymity –man has lost his sense of worth – his identity. He is plagued with such questions as:  Who am I?  Why am I here? Where am I going?  Do I really matter as an individual?

 3:  Alienation – broken fellowship with God and man.

 Facing such a world, do not neglect the ministry of Encouragement. “Anxious hearts are very heavy, but a word of encouragement does wonders” (Prov. 12:25  TLB).

 Dr. Carl Jung suggested “the central neurosis of our time is “emptiness.” Mother Teresa added:  “The biggest disease today is the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for, deserted by everyone.”

 How a word of Encouragement is needed.

 Many a preacher, including Dr. F. B. Meyer has indicated that if he had life to live over again, he would devote more time to the ministry of encouragement.  It was D.L. Moody who reminded us that people have a way of becoming what we encourage them to be rather than what we nag them to be.  We are in need of more leaders like Barnabas –“son of encouragement.”

 “See that the flock of God is properly fed and cared for” (1 Peter 5:2, Phillips).  “Cared for” is perhaps best represented by the Biblical metaphor of the “Shepherd.”  Again Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd and know my sheep” (John 10:14)  The only way this can be accomplished on any more than a casual basis is to do what Ezekiel did when he responded: “I sat where they sat” (Ezekiel  3:15, AV) This was not from an office with a computer.  Is visitation too old fashioned a term?  I think not.

 By the way, if this is getting a little “heavy,” don’t neglect to develop a good sense of humor.  Be ready to laugh at yourself as well as at situations over which you have no control. Beware of taking yourself too seriously.  In this regard, don’t limit your ministry by a fear of failure.  We are in desperate need of more creativity.  If a plan does not work, put it down to experience.  No good leader will criticize you for trying.

 Although most of us will work within a system that require accountability, keep in mind your ultimate accountability is to God. Hopefully it will be said of you, “they watch for your souls as they that must give account” (Heb.13:17).

 I close by reminding you of Paul’s charge to Timothy – 1 Tim.1:12 -15.  Here he speaks of “Amazing Grace.”

 1: Emancipating Grace – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners –of whom I am the worst” v.15

 2: Employing Grace – “He considered me faithful, appointing me to his service”  v.12

 3: Enabling Grace – “ Christ Jesus, who has enabled me.” (v.12 AV)

 4: Exceeding Grace –“The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant” (v.14, AV)

 This grace is available to YOU.

“And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor.9:8)

 Blessings on your ministry!

 PS  When God’s work is done in God’s way, it will never lack for God’s supply. (Hudson Taylor) 

 

 

 

 

   

 

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