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There are many delightful things about present-day Charismatic-Evangelical fellowships. Perhaps my favorite is that ministry is as likely to come forth from those sitting in the pews as it is from those on the platform. Everyone from homemakers and auto technicians through business entrepreneurs are involved. They preach, spontaneously offer prophetic insights to the discouraged and minister healing to the infirm. It is invigorating to be with people who don’t come to church to be entertained by professionals.
There is another aspect that I believe really blesses the heart of our Lord. Normally those who have the chutzpah to minister to people whom they know on Sundays have the confidence to minister to those whom they don’t know on Mondays. People who have been blessed by spiritual ministry from a thoughtful believer in the highways-and-byways of life usually take the initiative to learn more. It is great that the unconverted don’t have to be attracted to a church’s dog and pony show to receive ministry. Spirit-filled believers export the ministry to wherever the needy might be found.
Major Call?
Though all of the aforementioned is wonderful, there is a troublesome area that I want to address. It pertains to those who incessantly speak of a great call, but seldom manifest evidence of such. Unquestionably, like all spirit-filled believers, such folks do have spiritual gifts that have the potential to bless others. The problem is that they are waiting for a precise moment of divine attestation that will compel the masses to flock to them. That is a totally unbiblical and unrealistic expectation.
My intention is to give people who fall into that category a gentle, but realistic wake-up call. I will not cite Scripture references like I customarily do in articles. Those who actually have major calls on their lives are already familiar with the references that are the backdrop of that which I am attempting to convey. Please remember that wounds from a friend are faithful.
- If you don’t use what you have it will atrophy - You don’t need to be mature to receive spiritual gifts. But, everyone is responsible to become more mature and proficient in the exercise of the gifts with which they have been endowed.
- Reality check – One aspect of faith is that it is a like a muscle that increases with strength through frequent use. Those who have recognizable healing ministries normally took the initiative to persist in praying for seemingly insignificant illnesses until they achieved a history of success. Anyone who has bypassed that discipline is apt to flee when confronted with catastrophic maladies. Those who rarely have the courage to minister prophetic words to those whom they know are not credible candidates to prophesy to the nations. Anyone that does not work-up sermons and seek for opportunities to present such to small groups will be ill-equipped to stand before thousands.
- David would not have had the courage to encounter Goliath had he not killed a lion and a bear in his own backyard. Philip would not have been chosen to be a deacon if he had not previously been noted as one full of the Spirit. Furthermore, it is unlikely that he would have advanced to the office of evangelist and raised four daughters who prophesied unless he had been intensely active in diverse spiritual dimensions. Had young Timothy been a pew-potato who was present but silent in his home church, the elders would have never suggested him for apostolic training under Paul.
- The claim that one has a great calling and can do all things through Christ often invokes unspoken questions within listeners. What are you doing by faith that is a significantly superior to that which others accomplish without faith? Many are called, but few are chosen; what are you currently doing that denotes divine choice?
- Jesus implied some sobering things about people’s talents/giftings/callings. Those who bury such don’t get blessed with more. They are rebuked for being lazy and wicked. It is those who have faithfully employed relatively small giftings who are awarded the extraordinary anointings and increased opportunities.
- New Testament characters that had mega-callings on their lives were normally activated in ministry shortly after conversion. Authentic spirit-filled congregations will inevitably make room for those among them who demonstrate gifting. Read the accounts of Paul’s journeys in the book of Acts and his Epistles to the churches. His journeys spanned over an approximate twelve-year period. During that time elders were appointed in every city from a constituency that had previously been heathen. Within a brief time relatively new converts began to arise and travel the ancient world in ministry. These facts indicate that if one has a major call it should become visibly obvious early on in their Christian experience.
- Over the past quarter of a century there has been much ado about apostolic callings to the five-fold ministry. I am a strong supporter of the premise that such are valid for today. The Early Church’s ministers who carried apostolic mantels functioned with optimum effectiveness because they had the key accompanying signs that denote apostleship. Those are endurance, signs, wonders and mighty deeds. The latter three all indicate that there must be objective evidence that miracles are wrought by individuals who flow in the five-fold ministry. America and the UK have many who say, “I move in an apostolic anointing.” The difficulty is that precious few of the multiplied thousands who make that claim actually perform signs and wonders. Discerning the legitimacy of such giftings is really quite simple. But, it entails a little more than the presence of entertaining communications skills. If they regularly perform miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, they are likely apostolic. If they do not, they are not.
- It would behoove people who have been saved for twenty years and for the past twelve have continuously claimed a great call to make an assessment. Did the insensitive prophets that passed through town and prophesied comforting exaggerations to most everyone bamboozle you? Have you mesmerized yourself to believe that at some future point you will get a divine rush that will instantly promote you to notoriety? What is holding you back from ministering in smaller settings until the big ones appear on the horizon? Hopefully, you cannot be charged with wicked laziness. When you stand before the Lord and give an account for the extent to which you used His precious gifts, timidity will not be a valid excuse for negligence.
- The stark reality is that those who are truly called attract people and financial support. I have traveled three continents strengthening churches over the past thirty-five years. I learned how to predict who among those sitting in congregations would become prominent figures in ministry. It came from my gift of observation. In small group settings, those whom others instinctively turned towards when I asked questions became those who filled pulpits later. My conversations with such folks have revealed pertinent biblical and practical facts about finances. Those similarly called so bless people with their giftings that the recipients automatically and regularly endeavor to reciprocate with material blessings. The first thing that Jesus asked His disciples after their first venture without Him was, “Children did you lack anything?”
- Curiously, you never hear anyone boast about being called to what most full-time ministers actually have, a small ministry. Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that in God’s economy there is nothing wrong with small. A Sunday on which more than fifty people show-up for services at my church is a grand occasion. Yet, we are like the mouse that roared. Traveling ministries love to come to our fellowship. The offerings received for them usually represent a far greater ratio in amounts given per capita as compared to the mega-churches. The books and articles that I ghostwrite each week for other ministers, free of charge, are published and read globally. There is hardly a week that goes by without incidents of highly visible ministries calling me for counsel. I frequently receive correspondence from those whom I have ministered to through the years thanking me for my influence. In must cases, I was unaware that I was a notable contributor to their successes. In addition, unpresumptuous faith coupled with faithfulness pays well. Our lifestyle bears evidence of God’s approbation. It mystifies those who are prone to assess a minister’s potential for prosperity by his measure of fame and the size of his ministry.
Conclusion
On a weekday a pastor was passing time conversing with a young boy who had an obvious call on his life. Suddenly, they sensed the presence of someone else. They turned around and saw a distinguished gentleman roaming around the back of the sanctuary. The pastor whispered with dismay, “I think Jesus is back there. Oh’, what should I do? What shall I do?” The wise youngster whispered in response, “I think we both better look busy.”
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