God's Part and Mine

Discussion Point:  All believers are called to be involved in ministry, but it is important to recognise the diversity of ministries.  Why is the specific call important?

All believers are indeed called to the ministry.  Being called to the ministry means one is a minister. A minister as we know is one who serves.  Serving therefore means you are at work, you are a labourer.  Our first call is to be a saint and the second is to be a soul winner.  Know then that the tool (or gifting) required to win each soul may be different.  Therefore God in his wisdom has equipped us with exactly what we need to win those souls we will encounter.

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It is vital then that we do recognise, celebrate and appreciate the diversity within our midst.  Some will only want to play an instrument, some will be skilled at singing, some will be masterful at evangelism, some will be gifted teachers, some are gifted helpers, every service they just want to be in the kitchen or clean the church, some will want to usher the visitors into the sanctuary or be the first face guests see when they enter the building, some are even gifted huggers, or they have that smile that warms the heart and light up a room... we need to appreciate and celebrate every gift.  Whether it be a prayer warrior, a teacher, a preacher or apostle, whatever the area of gifting appreciate and celebrate them
In Christendom, we have this warped idea that only those who are on the pulpit are anointed and gifted, therefore we develop a tunnel vision that only involves being at the front of the church.  

1 Corinthians 12:4-7,18, 27-28 & 1 Corinthians 3:9-10 

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4: Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  
5:  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.  
6:  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.  
7:  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.  

18:  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  

27:  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.  
28:  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

9:  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  
10:  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

We then strive to get into one of those roles, even when that is not our area of gifting or calling.  These problems are escalated by those of us who treat those in the pulpit as though they are demi-gods, causing them to develop pride because we continually stroke their egos and others begin to thing that being in the pulpit is the route to fame and notoriety; and they focus on getting into that area, even without being called thereby ending up being out of place and become a menace to the body of Christ.

However, it is vital that we recognise that the 'gift' is separate from the 'call'.  What do I mean?  Every one of us are gifted to operate in a particular area and some are gifted to be in several areas, you can be a gifted singer, a gifted musician, a gifted preacher or teacher  or helps minister, that is your gift.  But the call is linked to the message, a teacher may have a burden for the unsaved, and their message will always be directed to the unsaved, trying to woo them to Christ.  Then you could have another teacher whose burden is for the body, to see them fulfill their God-ordained potential, therefore their message is designed to inspire and motivate the saved to be more than they are.  Similarly Peter was sent to the circumcised while Paul was sent to the uncircumcised.  Their messages were different as their audience was different.

It behooves us then to accept first, we are ministers we are labourers together with God. It is not of us only, God has equipped us with gifting and abilities.  Yet we will not negate the human element, there is a work that we must do, we must stir up the gift that is within us, we must study to shew ourselves approved unto God, we must spent time developing our craft, master our gifts.
Then we must identify our message, what is our burden?  Our message will be inextricably tied to our burdens.  We should identify our burden, our passion, what makes our blood boil, what subject matter will have you talking all day and all night, what propels you to do?  Develop that!  That is your passion, that is your message and that is your burden.

Your gift makes room for you to address those who are the audience for your message.  Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men". your specific call is vitally important because though many many be gifted evangelists or soul winners, your message will be different and there is an audience awaiting that message.  This quote was taken from the late Bishop Normal L. Wagner, he said 

"Remember all the people who are depending on you to be in a place where you hear God, they will either live or die according to your ability to hear God.  If you don't see the power of your presence, then you will never know the tragedy caused by your absence".