19 November 2018

ARE YOU CALLED TO MINISTRY (2)

By John Ollis

I have already written to say I have had a remarkable response to my previous blog with the above title. Chuck Swindoll’s 10 point description of Ministry is a superb statement on what ministry must all (and always) be about. I guess he is writing out of 50+ years of ministry and experience.
A friend of about 20 years has written and asked me to write a second blog to expand the words that I chose to make the acrostic on the word character that I wrote briefly about in the first blog.

C IS FOR CHRISTLIKENESS

God’s whole aim in restoring us into relationship with Himself through the finished work of Christ on the Cross and His Resurrection is to make us into the image of Christ. When we were born again, God’s DNA came into us, and as we co-operate with the Holy Spirit more and more are we transformed (metamorphosis) into the likeness of Jesus.

H IS FOR HOLY

As commanded in  both the Old Testament and in the New Testament we are commanded to be holy, under the Old Covenant I guess this was impossible, but with Christ’s coming and death  He has made it possible, so as Pter declares in 2 Peter 1:3-4 NKJV as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. We now have available to us the ability to live a holy life, Christlikeness and Holy are 2 words means the same thing, the very ESSENCE OF GODLY CHARACTER.

A IS FOR ACCOUNTABLE

There are no Lone Rangers in the Body of Christ, to truly have a Godly character we must be accountable to both God and man, we all need those Biblical checks and balances to keep us moving forward and not getting caught up in “bypath meadow”. We must be able to give a reasonable account  for everything we do and say

R IS FOR REPENTANT

Repent is as much if not more a word for Christians, because of our sinful nature, we need to constantly make the decision to change, (and not go with the bias of sin that is in our nature) There must regularly be a CHANGE OF MIND, A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE, A CHANGE OF DIRECTION AND A CHANGE OF AFFECTION. Every day our prayer must be NOT MY WILL BUT THINE BE DONE.

A IS FOR ANOINTED

Not only must we learn to live and walk in the Spirit and thus walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, as every Believer is called to minister and ministry, we must seek to always minister under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

C IS FOR COMMITTED

First and foremost committed to the Lord 24/7 but also committed to the local Body of Believers we must be a part of. We need them, and they need us.

T IS FOR TRUSTWORTHY

Our word, must always be our bond, that in any and every situation we can be relied upon. To be dependable, and honest, principled and ethical and incorruptible!!

E IS FOR ENTHUSIASTIC

This word in English comes from the Greek word En Theos  (IN God)  only as we let the Lord continually work in us and through us can we maintain that Holy Spirit enthusiasm.

R IS FOR RELAIBLE

This relates to trustworthy,  but also includes the idea of being consistently good in quality, being authentic, dependable, and genuine.

CHARACTER IS ALL ABOUT

CHRISTLIKENESS

BEING HOLY

BEING ACCOUNTABLE

BEING COMMITTED

BEING TRUSTWORTHY

BEING ENTHUSIASTIC

BEING RELIABLE

I trust the above will be a blessing to you.