Articles: When God Puts a Man into the Ministry

	When God Puts a Man into the Ministry
	More Articles "How does a man know if he is called of God to preach the gospel?" "How does God put a man into the ministry?" I have been asked those two questions many times by many men. I gave up the notion of telling others what God's will is for them a long time ago. Because I am aware of the fact that the Scriptures do not give precise answers to those questions, I cannot speak with absolute certainty about them. In the Old Testament prophets were called immediately by God himself, by a direct, unmistakable revelation-(Moses-Isaiah-Jeremiah-Ezekiel). In the New Testament the apostles were called directly by Christ. The first seventy preachers were sent out by the Master's direct command. Other pastors and elders were chosen and ordained by the Apostles. Today we do not have such advantages; and the Scriptures give us no clear instructions in the matter. The Scriptures tell us the kind of man a pastor must be, and tell us clearly what a pastor's responsibilities are. But they do not specifically tell us how God puts a man into the ministry, or how a man knows that he is called of God to preach the gospel. So my answers to those questions are just that, "my answers." They arise from both my understanding of the Scriptures and the observation of experience. But this is my best perception. If God puts a man into the ministry he first puts grace in his heart. No man is called OF God to preach the gospel who does not know the gospel both doctrinally and experimentally. Before God puts a man into the work of the ministry he proves him as a faithful servant¹ in his church. - "Not a novice!" No man will be faithful as a pastor who is not faithful before becoming a pastor. A man who puts other things before the worship of Christ, the cause of Christ, and the church of Christ will do no better because someone gives him some ordination papers. He may be more regular in outward attendance and in things seen and approved of by men, but he will be the same, self-serving man he was before. If the Lord God puts a man into the ministry he gives him his message (Isaiah 40)-Redemption Accomplished! -Salvation Free! -"All Flesh is Grass!"-"Behold, Your God!"-Christ Enthroned! If God puts a man into the ministry he gives him the gifts necessary for the work. He makes him "apt to teach." God called men are gifted with an understanding of the Scriptures and the ability to communicate the message of the Scriptures to others clearly. If God puts a man into the ministry he gives him a place to preach. As one old preacher put it years ago, "God never made a possum without a persimmon tree; and he never made a preacher without a pulpit." No man has been called into the ministry who is not in the ministry. If God puts a man into the ministry he gives him a hearing. God's preachers never have to look for a place to preach or for people to hear them. When a man is sent of God, he is sent to a people who want to hear his message. (Acts 10:33-"Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.") God's servants look to him to open doors before them, and wait for him to do so. They do not make a way for themselves. A man's gift makes room for him (Proverbs 18:16). When God puts a man into the ministry he gives him the support of his fellow-laborers in the gospel. All God's prophets see eye to eye with regard to the gospel (Isaiah 52:8) and labor together as one in the cause of Christ. Don Fortner Grace Baptist Church of Danville Danville, Kentucky More Articles ¹The fact is-If we are born of God we are his servants. He has put us into the ministry. Some serve in one capacity and some in another. But we are all his witnesses and his servants. And each of us is useful only in the place God has put us.

When God Puts a Man into the Ministry

"How does a man know if he is called of God to preach the gospel?" "How does God put a man into the ministry?" I have been asked those two questions many times by many men. I gave up the notion of telling others what God's will is for them a long time ago. Because I am aware of the fact that the Scriptures do not give precise answers to those questions, I cannot speak with absolute certainty about them.

In the Old Testament prophets were called immediately by God himself, by a direct, unmistakable revelation-(Moses-Isaiah-Jeremiah-Ezekiel). In the New Testament the apostles were called directly by Christ. The first seventy preachers were sent out by the Master's direct command. Other pastors and elders were chosen and ordained by the Apostles.

Today we do not have such advantages; and the Scriptures give us no clear instructions in the matter. The Scriptures tell us the kind of man a pastor must be, and tell us clearly what a pastor's responsibilities are. But they do not specifically tell us how God puts a man into the ministry, or how a man knows that he is called of God to preach the gospel. So my answers to those questions are just that, "my answers." They arise from both my understanding of the Scriptures and the observation of experience. But this is my best perception.

If God puts a man into the ministry he first puts grace in his heart. No man is called OF God to preach the gospel who does not know the gospel both doctrinally and experimentally.
Before God puts a man into the work of the ministry he proves him as a faithful servant¹ in his church. - "Not a novice!" No man will be faithful as a pastor who is not faithful before becoming a pastor. A man who puts other things before the worship of Christ, the cause of Christ, and the church of Christ will do no better because someone gives him some ordination papers. He may be more regular in outward attendance and in things seen and approved of by men, but he will be the same, self-serving man he was before.
If the Lord God puts a man into the ministry he gives him his message (Isaiah 40)-Redemption Accomplished! -Salvation Free! -"All Flesh is Grass!"-"Behold, Your God!"-Christ Enthroned!
If God puts a man into the ministry he gives him the gifts necessary for the work. He makes him "apt to teach." God called men are gifted with an understanding of the Scriptures and the ability to communicate the message of the Scriptures to others clearly.
If God puts a man into the ministry he gives him a place to preach. As one old preacher put it years ago, "God never made a possum without a persimmon tree; and he never made a preacher without a pulpit." No man has been called into the ministry who is not in the ministry.
If God puts a man into the ministry he gives him a hearing. God's preachers never have to look for a place to preach or for people to hear them. When a man is sent of God, he is sent to a people who want to hear his message. (Acts 10:33-"Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.") God's servants look to him to open doors before them, and wait for him to do so. They do not make a way for themselves. A man's gift makes room for him (Proverbs 18:16).
When God puts a man into the ministry he gives him the support of his fellow-laborers in the gospel. All God's prophets see eye to eye with regard to the gospel (Isaiah 52:8) and labor together as one in the cause of Christ.

Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
Danville, Kentucky

¹The fact is-If we are born of God we are his servants. He has put us into the ministry. Some serve in one capacity and some in another. But we are all his witnesses and his servants. And each of us is useful only in the place God has put us.