My husband and I are hard workers. We were raised with strong work ethics, and to some extent, we had to work to survive our childhoods. Every pastor I know is a hard worker. When I think about the work involved in ministry, I understand why many are called, but few are chosen. It is quite the labor of submission, surrender, and labor unto the Lord.
Many are awaiting God to launch them while serving man's kingdom instead of His. They believe they are called to do something great and glorious, but in the meantime, they sit on their laurels, doing nothing to advance the kingdom of God.
God is calling people to be movers and shakers in this world. People who will go the extra mile to please Him and demonstrate a willing heart for His purpose. He brought all of us into this world to work the harvest fields, but most refuse.
"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. – Lk 10:2
Jesus sends us out, and until He does, we are not ready. The word labor means work. We have work to do, and everyone God anoints and calls to the work of the ministry was found already working.
Moses was shepherding, David was shepherding, Samuel was serving Eli, Elisha was serving Elijah, the disciples were fishing, and Jesus was teaching the word of God in the temple when He was a child. We must be doing something if we are going to be called to something greater. Those appointed to go and work are called so that they can get others to do the same. Jesus said to go. Go is a doing; it is an action word that involves doing something.
11 And He Himself gave some [to be] apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; - Eph 4:11-13 NKJV
One must be doing the works of their faith before God is going to anoint them to do more. We cannot skip the process and go from pew to pulpit. Maturity must take place. We must grow in our faith, ability to submit to authority, and ability to do everything we do from the spirit and not emotions. People are often put in our paths to work the stuff out of our souls.
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? - Ja 4:1 NLT
The desires a person has to be seen cause them to manufacture a "calling," a "purpose," or a personal value that comes from a deep wound or need inside themselves. God must deal with us before He will put us in front of them. A broken soul will damage other broken souls. But a mature soul that is healing from brokenness has a contrite spirit and can be used in the process.
God wants to use us even when we are suffering. He wants to comfort us so we can comfort others. When we pour out to others, even when we feel empty, we can release the presence of God instead of us.
24 There is [one] who scatters, yet increases more; And there is [one] who withholds more than is right, But it [leads] to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. - Pro 11:24-25 NKJV
When we give, we receive; it is a spiritual law. Spiritual laws of reaping and sowing cannot be broken because God created them. For this reason, even those who are not walking with God or are unbelievers can receive through this spiritual law. The Bible says that God sends rain on the just and unjust alike.
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. - Eph 4:14-16
The ministry leaders are called to equip the people with the knowledge of the word of God so they can mature and become equippers as well. Everyone is to be part of a body of people that are advancing the kingdom of God in some way. But, if you wish to be a leader without the purifying, then you are operating from a place of self and not spirit.
We are also called to go two by two. There are no lone rangers in the work of God's kingdom. If you have set yourself to service and have not been partnered with another, you are likely doing your thing and not God's. Keep that in mind as you ponder what you believe God has placed in you.
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me with the calling of going forth to spread the gospel in whatever way You have planned for me. Forgive me for being desperate to be seen and heard so much that I have pushed my way into place instead of waiting for You. Your word tells me that You will exalt the humble, and I choose to be lifted by You and not myself. I pray for Your strength over my brothers and sisters to restrain our flesh and wait for You, for in due season, if we do not grow weary in doing good, we are promised to reap goodness. In Jesus' name, Amen