1. The Divine Call

As a Christian, we all have received a call to redemption and to be a light to a lost world; but not all are called to the ministerial offices. The call in this case is God revealing to someone His purpose for them in ministry. Paul was called to be an Apostle but never started out that way; he never began the work of an Apostle until ACTS 13:2, when the Holy Ghost said “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Philip started out as a Deacon before he became an Evangelist (compare Acts 6:1-5 with Acts 8:5-39). God will not put a novice into a place of leadership (I Timothy 3:6). It takes time for spiritual maturity and to become seasoned.

ROMANS 12:7 Or Ministry, LET US WAIT UPON MINISTERING…..

Moses spent 40 years in Egypt and then another 40 years in Midian, on the backside of the desert before God called him

The Lord Jesus spent his life as a carpenter, until the day the Holy Spirit as a dove, descended upon Him. David was anointed to be King of Israel as a young boy, but never attained to the office, until about the age of 30. David did not have the maturity or experience as a young boy to lead a nation.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 AND GOD HATH SET SOME IN THE CHURCH, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers.

Notice that these callings are by the Lord and not man, only God has the right to call to his service as he chooses. We give recognition to the person called, by the laying on of hands, in acknowledgement of God's choice.

Paul's Call

ACTS 26:16   But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, TO MAKE THEE A MINISTER and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee. (Compare with Acts 9:1-22).

ROMANS 1:1   Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, separated unto the gospel of God.

1 TIMOTHY 1:12   And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, WHO HATH ENABLED ME, FOR THAT HE COUNTED ME FAITHFUL, putting me into the ministry.

Moses' Call

EXODUS 3:3-5   And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
Vs.4   And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, here am I.
Vs.5   And he said, draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

The mention of the holy ground, was God's symbolic way of letting Moses know that the calling of God is a holy thing and the removal of his shoes, represented a consecration to the call. The Holy Call requires a Holy Consecration, without it; there will be no Holy Ghost power.

Elisha's Call

1 KINGS 19:19   So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen before him, and he was the twelfth; and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

Isaiah's Call

ISAIAH 6:8   Also I heared the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me.

Jeremiah's Call

JEREMIAH 1:4-5   Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Vs.5   Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Samuel's Call

1 SAMUEL 3:8   And the Lord called Samuel the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I, for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

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2. The Anointing

The word anoint means to rub with oil and is symbolic of the divine anointing of the Holy Spirit, which is the enablement of God, to fulfill the call of God. The anointing covers a much wider range then just preaching or teaching. If we only see the anointing as the stirring to preach or teach, then we are missing much of what the anointing is about. As an example: A Pastor fulfills all the duties of his call by the anointing, whether it be teaching, counseling, encouraging, or admonition. The winning of souls is the mark of the anointing of an Evangelist. It is the Holy Spirit who anoints the call and the anointing is the evidence of Gods call: no anointing, no call.

The Anointing of Jesus Christ

LUKE 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou are my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased

LUKE 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

LUKE 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

ACTS 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

HEBREWS 1:9 Thou haft loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

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