Ordination

The route to Ordination is for those who sincerely desire to serve the Lord; men who genuinely want nothing but to be available to glorify God through serving His people. Many in the Body of Christ would appear to hunger and thirst for the opportunity to serve in ministry. However, the Word instructs us not to be hasty in this most privileged profession.

WHO SHOULD BE ORDAINED

1 Timothy 3:5-6

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

A novice is a young, unlearned convert. He is young in his new birth, not regarding his chronological age. Paul foresees the lack of knowledge and experience in the Word as detrimental to such a one in that he has not been discipled into the character of Christ. He may start out with great zeal and the best of intentions. Without spiritual training, he may not be strong enough to resist the temptation of pride.

1 Timothy 3:7

Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

A minister should also walk holy before those who are not of the household of faith. He should be a witness of the righteousness of God in their lives. He must realize that he may be the only Christ that people will be able to experience at that time in their lives. Otherwise, he is already a stumbling block to the ministry and a slanderer of Christ. He is a stumbling block because he becomes a deterrent to that person who is honestly seeking God. These souls encounter and may be influenced by a spirit of pride, lust or wantonness; a Son without a willingness to sacrifice himself to show forth the righteousness of God to a seeking soul at any cost. The under-shepherd must honor and respect the calling of God in his or her life.

Hebrews 5:1

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

The training of the under-shepherd is a process of sanctification that sets the minister apart for service. This separation is a time for the cutting away of any and every mindset that is not of God. Our Lord must be able to trust the under-shepherd to work with His people in purity and love. When the under-shepherd is willing to present his body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, he is ready for ministry.

Romans 12:1

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

STUDY THE WORD

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Our study of the Word is ordered by God. The Word of God is an expressed revelation of Himself. His Word gives us a visual and verbal knowledge of Him. You must have the right motive for study. Always go into the Word of God seeking the heart and mind of God. A pure heart towards man and God will remove the veil from the Word. Many aspire to comprehend the letter of the Word. However, it is the Father’s intent for you to minister the life of the Word. Therefore, the Word must be established in your heart that it might become power and life in your circumstances, situations and relationships. This allows the Word to come off the pages and into your heart. Otherwise, you are without a testimony and void of true knowledge.

The Word of God should be ministered with the wisdom of the Spirit. The Lord invited us to ask of Him if we were void of such. However, the reverencing fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Be encoura-ged and rejoice in the Lord, for you have been chosen to serve in the Kingdom of the Most High. You will work in the presence of the holy angels. You have been called to bring life and salvation to a dying world. Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling be honor and glory. Amen.