“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand.” Ecclesiastes 11:6
The calling of a preacher of the gospel is a very singular, and significant one. It is designed to bring glory to God in the giving of Life to the hearers. That which accompanies the gospel, and we speak of that which only is revealed in the Scriptures, is the power of God. The message is of God, as well as the minister. But the accomplishment of the task in a manner well-pleasing to God is only as effective as the Spirit of God is the very means of its delivery, and working. How significant is that calling to the individual?
The Apostle Paul basically begins his letter to the Galatians, putting before them his spiritual credentials. He begins with his calling from God which began before he was born. Paul would write: ” (God) …separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace.” (1:15) The calling was from heaven, conceived in the heart of God, and revealed as a fixed, blessed obligation and commitment upon Saul of Tarsus. There were certainly rumblings in the heart of Saul throughout his life, which stirred him to seek God and be committed to serve Him. However, he did not know the God whom he was seeking, the One who had called him, and the purpose and means by which he set apart. Leading up to his conversion, everything in Saul’s life was centered upon, and existed for himself, only in the name of God. He was ardently self-reliant with regard to the development of his capacities, his oratory, religious discipline, and zeal. It would only be on the road to Damascus, when a light shined from heaven, making him fall to the ground, that the true nature of his calling began to grow in his mind and heart. The Lord Jesus would identify himself to Saul as the One whom he was persecuting, and that it was a very futile thing for him to fight against the will and purposes of God. After three days in the darkness of his blindness, and the profound solitude of his thoughts, he was brought to the place in mind and heart, of truly accepting, and believing in, this “Jesus, whom thou persecutest.” To Ananias, whom the Lord would send to put his hands upon Saul to receive his sight, the Lord would say: “…Go thy way, for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) The calling of Saul of Tarsus, soon to be renamed, Paul the Apostle, was now clearly declared and revealed. However, it would be when his sight was restored to him, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit, that the stamp, or seal, of his calling was confirmed to his own heart. Why is it so very important to understand the matter of the calling of God, and specifically the matter of the preaching of the Gospel?
The Apostle John tells us that every member in the body of Christ is endued with an anointing which abides, or remains, upon the believer. Every member of the body of Christ has been given gifts, so that by this anointing of the Spirit, there would be the same quickening, and enabling, the strengthening to believe God. There is no passivity with regard to this anointing, for God is always quietly working to strengthen us to trust Him fully. As with the Apostle Paul, God has called every believer first to concentrate upon, and keep as holy, his fellowship or communion with Christ. The anointing of God’s calling is first and foremost, to enable one to know fellowship with Christ. With the gifts provided by God, and the believer abiding IN the Christ who has called him, God will accomplish His purposes. Christ will dwell in the heart by faith. If the believer would “preach” the gospel by his life, every day being an opportunity, then he must believe that, “All is in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.”
Father, Enable us today to be living books to all men. In Jesus’ name, Amen.