Chosen, Called and Sent

Last night I was reading from Acts 13, about the early ministry of Paul.

Acts 13:1-5, 44-52 NIV
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. [2] While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. [4] The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. [5] When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

[44] On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. [45] When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. [46] Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. [47] For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” [48] When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. [49] The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. [50] But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. [51] So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

I was most encouraged by the direction and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and also the sense of that which Paul and Barnabas must have ministered. There was the calling out, the sending off, the moving in power and authority and finally in the face of persecution, the infilling of Holy Spirit and joy. There appears to be great assurance available in the Lord.

My heart wonders how may people in the church today have this sense of purpose, this assurance of their role and calling? Now I know there are hundreds if not thousands of Christians in the regions mentioned here in Acts and we never hear about many of their callings or ministries, but that does not mean that they didn't have them, or operate in them.

I believe that we have, in large part, lost our sense of ministry, our understanding of our missions, and the purpose to our calls at the individual level. I think that so often the focus of the church is to grow and gather as many people as possible, in part to build their ability to operate ministries, and influence areas, which is not all bad. What I think is missing is the focus on personal calls and missions. I think this is lost in the model we have operating in most churches with professional ministers, whose job it is to minister. Often the idea is that the rest of the people are in their (the senior pastor's) churches to serve their vision of ministry.

I am reminded of a verses from 1 Peter 2:9 NIV:
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

This is true of all of us, every single member of the Body of Christ. We were chosen. We are royal priests (just think on that for a while). We are set apart, holy. We are God's special possession, that He purchased with His own blood. Each of us, individually! We have been called out with a specific purpose.

My prayer is that we all recognize our call, our purpose and the ministry we have been called into by God. For the vast majority of us that does not mean a job as a minister, but rather ministry in our daily walks, within the place of employment, or our families, or some other sphere of influence. In no way is this any less significant than the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. We have all been called, we have all been chosen, we have all been set apart, we all are priests/ministers, and the Holy Spirit wants to encourage us in this and send us out!

Lord, I pray that You would speak to us all, and show us this truth.