A FULL AND LIFE-TIME CALLING




By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

2 Corinthians 3:6 AMP  "[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive".
          Under the new testament , every member of the body of Christ is a priest.We have direct access to the Heavenly Father.  In the old testament , it was the exclusive duty of the levites. They served as mediators between the congregation and God and were presided over by a great high priest.
        The old testament prophet Jeremiah  spoke of an era when everyone would be opportuned to know God's will. Jeremiah 31:31-33 AMP says "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant ...Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers ..... But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people." Jesus Christ confirmed the dawn of this new era while administering the Holy Communion to His disciples in luke22:20  " Likewise also the cup after  supper, saying, This cup  is the new testament in my blood, which is  shed for you." The wine is the blood or the life-force of Jesus Christ ,and as we receive it, we acknowledge our partnership in the priesthood of Jesus by grace (1cor.11:25)
            The new testament church is a community of kings and priests , described as a royal priesthood,the scriptures says in 1Peter2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" and Rev.1:6 declares " And hath made us kings and priests unto  God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen."we operate directly  from the palace and Jesus is the great or chief high priest. Our capacity to function as priest isn't determined by man but by the lord who has ordained us (John 15:16) and enabled us. The scriptures declares in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 AMP "Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God. [It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive. [Jer. 31:31.]"
         Every born again christian is a minister of the gospel and it is a life time commitment. The teaching that says the 'full-time' minister is that person who has quit his or her job to work as a missionary is contrary to scriptures. The pastor or bishop who sells ,olive oils,bracelets , books,cds for a little profit no matter how insignificant and builds schools were fees are paid  is no different from the born again christian who owns a supermarket. They are both traders and ministers of the gospel. None is inferior to or less anointed than the other; just as a team captain is not  superior to the other players in a football  team.The scriptures describes a minister without a regular source of income as working disorderly (2Thess 3:6-11 ) and we are commanded to work in (2Thess.3:12. Eph.4 :28)The work of the lord is not just prayer, fasting and reading the bible according to scriptures.If that was the case then  Christians should resign from their jobs and quit their businesses to do the so-called 'full-time' ministry since we are all priests.But  Jesus defined what 'the work of the lord' is in John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them,   This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
       When a minister of the gospel has no other means of income outside offerings, he or she is most likely to be economical with the truth of the gospel and prone to financial temptations . Ministers of the gospel should only be motivated by love for God and humanity and not money and our commitment to preaching the gospel should be a lifelong ambition using our skills,talents, experiences, gifts,jobs and businesses .
Prayer :Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you, I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive grace for effectiveness in the service of the lord in Jesus name.
Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.comPics credit : pixabay 

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