Ordination

Ordination

November 12, 2018

Acts 10:42  "He commanded us to preach to t he people and to testify that it is he who has ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead."

Ordination suggests a preacher or a pastor has been given authority by an official church organization to lead in church related matters of that office. While this is certainly the case, this limits those ordained to be a select few. It is healthy to have publicly recognized leaders of the church as long as they are functioning according to the law of Scripture. It does, however, limit those in service to the King to a small, almost elite, class of Christians. The more we make it official with ceremonies and certificates and recognition, the further we make it from its intended role. Being ordained, as per Biblical meaning, was more along the lines of a charge of service, official marching orders, if you will. But the marching orders always came from the Lord. 

The Lord instituted ordination. He ordained Aaron, the first priest. He also discusses in great length that Jesus was ordained to be the savior. But it goes further than that. Jesus ordained the disciples. They were given official charge, direct marching orders by Jesus to be ministers of the gospel. While it sounds official, with Jesus installing the disciples, it does not stop there. Paul writes that we are all ordained as ministers of the gospel. If we all are ministers of the gospel, it can take away from the apparent special nature of the office, but that is how the Lord meant it. If being in charge of ministering the gospel was only relegated to a select few then the church would be in a poor state, completely ineffective.

But somehow, we have all come to the conclusion that if we aren't directly in the employ of a church, then we are exempt from having marching orders. Marching orders are only given to those officially tasked. Most of us wait for someone to officially task us with work approved by the Lord. But the Lord would say to you today that you have marching orders from Him. Those duties, that which the Lord asked of you, requires no official certificate of validation from man, only deeply rooted motivation in your heart to act on behalf of the King. You are a minister of the gospel, either right where you stand or in the place the Lord is asking you to find.  If you lack marching orders, then you might be lacking in your relationship to the King. If you aren't sure of what your marching orders are, then maybe you haven't asked Him to be specific.

The Lord calls all of us to be ministers of the gospel, officially recognized by Him, to be called a Christian, and to carry on the work of the gospel, as ordained ministers. The Bible says all the days ordained for your life were written before one of them came to be in existence. Agree with it or not, but your life is ordained and you are ordained on behalf of the King, with marching orders. You are ordained by God.

Don't take my word for it; look it up: Num 3:2, 2 Kings 19:25, Ps 81:5, Ps 139:16, Mk 3:14, 1 Cor 2:17, 2 Cor 3:1-6