“…of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power” (Ephesians 3:7). It is not about who I am, where I came from, who was preaching (what man or woman) when I was saved, who baptized me (what man pushed me under the water), what conferences I have attended, what denomination (or the lack there of) I belong to, the college degree, the paper ordination, etc. I became a minister according to the gift of grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. The calling came at a time when no man knew, and no man stood in agreement. There was no one else around when the power of God worked His work in me. It is not about me being where I think I am in God, nor is about where any man thinks I am in God – is it only about God and His grace and His power working effectively.
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). God, and not mankind, has entrusted us with the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. The gospel is not taught by those seeking to please mankind, but those whose hearts have been tested and prayed (intercession made) for by God according to His will. It is not about the outward appearance or the presentation to mankind, but the will of God.
We, the church, are called according to the grace of God, entrusted with the gospel, working according to the effectiveness of His power. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We are not to fear the opinions of mankind, but work out of love and a sound mind – free to obey God, and not the opinions of mankind, by the effective working of His power. We obey God by being what and who He created us to be. We are priest, not according to the calling of the Levi, but according to the calling of the King of Peace. We are not priest according to the sacrifice of fleshly things, but according to the sacrifice represented by the bread and the wine. We are priest according to the grace of God and by the effective working of His power.
Father, I pray for the boldness to live and teach the gospel message to be in the church according to Your power. You have tested our hearts, and made intercessions for us according to Your will. You have anointed us with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. You sent the sacrifice Who is the gospel message, and You have entrusted us with the gospel. You have prepared us for every good work, and You fulfill Your will in us. Remove our attempts to sacrifice our own flesh for the redemption of our sins – remove our attempts to require the flesh of others to hide our sins behind – remove our sins according to the effective work of Your power, according to the gift of grace. Make intercessions for us according to Your will. Release us into the ministry according to Your will. Amen.
© 2010, Tim D. Coulter Sr.