REV.
PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU
NCE (ENG.) ND/HD
(JOURNALISM) DIP, BA (THEOLOGY) MA, PHD
EVANGELISM
WITHOUT
THE
HOLY SPIRIT (Part 3)
IMPERATIVE OF DIVINE
CALLING
…”Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro…
there, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a
bush…Moses (was attracted when he) saw that through the bush was on fire it did
not burn up…when the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him
from the bush Moses! Moses! And Moses said, “Here I am”, Exodus 3:1-4).
INTRODUCTION:
One of the factors that alienate one’s ministry
from Holy Spirit is the lack of divine calling. Please notice that Moses was
called (Exodus 3:14), Abraham was called (Genesis 12:1-2), Peter, the apostle
was called (Mathew 4:18-20), Paul and Barnabas were equally called, (Acts 13:2)
e.t.c. But, nowadays, people take-up the work of the ministry as retirement
vocation, some are there to represent family or community interests, many more
are driven into it for prestige or financial gains, etc. However, no matter the
motivation of one, the truth remains that one who is not called into ministry
by the Lord, will in no way experience the presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s
work. Without mincing words, this is why churches go with a form of godliness, but
denying its power (2 Tim 3:5). So, learn further that:
GOD’S
CALLING IN INDISPENSABLE IN EVANGELISM
The
kingdom order in taking-up the work of the ministry of the Lord or evangelism
is by divine appointment and not by personal choice or volition. On this note,
the Bible remarks that, “no one takes this honour upon oneself, but must be
called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon Himself the
glory of becoming a High Priest. But God said to him…you are a Priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek, (Hebrews 5:4-6). Today, however, the Christian
field of evangelism witnesses an upsurge of impostors who besiege the gospel
pulpit for personal gains. This is a dangerous trend, as the Lord would not
work with or confirm the words of those He did not call into the ministry, as He
does in that of those He called (Mark 16:20). The implication therefore, is
that not all the gospel ministries/preachers who claim they are of God, are
really linked-up with Him in the Spirit, no matter the testimonies they present
to the world. For, not all who:
1.
Say
Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, hereafter (Matt 7:21);
2.
Prophesy
or cast out demons in his name are genuine prophets (verse 22)
3.
Perform
miracles in the name of Jesus that do so by the Holy Spirit (verse 22-23) etc.
SELF-CALLED
MINISTERS ARE ON THEIR OWN
The part (2) of this gospel project
had already noted that, “Evangelism
Is a spiritual work,
and that every one who is not connected to the Holy spirit is on their own, no
matter the type and level of education
they acquire, and so, cannot receive messages from God. But, in the words of
the Apostle John, the one that God sends, speaks God’s Word, for God gives the Spirit
without limit”, (John 3:34). Please deduce from the cited scripture that
“calling” precedes ‘sending”, and that, it is only when God calls one that He
gives one His Word(s) and Spirit for the work of evangelism. Put differently,
it is God that decides whom He chooses and gives His Spirit for His work, and
not man, (Isaiah 42:1). If the above Assertion is anything to go by, it than
means that any individual(s) behind the Gospel
Pulpit that has no trace of divine calling remains alienated from the Holy Spirit.
This is because:
(1)
God
alone reserves the right to choose one to work with
(Isaiah 42:1);
(2)
When
He chooses one, he gives one His Holy Spirit
For His work, (Verse
1):
(3)
Only
those chosen and empowered by Holy Spirit can do
justice in their missions to the
nations, (verse 1), etc
THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A MARK OF DIVINE
CALLING
Simply put, anointing
is divine investiture for service. But, mind you that occult manipulations can
deceive one into believing that anointing is in place when it is not. This is
why the Bible talks of lying wonders, (2 these 2:9). Today, many false
preachers display spurious signs in the name of miracles. Nevertheless, the
fact of the genuine work of God cannot be discarded. In the Bible, Jesus shows
that the anointing of he Holy Spirit is a veritable and indispensable tool for
the work of the ministry, as He says, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me
because He Has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He Has sent Me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to
release the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). This means that one must be anointed as a
mark of divine approval for the job, as well as be sent, having been called by
God. The foregoing, therefore, indicates that the:
1.
Anointing
of the Holy Spirit is the only guarantee for genuine miracles (Luke 4:18);
2.
Power
of efficacious proclamation of the Word of God lies only on those called and
sent by the Lord (verse 18);
3.
Counterfeit
miracles, signs and wonders in the field of evangelism are never from the Lord,
but from Satan and his agents, (2 Thess 2:9) etc.
In conclusion, let it
be re-emphasized that the work of God is not by self-appointment, but by the
calling of the Lord. This means that imposters are at risk of God’s judgment,
where they fail to repent and turn a new leaf, as they have their final place
in the domain of torments, with Satan and other false prophets. (Revelation
20:10). BE WARNED
No comments:
Post a Comment